Today we’d like to introduce you to Christophe Serrano.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Photography has been part of my life since I was 18, but it wasn’t until 2020 that I made the biggest decision of my career. At the time, I was working as a Sales Manager in the industrial lighting industry. Leaving the security of that position to pursue photography full-time was a leap of faith, but one I never regretted.
At the same time, I founded a photography training academy, allowing me not only to develop my own business but also to mentor photographers who wanted to elevate their craft. Teaching has become an important part of my journey, pushing me to constantly refine both my artistic vision and technical expertise.
Very early on, I chose to bring a fashion-inspired approach to wedding photography. Rather than following traditional wedding trends, I wanted to blend authentic storytelling with the elegance and sophistication of editorial photography. That distinctive style quickly opened the doors to the luxury wedding market.
Today, around 70% of my work takes place internationally. I photograph destination weddings across Italy, France, Miami, Colombia, Guatemala, and many other countries, working with couples from all over the world and alongside some of the industry’s most respected wedding planners and creative teams.
Along the way, my work has been featured in leading international wedding publications, and I have been recognized by several prestigious magazines as one of the photographers to watch in the luxury wedding industry. While these recognitions are deeply rewarding, what continues to motivate me most is creating timeless images that genuinely reflect each couple’s story with elegance, emotion, and authenticity.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road.
One of the biggest challenges was leaving a stable career in 2020 to become a full-time photographer. I had spent years working as a Sales Manager in the industrial lighting industry, so walking away from that security required a great deal of confidence and determination.
Starting over professionally also meant proving myself in a highly competitive industry. I had to build a strong identity, develop a recognizable style, create relationships with wedding planners, and earn the trust of international clients. None of that happened overnight.
The timing was also particularly challenging. Making such a major career transition in 2020, during a period of global uncertainty, forced me to adapt quickly, rethink my business, and remain focused even when the future of the wedding industry felt unpredictable.
Another difficulty was learning how to balance creativity with business. Being a photographer is not only about creating beautiful images. It also involves communication, marketing, travel, client experience, team management, and constant personal development. As my business became more international, the level of expectation also increased.
There have been moments of doubt, pressure, and exhaustion along the way, especially while managing destination weddings, education, and the development of my photography school at the same time.
However, every challenge helped me become more disciplined, more resilient, and more precise in my vision. Looking back, I believe the difficult moments were essential. They pushed me to work harder, define what made my approach different, and build a career that truly reflects who I am.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a French destination wedding photographer, based in the South of France, and I’ve been photographing weddings internationally for many years.
My work is a mix of editorial, fashion-inspired imagery and candid storytelling. I love creating beautiful, intentional photographs, but I also believe that a wedding should never feel like a photoshoot. I want my couples to actually live their day, enjoy their friends and family, and trust me to capture everything around them.
I think what defines my work most is consistency. I’m equally interested in beautiful portraits, spontaneous moments, details, atmosphere, and the energy of the party. I want the final gallery to feel like one complete story, from the soft natural light of the morning to flash photography late at night.
Film has also had a huge influence on my photography. I’ve been shooting film for more than ten years, and even though I work mainly with digital cameras today, that experience has deeply shaped the way I see color, light and skin tones.
What I’m most proud of is probably the trust I’ve built with an international clientele. Most of my couples come from abroad, particularly from the US, and choose France or Europe for their destination wedding. Being invited into such an important and intimate moment of their lives, sometimes across several days, is something I never take for granted.
What sets me apart is perhaps this balance: I can direct when direction is needed, disappear when the moment needs to happen naturally, and adapt my photography throughout the day without losing the identity of my work.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice would be to give yourself time.
When I started, I thought I had to become technically better, buy better equipment, follow trends, and look at what successful photographers were doing. But with experience, I realized that the most important thing is to understand who you are and what you really want to say through your images.
Technique is important, of course, but at some point it should disappear. Your clients should not see the technique. They should feel something.
I would also tell young photographers not to underestimate the business side of photography. Being talented is not enough. You need to understand your clients, learn how to communicate, build relationships, be reliable, and create a real experience around your work.
And maybe the biggest thing I wish I had understood earlier: don’t try to please everyone.
The moment you accept that your work doesn’t have to be for everyone is often the moment you start developing a real identity.
Be curious, experiment a lot, make mistakes, and don’t be afraid to evolve. Your style is not something you find once. It grows with you.
Pricing:
- WEDDING DAY + ASSISTANT 9800
- 2 DAYS + Assistant 12800
- 3 Days + 2 Assitant 18900
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christopheserrano.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christophe_serrano_wedding/
