[Read Time - 4 Minutes]
I’ve looked up to a number of photography legends outside of the wedding world, and on my Mount Rushmore, Walter Iooss Jr. stands tall.
As a Canon Legend, Iooss is “widely viewed as one of the greatest sports photographers of our time and called the poet laureate of sports,“ but his work stretches way beyond just shooting games.
And it’s his excellence and versatility that are why I have been so influenced by his work.
Unlike many photographers who explore a variety of niches before choosing theirs, Walter Iooss Jr. got his first camera from his dad when he was 15, shot his first roll of film at a New York Giants game when he was 16 and locked in his first gig for Sports Illustrated at the seasoned age of 17.
I’m pretty sure I was still figuring out how to drive at that age.
For over 60 years, Iooss has photographed the greatest athletes of all time, including Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Pelé, Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Phelps, Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, Kelly Slater, and Kobe Bryant.
From Super Bowls to the Olympics, he’s been there and shot it all, but as a reader of Sports Illustrated, it wasn’t his game-day shots that attracted me. It was his portraits and candid moments that became posters both in my mind and on my wall.
So when I started my professional photography career, I looked at weddings as much more than just the “game.”
Walter Iooss Jr. had exactly what every wedding photographer has on game day - access to everything.
And from this legendary photographer, I learned to never squander a moment of it.
A huge part of my success as a wedding professional was drawing the viewer into the moment through my photos.
The thing I loved hearing the most at wedding shows from brides and moms looking at full weddings was, “I feel like I was there!”
I learned these fundamentals from Iooss and his photos!
Portraits that can be elaborately set up and perfectly lit, or quick and casual, even candid yet still incredible.
The tiny details that might seem insignificant at the moment become emotional touchpoints for the entire day.
And never settling for shooting from just the “usual” angles. Sure, we all know that life is viewed at 50mm and those shots are expected, but what will you see when you view the scene at 17mm or 200mm?
Looking at things differently and seeing the magic in the mundane is what Iooss did so well in his behind the scenes shots and acclaimed portraits.
But let’s not ignore the game.
Many of the greatest and most iconic shots in sports history came from the camera of Walter Iooss Jr.
Roger Maris Hits #61st in 1961
“The Catch” from the 49ers’ Dwight Clark in 1982
Mary Lou Retton at the Olympics in 1984
“The Slam Dunk” of Michael Jordan in 1988
Tiger Woods at the UP Open in 2000
His timing and ability to see the field or court is as legendary as his photos.
Of course I’d be doing you a disservice if I left out his portfolio of 25 years shooting for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. (I swear you can learn a LOT about shooting outdoors in natural light from that annual issue)
Excellence is not limited to one niche
It’s not uncommon to hold a sports photographer in such high regard when it comes to a specialized niche like weddings. There are a number of similarities in the “action” shots for sure, but Walter Iooss Jr. was not your average sports photographer.
His 300+ covers for Sports Illustrated alone, not to mention his 20+ books (and occasional swimsuit shoot :) highlight his creative versatility and constant dedication to excellence.
Combine that with his stellar reputation for being easy to work with, calm under pressure and professional at all times, and it’s no wonder stars like Jordan, Ali, and Kobe trusted Iooss completely with their image.
That pretty much sums up the ideal for any wedding photographer...in case you were wondering why I like him so much.
You MUST see his website if you haven’t already.
“I remember processing my first roll of film in 1959 with my old man and we pull it out of the tank and hold it up to the light, and as someone once said, my future was unlocked and that was it.”
— Walter Iooss Jr.
Learning photography from legends in all niches is some of the little parts of the “inner game of wedding photography.” THIS is what I write about each week in this newsletter.
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