Weddings are magical days filled with love, laughter, and once-in-a-lifetime moments. But have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes to capture those perfect memories? As a wedding photographer, my job is to be everywhere at once, preserving every smile, tear, and joyous celebration from behind the lens. Today, I’m taking you on a journey through a typical day in the life of a wedding photographer—from the early morning hustle to the late-night editing grind.
The Preparation: Setting the Stage
The day starts long before I even arrive at the wedding. Preparation is key to ensuring everything goes smoothly. My bags are packed the night before with camera bodies, lenses, memory cards, batteries, lighting equipment, and backups of everything. I go over my messaged for addresses, make notes on any special requests from the couple, and check the timeline one last time to make sure I’m ready for anything.
On the morning of the wedding, I typically arrive at the brides house 90 minutes before the ceremony start time. I take a minute to introduce myself to the wedding party and brides family—building rapport helps everyone feel comfortable, which leads to more natural photos.
The Early Moments: Capturing the Details
The first shots of the day are all about the little details. I start with the dress, shoes, rings, invitations, and any other personal touches the couple wants to be remembered.
These are the things that set the scene and tell the story of the day, (It's always in the back of my head to be conscious to capture all the parts that will make their album the story of their day.) While the wedding party are getting ready, I float between the prep areas of hair and makeup, capturing candid moments— the laughter between friends, the nervous excitement, and those little moments leading up to ceremony time.
It’s a balance of being present but not intrusive. I aim to be a calming presence, often playing the role of cheerleader, helping the bride relax and enjoy the moment and very often helping the bride into their dress, I've lost count of the amount of buttons I've done up over the yrs.
The Ceremony: All Eyes on the Couple
Once the ceremony begins, it's show time. This is the part of the day where I have to be the most focused and adaptable. There’s no pausing, no do-overs—every moment is happening in real-time, and I need to capture it all. From the walk down the aisle to the exchange of vows , all the little glances and whispers and of course the first kiss, I’m constantly moving, adjusting my angles, and working with the available light.
Ceremonies are as varied as the couples themselves. Some are outdoors in natural light, while others are in dimly lit churches or even unconventional locations. This means I have to be ready to adjust my settings on the fly and make creative use of my surroundings to get the best shots.
The Portraits: Crafting Artful Memories
After the ceremony, it’s time for portraits. This is one of my favourite parts of the day because it’s where I can get creative and direct some of the more iconic shots - The one for the wall!!.
Working with the couple and the wedding party, we find the perfect spots for posed portraits and fun, candid group shots.
It’s important to keep the energy high and make this part fun, especially since it’s usually happening right after the ceremony when emotions are running high and everyone is ready to celebrate. I encourage laughter and good ol fashioned craic- those are the moments that make for the best memories.
Next up are family portraits, If we can get your whole gang together at the same time these shouldn't take long at all (famous last words!!!) This is the only part of the day that can turn a little chaotic and I've often referred it to like herding cats lol!!!!! Why o why do families never listen and just be where theyre supposed to be lol!!! There could be some checking in, some at the bar , some not even arrived to the reception yet and its the only part that tends to stress out the wedding couple, so take this as a word of advice warn warn and warn again your family before your big day what you need from them, and it can honestly be done in 10 minutes if we have parents and siblings together at the same time. (Little advice if you have a big family the church/ceremony location is the best spot to gather everyone before they scatter in different directions)
For my standard packages I finish up my part of the day with you with a mock cutting of the cake before guests are called to dinner, leaving you to party the night away with your nearest and dearest. Or you can request me to stay on to cover your reception
The Reception: Capturing the Celebration
Once the reception starts, the vibe shifts from formal to festive. My job here is to capture the energy of the celebration—the speeches that make everyone laugh or cry, the first dance, the clinking of glasses during toasts, and the pure joy of the dance floor.
I keep an eye out for spontaneous moments: a shared glance, a child (or uncle) dancing like no-ones watching, or the proud look of parents watching their newlywed children. These are the unscripted pieces of the day that really bring little moments of magic.
The Wrap-Up: Reflecting and Reviewing
As the night winds down, my work is far from over. After a long day of shooting, I back up all the photos as soon as I get home. This is a critical step—losing images due to a technical glitch is every photographer’s nightmare. Once everything is safe and sound, I begin the initial review process, sorting through hundreds (usually thousands) of images to find the best of the best.
Editing is where the magic happens. It’s not just about making the photos look good; it’s about enhancing the emotions and the story of the day. Every image is carefully adjusted for color, light, and composition. This process can take several days or even weeks, but it’s a labor of love that’s all worth it when I deliver the final gallery to the couple.
Why I Love What I Do
Being a wedding photographer is more than just a job; it’s a privilege. I get to witness and document one of the most important days in a couple’s life, and that’s something I never take for granted. Each wedding is unique, with its own set of challenges and special moments. The long hours, the physical demands, and the pressure to get everything right—it’s all worth it when I see the joy on a couple’s face as they relive their day through my photos.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about beautiful pictures; it’s about capturing the essence of two people in love, surrounded by those who matter most to them. That’s what keeps me coming back, camera in hand, ready for the next love story.
Karen
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