Marc
to photograph anything always involves you, it´s just the question if this is a projection of your thoughts or an implication of the happenings that lead to make you take a picture, active or passive.
If you are a war photographer, like James Nachtwey sooner or later you will be involved, or you are no human. To see all this and not react is probably not possible. It will lead you to go beyond photography and act-stand up:
James Nachtwey fights XDR-TB | Video on TED.com
on the other side I believe it is not possible to make wedding photography the same way. In the US and also Europe, but even more in Asia the professional setup will lead the bride and groom and the wedding event as a part of the expected output, the professional portfolio that shall be met.
A personal relationship, besides a good briefing of who is who and the timetable, may even be a hindrance, because your personal feelings for "friends" may get into the way of the performance they may expect.
here is an interesting trend in India (it also exists in other countries but I have not found this expressed more clear than here ):
Best wedding photographers India, Wedding Photographer India | Sanjay Austa
Same thing for fashion photography, sure the model and the photographer interact, but the vision comes from the Photographer, the model is a projection of the idea you have. Again friendship or even a personal relationship may even be a hindrance.
Nachtwey says - we are witnesses and have to give testimony.
A directing photographer will probably change the look of the wedding by his interaction and the fashion photographer Definitely does direct the game.
read what Peter Lindberg says on his website
PETER LINDBERGH
"....Creativity is the desire to express ourselves. To formulate these expressions, we have to draw from our reservoir of experience, dreams, desires and experimentation and mix together what was, what is, and what could be... I don't think you can learn it, it is rather something that evolves. Your perception of everything in your life fills up this reservoir.
Some people are drawn to create and express themselves, others are drawn to reflect, to analyze. But in the end, they all could be creative if they had the desire to explore the way in which they are integrated in the world of their experiences. Because creativity is really a rebirth, a true tone we feel for ourselves and for our world. Then our work becomes a real part of who we are. Maybe all this is a question of how deep we are willing to go..."
So - it´s a question of what you want to do.........
regards
Stefan