Learning From the Legends - Denis Reggie
Issue #45
Believe it or not, there ARE famous wedding photographers out there.
When I started my journey to becoming a wedding photographer, things were very different in the industry.
This was back in the semi-dark ages of the early 90’s, with film and no internet (for me, at least).
I had shot my first wedding, and I was hooked.
The problem for me was that I shot my wedding as a photojournalist would, and that was NOT how weddings were typically photographed.
Wedding photography back then was VERY traditional, but I didn’t care. I shot it the way I wanted.
Someone smart once said, “When the student is ready the teacher will appear,” and I was ready for my teacher.
I don’t remember how it happened, but I heard about a photographer I had read about in a magazine coming to town to speak to a local photography group.
I’ve always loved hearing from professionals in all areas, and I jumped at this chance.
This was the first time I met Denis Reggie.
Hearing him speak about how he got started and his approach to wedding photography was everything I had hoped for and more.
The biggest revelation was when he put a name to his style. His journalistic approach blended with wedding photography was new.
He called it Wedding Photojournalism, and the moment I heard this, I said to myself, “This is what I do!” and from that moment on, I too was a Wedding Photojournalist.
But that was only the start of my education.
I purchased his VHS course and devoured it along with anything and everything I could read about this new approach, which had now started to bleed into the more progressive parts of the country including this new wedding magazine called Martha Stewart Weddings.
Thanks to this magazine, it was game on for wedding photographers!
Not long after, I moved to the Midwest, where Wedding Photojournalism was only that thing from THAT magazine...but I was about to change that.
I soon discovered Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI), and got another chance to learn more from my mentor.
For the next 12 years, I attended WPPI’s annual convention and had the great pleasure of learning more from Denis directly (I’m sure I became That Guy but I didn’t care).
I could sing the praises of the original Wedding Photojournalist for hours, but I’d prefer to share with you some of the things I’ve learned from him and logged in my trusty wedding photography notebook I brought to WPPI every year.
Are you a “P” photographer or an “R” photographer?
P - Planned & Proactive
R - Reality-based & Reactive
Every wedding requires a certain number of P shots.
Here’s the “P Slice” or posed shots
Posed of the Bride
Posed of the Groom
Bride & Groom
Bride & Groom with Wedding Party
Bride & Groom with Both Sets of Parents
Bride & Groom with Bride’s Family
Bride & Groom with Groom’s Family
Of course, there are other “P” shots like the reception decor, perhaps some posed shots of the Bride & Groom at the reception site, but as far as group photos, this is the exact list I offer to my bride and groom. I call it The Essentials, and it’s modify for each couple as needed.
“This is the story of YOUR day, and your wedding photos should reflect it. They’ll be unique to YOU.”
I use this line at wedding shows to give a quick description of how my style differs from the other five photographers at the show.
“Tradition is important to me, and so are the group photos. But they should not take more than 15-20 minutes.”
It’s a common gripe about wedding photographers that they take SO long with the group photos. Brides may not care as much about the groups, but moms do, and they BOTH care about how long it takes. This is how I use this.
“There is nothing I can do to make this day any more beautiful, which is why my style focuses on documenting rather than creating - Capturing the genuine emotion and beauty of your wedding. This is not my version of your wedding day, but your day as it really is.”
I’ve used so many variants of this line. Not because I like how it sounds, but because this is what I do and genuinely believe.
“I shoot a mixture of both color and black and white in a very ‘hands-off’ way. By doing this, I get to document the day in a timeless and genuine manner”
“Hands-Off” is a perfect way to describe my style. Back in the day, wedding photographers were VERY hands-on, posing and controlling everything.
“I don’t shoot a photojournalistic ‘style.’ I AM a Wedding Photojournalist. My style IS my photography.”
Many didn’t understand what PJ (as it became known) was, so this was a good way to differentiate my work from those who shot some black and white and called it photojournalism.
Moving closer for the group photo and shooting a bit wider preserves your flash and allows you more depth of field.
This was a welcomed answer to a technical question. I was really challenged with the group photos early on, and this helped a bunch.
“Foofing your flash - Pointing your flash directly at a nearby wall, rather than at the subject, creating a huge bounce and beautiful light from the side.”
This was described primarily for the bride & groom walking back down the aisle. I’ll admit, this one was challenging for me in those big churches, but I loved it for the first dance.
I’ll close this with a few of his “classic” shots that I adored seeing every visit, listening to the great stories behind their creation. These images had a significant impact on my future work, and I will never forget where the inspiration on my work came from.
I know I didn’t give you much history on Denis Reggie himself.
I can tell you he’s Canon Legend, widely regarded as the world’s preeminent wedding photographer and an extremely kind individual.
I highly recommend you check out his website.
along with this great interview from Seshu from Tiffinbox
“Don’t price your services according to what you can personally afford.”
Denis Reggie
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