“I carried two main cameras all day. A Sony A7Riii with a 24 70 and a Fuji GFX 50s with a 50mm. The Sony handled most of the fast moments and the Fuji was for portraits when I wanted that slower medium format feel. I also had a GODOX V1 flash ready when natural light ran out. Film came from an Olympus MJU and a Holga which I like using when the moment feels a little raw and imperfect.

We had four shooters for about twelve hours. One of them worked almost entirely on film so the gallery would have a different rhythm to it.”

Photographer: Koko King

One creative risk I took on this wedding was leaning into a MUCH warmer editing direction than I typically use. My work often gravitates toward cooler tones, but the environment and textures of this location felt like they naturally called for something warmer and more atmospheric.

I also intentionally pushed myself toward simpler, more minimal compositions. Normally, I love storytelling frames that can feel a bit more dramatic and visually layered. For this wedding, I wanted to explore the opposite, calmer images with cleaner framing and a softer palette.

It ended up being a really rewarding creative shift for me. The warmth and minimalism complemented the overall album beautifully, and it’s a direction I’ll likely continue exploring moving forward.

“Normally when I arrive, I begin by photographing the details, often incorporating elements of the bridal suite or venue to give those images a sense of place. For this particular wedding, however, I kept things intentionally simple. Even for the dress photos, I chose to hang the gown within the frame while the bride was getting her hair and makeup done behind it. It allowed the dress to be captured in a more natural, organic way rather than as a staged standalone detail. Or just simply lining up all the bridesmaids shoes.”

“When it came time for the bride to get dressed, we actually moved a very heavy mirror out of the way so we could access a clean wall next to natural light and stay consistent with the minimal aesthetic I was aiming for. I also had the bridesmaids change into their gowns before helping the bride into hers. While the traditional silky pajama getting-ready moments can be fun, I personally prefer the visual elegance of having the bridesmaids already dressed. It creates a richer, more refined frame and is also a great way to incorporate their dresses into the story of the morning.”

“I like interactive get ready shots of the bridesmaids helping the bride into her dress, it’s always a bit chaotic and giggly and since the girls are already there in frame, once dressed I always ask for a quick portrait with the bride and bridesmaids. Immediately moving into bridal portraits then a first look.

Overall, the goal was to keep everything clean, intentional, and visually cohesive with the minimalist approach I had planned for the day.”

“The ceremony space was actually quite dark and lacked naturally interesting light. To solve this, we introduced a very subtle continuous light, set to roughly 5%, positioned to gently illuminate the bride from the side and highlight the texture and movement of her dress as she reached the end of the aisle.”

“We typically rely heavily on natural light, but in this environment a small amount of controlled light helped elevate the scene while keeping the atmosphere authentic. After the first kiss and as the couple walked back down the aisle, I transitioned to flash to maintain consistency and energy in the images. I also alternated between film and digital throughout the ceremony to keep the frames visually dynamic.”

“One photographer remained on the perimeter focusing on guest reactions and candid expressions. I stayed positioned near the altar to capture the primary moments of the ceremony. Another photographer was placed at the end of the aisle to photograph the processional and recessional. Our fourth shooter worked exclusively on film, ensuring we captured a softer, more timeless perspective alongside the digital coverage.”

“I usually like to begin portrait sessions with a loose, editorial approach by giving the couple small actions rather than rigid poses. For example, I might ask them to run toward a tree, have the groom pick the bride up and spin her, and then run back toward the camera and share a kiss. These small movements create natural energy and help the couple relax in front of the camera.

Once we’ve captured those more spontaneous moments, I gradually transition into more intentional and styled portraits. By that point, the couple is usually more comfortable and the environment feels calmer, which allows us to create more refined, composed images while still maintaining a natural feeling.”

“When scouting locations for the day I like to see what the venue naturally offers and identify areas that will help tell the story of the day. In this particular environment, I didn’t want the couple moving through the jungle too much, so we focused primarily on the spaces around the bridal suite and the ceremony location, which was set in the middle of the jungle.

When scouting, I was looking for spots that felt a bit more minimal and clean visually, areas where the natural surroundings could frame the couple without becoming overwhelming. Finding those quieter pockets helped keep the imagery elegant and focused on the couple.”

“The reception was set in the middle of the jungle, and seeing all of the tablescapes surrounded by the trees was really stunning. The natural layout of the trees made navigating the space a little challenging at times, but visually it created a very striking environment.”

“The planner designed the lighting beautifully. Each tablescape had its own small pot light, which helped separate the florals from the table and gave everything a very cinematic look. Because of that thoughtful lighting design, we didn’t need to introduce much flash during dinner. The ambient light from twilight slowly transitioning into darkness created a really beautiful atmosphere that we could capture naturally.”

“After dinner, the couple surprised guests with a dance floor set up down on the beach. Once everyone finished eating, there was an announcement and guests made their way down to the beach where the DJ and lighting were already set up. The lighting there was fantastic, so we alternated between ambient light and flash to create some variety and energy in the images for their final album.”

“One of the things I was most grateful for on this wedding day was approaching the coverage with a slightly more minimal mindset. The venue itself was visually very rich, the jungle, the textures, the lighting, so focusing on simpler, calmer frames helped balance the busier environment. When those quieter images were paired with the more atmospheric, energetic photographs from the reception, it created a really beautiful rhythm in the final album.

If there’s one takeaway from this wedding, it’s that when a location or design is visually busy, there’s real power in finding simplicity within it. As photographers, our job isn’t always to add more, it’s often to recognize the quiet frames inside the chaos. Those calmer moments are usually the images that give a wedding story balance and longevity.”

Vendors

Photography: koko_king_photo
Planning: angelinacardenasevents & peterdeanda
Makeup: davidfriedmannbeauty
Hair: hairbypaulperez
Venue: papayaplayaproject
Video: viejolobofilms
Dress: usamaishtayofficial & georgeshobeika