Elegant simplicity and delicate sensitivity come together in the cinematic wedding photos of Marie Thibault, a Tours, France-based photographer and one of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of 2024. Today, Marie shares with us some of her favorite images of a beautiful bride and her groom with a backdrop of the grand architecture of Paris. 

Harsh Afternoon Sunlight with Flash 

For the image above (her favorite in the series), Marie used black and white to simplify the image, highlight the dress, and emphasize her subject, the bride. Throughout the shoot she faced the challenge of harsh afternoon sunlight–one of the many difficult lighting situations wedding photographers must become accustomed to working with. This harsh light did not dissuade Marie from using flash – which she loves to use because it brings more impact to her images. In this case, she used her flash to fill in shadows on her subject, which had the effect of bringing more contrast to the scene. Without the flash, it would have looked flat and gray.  

Incorporating Movement for A Cinematic Feeling 

Marie says, “I enjoy positioning bodies in relation to the background, creating harmony, and directing the gaze to find the expression I’m looking for.” In working with clients, Marie’s approach is to be guided by the couple and her intuition. She takes a playful approach to a shoot – playing with figures, the scene, and eyes, looking at the process as though creating a film.  

For other photographers who would like to create cinematic wedding photos, she encourages them to incorporate movement in their direction to their clients. While Marie does guide her couples into certain poses that she thinks will look beautiful, she also keeps them moving. This helps them to not look stiff or static and adds a natural feel to her images. 

Fashion, Architecture, and Love 

Marie’s approach combines photojournalism with editorial as she draws from various inspirations, including architecture, fashion, and travel. She shot her first wedding in 2012 while studying photography in Paris but left the field behind when she became a full-time studio manager. After a time, she felt the call to return to shooting weddings, and in 2022 became a full-time wedding photographer.  

Marie says, “documenting the love stories that unfold before my lens is what truly sets my soul on fire!” 

Follow Marie Thibault on Instagram. View the full 30 Rising Star Winners Gallery for 2024.

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