A black and white image of two women in a room in front of an open window, surrounded by a sofa and cupboards. A table lamp covers one of the women, as the other one fixes her earring.

MPB Meets: Wedding Photographer Fabio Mirulla

Published February 7, 2022 by MPB

Tuscany-based wedding photographer Fabio Mirulla recently won the grand prize at the prestigious International Wedding Photographer of the Year (IWPOTY) awards. We caught up with Fabio to find out more about his winning image, his advice and gear choices for capturing breathtaking wedding photography. Over to you, Fabio.

MPB: Many congratulations on winning the grand prize in the IWPOTY awards—could you tell us how it feels to win such a prestigious award?

FM: It was such an unexpected win, I couldn't believe my eyes. It is an honor to be chosen among so many great colleagues and also some friends of mine. I've already won other prizes or competitions, but this one tangibly affected my work, I received a lot of compliments and contacts from all over the world.

MPB: Could you tell us more about the winning image?

FM: Sure, it was shot with Canon EOS R5 with the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 L II USM at 1/30 sec, f/22 ISO8000. I love shooting creative photos with everyday life objects, that can turn out to be the best props just looking at them with different eyes, those of a child that can never get enough of dreaming.

Great couples give me the chance to do one of the things that I love about my work, experimenting. That’s what happened during this shoot thanks also to a great friend of mine. This photo is part of an amazing wedding that I loved to shoot since the first moment. Sometimes it happens to me when I meet a new couple to have good vibes about them and that was the case. Both the bride and the groom were wonderful and when I feel the connection with them and they trust me, my work gets really easy to do.

A black and white image of a man playing the acoustic guitar sitting on a bench a young boy runs and a bride and groom stand together in the background.

MPB: Could you tell us more about your creative background? How did you come to specialize in wedding photography?

FM: I studied photography in high school and in that period I also started shooting in a studio in my town. Of course, you begin taking care of the gear of the first photographer, then you start shooting with him and I still remember the first wedding I shot. I could see in just one day all the elements of photography that intrigued me during the lessons. I immediately fell in love with it; it was love at first sight.

A woman wearing a white dress, surrounded by three horses raises a bunch of flowers above her head, one of the three horses is trying to bite the flowers.

MPB: Could you tell us what’s in your gear bag for a wedding shoot? What are the advantages of using those pieces of kit?

FM: I recently switched my cameras and starting from last season I'm shooting with mirrorless bodies. I had already worked for a year and a half with the Canon EOS R5 alongside the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, now I work with an R5 and a Canon EOS R6. In my opinion, mirrorless cameras are the natural evolution of digital photography—you have the perfect idea of what you are framing and how it will look in the shot, even before taking the photo. As for the lenses, I only work with prime lenses. My first two lenses are the Canon 35mm f/1.4 EF II L and the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L. To complete the gear, I have the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L II USM, the Canon EF 135mm f/2 L USM and a Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM. The choice to shoot with prime lenses arises from the fact that I am forced to always search for the correct shot by physically moving towards the subject. This allows me to be more creative.

A picture of a star-filled sky, at dusk. A moped, trees and two people sitting back to back are in silhouette.

MPB: Your wedding portfolio features a mix of black-and-white and color images—is there a method you prefer?

FM: I do not have a prefered one. Sometimes I see in my mind how the photo is going to be when I shoot it, sometimes it happens during the processing part in my studio. It is the photo that guides me and tells me so.

A black and white image of a giant clock, at the bottom of the clock there is an open window with two women in silhouette, the woman on the left is attaching a veil to the other’s hair.

MPB: Some of your most fantastic work is captured in unstaged moments, how do you keep yourself hidden enough that people feel comfortable being themselves around you? What are your tips for capturing unplanned moments?

FM: The first important thing is to create a connection with the couple you have in front of you. They have to trust you, feel free to express themselves as they want. The wedding is a big event that sometimes creates a lot of pressure—unplanned things happen, starting from the rain to the burning down of a location a few weeks before the wedding. As a professional photographer, I love to talk to the couples that choose me and reassure them that whatever will happen they do not have to worry, just enjoy their day. Because if you look for beautiful moments, you can find them everywhere—never underestimate what is in front of you.

A hand raises a wine glass, with yellow lighting and a long table out of focus in the background.

MPB: Weddings are always such personal and unique events, are there any weddings you have shot that particularly stay in your mind?

FM: There are so many of them, but at the moment it is the photo awarded by IWPOTY. I had a great feeling when I first met the couple. After shooting it, I was sure that it was going to be great work. During that day, so many events happened, there was a cauldron of emotions—a rollercoaster—and I was carried away with them. This wedding will always have a special place in my heart.

Two women holding an umbrella outside of an old church as a young girl runs out from the door. In the background, a bride and groom lean in to kiss each other.

MPB: At many weddings, there is a second photographer or assistant, do you have somebody you regularly work with? Is there anybody you would like to give a shout-out to?

FM: I always shoot with a second photographer. This gives me the freedom to realize different and unexpected shots that couples who choose me like the most. I can do that because the second photographer watches my back in case the shoot I planned goes wrong.

MPB: Would you be able to pick a single image you are most proud of or pleased with?

FM: The photo of the boy that takes a bite of the cake. I love that shoot, it is so funny and spontaneous. Probably I like it because in a certain way it represents my work and what I put of myself in my shoots.

A black and white image of a boy leaning in to take a bit from a wedding cake that has sparklers on it. A bride and groom are in the background.

MPB: Could you share your advice for anybody wanting to make it as a wedding photographer? What are the secrets to success?

FM: It might sound obvious, but the main advice I would like to share is to be yourself and never follow the photo trends just because they can give you more work. They might bring more clients in the short period, but fashion changes over the years. If you want to stand out, you have to be true to yourself and your vision of photography, only in this way you will be necessary.

A black and white image of a bride wearing a white dress standing with one arm in the air, she is surrounded by a circle of arms.

MPB: What are your plans for the future, do you have anything else to add?

FM: Last year, I became a Canon Ambassador. I would like to work with them on some projects, still developing, that I have in my mind. Also, I would like to continue experimenting with my photography, mixing it with ideas that come from my hobbies and passions.

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