A stolen moment of intimacy

As a documentary wedding photographer my aim is to take authentic, candid images that capture the full emotional rollercoaster of the day. Wedding reportage uses available light to take photos on the go to tell your story through a series of moments filled with love, laughter and joy. Following the natural arc of the day, the wedding album becomes an archive of beautiful memories for the couple to treasure, share and love for ever.

Although well suited to the unpolished spontaneity of real wedding celebrations, this style of photography can be challenging. Ever changing light conditions, people busy with events more important than the camera and a constant flow of interactions that, despite the well rehearsed format of the day, cannot always be predicted. But these are the moments that make every wedding day special and the reason why I think reportage is such an ideal approach for photographing them.

I chose the photo above to open Viki and Lewis’ page because of its rich story telling qualities. It was taken late in the evening from across a low-lit and crowded room, with a high ISO and shallow depth of field to maximise the little light that was available. Photography creates pictures with light so these were not ideal conditions for the camera. However, although difficult, it was still a very real and very beautiful moment, the kind of moment that make weddings such a huge privilege to photograph . Like Viki and Lewis I love this photo because what it lacks in finesse it makes up for with emotional resonance. Together, just outside the doors to the hotel reception room, before returning to the party to cut the cake, for a brief, intimate moment they seem completely unaware of anyone else. Blissfully in love. Two people who had finally found each other, framed by much loved family and friends just visible in the shadows of the photo’s edges. It is a moment that everyone can recognise and understand and it is a good example of how many of the best loved photos are rarely just about what an image looks like but rather how it also makes you feel.