- Ian Weldon is not a wedding photographer.
- However, the photographer has become established for his unique way of capturing a couple’s nuptials.
- His photos show the messy, chaotic, relatable reality of a wedding, rather than the polished, perfect cliché shots we’re so used to seeing.
- Weldon told INSIDER that in today’s Instagram-focused world, he likes that “there are still those who choose to be real.”
- Visit INSIDER’s homepage for more stories.
When it comes to wedding photos, they’re often a bit samey.
Don’t tell the brides, but sometimes those snaps of cake-cutting, grooms waiting, and bouquet-tossing all seems to merge into one on your Instagram feed.
However, there’s one photographer who has decided to do things differently.
Ian Weldon is, categorically, not a wedding photographer. But he photographs weddings.
In a style that couldn't be further from the polished, posed, perfect wedding pictures we've all seen time and time again, Weldon documents the most important day in many people's lives in a unique way: his images show the reality of weddings, in all their chaotic, messy, unfiltered glory.
"By its nature, wedding photography is commercial photography," Weldon explained to INSIDER.
"There are requirements from the industry, the couples you shoot for, and for your own promotion. There's not much room for exploration here.
"I'm not saying this is wrong, it's just not something that I'm interested in. I'm not trying to fulfill a commercial need. I'm making a document of weddings in our time."
Weldon, who's based in the north of England but works worldwide, has been documenting weddings for seven years now. He didn't originally set out to focus on them though.
"I started to photograph weddings to make money so I could pursue other photography projects," he said. "I didn't really know what I was doing at that time and weddings were perceived as bottom rung photography jobs.
"I shot a couple in the way it's expected to be done: portraits, endless group shots, ordering people around, and I didn't really enjoy that."
So he decided to ignore tradition and move away from the popular aesthetic to forge his own path.
"It became a challenge to break with convention and focus on the idea, and weddings became its own project in that sense," he said.
With many couples now having their social media platforms in mind on the big day, Weldon believes he offers an antidote to that culture.
"The rise of Instagram has affected society throughout, the perception of ourselves, and who we must be," he said. "Weddings are just a small part of that, but I like that in a world where people are living somewhat vicariously through their own social media accounts, there are still those who choose to be real."
Scroll through a selection of Weldon's unconventional images below.
While the bride and bridal party's hair and makeup transformations are often documented, they're not the only ones who want to look their best for the big day.
It's not all luxurious pampering — sometimes you have to come up with inventive ways to wash your hair.
And what are you to do if you notice a crease in a dress but there's no way to take it off without ruining the wearer's perfect hair and makeup?
When there are children involved, things can get messy.
And there's often a lot of waiting around.
Weldon captures candid moments from angles we aren't often shown.
Let's be honest, pulling the same smile in every picture can become a bit of a chore.
Unlike most photographers, Weldon focuses on the unposed, truly candid parts of a wedding, like when the bride just needs a moment to sort herself out. "All moments are real and everything is photographable," he said. "I'm just present, and react to the environment I'm in."
Weddings can be hungry work.
Then it's time to hit the dancefloor, all ages and abilities are welcome.
Dad dancing is, of course, a perfect subject for Weldon's work.
Though his photos may show reality, that doesn't mean they don't also portray the magic, energy, and excitement of a wedding day — it can be too much for some.
"I Am Not A Wedding Photographer" by Ian Weldon runs from June 26 to August 10 2019 at the Martin Parr Foundation in Bristol, UK, and the book is co-published by the Martin Parr Foundation and RRB PhotoBooks.