That’s 10 things I love/hate as a photographer of course.
Warning: long post. Injuries incurred by RB members falling asleep at their computers will be the sole fault, & responsibility, of said injured snorer. :-)
One thing that is now VERY clear after my step son’s wedding last week, I AM NOT A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER!!…, nor will I ever be, nor want to be. One thing’s for sure though, I have a new found respect for anyone that does this for a living and actually ENJOYS it!!, (one positive thing to come out of the experience I suppose, lol). Some words of advice for anyone that is aspiring to become a wedding photographer, GOOD LUCK! ..and remember to keep a straight jacket as part of your kit, I can guarantee you’ll be needing it!!
I think I mentioned somewhere already that the wedding was to be an informal affair, and it was, very informal, luckily for me. The bride & groom, being a young couple with 3 little children and only 5 weeks to organise their wedding, managed to pull the whole thing together quite well, all credit to them. Whilst their choices were obviously great and right for them, from a photographer’s stand point, w-e-l-l, let’s just say…… Oooh, I can’t bring myself to say it, so best I say nothing and I’ll let you guys be the judge.
To begin with, an outside view of the venue, named the ‘Cosy Nook’.
Now that had to be the understatement of the year – sardine can more like, no room to swing a camera, let alone one with a lens attached! (Hated it)
Cosy Nook
The inside: keep in mind 40 guests, a wedding party and ceremony & reception were being held here.
SEE all that YELLOW wood panelling…it was at both ends of the building, with not a clean wall in sight! See also the great bloody fluoro lights, there were SIX of those in that little place. And the other 2 walls, logs halfway up and then windows, windows with pink, (yes pink), window blinds! Uuugghh (hate it even more)
Inside Decor
Being the middle of winter and all, the weather of course just had to be CRAP! Not only did it rain nearly all day long, it was so darn bloody cold, hell itself must have frozen over, (not that I felt the cold much rushing around as I was like a blue arsed fly, but I sure paid for it the next day holed up in bed with a massive head cold). To boot, the heavens were filled with those dank, grey, depressing clouds, the stuff of every, but every photographer’s nightmares. So, just one more thing to loathe: the unpredictable, horrid weather.
Now on to some things I LOVED about the day.
Granddaughter and flower girl, Keeley, getting ready for the big day, with step sis Rachel putting on her pink party shoes in the background. Girls just love a wedding, and to dress up.
Grand Daughter
Rachel in a halo of bubbles, a pre wedding shot.
Rachel and Halo of Bubbles
The Groom arrives. Step son Aaron is a truck driver, and I so totally loved their choice of wedding vehicle.
Groom Arriving
Bride Kris arrives with son, and pageboy, Jake and Bridesmaid Kate in the pouring rain.
Bride Kris and Son
The rings, symbols of hope, happiness and togetherness, gotta LOVE that.
The rings symbols of hope
The ceremony: Love the sentiment….despise the décor!
The ceremony
A very happy Mr and Mrs Merritt – have to LOVE the happiness, but once again the décor leaves a lot to be desired. lol
A very happy Mr and Mrs Merritt
Jake being the centre of it all. What’s not to LOVE here?
Jake being the centre of it all
Kris & Aaron – …and so they lived happily ever after.
Kris & Aaron
THE END
(especially of my wedding photography career)
As much as this shoot was an experience, and one I’m glad to have under my belt, (notice I didn’t say, ‘great experience’), I also really never want to do it again, and especially not for a family wedding. I guess I’m just not cut out for the pressures, nor the uncontrollable forces that one is forced to deal with, eg. uncooperative guests, shitty weather, bad lighting and atrocious venue décor, as well as being starved, and kept as dry as a dead dingo’s donger all day because you just have to be there for every moment….and I haven’t even mention the hours and hours of eye crossing, post processing work yet either.
And so it is, that henceforth, I am counting on you guys to issue me with a HUGE cyber slap if I ever mention the dreaded ‘W’ word EVER again.
