In Italy, it is impossible not to mention the beauty of the Amalfi Coast, Puglia, Tuscany, Lake Como, and Venice. There are so many venues and locations that I love, and I do feel blessed to be able to live and shoot in this amazing country…”
Paolo Ceritano, Photographer
C&B: “Paolo, congratulations on appearing on the list of CITY & BEACH TOP 10 WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS 2025! What was it about weddings that first inspired you to pursue this career?”
PC: “Ever since I was a child, I have always loved cinema and the great directors of our time. After studying cinema at university, I began collaborating with wedding photographers almost incidentally. Observing reality through a lens has always fascinated me, and upon starting to work in weddings, I was immediately captivated by photography…”
C&B: “You have a very distinct style; how would you define it yourself and what influences it?”
PC: “In movies, I have always loved true stories, documentaries, a realistic approach of filming like the italian Neorealism or the New Hollywood of the ’60s and ’70s. This led me to a documentary but editorial approach at the same time. My intention is to tell a story – to create something unique and personal, by seizing the moments naturally. My wish is to create something that, when reflected upon in future years, constitutes a visual heritage of the subject, a treasure rich with sincere emotion. The priority should not be in the literal documentation of every detail, but in capturing the imagery that tells a much bigger story, photos that evoke authentic memories not only of sight, but of touch, smell, taste and sound…”
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to meet amazing planners and vendors along the way among which Three Seconds Film, Capri Moments, Parade Weddings, Beautylivery, Emma Events, Kathrine Brenne, Chromata Films, Peach Perfect Weddings, Somewhere Crazy, Wedding Issue, Piero Mansi, Suonovisione, Enzo Buonaurio, Volare Eventi…”
Paolo Ceritano, Photographer
C&B: “Yes, your images truly reflect the emotion and the ambience of the day – how do you go about translating that vibe onto film?”
PC: “I want to capture a wedding day the way it should be, in a real, honest, story-telling way. With non-invasive documentary style of shooting my couples feel at ease by not having the sensation of a camera always being in their face. The best images come when you allow the subject to just let go and be themselves…”
C&B: “We’d imagine that you have to get to know the couple quite well in advance for them to be able to relax in this way what’s your process for pre-wedding consultations?”
PC: “Before the wedding day I’m in touch with couples to understand their vision, needs and to discuss the timeline of the day to make sure I have all the detail I need to capture the best day of their lives…”
I always make sure that we photographers have an updated timeline and we’re constantly in touch with the wedding planners and other vendors to collaborate in order for everything to run smoothly. I’m very laid back and I always receive unexpected challenges with a smile; I’m intent on making the couple feel at ease without adding any additional pressure. My goal is for the couple to be happy and fully enjoy their special day…”
Paolo Ceritano, Photographer
C&B: “How do you ensure that you capture both the candid moments and the posed portraits? There’s always a lot going on during the day…”
PC: “By having clarity and letting both the couple and the wedding planner know in advance exactly what I need as a photographer is very important. I make sure I leave enough time for different shots over the course of the day and also ensure there are larger time slots incorporated into the timeline to avoid rushing things – that is a must. This way, I can easily focus on the candid moments while ensuring I have enough time for portraits of the bride and groom.”
C&B: “We know that weather can differ wildly between outdoors and indoors – which techniques do you use to manage challenging lighting conditions during a wedding?”
PC: “When I originally started out I was a ‘natural light’ advocate as a photographer. Although I still love natural light, as time passed it was no longer enough for me, I often found myself dealing with insufficient or mixed lights that don’t give a good result in photography. While I love natural light which allows you to capture moments with spontaneity at the same time I also use flash during the day, if necessary, to better manage the light and guarantee the best possible images in those conditions. Every wedding, location, time of the year, hour of the day is different!”
I love to travel and discover new destinations, so my dream project would be in any place I still have to see in person; finding new venues is what inspires me most and keeps my creativity alive…”
Paolo Ceritano, Photographer
C&B: “Do you have a preferred equipment setup for wedding photography?”
PC: “My go-to set up is 2 Canon 5D mk IV -yes, I still love reflex, because I’ve never been one of those camera geeks that always has to buy the latest model only to say I have the newest camera and the most powerful – with the Canon 24-70 2.8. For many years I’ve been using two cameras with a 35mm and a 85mm and only recently I came back where I started with the 24-70mm – that allows me to take images without losing time to change cameras if I need a wider or tele lens. It’s really amazing – and I use flash, of course!”
C&B: “Can you describe your post-production process and the timeline for delivering final images to the couple – we know they’re always looking forward to seeing the images as soon as possible!”
PC: “My editing process is very easy; I use AfterShoot to select images – which I always double check – and then Lightroom to control colours and the exposure of each selected image. I start work right after the big day and I deliver galleries to the couple within a couple of weeks, but the more images I shoot obviously the more editing work is required. During high season it can often be two or three months time before delivery, and towards the end of the season it can be five or six months…”
My packages vary based on the hours of coverage, the number of photographers involved, and whether any drone images are required. Of course, the number of hours I shoot on a wedding day affects the number of images I deliver. I’m open-minded and able to tailor a couple’s requests or needs to create a special package specifically for them…”
Paolo Ceritano, Photographer
C&B: “Wedding photography is often eventful; can you share any memorable experiences or challenges you have encountered?”
PC: “Yes! In 2019, I was shooting a wedding in Quito, Ecuador, when the groom placed me in a taxi and provided the driver with the bride’s address. The taxi stopped right in the middle of nowhere, outside the city, in the countryside. I felt a bit scared that the driver might want to steal my equipment and leave me there, especially since I don’t speak Spanish and he did not speak English. I had no WiFi signal to call the groom, and I didn’t have the groom’s or bride’s phone number. However, after a while, I remembered that the groom had once called me using his Ecuadorian mobile number. I showed this number to the taxi driver, who was then able to get the correct address. After spending half an hour in the middle of nowhere, we finally headed to the bride’s hotel to take the before-wedding preparation photos. Shooting weddings is not boring at all!”
C&B: “Wow! That sounds like an adventure. Ecuador must have been fantastic. Do you have any favourite locations or venues besides your home country of Italy – which is stunning?”
PC: “Outside of Italy, I do love the elegance of cities like Paris – I’ve shot weddings in venues positioned on les Champs-Elysées such as Pavillon Gabriel. I also love the classic style of London’s town halls like the ones in Chelsea and Marylebone. These two cities, Paris and London, have always fascinated me. I also had the chance to shoot in North America and one of the most incredible venues is the Ben Franklyn Ballroom in Philadelphia – this was like being in a movie, and had the same feeling you get when you shoot in New York. NYC to me is a location of never-ending inspirations – each neighbourhood has so many different spots for photos and so many different cultures combined in the same city!”
CONTACT: http://www.paoloceritano.com
