ALMOST THERE by the PORTUGAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

The bride in the last touches, in a portrait for memory, and on the way out to the wedding ceremony in Nazaré

• Pode ler este artigo em Português.

Just One More Photo

Wedding photographers witness those moments of “It’s time to go,” “Wait a second,” “The car is already here,” “Just one more photo,” and “Let me touch up my lipstick.” It feels like there’s always something left to do, as if everything is sticking together with invisible glue, while at the same time, a vortex pulls everyone toward the very reason for all this commotion—the wedding ceremony.

As a witness (and chronicler) of all this, I never tire of watching the chaotic, fast-paced moments leading up to the bride’s departure.

The Truth Behind the Wedding Story

A wedding photographer should be a silent observer, never interfering, to preserve the authenticity of the story. But… he also has the duty of capturing the bride in all her beauty, ready and radiant. And, as any photographer—wedding or otherwise—knows, sometimes you have to stop the whirlwind for just a moment: “Right there, perfect. Just one more… actually, two more… and maybe one last shot…”

There’s no escaping it, it’s in the photographer’s soul.

Yes, even the wedding photographer ends up, here and there, influencing the story of the day. Maybe, to truly capture the full reality of the wedding, we would need another photographer to photograph the photographer photographing the wedding.

Alright, that’s an exaggeration… Maybe just a little imagination and a touch of vanity.

But still…

Point by Point:

• In the final moments before the bride leaves for the ceremony, it feels like there are still so many things left to do.
• Everything seems to pile up in a whirlwind of activity, ensuring that nothing is forgotten.
• The wedding photographer witnesses—and captures—this moment every time a bride is about to head to her ceremony.
• I love photographing the bride, stunning in her gown, in those final moments before departure—but sometimes, there’s no time for even that.
• Even though the wedding photographer doesn’t want to interfere, sometimes he has to, or there will be no photos left to tell the story.

You Need to Know:

• That’s just how it is. And don’t think for a second that I don’t love these last moments of chaos before the bride leaves to get married; I do. But what I also love is being able to photograph her in peace before she goes… and sometimes, that’s just not possible. That’s part of what makes a wedding day so grand. And after that? Well, there’s still plenty more to photograph.

• I have no idea how it will be for you—bride or groom—in those final moments before your wedding. But I promise I’ll do my very best to capture the story of that moment—whether through portraits or candid shots. Let’s talk and plan how it will all unfold.