DAY AFTER WEDDING PORTRAITS
Farmers Image of the Week
James Watson
Day After Wedding Portraits: Farmers Image of the Week
This joyful image by James Watson from Birches and Pine Photography is our pick for this week’s Farmers Image Of The Week. Let’s be honest, it practically leaps out of your feed. The bold colour split, the artful shadows, the confident composition… and of course, the couple, barefoot and calm in their wedding gear like they’ve just stepped into a Bollywood Movie frame.
I launched Farmers Image Of The Week to spotlight the work happening within our community, but also because I’m endlessly curious. When I see an image like this, I want to know more. What’s the story? How did it come together? What’s happening beyond the frame?
James is someone who regularly photographs multi-day weddings, and that context is important here. This wasn’t taken on the couple’s actual wedding day, it’s from a session of Day After Wedding Portraits. And like many photographers will relate to, their main wedding day was heavy on the rain. So this was a bonus shoot, one that gave them a chance to create something different once the pressure was off. The result? Relaxed, expressive portraits with all the visual punch you could hope for.
What makes this image so strong is James’s awareness of his elements. He’s placed the couple with precision, not just for the light, but to work in harmony with the abstract lines of the backdrop and the playful symmetry of the shadows. And even though the styling feels stripped back and natural, the end result is full on impact. It’s graphic, but still intimate.
And that’s the value of Day After wedding portraits they allow space. For more creativity. For flexibility. For couples to let go of the schedule and just enjoy being together. It’s a chance for photographers to work without the time pressure of a wedding day, and that often leads to images like this, something totally unexpected and completely memorable.
Nice work, James what a way to turn a grey day challenge into a vibrant win.
THE DETAILS
CAMERA: Nikon Z6ii + Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8
SETTINGS: ISO 200 | F2.8 | 1/8000
PRESET: Own Preset
“It was playful, bold, full of energy. The total opposite of the storm. A perfect visual reminder of the joy, the resilience, and the beauty of their celebration.“
Alina & Dennis: The Morning After the Storm
This shot was taken the morning after Alina and Dennis’ wedding, and it honestly felt like something out of a dream. They had planned a beach wedding in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and I was buzzing to be shooting something different. Vibrant couple, relaxed vibes, by the sea, it ticked every box for me.
But then came the storm.
On the 29th of September 2023, just a day before the wedding, crazy rainfall hit New York and the surrounding areas. Tropical Storm Ophelia had passed through, but a low-pressure system stuck around and it brought chaos. Flooding, road closures, and, unfortunately for us, a completely waterlogged venue. I had gone down to the reception venue with Alina, Dennis, and some of the suppliers to walk through everything… when the back doors suddenly burst open and water just poured in. Two hours later, the whole place was underwater.
It was full-on.
But somehow, it all came together. The team worked miracles, a new venue was found, and although the beach ceremony had to be scrapped thanks to the rain, the wedding still turned into a wild, emotional, joyful celebration. Not what they had planned, but unforgettable.
At the end of the night, I asked them if they fancied doing the beach photos the next morning. They said yes instantly.
So, at 8am, just hours after their wedding, Alina and Dennis met me on the boardwalk. Same outfits. Same makeup. No shoes. Just them, some tired feet, and that post-wedding glow. And that is when we stumbled across this wall a riot of colour outside a kids’ play area. It was playful, bold, full of energy. The total opposite of the storm. A perfect visual reminder of the joy, the resilience, and the beauty of their celebration.
Sometimes the best pictures are the ones that were never meant to happen.
THE TECH TALK
Day After Wedding Portraits: Farmers Image Of The Week
I will be honest, this is not the most technical image I have ever taken. I was running on very little sleep after shooting the wedding the day before (and surviving a flood!), so the brain was not exactly firing on all cylinders. My main focus here was on composition and making the most of those incredible colours we stumbled across.
I was shooting on my Nikon Z6ii with the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8. It is a super versatile lens and lets me move quickly without needing to swap gear which, when you are barefoot at 8am, is definitely a plus.
I had my camera set to Aperture Priority, and I had dialled in Auto ISO to work alongside that. It meant I could shoot wide open or close to it, and the camera would handle the rest. Basically, it let me point and shoot without having to overthink the settings which is exactly what I needed in that moment.
The takeaway? You do not always need to be doing anything fancy. Sometimes it is about keeping things simple, trusting your setup, and focusing on the feeling of the image instead.
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