Superbikes to weddings

So . . . what does motorcycle racing have to do with wedding and portrait photography?

I’ve been a life-long motorcycle rider and enthusiast. Even got trained at Las Vegas Speedway by Freddie Spencer, former world champion racer. For several years our son, Jason, went with me to watch the annual superbike races at Mid Ohio Race Course. But when he relocated to Yuma Arizona in 1998 I told Kathy that I wasn’t planning to attend.

“But you look forward to the races each year”, she said. “Why don’t I go along instead?”

I was convinced she would be bored silly and anyway, there was little or no chance of finding a hotel room in the area just days before the race (when we were having this conversation).

”Fine”, I told her. “If you can find a room we’ll go” – and I was convinced that would be impossible. Well, a few minutes later she announced that we had a room at the White Fence Inn just across the street from the track. Little did we know at that moment how that simple decision would impact our life.

Bill and Ellen Hiser, the innkeepers, had just added two modern rooms adjoining their century-old farmhouse inn. And, because no one knew about them, one had been available. And so began our friendship with the Hisers and our introduction into the inner circles of superbike racing. It turns out that all the other rooms at the inn were reserved each year by the people from Dunlop Racing Tires, Race Tire Services and the California Superbike School staff. We became friends with Jim Allen of Dunlop, Steve Brubaker at RTS and Keith and Judy Code, owners of CSS. As a result of our photographs of the races and through their support we gained full access to the event each year.

Standing six feet from a group of 200 HP motorcycles at the starting line or a few feet from the track when they come by at speeds approaching 200 mph is a visceral experience. And, although both Kathy and I had been photographing for many years, learning to anticipate the moment, reacting instantly to unforeseen action and learning about getting into the right position to capture the drama was invaluable experience.

The days of studio-posed portraits and wedding formals are long gone – and good riddance! Today it’s essential to anticipate and capture the precious moments.

Those old style structured shots can’t begin to compare with the emotions that a more candid and informal style of photography produces. This new style is often, erroneously, termed “photojournalism”. In actuality, a pure photojournalistic approach to a wedding would prevent the photographer from coaching the bride and groom, instead, “lurking” around to catch the action as it unfolds. In fact, most “photojournalist” photographers DO coach their subjects. And thank goodness. These days most brides still want a few of those formal shots (bride, groom and brides parents, etc.). But capturing those seldom requires the formal structure of days past and often produces a more relaxed and natural result while still meeting the “formal” needs of the wedding party. Such shots should never require more than 20 minutes out of the day, allowing the balance of the wedding day to unfold spontaneously. The payoff - photographic memories that evoke emotions just as strong as those of a great superbike race. Anticipating the dramatic moments and capturing them for you and your family to enjoy forever.

Next time – what should you expect of a photographer?