Do Photographers and Celebrants Work Well Together?

By Guest Blogger: Emma DB Photography

Emma and I first worked together in 2024 having met through a mutual connection in the industry. Emma has photographed many significant life moments, and been present for a variety of ceremonies, I asked if she would share her views on whether photographers and celebrants work well together. Read on to learn her perspective, and to see some of her beautiful images.

Do Photographers and Celebrants Work Well Together?

Absolutely! I have had the pleasure of working with many celebrants over the years at weddings, hand-fasting ceremonies, styled shoots and other events. And they really help make you feel like you are having the most personalised service possible.

With so many choices these days, particularly with weddings it can feel a bit overwhelming. That’s where your celebrant can help along the way and give you some options that are bespoke to you. This can then be shared with your photographer beforehand, if you wish, so they are aware to photograph these special moments during the ceremony. The more colourful and quirky the better!

As a photographer based in Northamptonshire, I have photographed a few weddings with celebrants and each one has been so different. A couple of recent venues have been Dovecote Buttery in Newton and the William Cecil in Stamford which are both gorgeous, with the opportunity to have an outdoor ceremony and

couples are given the option of having a celebrant. This is possible with all venues, but sometimes couples aren’t made aware of this and feel they are forced to have a registrar.

When a celebrant leads the service I know I have more flexibility with what I can photograph. It’s not only exciting to hear about what will be included within the ceremony, but also the meaning behind each aspect of the service. Woven through the ceremony are stories of each person and how they found each other. Making the service way more personal. This helps with your photographs too, as I love to tell a story through my images. So hearing more about you as a couple helps me include the personalised moments in the final gallery. And what means the most to you. These photographs will be cherished for many years to come and passed onto the next generation, so I try to include as much detail as possible to complete the story of your wedding day.

The hand-fasting element of a celebrant led service I love. With all the colours and types of ribbons used to symbolise the unity between two people. Also I’ve seen drinks included in the service too which is fun to photograph! And also gets some fun reactions from guests too!

It’s fascinating photographing a celebrant service and I’ve found it’s a lot more relaxed than a registrar or minister led wedding - plus there are no restrictions of what I can and cannot photograph! The signing of the register is not to be photographed so I usually have to wait whilst that happens. I’ve also been limited to

where I can be during a church service so I cannot move at all. Different angles and views of a ceremony are crucial, but it is important to do this discreetly without causing distraction from the reason we are all there.

I hope to photograph more weddings in the future with celebrants and hope you enjoy planning your own wedding ceremony!

For more information on working with Emma', please click here to head to her website.