Wedding photographer Ivelin Iliev with a life like a... wedding

Every Saturday and Sunday, Ivelin Iliev is a wedding guest. With his wife. But their fun goes hand in hand with photography. Because for 10 years, they have been wedding photographers. Today, we tell you his story.

The Beginning

Ivelin started getting involved with photography back in school. He was so passionate that with his first scholarship, he bought a Skina, which was fashionable at the time. However, he only turned photography into a profession about ten years ago. And he immediately dove into the deep waters of the wedding genre. In his words:

"Wedding photography is one of the complex genres, as it combines portrait and product photography, but most importantly – reportage. Wedding photography is 95% reportage photography."

He became passionate about it in Spain. There he bought his first DSLR camera: Canon 450 D. Before that, however, he earned his living with other tools.

"I lived in Malaga. I had a construction company. And because of that, I went to paint a Spaniard's apartment. I saw that his house was full of photos. They were photoshopped to look like oil paintings. I asked him if he was a photographer. And he, besides that, turned out to be teaching photography at the Employment Office."

Thus, chance or fate brought Ivelin back to his school hobby. He painted the apartment in exchange for the photography lessons his client gave him, and learned a lot about wedding photography, as his father was a true master behind the lens specifically at wedding ceremonies.

"We looked at photos, analyzed where there was a flash, where it was hidden. Ever since then, I became passionate about working with flash. I wanted to start shooting weddings immediately, but people there don't trust someone without a portfolio to shoot them."

Between the option of apprenticing to build a portfolio in Spain, or returning with his wife to Bulgaria to create a portfolio here, they chose the latter. And their professional photographic journey began with:

Their Own Wedding

"Our wedding was photographed by Pencho Chukov. Then my wife and I took a course with him."

That's how they started their married life and wedding photography together with his wife. From meeting the newlyweds to post-production – everything on the happiest day for a couple who decided to say "I do" to the sounds of Mendelssohn's Wedding March is in the hands of Ivelin's family.

"We work with Canon EOS R 6. I'm used to having 2 cameras on me, with different lenses, to cover different scenes. I'm not a fan of zoom lenses – I like to work with prime lenses, with a fixed focal length."

The Key to Capturing Emotion

To capture emotion, the most important thing is attitude, says Ivelin. This also includes clothing.

"I'm dressed as a wedding guest. So, when I photograph the guests, it's clear I'm a photographer, but the guests can let me get closer."

Among other important factors for him are seeking human presence even when shooting details. And to be concentrated, to follow what's happening. He says he likes to document it and is adamant that if he intervenes with direction in a couple, it will be his direction, not their wedding.

"What does a great wedding for shooting look like? With cool, crazy newlyweds and friends who are having fun. Because our work also depends on the people we're shooting – if they are open and having fun, without hiding their emotions, the photos will be emotional."

Last month in our studio, Ivelin Iliev showed how emotion can be captured even in a couple "without a couple." And what his work looks like when the chemistry between two people is present and the wedding only validates it, you can see on his Instagram profile.

The photos in this article and in the gallery to it are by Ivelin Iliev and have been provided by him for publication.