POV Your Florist Friend Gets Married: A Portugal Wedding by The Vernacular Photography

The Gear and Details

Lead Photographer
Sony A7 IV
Sigma 24–70mm f/2.8
Godox V1 Pro

Second Photographer
Canon R5
Canon R6 Mark II
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2
Canon RF 24–70mm f/2.8

Coverage
Welcome event: 8 hours
Wedding day: 12 hours

Main Photographers: The Vernacular Photography

Setting the Scene

“This was without a doubt the most special and, at the same time, the most difficult wedding I have ever photographed. A wedding of two people well known within the industry and close friends of mine, definitely put some extra pressure on. Combine all of that and you have a wedding photographer going through a few sleepless nights.

Maria and Nuno, from Oh Maria Flores and Nonaked Design Studio, made sure every decision was made with a concept behind it. Everything was a reflection of who they are, of their individual story and their story as a couple, but everything was also a creative reflection of THEIR work.”

Analog Coverage on this day is by Jackie Chick

“The” Portrait
I chose to work only with the natural light, because I loved the softness it brought to the image and how it helped preserve the feeling of the space. What I love most about this photograph is that it became a portrait not only of Maria and Nuno, but also of Portuguese rurality as it truly is. You can see the landscape around them, and while in another situation that might not have been the background I would naturally look for, here it made perfect sense. The whole concept of their wedding was about bringing Portuguese identity, local traditions, and the things that feel genuinely Portuguese into the day. So for me, keeping those elements in the frame was essential.

Getting Ready

“I had several getting portraits planned with Maria, but we didn’t have the time in the end to do many. Understandably, she was deeply involved in creating the florals and, once she finally sat down, the getting ready had to happen very quickly. At that point, I stopped trying to follow the plan and focused on what she needed.

Sometimes our job is knowing when to let go of an image and prioritise the person in front of us. I believe this deeply!”

B&W w/ Flash Frame
“This particular frame stands out to me because it focuses on the groom, which is something we don’t always see represented as much in wedding photography. In this image, Agnes, the hairstylist, is adjusting Nuno’s hair after his outfit change. Being able to photograph couples who are confident in expressing who they are and who allow every decision, from styling to personal details, to reflect their personalities, is something I value deeply.”

Ceremony

“The ceremony was designed more like an art installation than a traditional ceremony. Guests stood throughout the space, surrounded by sculptures, furniture, and florals, with no fixed aisle or obvious main viewpoint.

It was difficult to photograph because the angles were different from normal, but that unpredictability forced me to keep moving and responding. I wanted the images to preserve the feeling of experiencing the space, not simply document what happened inside it.”

‘An Emotional Moment’
No one had ever warned me that photographing a friend’s wedding could be physically challenging, especially when tears start falling and blur your vision while you’re trying to work. This was the moment when I couldn’t hold them back anymore, when Maria’s uncle came to meet her and walk her down the aisle. This is, without a doubt, one of the most emotional photographs of the day for me, because I know Maria and her story. I think that is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do, being able to document moments that carry a deeper meaning.

Portraits

“Maria and Nuno did not want to spend much time making formal portraits, so I focused on creating one or two images that felt significant. I photographed them in the ceremony space using natural light, almost like two artists standing within their own work. Keeping the Portuguese countryside visible felt important. The portrait needed to represent the couple, but also the place and culture they had built the wedding around.”

Reception

“I photographed the reception styling in daylight to preserve the softness, colour, and texture of the room. Once dinner began, the space became extremely dark and was lit almost entirely by candlelight. I used direct flash for contrast and drama, but also photographed without it. I wanted the gallery to hold both versions of the evening: the sharp energy of the celebration and the darkness, grain, and intimacy guests actually experienced.”

‘My Favorite Image’
What makes this photo so special to me is the number of layers it contains, and that is something I’ve been intentionally searching for more and more in my work lately: multiple narratives coexisting within a single frame. You can feel the atmosphere of the room, while at the same time a waiter is serving sopa de cação, a traditional Portuguese dish, Nuno is kissing Maria’s shoulder, and that exact gesture is simultaneously being photographed by Jackie, who also appears in the frame. For me, it feels almost like an inception of an image.