The Most Important Wedding Photos

We, wedding photographers, are first and foremost service providers, so it is very important that our clients are satisfied with the results of our work. And here comes the question: what is most important to the client? A portrait? A photo of the couple in a special location?

Well, I realized what the answer is to this question a few years ago, and now, as a newlywed, I’m even more convinced: The most important wedding photos are those… with the family. <3

Two years ago, I received a message from a former client of mine. He wrote to me and thanked me for taking those photos with his father. At the time, I didn’t understand why he wrote to me at that moment. Only after a few seconds did I realize that his father… had died. Those were the only high-quality photos he had with him, and he thanked me, even though back then he was in a hurry during those shots, and as a guy, he didn’t really want to be photographed much, neither alone nor with his family. I was shocked when I heard the news because he wasn’t an elderly man. However, at the same time, I felt somehow fulfilled—if I can call the feeling that—because thanks to me, he had photos with his father.

Over these 12 years of photography, I’ve had the opportunity to photograph many families: grandparents, parents, children… and unfortunately, I’ve had many cases where the photos I took were later requested to be printed alongside the coffin of the deceased person. There were countless occasions when family members passed away just days or weeks after the event.

A wedding is the perfect occasion to capture family photos because it’s a happy event, a celebration, everyone is joyful, and of course, everyone is dressed up nicely. It is also an event where we can capture such genuine family emotions: the moment when parents see their children in a wedding dress or suit for the first time, the grandparents crying and kissing the children’s hands. And how wonderful it is when you have the chance to photograph three or even four generations together.

However, not all of us are so lucky: at least I am not. In 2017, I lost my grandfather, who used to tell me how much he was looking forward to dance at my wedding… it was not meant to be for him, nor for my other grandfather. I wasn’t able to take beautiful photos with my grandparents at my wedding. Even more, I don’t have any good, quality photos with my grandparents from my father’s side, and I didn’t even get to know my other grandmother. After learning my lesson, I had the chance to take photos with my other grandfather, from my mother’s side, but even he couldn’t be with us at our wedding. He passed away two months before the wedding.

Fortunately, for my clients, after learning this in 2017, I’ve always made an effort at every event to take family photos, especially with the grandparents. So, dear ones, even if your photographer doesn’t insist… TAKE PHOTOS WITH YOUR GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS, TAKE PHOTOS WITH YOUR FAMILY! Time passes, and the people around us disappear… but the memories in our minds remain with them, and of course… the photographs.