MEET THE EXPERT: ANNA KIDMAN, PHOTOGRAPHER

Residing in Auckland with her husband and little boy, Maxime, Anna Kidman is a photographer, dreamer and former magazine girl. Her photographs are often described as ‘raw, romantic, poignant and emotional’ - qualities that make her an exceptional wedding photographer as she sees more beauty in the subtleties and grey moments, than in the overtly manufactured and composed. We talk to Anna about her wedding photography and why she loves what she does.

How did you become a wedding photographer?

It happened organically. I used to work as a photographer in the very busy world of magazines, but when I had my little boy, I decided to completely freelance on my own so I could balance motherhood and creativity. A friend’s friend asked me to shoot their wedding and I fell in love with the process. Since then, I’ve been really lucky that my work has attracted wonderful creative couples.

What do you love about shooting weddings?

It’s very humbling to be there for such a special day. I love the vulnerability, the trust I have with my clients, and that it's often just me and them. I get to experience what they feel, when they feel it. I also love their families, I love the ins and outs of the day and the differences between clients. Most of all it reminds me that we are all bound by the same visual language. I don’t have a single bride and groom that haven’t become my friends. They are drawn to my work because we see the world in the same way…which is both flattering and binding.

I enjoy the collaborative process. For me it’s about how to communicate everything beautifully, in a fine art way that reflect the couples I am working with. I’m very much influenced by some of the leading American photographers that favour a sense of timelessness over complete photo documentary - I won’t shoot you in bad light just because you happen to be there. For me, it’s an expression of love and beauty. I want my brides to look at their photos and think, I didn’t know I could look that naturally beautiful. I put so much emphasis on genuine emotion and a sense of intimacy.

What should a bride and groom look for in a wedding photographer?

First and foremost look for someone whose aesthetic resonates with you. With any good photographer there should be consistency - their eye should be pretty consistent, and you should be able to identify their work by each image. I would be wary of photographers that don't consider colour and tonality in their work because ultimately you don't know what you are going to get. I approach my weddings as a magazine editorial, I want the first images I take on the day, to feel consistent with the last. I constantly think about how to tell a story beautifully and consistently.

Look at several weddings they've photographed, make sure it is their work you love, rather than the style of the bride and groom. I do believe that mostly we are bound by a visual language. If you like someone's photography, sense of style, film choices, music…chances are you are similar kinds of people and will have other things in common also. It is so important to genuinely like your photographer, they are responsible for the one aspect that you get to take away from your wedding. You need to trust and believe that visually they will tell your story in a way that resonates with you - if you don't, I would think about choosing someone else…trust is so important.

In your eyes what is the most special thing to capture on a wedding day?

The quiet moments. How you look when you think no one’s watching, how you smile, when you’re genuinely happy. I look for moments that really reflect how my couples are when they’re alone. The loud moments (for example the kiss and first dance) are important, but I personally resonate most with the moments in between. They feel the least contrived. It’s in these moments I can create something wonderful, intimate and authentic.

If I could get married again what would I do differently?

This is an amazing question….I’d probably wear something different because I constantly fall in love with new dresses. I’d commission my girlfriend Laura Blade to style (www.laurablade.com) because her aesthetic is international and timeless...but I’d still end up in the pool in a borrowed white bikini followed by dancing until the early hours...I did some things right the first time.