How royal wedding photographer Hugo Burnand tackled 'gig of the century'

The photographer who took the official pictures of William and Kate's wedding said he hoped they portrayed the love that everyone felt on the big day.

"From where I was, and from their point of view, it was two families coming together and that was the feeling, the sense of family and love going between everyone," Hugo Burnand said. "They had their own buzz. Everyone had their own buzz. It was that excitement that I hope you feel at most weddings."

Burnand said he had only seconds to set up his favourite photograph, of the newlyweds with the bridesmaids and pageboys, having coaxed the children with promises of jelly beans and sweets.

"When you look at those individual children in that picture you are seeing those children and their characters," he said. "That's the same with the bride and groom in the middle of the picture as well. That's really them. There's no time for direction."

Burnand said Kate was a keen photographer herself and he discussed the images with her and William beforehand. Asked about the mood between the couple, he said: "Fantastic. I don't know what to say – I love them. They are so bloody nice. They are just so nice as individuals and as a pair, and they work so well together."

He said of the formal portrait of them standing side by side: "In a way what I really like about that picture is that it is formal and it shows their respect for the formality, where they are, who they are. They understand and respect where they are and yet you can still see a smile and love between them.

"At the same time they are right side by side with each other and they are connected and they are touching, their arms are connected and they've got a smile on their face. That picture really sums up a lot about them."

Burnand was accompanied by assistants including his mother, the photographer Ursy Burnand, 71, who is praised as be an invaluable member of his team. "It was the gig of the century," he said.