The mountains called.
I’ve never really had the urge to ski. In fact, I still remember being told once that I couldn’t join the other kids on the "big" slopes because it would be too dangerous. It wasn’t exactly traumatic, but since then, I’ve mostly stayed away from the snow and never felt the need to get back on skis. On the other hand, ever since I started photographing weddings, I’ve found myself drawn to something rougher, more rugged. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good city shoot or a quiet walk through the woods on a wedding day. But like we say in Dutch we say: “ verandering van spijs doet eten”. A simple translation would be something like: "A change of food makes you eat."
And how it did…
I left in the darkness of night at thursday to make sure I would be at the location in time. The couple arranged a little tour through the tiny village in the Aoste Valley where the wedding was located to do some location scouting. Normally, I leave parts of the day flexible to give the couple some space to shift the schedule around. But not this time. This time, I was going to be prepared down to the very last detail.
I made sure I had multiple spots close by and went for a run the next morning—making sure snow and ice wouldn’t be a problem. And yes, I test all the sketchy stuff I ask my couples to do; it’s better that my clothes get dirty than a nice suit or a nice dress. ;)
Later that day, we went for it. In places like this, every corner begs to be framed. So it’s hard to contain a photographer with a massive smile on his face, wanting to get everything out of moments like this. But I’ve learned: the moment matters more than the shot. I’m here to witness, not just capture. The day always comes first.
We did multiple locations in and around the picturesque village, finding a balance between my, maybe sometimes a little bit dangerous, ideas and keeping everyone warm and safe. The little frozen river was a bit slippery, but they made it!
The beauty of a wedding weekend is the time. No need to rush. I was definitely a little stressed—this was my first time shooting a wedding abroad, and I’d set the bar high for myself. But that’s a story for another time.
That Friday the day ended with all the guests arriving, a cosy sunny afternoon and a nice first dinner. The next day it was time for the big “yes” in a church with some of the best lighting I’ve ever had. Many wedding photographers will agree that the light in churches can be a real struggle sometimes. That iconic day ended with an excellent dinner where one of the waiters proudly asked to take a picture of the beef Wellington. And to be honest, he had every damn right. It was delicious. I get that question every wedding again: “You’re lucky you get to eat at every wedding, no?”
You bet I am.
The weekend ended with a party that will be remembered for a looooong time. Giving my camera to my friends to capture some different angles—and to finally let of some steam may have resulted in 4-5000 pictures taken during the party alone but that was totally worth it.
