I recently ran into this Apple video which talks about design and form and realized how well it pertains to photography. While I am not an Apple fanboy, no one can argue they put the most effort to make design functional and transparent. While I have the iPhone and Cinema display and think they are very well designed, I have to say there has never been a practical mouse solution from Apple. How many novices know to actually CTRL + click to substitute the lack of a right mouse button? I won’t even get started on OS X. But enough of my disclaimers before promoting Apple in this entry.

The video talks about “getting design out of the way” and catering design based on the function and form of the device. Let’s talk about function first and how it relates to photography. Whenever you have an assignment, you need to decide what style are you going for, who the client is, and what is the final output of the product. Unfortunately most of the guys I talk to are tech geeks who think the highest specs are always better. While not a bad thing in concept, in reality it may be inefficient nor cost effective. The primary example is what file format to shoot, RAW, JPG Large, or JPG Medium. I’ve always said most beginners who shoot RAW are just using the massive handicap of RAW files as an excuse to shoot poorly. While there is nothing wrong with having higher quality than the necessary output requirements, think about the extra time needed to convert the files, the massive storage it takes up, and how many times you need to change a card while shooting. All these could be avoided by shooting in JPG mode and getting the shot correct in-camera.

When I shoot weddings, I shoot JPG at medium resolution. Most of you kids are probably gasping in shock, “I thought weddings require full RAW files cause they’re so important!” When was the last time your wedding client required a print larger than 20×30″ at 300 dpi? I only need two 4GB cards during a wedding day, and I also get the shot correctly exposed in-camera so minimum correction is needed in post. Color accuracy for weddings is also a minor issue. Brides don’t judge your photos based on sharpness of your lens, high ISO noise levels, or your white balancing. I shoot on Auto White Balance folks! Eat that. However, when I shoot something detail sensitive and color critical, such as an art portfolio, product shoot, or 15 topless girls, then I consider using RAW. Be aware of your final product and function.

The second and most important part is the conceptual photographer’s perspective. In the Apple video, Ive talks about getting design out of the way. A successful designer or photo journalist is one that is transparent to the audience and allows the product to do its job without extra effort or information strain. The iPhone or the Mac Air power indicator light has a transparent design form, where it works without the user having to think how it works, whereas an Alienware gaming laptop might be overwhelmed by design bells and whistles which forces the user to think about how it’s pretty and not get down to using the laptop. Geeks will probably appreciate the techy look of an Alienware over the minimalistic design of Apple. The same people will also analyze how a photographer took certain photos at which f-stop, shutter, ISO, lighting method instead of reading the story or mood of a photo.

In photo journalism, the photographer has to be transparent to the viewer. The photograph needs to successfully tell the narrative without adding effects, distractions, or suggestion of a photographer’s direction. Distractions and effects added to a photograph includes tilting the lens, or adding effects to post processing such as sepia, soft focus, or selective coloring. Photo journalism is the new trend in wedding photography, and while everyone claims to do that, I rarely see it in full practice. Clients tell me they hire me because I don’t fill my wedding website with high-fashion, special effects lighting to my wedding shots. While they look great in a portfolio, they lack narrative – they are dead poses that make the photographer look good. I think most photographers are pressured into creating the next style, the next cover shot, the next way to show off their photography skills, and forget to keep it simple and document the smiles and intimacy of a newly married couple.

Ive talks about reaching a point where design feels “undesigned” where a user would think, “Of course it’s that way. Why wouldn’t it be any other way?” I think that is the ultimate goal of any creator, whether in design, architecture, engineer, or journalist. To create something fundamental and unquestioned. Instead of trying to add bells and whistles to photographs, keep it simple and keep it the way it’s supposed to be. Why should it be any other way?

The other day I was shooting a reception at a Chinese restaurant, where my seat was at the white folks table. Every Chinese wedding is obligated to have one of these tables, usually the coworkers of the bride or groom. Needless to say, these people were freaked out by most of the dishes that came out, sometimes they are daring, and some just refuse to touch it. If I were a guest, I would love to sit at this table because that means nobody is fighting for food and there would be plenty for me.

However this time, I was not the guest and I placed my name card on my dish in front of these folks so they would know this was my seat. I don’t know if these folks were just absolutely mindless, inconsiderate, or blatantly have no respect for photographers, but I thought the worst thing they could have done was to finish all the food and not leave any for me. Oh, I was wrong. They managed to kick it up a few notches.

After about 50 family portraits on the stage, I walked back to my seat but there was not just one seat, but two! Two seats stacked on top of each other as if nobody was supposed to sit there, while my name card was still on my dish. I got rid of the stacked seat and sat down to eat a dish with octopus, seaweed, jellyfish, while listening to these folks joke about the food they dare not eat, with the soda bottles and unwanted glasses all jammed around my space. When the dude next to me receives another bottle of Heineken, he pushes his empty bottle towards me. It doesn’t end there, as if the act me of sitting down and eating still does not click in their minds that this is my seat. I come back after many more courses have already eluded my chopsticks, to find the obnoxious dude embracing my seat with his arm like a lover for his comfort, or more like raped the seat, as one of my chopsticks somehow end up 3 feet from my chair and there was garbage and a white hand towel thrown over my plate. That incident pretty much ended my dinner for the night, and I continued the rest of the night with an anger level slightly less than wanting to punch a man in the face.

This would be the last time I will allow something like this to happen to me. After the wedding, I’ve since removed my wedding site entirely and will not resume any action until I’ve created a new interview process for limited clients only. I don’t sacrifice my weekends so people can treat me like just another service provider.

From my experience, a traditional Chinese wedding only requires the banquet and tea ceremony – no need for a typical church ceremony. The bride and groom got ready at the Soho Grand North Penthouse in Chinatown. Unfortunately there was not enough time to get formal shots during daylight, thank goodness for prime and the videographer’s model lamp. I love it when the client doesn’t want to waste time on group photos so they squeeze everyone into one super wide shot and call it a day. The rest of the time is fun time!

The secret into getting the meaningful shots that the bride and groom will cherish the most is being observant, unobtrusive, and patient. For example, when you’re sharing an elevator with the couple, do you A) start some witty conversation with them so they think you’re actually a funny person, B) take every opportunity and free time they have to pose them in a high fashion shot, or C) be silent, be still, let the couple fall into their own groove and do the little cute and affectionate interactions with each other as if they were alone. Most likely you will get the following responses when they see the results for A) None. You weren’t taking any pictures. B) “Oh, that pose looks pretty cool, good job photographer.” C) “Wow I can’t believe you captured the way I always rest my head and hands on him! You’re totally a ninja.”

Now pay me $5,000 for this online workshop. Thank you.

As a photographer who shoots the “same” cookie cutter weddings every weekend, it is always a nice treat to see something new. The Eglinton Grand reception hall in Toronto was exactly that surprise. What used to be a movie theater is now a banquet hall while keeping the character of theater. The warehouse session was completely unplanned and some trespassing was required. The unexpected is always welcomed in photography.

One of my major goals in shooting weddings is to convey a cinematic mood to the audience. The main method is to shoot in landscape format since that is how video is shot. Landscape is also more calm to the eye than portrait, which is tall, grand, and energetic. Portraits usually limit photographers into thinking it has to fill the frame with the subject, but if you’re willing to color outside the lines, you will discover a lot more interesting composition throwing the subject off center and to the side.

You know you’re in a good place when all the vehicle license plates are tagged with “One Happy Island.” Aruba is known for the dry weather and not affected by the hurricane season. I had the best Surf n’ Turf dinner in Aruba and I can’t wait for the next one. I promise myself I will have a destination wedding of my own to avoid all the unimportant guests, uninteresting rituals and traditions, and cookie cutter reception halls.