Consumer technology has given us our culture the powerful digital ability to capture their own candid moments. So what can the professional photographer offer that they cannot do for themselves? Almost always the answer to this question involves the wedding. Guest phone snaps are great for personal moments at a party. But there comes a time when couples desire a professional who knows posing, lighting.
Likewise, there comes a time when you want a professional who is gifted at capturing punctual, perfect moments and courteously handling crowds. There comes a time when you want the images but you do not want to worry with making them yourself. You want to live in the moment. That is the time a bride calls Sterling Photography.
Introducing Something New for Brides, Something Iconic
And now we have given her another reason to call: the Iconic Shoot.
Let us first define the word “Iconic.” The Urban Dictionary brings it into sharp focus: “Similar to “classic,” iconic is generally restricted to
“Private Thoughts” become Iconic images when treated with light streaming on a composed face.
more recent, highly original, influential, or unique, works of art, artists, or performers…
Let us also realize the word comes from Icon, which originally referred to a pictorial representation or picture which invited unconditional adoration and love from its viewer.
From this word we can surmise that every groom would consider his bride-to-be as his icon, worthy of his reverence. And portraits of her would be cherished treasures.
The Iconic Session: A Two-Part Treasure for the Bride and Groom
From such words, we have developed a new kind of photography shoot, exclusively for brides.
Part I: A Special Private Session for the Bride-to-Be
The session is exclusively designed as a personalized shoot for a bride. (See more information about this, below.)
Part II: And for the groom: An Amazing Gift from the Bride
The best of the Bride’s Images from the Iconic Session become a Heritage Gift Boxed set of 15 Mounted 5×7 images. They will rest in the groom’s hands as a wedding gift.
“Dreamer”–When the bride relaxes and dreams about her groom-That’s pure gold. And an iconic moment.
About the Iconic Session: A New Type of Portrait
In photographer Sterling’s words to the bride, “The Iconic session is a full blown larger than life production.”
The experience comes with with professional make-up, specially scouted location, careful lighting and a stylist.
But it’s not fashion story…It’s your story, your space, your identity. It’s “you,” portrayed in light and shadow, texture and expression.”
The session can be energized or soft and slow. Either way, it will be drenched in magical light as only Sterling can find or adjust. It’s unposed, but prompted.
The Iconic Session: It’s Your Vogue Moment
You see similar images in magazines like Vogue, Allure and InStyle. You might see it on some CD covers with songs by jazz singers. With one difference: you don’t have to be a magazine model or a jazz singer to feel like one during this shoot.
And that freedom to be yourself draws out your inner character and Sterling can create warm, relaxed images of your many moods and styles. (You don’t have to pretend you’re Tyra or Gisele or Heidi. You’ll find power in being just you.)
Perhaps it enhances the definition of the Iconic Session to tell you what it is not.
It is not a like a “Glamour Shot” session, nor is it that artificial pearls-in-the-mouth, white lace, trendy boudoir session . This session produces images that are timeless moments of “You.” They might be the first photographs ever made of you that are relaxed and true.
Photographic Background of the Iconic Shoot
“Timeless…” Iconic Portraits touch on the classical and the modern in posing and gesture.
You see this type of icon created only in the finest fashion shoots by photographers like Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, and Peter Limbergh.
- We continue in their tradition, but we blend in 21st session technology, equipment and style.
- From the tradition of modern portraits, we bring the idea of the decisive moment, a term created by the world’s first “street photographer,” Henri-Cartier-Bresson.
- In brief the meaning of the decisive moment is “that split second of genius and inspiration that a photographer had to capture a certain moment.
- For example, that half of a second that you have when a man is jumping over a puddle, when a couple embraces for a kiss, or when a person points a finger at another.”
Sterling looks for decisive moments in your moods and character as you relax or converse. For Sterling’s Iconic Portrait, it might be that ghost of a smile on your lips or the soulful tilt of your head. He might catch feeling in the arch of your neck or the curve of your of your shoulder.
Individuality is at the Heart of the Iconic Shoot
To put it simply, Sterling captures quiet semi-formal moments when you are at your best. We say “semi-formal” but you will feel quite casual.
Sterling’s fluid voice coaches you to show your mood and individuality. With Sterling’s encouragement, you create moments when you will look your best.
And then you give those moments in timeless images to your fiancée.
That is the joy of the Iconic Photo Session and Portrait Presentation-Box.
For Photo-Buffs, A Special Iconic Quote of the Month:
Sterling Photography International presents a monthly Iconic Quotation
chosen just for our photo-buffs:
“The photographer’s eye is perpetually evaluating.
A photographer can bring coincidence of line simply by moving his head a fraction of a millimeter.
He can modify perspectives by a slight bending of the knees.
By placing the camera closer to or farther from the subject, he draws a detail…”
And Henri Cartier -Bresson added, “…and it can be subordinated, or it can be tyrannized by it.
But he composes a picture in very nearly the same amount of time it takes to click the shutter, at the speed of a reflex action.”
–quoted from Henri Cartier-Bresson
“Breathless.” A portrait of a moment of reflection on a red velvet chair on the beach. Iconic.
