DECISIONS by THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN PORTUGAL
Some photos of the bride’s objects on her wedding day
- Pode ler este artigo em Português.
The wedding photographer and custom-made photographs
The work of a wedding photographer goes far beyond capturing smiles and tears. It’s an exercise in attention, sensitivity, and technique, where even the smallest elements reflect the bigger celebration. Before dedicating myself to the world of wedding photography, I spent years in the studio photographing objects meticulously arranged, with light carefully designed and precise framing. That experience shaped my vision and still influences my work as a wedding photographer today.
During that time, I would often receive detailed instructions: “It has to look like this, you see?”, “Mind the blue background”, “Use the right lens to avoid distorting the bottle”. Everything was tightly controlled. And despite the demands, I found joy and fascination in that process — each image was built with precision and purpose.
From studio photography to weddings
The transition to working as a wedding photographer happened naturally, even inevitably. After so many years in the studio, the routine and predictability began to drain the excitement. When I started photographing weddings, I rediscovered creative freedom and authentic emotion.
It was a relief. I realised I could continue doing what I loved — photography — but in a living, unpredictable, and meaningful setting. Surprisingly, I also encountered many of the “inanimate objects” that once filled my studio, now playing a more emotional and symbolic role.
Wedding photography also lives in the details
Being a wedding photographer isn’t just about capturing the couple’s kiss, guests’ hugs, or the major moments of the wedding ceremony. It’s also about finding poetry and meaning in the objects that make up the day. The bride’s dress hanging up, the bouquet waiting, the shoes lined up, the groom’s boutonnière, or the flower basket ready for the post-ceremony blessing — all of these have a story and a place in the visual narrative.
Photographing with or without time
Unlike in the studio, during the wedding day, time is rarely on the photographer’s side. There’s no time for extensive setups or lighting rehearsals. Most of these wedding photographs involving objects are taken during small breaks between key moments, or with a bit of luck, before the day properly begins.
That’s when the studio-earned technique makes all the difference. A trained eye, quick composition, control of light, and scale — all help turn fleeting seconds into lasting images.
Photography with truth and finesse
Photographing a wedding is also an act of respect. It’s telling a story without interfering, like a reporter who doesn’t shape the subject. So if we don’t alter reality when photographing an embrace or a glance, why do so with an object?
The approach is the same: don’t interfere, don’t force, just observe and capture. That’s how authenticity is preserved in wedding photography, whether with people or things.
Moments between moments: where the best images are born
There are always small pauses between the big moments of a wedding. It’s in those seconds that unique opportunities to capture the details emerge. And what once seemed secondary becomes central to the story.
Examples of such precious moments:
- The bouquet briefly forgotten on a chair beside the bride’s grandmother.
- The rings left on a table still being tidied.
- A bridal shoe in the room while she’s getting her makeup done.
- The wedding invitation left open on the hotel bed.
- The reception table untouched before guests arrive.
These records complement the wedding day story and can be deeply emotional. They tell parts of the day the couple may have missed, but will get to see through the lens.
Quick list: what a good wedding photographer also captures
- Details like bouquet, shoes, rings, and boutonnières.
- Ceremony and reception decor before the guests arrive.
- Symbolic objects that reflect the couple’s journey.
- Vows, toasts, favours, and written messages.
- Accessories and elements that add atmosphere.
Conclusion:
Being a wedding photographer means paying attention to grand gestures and subtle moments. It means turning details into memories and objects into emotions. My studio experience taught me to respect light, space, and form, and that remains present in every wedding photo I create. Because on your wedding day, everything deserves to be remembered, even what seems to pass by quietly.
Get in touch
If you’re getting married and want every part of your day — from people to objects—captured with care, skill, and sincerity, reach out. As a wedding photographer, I’ll be happy to talk through your ideas and explain how I can document every detail of your unique celebration. Every image will be created with purpose and heart.
- You can see a full wedding story: