HEY, WHO ARE YOU?  by THE PORTUGAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER 

The unknown photographer for the bride and groom’s son at the wedding party at the Vila Galé Collection Palácio dos Arcos in Oeiras

• Pode ler este artigo em Português. 

A Great Enigma

Let me introduce you to David. Throughout the day, David offered the wedding photographer many photographs that surely must have brought great joy to his parents.

However, to him, I was a great enigma—someone who must have puzzled him, sparked many questions: who is this guy who keeps pointing those big black things at me, putting them in front of his eyes like in those cartoons I’m just starting to get interested in when I watch TV?

A Photograph Offered to the Wedding Photographer

This photograph was offered to the wedding photographer near the end of the party. After David had starred in a magnificent solo dance, applauded by everyone present—a repeat performance of many throughout the day. With his finger pointed straight at me, it was as if he were saying: But who are you? Tell me, you haven’t left me alone all day. I can’t even dance in peace the way I want because those dark, long things are always hiding your face. It’s fine with me, but come on—tell me, finally—who are you?

I’m a Photographer…

Maybe David was left with that question unanswered—because it wouldn’t help much to say, Look, David, I’m a wedding photographer, and these black things I put in front of my face are so that one day, you’ll remember you were at your parents’ wedding and that you had a great time.

He’d still look just as confused and point his finger at me again. But I’m sure that one day, much later, he’ll look at those photographs I took and, somewhere in his subconscious, the dots will connect: Ah, so that’s what that guy with the black things in front of his face was doing at my parents’ wedding—and I was there. I’m glad the wedding photographer did this.

Point by point:

• Sometimes, the wedding photographer becomes someone very special—receiving photographs that, by themselves, are their own stories within the wedding.
• When a child spends the whole day pointing their finger at you like a question mark, I can’t help but feel a little special.
• The photograph illustrating this story is just one among many taken during the wedding day, perfectly showing what an enigma the photographer was to David. I imagine his questions:
  • Who are you?
  • What are you doing here with those big things in front of your face?
  • Can I do something for you?
  • I’ve seen you all day and still don’t know what you’re doing
• I know that David, in time, will understand:
  • I’m photographing your parents’ wedding day
  • When you grow up, you’ll know—through my photos—that you were there too
  • That you had lots of fun, singing, dancing, and being held by your grandparents and friends
  • You’ll remember the guy who always had those black things on his face: his cameras
• Just so David can know all these things, it was worth being his parents’ wedding photographer.

You need to know:

• A day in the life of a wedding photographer can bring me many little stories that complete the bigger story of that day. It’s up to me to stay alert—and I always find them. Some last the whole day, like David’s, and others are small moments that season and connect the larger ones—at least, the more classically “wedding” ones.

• That’s why my day is never boring or hard to get through. There’s always a little story begging to be photographed.

• The stories of a wedding day aren’t more or less important based on timing or scale. Any “major” moment can be outshone, in the photographs, by one that only lasts a heartbeat.

Any wedding photographer knows that their best photograph of the day is only the best because it was theirs to capture. Your wedding will have them too, and you’ll love keeping them with you. Come meet with me so we can talk about your wedding day—and I’ll show you all the photographs you want to see.

• In Vila Galé Collection Palácio dos Arcos Paço de Arcos, Oeiras, Portugal