Newlywed bride smiling and laughing with her mother and sister at Chelmsford Registry Office in London

a beautiful candid moment - just as it happened


This post is all about “why I love a particular wedding photo,” from my point of view as the photographer. 


Being a documentary wedding photographer, I love capturing genuine and spontaneous moments as they happen throughout the day. I focus a lot of energy on looking for and anticipating special “moments.”


This was an intimate wedding at a Chelmsford registry office for Michael and Jurgita.


If I had to choose a single word to describe this wedding, it would be heartfelt. It was a very small wedding with only six guests. The bride’s mother and daughter had flown in from Lithuania for the event. 


As you can see below, I have included some of the other photos from this wedding but this one stands out to me because it captures a real moment of joy between two sisters and their mother. I had just started doing some shots of the family. This was one of the in-between moments when I had taken a shot and was setting up to take another. I have learned that these in-between moments are often the most rewarding. In fact, they are the ones I am really waiting for. When people don’t think they are being photographed, they are often at their most natural and relaxed and consequently give me the best photo opportunities. 


I also think it’s a good example of documentary wedding photography and why I love it: it’s fun, real, and natural and captures the mood and feeling of the day.

Bride and groom holding hands and looking at each other before their wedding at Chelmsford Registry Office in London
Newlywed groom kissing his bride outside of Chelmsford Registry Office in London
Close up on the hands and wedding bands of a newlywed bride and groom at Chelmsford Registry Office in London

I often describe photos like these as those you can almost "smell." They take you back to the very moment, allowing you to feel the room's atmosphere and energy that filled it. To me, this is what makes a great wedding photograph – the power to evoke the laughter, the love, and the unique ambiance of that singular moment. As my couples look through their wedding album in the years to come, it’s these kinds of photographs that will undoubtedly bring back memories of their wedding day and the authentic moments that made it truly special.


If you're preparing for a wedding filled with moments like these, I'd love to discuss how we can capture the essence of your day through the unique moments that will make it special to you. Let's connect and explore the possibilities of documenting your unique love story.


Wedding Photographer Gary Williams

YOUR LONDON BASED DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER


If you're looking for more than just posed photographs, if you want your wedding day to be documented authentically, capturing real emotions and heartfelt connections – then you've found your documentary wedding photographer. Get in touch and let's create memories together. If you want to know more about me, click here.

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