THE OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS by THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN LISBON

Photographs of other photographers photographing on the wedding day at Pézinhos no Tejo in Caparica, Almada

• Pode ler este artigo em Português. 

The Other Photographers at the Wedding

I’ve read many articles by wedding photographers and comments in online groups from peers in the same profession about the discomfort they feel with the occasional photographers who appear at weddings. Today, with a camera inside every mobile phone, any guest is a potential competitor to the hired photographer.

• The presence of multiple cameras and smartphones changes the dynamics of a wedding photographer’s work.
• Informal competition can sometimes interfere with key moments of the wedding ceremony.
• Guests at the wedding, equipped with smartphones, raise questions about visual protagonism and privacy.

The Photo That Wasn’t

Not that I believe any of these competitors to the wedding photographer can actually tell a compatible story. But I do recognize that occasionally, our work is compromised because a more adventurous photographer jumps in front of us at the exact moment that the photo is supposed to be taken.

• Unexpected interference can ruin unique and unrepeatable wedding photographs.
• The spontaneity of some guests can create technical and creative challenges.
• Even a second of distraction can cost a planned wedding photograph.

Photographing or Making a Photograph at a Wedding

Still, on my end, I’m a keen observer of the act of photographing itself, which has become commonplace. The selfie and the shot for that competing photographer. Often, I photograph the act of taking a photograph. Perhaps because in doing so, I become aware of myself in the same process. Being a photographer at a wedding means being an observer, and those who are photographing also become part of the story of the day.

• Modern wedding photography includes moments captured from multiple perspectives.
• Watching guests take photos is also a way to tell the story of the wedding day.
• The act of photographing is, itself, part of the contemporary wedding ceremony.

You must know:

From very early on, I realised that covering a wedding day would be, quite literally, photographing what happens there. There’s nothing that can’t be turned into photographs. Other people photographing aren’t an exception, and even though they may occasionally get in the way of my work as a wedding photographer, they’ll eventually become subjects of my lens, adding a few lines to the story I’m there to tell.

• Wedding photography is about documenting reality as it unfolds.
• Even the simplest moments can become part of a meaningful story.
• Other photographers and wedding guests are part of the broader picture.
• My wedding photographer job is capturing everything, even the unexpected.

Note: This wedding took place at Os Pézinhos no Tejo, a beautiful riverside venue in Caparica, Almada, with a Lisbon view, and perfect for natural-light wedding photography in a relaxed setting.

Want to know how I can capture your wedding day with authenticity and care? Contact me to learn more about my wedding photography services.

• You can see a full wedding story: