The Artistry of Robert Sukrachand
New York City’s Robert Sukrachand has a documentary photography and fine arts background. His primary objective when capturing a wedding is to shoot good images, not good wedding photographs. His results are always beautiful, fresh and modern.
Who better to ask what are his favorite wedding photographs and why. Here’s what he had to say:
I thought I would begin with this photo, because it was taken at one of the first weddings I ever photographed. A few years ago, while still a junior at NYU, Josh (an NYU grad student) asked me if I would like to go to the Bahamas to shoot his and Deysia’s wedding. Of course I couldn’t decline! Even though it was one of my first wedding photos, it is still one of my favorites, as it reflects my background in documentary photography and desire to simply capture “the moment”. I also love the classic B+W look (I still shoot almost all film at weddings), and this picture came out especially nice as the sun was just setting on their beachside ceremony.
I love this diptych from Jess + Tim’s wedding because it shows how much fun of a couple they are. My approach is more editorial in style than it is posed, which is why I love pictures where the bride and groom are moving and interacting, and if I’m going to have them standing straight and looking at me, I prefer to mix it up by adding some dorky element, in this case a NYC street performer.
This picture also has it’s roots at NYU. Washington Mews is an amazing little street located right by Washington Square Park, and while I was a student I would walk through it whenever possible because it almost transports you out of the city. I had been wanting to shoot there forever. When Catherine and John booked me for their wedding in the West Village, I asked if they would go here for their portraits, and the result is a beautiful balance between light, texture, color, and even a little bit of foliage to add to their private moment. “The kiss” is such an over-photographed moment that it almost becomes cliche, so you have to just give it an aesthetic complement. Their friends who weren’t able to come to the wedding asked if they had gone to Italy to get married!
This next diptych and the following bridal party shot are from Yuli + Keith’s wedding, which was by far the most fun and unique wedding I have ever photographed. Their wedding was full of amazing details, almost completely DIY, and the wooden mustaches station that they set up for guests to take pictures in presented a great opportunity for a unique and quirky photo of the bride and groom. My primary goal when photographing a wedding is to bring out the distinct personality of the day and the couple, and sometimes these details are really what does the job. The airstream trailer that we photographed in front of in the next picture was just another one of the natural backdrops in their campground wedding. With bridal party photos, I like to keep it traditional for one, and then do something funny to mix it up. In this case, it was just about the variety of postures and spacing in the bridal party, the laughter, and getting people to interact with eachother a little bit.
Here is another photo that I love just for the way that the textures and color of the brick add an extra element to the photo. Raquel + Xavier’s wedding took place in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and it had an industrial-chic vibe to it. I have a storytellers background so I’m always thinking of ways to reference the sensibilities of the overall wedding in each photo. And it didn’t hurt that Raquel + Xavier were completely unaware of the camera at this point and just having a great time! That is my motto and what I tell my clients before a shoot: “have a ton of fun, you’ll forget I’m here, and the pictures will turn out great”.
You can see more of Robert Sukrachand’s favorite pictures on his website. Looking at them, you really do feel a part of the moment – and isn’t that what a good wedding photograph should do?
Tags: wedding photographers
