“Especially in wedding photography, we encounter such a wide range of lighting conditions—some can be truly frustrating,” says Mati Machner of Mati Photography, one of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of 2024. To overcome challenging lighting, Mati recommends embracing it, saying “What we can change is our approach, by adapting ourselves and our visions . . . Embrace every situation to find the beauty in it and to craft it into an artistic setting. Be bold and experiment.”  

The image Mati shares with us today is from one of his Glowsperience Workshops, where he takes a small group of photographers for a multi-day workshop with photography education speakers, live shoots with lots of time to experiment and play, and more. The setting was a serene home indoors with old furniture, paintings, and decor, offering a touch of nostalgia. It also offered challenging lighting that was “changing every minute.”

Dreamy and Simple 

In his photography, Mati loves creating worlds that are “mystical and atmospheric . . . romantically dreamy (sometimes unreal) and at the same time, honest and real.” He strives to connect the surroundings and his subjects cohesively, “so that the person and the environment become one.”  

In the image above, when Mati originally placed the bride in the armchair for the photo, her face was unlit. With guidance and experimentation, he was able to get her to move until she could feel the warmth of the sunlight on her skin. He used the veil to make the image even more dreamlike and mystical. His advance planning also contributed in creating the perfect scene. For example, “her bouquet with only a single, understated type of white flower,” contributes to the elegant simplicity. 

Bold Experimentation 

Mati encourages photographers who would like to capture similar images to be bold in their approach and experimental, viewing challenging lighting as full of opportunities. Even if the result isn’t perfect, we can embrace challenges as chances to learn. Mati says, “Don’t overthink whether the lighting or setting is good or bad, but rather, learn to use it in your unique way—leave your signature behind!”   

Mati’s key tip for finding ways to interpret light is to “constantly change your perspectives and your position.” When you move around, “A static scene can suddenly take on a completely different meaning and power.”  By constantly shifting your own perspective, for example, by kneeling and shooting up, or vice versa, you can cultivate the ability to see your “surroundings and the world in diverse and enriching ways.” Mati encourages photographers to “Just be playful!” 

Light – Our Constant Companion 

Light, like life, is constantly changing, and perhaps wedding photographers feel this most acutely. For this shoot, Mati notes that the light in the room was changing every minute, and in his work overall “ever-changing weather and lighting conditions demand an intuitive approach.” A photographer must “immerse [themselves] in the environment and adapt to the moment.”  

Mati is a destination wedding photographer, who these days is most drawn to elopements and smaller weddings that give him the opportunity to document intimate and authentic connections that are the signature of his photography style. Mati approaches each wedding as if it were “a captivating movie, filled with unpredictable moments.” While he plays the director, as needed, he primarily considers himself to be a documentary photographer, who brings a fine-art and occasionally editorial aesthetic with a strong dose of nostalgia. 

“In essence, I am there as an attentive observer. I keenly study how light interacts with different locations and situations, often using it as an artistic tool to capture those special shots,” he says. “Light is my constant companion; understanding and harnessing it is key.”  

Follow Mati Machner and Mati Photography on Instagram and Facebook. Click here for the details of his next Glowsperience retreat in Sardinia this Oct. View the full 30 Rising Star Winners Gallery for 2024 here.