There is an art in creating natural and romantic wedding portraits. The photographer must know how to make you feel relaxed enough to be tender with each other on camera. They need to know how to position you in flattering poses, to find the dreamiest light.
All of these elements are essential in creating elegant and romantic wedding portraits.
I’m going to tell you how I work to get the best out of my couples in order to create these romantic heirloom images, which will be treasured through the generations.
Before The Wedding Day
I get to know my couples
The wedding photography process starts before the wedding day for me. In the months running up to the big day I really get to know my couples. I make sure I have a good understanding of their dynamic and how they behave in each other’s company.
It is my aim to feel like a friend on the wedding day. After all, I am with you during the most nerve wracking and intimate moments so it’s important that I blend in with the guests and key family members. I’m always on hand to offer support or hair grips and my calm and cheerful manner is something that my couples often mention in their testimonials.
Here are a few examples of kind words from my clients.
“Camilla is a very talented photographer. She not only captured our wedding beautifully, she also was a big support throughout even when things didn’t quite go to plan after a rainstorm!”
“It was like having a good friend there at our wedding. Her calming presence really put my husband and I at ease during the day.”
“We just loved having Camilla with us on our big day. It was such a pleasure and she went out of her way to help and make us feel completely relaxed.”
Engagement Shoots
Most of my couples book an engagement shoot ahead of their big day. These shoots are a fantastic opportunity to get to know each other better and to work out how to create the most flattering and natural photographs. Engagement shoots save a lot of time on the wedding day, this is because my couple are used to being photographed by me and already feel ‘warmed up’ in front of the camera. Furthermore they will have already seen the beautiful results from the engagement shoot. This gives them more confidence when being photographed on the wedding day.
“We had our wedding and engagement photos shot by Camilla. If we could give any advice to any couples looking for a photographer we would recommend getting an engagement shoot just so you are comfortable with the camera and posing.”
On The Wedding Day
The Right Setting
I always arrive a bit early to a wedding so that I can scout out good photo locations. Keeping my eyes open for beautiful flower backdrops, softly coloured stonewalls, doorways and elegant trees means that I know where to take my couples for their portraits. This makes creating romantic wedding portraits an enjoyable experience for my couples as we don’t have to try lots of different locations before finding ‘the one’.
I have photographed over 200 weddings in my career and I know that these settings make for stunning and romantic wedding portraits. Ahead of the wedding I will have discussed the timings with my couple. We will have decided when to take 30-40 minutes away from the wedding party for photos. I usually recommend a further session at golden hour in the evening too, more on that later!
This break in the craziness of the wedding day is the perfect opportunity for my couples to spend some alone time together. To reflect on the day so far and have some quiet moments together. During their wedding portraits I position my couple in the most beautiful setting and gently direct them into the most flattering position. Then I just let them connect while I photograph them.
It’s always the tender moments of connection which are framed on my couples walls. I have made these romantic wedding portraits part of my signature style.
If my couple seem nervous at all I am able to put them at ease with lots of tricks I have picked up in nearly a decade of wedding photography. I will ask them to walk and chat to help them relax. I will encourage them to talk about the day so far. And of course I will allow them to kiss and cuddle whenever feels natural.
The Right Light
Photography is ALL about lighting. To achieve the light and dreamy style, which I am known for, I need soft light, and I know where to find it. This ethereal light is often found below the swaying branches of an old tree. It is found in ‘open shade’ such as in doorways and grand covered entrances of manor houses. I always place the sun behind my couples so that the light is soft and flattering.
Knowing how to find and use good light is something that comes with experience. It is the key to luminous, romantic wedding portraits, which will hang on my couple’s walls for year to come.
I Shoot Film
My style is described and elegant, romantic and full of light. To achieve this look I shoot on film wherever possible. The medium of film photography allows me to treat each photograph as a work of art.
Each photograph I take is carefully curated and considered. Film allows me to slow down the process of shooting and really think about the composition, light and posing of the image. Every film frame is special and unique.
Not only is film photography incredibly flattering, there is also a soulful, and luminous quality to film photographs and a beautiful grain and texture, which make the images, come alive. Film captures light like no other medium and that light shines out of the image.
There are so many elements in creating romantic wedding portraits. Rapport, experience, finding the right setting and using the best medium to create luminous photographs.
If you are drawn to timeless, light and dreamy wedding photography do get in touch and let’s chat more about your exciting plans.
“Camilla was an absolute delight to work with and couldn’t recommend her highly enough. We were a little nervous about our big day as you can imagine but she put us at ease throughout the day! She thought of every little thing and captured it beautifully.
Really couldn’t have wished for a better photographer and we now have an incredible set of photos to we can treasure forever.”