Documenting a special day – Wedding Photography
Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.
Democritus
When there is love, there is hope.
I’ve written about how I helped make the wedding cake with white sugarpaste and set the black and white table with all that DIY-wedding stuff. Now the time has finally come to post some photos from the actual wedding day! I took many of guests and stuff, but I’m only going to post these that I took at our Big Photo Shoot before church (and some later). Gray sky but thankfully no rain.
I was very honored to be the Official Photographer (second time in my life!) and not as nervous as I was at the first wedding. Though the groom was stiff and very difficult to get a smile from (he does not feel comfortable in front of a camera) I managed to get some shots that I think are really wonderful!
Taken during the ceremony and just afterwards:
Kneeling in front of God.
Leaving church in a cloud of Good Luck rice.
The priest was an adorable little lady with a Lilla My hair-do!
I think it is really important not just to take these important newspaper-ad photos, the official picture that they will frame and hang, but also capture the intimacy and humor between the couple! To really see them and be there. To see their interaction with guests and family members. I just love documenting what is going on behind the curtain; the kitchen activity, the make-up and the many preparations that has to be made to ensure a smooth wedding day! Children running around playing, the friends giggling around the table, how the food looks and setting the table etc.
Some of my favorite photos from the day is not shared here. One is where the groom is collapsed over the kitchen table resting his head against his arms feeling very tired and not knowing where he could help best or what to do. Another is the bride going to another house with her friends to sleep there her last night as unmarried, capturing the midnight sun still glowing in the middle of the night behind her. Little moments that will not be seen unless a photographer is there. That was me this time!
A wedding is like a holiday or like a little trip – and I’m the travel journalist documenting the preparations, the sightseeing and the homecoming. Maris said one of the reasons she like my photos is because of my angels (not standing where I’m expected to be). I like that, and when I looked back at the photos I can see it too. I have a way of moving around the subject, moving away and getting in close. I wanted them to laugh and I made them laugh and relax a bit (though it was difficult). I wanted them to be their most beautiful self and that wasn’t difficult at all (I didn’t need to do anything), they just look beautiful and lovely.
I would love to take photos professionally – it’s embowering and so much fun! Just stay with the couple for a few days, get to know them and follow them around like this! Or how about portraits of children or dogs? That would be so fun! Who wants to invite me first? Pay my plain ticket and lodging and I’ll be there!? Feel free to contact me as I love to travel to where love resides and document it! :-) Wouldn’t that be a nice name: The Traveling Photographer – visits where love resides. I like it!
Oh well, one can dream, right?
Want to see more photos?
Here we go:
Shoes (I do love shoes but I didn’t notice until after the wedding how many photos of shoes I had taken!). Here are two pairs that follows the color theme of the wedding!
Me and the beautiful bride!
Walking the road ahead together.
The same photo as above but cut a little closer to the faces! I love what you can do with your photos even after they are taken.
iHanna ♥ Photoshop!
Another zoom-in!
I’ve been playing a bit with the photos combining them together like this:
The Groom.
The Bride.
Combining 2-3 photos like this is called storyboard and I’ve recently fallen in love making these. You have seen them in several of my posts thi summer. They are just so fun to make, I have both downloaded a storyboard that someone else has made and made my own following this tutorial:
Easy 3-panel Storyboard in Photoshop! I never knew what those were about before!
It’s fun to do a 3-panel like this one of another friend where I’ve only used two photos but resized the first image so that it looks like three photos! Very fun, you should try it out! You’ll get a little obsessed though and want to combine all kinds of photos!
Here are some more storyboards:
The pair of them.
I hope you enjoyed these! Let me know if what you think and if you want me to come visit you and take some photos!
My previous posts about this particular wedding:
1) How to make your own wedding cake (or ten) with sugarpaste
2) DIY Wedding – theme colors is black and white
3) Wedding photography – documenting a special day
Also have a look at;
* Wedding photography pool at flickr – get inspiration for your wedding photography time.
S? snygga bilder!!!
Your wedding photography is breathtaking and the bride and groom so lovely together. You did a great job; I think you’re ready to hang out your shingle. xo
These are stunning wedding photographs, Hanna. I think you’re ready to go professional, too. Seriously. Your work is so intimate and lovely, and yet real. If I were ever to get married, I’d hire you in a minute!
These really are lovely photos. Great documentation. Are you putting together a portfolio yet?
These photos are intimate and beautiful! You should have no problem working as a professional. No problem at all!
:)
What a beautiful couple and you captured their special day in such inspiring ways. Excellent job!!!
Oh, lovely. You’ve captured just the sort of things I love to see….not the posed stuff, but all the little bits and pieces. You have the talent to truly make a career of this!
I love your pictures! That is exactly the type of photography I love. I would love to see more pictures!
Stunning photos. You’ve captured the intimacy between the couple so beautifully that I have tears in my eyes! Brava!
Beautiful wedding. Beautiful photography. I love the storyboards. Very fun. I’ll have to try that one of these days.
*hugs*
Sophie
These are absolutely superb photos. You have captured so much tenderness and love. From looking at the photos one would never know that the groom had a difficult time smiling. He reminds me of my ex-husband who also feels awkward in front of cameras. Anyone would be lucky and honored to have you as their photographer. I love photography too – I’m no where as good as you, and the thought of shooting a wedding or any event where the subjects are moving is well, intimidating. At this point, I’m better with things that don’t move. I’m in love with still life and admire those who can capture moving life. May you travel all over the world and capture all of those little and tender moments. Well done iHanna, well done.
Vilka underbara bilder! Jag ?nskar att du fotat v?rt br?llop (f?r 12 ?r sedan!). Ist?llet har vi fula studiobilder som jag hatade redan d? men tyckte att vi borde ha i alla fall.
Nu ska jag l?sa i kapp p? din blogg – jag har haft semester och du har varit produktiv…
Snygga bilder! J?ttebra jobbat!
Och vilket vackert par!
Absolutely stunning photos Hanna! You have done such a beautiful job capturing such a special moment. I love your idea of the traveling photographer. You have a great eye for detail! I love the hardness (im not sure that is the right word) of the groom and the softness of the bride together. Beautiful, beautiful couple!
fan-tas-tic!
such a creative wedding
and you did an awesome
job with the photos!
yay, you!!
Hanna, these are absolutely lovely. These are just the kind of wedding photos I love–they have so much meaning. You’re a fabulous photographer!
Greetings from Washington (state, not D.C.), USA. I love your work and I’ve been reading your blog (very inspirational) for a long time, but I don’t believe I’ve commented much, if at all. Sorry. I had to comment today because these photos are incredibly wonderful. I was surprised to find myself becoming quite emotional over the wedding of people I don’t know. I’d love to tell you which picture is my favorite, but it’s impossible. They are too beautiful to put one above the rest. Congratulations to you and best wishes to the happy couple!
Hanna- these photos are remarkable! You seemed to capture the romantic yet celebratory feel of the day. I wish you had shot my wedding! I used a photojournalist who did a great job capturing the moment but I think I like your point of view a bit more!
What an amazingly beautiful wedding, and a gorgeous bride and groom. And what a wonderful documentation of it!
Hi Hanna, these are beautiful, very special pictures. You are just so talented. I know you don’t get involved with blogging awards, but I nominated you for one anyways. It always makes me smile when I come across your name in the blogging universe and I just wanted you on that list. So thanks.
Fantastisk sp?ndende billeder! Men brudeparret her er vist ogs? et par personligheder lidt ud over det s?dvanlige! For pokker nogle smukke meennesker – men med kant!
WOWed with that journal. would love to see the end result with your journaling-!!!
the wedding pics are seriously amazing
I’ve heard from photographers that shooting a wedding is the hardest thing to do, and your photos are wonderful.
Ahh! Hanna! You really should look into becoming a professional photographer for life events. These photos are FAB-U-LOUS!— The couple is SO cute! =cD So sweet. The wedding looked so much fun! Much happiness to them.
Thanks for sharing with us Hanna. You truly are an artist of all media!
Felicia
These photos are amazing! You have a wonderful eye for things. Your warmth towards these people also shines through. I love all of them!
What an amazing couple and – wow – what wonderful photos! You should be super-proud!