WeddingGrapher Blog | Wedding photography

I had a very special “assignment” a few weeks ago, which was pretty different from our “regular” engagement sessions. I was invited by Évi and Jonathan to Amsterdam, to the place where they live – and then I was not only there to shoot an engagement session with a couple getting married soon, but something more. It was a rather a “day in the life of” session, showing how they live there. What are the places they love in Amsterdam, the streets where they’re walking, their “everyday” life together.

It was a really exciting and inspiring experience. My own, personal goal was always to show something “behind the curtain” or “under the hood” – the human, the feelings, the relations, which is more than the visible part of life. Obviously it’s difficult, but it is our motivation when photographing weddings and couples, that’s why we do the engagement sessions, or photograph not only the ceremony, but also the preparations, friends and family.

But now, Évi and Jonathan has taken it to a different level. They wanted to make memories of how and where they live in Amsterdam, where their journey has started – whatever changes life may bring later, preserve these memories. And I have really enjoyed it. It was not only about looking for nice backdrops, and taking pictures of a couple walking along the streets and canals of Amsterdam, but also the places we have visited (the restaurant, the café, the streets and corners) had some special, personal meaning or importance.

Of course, many of these personal aspects remain hidden for the viewer of the photos (and even for the photographer), but add some special meaning for them. And that’s also fun: when working on the pictures and the slideshow, we have realized that we’re doing something for Évi & Jonathan, which we ourselves do not understand completely – since we do not have the same feelings and memories about the places we have visited. And it helped me to realize again, that by photography, I’m often giving something to our couples, which really means more (and something else) to them, then myself. Something I will keep in mind during the whole 2015 season… :)

So, Évi & Jonathan, please take your seat, sit back, turn on the music, and enjoy “a day in the life of” the two of You – the slideshow is first and foremost Yours! :)

-> Click here for the wide screen (high-res) version!

Clicking on the photos makes them bigger! :)

Given the distance between Salzburg and Budapest, we couldn’t meet in person Vicky and Tristan earlier, just a couple of days before their wedding (we have spent a few relaxing days at the beautiful lakes of Salzkammergut). It means we had to immediately start with their engagement session. We rarely start photographing couples right at the first meeting, and we were really worried about how it will happen this time. But right after the first two minutes, we simply forgot about all our fears and worries: just look at the pictures to understand why. Look all the details: how they look at each other, how they touch each other’s face, hands, shoulders… we just had to take care and not to disturb the fragile, silent and intimate little miracle surrounding them. Actually, this sophisticated little miracle, which may show up between a man and woman, is what we’re always trying to capture once we have a camera in hand. It’s hard for ourselves to evoke, but easy to recognize when it’s there. And now it was there… :)

In addition to the “inward” miracle, Vicky and Tristan had shown us some obvious and visible miracles in and around Salzburg. Thanks to a good friend we could start our engagement session in one of the finest hotels, and a suite with charming balconies over the flourishing parks, with a view of the castle of Salzburg… and we ended up surrounded by blue mountains and turquoise lakes: simply said, a picturesque backdrop; something a photographer should always dream about. :)

So, Vicky and Tristan, thanks for that afternoon – now, it’s our turn, with the slideshow and the photos of you and your little miracle:
-> Click here for the wide screen (high-res) version!

Finding a couple who are enthusiastic members of a traditional folk dance group in Hungary since years (probably since childhood) – is definitely a gift for the photographer. Doing the same kind of pictures with someone who doesn’t like, doesn’t know this part of our traditions and culture will never work… but with these two: it was filled with life and joy. We are really thankful for being part of it. :)

So if you want to see some Hungarian traditions and culture, encapsulated in an engagement session: sit back, turn on the music, and enjoy the slideshow! :)

-> Click here for the high resolution version!