“There’s something about veils and a moment of silence that provokes serenity in a bride,” says Vanessa da Silva of Vanessa & Ivo, a destination wedding photography duo based in Portugal. Vanessa, one of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of 2024, is the photographer while her partner Ivo is the videographer. Vanessa was also a videographer before recognizing the professional standard of her own editorial-style wedding photos and fully owning the title of wedding photographer. The image she shares with us today as one of her favorites (just below) is from one of her first big weddings she shot while fully embodying that role.  

The Calm After the Rain 

Caught in a sudden downpour, the wedding party ran into the church ahead of the bride, who remained incredibly calm despite the shower. Suddenly, Vanessa found that she and the bride were completely alone in this moment before entering the church. Vanessa noticed a beautiful light pouring through the veil, illuminating the bride’s face and shoulders. She was completely mesmerized.  

The shots she took in those moments alone with the bride before entering the church are some of her favorites. Because the image was backlit, Vanessa did a close crop so that the viewers’ attention would be fully on the bride and wouldn’t get distracted by the background. 

Magazine Quality Wedding Portraits  

Vanessa and her partner Ivo have traveled around the world documenting destination weddings, bringing with them their unique style for celebrating a couple’s most important day. Vanessa describes their aesthetic as trendy and elegant. At the same time, she strives to create images that are timeless and don’t require a lot of post-processing.  

Regarding this image, Vanessa says, “This shot is somewhat editorial as it has a clean background and looks like a posed portrait.” She adds, “I’m always trying to recreate this shot . . . This is something I love to do with my clients – give them beautiful portraits that could have been published in a fashion magazine.” 

Cinema and Fashion 

Vanessa da Silva is guided by her love of cinema and fashion in her editorial-style wedding photos. As a duo, Vanessa & Ivo’s goal is to create intimate films and photographs that capture the essence of their couples. They also offer education and mentorship for other photographers. 

Follow Vanessa da Silva and Vanessa & Ivo on Instagram and Facebook. View the full 30 Rising Star Winners Gallery for 2024.