Behind The Shot / How We Create Our Images

We get asked quite a lot how we shoot certain images, or what actually happens behind the scenes to create a particular photo.

So we thought, okay then... let’s show you. 👀

Here are a few of our favourite images, and the slightly random thought processes behind them.

For us, wedding photography often starts with simply noticing something.

A space. A colour. A weird little object. A piece of architecture. Sometimes even a piece of bread shaped like a pumkin.

We’re constantly looking around and thinking, hmmm... what can we do with that?

Now, allow us to give you some examples here.

• Example 01.The family photo that became a little installation
  Our bride, an architect and interior designer, wanted something different from the classic family photo where everyone stands in one straight line. So we treated the space almost like a composition. We counted everyone, got them standing together so we could see the different heights, then started pulling in chairs. Some faced left, some right, some towards the camera. Some people sat, some stood, and we placed the couple right in the middle.
  
  Rather than making everyone fit into a standard family portrait, we built the photograph around the space.

• Example 02. A flower... that became another flower
  This one started with a name card and a single flower we spotted nearby. It had no leaves and was basically just sitting there doing nothing. So naturally, we put it on the name card and made it into a tiny little flower arrangement.
  
  Sometimes creative wedding photography is just seeing something ordinary and thinking, wait...

• Example 03. When the door matches the bouquet
  We walked past this incredibly red hotel door and immediately thought of the bride's bouquet. So we stopped. We had the bride stand low, chin down, and hold the bouquet against her head. Her black earrings then fell perfectly across her face, adding another little graphic shape to the frame.
  
  Nothing complicated. Just a good colour combination, a bit of playing around and a very cooperative bride.

• Example 04. And then there was the pumpkin bread
  Yes. That's pumpkin bread. For this shoot, we wanted to make the bread part of the visual story, so we used it as a boutonnière. And then, obviously, putting it on someone's head seemed like the next logical step.

  We like our editorial wedding photography with a little bit of playfulness.

• Example 05. Sometimes the sculpture gets the spotlight

  For this image, we were photographing in front of Jaume Plensa's Laura. Instead of treating the sculpture as a background, we wanted it to become part of the photograph. We spread the couple apart and let the sculpture sit between them as the main visual anchor. Then we tilted the camera. Because sometimes a tiny change is all it takes to make an image feel a little less... expected and playful.

• Example 06. When Wes Anderson walks into the room
  Okay, we’re huge Wes Anderson fans, so obviously we had to have a little fun with this one. We spotted the hotel reception desk and immediately thought, this feels very Wes Anderson. So we asked the hotel receptionist if our couple could stand behind the counter.

  They said yes. And... well, that was basically it. 😂

• Example 07. A little peekaboo
  When we saw the groom and what he chose to wear, we instantly knew we wanted to make the shot feel fun, unexpected, and very him. So we had him hide behind the curtain and played a little peekaboo.

  Sometimes you don't need a complicated setup. You just need to notice someone's personality and find a way to photograph it.

• Example 08. When the lift doors open
  When the couple told us they were staying at Paramount House Hotel, we instantly thought, okay, these guys are design people. I spotted this beautiful lift when we were heading into the building and immediately thought, we have to get a shot here. The trick was finding a moment when we could do it without blocking the lift or holding anyone up. So on the way out, we grabbed the opportunity. But instead of taking another still photo, we switched to a little bit of video. The doors opening, the couple inside, the movement... it just made the whole thing feel more alive.

  Sometimes it’s not about finding the perfect photo. It’s about finding a slightly more interesting way to capture the moment.

• Example 09. The Colours, The Space and the Composition.
  There it is. The colours. The space. The composition. And, of course, a couple who happened to have the perfect outfits for it. 😌
  When we decide where to shoot, we’re always thinking about what our couples are wearing and what feels like them. For this shot, I loved how the structure of her gown echoed the architecture and clean lines of the space. So we took them to the pool, and placed them slightly to the right of the frame.

  Just enough negative space to make the composition feel a little more interesting.

There isn't really a formula for how we make these images.

We look at the the space, the people, the outfits, the colours and whatever weird little things happen to be around us, then see where they take us.

Mostly real. A little editorial + playful. Always looking.