Magnificat Photography is a reverent, refined Catholic photography brand dedicated to preserving the sacred beauty of sacramental celebrations.
All too-often I have heard brides and families mention that they have wished they went with a Catholic photographer when they planned their nuptial Mass. Someone who understands the liturgy, the Holy Eucharist, and of course when to kneel and stand. As a life-long Catholic myself, I chose this area because it is something I know.
We don't just start with the Mass, we start months before...
We start with an initial phone call. We'll discuss details of your wedding, what exactly you can expect from me at your nuptial Mass, and much, much more. The engagement session is a wonderful opportunity to capture special moments for save-the-dates and announcements. It also serves as a practice in posing for your wedding day, so you feel comfortable in front of the camera.
Your Wedding Day
Getting Ready...
As you prepare for your big day, we are right there with you. We arrive early, (2 hours plus travel time to church is recommended) and make sure to capture portraits and candid photos of everyone getting ready. We use this time to capture details, such as the rings, the dress, and of course, family pictures, and Mom putting the veil on the bride.
The Mass
“It is…fitting that the spouses should seal their consent to give themselves to each other through the offering of their own lives by uniting it to the offering of Christ for his Church made present in the Eucharistic sacrifice.”
– Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1621
The Catholic Nuptial Mass is divided into three parts, which I talk about a little more below. I have two goals while I am photographing your Nuptial Mass:
- Show reverence and respect for the sacredness of the Mass and liturgy.
- Capture beautiful, emotive photos of your wedding.
You'll notice capturing photos is the second goal. No photo or video is worth disrupting Mass to get a beautiful photograph. The Mass is not a performance. It is worship, it is sacred, and we hope to reflect that with our actions, and the photos we share.
The Celebration of Matrimony
What I focus on: the entrance of the priest, bridesmaids, family, and of course the bride. After the bride and groom take their places, I take a step back and photograph the readings, gospel, and homily from a slight distance. This way the attention stays focused on the couple and the message being given.
Liturgy of the word
Here is when the vows are said, rings exchanged, and the bride and groom are united before God and their loved ones.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
The most important part! As the consecration is the most important part of Mass, I do tend to photograph this part from a distance. Following is the Nuptial Blessing, Sign of Peace, and the final blessing.
After Mass: Extended Family Photos, Bridal Party Portraits, Bride and Groom Portraits
What would a wedding day be without pictures and memories with your loved ones? I ask that to make this go smoothly, that you provide me with a "shot list," a list of all the family combinations in photos that you would like. This helps things go quickly, so we can get everyone over to the reception faster.
After the extended family has left, we do some bridal party photos, and then bride and groom portraits. Bride and groom portraits will use poses that you learned from our engagement session.