One day, no second takes

A wedding is the only commercial shoot where nothing can be repeated and the client is too busy to direct.

Most writing about wedding photography is either gear reviews or portfolio promotion. Neither helps on the morning when the ceremony has moved indoors, the light is nothing like the scout, and you have four minutes before the aisle fills.

These notes are about that part: what to decide in advance so the day needs fewer decisions, and what to let go of entirely.

Three sections

Light is where most of the quality is won or lost. Moments is about timing and anticipation rather than reflexes. Delivery covers the unglamorous half that determines whether anyone ever sees the work.

Who this is for

Mostly for photographers in their first few seasons, and for second shooters trying to work out what the lead is actually deciding. Some of it transfers to other event work; a good deal does not, because nothing else combines this much emotional weight with this little control over the schedule.