How I tell the story of your wedding day
- 20 hours ago
- 11 min read
No two wedding days are ever the same - and that's one of my favourite things about them! Every couple brings their own personalities, traditions, and little touches that make their day completely unique. While no two timelines look exactly alike, there are a few key moments that naturally shape the flow of a traditional wedding day.
From the excitement of getting ready with your favourite people, to the happy tears during the ceremony and the epic celebrations on the dance floor, every part of the day has its own story to tell. My job is to capture it all - not just the big milestones, but the little moments in between that you might not even realise are happening.
So, if you've ever wondered what your wedding day looks like through my lens, here's a little peek behind the scenes at how I document a traditional wedding day from start to finish.
The Morning Preparations
I usually begin the day by spending time with whoever is getting ready first. If this is a groom, the first thing I'll photograph is all of the little details - the shoes, suit, cufflinks, watch, cologne, tie or bow tie, and anything else that's been carefully chosen for the day. Not only do these details help tell the full story of your wedding, but they also give everyone a chance to get used to having me around before I start pointing the camera in their direction.
Once everyone is in their shirts and trousers, it's time to get the finishing touches on. I'll capture the jackets going on, shoes being laced up, cufflinks fastened, bow ties adjusted, and those final little moments before it's time to leave. These often create some of my favourite photos, as everyone naturally helps each other out, have a laugh, and the excitement really starts to build.
Next comes the buttonholes. If parents or other close family members are part of the morning preparations, I love including them in this part of the day. Whether it's Mum pinning on a buttonhole or Dad helping straighten a tie, these are such meaningful moments that add another layer to your story.
Once everyone is looking their best, we'll head outside (or find the best light indoors) for some relaxed group photos. I'll capture a mix of classic portraits and plenty of candid moments too. If there's time, I always encourage your wedding party to do something fun together - whether that's sharing a whisky, playing a game of darts or pool, or simply hanging out and having a laugh. These photos feel natural, reflect your personalities, and are always a fun way to start the celebrations.
More Getting Ready Moments
I head over to spend the morning with you and your wedding party. I always begin by photographing the details first. Your outfit, shoes, jewellery, perfume, invitation suite, florals, and any other special keepsakes all help tell the story of your day and capture the little things you've spent months choosing.
If hair and makeup are still being finished, I'll quietly capture those final touch-ups too. These moments are always full of excitement, anticipation, and plenty of laughter as everyone gets ready together.
Once everyone is looking fabulous, we'll grab a few relaxed photos together in your matching robes or pyjamas. If you've got a bottle of bubbles on hand, even better! Popping a bottle of champagne always makes for fun, joyful photos and is a great way to celebrate with your favourite people before the day officially begins.
When it's time to get dressed, I'll wait until you're ready for those final finishing touches before I start photographing this part of the morning. This keeps the moment feeling calm and unhurried while allowing me to capture those beautiful finishing touches - whether it's a parent helping with the final touches or a close friend fixing a tie, veil, jacket, or boutonniere. These are such meaningful moments to share with your mum, dad, grandparents, or bridesmaids, and often become some of the most emotional photos from the morning.
Once you're completely ready, we can also capture a first look if you've planned one. Whether it's with your bridesmaids, your parents, grandparents, or someone else special, these reactions are always incredibly genuine and make for memories you'll treasure forever.
If time allows before leaving for the ceremony, we'll finish with some portraits of you and your wedding party. I'll capture a mix of timeless group photos and plenty of natural, candid moments so you can simply enjoy being together before the celebrations begin.
Ceremony
Once I arrive at your ceremony location, the very first thing I do is capture the space exactly as you've imagined it—before your guests take their seats. I'll photograph a beautiful wide shot of the ceremony setup, along with all of the little details that make it uniquely yours, from the florals and styling to the seating, signage, and personal touches you've carefully chosen.
As guests begin to arrive, I switch my focus to the excitement building before the ceremony. I'll capture candid moments of hugs, laughter, conversations, and those final few minutes of anticipation before everything begins.
When it's time for the ceremony, you'll usually find me at the back rather than waiting at the front. This allows me to photograph one of my favourite moments - your partner's reaction as they see you for the first time. From this position, I can also capture the beautiful back of your outfit as you walk down the aisle, along with the smiles and happy tears of your family and friends watching you arrive. It creates a wonderful variety of images that tell the story from everyone's perspective, not just the front of the aisle.
Throughout the ceremony, I move quietly between the sides and the back, keeping out of the way as much as possible. The only time I'll step into the centre of the aisle is for the first kiss and again as you walk back down the aisle together as newlyweds. These are two of the biggest moments of the day, and being in the middle of the aisle allows me to capture them from the very best angle - your first kiss as a married couple, followed by the huge smiles, cheers, and celebration as you make your way back down the aisle together.
My approach is always to be as discreet as possible. Your wedding day is about celebrating with the people you love, and I want you and your guests to be fully present without feeling like there's a photographer constantly standing in front of you. By blending into the background, I'm able to capture genuine emotions and authentic moments while letting your ceremony unfold naturally. After all, the day is just as much about your experience (and your guests' experience) as it is about creating beautiful photographs.
Post Ceremony
Once the ceremony is over, I don't whisk you away straight into photos. Instead, I like to give you 10–15 minutes to simply soak it all in and celebrate with your favourite people.
This is often the very first time you've seen many of your guests all day, and they'll all be eager to give you a hug, congratulate you, and share in the excitement of your newlywed moment. These are some of the most genuine interactions of the day—full of big smiles, happy tears, laughter, and heartfelt embraces.
I don't like to post photos of guests online, but here are some cute dog moments!
While you're enjoying this time together, I'll be quietly documenting it all. Some of the most authentic and emotion-filled photos happen during these few minutes, and they're often moments couples don't even realise are being captured. It's your chance to relax, take a breath, and really enjoy the fact that... you're married!
Family Photos
Before everyone disappears to grab a drink and mingle, I like to gather all of your guests together for one big group photo. It's such a fun way to capture everyone who came to celebrate with you, and it's often one of those photos that becomes even more special as the years go by.
This is also the perfect opportunity for me to introduce myself to your guests. I'll let everyone know that if they'd like a photo with their partner, family, or friends during cocktail hour or throughout the reception, they're more than welcome to come and find me. I never want anyone to feel like they're interrupting me or that they're a bother by asking for a photo. If it's important to you, it's important to me!
Once we've ticked off the group photo, we'll move into your formal family portraits. These can be as simple or as extensive as you'd like, but I generally recommend keeping the list to around 10–15 combinations. Focusing on your immediate families, grandparents, and any special friends or extended family members means we can capture all of the important people efficiently, while giving you more time to relax, enjoy cocktail hour, and spend time with your guests.
Having a pre-planned family photo list also helps everything run smoothly, making this part of the day quick, organised, and completely stress-free.
Wedding party and couple portraits
Once it's time for wedding party photos, we gather your favourite people together and either head off to a beautiful location nearby or make the most of the ceremony venue. This part of the day is a great mix of relaxed, candid moments and a few more structured photos to make sure we capture everyone who is important to you.
Ideally, I'll photograph all of the wedding party photos first. This includes each of you with your own side of the wedding party, individual photos with your closest friends, and everyone together as one big group. The goal is to keep things fun and natural rather than feeling like a long list of formal poses.
This is also a great time for your wedding party to relax and enjoy themselves. If you've brought along a picnic, snacks, or drinks, they can enjoy those while we're taking photos, which keeps the atmosphere fun and gives everyone a chance to soak up the excitement of the day. Often, the laughter and energy of your friends together creates some of the best candid moments.
Once we've finished with the wedding party, I'll send everyone off to enjoy the celebrations while I spend 10-15 minutes focusing just on the two of you. This gives you a little pocket of time together away from the crowd - a chance to slow down, enjoy being newlyweds, and have some quiet moments without feeling like everyone is watching.
These couple portraits are relaxed and natural, with a focus on connection rather than stiff posing. For some couples, this part of the day includes something extra special, like a helicopter shoot. If that's something you've chosen, we'll head off into the mountains or another incredible location to create a truly unforgettable set of images together.
Cocktail Hour
Once we've finished your wedding party and couple portraits, I love getting you back to your family and friends so you can relax, enjoy a drink, grab some food, and actually experience your cocktail hour before heading into the reception.
This part of the day is such a wonderful opportunity to slow down and soak everything in. You've just had the excitement of the ceremony and portraits, and now you get to celebrate with the people who came to support you.
While you're enjoying this time, I'll step back and focus on capturing all of those natural moments happening around you - the hugs, laughter, conversations, drinks being shared, friends catching up, and all of the little interactions that make your wedding feel like your wedding.
These candid moments are often some of the most meaningful photos in your gallery because they capture the atmosphere of the day and the people who made it so special.
Reception
Before your guests head inside and take their seats, I like to sneak into the reception space to capture it at its absolute best. This is the perfect time to photograph the room setup, wide shots of the space, and all of the thoughtful details you've spent so much time planning - from the tablescape and florals to the signage, cake, stationery, and little personal touches that make the room feel like yours.
Once everyone is ready, I'll focus on your arrival into the reception and the excitement as the celebrations continue. I'll capture your entrance, the reactions from your guests, and all of those natural moments that happen throughout the evening.
During the reception, I'll document the moments that bring everyone together - the laughter and emotions during speeches, candid interactions between guests, the cake cutting, and all of the little reactions happening around the room.
When it's time to sit down for dinner, this is usually where I take a short break. Let's be honest—nobody needs photos of themselves halfway through a mouthful of food! It also gives you a chance to relax, enjoy your meal, and have some time together without the camera around.
Once dinner is finished, I'll be back capturing all the fun as the evening continues. From more candid guest moments to the energy building before the dance floor opens, this is when the celebration really starts to come alive.
Golden Hour
Golden hour is one of my absolute favourite parts of the day. There is something so magical about stepping away from the celebrations for a few quiet moments while the sun is setting and the light is at its most beautiful.
I usually sneak you and your partner away somewhere close by - often still on the venue grounds - so we can capture those dreamy, romantic evening portraits without taking too much time away from your guests. We only need around 10 minutes, but it gives us the chance to create some beautiful images with that soft, warm evening glow.
It’s also a lovely opportunity to take a little breather from the excitement of the day. Between the ceremony, photos, speeches, and celebrating with everyone you love, these few minutes can feel like a little reset where you get to reconnect and enjoy being together.
Once we’ve finished your golden hour photos, I often encourage you to take another 10 minutes just for yourselves before heading back into the party. Find a quiet spot, soak it all in, and take a moment to appreciate the fact that you’re married and surrounded by all of your favourite people. These little pauses are rare during a wedding day, and they’re often some of the moments couples remember most.
Party Time!
Now it's time for the celebrations to really kick off! Once the formalities are finished, the dance floor opens and the energy of the day shifts completely.
I’ll be there to capture those first special moments - the first dance, parent dances, and the moment everyone joins in and the party officially begins. These are such fun moments to photograph because you get to see everyone’s personalities come out, from the emotional and meaningful moments to the big laughs and dance floor antics.
After the first dance, I’ll usually stay for another 3–4 songs to capture the atmosphere building, the dance floor filling up, and your guests getting into the celebrations. This is where I focus on the fun, movement, and those unforgettable moments that happen when everyone lets loose.
Then it’s time for me to pack away the cameras and let you and your guests enjoy the rest of the night. As much as I love capturing the party, there comes a point where everyone deserves to have a completely carefree, no-holds-barred celebration without a camera following them around.
My goal is to capture the magic, excitement, and energy of the start of the party - and then leave you to dance the night away with the people you love most.
Every Wedding Has Its Own Story
While this guide follows a more traditional wedding day structure, the heart of how I photograph every wedding remains the same - capturing the moments, emotions, and people that make your day uniquely yours.
No two weddings unfold in exactly the same way, and that is what makes them so special. Some couples have a traditional ceremony, some choose something completely different, and some create a celebration that blends traditions from both sides. The timeline might change, but my approach doesn’t - I’m there to document the connection, the excitement, and all of the moments in between.
At the end of the day, your wedding photos should bring you right back to the laughter, the happy tears, the hugs, and the people who surrounded you. That’s the story I’m there to tell.