20 Years of Memorable Wedding Photography by John Dolan

New York City lensman John Dolan has more than 250 nuptials in his portfolio, many of which have been showcased in Martha Stewart Weddings over the past two decades. Here, he reflects on capturing captivating images from the big day and how the art of documenting weddings has evolved.

Pictured: Kate Bosworth and Michael Polish's celebration from the Winter 2014 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

"I was a working photographer shooting some magazine work, some street photography, and my own personal projects, but I went to a few weddings and realized what a rich subject they were for my style of photography," says Dolan.

Pictured: A wedding portrait from the Winter/Spring 1996 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

"Weddings combined my documentary approach and my fascination with families and people under pressure—and how they respond to that pressure," explains Dolan. "I was intrigued by that human drama."

Pictured: Eleanor Heyman and Rodney Propp's celebration from the Spring 2002 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

"I came at weddings from outside the industry, meaning I was not a professional wedding photographer but a photographer at a wedding, which I think was an early advantage," Dolan says.

Pictured: Jennifer Du Brul and Kenneth Missbrenner's celebration from the Summer 2000 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

"I found that my pictures were more sensual and emotional than typical wedding photos. The images were warm rather than cool," says Dolan.

Pictured: A wedding portrait from the Summer 2010 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

"Weddings grabbed me at the right time, when I wasn't clear what I was going to do with my skillset, and the job demanded techniques I had already mastered: shooting fast, being invisible and gracious, and learning to play both a minor and major character in the same day," Dolan says.

Pictured: Molly Sweeten and Spencer Boggess's celebration from the Spring 1999 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

"Rather than following a shot list or formula, which was the norm at the time, I kept my eyes wide open and looked for emotion and those special moments, seeing the wedding day as one giant picture-story opportunity," Dolan says.

Pictured: Eleanor Heyman and Rodney Propp's celebration from the Spring 2002 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

"I was having an incredible ride because people who had photography at the top of their wish list were finding me, and weddings were still very fresh to me," Dolan says. "I'd aim high for the 20 best pictures, rather than capturing 10,000 mediocre ones."

Pictured: Annette Roque and Matt Lauer's celebration from the Winter 1999 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

"I always tell couples to think about their photos in the long term," Dolan explains. "In 20 years, it won't be the place settings they remember, but the spontaneous and intimate moments, which are what I try to capture."

Pictured: Sheila Rosenbaum and Brett Bouttier's celebration from the Summer 2006 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

"I'm afraid that some of the more complex and sensitive moments get lost when emphasis is put on shooting table settings and décor, which is why I tend to pull back," Dolan says.

Pictured: An image from the Winter 2001 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

"I'm not the person who gets everything," Dolan says. "I'm the photographer who comes away with 12 gems."

Pictured: Jennifer Du Brul and Kenneth Missbrenner's celebration from the Summer 2000 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

"Hiring vendors that you want to be with and trusting them to do their jobs is one of the best pieces of advice I give to couples," Dolan says.

Pictured: An image from the Winter 2004 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

"I'm looking for something different and long term, and my pictures, the way they're printed and all, will last 50 years," Dolan says.

Pictured: Darcy Miller and Andy Nussbaum's celebration from the Fall 2001 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

See Darcy Miller and Andy Nussbaum's Wedding

"I think in an interesting way, wedding pictures take years to ripen," Dolan says. "Pictures age, and you look at them 10 years later, and there's really only a small group of people that you want to remember and look at."

Pictured: Molly Sweeten and Spencer Boggess's celebration from the Spring 1999 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

"I remember every single bride, and I've shot over 250 weddings," Dolan says. "If I shoot somebody's celebration, they become part of my brain and my psyche."

Pictured: An image from the Spring 1998 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.