My Approach to Wedding Photography
When it comes to mindsets, there are an infinite number of ways you can think about things. Ultimately, the way we structure things in our brains has a real-world effect on what we do and how we do it!
Photography is an art — and because of that, there’s a huge amount of subjectivity in the skillset. The way we perceive our own process ends up having an even bigger impact on the final work. That’s why photographers — and artists in general — put such a huge emphasis on their process.
So, after that long-winded explanation... this is mine.
I think of every photo I take during a wedding day as falling into one of three categories:
The Visual Frame, The Cinematic Narrative, and The Grit & Gold.
Let’s dive into each of these.
The Visual Frame
The Visual Frame is all about visual interest and impact — it’s where the look of the image takes the lead. When you think of those stunning photos you’d want to hang up BIG on the wall, these are the ones with the most visual punch. This is where I get to be super creative with lighting, composition, and exciting techniques, building a unique image with you and your spouse as the subject.
These shots are normally planned because of the techniques involved — but not always. I often find myself blending a Visual Frame with elements of The Raw or The Cinematic Narrative, depending on what’s happening in the moment.
And if you ever see me crouching in a bush, lying on the floor, or doing something that looks completely ridiculous — this is probably what I’m working on.
The Cinamatic Narritive
The Cinematic Narrative is the set of photos that make up your personal romance film for the day. It’s the ideal narrative — the way your day felt in the best, most magical way possible. These are the images that show the motion, mood, and emotion of everything that unfolds. It’s not about perfection — it’s about capturing your story like it belongs on the big screen.
They’re meant to elicit emotion and are heavily story-driven. These make up the majority of the day — as you'd expect from a wedding — capturing the natural flow of events, emotions, and connections as they unfold.
These are a mix of fully documentary moments and guided photos. Sometimes I let things unfold naturally, and other times I give a little direction to help the moment shine — but it’s always about keeping things real and emotional.
The Grit & Gold
The Grit & Gold is all about the less then perfect parts of the wedding day — the stuff that’s messy, chaotic, or unplanned. These are the moments you might not notice or remember in the moment, but they tell the truth of the day. Not every picture will be perfect... but it’ll be real.
These photos are all about coverage — trying not to miss a single thing, even if the image isn’t technically perfect. And every once in a while, through all the grit… you still strike gold.
Think: the wacky faces people make mid-conversation. The beer cans overflowing out of the trash. The utter mess of the hotel room while everyone’s getting ready. The hair half-curled, the shirt half-buttoned, the flower girl meltdown. These are the real-life, behind-the-scenes moments — the stuff most people crop out… but I keep them in.
It might not be the fairytale ideal or visually stunning — but it’s what actually happened on your wedding day. Details get forgotten, moments slip by, and not everything is perfect... but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth remembering. So we take the photo regardless — because those imperfect moments matter too.
