I am a photographer. I try to use this title carefully, because with today’s technological advances there are a whole lot of people out there taking pictures under this guise, who really ought not be allowed to hold a camera. This summer alone, I’ve heard a couple wedding photographer disaster stories to make me cringe. Anyway, I was reluctant to use the title during school, because I was still learning and I was reluctant to use the term right after school, because well, I was awfully new at it and I didn’t want to give people the wrong impression. 

However, this year I finally woke up and realized that I’m halfway through a month where I have weddings every weekend. And while 4 in a row isn’t a huge number, it’s kind of a big deal for me. I also realized that the times my bedroom floor isn’t riddled with camera equipment are becoming fewer and farther between. (No one ever told me half the job is making sure batteries are charged.) So, I’m fairly certain, that not only am I a photographer, but I’m a “wedding photographer”. Please don’t misunderstand, I am not bragging. The irony of the situation, is simply that I didn’t want to be a wedding photographer when I first picked up a DSLR, 5 years ago. At the time, the pressure of shooting someone’s wedding was an insurmountable problem that I didn’t want to come to terms with. Sure, taking pictures was fun. Learning the different techniques and skills it requires was engaging, but the idea of possessing the responsibility of capturing someone’s wedding day through images was overwhelming. And no wonder. In today’s age, where most things are blown out of proportion, weddings are touted as the single most important day of an individual’s life.

Don’t get me wrong, weddings are beautiful and incredibly special. The amount of time and effort that goes into planning a wedding is impressive. The precise attention to detail, ensuring every moment is “picture” perfect takes months if not years. But, as I’ve attended weddings, interned weddings, second shot weddings and now look ahead to the day where I have my very first independent wedding; I’ve come to realize that just like every other kind of photography, it’s about moments in time. It’s not about the pomp and circumstance, how much was spent on the dress or how many people you did or didn’t invite. Gasp! It’s not even about whether it’s chicken or beef. It’s about two becoming one, before God and these witnesses. So as the photographer, it’s about making sure that when the end of the day comes, and everyone is dancing and enjoying cake; the bride and groom, this new family, has images they will look at fondly as they remember the day it all started.

As I mentioned earlier, I’m off to photograph a wedding today. This season my mind has decided that sleep is over-rated the night before shooting a wedding.  Hence the blog post before 7 am. So, enjoy the rest of your day. I know I will.