GESTURES by the PORTUGAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Photographs of the bride and groom dancing hands at the table for the wedding meal at Quinta da Cheinha

• Pode ler este artigo em Português. 

Photographing Gestures

Maybe it’s just a wedding photographer thing, but even though I don’t often showcase it here, I really love photographing gestures—or rather, I love capturing hands doing what they do so beautifully: caressing, holding, saying goodbye, greeting, comforting, and so many other things.

I often find myself photographing them, usually keeping these shots for myself, perhaps mistakenly assuming they don’t hold intrinsic value for the overall wedding coverage.

Noticing Hands on a Wedding Day

But now and then, a few of these images make it into the selection—after all, too many faces alone can become repetitive. That said, I can’t just focus on hands and forget everything that faces reveal within the context of a moment. After all, I am a wedding photographer, and I can’t allow myself to get lost in personal fascinations that may not matter to those who hired me. I’m there to work, not just to enjoy myself, right?…

Hands: Key Characters in Wedding Photography

Still, there’s no doubt that the hands play an active role throughout the entire wedding day. They fasten buttons, apply creams, style hair, adjust suits and dresses, hold and exchange wedding rings, and—above all—offer endless gestures of affection from morning to night.

I dare say that we are defined by our hands. Without them… How could they not be a subject of interest for a wedding photographer?

Point by Point:

• Hands are a fascinating subject for any photographer. The way they move captivates cameras and leaves lenses utterly amazed.
• With enough focus, I could easily spend an entire wedding day photographing nothing but hands and the stories they tell.
• Since I can’t do that, I simply take note of the moments they create while staying true to my role as a wedding photographer.
• Still, hands are essential characters in the wedding narrative—they comfort, support, hold, offer, fasten, and do so much more.

You Need to Know:

• A wedding day is made up of actions. And almost everything that unfolds in front of a wedding photographer happens through their hands or because of them. Yet, they remain humble, letting the rest of the body—the face, the eyes—take center stage. But I know that without hands, even the photographs themselves wouldn’t be possible.

Of course, I have plenty of photos to show you, capturing everything that happens on a wedding day. Come see what could be part of yours. Call me, and let’s talk—I’d be happy to answer all your questions.