I was in Colorado for my sister Kate and new brother in law Jake’s wedding was last weekend. After taking this shot of her bouquet, I pretty much put the camera down for the rest of the night with the exception of a few shots. I was in the wedding, so I couldn’t be the photographer at the same time! Good thing Mia was there working so hard to get the images:
Mia also happens to have taught the first photography class I ever took, way back when I was trying to figure out what an f-stop was. I don’t want to think about how many years ago that was.
When I first started photographing weddings, I thought that some day it would get easier – I would be able to enjoy myself as a guest AND be the photographer at the same time if a close friend or family member asked me to photograph their wedding. I’ve certainly gotten much better at it over the years, but that performance anxiety has never gone away. Instead of being anxious that I might miss the shot, I’m pushing myself to make images that are better and different than I have made in the past. It takes my full concentration and presence in a way that makes it impossible for me to be there as a guest. Not that I don’t enjoy myself when photographing – I do, but in a totally different way.