The moments that make me cry (yes, even as the wedding photographer!)

I’ve been a wedding photographer in Cheshire and North Wales for over 20 years, and have photographed countless weddings, so you’d think I’d be immune to the emotional bits by now. However, it’s safe to say I’m definitely not!

In fact, there are certain moments that get me every single time. I may be standing there with a camera in my hand, trying to stay composed, but occasionally I’m also blinking away a suspicious amount of moisture from my eyes.

Here are some of the moments that get me every time…

Those little moments before the ceremony

Everyone talks about the walk down the aisle, but sometimes it’s the quiet moments beforehand that are the most emotional. A bride reading a letter from her partner. A groom taking a deep breath before greeting guests. A parent helping with the final button on a dress. 

These little pockets of anticipation often feel incredibly intimate, and as a wedding photographer it’s a privilege to witness them.

Parents trying not to cry

Trying not to cry is usually a losing battle on a wedding day! Whether it’s a dad seeing his daughter in her dress for the first time, or a mum giving her son one final hug before the ceremony, these moments are often filled with years of memories, pride, and love.

The best part is that they usually happen when nobody thinks the wedding photographer is looking, but don’t worry- we are- and we’re capturing a beautiful photo!

Unexpected acts of kindness

Weddings have a way of bringing out the very best in people. A grandparent being quietly helped to their seat, a nervous bridesmaid receiving reassurance from a friend, someone fixing a tie, carrying flowers, or stepping in to help without being asked. These aren’t the headline moments of the day, but they often tell some of the biggest stories.

The speeches

This one probably isn’t surprising. The speeches are a goldmine of emotion. Laughter, nostalgia, embarrassment, tears- sometimes all within the same sentence.

It’s often the unscripted reactions that get me. A glance between siblings, a proud parent listening from across the room, or a couple realising just how loved they are. There’s something incredibly special about seeing people celebrate not just the wedding, but the journey that brought everyone there.

The dance floor hug

Not to be confused with the first dance. This is about the hugs that happen about three songs later. When the formalities are over, the nerves have disappeared, and people are simply enjoying being together, that’s when some of the most genuine moments happen. Friends who haven’t seen each other in years, family members reunited, or couples taking a quiet moment to soak it all in. Those are often the photographs that become family favourites.

Wedding photographer in Cheshire and North Wales

The longer that I’m a wedding photographer, the more I realise that the most powerful images aren’t necessarily the perfectly posed ones. They’re often the moments that happen naturally- the tears, the laughter, the squeezed hands, the proud smiles, and the fleeting expressions that tell the real story of the day.

So yes, occasionally your wedding photographer might get a little emotional too. But you can guarantee I’ll still get the shot though!