Winding down 2024 - street photography in weddings

As the year closes in on yet another wonderful year for the team at Bottled Groove and personally for myself, I wanted to talk a little more about the elements of one of my favourite genres of photography – street, and how it co-relates to wedding photography.

I will be the first to tell you I am no master nor expert at street photography, but I did get my start and passion for photography there. I was based in Bangkok for work a decade ago for two years and on the weekends, I will find myself photographing casually (snapshots if you will) on walks in the bustling, humid capital with my trusty Nikon D40.

Before long, I started diving into wedding photography. And I thought I had to follow what was the norm. What everyone else was traditionally used to – bokehlicious photographs, flowing veil shots, flattering images of gorgeous brides and their blooms, flat lays and ring shots etc. It was before long that I realised that “documenting weddings” are somewhat relative to the candid moments on the streets – in which it too need not be directed yet are stories in its own right. Much like unposed photographs out on the streets. More similarities include the use of shapes, colours, and the environment, light and shadow, human activity, the candour nature and also the unpredictability of it all.

These days, I try to find a balance of both styles but definitely with a focus on the story-telling aspect.

It was difficult to pick out 20 photographs from the actual day wedding stories I have had the honour of documenting this year. Here are some favourite frames.

For the couples that gave me the opportunity to tell the story of their wedding day this year – a sincere, thank you.