Ask David Bastianoni what’s the key to his studio’s inspiring brand of story-focused wedding photography and he has a pretty simple answer: “Relationships.” Building connections of trust and creativity not only with his clients but also relying on them with his team and his gear. He says this is what makes impeccably elegant images possible. “In wedding photography,” he smiles, “you’re never dancing solo.”

“Our approach is to combine the vital narrative moments of a wedding with pure aesthetic beauty,” David explains. “We show the elegance of the details, in perfect balance with the emotions of the day. Each person needs to feel charming and comfortable in front of the camera, and so we go the extra mile for them. Expectations are high, but we give our couples the best memories possible. We show the truth of their love.”

With love and respect, relationships last and that’s particularly clear in one recent project where David and his studio partner Alessia Franco were invited to document a client’s happiness once more. “In 2022, we photographed a wedding at the Opéra Garnier in Paris,” David remembers, “and then their anniversary two years later, taking place at the Louvre, Versailles and other locations in the French capital. The wedding was pure drama and emotion, while the anniversary was so breezy, relaxed and joyful.”

“For photographers, working weddings and events in those amazing locations is another part of the relationship,” he says. “You have to remember that the client has chosen to celebrate in these places, so you treat them almost like one of the guests. They’re part of the story and the texture of the day, and they need to be visible.”

“But locations like Opéra Garnier are a real gift to photographers, too,” he continues. “It’s a dream to work with a structure like that as a frame, one where the architect has given you gifts of space and light, the perfect stage for emotional moments of joy like dancing and celebration.”

Another relationship that David leans on in his wedding work is that between colour and black & white. “We shoot full colour 99% of the time,” he explains, “but the choice to use monochrome across these events was practical as well as dramatic. There were a lot of elements of colour in the Opéra Garnier, so the decision was made to simplify the images with a black & white treatment, helping viewers concentrate on the emotion with no distractions.”

Combined with the wonderful locations, the treatment gives a timeless feel, which, David says, is something his studio strives for. “We want images to feel immediately iconic, but also fresh in the years to come. Enduring, ageless photography is like a religion for us, and it comes from the sort of focal lengths and lenses we use, too.”

“Chief among those lenses were documentary classics like the FE 24mm f/1.4 GM, perfect for the wider shots that included the glorious architecture,” David says, “and the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM and FE 50mm f/1.2 GM, whose faithful, natural renderings spark authentic memories. But we also used the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II and FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS zooms, both versatile, sharp and portable lenses, which are perfect for weddings and celebrations.”

While several different lenses were used across the days, they were always mounted on Sony Alpha 7 IV bodies. “For us all to use the same cameras on jobs is the foundation for another happy relationship,” he explains. “For example, if there’s a problem… say someone spills a drink on my camera and it breaks, there’s no panic. I just take a body off my second shooter. The buttons and menus are all set up the same way, so we can switch without even thinking. The expression will still be mine, because the tool is so adaptable.”

And like so many working photographers David cites the Alpha 7 IV’s incredible eye-detection AF as pivotal, especially when working with ultra-fast lenses like the FE 50mm f/1.2 GM. “It’s never short of amazing,” he says, “and in thousands of shots, there’s maybe only a couple that aren’t perfectly in focus. Nothing needs to be calibrated or second-guessed.”

David’s relationship with wedding photography has lasted decades, but there are still highs that surprise him. “After every ceremony there’s adrenaline and joy,” he finishes, “but when you make a connection and get invited back into people’s lives, it’s a special compliment. Weddings at locations like Opéra Garnier are a special thrill, too. You look back and think, ‘wow, doing a wedding there is a real achievement.’ And you understand that it’s much more than a job, it’s your life’s work.”