Ah, weddings. The grand celebration of love, laughter, and at least one uncle who insists on telling you about his DSLR from 2007. As a wedding photographer, my job is to capture the magic, the emotions, and—let’s be honest—the inevitable moment someone drops a drink on the dance floor.


Here’s a little peek behind the curtain at how a typical wedding day unfolds for me. Spoiler alert: It involves an unhealthy amount of caffeine and some serious cardio.


9:00 AM – The Prep Stage (a.k.a. Panic Begins)


The day starts with me questioning all of my life choices while triple-checking my gear. Batteries? Charged. Memory cards? Emptied and reformatted. Stress levels? Through the roof. I pack everything twice, because nothing screams “professional” like showing up to a wedding without a lens.


Once I arrive at the getting-ready location, I’m greeted by a room filled with hair tools, half-eaten croissants, and bridesmaids either in full glam or still in their pajamas. My job? Weave through the chaos and get those dreamy, light-filled shots of people casually “getting ready” as if they didn’t just spend 20 minutes searching for their missing shoe.


11:30 AM – The Groom’s Prep (or Lack Thereof)


Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the groom and his party are experiencing a much more relaxed vibe. There’s a 90% chance someone is still ironing their shirt, and the rest are debating if it’s too early to crack open a beer. I snap a few shots of the “final touches,” which usually means someone fumbling with a tie while watching a YouTube tutorial.


The groom, bless him, will inevitably ask, “What do I do with my hands?” and I will, yet again, suggest “Just be natural,” which is photographer code for “Please don’t look like you’re holding invisible groceries.”


1:00 PM – The Ceremony (Time to Sweat)


This is it—the moment everything hinges on. I strategically position myself like a stealthy ninja, ready to capture the first look, the tears, and the vows. This is also when I realize just how much cardio wedding photography involves, sprinting between angles with the stealth of an over-caffeinated gazelle.


At some point, I make awkward eye contact with a guest who’s aggressively filming the entire ceremony on an iPad. I mentally prepare for the inevitable moment they step right into my shot.


3:00 PM – The Group Photos (a.k.a. Herding Cats)


Ah, the family formals. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to coordinate 50 people who suddenly forget how to stand in a straight line, welcome to my world. There’s always that one guest who disappears just as I start the shots. It’s usually the same person who asks, “Can you Photoshop me in later?” No. No, I cannot.


After 20 minutes of trying to corral everyone, I finally get the “perfect shot,” only to realize one person was blinking. Classic.


5:00 PM – The Reception (Food? What’s That?)


The reception is where the real fun (and work) begins. Between speeches that range from heartfelt to mildly inappropriate, and the occasional “I met them on Tinder” revelation, I’m darting around capturing it all. This is also when I quietly hope the couple will offer me food, because running on adrenaline alone has its limits.


But let’s not forget the cake-cutting moment, where I must delicately balance between “getting the shot” and “not blocking Grandma’s view.” It’s a fine line.


8:00 PM – The Dance Floor (Where It Gets Wild)


Once the first dance is over and the DJ cranks up the tunes, things escalate quickly. I’m dodging elbows, rogue champagne flutes, and the one guest who insists on aggressively pointing at my camera while shouting “Take a picture of me!”


This is also where I capture some of my favorite moments—grandparents cutting loose, questionable dance moves, and the inevitable air guitar solo.


11:00 PM – The Final Goodbye (Feet Officially Broken)


At the end of the night, I pack up my gear, say my goodbyes, and reflect on the sheer number of steps I’ve taken. I also mentally prepare for the thousands of photos I’ll sift through tomorrow, hunting for those perfect, storytelling gems amidst the chaos.


Driving home, I realize—despite the exhaustion, the blurry toddlers photobombing, and the occasional champagne spray—weddings are pretty incredible. And I wouldn’t trade this job for anything.


Except maybe a nap. A nap sounds good.


So there you have it—a day in the life of a wedding photographer. It’s messy, it’s magical, and it’s absolutely worth every sore muscle.