When it comes to covering a couple’s wedding day, nothing seems better than being hired by clients you really connect with. For Jean-Laurent Gaudy, who’s based in Brooklyn, the day started out fantastically with his bride and groom, Jacqui and Ilya. “I’d love to say that I had to deal with major challenges, but look at them!” he exlaims. “They are both amazing human beings and they set everything up perfectly prior to the wedding day.”

All Photos © Jean-Laurent Gaudy

The ceremony, much to Gaudy’s delight, was more on the nontraditional side, which meant he was able to really set a sense of place with his imagery—and show the true character and vibe of Williamsburg in Brooklyn (the getting-ready shots of the bride and groom were taken at The William Vale Hotel in Williamsburg; then both the ceremony and reception were at Kinfolk 94—a hip venue with a geodesic dome-like enclosure and leveled interior—also in Brooklyn, and located on the other side of its casual bar, Kinfolk 90, pictured here).

But it wasn’t all smooth-sailing for Gaudy (a 2016 Rf 30 Rising Star). “If you know me, you know that I’m a clumsy person—always tripping on something, hitting tables,” he explains. “It happens sometimes when I’m focused on photographing the day, a scene or a specific moment and I don’t pay attention to the surroundings. Bridal party shots were almost done, and I tripped on a stair and fell down pretty hard. I always have the reflex to protect my gear first when it happens, so my back took all the shock. It was really painful, but in the end you have a job to do! You rest for 5 minutes and go back in the game. In the end, the adrenaline of the day makes you forget the pain and everything is fine. It’s only the next day you remember that your hit your back!”

Says bride Jacqui: “We chose Jean-Laurent because his work is truly stunning. He has a beautiful sense of color and light, and he really shines at capturing genuine moments. Neither my husband nor I are particularly comfortable in front of the camera, but JL really did put us at ease, which was especially important before the ceremony when my nerves were at an all-time high. He is true to his documentary style of shooting, letting things unfold in front of him, but when we did ask him to take a specific shot, he was happy to do so. Right before the ceremony, we passed by one of our favorite music venues and asked to duck into their record shop to take some photos, and those turned out to be some of our favorites. We also loved our first-look shoot, despite the fact that it was in a wind tunnel just outside of the hotel. And much later, hours into the open bar, JL caught some truly hilarious and endearing shots of our family and friends.”

At the time of the wedding, the Jacqui worked in the Creative Services department of Rangefinder‘s Photo Group brand, and had actually been a judge for Rf‘s 30 Rising Stars competition when Gaudy was a nominee. When it came time for her to pick a wedding photographer, she knew he was the one.

Gear of the Day:

Cameras: Canon 5D Mark IV (x2)

Lenses: Canon 50mm f/1.2L, Canon 35mm f1/.4L II and a Canon 17-35mm f/4 (“for party time only,” Gaudy says.)

Lighting: Canon 600EX-RT (during reception)

Submit your wedding to Rf editor-in-chief Jacqueline Tobin for a chance to get featured here.