If you want to get booked as a wedding officiant—and keep getting booked—you need proof you can actually do the job. And no, I don’t mean your ordination certificate or a story about how you married your cousin in a backyard last year. (Although… congrats on that gig!)
I’m talking about photos.
Photos of you in action are one of the most powerful tools you have to build trust with couples who’ve never met you. They show proof. They tell a story. They build that know-like-trust factor faster than any clever “About Me” paragraph ever could.
So, how do you actually get them? After all, you’re usually up at the front with a script in your hand, not in the aisle with a camera. Good news: wedding photographers are everywhere, and they’re already pointing their lenses at you. The trick is knowing how to ask for those photos (without stepping on toes), and then knowing what to do with them once you have them.
Here are my best tips—straight from experience—on how officiants can score and use those all-important ceremony shots.
1. Understand Why Ceremony Photos Matter
Imagine a couple Googling “wedding officiant near me.” They find your name. They land on your site. Now, what do they want to see?
Not just your smiling headshot. They want proof. They want to see a real ceremony with real couples, right there in front of you.
Photos show you’re legit. They show that other couples trusted you. They show that you’re not just licensed, you’re loved. And bonus: photos capture the emotion you bring—whether it’s laughter, tears, or that wide-eyed “oh my gosh we’re actually married” moment.
Put simply: no photos, no trust. With photos of you in action on the job, you instantly look like a pro.
2. Get the Couple’s Blessing
Here’s step one that too many officiants skip: the couple.
Technically, you don’t always need their explicit legal permission to use photos they appear in. But ethically? Best practice? Always ask. Always get their blessing.
I build it right into my contract. My couples sign a clause that says I may use images and stories from their wedding for promotional purposes—unless they say no in writing. Most couples are thrilled. Every once in a while, someone says “we’re not comfortable,” and that’s fine. Respect it.
If you’re just starting out and don’t have a contract yet? Ask in person:
“Hey, I’m building my officiant practice and would love to use a photo or two from your wedding to show future couples what I do. Is that okay with you?”
Nine times out of ten, they’ll say yes.
3. Remember Who Owns the Copyright
Here’s the big one: photographers own the copyright to their photos. Period.
That means you can’t just screenshot their Instagram post and slap it on your website. Even if you’re in the photo. Even if the couple says it’s fine.
Photographers don’t need your permission to post pictures of you—but you absolutely need their permission to post their work. If you don’t, they can legally ask you to take it down. Some might even try to charge you a licensing fee (I’ve had a quote as high as $1,500 for a single photo!).
So yes, you need to ask. And you need to do it well. Here’s how.
4. Make Friends With the Photographer
The easiest way to get photos is to build a relationship.
At every wedding, introduce yourself. “Hi, I’m Mark, the officiant—great to meet you! Do you have a card? I’d love to connect after.”
Of course, use your judgement. Usually the photographer is literally sweating from hauling their gear, snapping photos, and looking at the checklist of shots they need to be all set up for later. Don’t ask for their card if and when they’re in the thick of it. Do it when you get into a brief small-talk lull with them at some point after you say hello.
Getting their card or contact into does two things:
- It gives you their contact info so you can follow up later.
- It positions you as a pro who’s not just trying to “take” something but build a relationship.
Pro tip: I also ask for the photographer’s name on my couple intake form and at their wedding workshop. That way, even if I don’t get to grab their card on the day, I know who to track down later.
5. Use This Email Script
Okay, so you’ve got the photographer’s name and email. Now what?
Here’s the exact script I use when I reach out (and it’s worked countless times):
Subject: Request for ceremony photo – [Couple’s Names]
Hi [Photographer’s Name],
Mark here—I officiated [Couple’s Names]’ wedding on [Date] at [Venue]. It was such a joy working alongside you. You were a total pro!
I’m always keeping my website and socials fresh, and I love your work. I was wondering if you might be able to share one or two shots of me with the couple during the ceremony—especially one where they’re laughing.
Of course, I’ll fully credit you on my website and socials, linking directly to your site. I want as many couples as possible to discover your amazing photography.
Thanks so much,
Mark
Notice a few things:
- Specifics: date, couple’s names, venue. Photographers shoot a lot of weddings; jog their memory.
- Keep the ask small: one or two shots, not the whole gallery.
- Reciprocity: promise credit and links. That’s huge.
6. Credit, Credit, Credit
If a photographer sends you photos, credit them every single time you use them.
- On social: tag their handle.
- On your website: include a link (I literally put a button under each photo that says something like “Photo by Shannon May Photography” for example, so couples can click through directly to her site).
Not only is this the right thing to do, it makes photographers more likely to keep saying yes when you ask again.
7. Use Photos Where They Count Most
Okay, so you’ve got the photos. Now where should you put them?
Website
- Hero image: a big, beautiful shot of you in action.
- About page: your smiling face, plus a candid ceremony photo.
- Reviews page: pair testimonials with ceremony photos for double the trust factor.
Social Media
- Post ceremony recaps thanking the couple and tagging the photographer.
- Share snippets of love stories alongside the photo.
- Mix in variety: big weddings, small elopements, laughter, tears.
Marketing Materials
- Flyers, business cards, email newsletters—photos make everything more professional.
Sound overwhelming? I teach exactly how to assemble all that step-by-step in my A-Z business course for officiants.
8. Make It a Habit
The first few weddings, you’ll need to hustle. Ask every photographer. Follow up diligently.
But once you’ve built up a portfolio, the pressure eases. You don’t need 100 photos—you just need a handful of great ones that represent the kind of officiant you are.
For me, that’s couples laughing their heads off. For you, it might be solemn moments under a tree. Whatever your brand is, build your photo library to reflect it.
9. Elevate Your Fellow Vendors
Here’s the secret sauce: always frame it as partnership, not extraction.
Don’t just think, How can I get photos? Think, How can I help this photographer get more work too?
That’s why I link back to them. That’s why I brag about them in my captions. That’s why I position myself as someone who elevates the whole wedding team.
When you do that, you’ll find photographers (and planners, DJs, venue owners) are far more likely to refer couples right back to you.
Final Word
- Ask couples for their blessing.
- Ask photographers for permission.
- Credit every time.
Photos are your #1 marketing asset as a wedding officiant (along with reviews). Use them wisely, use them generously, and watch your bookings grow.
