The Soul of the Story: A Guide to the Moments, Not Just the Poses
As you get closer to your wedding day, the desire to hold onto every single moment becomes powerful. You might start thinking about a “shot list”—a checklist to give your photographer to ensure nothing is missed. It’s a thought that comes from a beautiful place: the fear that in the joyful whirlwind, a precious memory might slip away.
We understand that fear. But as artists dedicated to telling your love story, we want to invite you to think about this process in a new way. The most breathtaking, soul-stirring images—the ones that will make you feel the warmth of that day twenty years from now—are rarely found on a generic checklist. They are born from connection, emotion, and the beautiful, unscripted moments in between.
Let’s move beyond the cookie-cutter and craft a “storytelling guide” together. This isn't about listing poses; it's about communicating the heart of your story, so we can preserve the feelings you’ll want to remember forever.
The Necessary Heirlooms: Your Family Formals
There is one area where a literal, physical list is not just helpful, but essential: your formal family portraits. These are the timeless, invaluable heirlooms that will hang on walls for generations. To make this part of your day seamless, smooth, and joyful, we ask you to prepare a list of these specific groupings ahead of time. By having a plan, we can move through these portraits with grace and efficiency, leaving more time for the candid magic of the day to unfold.
Crafting Your Storytelling Guide: The Moments That Matter Most
This is where we move from the posed to the poetic. Instead of a list of shots, let’s explore a list of feelings, people, and details that are unique to you. Consider these prompts as we prepare for your day:
- Who Are the People at the Heart of Your Story?
Go beyond a list of names. Tell us why they matter. Is it the way your grandmother’s hands look because they taught you how to bake? The bond with a best friend who has been by your side since childhood? Knowing these connections allows us to focus our lens not just on their presence, but on the emotion of that relationship.
- What Details Hold a Piece of Your History?
Are you wearing your mother’s pearls? Are the cufflinks a gift passed down from a grandfather? Did you embroider a secret message into the hem of your gown? These are not just things; they are artifacts of your love story. Tell us about them, so we can photograph them with the significance they deserve.
- How Do You Want to Feel When You Look at Your Photos?
This is perhaps the most important question. Do you dream of images that feel epic, romantic, and windswept? Or are you drawn to quiet, intimate, and tender moments? Do you want to remember the wild, electric joy of the dance floor? Your answer helps us tune our artistic vision to the emotional frequency of your dream day.
- What Traditions or Surprises Have You Planned?
Are you reading private vows before the ceremony? Planning a surprise song with the band? Incorporating a cultural tradition that is deeply meaningful? These unique events are the signature moments of your wedding. Letting us in on the plan ensures we are ready to capture their full impact.
The Unwritten List: The Magic of Trusting Your Artist
After you have shared your priorities—the people, the details, and the feelings that matter most—the next step is the most magical of all: to trust.
The most cherished images are often the ones you never knew were happening. The tear rolling down your father’s cheek during the ceremony. The way you and your partner instinctively reached for each other's hand during the toasts. The flower girl, asleep in a chair, spent from a day of celebration. These are the moments that can't be put on a list. They are found when you trust your photographer to be your eyes, to see the moments you are too busy living, and to preserve them for you.
Our Promise: We Live for Your Story
At Viva Por Ti, our name is our promise: I live for you. Our devotion is to learn your story so intimately that we can anticipate these moments. We don’t show up to check boxes on a list; we arrive with the honor and responsibility of witnessing the soul of your day. We are there to capture the feeling of your hand in his, the sound of your laughter, the warmth of the sun—the very essence of your love story.
Your Story, Beautifully Told
