*A Most Interesting Note
“Since the groom doesn’t show his face online, this wedding presented an engaging challenge. The bride wanted to be able to share some images while having the majority as personal treasures. I found myself in each moment stepping to the left or right after I got the main shot and candidly capturing the groom from more of a profile angle. As someone who’s been shooting weddings for 16 years, I love being presented with engaging challenges to maneuver the day.”
Photographer: Bushwhacked
Gear and Details
Camera Gear: Sony a7iii, 50mm 1.4, 35mm 1.4, Profoto A2
Coverage: 6 hours, 2 shooters
Venue: @hjelmsjöborg
Dress: @tabja
Videographer: @artandrosesfilms
Makeup: @makeup_sthlm
Hair: @matilda.hairartist
Setting the Scene
My photography process is rooted in instinct. I don’t storyboard weddings or plan specific shots unless I’m in a widely-photographed location. Instead, I scout the day before to understand the flow of light and space, then move through the day in a sort of controlled improv. I pack the same minimal kit every time, and I let the couple's energy guide how I shoot.
Getting ready always depends on the energy of the room.
If they are super chill and want a calm space I’ll just candidly capture the last touches of makeup and getting dressed, keeping direction to a minimum. If they are super expressive and outgoing I’ll put on some music and have them sing or dance with their friends!
The Ceremony
The ceremony was tucked between flowering hedges, overlooking the water. Overcast skies gave us soft, even light, and then the sun broke through right as the bride reached the aisle.
My second focused on guest reactions and the groom, while I handled the wide storytelling frames. I always want my second to duplicate key moments, but then I send them orbiting, looking for the subtleties I might miss.
No drone this time. The space already felt cinematic enough.
‘A Favorite Image’
A lot of my work is simply setting myself in a symmetrical place and waiting for moments to happen. I find myself in doorways or corners of the room where everything lines up just right. Then I sit and allow interactions to pass me by, and every time the couple or a loved one will pause in front of me not realizing I’m there and share a moment. I find the most special moments to be the ones you can’t direct.
Portraits
There was no first look, so we photographed portraits during cocktail hour. The massive flower bushes became our backdrop, lush and unreal. I had already scoped the space the day before, so we moved quickly.
‘How I Shot This’
We were in between this massive blooming bush, and something told me it would look even more magical from above. There was a tower behind us, so I sent my my second shooter up to test the angle. She got a shot through the window that had this warped, dreamy quality to it. I went up after to get clean and landscape options.
Some of my favorite moments happened as we wandered through the house. I’d pause her in a patch of light or a doorway, and that was all it took. This is what I mean by loose editorial: let the space speak first, then gently guide the energy.
Reception
The reception was quiet, not overly adorned, BUT still felt perfect. Skylights poured natural light into the space which made things much easier when it came to the light.
I skipped the flash during dancing. Sometimes, flash feels right for chaos and color. But here, it would have interrupted the intimacy. That was more the vibe. I wanted the images to feel as understated and beautiful as the moment itself.
‘How I Shot This’
I had my second shooter hold my external flash behind the bush to the left to give a strong silhouette. I love using external lighting in a more cinematic way rather than directly toward the subject. It feels like you called her name as you were walking back into the party and you took a mental note of the way she looked back, rather than me directing her.
This was the kind of wedding that invites you to shoot by feeling, not by thinking. To watch, feel, and respond, not orchestrate every little thing. “Loose editorial”, (as coined by Lensel a few weeks back) to me, means letting the day shape my images, and trusting in my instincts to bring in some natural curation. And this couple gave me the gift of trust and space to do exactly that.
