Do you think this will hurt or help my portfolio?

[KrysLove]

I am going to be photographing a wedding coming up the beginning of May. My question is about my portfolio. They are not doing a traditional wedding. What I mean by that is the wedding party will be wearing jeans and western shirts. Now my sister thinks that it might not be the best idea to put them in my portfolio because the bride wont be in a traditional wedding dress but at the same time you know it is hard to say. Do you think as long as the photos are well done that people will overlook this fact or do you think it will hurt my portfolio? Or should I put it in a separate section under something like Non-Traditional Wedding? Please let me know what you think.

Thank you in advance.

[jdepould]

I think it depends on your market. If you want people who plan non-traditional weddings, then it's a no-brainer. I wouldn't necessarily shy away from using some of it in your book if you're going after the traditional market unless you live somewhere hyper-conservative.

As long as the photos are up to your usual standard (whatever that may be), they'll just go toward your versatility as a shooter. I wouldn't have them dominate the book, and I wouldn't start or end with them though.

[fletch]

If you are talking through a portfolio with clients face to face it would be a great talking point. An oportunity to show you consider how to shoot each wedding individally rather than just sticking to a formula. Everybody thinks their wedding is unique, even if they don't go as far as wearing jeans.

Out of context on a web portfolio with no context it may look like you had your friends pose for some filler shots.

[srobbins]

I would have to agree with Fletch. I believe it would be a good addition to your portfolio simply to show that you can be versatile depending on your customers wants and needs. Not every wedding that comes along will be one that is traditional. At the same time, I would not let it dominate the portfolio unless you plan on doing mainly non-traditional weddings as jdepould said.