Where it Began - My first wedding!
The story of how I became a wedding photographer begins the same way most do - I was asked by a friend, or actually in my case, the daughter of a friend. So, back in the spring of 2017, I was working in an office doing something much different than I do today. One night, I received an email from, Molly, the daughter of a friend I used to work with years ago. She explained that she was getting married that summer and asked me to photograph the big day.
Wow, this was a huge deal and, to be honest, I was a little shocked by it. I had known Molly and her fiance, James for a few years and they knew about my background in art. In fact, I had done a commissioned drawing for Molly a few years prior so we were decently acquainted at this point. Still, photographing someone’s wedding was not something to take lightly. In all honesty, I felt very overwhelmed at the thought of such an experience being left to me to capture. I mean, what if I missed some crucial moment? What if my confidence behind the camera wasn’t enough for this type of fast paced situation? The thoughts and worries filled my mind as I tried to plan my response.
This was difficult! On one hand, I had always told myself that I would do something great with my camera. I had dabbled in portrait sessions, sports and event photography but nothing ever seemed to have that pull that made me think, “THIS is it.” Could weddings offer something different? What sort of skills would I need to take this on? Having earned my bachelors in Painting and Photography I felt good about my technical abilities but there were so many unknowns when it came to something of this scale. I was terrified of messing up someone’s happily ever after. I emailed back, congratulating her and mentioning that, while I was touched she would think of me for such an important event, I just didn’t have any experience in weddings and thought she’d be better off finding someone who did.
My nerves had gotten the best of me but I was happy I had put their once-in-a-lifetime moments ahead of my own. She replied back saying she wasn’t worried about my lack of experience with photographing weddings. She knew how dedicated I was to my work and trusted that I would deliver the best I could. Okay, what do I say to that? I responded, kindly thanking her and expressing further that not only had I never photographed a wedding before but I had only attended two weddings as a guest my entire life. I worded things carefully to state that while I would certainly take the responsibility seriously I just wasn’t the right person for the job. Another response came in.
She knew me, she trusted me, she wanted me to be the one to capture her day. With hesitation, I agreed, and for the next few months I absorbed every ounce of information even remotely tied to wedding photography. Youtube, vendor portfolios - I was like a sponge soaking in everything I could. We discussed the timeline, her dress, the surroundings for the ceremony and reception. The big day came and went and every worry I initially had never came into play. I felt GREAT at their wedding! The fast pace kept me on my toes and the process of combining so many different genres of photography made it so exciting from beginning to end. I still remember driving home late that night with a smile, thinking how incredibly happy I was she didn’t take my advice to find someone else.
Since that day, I have grown much more comfortable and confident in my abilities to capture these once-in-a-lifetime moments. I can keep calm during the hectic times. I can pull attention to areas that are calling for it. I can ease the nerves of those about to step into a whole new chapter of their lives. I still, to this day, feel a rush when my couple holds hands during a first touch or glances across the aisle at their partner. I still get emotional when hearing speeches from the heart. I still love to see family and friends let loose on the dance floor. Thank you, Molly, I’ll never forget it.
