I cry at weddings. I like it when a wedding makes me emotional. I especially like it when it's one I am shooting.
I am hopelessly earnest about most things, but especially so about marriage. It helps that I have a particularly good one. I really believe in the meaning behind the vows.
Weddings are not easy events to do well, and a lot of photographers are rightly scared of them. They require an instantaneous response to events happening around you, and you need the experience to know when and where those moments are going to happen. And you need to stay on for many hours. I am selective about the weddings I shoot and, because of how I present myself, there is a self-selection of the kind of couple who is going to be comfortable with my approach. They need to know that I'm likely to be seen getting drippy behind the camera.
Kate and Erik's was the best kind of wedding for me to shoot, and they fully embedded me into the weekend. The wedding day started with a five mile hike to the mountain peak where they got engaged. The afternoon ceremony was full of heartfelt and honest meaning. Both of them got drippy when they exchanged rings and vows, as did most of the audience.
I felt fully embraced by both sides of these warm, loving families. The mother of the bride, the father of the bride, the mother and uncle of the groom, all came up to me at various times and said, “You were so a part of this! Thank you!”
I got goosebumps when I read your blog about shooting a wedding. You're special, Doug.
Posted by: Billie Emert | August 28, 2007 at 11:28 AM