A Classic Maltese Wedding with all the Right Twists: Captured by Robert Marcillas

One of our favourite images of the day.. we knew it right away. The bride and groom in a vintage Rolls Royce, just chatting en route to the second venue. A candid moment with a bit of extra life and movement from the tilted composition.

Gear and Details

Cameras: Canon EOS R5 II, Contax G2
Lenses: RF 28-70mm f/2, RF 28-70mm f/2.8, RF 50mm f/1.4, RF 70-200mm
Coverage: 3 photographers over 3 days (21 hours)
Couple: Brooke & Alexander
Location: Malta
Photographer: Robert Marcillas

Setting the Scene

The creative direction leaned classic, clean and timeless rather than ‘trendy’. Instead of dramatic florals or maximalist decor, the couple let their choice of venues do the talking. Villa Bologna’s courtyard and the open-air terrace at Cugo Gran Macina gave us amazing scenes almost no matter which direction we shot.

We prepared extensively, we made a moodboard and chose our gear list based on the light in Malta. And good thing we were prepared too: an unexpected national power outage delayed our flight, meaning we arrived just in time for the boat party, so we had no time to location scout at all! Still, we worked around the inconvenience and stayed flexible (as a wedding photographer must!)

Getting Ready

The groom’s prep took place in a small, cluttered room with his groomsmen. It wasn’t ideal for photos, but we embraced the mess and leaned into candids, capturing real energy over perfect backdrops. And we of course, found our little corner to clean up and do the group shots. We always love the mix of the posed and set up shots, and the chaos in the background. The shots of the fun moments and personalities!

The bride’s space was calmer but similarly chaotic with mirrors, suitcases, and several bridesmaids doing their own makeup. We cleared a few areas for portraits, but a significant makeup delay left us with very little time. It was survival-mode shooting in some ways - nothing overly styled, BUT the vibe and atmosphere was amazing so we leaned into that!

Ceremony

Midday sun cast dramatic light over the ceremony site. Great for the couple standing in the sun, tricky for guest photos. We navigated the zones of sun and shadow with care, balancing exposures and shooting fast. The back drop was a huge winner however.

We knew from the moment we saw the courtyard that wide shots would be crucial here. The symmetry, the natural light, and the way the venue frames the couple created an incredible scene we wanted to highlight with drone and mid-range focal lengths.

We divided our team strategically: one on the couple, one on guests, one floating for environmental and wide shots. Drone footage added another layer of perspective.

The light was intense all day, but instead of fighting it, we leaned in. Shooting directly into pockets of harsh sun added drama, especially against the neutral tones of the villa walls.

Portraits

No time to scout meant leaning on instinct. We shot wherever we could find shade or texture, moving quickly and responding to what felt emotionally real in the moment. The benches made for a few different posing ideas with the bride standing, or the groom sitting.

Reception

The reception at Cugo Gran Macina had a cinematic quality, with the skyline of Valletta glowing in the background. But the lighting? Less than ideal. we leaned into ambient candles and avoided flash during speeches to preserve the atmosphere—even if it meant some noise and underexposure.

We used flash sparingly: enough to punctuate the dance floor moments, but not so much it distracted from the setting.

Even without added lighting design, the venue had enough character. We used a long lens to isolate candlelight glows and played with shadows to add depth to the tablescapes.

Final Day
The final day wrapped with a laid-back recovery BBQ—barefoot guests, chilled drinks, and plenty of laughter echoing through the courtyard. After two days of high energy and celebration, it was the perfect way to unwind slowly, sun-drenched, and full of ease.