Photography
A Day of Swooning
Weddings are typically full of stereotypes of femininity and masculinity, so it is no surprise that wedding photography also showcases the differences in how women and men prepare for and partake in the wedding. Yet as noted in Cinderella Dreams, “Virtually no bride or groom, feminist or not, seems to give much thought to the stereotyped poses suggested by bridal photographers” (Otnes & Pleck 259). This is a major area being overlooked, especially as photographs serve to capture the memories and represent the event to both the guests and outsiders for years to come.
The display of femininity is easy to spot in wedding photography. The bride is shown preparing for her big day, putting on her dress in a room filled with other women who assist her and primp themselves with makeup and accessories. There are close-ups of her hand with her engagement ring, her hair, her bouquet, her veil, her garter, her face looking at the camera beaming with happiness. If anyone is going to be shown with a tear, it is likely to be a woman. Often, though not always, there is a shot of her with her head down, either camera-shy or overcome by emotion. This submissive gesture is not very often performed by men. It is the bride’s job to swoon, after all.
Masculinity shows up in the tough-guy poses of the groom and his attendants. He might be shown putting on a tie, but there is not the same attention given to every part of his attire. He might don sunglasses for a picture or two, or be shown in an action shot of jumping or play-fighting. His role is that of the cool, relaxed and appropriately happy gentleman who is in awe of his gorgeously decorated bride.
Anyone looking at wedding photographs for a prolonged period of time will also notice a pattern in the specific moments being captured on film. What generally happens is that “the photographer hands the bride and groom a checklist of shots that serves as a routine for the wedding day” (Otnes & Pleck 132). They can then decide which ones they want to add or subtract. “There is thus a huge discrepancy between the reality of standardization and the ideology of the wedding industry that each wedding is unique and different” (Otnes & Pleck 132). Weddings tend to look the same since it takes real effort to break out of the cookie-cutter mold of traditions. And the white wedding – along with its stereotypes of femininity and masculinity – will continue to be reinforced through images in the media as well as actual wedding photos (albeit retouched) as long as the standard remains unchallenged.
Source
Otnes, Cele C. & Elizabeth H. Pleck. Cinderella Dreams: The Allure of the Lavish Wedding. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003.
