JANUARY, 2025

#3 interview | Get Married or Die

Get Married or Die is a collective of amazing photographers based in Slovenia. They have caught my attention about a year ago when I found their work online. Their work made me think about wedding photography, and I am happy that they agreed to answer a few of my questions about their work and the role of wedding photography today.

I have been taking to Matic Zavodnik (not a photographer, but a co-founder and a creative producer) and Rok Berglez (photographer and co-founder)

Get Married or Die WEBPAGE

1. When, where, and how was the idea of GET MARRIED OR DIE born?

Matic: The idea for our wedding photography agency came about almost by accident. Rok and I have been friends and creative partners for over a decade, specializing in video and photography. We started out making snowboard and skate videos, then transitioned into music videos, short documentaries, and creative commercial projects.

In between those jobs, we got a few opportunities to photograph and film weddings—mainly for friends or friends of friends. Honestly, we were skeptical at first. Wedding photography had a reputation for being cliché, and it wasn’t something we saw ourselves doing. But because these couples trusted us to approach it in our own style, we decided to give it a shot. To our surprise, the results were great. The couples loved what we created, and we realized there was an untapped niche for wedding photography that broke away from conventions.

At that time, the name "Get Married or Die" popped into our heads—totally spontaneously. We checked for the domain name, saw it was available, and bought it on the spot. For the next two years, we let the idea simmer while continuing our other work. Slowly but surely, the image, tone, and concept of the business came together, and we realized we had something truly unique to offer.

2. Who is part of this collective? Will the collective grow? (Do you accept new photographs?)

Matic: At the moment, our collective includes photographers Nik Erik Neubauer, Nuša Hernavs, Tadej Vaukman, Eva Bevec, and Rok Berglez (co-founder), as well me, Matic Zavodnik (not a photographer, but a co-founder and a creative producer).

Our goal is to grow, but we want to do it slowly and organically. We’re more focused on maintaining quality and ensuring every team member aligns with our aesthetic and philosophy than on rapid expansion. We’re looking for originality, consistency, and creativity, as well as disciplined and genuinely nice people to have around.

If we meet photographers who bring a fresh perspective and resonate with our style and approach, we’re happy to explore collaborations or bring them on board.

So, while growth is possible, it will always be intentional and purposeful.

3. What is a beautiful photo, in your opinion?

Matic: For me, a beautiful photo is one that evokes emotion and tells a story. I think a truly beautiful photo has layers to it. It’s the kind of image you can return to and discover something new each time, whether it’s a small detail you didn’t notice before or a feeling that changes with your perspective. In documentary photography, timing and location play a vital role. Knowing your equipment and using the existing light creatively can definitely enhance a photo, but without substance, it’s just style. What truly matters is the meaning or feeling behind the image—the connection it creates.

"What truly matters is the meaning or feeling behind the image—the connection it creates."

Get Married or Die

4. How would you define your style, and on what beliefs is your style based?

Matic: Our collective includes photographers with different styles, and we’re not big on putting those styles into rigid boxes. Each of us has a unique approach to storytelling, and while we sometimes need to describe those approaches, we believe the photos should speak for themselves.

For example, if I were to say one of our photographers uses a lot of flash, it might sound like that characteristic defines their work. But in reality, the style isn’t about the tools or techniques—it’s about the feeling the images evoke, the stories they tell, and the authenticity they capture. Our core belief is that photography should tell a story. Narrative is very important to us. It’s not just about creating a series of Instagram-worthy shots but crafting a complete narrative that feels honest, meaningful, and consistent within a specific visual identity. That identity often draws inspiration from the location, the people, and the atmosphere of the moment, making every story we capture unique.

5. Why are details in wedding photography important, in your opinion? Details are sometimes (most of the time) representations of taste, wealth, and class. They reinforce ideas about what a wedding ceremony is, and only certain kinds of details seem to be important. How do you feel about this?

Rok: For me as a wedding photographer, details are essential because they bring wedding albums to life. They set the scene, they add depth to the story, and also tie the narrative together. They often help me recall moments that weren’t even captured on camera and I feel it does the same to everyone who was a part of the wedding. While details can reflect things like taste, wealth, or class and shape how a wedding is perceived, I believe their true purpose is to paint an authentic story in a way that it doesn’t mask the reality in any way. For instance, a worn and dirty Gucci bag can be far more intriguing than a pristine one because it sparks curiosity and also invites to imagine stories that happened around it.

While details are very important, they should be placed in albums thoughtfully and in balance. It’s great they enhance the overall narrative but they are not supposed to overshadow the most important part of the wedding - the guests and the newlyweds.

6. Which moments are the moments a photographer should never miss when photographing a wedding?

Rok: While photographing certain parts of the wedding day is neccessary, I’ve found that the most real and heartfelt moments often happen when the couple and their guests aren’t the center of attention. I’ve found in the quiet, unscripted moments is where the person’s character really emerges. There the true emotion of the day comes through. For me, a precise combination of the “must-have” moments and the subtle, in between ones is far more meaningful than creating one grand picturesque image. The big moments are easy to remember, but it’s often the smaller interactions that get overlooked. For me, those little moments are an essential part of the wedding album and it’s what gives a wedding its character and makes it unique.

7. In recent years, there has been a shift in the wedding industry towards perfect representation, a perfect story (but with a hint of coolness and model-like appearances of the bride and groom). The decision to take a different approach in your photos, I believe, also includes an active decision to change the idea of what a wedding is or should be. Is your wish to change the narrative around wedding photography and the purpose behind it?

Matic: We started our journey without being influenced by industry standards, expectations, or prevailing wedding trends. Our goal is for our photography to continue evolving organically, reflecting our unique perspectives and experiences. I realize that this may be easier for us than for someone who works solely as a wedding photographer.

One of our key advantages—and what helps us stand out—is that our photographers are not exclusively focused on weddings. They bring a wealth of diverse experiences and inspirations from other areas of photography, which allows them to approach each wedding with fresh eyes and creativity. This means they can create images that feel authentic and personal, rather than conforming to a specific ideal of what a wedding should look like.

So yes, I do hope to change the narrative around wedding photography and the purpose behind it. We want to capture the genuine moments and stories that make each celebration unique, rather than just aiming for a perfect representation.

"A beautiful photo is one that evokes emotion and tells a story."

Get Married or Die

8. I am very interested in the books you read and would like to know which books on photography are essential to read as a photographer (or even just as someone living today when photography plays such a huge role in how we see the world and ourselves in it).

Rok: It’s hard to answer this in the name of our full collective of photographers, it would be better to ask one by one. I own just a few photo books of photographers that resonate with me. Elliott Erwitt, Joel Sternfeld, Raymond Depardon to name a few.

9. It is January 2025. Do you have any particular wishes for the GET MARRIED OR DIE collective this year?

Rok: We will continue doing what I think serves best for our type of service. An honest communication on social media platforms, to grow and meet new like-minded people.

Encouraging our whole collective’s way of thinking through short documentaries, like we did with Tadej Vaukman. One particular wish would be to score a wedding of a celebrity that would appreciate this type of photography and make it more accepted outside of our “friends of friends” bubble.

Get Married or Die WEBPAGE

THE END

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Thank you so much for your time.

Warmly,

Iva

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