For a veteran wedding pro like Cristiano Ostinelli, many things in photography have changed in the last 30 years – but many have stayed the same. So, while modern mirrorless cameras, like Sony’s Alpha series, have advanced to a point almost unrecognisable from their analogue predecessors, the value of a photographer’s experience and their creativity are just as pivotal as having top tier kit.

“Like everyone I started with small weddings, but I was lucky in that I could work with clients who wanted to come to places like Lake Como for their celebration,” begins Cristiano. “It was rare then, but now destination weddings are a huge scene. My experience led me into working all over the world, meeting thousands of people and learning more and more, but the skills are much the same everywhere.”

The importance of experience notwithstanding, Cristiano recognises that his Sony Alpha 1 and Alpha 9 II cameras are key to his wedding work. “Certainly, the move from DSLR to mirrorless is as big as film to digital was,” he says, “and the benefit of seeing the exposure exactly as it will be in the viewfinder can’t be overstated. With the Alpha 1 and Alpha 9 II’s blackout free shooting, I can even see the flash when I use it.”

His ability to deal with summer light is another important tool. “I’d love weddings to happen at sunset, but that’s not reality,” Cristiano laughs. “Most often we’re shooting through the middle of the day, and you can’t choose the weather. Most of the time the light is very sharp, so I try to find shade, but the easiest thing is to turn people away from the sun, and backlighting them, and either manually lightening the exposure or using a little flash.”

“In changing light, the Alpha cameras make it easier to react,” he continues, “and that means you don’t lose time. I can turn from sun into shadow, and know the camera is ready to expose and focus perfectly. Imagine the bride walking down the aisle – I can shoot the whole way and know that each frame is perfectly focused, so I just need to pick the best pose. And remember, it’s not just subjects in motion. I can back up, move around and the sharpness is still there. So, I can just think about being creative in framing.”

This level of AF performance is vital when working at large apertures, Cristiano says, being particularly fond of the FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, FE 50mm f/1.2 GM and FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM lenses. “I work with wider lenses because I want to capture the landscape with the people, but use the maximum apertures to control any distractions in the background. Even so, the continuous AF means that the subjects stay in perfect focus.”

Of course, the most important subjects are the bride and groom. “They're the centre of attention, but they’re not models,” Cristiano explains, “and they can freeze up on camera. They want great pictures, but maybe they’re shy, or worried. We talk before and on the day, and I can advise them on posing, move their hands… but if it’s not ‘them’, we change tack, and move to another idea.” In those situations, he shifts his style of wedding photography to a more documentarian and candid approach, so the pressure is off.

At Lake Como, Cristiano has another trick to get great pictures. “We almost always shoot from a boat on the water, which makes couples feel comfortable – it’s fun and energetic and takes their mind off posing. Plus, the wind near the water picks up the bride’s veil creating depth and beautiful lines. Of course, they also want those scenic views because that’s why they’ve chosen the destination. They don’t want closeup shots that could be anywhere. The location is like a guest at their wedding!”

So, would Cristiano like to have begun his photographic journey with cameras as powerful as the Alpha 1 and Alpha 9 II? “That’s a tough question,” he concludes, “because the difficulties that used to be with cameras fed directly into my experience. But when you work, you need something easy in your hand, and in a professional world you need to be quick. Now, these Sony cameras are amazing. They’re an instrument – the best one, I think – and they can solve many problems. Ultimately that lets photographers be more creative, which I’m all in favour of.”

“In that way,” he finishes, “the Alpha cameras help me do more. Even in the most difficult wedding situations I have learned the key is to push myself. My clients expect something wonderful, so I’m always trying to be more creative and get a better image. Today, with all the technology we have, the real obstacle is being creative –anything that helps you be that is a must.”