Lavender

This past weekend, our best friends' niece was married to her sweetheart. The whole event was truly a love gift to the newlyweds, carefully orchestrated, designed, and pulled off by many hard-working and talented hands. I played a small part by creating the cake and then running around with my camera, trying to avoid getting in the way of the official photographers. It was a truly stunning occasion, from start to finish, with yummy food, sweetly crafted decorative details, and so much happy love. I felt both proud and blessed to have been part of their day.

Even though the cake nearly toppled over during dinner, it was a day of pure perfection that I'd love to go back and repeat.

P.S. Did you see the Martin skimming the grass? I captured it by accident in the picture of the bride entering on her Uncle's arm. I love that kind of surprise!

Wedding Season

I once again had a chance this last weekend, to help my little sister out with some wedding photography. She's a genius when it comes to capturing special moments on camera, but she can't be everywhere at once, so she likes to have someone tag along at big events. This one being close to home, I gladly offered my shutterbug services. My role was to help make sure all the right people were in place at the right times, then secondly, to shoot lots of abstract and detail pictures and/or aim my camera from a different perspective than hers. She has by far the better camera, and tons more experience, so it was fun to not only watch her in action, but to also feel important and go places that people don't normally go during weddings, while also knowing that the future wedding album wasn't really relying on my performance.

The photos below are all mine, with my edits. When the bride and groom get the photos from my sister, they will all have her edits, and I'm sure will look even better.

A Summer Wedding

This past weekend, I had another opportunity to take photos at a wedding in a somewhat-official capacity. My baby sister was the true photographer (a job which she is genius at); she recruited me to wander about taking detail photos. I highly doubt that I would enjoy being THE official photographer at a wedding. All of those posed shots and portraits would stress me out. But detail shots taken at my discretion, and with full permission to go where I like? THAT is a job that I find delightful.

The setting was a country golf club, the theme vintage and rustic, the weather absolutely perfect. Flowers and fabric and skin all look their best under overcast skies, but then toward the end of the evening, the sun broke through coating everything and everyone in a glowing bath of golden light.

My brilliant little Sis coached and guided the bridal party, working her magic with no inhibitions. I don't know if I would be willing to sacrifice my dress to potential damp and dirt, just to get that perfect shot. But she didn't hesitate. I guess that's what separates us shutterbugs from the professionals.

I don't know the bride and groom, but after spending several hours around them and their friends and family, I found myself wishing I did. The connection between them was very apparent, and I wish them all the best in their new shared-together life.

And now I feel the wedding bug quite strongly. Who's next?