At the end of a wedding last weekend, I was making my usual rounds, thanking the bride, her parents, and the groom for hiring me as their photographer. I feel it's a real honor to be the person my clients rely on to capture and immortalize this most special day in their lives. So, to thank them for that privilege may seem odd to them, but I really mean it.

This particular couple expressed to me they weren't very comfortable in front of a camera, and as such never really had any photos of themselves. I completely understood their feelings. It's funny how some people are completely o.k. with a camera pointed at them, and some not.

In all our wedding packages, we include an "engagement" photo session. The best images come from a relaxed, supportive  atmosphere and a photo session before the big day is a great ice-breaker. The couple gets to meet me and get a feel for how I work. I get to meet them, and figure out lighting and posing strategies that work for each couple. It's a win-win situation for all concerned. It is a very low stress situation and always provides excellent results, both during the engagement session and later, on the wedding day.

So as I was thanking the bride, we both had the same thought at the same moment; I said to the bride how it felt that we had been through a lot together. She immediately agreed, emphasizing that yes, we had been through quite a lot together, and now, it was all complete. It was an amazing moment for me. Sometimes, I think I'm just this hopeless romantic, and no one else really gets all emotional about stuff. Then, something like that happens, and I realize that I played a pivotal part in this couples lives for a little while, and now we were all going back to our respective lives.

I've been mulling that over for this past week, and it occurred to me that that is what a good photographer can and should do, not just take some pictures and take the cash, but actually help and guide the couple through this crazy event known as the wedding day. After all, I've been to many more weddings than any bride could hope to see. I know what's going to happen, and I know what matters. So, keep that in mind when shopping for a photographer, whether its for your wedding or commercial project. A true professional is really more than the sum of the parts, they are your collaborator, confidant, adviser. Choose wisely!

Thanks for reading!

Kevin