Here’s what is on today:

• Invisible direction: In a time where ‘candid’ is a buzzword again, how do photographers keep things candid yet curated? And do couples really want ‘candid’?

• New York bridal fashion week recaps

• White Lotus cinematography breakdowns

  Come with us ⬇️

NEWS

Happening this Week

• Average marriage age in 2025? Brides published a piece that dove into the stats on couples ages when the get married, the surprising trends and why it’s all happening. See if you’re couples are ‘average’ here.

• The bizarre cinematography of White Lotus. No doubt about it, the TV show The White Lotus pushes boundaries and does things it’s own way. The story - yes. The cinematography - YES YES. This week we saw this great break down of the framing, lighting, and style choices in the visuals of this culture shaping show. Dive into the breakdown video here.

• New York Bridal Fashion week wrapped this week. Great round ups of all the looks can be found here from The Wed, here from Wed Vibes, and the top looks as seen by Vogue here. While this article dives into the different trends on display. And this set of images from Kelly Mcdermott was a standout.

• Sigma’s cool new BF camera is TOO popular. Sigma has issued an apology this week to say the new BF camera pre-orders will be delays due to higher than expected demand. Make something cool and fresh and then people will come.

• Photographer drops camera in a lake. Dive team retrieves the photos.
  This week a wedding photographer fell into a lake with the only copy of a couple’s wedding photos. Cue the panic. But plot twist: the fire department’s dive squad was already training there. They found the camera. The card, amazingly survived and the photos - totally fine! RIP that 50mm 1.2 lens though.

• Sony lens landscape get’s even wilder. Rumours are everywhere that Sony is about to release a crazy lens at 50-150mm f2.0. Yes, you read that RIGHT. Move over holy trinity.

SHOOTING

🕶️ Invisible work: How to direct candid yet curated moments

Everyone wants things to be ‘candid’ now.
Documentary. Unposed. In-the-moment. These big buzzwords are not new. Photographers have been out here describing their work and shooting in this way for literal decades. But now, in a new kind of way, we’re hearing it from couples again.

“I don’t want to schedule time for photos.”
“Just take candids.”
“I don’t want to pose.”

Is it a reaction (already) to the structured ‘editorial’ vibe? Or maybe a social media fatigue that means couples want to prioritize experiencing the day, not capturing content from it? Whatever the cause, the message is the same:

Couples want candid, yet somehow curated. In the moment, yet still perfect.
Hello… What a paradox!

So how in the world do we make those kinds of photos?

Firstly, a ‘documentary’ approach doesn’t mean you ‘aren’t there’.
Let’s kill this idea straight away. A “Candid” and “Documentary” approach doesn’t mean you….

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INSPO THIS WEEK

⬇️ Vlasta Weddings started off the euro (almost) summer HOT, with these super clean and luxurious images at some iconic Como spots.

⬇️ Want top level color work(like how’s this RED?), concepts and frames? Dive in. If you haven’t seen Michaella’s work yet - go get inspired.

⬇️ A round up from German of his fav spring frames got us inspired. Again with the clean, saturated colours that scream lux. Take notes.

⬇️This dreamy embrace of backlight this week was 💯/💯

⬇️ And lastly, there’s group posing and then there’s GROUP POSING. This work is absolutely next level. No notes.