For one bridal photographer, the job is more than taking pictures

Now married for 13 years after having put his marriage at risk because of his own infidelity, Hsu actively tries to promote happy marriages by urging the couples he photographs to receive pre-marital counseling. “It's important for couples, before tying the knot, to prepare for problems that are likely to arise in a marriage and make sure they can overcome them responsibly,” said the 38-year-old Hsu.

The photographer developed his novel approach five years ago when, while shooting bridal photos for a couple, he suddenly felt at a loss as to how to carry on with his job.

He tried chatting with the couple about how they met, their expectations for marriage, and their opinions about life, and found that this helped him capture better images.

Now, before every shooting session, Hsu requests every client to fill out a form and provide information such as their most unforgettable experience, their most touching stories, their favorite environment, the scenes they desire the most, praise for themselves or their partners, and the purposes and expectations of taking the photos.

The process, which can take one to two hours, is like having the clients conduct a truthful review of their lives.

Couples sometimes differ over their answers, but Hsu believes helping them discover their differences before getting married is helpful to enhancing their understanding of each other.

“It's important for people to be honest with themselves before they can be serious about marriage,” he explains. Many marriage experts share Hsu's views.

Jade Wu, founder of the Dorcas Family Ministry, a Christian civic organization providing marriage counseling, said in a modern society in which many people accept divorce as a solution to marriage problems, couples need to be reminded to deal with marriage realistically, especially before being led to the altar.

“Marriages are very complicated. Chemistry alone is not enough to make them last,” Wu said.

Among all issues, she observed, miscommunication has been the most common cause of conflict in marriages.

Hsu has observed that couples tend to become uneasy and sensitive immediately before getting married. Throughout his career as a bridal photographer, he has encountered many couples who fought over wedding details, leading even some of them to impulsively demand that the wedding be called off.

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