My Take on Why Hire A Catholic Photographer

January 28, 2025

The Why Hire a Catholic Photographer post: a staple on every Catholic photographer’s blog, website, and Instagram. As a Catholic wedding vendor, I love reading through these but after a while, if you’re like me, they may start to blend together.

As I’ve been mulling over the best way to kick off my Blog Era, the “Why Hire a Catholic Photographer” staple seemed as good a place as any to start. I am passionate about photography that honors and uplifts the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony and the traditions of the Catholic Church just like my fellow Catholic wedding vendors, but I think these posts can often be misaimed.

Many of the brides I work with are already on board with a Catholic vendor team or at least are passionate about finding a Catholic photographer that fits their budget and style. It is easier to work with wedding vendors who are on the same page as you with what the most important parts of your wedding day is, and hiring a Catholic photographer is a great way to do that.

But.

Some of the couples I work with are not as immediately convinced of the value of a Catholic photographer. Some are mixed-denomination couples and getting married in the Catholic partner’s church. Some have kids already. Some have trouble seeing their culture or skin tone accurately represented in the portfolios of many Catholic photographers.

To the couples who are already excited about finding the best fit Catholic wedding photographer, Amazing! Let’s make some art that captures that intentionality and love of the Faith. Skip on down to the bottom! Or just inquire here. To the other brides and grooms who maybe don’t understand the hype, or, for whatever reason, don’t feel like they fit the “mold” of needing a Catholic photographer, I see you, I was you, and welcome.

I’ve come up with some of the reasons why hiring a Catholic wedding photographer is a strategic move for your Catholic wedding and hopefully goes beyond just “I get it” (though, I do).  Because especially here in Nashville, Tennessee, the Bible Belt Southeast, and Wedding Venue Capitol of the World (may have made that one up), we may not all be on the same page with what “it” is.  No matter where you are at in your faith, the Catholic church a beautiful and holy place to start the next chapter of your lives. So let’s dive in to how to make sure your ceremony is captured with the intentionality it deserves.

Image of the consecration of a Catholic Nuptial Mass with the chalice raised over the couple.
Emmanuel Catholic Church, Dayton, Ohio

Cultural understanding leads to better photography.

    It’s a fact many photographers don’t like to admit. Photographers are comfortable being uncomfortable and sometimes that yields creativity. Sometimes, discomfort leads to a lot of awkwardness or missed moments. The reality is that Catholicism is a denomination of Christianity but it is also a beautiful culture, one that varies depending on what part of the world you live in or are from. A photographer who understands that and is comfortable with the logistics of a Catholic ceremony will be able to get more creative and focus on the details instead of just the big picture.

     An example from my past:

    My background is in more general wedding photography and a wedding I was asked to photograph was one of the celebration days of an almost week-long Muslim wedding. Despite me asking a million questions ahead of time and the very patient bride giving me all the advice she could, when I got into the celebration, it became far less clear which moments my camera was allowed to be up and which ones I absolutely could not photograph. The women at the wedding were lovely but obviously unsure of the Anglo lady with the camera, I was unsure of what I could take photographs of, and it ended up being a difficult situation for everyone and objectively not my best work.

    Catholic wedding masses or ceremonies are not that strict, but, as a cradle Catholic, I can genuinely say every Catholic church feels like a second home. I’m already familiar with the order of the liturgy, the appropriate responses and positioning, and all of the details and traditions. That’s important to you because since I already know what’s coming next, I know when I can get candids of you and your new spouse laughing together or your little niece running down the aisle and also still capture the liturgically significant portions of the ceremony, with nothing missed.

    Two children peek down the main aisle during a Nuptial Mass.
    Emmanuel Catholic Church, Dayton, Ohio

    Catholic Photographers have more experience in low light situations

    As a primarily church-wedding photographer, I have experience photographing in lighting scenarios that many wedding photographers actively run away from. Here in the Diocese of Nashville and Southeastern United States, we have some stunning churches. We also have some churches that really embrace orange wood, red carpets, and statues that lean more creepy than inspirational. Pretty much all Catholic churches don’t allow flash because it’s distracting. So what is a newly-engaged bride to do? Hire a photographer who understands light theory, post-production color grading, and low-light camera settings so that you don’t turn out orange in all of your ceremony photographs.

    I don’t just cope with weird lighting that we can’t control, I embrace it. Our sentimental home churches deserve beautiful photography just as much as the bright airy cathedrals.

    A couple who is just married sits on a pew in front of a stained glass window smiling.
    St. Margaret Mary Mission Church, Decherd, Tennessee
    (second photographer for Nikayla and Co. Associates)

    Catholic wedding photographer’s create a seamless vendor team with your church

    No matter where you get married, having a team of vendors that works well and professionally together is crucial to having a smooth day. If you are having a Catholic ceremony, your “vendor team” also includes the priest or deacon who is celebrating the Mass or ceremony and often a parish coordinator of some kind.  Outside of the general behavior expectations that all churches have, some have some more specific requirements when it comes to different wedding traditions: dress code, photographer positioning, flower petals, etc… These requirements can sometimes be frustrating if it goes against your vision for the day, but fear not! Part of my planning process with you is to personally reach out to the parish you are getting married in and make sure we are on the same page when it comes to expectations. I will also work with you to come up with meaningful alternative solutions to any restrictions they may give. Stink-eye from the priest is no fun and I’m not in the business of peeving clergy. They are generally very relieved to hear the photographer is Catholic and already understands the basic decorum. Having a Catholic photographer who is completely flexible and wants to collaborate with your venue team(s) instead of against them can be key to having a ceremony that runs smoothly.

    Bridesmaids shake hands during a nuptial Mass.
    Emmanuel Catholic Church, Dayton, Ohio

    Bonus: Hour-long (or longer) ceremonies or Masses don’t scare me. It’s the best part. Bring it on. No energy drinks needed.

    St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

    So, Nashville brides who are getting married in the Catholic church, do you have to hire a Catholic photographer? Nope. But it would get you some more meaningful ceremony photography, keep you from having the dreaded “orange cast,” and save you some unnecessary day-of surprises if your church has special requests.

    And you may as well hire a local photographer who loves her long-time Tennessee home and has a lot of working within the Diocese of Nashville: me.

    So let’s talk! I can’t wait to hear more about your vision for your day and help you honor this beautiful sacrament you are about to enter into.

    Comments

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Leave a comment