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Interview with Bella Photographer Paul Perez

BP: How did you get into the profession? What appealed to you about photography?

I've always been interested in people and emotions. Photography allows me to be creative and at the same time to discover people. I enjoy exploring the stories and motivations that we all have, learning what we have in common, and understanding what separates us, as well. The camera has been my passport in that sense — allowing me to discover the full spectrum of life. I was fortunate early on to be able to study under many great professional photojournalists.

BP: What other kinds of assignments did you shoot before becoming a wedding photographer?

I shot a lot of newspaper assignments, a lot of feature stories, which helped me relate to all kinds of people. For example, I chronicled "days in the life" of an Olympic figure skater, migrant field workers, border patrol agents, pastry chefs, firefighters and rodeo cowboys. I have done award-winning personal work documenting Latino culture and Hispanic lifestyle.

BP: How does this body of work influence what you do as a wedding photographer?

I have brought the photojournalistic approach to the way I capture weddings. It's all about capturing authentic moments that tell a story — that tell the truth. Truthfulness is really paramount in photojournalism.

BP: Which are the key moments that tell the story of a wedding?

There are a series of events that only happen one time: the kiss, the rings, the bouquet toss. It's our job as wedding photographers to capture those moments the first time — to get the genuine expression, body language. But being a professional photographer goes beyond just capturing a moment. Every image I capture chronicles and interprets the event, because to every photograph, I add my own vision, my own style. I am selecting what goes in those four corners of the frame.

BP: How can you be sure that you don't miss anything?

There's so much happening at a wedding, it's impossible to photograph every moment and every person from every angle. As a professional photographer, I should know how to manage my time at the wedding: Who will I spend it with? Where will I aim my camera? And when I aim my camera, I should have flawless technical ability.

BP: How can the bride and the photographer work together to get the most and the best photos of the wedding day?

Good communication is key. My advice to brides is: think about the photographs that are most important to you, and communicate that clearly to your photographer during the check-in call. Point out to the photographer which photos you like best in their portfolio. Provide a written list of all family photographs you'd like to get. If there are any foreseeable challenges with family or guests, let your photographer know. It'll make things run much more smoothly.

Also, stay organized. Help the photographer establish a timeline of how the wedding day is going to proceed. Work together to see if your expectations are realistic given the time, locations, and scheduling of different events. Try to be as realistic as possible, and always take traffic, parking, and other impediments into consideration. If your ceremony is supposed to end at 3 p.m., that doesn't mean you'll be able to start taking pictures the very next minute. Ask yourself honestly, "Am I trying to do too much in too little time?" I have been in some situations when there was great light, great weather, a beautiful and affectionate bride and groom — but if I don't have time, I can't get those photos. Do less — better.

Finally, make sure that what you are wearing is appropriate for the type of photographs you want to get. Do you want photos that are fun and casual, do you want to move around from place to place? You won't be able to if you're wearing a gown with a big poofy skirt and really high heels. Once I was at a winery and we wanted to take some beautiful shots out in the vines, but the bride couldn't walk out there because of her shoes.

Being organized is a basic responsibility — both yours and the photographer's. If you're prepared, it'll help the photographer do his job, and you'll be happy with the results.