This article has been written by team of content creators at Easy Weddings.
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Updated on: November 11, 2021
Chris Kapa from Me Love You Long Time has a secret weapon when it comes to shooting weddings. And it’s … yoga.
The Melbourne photographer, who has been in the business for about 30 years, says mental and physical preparation, and treating your body like an important piece of equipment, is just as important to his job as planning locations and setting out Plans B and C.
“I’m hard core into health, energy and yoga,” he says. “I eat foods that energise me rather than bog me down. And I eat to perform.”
It’s a dedicated regimen that has paid off by way of a stellar reputation grown through word of mouth. And it’s one that primes him perfectly to give some insights into the secret of capturing memorable and timeless shots of brides and grooms that serve as works of art in their own right.
Here, he talks us through some different approaches and insights, using his own photographs to illustrate.
As you can see from these shots and advice, Chris’s approach to weddings is far from cookie cutter. It’s one he’s evolved over 30 years, first as a student who didn’t like any other subjects, then as a photographic assistant and finally as a renowned professional with his own studio.
He’s equal parts instinctual and preparation focused, finding no greater satisfaction than when a couple trusts him enough to say: Shoot it however you like.
Used to working in short timeframes, and using techniques such as lighting to find the greatest variety of shots within the limits of a single location, Chris – who prides himself on a strong work ethic – says serving as someone’s wedding photographer is almost like a fast track into their lives.
“You kind of become one of them,” he says of the bond that forms. “You’re put into their family environment, so you’re pretty much crashing into their lives.”
That encompasses a range of personalities, attitudes and emotions. And with that comes a sense of protectiveness and caring that can manifest itself away from the lens.
“You basically just want to help them out,” he says. “You make sure they’re hydrated and you have scissors so you can cut off tags if need be. You do what you can to make the day run smoothly.
“For example, I was once shooting a wedding at Ripponlea and the groom’s dad was bumped while holding a glass of red wine – which went all over his shirt – 15 minutes before he was due to give a speech. So I ducked around the corner, grabbed a shirt and then whispered in his ear that there was a shirt waiting in the bathroom for him.”
It was a wonderful kindness, but the humble photographer isn’t looking for kudos. He just appreciates and understands what a massive show of faith hiring a photographer is. And one he rewards by always looking to go the extra mile for a great result.
At the end of the day Chris says wedding photography is about serving as a kind of muse – inspiring the bride and groom in the same way a director would deal with his lead actors.
“It’s about finding the collection of words and emotions that will get them to think about each moment in a different way,” he says. “It can be candid, or something high art, but the overall aim is to create a wedding album that offers broad strokes of personality and emotion.”
And it’s something he takes home with him.
“Sometimes I’ll be editing thousands of shots on a computer and my kids will walk past and say ‘What are you smiling at?’ And I simply think ‘It’s a wedding. How could I not be?’”