Civil wedding photographer in Lublin: what we captured in two and a half hours
I was booked for two hours to photograph this civil wedding in Lublin. The couple wanted coverage of the ceremony, congratulations from guests, a few photographs outside the registry office and the celebration at a restaurant. They had not planned a walk around the city. During the shoot, the groom suggested extending the coverage by half an hour so we could photograph them with their wedding cake.
If you are choosing a civil wedding photographer in Lublin, this story will help you understand how the time on a short booking is spent and what to discuss beforehand.
The ceremony and the journey to the restaurant
We drove from Warsaw. The journey took about two hours and went smoothly. I took the photographs, while Efim helped me and recorded a video of the ceremony, which we later gave the couple as a gift.
The wedding took place at the main registry office in the Old Town. We spent around 30–40 minutes photographing there. The album includes the exchange of rings, the signing of documents and the newlyweds’ kiss in the ceremony room.
After the ceremony, the celebration continued at a restaurant. A lift could not be arranged for us, so we made our own way there on foot — a walk of about twenty minutes.
When you book a photographer for two hours, travel between venues matters. Agree in advance how the photographer will get from the registry office to the restaurant and how long the journey will take. This helps you create a schedule with time for the photographs you want.
Why we needed another half an hour
The couple initially decided we would photograph whatever happened within the two hours. At the restaurant, I continued documenting the celebration and took portraits of the newlyweds. As the party went on, they decided they wanted photographs with the cake in their wedding story as well.
The groom suggested that we stay for another half an hour. With the extra time, we photographed the white cake topped with berries, the bride placing a slice on the groom’s plate and the couple kissing by the window.
If photographs with the cake are important to you, check when it will be served and whether that falls within your photographer’s booked hours. It is also useful to discuss the possibility of extending the coverage before the wedding.
This gallery contains a selection of the photographs: we do not include photographs of guests without permission to publish them.
Should you set aside time for a walk around Lublin?
This couple had their own priorities: the ceremony, congratulations, a few photographs outside the registry office and the restaurant. A separate portrait session on a walk was not part of their plan.
Where possible, I recommend setting aside time for portraits of the two of you. For me, a walk is one of the most interesting and creative parts of wedding photography. It gives us a chance to choose a backdrop, work with light and movement and focus on the couple.
We really enjoyed Lublin’s Old Town. After the shoot, the newlyweds invited us to stay for cake, but we decided to explore the city: we had to drive back to Warsaw that evening.
If you would like photographs during a walk, include it as a separate part of your schedule. That gives it its own time, rather than just a few spare minutes between the ceremony and the restaurant.
How to choose the length of your wedding photography coverage
This was one of my first weddings, and at the time I agreed to a two-hour booking in another city. These days, I prefer longer bookings when travelling for a wedding. For example, we photographed Szymon and Alicja’s wedding in Bydgoszcz for around eleven hours — from preparations to the party late at night.
When choosing the number of hours, first list the events you want to preserve: the ceremony, congratulations, photographs with loved ones, portraits of the two of you, the restaurant celebration and the cake. Then discuss the time needed for those parts of the day and the journeys between them with your photographer.
Based on this wedding, I recommend allowing more time if you want restaurant coverage, a walk and photographs with the cake after the ceremony. During portraits, try to worry less about controlling every movement: talk to each other, move and let yourselves smile. It helps you feel more at ease in front of the camera.