Andreu Doz
Wedding | Last Updated: February 11, 2021
I am Andreu Doz, a wedding photographer based in Barcelona.
My adventure with wedding photography started over nine years ago in London, right after I finished my master studies in photography at Goldsmith University.
As I started documenting weddings, I realized that my interest in street photography plays an essential part in how I perceive them. I quickly positioned myself in the role of an impartial observer, who chooses to patiently wait for a story to naturally unfurl.
I love to document real emotions and to preserve them in an image. I am thrilled by the possibility of reliving them through photography.
This job also gives me a perpetual opportunity to learn about social aspects of human life and nature.
I consider myself lucky to work in an environment where I am surrounded by happiness. But then, there is another, less romantic angle to wedding photography: The key moments that you need to photograph only happen once. The job is not just to capture them; it is to do so in the best possible way.
I have to be quick, perceptive and adaptable. For that I need equipment that I can always rely on.
It is essential to know my gear well – like what lenses to use to create the effect I am looking for.
For me, the light is the most important element of the photographic process. I want it to work on my behalf. I always prefer to work with natural light, so I picked a camera that can perform at very high ISO values: Canon 5Ds.
Canon 5D Mark III (x2) – I always work with two cameras on me, to be able to adapt instantly to changing circumstances.
For instance, during a wedding ceremony, I would carry my “all-purpose” wide-angle 24-70mm f/2.8 lens on one side and a 70-200mm f/2.8
zoom lens on the other. This way I can allow myself to experiment without the risk of missing my safe shot.
Weddings offer a great deal of dynamic, spontaneous and often chaotic moments. I like to get close to the action. I want my photographs to transmit this vibrant atmosphere to the viewer. Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 is a fun lens to use when photographing movement from a close distance.
In other circumstances, I like to maintain my distance. When capturing emotions between the couple, I prefer to give them their space, let them feel comfortable, allow natural interactions.
I wait for a quick look, a smile or a small gesture to put the image in context, give it a personal touch. I like my Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 for that.
This is my favorite lens. It is heavy and often uncomfortable to carry, but it never fails me. It is super sharp, has no distortion, focuses almost instantly, has an incredible bokeh and is the only lens I would never give up.
Some other lenses I always bring to work are:
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 – Great value for money. Good for details, portraits and easy to work with. Offers a very “artistic” softness of focus.
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 – Wedding photographers’ favorite. It is a good all-round fixed lens with a great general quality of image and an attractive soft focus. Down to 1.4 aperture makes it great for limited light situations.
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 – Great quality in low light conditions. I use it a lot for portraits and details at preparation and ceremony.
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 – An ultra-wide lens that focuses very quickly. Can be used to photograph in very low light conditions. I use it at wedding parties too or when I do not have much space to move around in the room.
Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye – A super-sharp lens. I often use it at church ceremonies to bring out the prominence of the architecture.
And some other essentials that I always carry in my backpack:
Tiffen ND filter – Good for landscape shots and sunset. I use it to bring out the texture of the sky, when I am dealing with too much contrast.
I love my MagMod Flash Kit, I use it with Canon 430EX III RT
(x2) and Yongnuo YN-560 IV Flash
.
Here are the two things I don’t bring to work, but they effectively contribute to my professional development:
Leica M6 + Leica 50mm f/1.4 SUMMILUX
– My film camera. This is the one I bring on trips and holidays and enjoy when I am not working. I guess I can call it my hobby. It is important to be able to refer to the basis in this digital era.
The Dog – An underestimated tool in wedding photography. She does not get invited to weddings, but I often take her to outdoor photoshoots. Believe it or not, she does the job.
www.andreudozphotography.com | @andreudozphotography
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