Natural Wedding Photographer: Capturing the Beauty of Your Special Day in Its Purest Form

Name: Liam Smith Photography
Price range: $$$

Are you searching for a natural wedding photographer to capture the authenticity and joy of your big day? You might be thinking about which style suits your vision best. Welcome! This article is all about natural wedding photography and why it could be the perfect choice for your wedding. Finding the right wedding photographer can be a daunting task. You want someone who can capture your day authentically, without making it feel like a staged photo shoot. You’re also searching for a professional who can catch the small, meaningful moments you’ll cherish for years to come. With over a decade of experience in wedding photography, I have seen first-hand how different styles can bring out the unique beauty of each couple’s story. Among them, natural wedding photography has a special way of capturing the genuine emotions and candid moments that make your day uniquely yours. If you’re a couple who values authenticity and wants your wedding photos to reflect the genuine love and happiness of your special day, this is for you. Natural wedding photography might be exactly what you’re looking for to remember your day in the most heartfelt way. I understand the importance of this decision. Your wedding photos will be a lasting memory of your special day. They’ll capture the laughter, the tears, the love, and all the magical moments in between. Let’s delve deeper into what makes natural wedding photography so special.

What is Natural Wedding Photography?

Natural wedding photography is an approach that focuses on capturing candid, unposed moments in a way that feels authentic and true to the atmosphere of the day. It involves minimal intervention from the photographer, allowing you and your guests to enjoy the day without being overly conscious of the camera. The result is a series of beautiful, emotive images that reflect the genuine emotions and connections shared between you and your loved ones. You’ll no doubt encounter other styles of wedding photography that are described in a similar fashion, and admittedly there are considerable grey areas where genres overlap. The key difference with natural wedding photography however is that the images are shot with no deliberate stylistic intention, and that itself becomes the style. It’s hard to describe (and even harder to execute), but the result is a collection of images that do not prioritise one moment over another, and that is where their beauty lies. A photograph shot in this style has the sae quality as vintage photographs of grandparents or those from history, they are often imperfect, but the fact that they have captured a fleeting moment is what makes them so special.

Capturing People As They Are

Key Elements of Natural Wedding Photography

Candid Moments: Natural wedding photographers excel at capturing the unscripted, spontaneous moments that make your wedding day unique. This can include the laughter shared between friends, a tearful embrace, or a stolen kiss between the newlyweds.

Unposed: Instead of directing and posing their subjects, natural wedding photographers encourage them to interact naturally, resulting in images that feel genuine and true to the personalities of the couple and their guests.

Atmosphere: By focusing on the authentic emotions and connections shared throughout the day, natural wedding photography creates a vivid representation of the atmosphere and energy of your wedding celebration.

Creating a Relaxed Atmosphere

Building rapport with the couple

One of the key elements of my natural wedding photography approach is building a strong rapport with the couple well before the big day. By getting to know them, understanding their story, and learning about their preferences, I can ensure that they feel comfortable and at ease in front of my camera. This trust allows them to be themselves, which is essential for capturing genuine emotions and interactions.

Unobtrusive presence

On the wedding day, I strive to maintain an unobtrusive presence and being a part of the day as much as is appropriate. I believe that the best moments are often those that happen spontaneously, without any interference or direction from the photographer. By allowing the day to unfold naturally, I can capture the true essence of the celebration, documenting the laughter, tears, and tender exchanges that make each wedding unique. That being said, in order to create images that feel organic, you have to be a part of the day, not just an outsider looking in. By that I mean talking to people and being emotionally present. Being a part of conversations, being curious, laughing when something is funny and even crying if something moves you. This endears you to the wedding party and it shows them that you are human, not a stranger with a camera here to peer in at sensitive moments, but an individual who cares about your experience of the day and wants you to feel as comfortable as possible. My ultimate aim is for people to feel like they have been photographed by an old friend.

Capturing Candid Moments

Anticipating key moments

In my natural wedding photography style, anticipating and being prepared for key moments is crucial. I keep an eye on the schedule and the guests, ensuring that I’m in the right place at the right time to capture the most meaningful and emotional moments. Whether it’s the exchange of vows, a tearful embrace, or a spontaneous dance move, I am always ready to document these priceless memories.

Focusing on the details

While the big moments are undoubtedly important, I also pay close attention to the smaller details that tell the story of the day. From the intricate decorations to the loving glances exchanged between guests, these seemingly insignificant moments often hold deep emotional significance for the couple and their families. One of my go to questions before the wedding is ‘are you wearing anything of emotional significance?’. Often brides wear earrings, bracelets etc that belonged to relatives and have an emotional attachment to them. With this level of prior knowledge I am much better prepared for a seemingly unscripted moment. Whilst I don’t stage anything, as a photographer it’s my job to stack the odds in my favour. If I know you are wearing your grandmothers ring for example, then that means that other wedding guests are likely to recognise it, want to touch it and maybe even get emotional when doing so. This is an organic moment, but because of my research and interest in the details, I can be ready if it does happen.

Working with Natural Light

Embracing the golden hour

As a natural wedding photographer, I am passionate about working with natural light to create beautiful, atmospheric images. One of the best times of day to shoot is during the golden hour, that magical period just before sunset when the light is soft, warm, and flattering. When we can, it makes sense to use this period of time to take pictures of you both together. The golden hour often lands in the middle of dinner, so I often suggest you have your starters and get something to drink, then I’ll come and get you when the light is good. Twenty minutes, get some fresh air, then back to the party!

Adapting to different lighting conditions

Of course, not every moment of the wedding day will take place in perfect lighting conditions. From dimly lit churches to bright, midday sun, I am skilled at adapting my techniques to work with the available light, ensuring that I can capture beautiful images in any situation. The English weather is legendary, for some reason we love talking about it. I can’t be in control of the lighting shooting in a natural style, it’s just too imposing and off putting. Plus it kills the atmosphere and I want to document everything as it was. That being said, my knowledge of how light works means that I can position myself to capture moments that are both emotive and flattering.

Benefits of Hiring a Natural Wedding Photographer

Authentic Memories

Natural wedding photography captures the true essence of your wedding day, providing you with a collection of authentic memories that you can treasure for a lifetime.

Relaxed Experience

My unobtrusive approach allows you and your guests to enjoy the day without the added pressure of posing for the camera. This creates a more relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone involved.

Timeless Appeal

The candid, unposed nature of natural wedding photography results in images that have a timeless, classic appeal. These photographs will remain a cherished reminder of your special day for generations to come.

How to Choose the Right Natural Wedding Photographer

Examine Their Portfolio

A photographer’s portfolio is the best way to gauge their style and expertise. Look for a natural wedding photographer with a strong portfolio that showcases their ability to capture candid moments, genuine emotions, and the atmosphere of a wedding day. Look for consistency across venue types, different lighting conditions, but also look for emotive content. If you find yourself deep into a complete strangers wedding photography gallery and are immersed in the story, the journey and the quality of the images, then imagine how deeply you’ll connect to the pictures when they are your own.

Consider Their Experience

Experience is crucial when selecting a natural wedding photographer. An experienced photographer will have developed their own unique approach and will be able to adapt to the unpredictable nature of a wedding day, ensuring they capture the most meaningful moments. It’s important to consider what a meaningful moment is. A wedding has a set of moments that will most likely occur in all instances; ring exchange, first kiss etc. but these can feel stale and lacking in any depth because everyone has this shot. For a natural wedding portfolio to really sing, it needs to contain the in between moments that capture something you can’t really describe. They are as much art as they are documentation.

Establish a Connection

It’s essential to feel comfortable with your wedding photographer, as this will allow you and your guests to be at ease and enjoy the day. Schedule a meeting or a video call to discuss your vision for your wedding and to get a sense of their personality and approach. Do this at all costs. You cannot invite a complete stranger to your wedding day and expect them to produce their best work. Invite them into your world, and make sure you feel at ease doing so. As I mentioned earlier, what you really want is the feeling of an old friend coming to be a part of your day who will be taking pictures. You need to trust them, and you need to like them. You may be incredibly vulnerable in their presence, you need to be sure that you are comfortable doing so.

Conclusion

My approach to natural wedding photography is all about capturing the authentic emotions, candid moments, and beautiful details that make each wedding unique. By creating a relaxed atmosphere, anticipating key moments, and working with natural light, I can document the true essence of the celebration, providing the couple with a collection of images that they will treasure for a lifetime. I hope you found this information useful, and if you’re looking for a photographer for your day, I’d love to hear what you have planned!