Photographer Geoff Chesman shoots everything from weddings to bat mitzvahs to portraits. Approximately 40% of his business is weddings. About 10% of those are same-sex couples.
Although the photo-taking process is the same no matter who's getting married, a photographer needs to be sensitive to the needs and desires of the couple when documenting a same-sex wedding, said Chesman. For example, it is important to use ''more neutral language in discussions.''
When gay marriage was legalized in Washington, D.C. Chesman saw a bump in business. ''People were excited they could finally do this,'' he said. "A few of the couples I shot last year were people who had been together a long time and were happy to have it recognized legally."
Chesman gets most of his business through referrals, but he is planning to get listed on the website gayweddings.com.
