So when wedding planner Anna Winward from Just Married Barcelona  interviewed me asking what were some of the most important wedding shots that a couple must have from their wedding day, I got inspired to write and publish this blog on the subject which I hope you will find useful. I hope you enjoy.

To me, wedding photography is a very
delicate art form which not all photographers can execute well. A good wedding photographer
is indeed a special breed. It goes beyond having a trained eye. It is someone
who understands family, family dynamics, intimacy and the many different facets
of love. It is a sensitive spirit who not only seeks to capture the
extraordinary (as that most often takes care of itself) but can capture the nuances.
That discrete smile which tells an entire story in its subtle curve. I work hard and aim to be that kind of photographer. And over the years I have
accumulated a list of shots that I believe are essential in telling a wedding story.

From that list here are 10 must have wedding shots according to my experience
as a wedding photographer.

1- The Getting Ready Shot

It might seem like an extra thing to have, but those “getting ready” moments
where the bride or groom are surrounded by their closest people, helping them stay calm and making
sure they look and feel their best…those moments are filled with so much tenderness,
stress, tension and adrenaline, not unlike an actor before the curtain call.

What deeply touches me in some of these photographs, is witnessing the mother dressing the bride, and imagining while the moment
unfolds, that the last time that happened
was probably when she was dressing her daughter to go to school. So much
history layered in that one shot.

2- The First Look

Whether the first look happens
in front of the guests or in private before the ceremony, it is a once in a
lifetime moment. I love it when the couple make the time to have the first look in private, so
that it can all really sink in. It is an experience that
never fails to be magical. Alone, in the private regard of each other, it is as
if for that first instance, they are strangers again meeting for the first
time, yet madly in love. It is difficult to describe and I hope my images can
speak for themselves.

3-The Give Away

I have photographed weddings where this moment has
gone to be imperceptible because it was done in a kind of mechanical and matter
of fact way. But in the weddings where the ritual is felt a little more poeticly,
the give away is one of the most heart tugging moments. The father is
symbolically giving away his daughter to her chosen new family. Eventhough nowadays it is merely
ritualistic, the emotional power of that moment is often overwhelming.  

4- Complicity During The Ceremony

They whisper to each other
with their glances, exchanging smiles, laughter, tears and many times quiet
intense gazes that declare volumes of love.

5-The
Kiss.

This exalting moment needs no explanation

6- Congratulations

After the kiss, the family and friends roar with applause, throwing flowers and
running to hug and congratulate the couple. These are intimate spontaneous and
very brief moments where the close and dear express their joy to the bride and
groom. Sometimes with the tightest hug, strongest high five slap, uncontrollable
tears, loud praises of love, quiet sqeeze of the hand…the moments that flash
before my lens are as unpredictable as they are rich.

7-Family Portraits

Yes, believe it or not, those formal family and friends shots are
indespensible. They are the pure documentation that says: we were there that
day, celebrating with you, and this is what we were like.

Of all the beautiful images couples receive and share with their families and friends, these
are most of the main ones that end up in the wallets, and on the walls, desks, desktops, etc.

8- The Celebration

How can you translate into images what an
atmosphere felt like? This part is done with a collection of images, some
blurry, some sharp, some with movement, some dead still, of details, of the feast,
of inside jokes, of goofing around, of everything that says we made it and now
let´s kick back and enjoy the ride.

9- First Dance
The extraordinary speaks
for itself.

10- The Couple.

A final great portrait of the newlyweds immersed in the love, joy and
celebration that surrounds them.

If you liked what you read leave me a comment or follow me on Instagram @elmirweddingphoto and you can also visit my portrait work here 

Thank you for reading,

Natacha Elmir

(Version Castellano màs abajo)
It is great to start the year documenting glimpses of LOVE. Couples inlove, engaged, commited, fills me with joyful hope. Here are another two people who have chosen to become a team and bet on love. There is no greater phenomena to believe in. Here are some images from an engagement shoot I did last Sunday. I hope you enjoy.

And so one very cold winter day, we started off the year with one of
the most epic engagement photoshoots yet. Prior to the shoot, I had
interviewed my couple to ask about their interests, what music they
like, and what kind of setting they would feel most excited about. We
settled on nothing less than the magnificent Natural Park of Montseny.

Montseny,
a Biosphere Reserve is located in the Catalan mountains south of Girona
and a little more than an hour drive from Barcelona. Its rocky forest,
tall bare winter trees, springs and gorgeous unparalleled view of  the
Swamp of Santa Fe Montseny.

Our couple are Pete and Dèlia. A beautiful young couple in love, engaged, and set to be married this September in Castell de Tous near Igualada, Catalunya.

Castell
de Tous is a castle with more than 1000 years of history, with
beautiful gardens and indoor spaces, restored in a modern style. Castell
de Tous is a 45 minute drive from Barcelona and is a space known for
hosting weddings and events.

My main focus in a shoot is to create
a comfortable and trusting environment, where the couple can very
quickly feel safe to be themselves. A very important factor in this is
to make them see that they are in good professional hands. They don´t
need to perform, only find that space where they can see each other and
enjoy being together where they are in that moment. The rest is on me.
Fotunately as soon as the the couples realize this, often five minutes
into the shoot, they instantly relax and we always end up having an incredibly fun time. I am happy to share the results of this one hour shoot with you.
Our team behind the scenes were , Me myself and I, Natacha Elmir.
Urko the kick ass videographer who I have worked with on several weddings.
And Marc Cram the florist based in Barcelona who provided the bride bouquet for the shoot.

(Castellano)

Es genial comenzar el año documentando pinceladas de AMOR. Parejas enamoradas, comprometidas, me llenan de esperanza. Aquí hay otras dos personas que han optado por formar un equipo y apostar por el amor: La principal fuente de vida en la cual creer. Aquí hay algunas imágenes de una sesión de compromiso que hice el domingo pasado. ¡Espero que disfrutes!

Y así, un día de invierno muy frío, comenzamos el año con una de las sesiones de fotos de compromiso más épicas hasta la fecha. Antes del rodaje, había entrevistado a mi pareja para preguntarles sobre sus intereses, qué música les gustaba y qué tipo de escenario les entusiasmaría más. Nos instalamos nada menos que en el magnífico Parque Natural del Montseny.

Montseny, una Reserva de la Biosfera se encuentra en la sierra catalana al sur de Girona y a poco más de una hora en coche de Barcelona. Su bosque rocoso, altos árboles desnudos de invierno, manantiales y una hermosa vista inigualable del Pantano de Santa Fe Montseny. Nuestra pareja son Pete y Dèlia. Una joven pareja enamorada, comprometida y que se casará este septiembre en Castell de Tous cerca de Igualada, Catalunya. Castell de Tous es un castillo con más de 1000 años de historia, con hermosos jardines y espacios interiores, restaurado en un estilo moderno. Castell de Tous se encuentra a 45 minutos en coche de Barcelona y es un espacio conocido por albergar bodas y eventos.

Mi objetivo principal en una sesión es crear un entorno cómodo y de confianza, donde la pareja pueda sentirse segura de ser ellos mismos muy rápidamente. Un factor muy importante en esto es hacerles ver que están en buenas manos profesionales. No necesitan actuar, solo encuentran ese espacio donde pueden verse y disfrutar de estar juntosy de ese momento. Del resto me encargo yo .

Afortunadamente, tan pronto como las parejas se dan cuenta de esto, a menudo cinco minutos dentro de la sesión, se relajan instantáneamente y siempre terminamos pasándonos un momento increíblemente divertido. Estoy feliz de compartir con vosotras los resultados.
Nuestro equipo detrás de escena eran, yo mismo, Natacha Elmir.
Urko, el videografo espectacular con el que he trabajado en varias bodas.
Y Marc Cram, el florista con su tienda en Barcelona, que proporcionó el ramo de novia para la sesión.

This gorgeous Barcelona destination wedding took place at the lovely wedding venue, Masia Casa Miralles with an amazing team. Wedding planner Paola Cazenave coordinated the day making sure everything ran smoothly and on time for all the suppliers involved. The wedding celebrant know as The Wedding Man himself, James Humber conducted the ceremony with such grace and humour, the tears were plenty from laughter, love and joy.

This Elopement in Barcelona took place at the beautiful La Tamarita Garden. I had the honour to photograph this intimate marriage lead by the Barcelona wedding celebrant and master of ceremony Ximo Serra @ximoserra.  This intimate wedding was planned and styled by the wedding planner Anna from Just Married Barcelona @justmarriedbarcelona. The elegant boho dress was from Grace @grace.barcelona. The flowers were from @florsbertran and the rings and earings by @clemenciaperisjewels. The signs and ring box by @leloupbarcelona and last but not least the hair and makeup were done by @mabelboon.

I was honoured to be the photographer of this couple´s destination wedding at the gorgeous Castle of Tamarit. A wedding where there was not a single guest who didn´t cry or dance, and sometimes at the same time. What a treat indeed to have been their photographer.