Shooting a Wedding

A wedding begins long before the big day. Perhaps it’s the dream of a little girl as she watches her aunt or older sister take those steps down the aisle. Or maybe it was seeing the classic “Father of the Bride” with Liz Taylor on her father’s arm or maybe the more recent comedy with Steve Martin! Whatever it was, there is a vision of how the event will transpire. It’s not only a ceremony (in fact, the ceremony itself may be the briefest slice of the entire event!) but it’s the sharing of the special day with family and friends, many of them from afar.

As a photographer, I like to begin shooting the event with the preparations. There are two key reasons for that. First, the preparations are important, and allow a particular attention to details that isn’t possible once guests begin to appear and the event takes on a life of its own. Second, when the slide show and Book are put together, it forms an ineffable part of the buildup, creating a tempo that moves toward the first climax of the ceremony.

And it’s not over yet. A number of important steps make the reception and party just as memorable. While the bride and groom are whisked away for a romantic shoot along the beach or in elegant corners of the villa, the guests enjoy the first cocktail. It allows for some private time as well as a chance to catch the breath. I’m there with my camera and in a spirit of play, shoot key images of those first moments of the couples life together. (“Can you believe it? We’ve done it!”)

When appropriate, I can help set up group shots or family portraits with the invaluable help of my assistant, Cergio. He’ll help check details such as the placement of the veil, flowers or the flow of the dress. (In fact, he’s been known to do miracles with a safety pin or needle and thread when necessary.)

During the dinner, I tend to stay back a bit just to allow the guests to appreciate the dinner when it’s served piping hot. I’ll do atmosphere shots or look for other vantage points without getting in the way. But I do reserve the right to tap the shoulder of the bride or groom when the sun nears the horizon and it looks like we’ll be fortunate enough to taking advantage of the colors of the sunset. Frequently the half-hour afterward is truly a magic hour, at least on the Vallarta beaches, when the sky begins to turn indigo with traces of orange from the obscured sun.

There might be speeches during the toasts, maybe a cake to be cut and shared, a first dance and more. At each point, I will be there with my camera, recording the joy of the moment. My secret wish is that every time you view the photographs of your wedding, you remember how happy and how much in love you were. This is my personal contribution to peace on earth.