By Jennifer Sisti, Technical Community Network

In the mid-seventies, the educational and artistic community told him he was wrong. "You're degrading professional photography by selling snapshots!" He didn't agree, and Denis doesn't back down from a challenge.

Today, Denis Reggie is noted as "America's premiere wedding photographer" by American Photo. Town and Country calls him "the greatest wedding photographer of our day," and Oprah Winfrey touted him as "the best in the business." Denis has captured the nuptials of Mariah Carey, Alan Greenspan, Kenneth Cole, and many of the Kennedy family weddings. His images have appeared in Vogue, Glamour, and Harper's Bazaar—to name a few. And he's been interviewed on shows such as Entertainment Tonight and NBC's Today show.

Denis calls his signature style "Wedding Photojournalism," where the photographer acts as a historian and blends into the background as opposed to orchestrating. "I am a witness. I'm there to intuitively, artistically document and capture the moments that are really powerful and telling but not in any way create those moments."

Denis doesn't want to interfere because "the moment the subject is aware of the camera is the exact moment the expression changes to one that is coaxed, plastic, and it isn't really telling us their personality. The greatest images I've ever taken and ones I've admired are the ones where the subject is not aware of the camera."

In the seventies and eighties, portraiture was the standard approach to weddings. Denis didn't like this style. He was confident he could find brides that would appreciate his natural approach to wedding photography. He did his research and discovered his assumptions were correct. "I sensed photography could be completely changed and that there was an opportunity for a revolution. [I thought], let me attempt to popularize the notion of a photographer being more of a follower than a leader." Although it took about 5-7 years for his style to become accepted, his work now speaks for itself, not to mention his star-studded clientele list.

It isn't easy to take a hands-off approach to wedding photography. Denis really came into his own style while capturing Maria and Arnold Schwarzenegger's wedding. "It was in the mid-80s, I was just coming into my own. It was a defining moment. Do I fix the veil [which had just gotten caught in the wind] or keep shooting? I was tempted to put the camera down, but I think I crossed the mountain." This is one of Denis' favorite photos.

Capturing that decisive moment goes beyond experience, talent, and having the right equipment. It involves extensive research and preparation. Before a wedding, Denis reviews his "My Travel Documents." This is a 40-or-so-page packet comprised of notes taken during client interactions. The packet includes maps, sunset times, client research, pictures of the reception site, and notes from the wedding planner. "I'm privy to every little nuance. If a bride mentions she will be carrying her grandmother's special something that she carried on her wedding day, I'll know it…I want to make sure I [know] something that could make her think at that moment."

When he arrives on location, Denis will attend the setting of the ceremony and reception to take mental notes. "I want to understand the technical challenges so I know what techniques to employ. The colors of the walls that may determine whether I'm able to bounce light from them, the amount of natural or window light and its color. Is it tungsten or will there be a dark candle-lit room? I want to know what my challenge is and that will point me in the direction of what my technique will be."

Denis brings at least two cameras and seven lenses to every wedding and shoots about 3,000 images. He says people might find it surprising that he doesn't use a lot of lights. "I think less is more. I've always believed that opening up the lens and using the light that was there is much more my friend then to create light that was not there. I tend to use a lower powered light so that more of the natural light is present in the image."

Denis employs the same technique for weddings that he used photographing high-school football games. He watches the eyes and expression to tell if something is going to happen. "The bride's friends may be grabbing the ring that the groom designed to look at it. That is a cool shot. But maybe the groom is looking from 15 feet away and loving the reaction to the ring. The action is important, but maybe the reaction is even more important. Be aware of the nuances and sometimes the minutia because it is those things that are so telling."

"I've always been of the mindset to learn ‘how' from others…but once you learn the rules, break them." Other than capturing wedding subjects unaware, other rules he bends are, "[Use] of the blur because it gives a feeling; it lets the mind figure out there is action there. If a hair is out of place, or the slip is showing, some photographers want to fix it and make it right. That is not my way. Most of the pictures I've done…the camera is not level. I'm breaking that rule because life doesn't happen bubble-balanced and perfectly level."

Denis' journalistic approach and perspective keeps him energized. "I go with the unknown. I go without a list of what needs to be [done] as much as a gut feeling. To some folks not being in control is a huge challenge. I like not being in control. I realize if I was in charge it would be a different mission and quite honestly, probably an easier one."

After documenting 1,800 weddings, Denis thrives on the challenge and excitement of capturing each one uniquely. "I get all wound-up the day before and I'm a basket case. I jump on the plane, go somewhere and hopefully do a great job." At 6' 3" he's also hoping you won't see him.