Jason Gardner is a Brooklyn-based photographer. He spoke with Prequels about his work.
You talk about your work as “visual anthropology” – what does that mean?
It means not just shooting the obvious stuff. It means shooting everything that builds up the culture of the day. Part of how I do that is I ask a lot of questions beforehand. One question I always ask couples is, “What’s important to you?” Not just what family members you want photographed, but what aspects of your wedding, or what you’re wearing, is important to your family. A few years ago, the groom had a pair of cufflets that had been in the family for four generations. Had I not asked the question, he might not have thought to tell me. So I made sure to include that in the “getting-ready” shots. Just last month, I shot a wedding where the table under the chuppah included a teddy bear. The groom had had this teddy bear since he was 2 years-old and they dressed it up in a little suit. So while they were getting ready I went out there to make sure that was included in the album.
How did you get into photography?
I’ve loved it ever since I was a kid. My parents were always taking me to photography shows and I studied it in high school, but that was all black and white. I went to Cornell for college, and there, everyone is “pre” something; pre-law, pre-medicine. I wasn’t “pre” anything, but I was really into marketing, because I was creative. I worked in marketing for four years after school but I was unfulfilled, and had a quarter-life crisis when I was 25. I backpacked around the world on-and-off for 2 years. When I came back and was trying to decide what to do, I started looking at my photographs, and decided I would try it. It’s what I’d always loved. It was about having the emotional maturity to connect my passion with my profession.
What’s the most fun you’ve had shooting a wedding?
Probably at a wedding I photographed at Seneca Lake, just because of the location. It was beautiful. And the people were really nice and super laid back. I’m also a big music person, so I have a lot of fun when I like the music that’s being played. But I try to have fun at every wedding, actually.
What makes a wedding really great?
It’s all in the eye of the beholder. But I’d say it’s the combination of stylish but not over-the-top, and the people. Something is always bound to go wrong, and some people are extremely uptight about things, and others are more laid back. I tend to shoot for the more laid back crowd. Also, having a lot of emotion makes for a great wedding. I also like it when the couple writes their own words for each other, rather than repeating something pre-written for them.
What do you do when you’re not working?
I play squash, I garden in my backyard, and I’m big into music, especially jazz, world music, blues, and Brazilian music. I also like to enjoy New York’s art scene. Culture in general is what I love.
