Wedding photographer Zalmy Berkowitz says he is a big proponent of the idea that wedding photos should be photos of the wedding and all that surrounds it.

“I know that sounds simple, but, well it is, but it’s less obvious than it sounds,” he explains. “I don’t try to make art or be creative or come with any idea of how I want the wedding to look. I just try to document as best as I can, generally photographing wide and close, with deep depth of field (as much as possible), as I find that gives the images much more immediacy. You feel like you’re there. Now. And instead of the main emotion being nostalgia, you feel joy. I also try to keep things simple gear-wise. More photographing, less fussing.”

For the wedding of this couple, Shira and Joshua, at the Chelsea Shul in New York City, Berkowitz says he loved how in tune the couple were to the point of the day, which he says is “getting married, and celebrating that. All the details and location and what not was all an outcome of who they are and how they wanted to celebrate, instead of being a representation of who they want to be or how they want to be seen. There was zero drama, zero stress. They were just there. Purely in the moment, reveling in being, just the pure joy of celebrating their life together. There was also no accommodation made for photography, they didn’t do anything or plan anything with photography in mind. The photos were to document the day that was, that’s it. And I love that, it’s what photography is for me. Documenting life.”

GEAR OF THE DAY

Cameras: Sony a7R III and a7 III

Lenses: Zeiss Loxia 21mm f/2.8, Zeiss Sony 35mm f/1.4

Lighting: Flashpoint Zoom Li-on (on camera, straight)

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