Justin Aaron: Wedding Photographer Extraordinaire
Justin Aaron’s journey into wedding photography began unexpectedly, rooted in his fascination with human connection and the timelessness of film photography. From his architectural studies to an unexpected venture into fashion and street photography, Justin found his true calling on a dewy morning in Hunter Valley, armed with vintage film cameras, documenting an intimate wedding and discovering the profound joy of preserving love stories.
Interview Alexander Ross
“I want my photos to have the realness of humanity. I strive to make honest photographs, I don’t want it to be pastiche or fake pretty, I want it to come from a real depth of beauty.”
How did your journey into wedding photography begin, and what drew you to capturing the magic of weddings?
What drew me in was human connection, that beautiful side of humanity. I enjoyed the immediacy of the photograph, the way it allows something so special to be documented as this keepsake. My photography journey started when I was studying architecture and I stumbled into shooting fashion editorials and street photography on film cameras from the 70’s. I was obsessed with these old cameras.
Picture this, it’s early morning, Hunter Valley, 2010 before Instagram existed. I am there with a swag of cameras, all film, all older than me, no digital. I’m accompanying a close friend I studied architecture with, he has a bag of old film cameras too (he’s more obsessive than me). It’s sunrise, the groom arrives on a little buzzing Vespa, the bride arrives by bus, there is still dew on the ground. Family and close friends gather around, a sweet little ceremony takes place, two people share some very special words and then breakfast is served. We were shooting the wedding as a favour, just for the cost of the film and development. It sounds simple and in a way it is, but it’s so much more than that. I had so much fun that morning, something about it felt significant, not just for the couple, but for me also. So I decided to see where photographing weddings could take me. Architecture had been my passion, but very soon, wedding photography was going be my destination.
Can you share a special moment early in your career that ignited your passion for telling couples' love stories through photography?
It was 2014, I was in Sweden, flown over to document a special couple in a provincial village about 3 hours drive north of Stockholm. I’d spent the day before getting to know the friends and family and helping to set up for the wedding. On the night of the wedding, the party was raging and I was preparing my camera for a long exposure night photo. Standing there, awaiting the sun to go down, I was surprised when it started rising again before it had even set. It was after midnight, the party was still going well into the morning and on the trip back to the accommodation around 7am, we stopped on the side of the road to take some very relaxed portraits. Making memories like that, spending time with special people, flown to the other side of the world. It’s when I returned to Australia and I was walking the streets to my studio one morning that I thought how wildly special it is to be afforded the opportunity to not only visually tell these stories, but to be part of these moments in people's lives.
What makes your wedding photography style unique, and how have you evolved creatively over the years?
Candids. What draws people to my photography is the candid, unposed nature of it coupled with the editorial feel. I’m not a fly on the wall type of photographer, I like to get in on it all, I learn guests names which helps me get inside the day and document it from there. Rather than impose myself, I assimilate into the vibe of it all. I want my photos to have the realness of humanity. I strive to make honest photographs, I don’t want it to be pastiche or fake pretty, I want it to come from a real depth of beauty. I want the couples to see themselves in the photo, a true reflection of their togetherness. Also, as a community surrounded by their closest friends and family. When I document a wedding, it’s not just about pretty pictures of two people, it’s about all that surrounds them, family, friends, setting, styling, all that brings texture, light and beauty to them as a couple.
In your experience, what's the secret to capturing the genuine emotions and essence of a couple's big day?
I’ve learnt that it’s important to encourage the couple to be with their friends and family as much as possible. Rather than force myself onto their day and make the whole day one big photoshoot, I assimilate into the day and understand the subtle ways the day ebbs and flows, understand when to give direction and when to let things be. I become part of the wedding and this allows me to document what it felt like to be there.
Share a challenging situation from a wedding shoot and how you navigated it, ensuring a smooth and memorable experience for the couple.
“Hey guys, now is a great time to grab another glass of champagne and spend some time with your friends and family.” Whatever the challenge is, encouraging the couple to spend time with their guests, or just taking a little time to themselves is always the best solution. I view a wedding day as a collaboration with any and every vendor, working as a team to make sure the couple have the best day. If things are wild behind the scenes, or the weather is looking ominous, there’s no need for the couple to be worried, because we have this. “Guys, how good is today, I love it!!”
How do you connect with couples to ensure your photos reflect their true personalities and the authenticity of their relationship?
I almost never pose my couples, I want to place them in ways that allow the best of themselves to come to the surface and encourage them to interact with each other, rather than the camera. I also love to know a meet-cute or origin story and then the proposal story and from this, you can get so much of an insight into them as individuals and as a couple.
Have you incorporated any new technologies or techniques that enhance the couple's experience and the overall storytelling in your photography?
I love the soul of film, but it can lack convenience, I love the convenience of Digital, but it can lack soul. So I love both film and digital on a shoot. Recently I’ve started playing around with Handycam, which brings together both the convenience of digital with a nostalgia and a fashion aesthetic which is fun and super cool. I love my stills, that is my expertise, but handycam brings something a bit more playful and fun, a feeling of effortless romance and instant nostalgia.
Reflecting on your journey, what advice would you give to couples planning their weddings to ensure they get the most out of their photography experience?
First and foremost the couple need to be having a good time. When the couple are having a good time, the guests are having a good time and the photographs will reflect that. Your day is about you. Approach it with you as a couple in mind. It’s also important to find a photographer you trust and feel you can collaborate with. I’d suggest this for all your suppliers, stylist, planner, celebrant, florist, etc. Build a team that leans into their craft as an art, then you know you’re in safe hands.
Can you recall a particularly heart-warming or unexpected moment you've captured during a wedding that stood out to you and the couple?
Yes! I get tears in my eyes just thinking about it now. The couple walked into the canapé hour, the band started playing “Brown Eyed Girl” - the song was in dedication to the bride’s mother who had passed away. Played only on acoustic guitar, it was well and truly drowned out due to the whole wedding erupting into a big party, a huge sing-along it was raucous in the best possible way. Through the crowd, the bride found her dad, and their heartfelt embrace (I have goosebumps writing this now) is something I’ll never forget. The smiles and the tears and all the big love, everyone honouring the bride’s mum in the most beautifully big energy raucous way.
Thinking back on your favourite wedding project, what made it special in terms of capturing the couple's unique story and creating lasting memories?
So many amazing days, which makes it hard to pick just one. The thing that always stands out to me about weddings is when the couple are in their skin. It almost never has anything to do with the styling or the location or the planning or the camera equipment. It’s about the couple and their connection with each other, that will dictate the day. Sometimes what makes a day special is something like the Brown Eyed Girl story. Or I’ve seen the couple and their location completely soaked in rain, but the smiles on their faces and the fullness of their hearts is beyond! Or it’s the smallness and intimacy of the day, travelling to a far-off island and celebrating with only two of their closest friends. Or is the 350 person wedding extravaganza, the attire is epic, the speeches are honest, heartfelt, moving and the dance floor is absolutely pumping! Bring you to your wedding and it will be the best day!
Justin Aaron can be found on THEODORE by CLICKING HERE or on Instagram at @justinaaronweddings
DISCLAIMER: We attempt to credit the original photographer/source of every image we use. However, in most circumstances, the images we use are provided by the brands spoken about, and we rely on them to inform us of the image source. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@theodoremagazine.com
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