There is no shortage of talented photographers who are available to capture your wedding day. However, when it comes to shooting a Catholic Wedding, there are several reasons why it is worthwhile to choose a Catholic vendor to document the big day. As a Catholic wedding photographer, here are five things I do to help couples before, during, and after the wedding day.
1. Help Prepare Couples for the Sacrament of Marriage
2. Coordinate Catholic Wedding Details with the Couple’s Parish
3. Participate in and Reverently Capture the Nuptial Mass
4. Pray for Creative Inspiration
5. Pray for Couples Beyond the Wedding Day
Help Prepare Couples for the Sacrament of Marriage
Planning a Catholic wedding involves more than drafting guest lists or picking cake flavors. Catholic couples will spend the months leading up to their special day completing diocese paperwork and submitting forms. More importantly, however, Catholic couples will also be readying their hearts to receive the Sacrament of Marriage. My job as a Catholic wedding photographer begins here, where couples prepare spiritually. One way I support couples during engagement is by praying with them at the beginning of every consultation call. This is vital because it invites the Holy Spirit into the process.
Engagement is a beautiful time for couples, but it can also be stressful. As someone who married in the Catholic church, I know that wedding planning can sometimes distract from the spiritual preparation. Engaged couples deserve vendors on their team who will pray for them. That’s why a Catholic wedding photographer, such as Four Loves Photo and Film, can help couples focus on the heart of the sacrament. Additionally, my former experience as an event planner means that I can help couples stay organized and relaxed throughout the process. For example, I help couples build a wedding day timeline. This provides couples with realistic expectations about how long each step of the wedding day will take. View a sample wedding day timeline here.
Coordinate Catholic Wedding Details with Your Parish
The work continues when the couple officially books a package with Four Loves Photo and Film. While the couple tours venues, finalizes guest lists, and submits paperwork, I establish a relationship with their parish. I introduce myself to the wedding day coordinator and meet with the priest before Mass. As a result, on the wedding day, I know exactly where to go, and the parish knows who I am when I arrive. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen the priest or parish coordinator sigh with relief when they hear I am a practicing Catholic.
Participate in and Reverently Capture the Nuptial Mass
As a Catholic wedding photographer, working with the flow of a mass setting is second nature to me. I know how to maneuver the church without imposing on the sanctuary or interrupting reverent moments. I can also anticipate where the next camera shot should be and when. All the while, I participate in the Nuptial Mass and all its “Catholic aerobics.” And yes, I do kneel. One parish coordinator even approached me after the wedding to say he’d never seen another photographer kneel during consecration and asked if I could come back for every wedding! I capture every photo as I work around the church praying for the bride and groom.
Uniquely Catholic details such as the Consecration or Marian Devotion are moments I know to look out for, ensuring that I capture every sacred detail. In fact, Consecration is one of my favorite moments to capture. From the aisle of the church, I typically frame the couple, the altar, and the Holy Eucharist in one powerful image. Other Catholic details I have captured include the groom washing the bride’s feet, a couple venerating saint statues, and wedding guests holding their arms up in praise.
While the focus of the day is, of course, on the bride and groom, there are details throughout the Nuptial Mass that create touching memories for the couple to look back on. Details like the grandparents smiling from a pew or younger family members crawling around the church are photos that couples generally don’t think to ask for but are always grateful to see in the final gallery. These details are always in addition to the details and special moments that the bride and groom may specifically ask for.
“When I first inquired for her to film our big day, she didn’t just hear me- she actually listened. Every little detail I mentioned she took note of and made sure that it was a part of the footage she captured.”
– Alyssa, bride
Pray for Creative Inspiration
Editing a couple’s wedding photos and videos is always a prayerful process. In the same way I ask the Holy Spirit to be present during consultation calls with a couple, I also ask God to be present in the post-production period. One way I do this is by asking the Holy Spirit to inspire me creatively while editing. Every decision, from the scene cuts to the music selection, begins with a prayer. As a result, couples receive a final product that has thoughtfully captured the most vital details of their special day and more.
Pray for Couples Beyond the Wedding Day
It is a joy to walk with couples on their journey to the altar, but the wedding is only day one of a lifelong partnership. Because of this, my job as a Catholic wedding photographer continues long after a couple exchanges vows. I continue to pray for the couple’s marriage, any hardships they may face, and any future family that God plans for them.
“Not only were both photo and video absolutely stunning for our day, but further, Jo is a true storyteller, artist, and through our experience with her, now a good friend. She truly captured who we are and what/who we love with authenticity and beauty.”
– Marissa, bride
About Four Loves Photo and Film Catholic Wedding Photographer
Four Loves Photo and Film delivers professional photography and stunning wedding films to couples. Focused on true-to-life editing, Four Loves captures everything from formal wedding day portraits to aesthetic flat lays and heartwarming candid photos. Additionally, we record all photos and videos on dual SIMs, which means that we save all the footage in two places on the wedding day. After the wedding, we save the pictures and videos to an external hard drive. Finally, Four Loves delivers the final photos and videos through a private online gallery, where couples can share, save, and order prints. The memories of a couple’s wedding day are too special to lose, so we take every step to ensure we save these memories properly. We DO NOT delete wedding films or photo galleries after delivery. See more Catholic Wedding Photography here.
If you are an engaged couple searching for a Catholic wedding photographer to capture your special day, then submit the form below and let’s chat!
Joanna Schnitzer is a Catholic Wedding Photographer and Videographer and founder of Four Loves Photo and Film. She is a devout Catholic, wife, and mother with a passion for serving couples on the most important day of their lives. Before pursuing photography full-time, Joanna spent nearly a decade as a Youth Minister at parishes in central Florida.
