Abadía del Sacromonte, Granada
Art & Weddings
Since I first discovered street photography I started asking myself where the limits lie between artistic photography and documental photography. Now that my professional work is inseparably connected with documenting people and their important life moments, I think about it even more.
Can we, as wedding photographers, also identify as artists?
Or is it our duty to honestly show the reality and withdraw ourselves from interpretation and judgment? Is it even possible to separate those two processes?
And finally, how big our role as chroniclers is in writing collective memory for our society?
I have picked some of my photographs that may or may not be considered wedding photography. I hope this to become an invitation to a broader discussion.
Tuscany – Destination Wedding
I met Florin Stefan (https://florinstefan.ro/) for the second time at the Fearless Conference 2019 in Aachen (https://www.fearlessphotographers.com/). The conference is always a pleasant opportunity to reunite with friends from all over the world and share our photographic experiences with each other.
With Florin, we talked about our plans for 2019. He told me he was traveling to Italy in May to photograph a wedding in Tuscany. Naturally, I immediately offered to come along as a second photographer and he quickly agreed.
So there we were in Tuscany, pouring rain under the cloudy sky. But this didn’t affect anyone’s attitude or mood. That´s one of the things I love most about destination weddings. Everyone is there on holiday but on top of that, they have the opportunity to enjoy a wedding with family and friends in a completely different surrounding to what they would typically experience.
The bride and groom gathered together a good mix of friends from back home and from all over the world. They being Romanians based in The Netherlands, were drawn to this romantic Italian location.
From the very beginning everyone made me feel very welcome and part of the team. One of the best things about being the second shooter at a wedding is that you have less of the pressures that comes with being the main photographer. You are there to help in any way you can, but you can enjoy the fun of photographing, almost as if doing it for pleasure. You can find angles, perspectives and moments that otherwise, being the main photographer; you wouldn´t always have the time and the patience to spot.
The weather forecast wasn´t very optimistic, but that didn´t stop the bride and groom having an outdoor wedding. It was an orthodox ceremony and I loved it. It is always very interesting to see different kinds of religious celebrations rather than the ones we are used to. It´s a privilege to observe and learn from different cultures and traditions by being a spectator on such an important day of peoples lives and also having the luxury to capture it on film.
By the time we were ready for the cocktail, Florin had already ordered the clouds to clear (there is nothing he cannot achieve) and we enjoyed the last rays of sunshine before dinner. By the end everyone was ready to party, commemorating these amazing few days in Tuscany.
Interview from Wedding Photography Select
Read the entire interview here: Wedding Photographer Spain Andreu Doz
Andreu Doz Photography a wedding photographer based in Spain shares his work with us today in our wedding photography spotlight feature. Andreu received his first camera in high school and realised photography was going to be a big part of his life, so he took himself to London and studied photography at the Goldsmith University. Andreu loves shooting weddings and has shot over one hundred and sixty wedding to date.
Do you have a recent favorite photo that you have taken? Tell us how you took it and why you like it?
Apart from photographing all the big moments, I really like to look, where no one else is looking and see things no one else is paying attention to. For me, those moments are equally important. I took this photo at my last wedding. It was a rainy day and the ceremony was moved under a roof of an old stable. It was packed and this little boy climbed up the window to watch the events from a different perspective. When I saw it I decided to give him his very own spot in this wedding story.
What really gets you emotional when you’re shooting a wedding?
I am an observer, in life and at work – I prefer to stay in the shadows. This is why I do not like to stage my photographs. It makes me uncomfortable to tell people what to do, and I think it makes them uncomfortable too. This is why I always wait for them to show their real emotions. This is what attracts me most in photographing weddings. All those opportunities to witness and capture true joy, affection, kindness, passion, and unity. Preserving an emotion in a photo, it really gets me.
How do you put a couple at ease before and during their big day?
I believe that the key here is to get to know them, and to let them know me. I make an effort to establish a connection with all my couples before the wedding. We meet several times. If they are up for it, I photograph them before the wedding day, in relaxed and casual circumstances. It really helps if they know what to expect. This way they can be themselves in my presence. If it is impossible to meet, due to long distance between us, we Skype and I explain how the wedding day looks from my perspective. I also try to learn as much as possible about them to be able to tell their story honestly.
What is it about being a wedding photographer you love?
I love being on the move. I have always preferred to learn from experience, and this job gives me so many opportunities to travel the world, to meet real people, to see how they live and to share their happiness. Each wedding season is a crazy, busy time for me. It feels like getting on a rollercoaster, and a different one each year.
What is it about being a wedding photographer that you don’t love so much?
Hmm….this is the toughest question you ask. I keep coming back to it and I do not know what to answer.
What photography kit do you have in your bag & what is your favourite?
Canon Body 5Ds, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 II, Canon 24-70mm II f/2.8, Canon 70-200mm II f/2.8, Canon 35mm f/1.4, Canon 50mm f/1.8, Canon 85mm f/1.8, Canon 20mm f/2.8, Canon Fisheye 15mm f/2.8, Canon 135mm f/2.
I love all my lenses, but I have a special relationship with my Canon 70-200mm II f/2.8.
What is your favourite part of the day?
I really like to photograph people arriving to the ceremony. This moment is full of electricity and anticipation. I also love the moment when the ceremony ends and everyone gathers to greet the couple, hug them, laugh together, share their joy and show their love. This is when all the stress and tension give room to pure happiness.
What tips would you give a couple on choosing a wedding photographer?
Two things: mutual understanding and connection. Make sure you pick the style you like, research well, ask all the questions you need, and let the photographer know your expectations. Make sure you actually like the wedding photographer as a person. He or she will be with you in a very private and often stressful situation, so it is essential that you feel good in her or his presence.
Why do you think couples choose you?
I have noticed that all couples that choose me have one thing in common, they all say they search for an honest and natural documentation of their wedding. I think this is exactly what they see in my pictures and this is the kind of photography I have to give.
How do you relax when you’re not shooting weddings?
Most of the year I am on the move, my work and my private life blend together and they hardly ever separate. When I stop, I like to hang in a hammock in my garden and spend time with my four cats and a dog.
What are you looking forward to and why?
To be honest, I just want to keep doing what I do – photographing weddings all over the globe.
Visit my page : ANDREU DOZ PHOTOGRAPHY