Capturing Catholic Wedding Ceremonies in Atlanta as a Photographer & Videographer
Capturing a Catholic Wedding as a Photographer and Videographer team is different than any normal ceremony in Atlanta. Not just in structure, but in preparation. A Catholic wedding isn’t built around a timeline that can be stretched or reshaped for photos. It’s built around the Mass, the sacrament, and tradition that has existed long before cameras ever entered the church. As Catholic photographers and videographers, our job is to capture this sacrament respectfully, while still capturing the important moments.
This past October, we had the honor of photographing a Catholic wedding here in Atlanta, at St.Benedict Catholic Church in John’s Creek, Georgia. And with two more Catholic weddings coming up this year, it felt like the right moment to share what photographing a Catholic wedding looks like behind the lens.
A lot of Preparations for Photographers & Videographers before a Catholic Mass
Most Catholic Weddings have a Church Coordinator (often called a director or guild member) to manage the wedding party, assist the clergy with the ceremony’s flow, and preserve respect for the sacrament. They also just help keep the Ceremony smooth and stress-free for the couple. One thing that is necessary for us photographers & videographer is to have communication with the Coordinator early on in the planning to understand the rules of the parish. For example there is usually a timeframe of how long we can take photos in the church after the ceremony. There is also usually a rule on how close you can get to the altar as a photographer and videographer during the mass, which we will talk about more down below. Overall, a lot of communication is important for us to be efficient but respectful during the ceremony.
Another big preparation on our end is knowing if you will have a full length Catholic Wedding or not. The Sacrament of Matrimony is usually celebrated with the Eucharist which is around an hour, but the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony can also take place without a full Mass and without Holy Communion, which is around thirty minutes. Whichever you decide, as photographers and videographers we determine how many batteries we need on us, because of this. Just in case we need to change batteries in the middle of the ceremony.
Behind the Lens at a Catholic Wedding
Movement inside the church is often limited, which means lens choice matters. For our photo camera the lens we usually use for a Catholic Wedding is our 50-150mm f2. And a great example of this, is during Communion it requires a longer lens to capture those beautiful buttery close up photos.
For video we usually have a medium-wide shot, a 50mm, on one camera with a medium-close up, a 85mm, on another camera. It helps to get a variety of angles especially for video. Because when you watch back your hour long Ceremony video, you don’t want to be staring at the same angle the entire time.
We are very mindful of how quiet we need to be in the church. In moments of prayer or silence, even the click of a shutter or equipment clanking against our utility belts can feel intrusive.
On the contrary, audio is super important during a catholic wedding. For video we mic both the bride and groom so we are able to capture all of those quiet words, spoken that the guests can’t even hear. Especially since the priest is usally the only one with a mic that gets picked up through the speakers and the priest is not always near you. That’s why it’s essential we mic you both.
Photography after the Catholic Ceremony
After the ceremony typically you do inner family photos and wedding party photos, inside the church, in front of the alter. It’s usually a staple for most catholic wedding photos and at this point we can be a little bit more vocal as a photographer when calling up your wedding party, and guests to take photos.
If you have a Friday wedding, or have it on any other day of the week, you don’t need to worry about this. Congratulations! However, if you have a Saturday Catholic wedding which is usually in the late morning to early afternoon, it also means Confession is not far behind at usually 2:30pm-4:00pm. As Catholic photographer and videographer, we understand this time constraint, however annoying it is. We tend to discuss with our couples in detail on how big their inner family and wedding party is, so we can strive to take the group photos within a timely manner. Plus if we have extra time, we can take few unique posed photos with your partner alone in the church.
What’s next for us and capturing Catholic Weddings?
With two more Catholic weddings coming up this year, and more to come, we keep finding that each couple’s Catholic wedding is truly unique to capture, while still being rooted in tradition.
Behind our lens, our focus stays steady, and we document the sacrament quietly, respectfully, and beautifully. If you’re planning a Catholic wedding in Atlanta or anywhere else in the Southeast and value both the meaning of the Mass and the way it’s documented. Overall, we’d be honored to be part of your day.
📸🎥 Ready to plan your own Wedding?
Let’s make it unforgettable! Contact us at The Duo Weddings to learn more about our Wedding Photography & Videography packages.
Meet your Photographer and Videographer!
Shavonne & Zack are the creative Photo and Video team behind the The Duo Weddings, they specialize in discreet, cinematic photo and video coverage for engagements and weddings throughout Atlanta and North Georgia. They work as a seamless team, capturing every priceless second of your day. So you’ll have both stunning photos and heartfelt films to cherish forever!
