Zeruviah started photographing weddings in 2019. She’s built her business from the ground up, starting by taking photos for friends and improving her editing process. With a solid social media presence and persistence, she now finds her wedding photography schedule booked.

Even with her calendar full of photography obligations, she took some time to talk about her experiences photographing weddings, explaining her process, and sharing helpful tips for the best wedding photo results. 

No moody photographers? Well, fine then.

Zeruviah has a unique style that she describes as moody, whimsical, and ethereal. She works with couples who want to add a touch of fantasy and magic aesthetic to their special day. She noted that starting out, she wanted to fill a gap by offering a style that she couldn’t find from other photographers.

Sometimes, a potential couple isn’t looking for a moody style, but for the ones who are, the results are spectacular. From elopements to traditional weddings, Zeruviah particularly loves focusing on nature settings for her wedding photographs.

“I definitely lean green. Any time I can photograph green I will do that…With weddings I try to do very nostalgic and whimsical. It still has a somewhat timeless feel to it but it gives more of a fantasy look.”

The fun and the challenges of wedding photography

Weddings are momentous occasions that create lifetime memories. Wedding photographers play a special part in capturing the joyous and emotional moments that accompany this special time. Zeruviah loves being a part of these life events and preserving the moments that a wedding couple might not notice the day of the ceremony, but will be very happy to have documented in the future.

She explained that some moments, like the bridal portraits, are particularly fun to photograph. She likes having the chance to draw the couple away from the crowd so they can get the shots they want and have their moment. She also loves it when the bridal party wants to do something fun. She described photographing one wedding when it was raining, and the whole bridal party decided to run out in the rain.

Another big component of her work is capturing the emotions of the day and the sentimental exchanges that occur. She keeps her eyes open for emotional moments and people’s reactions, such as reactions to a couple’s first dance.

Zeruviah noted that wedding photography has challenges. A typical wedding involves plenty of prep and usually between ten and twelve hours of work on the wedding day. But she has things almost down to a science when it comes to what she needs to have with her, which includes plenty of coffee. “It usually takes about ten hours… It is very fun. It is very exhausting, which is why having caffeine on you is a number one priority.”

The wedding photography process

From the planning phase to engagement photos to full weekend coverage, Zeruviah goes the extra mile to give couples the memorable photos these life events deserve. She noted that communication is essential to every part of the process so that she can understand what a couple wants and so that they understand what she can provide.

Planning

Couples interested in working with Zeruviah for their wedding photos tend to contact her via her website (https://zeruviahphotography.pixieset.com/). Next, she starts to gather details. She tries to follow up with a phone call as soon as possible so that she can establish what the couple is looking for and whether or not her style and approach mesh with what they’re envisioning.

Early on, she likes to establish a rough timeline and discuss pricing. She then sends the couple a contract to sign so that they can put a retainer down. She always encourages the couple to reach out with any questions and to share ideas, such as their Pinterest board.

Leading up to the big day, she emails the couple a questionnaire that allows the couple to give her specifics about the upcoming events. About a week or so before the wedding, she makes a point to call the couple again to go over this questionnaire and their itinerary. On a personal level, she makes sure that she has all of her equipment and backups ready and her outfit planned ahead of time. Usually, this means wearing something that allows her to fit in with the rest of the wedding crowd. But depending on the location and work expectations, she sometimes opts for something more practical, such as something that fits the elopement or wedding location.

Action

Some couples book her services for everything: engagement shoots, rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, and receptions.

But for couples who decide to book just the wedding day, it’s still an extensive amount of photos. Zeruviah works to show the progression of the whole day, from getting ready to the couple’s send-off. After taking photos of the bride and groom groups getting ready, she sometimes takes separate images of the bridal parties, like the groom with the groomsmen and the bride with her bridesmaids.

From here, she either focuses on first-look photos or goes right into photographing the ceremony. “I don’t like to get right up in the faces of my bride and groom during ceremonies…I’m kinda more on the outskirts getting the emotions,” she explained.

From here, it’s on to family photos and possibly more bridal party shots and bridal portraits. Then, she works on capturing the special moments of the reception, like the cake cutting, the couple’s first dance, and the couple’s send-off.

One feature she’s been adding to her wedding coverage is a day-after session, which has become quite popular. This session allows couples to get dressed up in their wedding clothes again and take additional photos that might not have been possible on the wedding day.

“It lets us go wherever we want, do whatever we want, and get those bridal portraits at any time of day without other events coming up,” she explained.

Editing

After the wedding is over, it’s time to get editing. Zeruviah starts by going through all the photos and removing the ones she knows she can’t use, like photos where something is directly in the way of the shot. Sometimes, she likes to divide photos into separate albums and edit through the sections, such as starting with the getting-ready photos and working her way to the reception.

Her goal with editing is to remove the distracting elements that take away from what’s important “I do all the fine-tuning. I remove exit signs. I remove telephone poles. I remove anything that I deem an eyesore or is in any way distracting to the overarching photo.” She may also add in some things with lighting that fit with her style.

Zeruviah is happy to say that she stays on top of things during the editing process. While her contract usually gives her about two and half months to send photos to a couple she usually gets things done faster than this, which is part of what makes her services popular. To tide couples over, she sometimes likes to send out a sneak peek gallery, which is a sample of ten to twenty photos that give couples an idea of what the rest of the photos will be like.

Advice for everyone

Everyone can play a part in ensuring the couple receives genuine and beautiful wedding photos. Zeruviah noted the following pieces of advice if you’re hoping to make things easier for your wedding photographer and contribute to a great wedding day. 

Listen

Zeruviah makes a point of listening to her clients to understand their expectations, and she wants them to do the same. She encourages couples to read their contract to understand what a photographer will and won’t do. She also notes that having in-depth conversations with a photographer and asking questions beforehand can save couples a lot of trouble in the long run.

“Ask questions. So many times, I think there’s assumptions made about what photographers do and the services they provide…Photography is very unique because it is a business run by one. They are allowed to run their business however they deem fit. So you need to make sure who you have documenting your day is who you want… It’s also okay to say you don’t mesh well with someone.”

Don’t run from the camera

Couples and the rest of the people involved in weddings often express to Zeruviah that they want her to capture candid moments throughout the day, such as people laughing during a speech or reacting to the couple’s first dance. The challenge for Zeruviah can be camera-shy individuals who turn candid moments into scripted ones. 

Her best advice is to not worry about the camera. Instead, enjoy the wedding as you would if there were no cameras around. This allows photographers to capture people’s authentic interactions and emotions in a way everyone can cherish. “Don’t stop smiling just because you see I have a camera,” she encourages. “You have to let me capture you being candid.”

Relax

When it comes to making wedding photos easier, Zeruviah has found that couple relaxation is the key. She reminds couples that they look great and helps them focus on their excitement about being married. She also encourages couples to remember that it’s their wedding, and that’s what is actually important.

“The wedding does not need to turn into a photo shoot. Not everything needs to be orchestrated and planned, and the same thing goes for the itinerary. No matter what, it is still your day…Remind yourself that you don’t have to get so stressed out…You have one wedding, so no matter what just enjoy it and it will show in the photos. If you are genuinely enjoying yourself it will show, so just slow down.”

Sound advice, Zeruviah. Thanks for sharing! 

Jessica Freeborn is a freelance writer based in Western New York. She believes in the power of stories and works to create well-crafted pieces that inspire and follow the facts. She works with a variety of clients, tailoring her style to fit their brands and visions.