Balancing Editorial and Documentary: Frank and Rachel’s Wedding at Casa España
Filed in Puerto Rico Wedding Venues, Weddings — January 7, 2026
There’s a space between perfectly composed images and completely unscripted moments where a wedding feels the most honest. Lately my approach to photographing weddings has been about finding that balance. Guiding just enough to create images that feel refined and timeless, while leaving room for real emotion, movement, and connection to unfold naturally. Frank and Rachel’s wedding at Casa España felt like a natural extension of that very same feeling. Elegant without feeling rigid. Emotional without being performative. A day that felt lived in, not stage.
A Wedding Day that Focused on what matters
From our very first call Frank and Rachel made it clear that they wanted pictures that reflected their love but that at the expense of their experience. They wanted their memories kept but also wanted to be present on their wedding day. Rather than setting rigid poses, I offered simple direction; small adjustments, gentle movement, a pause when something real was happening. Once that rhythm is established, couples can settle into themselves, and the camera becomes secondary. That’s when the images start to feel true.
What “Loose Editorial” Really Looks Like
Being a wedding photographer means I have a front row to all the jargon and trends that tend to pop up every few years. Lately things like “Editorial” have been dominating the zeitgeist, this is often used to refer to high end “vogue” like photos. For my personal philosophy of “Moments over poses” I have found that “Loose Editorial” is exactly my brand.
For me, loose editorial photography is about intention without control.
It means:
• Offering guidance, not commands
• Creating space for interaction instead of freezing moments
• Paying attention to light, framing, and composition without interrupting the flow of the day
Frank and Rachel moved through their wedding day with ease, laughing, embracing guests, taking quiet pauses together. Those moments didn’t need to be manufactured. They just needed to be observed with care.
The result is imagery that feels elevated and timeless, but still deeply human.
From the Catedral de San Juan Bautista to Casa España: A Wedding Rooted in Old San Juan
We began the day with a first look at Casa España, taking advantage of the time to create portraits on the rooftop. This was the perfect moment for gentle guidance and images that carry that editorial feeling carefully composed, yet relaxed.
Our time was tight, but we managed to create some real standouts in just 20 minutes.
From there, we headed to the Catedral de San Juan Bautista, where documentary photography truly shines. Some of the most meaningful moments from Frank and Rachel’s wedding happened in between—the deep breath before walking in, the instinctive way their hands found each other, and the warmth of guests fully present for the ceremony.
As the day transitioned into the evening and back at Casa España, the energy shifted effortlessly from calm and emotional to celebratory and joyful. Nothing felt rushed. Nothing felt forced. The story unfolded exactly as it needed to.
Why This Balance Matters to Me
Weddings don’t need to choose between being beautiful and being real. When editorial intention and documentary awareness work together, the result is imagery that feels both timeless and honest—photos that age well not because they’re trendy, but because they’re true.
Frank and Rachel’s wedding at Casa España is a reflection of how I see weddings now: moments over perfection, presence over performance, and storytelling that honors both elegance and emotion.
