We love weddings. Weddings are a time for commitment. For change. For renewal. Weddings are a chance for families and friends to gather and celebrate the future. A wedding is also a stressful time for everyone. From the bride and groom to the bride’s mother to the organizer and the staff at the venue, prone as all events are to unexpected twists and turns.
The job of a wedding photographer is to roll with the punches.
Things such as dance floor lighting that turns reception halls into dark pits. Or strobes and spots that blow out your retinas, never mind the camera. We ignore the alcohol fueled fights caused by long-held grudges. The guests overcome with the joys of partying pairing off in dark corners. The relatives giving helpful photography tips and advice over our shoulders as we work. All these, and much, much more. We persevere.
What happens at an event stays at an event. Period. Not our circus. We neatly sidestep distractions and drama, sometimes literally. And do the job we came to do. We record the joy. Only the joy.
18-hour days are not unusual for a wedding photographer. No breaks for meals, also not unusual. Gently and politely wrangling drunk guests weaving unsteadily in front of us with their iPhone during the cake cutting, also not unusual. None of these are valid excuses for not getting the shots.
So where is the fun here? Simple. We enjoy the challenge.
Pity Me Not
We think fast and move faster. Technically, there are similarities between wedding photography and sports, as we strive to capture the split second when something unexpected happens. We are always scanning the room. For 18 hours straight… Also, there is an element of street photography, as we capture candid moments with guests oblivious to our cameras. It’s a balancing act and every event is a unique challenge, one on which we thrive.
As well as all the obligatory formals of the bridal party, groomsmen, families, rings and preparations etc., we try to capture the spirit of the event. Aim to get at least one photograph of everyone, because we know that that elderly relative may not be with us much longer. Sad but true, it happens. We get the caterers, the entertainment, the servers. The decorations. The fireworks, again sometimes literally. Getting asked to photograph fireworks unexpectedly during an event ranks high on my personal stress list as it takes me away from the action for the duration. Things like fireworks are why you may need to hire second and third shooters: It’s often a team effort.
Once the day is done we can leave and drive our long journeys home alone, stone cold sober. And spend the next few days editing the photos and the videos. Removing photobombers and hydro poles and any number of other distractions. Putting together albums, photo books, print packages, and gift packs. And online galleries like those below. Painstakingly shining the memories of your day until we have something we can hand to the happy couple, knowing they will be happy with our work.
And then we recharge our batteries both physical and metaphorical, so we can do it all again next weekend. Wedding photographers. Dedicated, skilled, and often undervalued. I love ’em.
Prints and products for all images by request.
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