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A big complaint brides have is when their wedding photographer didn’t get one decent photo of a loved one but got 1,000 angles of the bride’s shoes.
There’s a prioritizing of detail shots like that because wedding blogs (and bridal magazines) popularized showing details as that’s what brings in views for them as brides search the internet for ideas. So photographers hungry to get their photos seen spend a disproportional amount of time at weddings grabbing tons of detail shots to get material to submit to blogs – but that’s not the stuff wedding photos are really about.
Years later a bride doesn’t open her wedding album to fawn lovingly over the rhinestones on her shoes.
Sure I photograph details – of course! – but I can’t see a bride’s grandparent, father, mother or other loved one as some necessary evil to reluctantly photograph in lieu of getting a zillion shoe shots. And yes, I’ve read posts by photographers on pro photography forums where they write how they’re not interested in photographing family moments, ignoring them to go after a detail instead. I can’t comprehend the mentality of those photographers who feel that way. They feel the wedding exists for their portfolio’s purposes, and not for the couple’s interests.
But I’m there to document the wedding couple’s lives. Trends of details will change but our human, natural longing to keep connected with our loved ones, to remember them, if only with a meaningful photo, grows as time, life and death separates us. This is the true value of having photographs.
I can’t say the same about photos of the shoes.
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105 Comments for What Wedding Photos Are The Most Meaningful For Modern Wedding Couples? | New York City Wedding Photographer
Yeh I get tired of seeing pictures of couples in the woods holding hands staring at the camera on all the wedding blogs. Your pictures are something a bride can look back on and remember her family with.
These are the kinds of wedding pictures I want too!
My grandfather passed away soon after our wedding so I can tell you I know I would’ve loved to have a photo like that of him with me at my wedding which now I’ll never have. Because our photographer got a picture of my grandfather. It’s the last picture ever taken of him. He’s just sitting at the table while my grandmother is talking to my aunt. Nothing special. Wish I had you as my photographer.
The wedding pictures are great! I’ve looked at your gallery – what lovely colors. I love that last one the best.
This is soooo true! I’ve searched online looking at wedding photographers my friends have recommended and ALL their wedding photos are the same poses! Yours are different! That photo made me cry!
So good to see a wedding photographer who gets it.
That’s so true! My sister had a husband wife team of photographers and they cared more about taking pictures of the stuff on the tables but only got one picture with our grandmother and it wasn’t even anything good.
That is so sweet. And you’re right. I wish I could have photos of my dad at my wedding. He passed away the night after I got engaged.
I couldn’t agree more. I just flipped through a wedding magazine showing pictures of brides with their grooms wearing caps and suspenders sitting on pick up trucks in the middle of a field. Looking like we’re auditioning for The Notebook is NOT what my wedding’s about!
You must be a sweetheart and a certified genius.
Don’t forget the antique typewripters!
You really did capture a poignant moment there and I’m sure THAT pic will be one of her lifetime favorites forever!
Or holding fake mustaches in front of your faces.
I agree its cookie cutter and really has no place at a wedding unless you really grow a fake mustache 
Seriously…. when we have our children I want to show them the family and friends we have and our love. I don’t want my wedding photos to be stupid stock shots that have absolutely no meaning to me.
And how about the redculous pictures of bridesmaids with their heads cut off. I don’t get how that’s a keeper! Mr. Masana is a genius with capturing mood and telling stories and that’s why he gets couples who know what great photos are. Did you see his reviews? That’s why I’m booking him for my wedding!!!!!
I guess the big difference between you and other photographers is that you’re not just taking pictures, you’re telling a real story.
Everyone’s talking about you and I can see why right in that photo!! The look on the bride’s granddad’s face alone! I can feel his heart bursting with love for his grandaughter!
You really do have to have a heart to get the tender sweet memories. Beautiful pic!
Wow. There are NO other words.
What??? You mean you don’t make the bridal party jump up in the air wearing sunglasses but get real pictures instead??? Hee hee
That’s timeless!
I found your blog from being listed as one of the best photo blogs on alltop and just looked through your portfolio of wedding and engagement pictures. YOU ARE ONE TALENTED PERSON!
GE shot my cousin’s wedding and when we saw picture after picture he got we were breathless I kid you not! He sees little moments others miss and those are the moments you want to remember! Now all I need is a groom because I know who my photographer’s going to be
I find myself agreeing with everyone else. You are amazing!
Wonderful!!!
That is the “definitive moment” you got there! That spilt second that tells the whole story!
As a fellow photographer I admit I’m an admirier of your work. You really know your craft.
I’m a wedding photographer and I thought I’m pretty good— but you really are amazing at it! It’s a pleasure to see your photos! Keep up the good work.
All us other photographers are still learning. You’re the master!
I can say this much. My friends had seen G.E. Masana when they were looking for their wedding photographer but ended up booking someone else. They REGRET it. When my boyfriend and I got engaged, they recommended we stay away from their photogreapher and go right to G.E. That says it all.
Bummed that you’re not available for my date!
that’s “at a loss for words” beautiful. His face in the photo made me grin from ear to ear.
My wedding planner sent me the link to this blog post (as well as some others of yours). I like the way you see things.
+1000
Your work is so totally amazing.
Nailed it.
I can truly can say your photos are breathtaking. And I don’t say that lightly.
Tears. I’m in tears. And while I’m in tears, I’m also laughing about what you wrote about shoes.
I could look at your pictures all day.
I came across your blog as I’m searching wedding photographers in nyc and I must say that this is right on topic. Looking through photographer’s web site after web site, if I see one more picture of a bridal party jumping in the air I’m ready to not have a wedding photographer at all and just rely on my friends to snap some pictures because chances are they’ll be better than what I’ve seen. So what a relief it is to find a wedding photographer who understands what brides like me want. Show me what happened at my wedding!
As soon I looked through all your pictures I said to my future husband that I found our photographer!
I wanna see more! Good work!
You are awesome dude!!!I don’t know whoo has it better, you or your wedding couples.
I woke up to find this blog in my inbox. And now I’ve looked through all your other photos and all i can say is…. wow.
If anyone comes to this site and just sees only this, let me tell you this is but just one drop of his gigantic talent! His pictures are like art work and the moments he captures are deeply moving. I hired him for my July wedding and I’d hire him again in a heartbeat. And I’m not getting paid to say this.
I confess! I look at your photos and deconstruct them for hours just so I can learn from you. Do you ever conduct workshops or seminars for photographers? You should!!!
Amazing work and an incredible eye.
It’s really just genius the way that you see life.
I’m kind a obsessing over how you get those emotions in your pictures.
Wow. that shot has heart and soul.
BEAUTIFUL!!! And you did a fabulous job on her pictures! Thank you for posting this one.
Okay then that’s it, you’re photographing my wedding. end of story.
Looking forward to having you at my wedding G.E.!
cryinggggggg. BEST BLOG EVER. I love your photos so much!!
oh gee, G.E.! You continually raise the bar. That’s perfection you got right there pal.
You may recall Andy and Alex’s wedding, that’s where I first heard of you. You’re photos are the best!
Seriously!!?!!! Just beautiful. You nailed it.
You always make the best wedding pics I’ll probably ever see in my life.
I feel as if I was that bride too
Love it! It’s ridiculously cute!
You captured the moment. Beautifully.
I love this picture.
I was just adimring all of your photos. They’re fabulous. Someday when I get married, I want you there too. Sigh.
That photo has a soul. That’s what it is.
I want to cry when I see your pictures. Everytime you post something I think he can’t possible beat the last one. But you do!
Wow. I’m speechless. I’ve seen a lot of talented shots lately, but none brought a tear to my eye like your’s did.
Okay, I’ve looked at every picture in your gallerys and am compelled to comment. I’d have you shoot my wedding!
Simply amazing…Thanks for the inspiration.
I’m sitting here sniffly and teary.
Way more than a touch of awesome here! i LOVE your work!
this is so beautiful, it drives me to tears.
Got a little teary looking at it.
That’s very authentic. Sweet too!
Who needs words with pictures like this. You’re an amazing storyteller.
So much emotion. Mmmmm. good.
Your work is just always AMAZING!
all I can do is sigh.
There’s nothing more I can add to what everyone else has already said. Beautiful work!
So good, it makes even a stranger like me have a tear in my eye. Your picture tells of a beautiful story between them.
AND it’s a beautiful black and white photo too.
Yet another great wedding photo!
You are one of the few whose pictures i truly feel tell their own story. like this one.
You really catch all the feelings and meaning.
Anyone and everyone should listen up to this.
and I’m crying. If you were here I’d hug you.
You really describe well how weddings are bigger than all of us.
Yes, yes, yes! This is just what I was talking about with my friends!
i get butterflys looking at your photographs
my heart aches a little with the beauty, creativity & richness you captured. Other than that, words fail me.
Such a beautiful story told in one picture. That’s very moving and it’s also remarkable how you can say so much about people in one shot.
Just wow. How lovely. I could feel the emotion and love in the image. So sweet! What a wondrous thing to make the viewer feel as though they know those in the photos.
It’s like you’re putting into pictures what others can only put into words.
A beautiful heartfelt wedding will still be that with or without the details which may or may not be relevant to the couple.
Trends come and go but real images last forever.
It is so true, the day is about more than the ‘things’ that people see. It’s about the love of two people and the celebration of them committing themselves to one another, forever.
Your photos are an awesome portrayal of love.
I have never seen anything so beautiful in my life as these photographs.
You can feel the joy just by seeing them.
How you manage to capture such joy is still utterly beyond me.
Absolutely amazing, you didn’t miss a moment, do you?
I am blown away. My mom has been shooting weddings for about 20 years. She is very good. But, damn. You’re better.
Sure looks like she loves her gramps and he loves her back!
I am also in awe.
Damn. You’re right.
Love the truth spoken through your photos and words.
That was very thought provoking…
I will tell you why all you see are details – because that is all these blogs want are details and they care about nothing else! Damn anybody can take an image of a centerpiece standing still.
Awwwwwww. Sweet!!!!