Behind the Scenes
How the day really comes together
The quiet moments, the timing, the kit — a look at how I work a wedding so the important things never get missed.
Behind the Lens — A Wedding Day
What actually happens when a photographer arrives at your wedding? Here is what a full wedding day looks like from my side of the camera.
The Day, Hour by Hour
No two weddings are identical, but the rhythm of the day is usually the same. Here is what I am doing — and thinking — at each stage.
13:30 — Arrival & décor
I arrive before you — not because I am early, but because I need to walk the venue before anything starts. Where is the light? What are the clean backgrounds? I photograph the décor and the details while the room is still perfect.
14:00 — Groom & groomsmen
Over to the guys first — prep, a few portraits, and the calm before the day ramps up.
15:40 — Bridal prep
The most underrated part of the day. The dress in the window, the first look in the mirror, your mum doing up the last button. I look for quiet moments in a busy room, shooting in available light so nothing feels staged.
15:45 — I leave for the ceremony
I slip away ahead of you to be in position before you arrive — nothing rushed, nothing missed.
16:00 — Ceremony
I move quietly. I do not direct during the ceremony — I work from the sides and back, sometimes from behind the officiant with permission. The photos should feel like nobody was pointing a camera at you.
16:45 — Confetti & congratulations
The loudest, happiest few minutes of the day — and over in a flash. I am ready for it.
17:00 — Group & family photos
The large group shot first, then the family combinations — about a minute each, organised and quick, so nobody is left standing around. Snacks go out to your guests at the same time.
17:45 — Entourage
The bridal party, relaxed and having fun once the formal shots are done.
18:00 — Couple shoot
The part I plan every timeline around — roughly 20 minutes in the golden light before sunset. A little direction, mostly movement cues; the rest happens naturally. This is where the best portraits come from.
19:00 — Grand entrance & reception
Your grand entrance, the MC’s welcome, speeches, the meal, and the flow of the evening. I shoot the room as it fills with energy.
20:40 — Cake, dance floor & celebration
Cutting the cake, the dance floor opening, the garter and bouquet — and then the party gets going. I stay until the brief is complete and the candid coverage is consistent.
A Day in the Life — Watch
The blog post version of a full wedding day is the most-read piece on the site. Watch the video below for the visual version.
What I Carry
Not because gear makes the photographer — it does not — but because couples sometimes ask. The short version: two camera bodies, multiple prime lenses, and lighting equipment I use only when I need to.
Cameras & Lenses
Nikon D850 & D800 — full-frame bodies
24–70mm f/2.8 — my workhorse
80–200mm f/2.8 — ceremony from a distance
50mm f/1.4 — portraits and low light
14mm f/2.8 — venues and big group shots
105mm f/2.8 macro — rings and fine detail
Lighting
Profoto B1 × 2 and A1 × 3, with a range of modifiers — for receptions and after-dark portraits.
How I Edit
Every image is edited individually in Lightroom. I do not batch-process. The style is true to life — I enhance the mood of what was actually there rather than impose a look. What you see in the portfolio is what your images will look like.
Like how I work?
Let’s do this for your day
Now you’ve seen how I work a wedding — calm, unobtrusive, always one step ahead. Let’s bring that to yours.