FEW BUT GOOD by the LISBON WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
The photos are of a New Year’s Eve wedding party, where everyone is celebrating and dancing
• Pode ler este artigo em Português.
The Wedding Photographer, Wedding Sizes and Their Diversity
The work of a wedding photographer is, above all, a constant exercise in attention, creativity, and adaptation. Over the years, I’ve learned that there is no perfect formula for a memorable wedding. Big or small, luxurious or intimate, formal or relaxed — each wedding has its soul, rhythms, and of course, unique challenges for those capturing the day through the lens.
Size Doesn’t Define the Fun
Who said big weddings are more fun than small ones? Certainly not me. And after many years as a wedding photographer, I can assure you that the excitement of a wedding ceremony has nothing to do with the number of guests but everything to do with the energy people bring. I’ve witnessed unforgettable moments in 20-person dinners and, likewise, seen 300-person receptions where barely anyone danced.
Diversity Between Weddings: None Are Alike
What makes a wedding truly unique is the diversity among them. The couple’s style, the ceremony setup, the guests’ dynamic, even the unforeseen hiccups — all contribute to that day’s story. This variety is what makes wedding photography both a challenge and a joy.
The Guests and the Dance Floor
What happens after dinner? The party! And that’s when, as a wedding photographer, I start observing what’s to come:
Sometimes it feels like everyone has two left feet; other times, it’s as if professional dancers were secretly hired.
Real Examples: From Calm to Euphoria
I’ll never forget a New Year’s Eve wedding. Maybe because of the symbolic date or the sense of new beginnings, the guests were bursting with energy. They danced non-stop — even the countdown didn’t interrupt the momentum — and carried on well into the early morning hours.
For me, professionally, it was a dream. Because the resulting wedding photographs were full of joy and movement. But that’s not always the case. I’ve also experienced 200-guest weddings where not a single person stood up to dance.
The Wedding Photographer’s Role in Any Setting
Adaptation is Key
My role, in both large and small weddings, is always the same: capture the soul of the moment. The difference is how that happens. In smaller weddings, every gesture matters. In large ones, it’s about knowing where to be and when to shoot without getting lost in the crowd.
Technique and Sensitivity
Capturing a packed dance floor requires speed, technique, and intuition. But during quieter moments — a conversation between generations, a glance between bride and groom — the challenge is to be present without interfering.
Key Points to Understand Wedding Energy
- The dance floor is the energy epicenter of the wedding day. It’s as if the bride, groom, and guests save their spirit for this final burst of celebration.
- As a wedding photographer, I’ve learned that it’s not about how many attend, but how deeply they live the moment.
Because Every Wedding Deserves to Be Authentically Documented
- Wedding photos aren’t just images. They’re future memories, visual emotions, and a retelling of one of the most important days in the couple’s life.
- The ceremony may be the beginning, but the true show often starts afterward, with dances, hugs, laughter, and even joyful tears.
Diversity Is a Gift
- Every wedding is its own story: some more glamorous, others more minimal, but all rich in emotion and worthy of capture.
- Diversity is a blessing for wedding photography. It allows the creation of unique, candid, and vibrant images.
Conclusion:
As a wedding photographer, each event is a discovery. No wedding is like the next, just as no person is the same. The size of the celebration doesn’t determine the depth of what’s felt. Each wedding has its rhythm, and my job is to follow it and document it as truthfully and artistically as possible.
Let’s Talk About Your Wedding?
If you’re looking for a wedding photographer who understands the unique energy of your big day and knows how to turn it into timeless imagery, I’m just a message away. Let’s talk and shape your vision together.
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