Wedding photography is an interesting phenomenon to study. It (marriage photography) revolves around the taking of photographs in the period just preceding the wedding event, during the marriage event itself, and in the celebrations that tend to follow the wedding event.
The idea of wedding photography goes back to the early 19th century, when with the invention of the camera, it became possible to take photographs. Before that, rich couples could sometimes commission the local artist to paint pictures of them as they looked during their marriage day, but this was mainly for the very rich, and the very sentimental. It was something that ‘ordinary’ couples could afford to do without during their weddings. To be sure, depictions of their weddings were things many couples would have loved. But in as much as there was no way of getting them done, well, they just let them be.
Thus when it became possible to take photographs of marriages, many people cherished the opportunity. And with time, wedding photography went on to become part of the wedding traditions – very much like the marriage cake, the white gown, the bridal procession and so on.
It was, of course, not only in the wedding arena that ‘traditions’ were taking root. Beyond the wedding arena, traditions were developing in other areas of life. What is notable today, though, is the fact that many people today have discarded the traditions that took hold in that age when marriage photography was taking root. That, by the way, was also the age of industrial revolution. Many things of that age been ‘overtaken by time’ so that they are no longer relevant, or so we reason.
Yet wedding photography remains. So why is marriage photography still relevant? Why is that even ‘modern’ couples, who look down upon everything traditional still tolerate the photographer at their weddings? Isn’t he part of the tradition we are so much working hard to ‘rid ourselves of?’
It would seem that the main reason as to why the wedding photography tradition remains relevant is because it is a ‘reasonable tradition’ – one whose purpose is clear to everyone. Thus although many a couple won’t see the purpose of draping the bride in a white gown as if she were a virgin, or the need for very elaborate processions to the marriage venue, many still see very clearly the purpose of wedding photography. For wedding photography gives a way through which the marriage couple can have pictures of the ‘wedding event’ taken and kept for posterity.
In any case, marriage photography being more or less a ‘technological tradition’ – one that makes use of gadgets like camera, there is really no risk of it coming across as out of place, even in today’s ‘high tech wedding.’ Indeed, the fact that marriage photography is really a ‘wedding tradition’ dating back to the early days after the invention of the camera is something many of us are yet to be aware of. We prefer to see wedding photography as a utilitarian part of wedding; a part that serves a specific purpose – rather than as a ‘tradition.’
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