Before you get the wrong idea: no, I don’t shoot weddings anymore. The last one I photographed was back in 2018. Since then, I’ve shifted my focus entirely to industrial photography. But that doesn’t mean I never get asked about weddings. And sometimes, I do find myself reminiscing about the charm of a destination wedding (I had the good fortunate of doing a few of them, back in the day). That nostalgic feeling hit me again recently when I ran into a stunning couple in Spain…
A beautiful Wedding Couple — and no Photographer in sight!
It was the first day of our vacation. Sophie and I had risen early to beat the heat and explore the iconic Plaza de España in Seville. Even in the early hours, the square was already buzzing with tourists. Among them was a breathtakingly beautiful couple in wedding attire. At first, I assumed they had a photographer with them—and I considered him (or her) a very lucky guy or gal: to photograph such a couple, in that location, with that weather — what a treat!
But no matter how hard I looked, there was no photographer in sight. Confused, I kept scanning the area to see if I could spot the lucky guy… But then I noticed something surprising: the couple was taking photos of each other with… a mobile phone. And they were carrying a black bag pack, which seemed odd. That’s when it hit me—there was no photographer at all!
doing Destination Wedding Photography for a brief Moment again
I had just finished taking a few shots of Sophie with my Nikon Z7 and 70-200mm/f2.8 lens—not my most serious gear, but definitely a step up from the average tourist’s camera. Without thinking too much, I walked over to the couple and asked in my best English, “Can I take some pictures of you?” I thought maybe they would let me take one or two photo’s.
As it turned out, they were French and barely spoke any English. But luckily, my camera did the talking: “Oui, oui, bien sûr!” And just like that, my photographer’s instincts kicked in. With a few gestures—“move the backpack, wait for the background to clear, lower the veil a bit”—the couple quickly understood I knew what I was doing, and eagerly followed my lead. Especially after I quickly shared my Instagram profile with them. Now they knew they’d actually get the photos!
What struck me was how effortlessly they posed. It was almost as if they had done this a million times before. ‘One or two photo’s’ quicly turned into an actual photoshoot. Later I discovered the bride had an extensive following on Instagram; not only was she beautiful, but she also was a great model.
Coming Together for the Perfect Shot
The highlight of this impromptu shoot came when I led the couple to a wide staircase, where I could beautifully spread out the bride’s gown. Unfortunately, the way was blocked by a cleaning lady who had taped off the area. But to my surprise, she removed the tape the moment she saw us. And as if that wasn’t enough, a random American tourist, clearly smitten with the dress, offered to straighten itacross the steps. It was a perfect moment of teamwork: a Dutch photographer, a Spanish cleaning lady, and an American tourist all doing their best to give this French couple an unforgettable memory. I love it when the world comes together!
a beautiful response from france
I received a lovely response from the couple when I sent them the photo’s:
Where to start? I’m sorry to have the language barrier… I use the translator so I’m sorry for any spelling mistakes because I don’t tolerate them in French!
Your message is just incredible, you are a true poet. I don’t know you intimately but I see that you have a big heart. you are of immense generosity.
I had tears in my eyes when you talked about the moment on the stairs. a mixture of joy and nostalgia… This moment was a real joy in which everyone added their “touch”. I’m sad to think that we will probably never see each other again…
But in any case, I wanted you to know that you have engraved your imprint on our hearts. The photos are beautiful. They look like magazine photos. wonderful. you have real talent! I’m amazed!
Destination Wedding Photography — Only for the Exceptional destination
No, I still don’t shoot weddings. Unless, of course, you’re getting married in a beautiful, far-off land at an amazing location. In that case… feel free to give me a call. 😉
When he is not off shooting destination weddings, Rogier is actually a corporate photographer, specializing in industrial photography. He is a Silver Master photographer, and member of Master Photographers Network. He regularly coaches other photographers.
The international language of love! Well done, they are lucky to have a start with you – and you must have had so much fun! Your heart spoke, it shows in the pictures! Just wonderful Ro! Way to create lasting happiness!