Hasselblad Masters

Volume 7: Enlighten

"Every couple comes to me with a special story. It can be emotional, funny, or even sad, but that's what makes my work so exciting. No two weddings are alike."

Mati Machner describes the art behind wedding photography – not in camera angles or aperture settings, but in the understanding and connection with the couple. He advises, "Always be attentive and listen carefully. The more details you have about them – their wishes, fears, or no-go's – the better you can serve them, get involved with them, and they with you." As a former social worker, Mati Machner has experience tuning into people and understanding their concerns. This knowledge pays off, especially when it comes to the momentous and often chaotic day.

Wedding photography is full of high stakes. Unlike studio photography, many wedding moments, with all the authentic nuances and emotions, happen only once. "The couple exchanging vows with each other, tears flowing, or the seriously ill grandmother in a wheelchair congratulating them; these scenes only happen at that one moment and cannot be reproduced."

Mati explains that there is often no excuse for a photographer to miss such important memories for the couple. To be prepared for the unexpected, a wedding photographer must balance timing and changes in weather, lighting, or location.

"It's also about much more than snapping a perfect photo. You are a narrator of a whole story."

As much as it comes down to the big day, the process starts months before, with many couples booking Mati nearly one year in advance. This is a crucial time for Machner and his clients to get to know one another and use that relationship to personalize and prepare for the ceremony.

"Sometimes the technical or artistic aspect of a good wedding photo, like proper exposure or composition, is secondary. Before you set the right settings on the camera, an important moment could have already passed. So always be present in the moments, rather than focusing on only the camera settings."

"What I like about the X2D is its easy and intuitive use. Nothing has been unnecessarily complicated, and all the buttons are perfectly arranged. I never needed the manual. From day one, I could use it intuitively to capture what it was built for—stunning photos."

It's not just the photographer that's at risk of getting caught up in the technicalities of the day. The couple is often under constant pressure from guests, family members, and more, often having no chance to rest. Machner tries to take the couple out of the wedding setting for at least 30 minutes for a shoot and, if possible, escape into nature. "With all the rush, it may be the only moment of their wedding day where they can both fully concentrate on themselves and reflect on the real reason for their union."

Mati chose to shoot his Enlighten project in the Fanal Forest in Portugal. "It was important for me to shoot these photos in quiet nature, where it is exclusively about the couple. My vision was to create a certain kind of intimacy through the recurring fog in this forest. To limit the expansiveness so that the immediate proximity of the couple to each other comes into focus."

"When it came to the Hasselblad Masters project, the X2D let me concentrate on the essentials: the right exposure, the right composition, and the right moment to make these images happen."

With the X2D in hand, Machner sets his focus on the scene, where calmness and a touch of melancholy create an aesthetic that is undeniably alluring. In the verdant landscape, the pair merge with the shape of the trees. What forms is a marriage between the couple and nature, supporting each other to bring a scene to life.

From this setting, Machner snaps away, knowing that the images carry a wealth of detail that he can play with in the editing room. "The X2D still captures so much of details, even in the shadow areas of an image. In post-production, I was able to get so much more out of the images. The dynamic range leaves so much room to move, which is a big advantage."

At the end of Machner's process, the unique images of a wedding are shared. Far away from the pomp and demands of the wedding ceremony, the photos reveal two souls in focus, embarking on the first day of the rest of their lives. With every anniversary, Mati's photos serve as a reminder of a beautiful union that is simultaneously natural, ethereal, and thoughtful, but always meant to be.

About Mati Machner

Mati Machner is a destination wedding photographer based out of Austria. With a passion for travelling and photography, he specializes in getting to know his couples and producing wedding shoots that are personal and authentic.