Wedding Photographer at David Bickley

Jason and Jennifer – Wedding

January 13, 2009

Jason and Jennifer’s wedding…what a blast. You may remember them from the engagement photos I posted on here a while back. Maybe not, who knows.

The day started around 2:30pm with photographs of the preparation mayhem.

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Alex and Megan – Engagement Session

October 27, 2008

This fun young couple was my last engagement photo shot for the weekend. I knew as soon as I sat down with them to discuss their wedding photography that Alex and Megan were going to be great to work with.

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Reagan and Dan

May 10, 2008

I have never met a more laid back couple in my life.

Reagan and Dan have been the ideal bridal client every step of the way. They searched for a photographer that matched what they liked (glad it was me) and let me do what I do best…run around like a madman and take thousands of images.

Reagan Wynn and daughter prepare for the wedding day in Columbia, Missouri

At the beginning of the day I split up my photo-squad and sent my assistant Hector over to take shots of Dan while he was getting ready.

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What I Get Asked Most

February 15, 2008

1. What gear do you use?
My primary camera is a Canon 1Ds, I also have a Canon 1D Mark II, and Canon 20D that I keep on-site as a backup, As far as lenses, I have a lot but my favorites are the Canon 70-200 f/2.8L, and the Canon 85mm f/1.2L. I use Canon 580 EX II flashes for journalistic work (like weddings and other events) for studio work, I use an army of Alien Bees, a fantastic, near indestructible little strobe made by Paul C. Bluff.

2. Do you have a photography degree or any formal training?

None whatsoever, in fact I don’t think I’ve ever even read a book on photographic technique. I read the manual of my first camera and somehow got to where I am now.

Weird.

3. What is your workflow?

It varies depending on the shoot, every assignment calls for a new dynamic strategy. My digital workflow after a shoot is a little easier to explain though. When I pull the images onto the computer, I immediately make a backup copy of the negatives on DVD. Then I spend no more than 20 minutes racing through the images. I flag every photo that jumps out at me (with no consideration for why it did). That is my first pass, with the first images picked (they usually end up being my favorites) I make another pass through every image again, taking anywhere from 1-3 hours to browse and select from the entire collection.

After the favorite images are selected I check each for consistent color, retouching requirements, and overall exposure accuracy.

Then, if retouching is required (a hair in someone’s face, blemished, etc…) I make those adjustments. That is often the longest part of the process, but also where I get to have the most fun.

After all of the images have been processed I make another backup of the edited results.

Then I make a sandwich.

4. How do you light your shots?

I try to use natural light whenever possible. It is attractive, produces beautiful color and contrast, and is a bit easier to cart around than studio equipment. In studio, my setups are generally very simple. I try to use the smallest number of strobes that can get the job done. Minimalism drives everything I do.

5. Do you shoot RAW or JPEG?

I shoot in RAW with jpg backups written to a separate card.

6. Do you use any automated processes or actions?

I do not use actions, that fact makes things take a bit longer but, I prefer to have my hands in every image rather than automate any function that should be done by an artists eye.

Program-wise, I use Photoshop, and Lightroom.

Truth be told, you don’t need anything else.

7. Which are you, a fashion photographer or a wedding photographer?

That is a bit difficult to answer. I began my photographic career with fashion, commercial and advertising photography. But I got into this industry through graphic design. I shoot weddings because I love being able to document that special day in people’s lives. I have a great amount of experience in both so I suppose in short, I am both, and I make a living from both. I believe that is what makes my photography unique. I can photograph a wedding with the same feel and precision of a high-end fashion production, and I can photograph high-end fashion with the journalistic eye of a wedding photographer. Generally that is not something that is easy to find in your standard photographer.

8. So wait, you’re a designer too?

Yes, I have been involved in graphic design for as long as I can remember. Even longer than I have been a photographer.

9. What design software do you use?

I design every album myself in Adobe InDesign. I refuse to use a template-based program, your album should reflect you. As a designer, I feel that I can communicate your day better than a packaged template program.

10. Do you need any assistants or interns?

Not currently, when I need an assistant I pull from an extremely talented pool of people that I trust to reflect and support my own style and vision. Most of them I have trained myself.

11. I have a question that isn’t listed, what do I do?

Ask away, I am an open book. Use the contact form in the upper right corner of this site and shoot me an email. I will get back to you as quickly as I can.

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Adam & Casey

November 7, 2007

Adam came to me a while back and asked me if I would help him recreate his wedding day for his wife on their first anniversary. He told me about what had happened with their original wedding photographer, and how they didn’t want those images to be all they had to remember the day by.

We talked about what disappointed them with the original shots, and some places they might like to revisit. He had already decided they wanted me to shoot, so we set the date immediately.

Casey Voight in her Bridal veil, photographed by David Bickley in Columbia, Missouri.