I cry at every wedding that I shoot- there I admitted it. I get so emotionally involved in the people I am looking at through my lens, I can do nothing but feel. I remember shooting weddings as a assistant, I would stand there holding a flash holding back tears. It made no sense but I knew it meant something.
As a guest I enjoyed them but I always wanted to take pictures instead of joining in on the celebration. I had some need to donate a lasting memory to the event and then one day, my need was met.
Chris and Jenn got married on a hiking trail in Long Island. They had a low key wedding, barefoot and all and did not hire a professional photographer. Emulating a professional photographer, as I was doing at the time, I diligently brought my camera and took photos. Since it was a casual setting, I felt comfortable enough to get up front and shoot the vows without being noticed. I packaged up the photos and sent them to Chris and Jenn expecting nothing but a thank you. Instead I got an offer- “Is there anyway we could dress up again and take posed photos with you at the ceremony location?” asked Jenn on a phone call one night. “Of course!” I replied in delight and fear. A few months later it happened again.
Margaret, or Aunt Peggy as she was known to me all my life was getting married to Bruce. Aunt Peggy knew I took photos and asked if I would be her photographer. She believed in a wedding supported by her friends and family so I took on challenge #2. I begged my best friend to shoot for me as my second photographer. She worked the back of the room while I worked the front. Our training as yearbook photographers at age 14, trained us to be a great team.
As you might have guessed this kept happening until one day I was asked how much I charged. This changed the game!
