Paco Van Leeuwen

This was the first shot of my first wedding this year that I was going for with the couple shoot. The couple had found this unique location in the center of The Hague. This location had never been used for a wedding shoot, and most likely never will as they normally don't do want to do photoshoots here. Luckily the couple had contacts in the right place so they were able to make it happen.

This old factory was such a contrast between the lovely couple, I immediately wanted to go for a contrast Black and White image. I love symmetry and returning patterns in a shot, I'd noticed the window in the top right. Therefor I'd placed the couple bottom left with a flash behind them to complement them with a bright spot. The spacing between the couple makes that you can seem them both really well. This now hangs as a large metallic print on their wall!

A proposal in Cueva de la Ventana in Puerto Rico. To be more precise, my own proposal! :)

When ever we go on a holiday together, we always that a couple of epic shots for our selves at wonderful locations. Only now I had other plans then just a picture. My girlfriend is from Puerto Rico and she is very proud of the Island and the culture.

I had been planning this for months, getting the ring, looking up locations and of course practicing what I was going to say. I couldn't wait to ask her, so I made sure we went on a road trip to visit a few places but this was the one where I wanted to propose to her.

Unfortunately we had to take a tour seeing the caves. This meant that we were with about 50 people and that made me worry about the shot I had in mind. At the end of the tour was the cave. Of course everyone wanted pictures at the edge, so I had some time to set up a tripod, with remote. That way I could snap the shot at the right time.

This was set up in a few minutes and then it seemed to take hours before everyone else go their shots. The guid was already addressing people to go back. He offered to take our picture but I nicely declined and told him we would take it when everyone was behind the camera and then we would follow. (I think he kinda knew what was going to happen) He then started telling people to leave and that was the moment.

I grabbed the ring box and head over to her by the edge of the window. We snapped a few shots, my heart was racing. I dropped to one knee and asked her if she wanted to marry me. Her reaction was, "Oh my god" (and she threw her typical surprise pose as you see in the picture) "YES!!" I got up, kissed her, put the ring on her finger and the whole group started clapping!

In the meetings before the wedding with this lovely couple we had discussed the couple shoot. Their planning was pretty tight so it was hard to find a nice location that was nearby that would give us some time to get some great shots.

The morning of the wedding I got a call from the bride if I could come earlier, that way they could have a proper couples session. She was a real trooper, in order to get this shot we had to walk through the woods a little and climb a fence cause her wedding dress wouldn't fit through the gate.

I knew this spot in the woods where were lots of fearns and they loved the idea of this shot. They got in there and it resulted in this awesome image!

"So the journey begins".... The bride and groom slogan for their special day. I met this lovely couple in The Netherlands and was very excited that they chose me to shoot their wedding in Ireland where the bride is originally from. The journey started in Dublin Ireland and then traveling west through the middle of the country to where the wedding took place in county Claire. In the photo you will notice the beautiful castle of Bunratty in the background which holds special meaning to the bide as her ancestors help build this castle in the 15th century. It was an absolute pleasure shooting this wedding in this beautiful location. The only real trouble was deciding the right photo to showcase as there were many great shots to choose from but I'm glad that I went with this shot!