Storytelling is at the heart of everything we do as wedding photographers. For us, it’s not just about capturing standout ‘hero’ moments. It’s about weaving together a sequence of images that, when experienced as a whole, say something deeper. Something personal to us as artists, and meaningful to the people within the photographs. We do a lot of work on storytelling in our role as a mentor for other photographers (helping them to find their voice and develop their own style). We know how powerful this storytelling-focused work can be.
For us, storytelling runs through everything we share. The same goes for a full client gallery, a This is Reportage story, a blog, or a carousel of images on Instagram. Narrative is what draws people in and keeps them looking – a meaningful narrative is what helps keep them wanting to see the next image and the next. If we want someone to keep turning the pages of our story, we need to grab and hold the viewer’s attention. Looking deeper, we need an emotional connection between us – and them.
Storytelling can live within a single image – whether it’s a chaotic morning as people get ready, a quiet glance, a gesture unnoticed by anyone but us, or a dancefloor in full swing. A strong image draws the viewer into the moment, helping them feel something and see what we want to show.
But for us, it’s the full story that lies at the heart of what we do. We weave sequences of images together to build a broader visual narrative and keeps the viewer engage – that’s when the story really begins to unfold. Below, we share some key ideas we consider when crafting a visual story through photography and how you can apply them to your own wedding work.
We’ve included examples from some of our award-winning This is Reportage stories to show how these principles come to life in our work. In this opening section, we’ve told a story using three images (from three completely different weddings). Even though the images are taken from different weddings, we still aim to create a narrative. We look for a sequence that flows, that feels intentional. Below, we’ll walk through our approach to building a story – where the subject we cover often repeat, echo, and build on one another. That kind of overlap isn’t accidental; it’s part of what makes storytelling powerful and cohesive.
The Narrative Arc
Every story needs a purpose – and the same goes for storytelling in wedding photography. That purpose doesn’t have to be dramatic; it might be light, funny, tender, chaotic, or calm. Often, it’s a mix of all of these. You can shape a narrative arc to suit you as a photographer – and, of course, to suit the subject of your photography and your storytelling.
As a wedding photographer, to a large degree, the narrative arc is shaped by the people in front of your lens. However as the narrator you decide what to highlight – you are the one who is telling the story. We’re often drawn to moments of humour. However, we let the day guide us. Sometimes the story leans into something more poignant or reflective. No two stories are ever the same.
Within a gallery of images that tells the story of a full wedding day, we’re connecting all the different parts of the day into one cohesive whole. If this were a book, they’d be chapters. In a film or play, scenes. For us, for this blog – let’s call them scenes. And within each scene, there are smaller sequences. Within individual sequences and the full story you can ask yourself:
• What is the feeling or theme I want to convey?
• Is there a connection I’m trying to highlight throughout the scene – or throughout the full wedding day?
• What does all of this reveal about the couple, their families, or the energy of the wedding?
The clearer you are on the story you want to tell, the stronger and more intentional your images will feel. Sometimes this reveals itself on the day – sometimes, you can shape the story after you’ve taken the images. The narrative arc is what helps you connect these moments, giving the story structure and flow, subjects which we cover in detail below.
The Beginning, the Middle, and the End
A strong story has structure – it doesn’t matter if what you’re working on is abstract in form, it still needs a structure. And in photography, that means thinking about how you introduce your story, how it unfolds, and how you leave the viewer.
Grab the viewer’s attention from the start – the beginning should pull the viewer in and set the scene. And we recommend this – whether it’s a gallery, a story for awards or an instagram post – a strong first image is essential. For example the image below – showing a pig farm – it sets the scene immediately that this is a wedding with a difference and grabs the viewer’s attention.
The middle is the heartbeat – the action, the emotion, the interactions. This is where your story unfolds, and where the layers build.
The end matters just as much as the start – as it’s the moment that lingers. It might be a final embrace, a moment of calm, or even an abstract detail. But what matters is that resolves your story. It can be ambiguous – leaving the viewer to wonder. Or it can tie everything up, neatly. However you tell it, a strong ending brings a sense of closure and gives the story weight. This ‘final image’ from one of our stories is not a stereotypical ‘big moment’. But it shows that it’s the end of the day whilst also speaking so much about what kind of wedding it was: fun, slightly chaotic, unique.
The Flow: How Do the Images Fit Together?
Even the most striking images can feel disconnected if the sequence isn’t thoughtfully considered. How your images move from one to the next creates rhythm and clarity – helping the viewer follow the story more intuitively. You don’t want them to be thinking about it – you just want the flow to feel right. Like here, we show a wedding ceremony, two different moments – the first people sing together, the next an emotional reaction to the next part of the ceremony. They flow perfectly as they layer up the scene – and showing varying compositions (one wide, one mid) we keep viewer interest high.
Think about how films or tv series introduce each new scene. For instance, we’ve just finished watching the latest series of Andor – a masterclass in storytelling and visual intent. The visuals are bold, but never random. Each scene flows seamlessly from the last. Pay attention to how the scenes are introduced and how each shot transitions to the next – it just works as nothing jars. As photographers, our aim is the same: to create a visual journey that feels natural, deliberate, and cohesive.
It’s also important to note – within your story, you don’t need to include everything and you can reorder the chronology. Just as the editor on a film or TV series cuts away to find the flow – you must do the same. You are the director, the narrator and the editor, all at once! And to find the flow often means excluding certain moments and reordering others. When curating your story, think about:
Narrative direction – Are you helping the viewer move through a scene naturally?
Composition and framing – Are you keeping visual interest high by varying the way you show moments
Introducing a new sequence of images – This is the important one! Does this feel right, or does jar or jump out of nowhere? Strong sequencing can elevate an ordinary set of images into something cinematic and emotionally resonant. Like here, we introduce the confetti before showing the action.
We tell hundreds of little stories on a wedding day – each one its own sequence, some fleeting, some unfolding over time. In the example here, the images move through the ceremony and out again – carrying the viewer with them. The flow is important – the use of transition shots and varying compositions is vital, for us, as storytellers. Without this the story would not flow.
Visual Engagement – Keeping the Viewer Interested
A compelling story holds the eye. And how you shoot each frame has a big impact on how engaging your sequence is to the viewer. Try to:
Vary your compositions – mix wide shots, mid frames, and close-ups.
Play with perspective – get high, go low, keep moving to find the best shot.
Be patient – great moments can sometimes often unfold subtly, and timing is everything. Keep shooting – it’s better to be left with many images to curate from than too little.
Ask yourself: What keeps you interested as a viewer? Let that guide your shooting choices. If you’re inspiring yourself, you will inspire others, too. Below you’ll see a wide shot, a mid shot from below and then a detail in context. Our galleries are full of these different shots – we never want a gallery to feel repetitive.
Transition Moments – The ‘Glue’ of a Visual Story
These often-overlooked images are what hold a story together. They may seem quiet or unremarkable on their own – but they give context, create rhythm, and make the big moments feel even bigger. Here you find how we’ve transitioned from one part of the day to another, the couple walk into the reception, to the the speeches, to guests serving food, then enjoying it. A simple way of looking at is this: one transition shot – one action shot – one transition shot – one action shot. You don’t always need transition shots in such quick succession but here, it made visual sense.
You can look for: People moving from one space to another, people pausing, waiting, adjusting, gestures and details. Because in a wedding story, it’s not just about the ceremony or the speeches – it’s about everything in between. The shuffle of feet, the adjusting of a tie, the clinking of glasses.
We all know an establishing shot that shows a new location – that introduces that next scene is the obvious way to do this. You show a new building, a sunset, or a newly decorated room. But for us, we’re always looking to go beyond the obvious. So if people are eating a meal, we look to show the meal being prepared and served – and then eaten! If the dress is going on – show it’s removed from the hanger.
If the band are about to play – if possible, we show them setting up and getting ready. If we’re going to a new location – we show the journey to that location, the people travelling and arriving. Because if you look to include people within that establishing shot – within that transition shot – then you elevate your work above the norm.
Little sequences tell big stories
Within a gallery that tells the story of a full wedding day, we’re essentially tying together all the different parts of that day. In a book, these would be chapters. In a film or a play, they’d be scenes. And within each scene, there are smaller sequences – and it’s those little sequences that help tell the bigger story. Here’s how we build a sequence that shows the bride arriving to her reception on horseback.
When a moment starts to unfold, keep shooting through it – explore it from different angles and perspectives.
Bringing those images together into a cohesive sequence adds depth and rhythm – this is how you draw in the viewer.
Detail shots can really help your little sequences come alive – well-chosen detail shots can add depth and richness to your sequences. These don’t have to be posed details – for us, we show details in context.
A sequence of images can tell the story of a small moment. So we tell the story of the dress going on, the guests arriving, the quiet in-between. Even something fleeting holds space for variety, for depth, for creativity. Longer moments – like the first dance or the speeches – unfold naturally into sequences, too. Breaking the day down this way gives us space to slow down, to notice, to play. Even in the briefest moments, there’s room to create something with meaning – to take the viewer on the journey we want to lead them on.
Below are two connected sequences that show the getting ready and the ceremony. Just a few moments, but a range of images and compositions – starting with the preparations, moving through the car journey to the ceremony, and finishing as the couple leave the venue. The final image, shot through the car window, calls back to the earlier part of the story and ties it all together.
Below we connect several sequences together – several little stories that come together to form one narrative. There is the story of the speeches, the story of the bouquet toss, the story of guests enjoying tea and cake. Then – the resolution. We take care to ensure our compositions are not repetitive – we take care to connect our stories together.
All wedding photographers are storytellers
Whatever your style, you have the responsibility – and the privilege – of telling the story of a wedding day. Not just showing what happened, but conveying how it felt. Great storytelling in photography isn’t only about what’s in front of your lens – it’s about how you interpret it, structure it, and present it to the viewer.
Think in sequences – don’t just shoot the obvious frame of a moment and move on. Keep shooting, build a sequence of that moment and then move onto the next sequence and the sequence as you weave your narrative. Consider emotion, structure and rhythm.
And most importantly, pay attention to what you’re naturally drawn to – because that’s where your most honest and powerful work will come from. We hope these tips help the next time you’re building a visual story.
And if you want to practise storytelling beyond weddings, try documenting everyday moments – family life, a day out, a quiet evening at home. As we’ve already touched on: the preparation, serving, and eating of a meal. A trip to the shops, the cinema, the beach, the garden centre. The same principles apply whatever the story you tell. You need a beginning, a middle, an end – a variety of compositions to keep the viewer interested – and those essential transition moments to tie it all together.
Whatever you photograph, our biggest tip is this: shoot freely and lean into your creativity. As we said earlier: photograph things in a way that inspires yourself and you will inspire others. Then, see what story emerges, and take control of it as the narrator. And, please share your images with us – we’d love to see what you create.
Mentoring and education
We hope you’ve enjoyed this blog and found it helpful. If you’re interested in talking to us about mentoring and education opportunities please let us know – we’d love to hear from you. We offer one to one sessions from £300 and also longer term mentorships, too, tailoring the mentoring to you and your photography.
Our Leeds workshop
We have a workshop coming up! For more information please click here. We’re pretty much sold out at time of writing, but could perhaps squeeze in one or two last minute attendees – so be quick!
The Mateers
International wedding photographers and educators. Blog written by Patrick Mateer – all images by Hollie Mateer (two time This Is Reportage Photographer Of The Year). Thanks for reading! H&P x