Wedding Day
Here’s one of my favourite sayings: shooting a wedding is like getting on a train. Once it leaves the station, it follows a schedule that the photographer passengers cannot change.
I like to arrive at the central station one to two hours early. This affords me preparation time used to confirm that all batteries are fully charged; the memory cards in the cameras are erased and properly named. I also go through the locations on a map app to confirm where I need to be; the train stops. Sometimes, the drive between the ceremony and the reception can be long and prone to heavy traffic. The bride can be late; not the photographer.
As part of my preparation, I like to look up inspirational photos taken by wedding photographers I admire: Sam Hurd, Two Mann Studios, Paris for Two, Raquel Benito; to name a few.
I also re-check the weather forecast for the whole day. Couples often ask for sunset photos. But will there be a golden hour?
Once the train leaves the station, the first stop is photographing the groom and bride preps. Typically, the primary photographer shoots the bride prep while the second documents the groom and groomsmen. I enjoy both roles equally.
The “shot list” for the groom prep includes the details (photographs of tie or bow tie, shoes, rings, watch, cologne, etc.), the outfit (typically the jacket hanging by the window), everyone getting dressed (tying shoelaces, putting on the jacket, the best man or one of the parents helping the groom with the tie, etc.), all permutations of pairing and grouping (the parents, the groom with each parent and both parents, the groom with each groomsman and the whole gang, etc.). Then there are candid moments. Part of the thrill of photographing a wedding is anticipating and capturing them.
No two wedding mornings are the same. On one occasion, I arrived at the groom’s home to find both his parents transfixed by an Italian Serie A football match. The groom had to ask them not once but twice to get dressed for photos (not to mention the wedding). I will never forget the dramatic dress rescue, where the videographer and I noticed that there was something wrong with the bride’s gown; a misplaced bra cup! Fortunately, an aunt swooped in to save the day using her talent with the needle and thread, while I occupied myself with taking many photos of the bridesmaids.
Often, the groom and bride leave each other notes to read while getting ready. Once, I asked the groom if I could photograph him reading the note, if there was one. He replied that there wasn’t. After he got dressed, he noticed something in a pocket of his jacket, and pulled out a surprise love letter from his bride-to-be. His eyes became so saturated with tears that he had to ask his best man to read it. So glad my camera was there and ready to capture this moment. This is what makes wedding photography so gratifying.