Lisbon Wedding Photographer: matrimony and baptism

The newlyweds walking through the trees of the Quinta da Marinha garden in Cascais, holding hands and looking at each other, by the wedding photographer.

A QUIET WEDDING EVENT IN LISBON AND CASCAIS

The newlyweds walking through the trees of the Quinta da Marinha garden in Cascais, holding hands and looking at each other, by the wedding photographer.

The photos are of the ceremony and the socializing at the parents’ wedding and their daughter’s christening


• Pode ler este artigo em Português. 

A small wedding, baptism, and family event is also a big subject for photography and a challenge for the photographer

Upon arriving at the church, a girl hides from the wedding photographer behind her grandmother, with her grandfather at her side.

In the world of wedding photography, there is a common understanding that the more guests there are, the more intense and dynamic the photographic setting will be. However, when it comes to a small wedding, with few guests, like the wedding of Susana and Joaquim, which also involved the baptism of their daughter, it is possible to explore a unique and special photographic approach. Even with a reduced number of people, the event can be filled with emotions and significant moments, making it equally challenging and captivating for the wedding photographer.

The setting of a small wedding

At the church for the wedding ceremony, the groom and two friends talk.

In many weddings, the large number of guests becomes the focal point of the event, creating opportunities for photographs that capture the energy of the crowd and the dynamic interactions among the guests. However, when the wedding is more intimate and involves only close family and friends, the scenario changes completely. Here, the space for photography becomes more limited, but it is also more focused on the intimacy and depth of the moments captured.

  • The number of guests does not determine the quality of the images, as a small wedding allows for more focus on details.
  • In a small wedding, photographs can capture the true essence of emotions, making each image unique.
  • The wedding photographer has the opportunity to focus on more delicate elements, such as glances, gestures, and small moments between the couple and their guests.
  • A wedding with fewer people can offer greater freedom to explore different angles and photographic compositions.

For the photographer, this type of event presents a particular challenge as it requires a different approach. Instead of simply capturing large group scenes, the focus shifts to personal relationships and emotional exchanges between the couple and their guests. A small wedding allows the photographer to be closer to the most genuine moments, creating images that more intensely reflect the connection between the people present.

Wedding photography in more intimate environments

Inside the church the mother of the groom in conversation with a guest and a girl.

When we talk about wedding photography, we often think of large compositions, wide settings, and crowds of guests. However, a small wedding with a baptism offers the photographer a rare opportunity: capturing more intimate moments, often lost in larger weddings. The proximity to the couple and their guests allows for greater attention to details, such as the expression of emotion on the bride’s face, the exchanged glances between family members, or the proud smile of the groom’s parents.

  • The wedding photographer can capture spontaneous and genuine moments, without the distractions of a large party.
  • Photographs from small weddings have an intimate quality, showing the depth of family and emotional connections.
  • Soft lighting and the proximity of participants allow for more delicate and emotional compositions.
  • In weddings with a baptism, the connection between two significant moments can be uniquely explored in the photographs.

Additionally, the wedding with a baptism is an opportunity to capture moments that go beyond the wedding ceremony. The baptism of the child, with the presence of family, also carries a strong emotional charge, becoming one of the highlights of the event. The wedding photographer can take advantage of this moment to capture the purity and innocence of the baptism, while remaining attentive to the more traditional moments of the wedding ceremony.

The wedding photographer’s approach

The bride and groom's daughter plays in the church pews with her grandmother.

Unlike many other types of events, a small wedding requires a special sensitivity from the photographer. The task goes beyond simply capturing the moments; the photographer needs to capture the emotions deeply, with an attentive eye to the subtleties of each gesture. Wedding photography at more intimate events requires a photographer who can create an atmosphere of trust, allowing the couple and their guests to feel at ease in expressing their feelings naturally and without pressure.

  • The wedding photographer must have a keen eye to capture subtle emotions and delicate gestures.
  • Each photograph should convey the story of the day, with a visual narrative that reflects the significance of the moment.
  • A small wedding allows the photographer to approach the couple and their guests in a more personal and focused way.
  • The experience of the wedding photographer is crucial to know how to interpret the events and turn them into images.

The wedding photographer’s sensitivity in capturing genuine emotions is especially important at moments of great significance, such as the wedding and the baptism. The wedding ceremony, in particular, requires constant attention to the small details that make up the story of the day: from the groom’s nervousness before seeing the bride to the emotional smiles during the vows exchange. Everything must be captured with a unique and attentive eye.

A deeper look at small ceremonies

The groom and some wedding guests in conversation before starting the wedding ceremony, next to the church.

An aspect that makes smaller, family weddings even more interesting for a wedding photographer is the opportunity to explore the environment more serenely. The photographer has time and space to observe the more tranquil moments, such as the exchange of glances between the bride and groom, the reaction of an emotional grandfather, or the silent laughter between close friends. These small interactions, often overlooked in large weddings, are the ones that make wedding photography shine.

  • Wedding photography in calm environments allows the photographer to capture more authentic and significant moments.
  • The calm of a small wedding provides more time to explore different perspectives and compositions.
  • Wedding photography in this context can tell more personal stories, rather than just focusing on the spectacle of the party.
  • Even in weddings with few guests, each moment has its value and emotion to be preserved in the photographs.

Even if the wedding is small, the photographer must always be alert to subtle emotions and spontaneous moments. Wedding photography is not only about capturing the grandeur of the event, but also about telling a story with each image. Each photograph should be a reflection of the emotions the day brings, and this can be achieved with an attentive eye and a careful approach.

The groom and father, with their daughter by the hand, at the door of the church.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, even a small wedding, combined with a baptism, can be an incredible experience for both the couple and the wedding photographer. The wedding photographs, in this context, have a special and profound value, as they capture intimate, emotional, and significant moments. The key is to have a photographer who understands the importance of each gesture and each glance, knowing how to make the most of the event’s possibilities.

If you are planning your wedding, even if it is intimate and family-oriented, it is essential to choose a wedding photographer who understands the depth of emotions and can capture those memories with sensitivity. Book a consultation with me to create images that will tell your story uniquely and memorably.

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  • You can see a full wedding story:
Wedding
The church where the wedding ceremony will take place, with some guests.
The girl, daughter of the bride and groom, at the church door, looks at her shoes, holding her father's hand.
A wedding guest sitting in the church looks back.
A wedding guest chats with a friend inside the church before the wedding ceremony.
An old lady, sitting inside the church for her wedding, talks to another guest.
The smiling bride rides in the car outside the church for the wedding ceremony.
The bride, with a female friend, crosses the square towards the church door for the wedding.
Next to her father, the bride with the bouquet in her hand, waits to enter the church, smiling.
Inside the church the groom smiles waiting for the bride.
Wedding guests seated inside the church look back to see the bride enter.
General view of the interior of the church where the wedding ceremony will take place.
The bride and groom's daughter while playing outside the church.
The bride enters the church arm in arm with her father.
Next to the altar and in front of the priest, the bride and groom, standing, with their daughter between them, looking out and holding a bunch of flowers in their hands.
The bride caresses her daughter who is half-hidden between her and the groom, her father, as the wedding ceremony begins.
The bride smiles in front of the priest, out of focus, during the wedding ceremony.
View of the church with the bride and groom, the priest and the wedding guests.
The groom holds the bride's hand beside her as part of the wedding ceremony.
The interior of the church seen from the altar with all those present at the wedding ceremony.
The girl, daughter of the bride and groom, while watching the wedding ceremony, among the presents.
The father in a gesture of blessing, in a part of his daughter's christening, with the mother and guests.
Next to a relative, the girl, who will be baptized, peeks next to her parents, unfocused.
Together with her parents, the priest blesses the girl with oils during the christening ceremony.
The girl during baptism, makes a gesture with her hands on her face.
With her parents and grandmother, the girl at the moment the priest pours the baptismal water over her.
The girl, already baptized, looks carefully at her grandmother lighting the ceremonial candle, close to her father, out of focus.
The girl at the moment she blows out the ceremonial candle for her baptism.
After being baptized, the girl sits with her father, who gives her a hand.
The bride and groom, in the church, listen to the musicians during their wedding ceremony.
The bride signs the official marriage documents.
The groom at the moment of signing the marriage documents, with the bride beside her.
The church at the exit, with the bride and groom and the guests who greet them.
In the midst of wedding guests, the bride talks showing the bouquet.
The bride and groom's daughter between two people as she runs playfully at the end of the wedding ceremony.
The bride among wedding guests, while grains of rice are pulled from her hair.
The wedding guests arriving at the wedding party venue.
The bride and groom, side by side, arriving at the wedding reception venue.
The bride and groom's daughter peeking into the wedding reception venue.
Two wedding guests, seated, talk together with another standing.
The groom, with a glass in his hand, talks with two guests, out of focus.
Wedding guests seen from inside the restaurant where the wedding party took place.
The bride and groom's daughter, sitting on a sofa, in conversation with a guest next to her and another in front of her, out of focus.
Wedding guests chat during the conviviality before the wedding meal.
In the midst of the trees in the garden of Quinta da Marinha in Cascais, the bride and groom, together, laugh at each other during the session with the wedding photographer.
Bathed in the soft light of the Quinta da Marinha garden in Cascais, the bride and groom look at each other.
The bride, in the session with the wedding photographer, smells flowers from a plant in the garden.
Amidst garden plants, the groom looks at the wedding photographer during the wedding photography session.
Amidst the branches of trees in the garden of Quinta da Marinha in Cascais, the bride smiles happily, with the bouquet in her hand and leaning against her husband
Black and white portrait of bride in front of garden trees, blurred, by wedding photographer.
The groom, in a black and white portrait among the plants in the garden, during the session with the wedding photographer.
The bride, in the middle of two guests, is photographed by a wedding guest.
Guests seated in front of the restaurant while waiting for the wedding meal.
Exterior view of the restaurant where the wedding meal will take place, with the guests in conviviality.

By Fernando Colaço

I am Fernando Colaço a wedding photographer based in Portugal. My approach to wedding photography is open and not intruder, leaving the event just to happen. We may call it photojournalism. But, it is better to let the photos talk. I am at your service.

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