From a single photo
In a small house on Van Cao Street (Gia Vien Ward), Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh (68 years old) carefully opened an old wooden box. Inside, between the carefully wrapped cloths, was a black and white wedding photo discolored by time.
She said: “This photo was taken in 1979 at a photo studio on Tam Bac Street. I only have one photo like this in my entire life. That day, I wore a white ao dai borrowed from my cousin, with fake flowers pinned to my chest, and a pure white embroidered veil on my head. At that time, my husband and I only took one photo.”
In Ms. Thanh’s time, taking wedding photos was a rarity. There was no color film, no post-production editing, just an old Soviet camera and a pre-printed backdrop. Ms. Thanh said that in those days, wedding photos were as precious as gold. The bride and groom stood solemnly, eyes looking straight ahead, faces expressionless. “No one dared to laugh out loud for fear of blurring the photo, closing their eyes,” Ms. Thanh said.
Photographer and journalist Vu Dung, who has spent a lot of time working in wedding photography, recalls: “In the past, the bride did her own makeup for wedding photos. The groom and bride wore simple outfits, mainly white ao dai or newly made floral dresses. Many people also wore military uniforms. We only had a flash, so we had to watch the light very carefully. After taking the photo, the film was developed, and we had to wait a whole week to get the photos. Because it was a mechanical camera, taking the film and developing the photos, wedding photography required the artist to be very careful and meticulous in every detail, unlike today's digital photography.”
Wedding photography in the 60s and 70s was not for showing off or for beauty, but as a mark, a product to record an important event in one’s life. The photo, though small, was carefully preserved. Wedding photos at that time were only small in size, fitting in the palm of the hand. Families with better conditions would frame them and put them in the closet or hang them in the bedroom…
...to many styles
Over the years, wedding photography technology has changed. Now there are more wedding photography studios with a variety of accompanying services from costumes, accessories and more modern cameras. Couples not only take photos in the studio but also picnic, take photos in places with beautiful scenery, famous landscapes, scenic spots or relics, places associated with the love memories of the two people...
Ms. Bui Thi Tuyet, owner of TuArt Wedding studio in Le Thanh Nghi ward, shared: “Every year we take hundreds of wedding photos. Customers now not only want to take photos for the sake of it, but also want to tell the story of their love. Some couples choose a vintage style (nostalgic, romantic), others like to take outdoor photos, and some couples even hire a filming crew to have a photo album and make a video telling their love story like a short film.”
Technology and digital have turned wedding photos into creative products, where every detail is carefully calculated from light, composition, color, and emotion. Post-production editing with software, combined with flycam filming and lighting effects make today's wedding photos very different from those of the past.
Ms. Pham Ngoc Huyen, a young bride in Ngo Quyen ward, shared: “We chose to take wedding photos on Cat Ba island, which is considered a green pearl in the middle of the Gulf of Tonkin. Getting married is an important and meaningful event for us, so this time we decided to make a big investment. Before taking photos and editing the video, we and the crew surveyed the scene first, came up with ideas and the itinerary, and the shooting location according to our wishes. Although the price of a photo album with such an elaborate investment and taken in such a far away location is more expensive, we accept the investment because this is a big event in everyone's life.”
The biggest difference compared to the past is the spirit of personalization. Wedding photos are now not only "for saving" but also "for sharing" and "to express personality". Many couples post their wedding albums on social networks, choosing a humorous, rustic style or recreating their love story through each frame. Some couples like to take nostalgic, rustic photos, so they can choose to take wedding photos right in the rice fields or familiar places where they used to go on dates when they were in love. It can be seen that the change in the way of taking wedding photos is not only a step forward in technology but also reflects social movements and aesthetic thinking through each generation. From "preserving images", now wedding photos are also a way for people to express their feelings, personality and outlook on life.
Wedding photos, through many generations, are still an indispensable part of the spiritual life of Vietnamese people. From simple black and white photos in wooden frames to elaborate art albums, all share a common thread: love, the desire for happiness.
HAI MINHSource: https://baohaiphong.vn/chup-anh-cuoi-xua-va-nay-527453.html
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