Joel Urbanavicius

Here’s something I don’t hide.

For years, I hated being in photos. That was back before I really knew what I was doing, behind the camera or in front of it, and back before I had much confidence in myself at all. I’d look at a picture of myself and see only the things I wanted to fix. What changed wasn’t that I became photogenic overnight. I learned. The same way I learned to shoot, I learned to direct myself: how to stand, where to look, what an honest expression feels like from the inside instead of a forced one. It took real effort and intention to get from dreading the camera to genuinely liking the photos that came back. But I got there.

That is the part that matters for you.

If you’ve seen a photo of me looking at ease in front of a lens, know that it wasn’t always that way. Comfort in front of a camera is not a personality trait you either have or you don’t. It’s a skill. And skills transfer. What I did for myself, slowly and on purpose, is exactly what I now do for the couples standing in front of me. I can guide you through it because I have walked the whole route myself.

So here is what it’s actually like to have me at your wedding.

I’m the person who gets to know you before the day, well enough to carry your wishes through the chaos of it. Weddings move fast and pull you in every direction at once. You shouldn’t have to fight for the things you cared about. That’s my job. By the time we’re shooting, I already know what matters to you, so you can relax and actually be in your wedding instead of managing it. I’m an extrovert, and on a wedding day I use that for you, not for me. It means you won’t feel like the whole thing rests on you to direct me or figure it out yourselves. You’ll feel looked after. But I’m also never going to boss you around, or quietly turn your wedding into my own photo-shoot. The day belongs to you and your person. I’m just very good at holding it steady so you can be present inside it.

I think I see people the way I do because I had to learn to look for beautiful things.

I didn’t grow up around art or anything luxurious. What I had instead was attention, a habit of noticing the small, true moments most people walk straight past. That hasn’t changed. I’m watching for the second your guard drops, the look you don’t know you’re giving, the version of you your favourite people already know by heart. Then I build the photograph around that.

The real work starts when you let me in.

I can make beautiful images of anyone. But beautiful and meaningful are not the same thing. The more I understand about who you two actually are, your humour, your history, the way you are when nobody is performing, the more the photographs become about you specifically and not just about a wedding. If I ever had to choose between an image that is only beautiful and one that actually means something, I’d choose meaning every time. Ideally I hand you both. Usually I do. When the day is over, I want two things to be true. I want the photos to look the way the day actually felt. And I want you to remember me as someone who was easy to have around. To me, that’s the whole job.

Thanks For Sharing, Now Back to My Wedding Day

What Got Me Started In 2010

(I’ll Always Love These)

A bride and groom sharing a loving moment, with the groom resting his head on the bride's head as she smiles peacefully.

A woman with glasses is smiling with her eyes closed while eating food with a spoon, with blurred colorful lights in the background.

Young man with blue eyes, wearing a dark suit and a multicolored striped tie, smiling in front of framed pictures on a wall.

A woman with glasses and a patterned sweater is holding a microphone and speaking, with a young man wearing a baseball cap and headphones leaning in to listen.

A woman holding a cup with a lid and a straw, wearing a leopard print scarf, sitting indoors, with a friend taking a selfie in the background.

A person's hand wearing a striped sleeve and a watch resting on a wooden surface next to a striped sock, a glass of dark beverage, and a wristwatch. The photo appears to be a mirror selfie, with a wristwatch visible on the person's wrist.

A view of leafless trees against a pinkish-purple sunset sky in a park or neighborhood, with glowing round streetlights illuminating an area with snow-covered ground and some houses in the distance.

Close-up of a young man with short dark hair and a beard, looking to the side, with background lights creating a bokeh effect.

A glass of margarita cocktail with a salt rim, garnished with a lime wedge, and a bottle of Corona beer being poured into the drink.

Close-up of a person's face, with dark hair covering part of their forehead, partially hidden behind a knitted scarf or blanket, and wearing glasses.

Close-up of a person wearing a black varsity jacket with white lettering and patches, sitting with hands resting on their lap, with another person partially visible beside them.

A woman with glasses and a bun hairstyle smiling and laughing in a dark setting with blurred, warm-colored lights in the background.

A woman with short, dark hair and makeup, with colorful, blurry lights in the background at night.

A woman with dark hair styled in loose waves, wearing a light-colored, ruffled sleeveless blouse, looking over her shoulder against a plain background.

Two young men are close together, one in a yellow and black jacket, the other in a beige hoodie, both with dark skin and short hair. The man in the jacket is looking at the other, who is smiling slightly. The background is plain with a neutral color.

Close-up of a woman wearing black glasses with curly hair and slightly pursed lips.

Close-up of a woman with African descent, short natural hair, wearing a red top, and a patterned necklace, looking contemplative.

Woman taking a selfie in a mirror, with city lights blurred in the background at night.

Close-up of a decorative vintage chandelier with pearl-like beads and ornate gold detailing.

Person wearing glasses at night with colorful blurred lights in the background.

A close-up of a young man with short dark hair, looking down in a dimly lit room with blurred figures in the background.

Two women standing indoors, one wearing a black cap with yellow and white details, a denim jacket, and a black top, and the other wearing glasses, large earrings, and a patterned sweater.

People ice skating outdoors at night on a rink marked by orange cones, with a textured ice surface and shadows cast on it.

Close-up of a young man with dark hair, wearing a black beanie, looking concerned or surprised.

Close-up of a golden retriever dog lying down and looking at the camera

Nighttime street view with light trails from moving vehicles, streetlights, traffic signals, and Ogden Avenue sign.

Close-up view of a snow-covered tree trunk and branches seen from below during winter.

Bathroom with green walls, a white light fixture above, and yellow and dark striped shower curtains hanging from a metal rod.

Person in a plaid shirt playing pool with a cue stick.

Close-up of a coffee vending machine with a selection panel and a gold-colored coffee cup holder.

A margarita glass with salt on the rim, containing a Corona beer bottle floating inside and a lime wedge on the edge, placed on a dark surface.

A golden Japanese lucky cat figurine with black eyes, red ears, and a red collar, holding a gold coin with Japanese characters, placed in front of green bamboo plants with red flowers, and a small stone sculpture.