Something new. You’ve seen wedding features before, but not like this. At Lensel, we are flipping the script featuring wedding stories told from the photographer’s perspective. The choices made, the gear and the inside word behind it all. You’ll find one feature in today’s newsletter, as well as:

• 3 fresh (and creative) shooting ideas to try at your next wedding.

• Insights from Pinterests annual wedding report

• A Bahamas wedding feature that blends high-end luxury with down to earth frames

Now let’s take a look ⬇️

WEDDING FEATURE

Laid-back luxury in the Bahamas

Kristin takes us behind the scenes of this stunning wedding and shares the thinking behind her frames - how she moved, what she noticed, and why she shot the way she did. YES, you’ll see the styling and details, but more than that, you’ll see the photographer’s perspective on it all.

“I photograph by listening to the energy around me, allowing the honest beauty of the day to shape every image.”

NEWS

Happening this Week

• Instagram allows grid re-ordering. A long-awaited feature is now available for some accounts! See what’s possible here.

• Pinterest’s annual wedding report for 2025 was released this week. Showing what people are searching for and saving. Notable changes in photography searches include a 3325% increase in searches for ‘blue hour’, and 2258% increase in ‘film wedding photos’. See the full report here.

• The most beautiful camera ever? Leica releases it’s Safari Green M11 this week and it has us weak at the knees.

• 16mm short film release. Shot entirely on 16mm, this beautiful short film, features wedding photographer Stefano Santucci’s gentle and beautiful philosophy on photography. “I believe photography should serve as medicine”. Watch it here.

• Don’t go hungry. This thread discussion highlights a classic ‘upgrade your contract’ moment and lots of good advice around how to ensure you get feed at weddings and well.

• Met Gala Photography that was. Jump in here here to see how WWD photographers captured attendees at the Met Gala this week.

SPONSORED

🩶 No silver bullet to luxury

“Just raise your prices.” “Shoot for free.” “Go to networking events.” If you want to move your wedding photography into the “luxury” market, most advice is terrible. The truth is… There is no quick fix. No single move that gets you there. No silver bullet. Elevation requires a particular intention across EVERYTHING you do as a photographer. And that’s why we’re highlighting this:

Theresa Kelly’s Editorial Workshop at Sea Ranch, California. 13-14 August.
A 2-day retreat designed to bring you the full picture of what it takes. It includes:

• Luxury shoot experiences (max 15 photographers)

• Education designed to cut through and show you the holistic picture of what actually works (Zero silver bullet energy)

• Designer wardrobes, a real couple, elevated and thoughtful shoot concepts.

Find all the details about the workshop here.
And mention ‘LENSEL’ in your enquiry to get $500 of the cost + a bonus 1 hour call with Theresa.

SHOOTING

💡3 fresh ideas to try at your next wedding

1️⃣ Extra Minimal Details
Details, yes, but EXTRA minimal. Think product photography where one thing is the HERO. It’s not a busy flat lay, or messy mix of items.

The KEY with extra minimal details is to make sure the background is, you guessed it. SIMPLE. It can be the floor, a table, a wall. A book! Ideally it’s something that is connected to the wedding. A texture, a colour, light. Bonus points for colour matching the background and the details to build a vibe. Check out this photographer for an endless supply of minimal detail inspo.

2️⃣ The lonely chair
You might not have to have a perfect staircase or perfectly placed couch where you can do one of those ‘cool sitting poses’. BUT, you can create it.

You have full permission to steal a ceremony or reception chair, place it infront of the villa (muscle required), to into the middle of that field, or back to the ceremony arch. There you can work that sitting down ‘editorial’ pose, but in a place you might not normally get it. Changes things up from just standing next to each other! It’s called initiative, and all you need is a simple chair.

 NO ONE makes the rules, you do. (unless you are at a heritage villa in Italy, then maybe you’ll need to ask…)

3️⃣ The Spotlight 
Yes, we all love some good night time flash at a wedding. But how about pushing it even further? Adding even more drama? The idea here is to set up a constant light and make a scene. Use a focussing light like this, or add an spotlight attachment like this to really get those round circles.

Bonus idea would be to use this for group shots at a dark, inside wedding.  

INSPO THIS WEEK

⬇️ Lake Como but in a fresh new way. LOVE these frames full of movement from the very inspiring Naomi Goggin.

⬇️ A series of ‘table-Scape flat lays’. Genius. Go get inspired for your drone work.

⬇️ This post literally has everything. Not just a unique way of seeing each frame, Koko King CURATES in the most unique and eye catching way.