Julia Blumenthal and Gil Gropengießer

Known for their lively, atmospheric and honest style, German duo Julia Blumenthal and Gil Gropengießer are destination wedding photographers who love nothing more than exploring breathtaking landscapes and capturing the connection between two people on the happiest day of their lives. They are also, appropriately enough, a couple themselves.

The couple met in 2011, fell in love, and quickly realised that they shared a passion for photography. A casual interest in snapping friends and vacations quickly developed into something more, and the positive response to their elegant, natural style finally convinced them to try working together as wedding photographers. By 2014, Julia and Gil had booked their first professional shoot. Today they are classed as 'destination photographers', travelling all around the world to shoot with clients under their brand name, Julia & Gil Photography. They are also regularly commissioned for engagements and weddings in their home country of Germany.

As well as keeping things natural, the couple says another unique selling point of their business is themselves. At a similar age to many of their customers – and, of course, as a couple – they are able to relate to their clients' needs and tastes. "In this day and age, there are so many talented photographers out there," Julia says. "Many of them have similar styles, others perhaps edit their photos in a similar way. So the big question is: how can you differentiate yourself from everyone else? The answer is personality. That's the key that convinces the client to book you for their wedding."

Gil agrees: "We believe that personality is just as important for getting hired as the photos themselves. That's why we show a lot of our daily lives via social media. If you want customers who share the same values and ideas as you, you need to be transparent. It can make a huge difference in a saturated market."

Why wedding photography?

"We think it's because of the people. We love to connect with strangers and get inspired by their stories. That's something that inspires us so much. Wedding photography is also very challenging. It includes so many different genres of photography."


Does working as a team make a difference?

"There are only positives. It feels a lot safer knowing on a wedding day there is someone who has your back, getting the shots too. It's a good feeling and it allows you to be more creative!"


How do you create your trademark style?

"Soft light and backlight is something we love to capture, so we use natural light 99% of the day. We use a wide aperture to create soft and luminous photos, and fast shutter speeds, as you never know what is about to happen next."


Other than the day of the wedding, what else do you have to do?

"We always arrive at the wedding location a day before to check the surroundings and search for places to shoot. The day after the wedding we look through a few thousand images and do the necessary edits."


What advice can you give to someone trying to break into the industry?

"Be brave! If this is what you want to do, heart and soul, then challenge yourself; we never stop challenging ourselves. Also find out what makes you different, and use that to your advantage. It's something we did, and it worked for us."


What piece of Canon kit can you not live without, and why?

"The Canon EOS R6 Mark II paired with the Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM is at the heart of our work. The combination is fast, intuitive and reliable, allowing us to anticipate fleeting moments rather than think about the technical side of photography. It’s especially valuable when we’re working hybrid and constantly switching from photography to video. We need equipment that allows us to move instinctively between both mediums without interrupting the flow of the day."


What else could we discover in your kitbag that helps you elevate your work?

"You’ll almost always find a small notebook in our bag. We use it for everything from ideas and observations to things we want to remember from conversations with our couples. Photography is as much about paying attention as it is about taking pictures, and writing helps us stay curious about people, art and the world around us."

"Many beginners make the mistake of thinking it's all, and only, about technique. What they should do is just practise. Shoot, shoot, shoot. When we started, we photographed couples whenever we had free time. That's the only way to get better, get a feeling for people and different situations, and find your own style. Another difference between a beginner and a professional is the ability to communicate. As wedding photographers, to get the best photos, we believe your clients have to trust you, which can be hard to achieve in a short period of time, especially as every couple is different. So you must become a good communicator."

Website: juliaandgil.com

Instagram: @JuliaandGil