AUTHENTICITY IS DEAD - LONG LIVE… Something Real?

Wedding Planning

1 Feb

Existentialism [ eg-zi-sten-shuh-liz-uhm, ek-si- ] - noun Philosophy. Taken from Dictionary.com

A philosophical movement that stresses the individual's unique position as a self-determining agent responsible for making meaningful, authentic choices in a universe seen as purposeless or irrational: existentialism is associated especially with Heidegger, Jaspers, Marcel, and Sartre, and is opposed to philosophical rationalism and empiricism.

why wedding photography shouldn’t try so hard to feel “authentic”

In a world of fake news and endless sources of useless information, we can tend to become dependent on and latch onto a particular source, whether that’s false or not, it resonates with us for some reason. It speaks our own internal language.
I began thinking about how I, myself was using Authenticity to send out my branding message and tapping in to those buzz words that people might use to find me in this vast ocean of shit and fake news and stimulants that may or may not stop us for a few moments from doom scrolling our way into infinity... The thing is that I’d been using the word Authentic with complete disregard for it’s meaning. How the heck can I be an Authentic Photographer?!

The Word That Lost Its Meaning

“Authenticity” used to mean something. Until it didn’t.

It became a buzzword. A default setting. A checkbox that everyone (photographers included) started ticking without asking what it was actually pointing to. At some point, even I was using it without much thought. It felt right... until I looked closer.

This is a short reflection on where that word went wrong, what I’m focusing on instead, and why it might matter to you if you’re planning a wedding and looking for something a little less filtered, a little more human.

The Illusion of ‘Authentic Photography’

There’s this idea floating around that if a photographer stands far enough back, doesn’t say much, and documents things “as they happen,” then it’s authentic.

But the truth is, every photo is shaped by who takes it, what they choose to frame, what they leave out, and the energy they bring into the space. That doesn’t make it fake, it just means photography is interpretation, not fact.
Descartes said, “I think, therefore I am.” Great. I exist; you exist; my camera exists. Snap a frame and boom! Proof of life. But authenticity? That’s murkier. Every photograph is filtered through:

my perspective
your mood
the light at 4:37 pm
whether Uncle Pete just yelled “Cheese!” behind me

None of that is fake, but none of it is neutral either. Photography is a conversation, not a courtroom exhibit.

The word has become such a catch-all that it doesn’t tell you anything about the photographer, their process, or whether you’ll actually vibe with them.

Let’s Talk About Trust (Not Trends)

If we’re going to make something meaningful together, it starts with trust over trends. I don’t like to manufacture a connection or rehearse a script I’ve used on every other couple.

My default is introverted so I’m not particularly one for rehearsed small talk or asking questions just because that’s what photographers are supposed to do. I’d rather get to know you in quieter, more intentional ways, with questionnaires specifically designed to get to know your personalities, this way I can get a better idea of how you interact with one another and the people around you. That’s the stuff I notice. That’s the story I’m interested in telling.

That’s the kind of “real” I can get behind.

…Plus I’m a complete and utter introvert who finds the smallest encounter practically unbearable. All I can really do is offer up what I do on a fresh hot plate of deliciousness and hope it doesn’t get thrown back and scraped off into the bin.

What I Actually Bring to the Table

I don’t promise perfection. I don’t promise a list of “must-have” shots. What I do promise is that I’ll show up fully, stay curious, and work quietly but intentionally to document what unfolds.

I’ll look for the things that often go unseen, the in-between bits that tell the actual story. The photos that make you feel something a year from now, or ten.

Because the truth is, wedding images aren’t inherently special. They become special because they’re yours. They hold meaning because you lived that day and I was there to notice it with you.

Quiet Attention: I tend to gravitate to where the moments live, not where the Pinterest boards say they should live.
Strategic Nudging: If a lampshade’s growing out of your head, I’ll nudge it. Otherwise, I let things breathe.
A Story, Not a Checklist: Hero shots are fine, but the heartbeat is in the action, the in-betweens and the little details that have helped make your wedding all the more personal.
Shared Ownership: The final photos matter because you lived them and I noticed. Co-authors, not subject-object.

TL;DR

I’m done promising authenticity. I’m here to offer craft, curiosity, and the calm headspace you need to forget the camera is even there. If that sounds like your cup of Yorkshire, let’s chat.