Telling the Story of a Very Special Day

Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. 

What you have caught on film is captured forever... it remembers little things,

 long after you have forgotten everything.  ~Aaron Siskind

I love photography.

I love taking pretty pictures.

But more than that,

I love making memories with my camera.

Capturing moments forever.

My sister asked me to be the photographer for my niece's wedding.

Mikey would marry Lance on January 31 2015 in Hawaii.

It was scary.

It was a huge responsibility.

I had never done anything like that before.

The pictures that I take of the wedding will eventually be 

what people remember of this life event.

The pictures that I take, or don't take, will tell a story.

Weddings are all about feelings and emotions.

If I could just capture those emotions with my camera,

I would be the ultimate storyteller.

Before the wedding,  I was very concerned with being prepared technically.

Lenses, exposures, apertures, light...

But when the day came,  I just kept looking at faces.

There was so much to see and capture, and I didn't want to miss anything.

So much love, caring, and support.

Moments that they've pictured in their minds all their lives...

and now they're living them for real.

It was a day full of anticipation.

Happiness and sadness.

And fun.

Caught up in the emotion of the day,

 the fears and anxiety I had been feeling for the past month were gone.

There wasn't time to think about those things 

when there was so much beauty around me.

A groom seeing his bride for the first time.

The lovely Hawaiian setting.

Hand-holding.

My sister watching her daughter say her vows.

Pure joy in one another.

Two lives becoming one.

It was easy to take beautiful pictures of the bride and groom.

Their happiness was so apparent. 

They just had to be themselves.

As the sun went down,  the reception began.

Everyone was relaxed and happy.

I felt so fortunate to be chosen to do this job.

I felt like I was telling their story well.

In the quote above, Aaron Siskind says "photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving".

That is so true.

My first experience shooting a wedding was very rewarding.

But being so focused all day was also very tiring. 

As I went to sleep that night,

I felt very relieved.

I didn't let them down.

I didn't let me down.

Now I have only 5 months to get ready for Emily & Joe's wedding.

In June.

In Alaska.

I feel privileged to be able to tell their story too.

If you're interested,  you can see their entire wedding gallery here