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Ian Weldon is a British photographer who has gained international recognition for his unconventional approach to wedding photography. Instead of the typical posed shots and forced smiles, Weldon captures candid moments that reveal the unique personalities and emotions of the couple and their guests. His work could be described as raw, real, and hilarious, capturing the chaos and joy of a wedding day in a way that traditional photography often misses.

Weldon's signature style has earned him a loyal following of couples who seek out his services from all around the world. Despite his growing popularity, he remains dedicated to capturing the moments that matter most to his clients, eschewing the formalities of traditional wedding photography in favor of spontaneity and authenticity. Through his lens, Weldon has created a new standard for wedding photography that celebrates the real moments and emotions of the day, capturing memories that will last a lifetime.

If you would like to see more Bored Panda posts about Ian and his work, click here or here.

More info: Instagram | martinparrfoundation.org | ianweldon.com

Bored Panda has reached out to Ian to ask him a couple of questions and find out more about his recent works. We wanted to know what is the biggest challenge he faces while capturing candid moments. The photographer said: “It's definitely being noticed, and when that happens the guests will ‘play up’ for the camera. That can make it difficult to capture truly candid moments, but there are ways around that.”

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Firstname Lastname
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is giving off cute vibes, like he is about to whisk her off into a musical sequence about love.

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We were curious how the photographer builds a rapport with his clients and their guests to help them feel comfortable being photographed in an unposed way. Ian explained: “I think that anyone who hires me to shoot their wedding knows what my approach involves, and they are completely on board with that.”

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As we all know, working with people can get challenging at times. When it comes to weddings, there are big chances some of the guests may turn out to be uncooperative and make your work difficult. We wanted to know how to deal with them. Ian answered shortly: ”I try not to deal with them at all. I’ll just move on and make photographs elsewhere, but it's rare that I ever have any problems.”

Ian’s style is unique and completely different from most wedding photographers. We were interested in whether there are still some guests who request traditional, staged wedding portraits from him. Ian said: “My main goal on a wedding day is to document, and that’s what I’m hired to do. It's mostly candid but on occasion, I will shoot some group or portrait photos, although I don’t spend too much time doing that. It’s not how I like to work, and I don’t think I’m very good at making posed/staged photos. I don’t know how I want it to look until I see it afterward. That being said, I’m always happy to make group photos on request during the day. If I feel like that’s what a potential couple really wants - lots of group shots and beautiful portraits - then I’m more than happy to refer them to a more traditional wedding photographer.”

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Next, we asked about his best techniques to remain as unobtrusive as possible during a wedding shoot. Ian told us: “When I’m shooting I’m also talking to guests and mingling so I appear like just another guest - which in many ways I am. I only use small cameras so I don’t stand out too much and I often get asked if I’m a friend of the couple or a family member. Not having a big camera and lenses also puts people at ease because I don’t come across as a traditional wedding photographer, or a ‘professional’. It’s like hiding in plain sight.”

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Lastly, we wanted to know if Ian still challenges himself creatively as a wedding photographer. He said: “I don’t really see myself as a ‘wedding photographer’, more a photographer that photographs weddings. I’m interested in photography as an expressive medium, as a way to make sense of the world around me, and as a way to show others how I perceive my surroundings. The challenge and, I suppose, the inspiration, comes from the work itself. The idea is constantly evolving, as am I, and that helps me to continually see and experience new things in life. I also work on other long-term personal projects that are social documentary-driven and that helps to solidify my approach.”

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Kookamunga
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Get these crashers out of here, the bride and groom don't know these guys. Come on, this ain't no Old Country Buffet."

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Pumpkinmom
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry, this one is annoying. Small child being the center of attention on expensive equipment with a facial expression that she's showing off, not trying to play something sweet for the bride and groom. In the mirror reflection you can see everyone filming her. This isn't her first rodeo stealing the show and I doubt she was hired as the musical entertainment.

Gay child
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's a little kid having fun and being silly. She's not trying to ruin the wedding. Calm down

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MellonCollie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm so curious to know what joke was cracked here!! The guests' facial expressions are fantastic.

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Winnie the Moo
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the exact reason some people have child-free weddings. And who can blame ‘em? You pay a lot of money and then you can’t enjoy it through the screams of kids that don’t get a good upbringing…

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Shyla Bouche
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn't know there were such short wedding dresses. That looks less uncomfortable.

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The Bearded Llama
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The fella on the far right makes me think of Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson mixed together.

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VonBlade
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aha. The follow up picture to the synchronised standing one above.

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VonBlade
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wedding photos taken by the person who paps celebs on private beaches with a 800mm lens.

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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"And after just two weeks, you'll be experiencing your own lightning-fast bowel movements! Now who can I sign up for a starter kit?!" - Larry, choosing the wrong moment to make his MLM sales pitch

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VonBlade
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Three women remember their own "happiest day of your life" *grins*

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