“Even in the most beautiful locations, photographing a wedding can feel like sensory overload. There’s so much happening, and so much you could capture. I’ve learned to quiet that noise by staying present, taking a breath, observing before reacting, and focusing on the moments that genuinely matter.”
Zara's calm presence runs through this whole gallery. Nothing feels over-shot or anxious.. just someone tuned in enough to create work that feels RIGHT.
Let’s take a peek behind the curtain at how she thinks and creates on a wedding day.
The Gear and Details
“I kept it pretty simple. Canon 1N, Mamiya 7ii, and Canon R5 were my three bodies for the day. Flash wise I used a mix of Canon 430, 580, and a Contax flash depending on the moment.
It was just me for photo and Jared on video, which suited the day perfectly. We wanted to blend in like guests rather than feel like a production crew.
We were booked for six hours, but because we were staying at the venue we got up early and shot sunrise too. It felt silly not to.”
Photographer: Zara Staples
Getting Ready
“The getting ready portion of the day had a quiet energy to it, there was anticipation, and excitement. I approached this time in a documentary way, easing into the space and observing before I began photographing.
At the beginning, I focused on what was naturally unfolding, interactions between each other, and the atmosphere of the room. Natalie & Kevin wanted some intentional portraits as well as organic moments, so we set some time to capture these intentional portraits such as the guys on the couch, and the girls wearing their vintage night gowns that Natalie had hand picked for each of her bridesmaids.”
‘Behind the Photo’
I knew that I wanted to capture the incredible lake that surrounds the Chateau, so on the morning of the wedding, Jared and I woke up early to capture the sunrise, which would set the scene at the beginning of their gallery. This was such a special moment for us, it was peaceful and there were birds and other animals around, it felt like we were in another word - a general consensus for the guests of the wedding too. So it felt important to encapsulate that in a way. This is a film multiple exposure image, I chose to photograph this frame in such a way that it feels ethereal and you can visualise the beauty and nature.
“Pre-planning plays a valuable role in my process, but weddings are inherently unpredictable, no moodboard can fully account for that.
I approach each day with intention, but without rigid expectations, so I can stay present and responsive. That balance allows moments to unfold naturally, resulting in images that feel genuine rather than constructed.”
“I loved the colours of the nightgowns together which is why I chose to photograph from above in a few shots, where the focus was on the colour and detail, I knew this would look really good on the film I was shooting.”
“I knew that we could be in some darker rooms being an old venue so I made sure to have plenty of higher ISO film stocks, I always have a range of stocks as well as more film than I think I need.”
‘The Background‘
We had a plethora of locations we could have chosen for the first look. I chose this spot because their ceremony and reception was all set on the other side of the building, so other than their portraits, this was the only opportunity to capture a scene with the perspective of their venue. In moments like these, I first photograph from a distance to allow those in the scene to feel everything and be in the moment with each other. Which makes for a good time to use my 24-70mm lens. Once I feel it's a good time, I will quietly walk closer or move around for different angles.
Ceremony
“The ceremony was intimate and relaxed, the light by this time was more overcast and everyone was excited to witness the moment they’d come to France for.”
‘The Backstory’
This is one of my favourite photos I have ever taken. For some back story, I took some portraits of Natalie & Kevin before their rehearsal dinner and while we were chatting I was told about a story from their legal ceremony back home in the US, Kevin's nephew had run off into the bush at the park, to go toilet.. So when I saw this same nephew run off mid ceremony to go to the toilet in nature again, it was something I felt had to be captured, along with some guests' reactions. I’m sharing this particular moment because it can be so easy to follow only the couples story but I feel it is just as important to capture other aspects of the day.
“This ceremony was a good reminder to loosen focus every now and then to notice my whole environment to capture the ceremony from more than just one perspective. Awareness and going into a day with an open mind completely changes the way you shoot and deliver a gallery.”
Portraits
“We were all hoping for some nice sunset light in the evening as a cherry on top for the day, but it was looking that wouldn’t happen as the weather had become overcast from the early afternoon.
But just before we were meant to head inside for dinner, the sky turned into this beautiful soft golden sunset. So I told Natalie & Kevin to enjoy it and dance around, be held close and then the light went behind some trees.. Naturally we all ran after the light and chased the sunset, it was magical. As we kept chasing the sunset the light was now low, shining through some trees so I told them to walk to a certain point then practice their first dance.”
‘A Favorite Image’
On our very first video call, Natalie & Kevin shared with me their love for old movies, particularly Romeo & Juliette, this was referenced a lot on their wedding day vision board. So I knew it was really important to them to encapsulate that vibe, which is why I prioritised film for the whole day. We collectively agreed that this staircase would be the perfect location for their ‘Romeo & Juliette’ moment. I planned our pre ceremony portraits walk to feel more in the way that we were simply exploring the Chateau like we were in their own movie. I stepped back when needed and directed when needed.
Reception
“The reception was initially meant to be outside but it was decided on the day we would sit inside as it was too cold. I believe everything works out how it’s meant to and this decision made this part of the day feel cosy and warm.
I decided to shoot without flash a lot, to capture the ambience of the room, with some flash as an option. Everyone was relaxed and having fun, I was there to capture just that. Natalie & Kevin made an effort to walk around and chat to people they hadn’t had much time with yet, and the kids were being kids so I made sure to show as many stories of the reception as possible”
Closing Thoughts
I had been particularly looking forward to this day from the moment they booked me about 18 months out, I just had this feeling that it would be special. It wasn’t overly planned or complicated, it was a wonderful recipe of simple personal touches and time allowed to enjoy the moment with their guests. I felt so aligned with Nat & Kev, it all felt like divine timing. They booked me around the time when I decided to show my creative side with styled shoots and it became the very thing that helped them discover me. It’s easy in this industry to feel like you need to fit a mold to attract certain clients, but that’s often the fastest way to lose what makes your work unique.
The real magic happens when you lean into your own perspective. Try new things, discover yourself and take photos of what inspires you, don’t wait for your ideal wedding to come along, create it yourself, you never know where it’ll take you because doing just that has completely changed my life.
Vendors
Venue: Chateau Allure
Video: Jared Tinetti
Florals: @hortensia_et_marguerite
Photography: Zara Staples
