RESPECT AND DUTY by THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN PORTUGAL

A few photos of the wedding ceremony with the yes, I do, and afterward, at the Igreja Matriz de Santo António in Reguengos de Monsaraz

• Pode ler este artigo em Português. 

The Wedding Photographer, the Religious Ceremony, and the Rules

The wedding photographer must move, during a religious wedding ceremony, as invisibly as possible, to respect the rules of the institution, and in no way interfere with the normal course of the ceremony. It is a place of spiritual connection; the ceremony is meant to create a new bond, and it must follow the rules that the institution has set for this event.

The big challenge is managing to balance all this with the slightly restless curiosity of wedding photographers. They are curious, always finding a new point of view that may be in an unauthorized spot, moving quickly from one place to another like children when they discover a new fascination, and the noise of their cameras tends to become irritating for the calm priest who does not appreciate disruptions during his homily.

The celebration of the wedding day

I understand all of this, and reconciling, on the one hand, these fantastic photographic possibilities with the rules that restrain them is not the easiest task. But experience, good sense, and the ability to adapt to what may be the priest’s wishes during the celebration of the day will certainly be used to the fullest by the wedding photographer to capture as complete and creative a record as possible. Respect for space will always take precedence.

Point by point:

• When the wedding photographer is in a church to photograph the ceremony, he knows he must respect some rules:
  • Be as invisible as possible
  • Avoid making noise
  • Respect the institution’s rules
  • Never interfere with the wedding ritual
• A church is a spiritual place and therefore deserves due respect
• However, to tell the story of the ceremony in photographs, it is not easy for the photographer to follow all these rules because:
  • The photographer’s curiosity is like that of a determined child
  • The best angles are often in restricted areas
  • Quick movement is needed as the ceremony progresses
  • New photographic opportunities appear constantly
  • The sound of the camera can irritate sensitive priests
• So, reconciling the rules, the personality of the priest, the commitment of the bride and groom, and the abundance of photographic moments in the ceremony is no easy task for the wedding photographer. But it always gets done.

You need to know:

• Photographing a wedding ceremony inside a church is, at the same time, a beautiful challenge for someone who loves event photography and a matter of following rules that aren’t always compatible with my desires as a restless photographer.

• Of course, it always depends on the officiating priest: some allow us to do our job because they understand its importance for the couple—most of them. Then, some restrict my movements, limiting the possibilities for shots, but with a bit of finesse, it gets done. And finally, a few—fortunately rare—who, at the slightest sign of disturbance, threaten to throw me out the door. It’s never happened, but they do exist.

A piece of advice I often give to couples looking for a church to marry in—especially if it’s not their usual parish, for whatever reason—is to make sure they choose a priest who is friendly toward wedding photographers. It helps a lot. In any case, the coverage is always done for the good of the couple. Come talk to me, or book a meeting. I have a lot to discuss and show you.

• In Igreja de Matriz de Santo António em Reguengos de Monsaraz in Alentejo.