Photo (above): Photographer: Gaetan Dardenne
Article in collaboration with Gaetan Dardenne
Journalistic style full of action images
As a photographer, Gaetan likes to be into the moment: "I prefer to photograph people up close. This ensures that my images always translate into a story captured 'from the front row'. This is how the bride and groom relive their wedding day when they open their wedding album. I capture everything that happens and anticipate emotional moments. This makes for a lot of spontaneous images that the wedding guests did not expect, or perhaps did not even see themselves on their day."
His strength? Action images! Gaetan clarifies, "As a photographer, I am always looking for action. The more action there is, the more powerful photo moments you get. Speeches, for example, or musical performances at your wedding, are moments you want to highlight. These are particularly fun and spectacular to capture in pictures, because you also tell an extra story with them. Among other things, I have an 'all-day all-night' package, where I don't look at my hours. At a fat party with an atmospheric cover band, for instance, I'm definitely going to have fun too. And that translates into even more images."
Emotional wedding photos full of memories
"If you feel at ease with your photographer, everything goes spontaneously," Gaetan points out. "A good wedding photographer can anticipate the emotional moments that will follow quite well. For example, when the bride and groom will say yes to each other, or embrace, those are key moments that you definitely want to have on camera. The family photos are also very important, I think. So I also take my time, for example, to portray the grandparents with the couple - this often creates touching moments too."
A nice tip from Gaetan: "I have been away from home for long periods, on missions abroad. When you return home then, an embrace with a loved oneis much more intense than your usual hug after a working day. I like to use this image during a couple shoot, for example, saying, "Imagine you haven't seen each other for five months, and now you can hug each other back for the first time!". That embrace is a thousand times more powerful, and can stir up quite a few feelings. The couple enjoys it more, shed a tear, start laughing, and so on! This produces beautiful, spontaneous images full of pure emotion."
Gaetan's tips for your wedding photos
Gaetan shares his tips for choosing your wedding photographer: "When you choose a wedding photographer, you actually want to fall in love with his or her work and style. Also if you feel that the person knows what he or she is talking about, that they have the experience, can give examples and have answers to all your questions.... The most important thing for me is: having a good click. Do you feel good during the introductory meeting - which preferably takes place face-to-face, do your expectations match, your do's and don'ts.... ? If yes, then you know it's a good fit."
"In addition, make clear arrangements with your photographer. For example, I provide my couples with a 'call sheet' document as a thread for their day, with a timeline, the locations, important aspects, and so on, which they can complete. That way, we make sure everything is nicely organised down to the smallest details and I can anticipate everything," Gaetan concludes.
Gaetan Dardenne in a nutshell
- Gaetan Dardenne is not only a wedding photographer, but also a non-commissioned officer in Defence. His Defence career began in 2012, where he underwent a thorough and sometimes demanding training. This experience taught him important values such as punctuality, respect and discipline, which he now also applies in his wedding photography. He always insists on arriving on time and goes to great lengths to capture the perfect image.
Early in his military career, Gaetan worked in the transmission department before switching to StratCom, a unit within Defence responsible for journalism, photo and videography and more. Gaetan also gained experience in photography during his military service, and so was asked to go on a mission for NATO to Lithuania, to capture the actions there. Besides his military work, wedding photography remains his great passion. Gaetan aims to become one of the three chief photographers for Defence in the next two years, often accompanying the king at official events.
Read more on this topic via these links
- How to pose confidently at your wedding!
- The must-have wedding photos mapped out
- Engagement shoot? Yes, please!
