It’s wedding season! According to Jewish tradition, weddings are prohibited during the Omer period,  a time of semi-mourning between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot. But that’s all behind us now and Israel’s summer weddings are set to begin.

Whether he’s working with professional models, actors or just ordinary people on their happiest occasions, photographer Roy Katalan has an interest in making people look their best. That makes him a natural choice for fashion-forward Tel Avivians on their wedding day.

Katalan, who apprenticed for two-and-a-half years with renowned Key West wedding photographer Tony Gregory, has adopted his mentor’s philosophy of capturing as many “moments” as possible — starting with the elements that make a Tel Aviv wedding unique.

The most traditional of locations for a Tel Aviv wedding photo is Old Jaffa at sunset…

New popular locations include the refurbished Old Tel Aviv Port…

There’s the newly reopened Old Train Station compound near Jaffa…

Or a new train station — there are several from which to choose…

Azrieli Towers…

Usskishkin Bridge (also known as the Bailey Bridge), whose curious cut-outs in the shape of Shields of David, half-moons and valentines are perfect for off-beat Tel Aviv romantics…

At a certain point, things settle down and the traditional Jewish wedding takes place…

And then they start up again! Israelis go big at weddings and there are halls of all sizes to fit any number of relatives, friends, acquaintances, work colleagues, army buddies, running club members, last minute invitees — and everyone’s dates. The more the merrier…

Katalan is also an accomplished studio photographer, working in fashion and commercial photography, employing techniques such as High dynamic Range (HDR) imaging that imparts photos with luminosity and saturated color. In addition to weddings, he has a secondary specialty in bar and bat-mitzva portraiture. For more images by Roy Katalan, visit his website.