In Conversation With: Kat and Scout of It’s Beautiful Here
It’s Beautiful Here are redefining wedding photography with their unique blend of documentary, art, and fashion influences. Their passion for capturing love in its rawest form has resonated with fun-loving couples who value authenticity. We sat down with them to discuss their journey, artistic style, and the magic they bring to each wedding they photograph.
Interview Alexander Ross
“We find that most of our couples are attracted to our candid moments and we love to work in that way. We love seeing all the moments, big and small, and making them beautiful. ”
How did you both become interested in wedding photography?
We saw an opportunity to share our passion for documentary, art and fashion photography with like-minded, fun-loving couples, with a genuine interest in capturing each couple's love in a deeply personal way.
Can you describe IBH's photography style and approach when capturing weddings?
We can't help but be 90's photographers forever, apart from our love of all things that era, it's the authenticity, stripped-back raw love and emotion that is undeniable when revisiting art and music of that decade... and we want to bring that same energy to each couple we photograph. It's really a raw response to each day, as no two stories are the same.
What do you believe sets apart exceptional wedding photography from the rest?
Foremost is palpable love… and the beauty and wonder of that. One of the most powerful pictures ever taken is The Hug by Nan Goldin, and we aspire to capture that kind of intimacy for each wedding.
How do you ensure that you capture the unique essence and emotions of each couple's wedding day?
We love to meet and chat with couples to find out more about them and what is important to them... this used to happen in person, but everyone wants to Zoom now. Most of our couples prioritise fun and the importance of capturing their loved ones in a candid way. This is what we want for ourselves too, so it's interesting how this aligns! Working together (our original formula for It's Beautiful Here) for bigger parties means capturing action/reaction in real time plus having two sets of eyes at an event means you might just capture something in the powder room whilst one of us is at the dancefloor!
How do you work with couples to understand their vision and preferences for their wedding photos?
We find that most of our couples are attracted to our candid moments and we love to work in that way. We love seeing all the moments, big and small, and making them beautiful. We are big believers that 'real' moments can also be shot aesthetically. We have ongoing conversations by email and sometimes extra zooms too. We have some wonderful couples send through their Pinterest hopes and dreams... we love that! Make it real and make it beautiful. Also, we do like to scout out locations prior to the day. It just makes everything more cohesive!
What are some of the most memorable moments you've captured while photographing weddings?
Probably seeing couples that have been together for plus 40 years still hitting the dance floor or holding hands or being intimate with each other in their own way. Honestly seeing grandparents and parents loving each other so hard after all the years just reveals so much about the couple we are photographing. But also, couples finding love in a hopeless place is pretty potent too.
How do you handle challenging lighting conditions or unexpected situations during a wedding shoot?
The only time you cannot completely control the light is during a ceremony... either the spot is well chosen (for example it is shaded or backlit, giving some even light for expressions) or it's not and you make the best of it by framing for shadows, using some flash etc. And not-so-good light can be a mood, so we mostly go with it. For all other times, you have a lot of choices, especially for portraits and when framing moments. We often direct couples into spots we like aesthetically and for the quality of light. For moments we might choose to shoot in a directional way, or pop the flash on. Being ready and flexible is key when handling unexpected moments. Experience and instincts help too.
Can you share some tips for couples to ensure they get the best possible wedding photos?
Have fun and create a day that is authentic for you! Also, if there are obligations you want to meet, that's really sweet too... you can then carve out aspects/times of the day that feel like you! We completely get that weddings are also about the couple's community/family! But yeah, wearing your joy is the best makeup! And having suppliers around you that enable that. Our couples often mention they are awkward in front of the camera, and we love that! It is perfectly normal to feel this and to find your way through it, and everyone does... so lean into it, it's where the truth lies!
What do you find most rewarding about being a wedding photographer, and how do you keep your passion alive in this competitive industry?
Meeting couples that you click with, that want their day captured authentically and beautifully! Also capturing weddings means we can incorporate our photography passions (fashion, doco and art) in a meaningful way! Oh, and we absolutely love going to parties ;)
Find It’s Beautiful Here online by CLICKING HERE or follow on Instagram at @itsbeautifulhere
DISCLAIMER: We attempt to credit the original photographer/source of every image we use. However, in most circumstances, the images we use are provided by the brands spoken about, and we rely on them to inform us of the image source. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@theodoremagazine.com
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