For over a decade, I’ve had the privilege of documenting countless beautiful moments. But nothing compares to the raw emotions that I’ve witnessed at weddings. Since going full-time in 2013, I’ve photographed more than 400 weddings, and each one has only deepened my passion for this craft.
What started as a creative outlet has become a lifelong journey—one that’s taken me from intimate beach elopements to vibrant cultural celebrations. Every wedding has taught me something new, whether it’s about love, people, or the beauty of fleeting moments we often take for granted. But before we dive into those lessons, let me introduce myself properly. Hi, I’m Nick. Alongside my wife, Rosie, we’re the only husband-and-wife wedding photo/video and planning duo in Temecula Valley. We specialize in capturing authentic and emotional stories, whether it’s a local Southern California wedding or a destination celebration across borders.
From the high-energy dances at the Samoan wedding celebration (the first) I attended as a photographer to the intricate traditions of Indian ceremonies (the recent), every experience has shaped how I see love, connection, and the art of storytelling through photography. So, if you’re curious about what 400+ weddings have taught me (about life, relationships, and creating unforgettable memories), let’s get into it. These are the lessons that will stay with you long after the last dance.
Moments are fleeting. Capture them with intention.
One of the first and most important lessons that I’ve learned through photographing hundreds of weddings is this: moments don’t wait for you. They come and go in an instant. You don’t get time to prepare and capture a tear slipping down a mother’s cheek, a quiet glance between the couple, or the spontaneous laughter during a toast. These unscripted, unposed flashes of emotion are what truly define a wedding day.
To capture them, you have to be fully present and prepared (not just technically ready). You have to anticipate emotions, read the room, and click the shutter with purpose, not just for the sake of doing your job. Because the pictures you click become the memories couples and families return to again and again. So, as a photographer, your greatest job is to be intentional and deeply aware because those little moments are everything.
Connection matters more than perfection.
Getting familiar with the environment and building connections with couples can make all the difference. When people feel comfortable around you, they stop posing and start being themselves and that’s where the real magic happens. As a photographer, I always had this in mind: it’s my job to blend in, read the energy, and create a space where everyone feels at ease being photographed.
Getting to know the couple during photos or making family members laugh builds trust. And that trust leads to real moments that no perfectly posed picture can ever match.
Being calm under pressure is just as important as creativity.
Anything can be unpredictable, including weddings. Timelines may shift, weather can change, and above all, emotions may run higher. In the middle of it all, a photographer is expected to stay calm and do the job with 100% accountability. You’d literally bless yourself by being calm because calmness plays a huge role when it comes to being creative under pressure.
When things don’t go as planned (most often, they actually don’t), couples look to you for reassurance. This is where a calm presence can ease stress and your ability to stay grounded can directly influence how comfortable and natural everyone feels in front of the camera. In the end, it’s not only about getting the perfect photo; it’s also about being patient, confident, and clear-headed so you can react quickly and still convey the narrative wonderfully, no matter what happens.
Preparation is everything. Always expect the unexpected.
No matter how many weddings I shoot, I’m always reminded that the most unforgettable moments happen when no one’s looking. And this one particular lesson hit me hard when I was shooting as an Indian wedding photographer in California recently.
After shooting 400+ weddings, one thing I know for sure—something will go off-script. Even though nothing can prepare you for everything, no amount of experience can replace solid preparation. Every wedding is different, and no two days ever go exactly as planned. That’s why I’ve learned to prepare for everything and still leave room for surprises. From scouting the venue in advance to packing backup gear (and backups for the backups), preparation allows me to stay focused and flexible when the unexpected happens.
Travel expands your vision and strengthens your storytelling.
There’s certainly something different about capturing love stories in different corners of the world. Travel hasn’t just changed my perspective. It’s reshaped how I see storytelling through photography.
When Rosie and I traveled to Colombia and Hawaii in 2019, those experiences became the soul of our rebrand to American Portra Weddings. The rich colors of Cartagena’s streets and the raw, natural beauty of Hawaiian cliffs showed me how environment shapes emotion. This became our signature – whether capturing an Indian wedding in California that showed me how traditions evolve beautifully in new settings or our first Mexican destination wedding in Cancun that taught us to let the location tell its part of the story.
Every couple has a unique story worth telling.
Every love story is different and the pictures loudly speak to this fact.
Early in my career, I approached weddings with a checklist of standard shots – the kiss, the first dance, the family portraits. But when I photographed my first Samoan wedding, with its explosive energy and communal celebration, and then an intimate Cancun destination elopement, where every moment felt like a whispered secret between two people, I realized: cookie-cutter photography does couples a disservice.
Now, our process begins long before the wedding day. When Rosie and I sit down with couples (often over coffee or video calls), we’re not just discussing timelines. We’re listening for the heartbeat of their relationship. Are they the adventurous type who’d rather hike to a cliffside ceremony than have a ballroom reception? Do they light up when explaining cultural traditions from their Indian or Mexican heritage? These nuances become our roadmap.
Keep evolving. Your growth as an artist never really ends.
The day you stop growing as a photographer is the day your work loses its soul. This truth hit me hardest when reviewing our first Colombia travel photography from 2019 alongside images from our recent California weddings – the evolution was undeniable. What began as simply documenting moments has matured into crafting visual love letters, where every frame pulses with intention.
At American Portra Weddings, we treat our wedding photography packages as living things – constantly refined by each new experience. The relentless pursuit of growth is why couples trust us to tell their stories. Whether it’s the rugged cliffs of Big Sur for your photography of a California wedding or the cobblestone streets of Cartagena for your destination elopement, we bring every lesson from our journey to your day. Because the best photographers are just more than technicians with cameras.
So here’s to evolving—to chasing better light, deeper stories, and truer moments. Because growth isn’t a phase—it’s the heartbeat of great photography. And we’re just getting started.
