I'm another one of those dreaded JSO wedding photographers who loves capturing special events and all the beauty and emotion contained in them. When I'm not shooting, I'm a software engineer.
I've been shooting family and children's portraits for the last year and started toying with the idea of shooting weddings last fall. I made the decision to go for it earlier this year when Canon had the double rebates and I could pick up a 30D and basically get a 50 f/1.4 for free. What more justification did I need
I'm well aware of the one-shot nature of wedding photography (pun intended), so I knew I had a lot of learning to do before taking on that much responsibility. I've spent the last four months reading everything I could in books, blogs and OSP itself. I've endlessly scrutinized photographer web sites, galleries and slideshows. I've been shooting everything I could, the more difficult the better. I finally got to the point where I felt comfortable putting out feelers for one or two for free weddings to build a portfolio. My goal was to find a cute couple who were preferably being married in a church and who wouldn't have otherwise been able to afford a professional and who's wedding was imminent.
One month ago I shot a baptism of a precious little girl for some dear friends of ours. The mom knew I was looking for wedding portfolio material, so she contacted a friend of hers who is getting married on June 30 to see if she would sit for a bridal session to help me out. That was Friday noon. Friday night, this dear friend calls and asks if I want to SHOOT THEIR WEDDING.
Ack! Gulp!
Of course, I jumped at the chance.
The bride called Saturday night and we had a great phone interview. We met yesterday afternoon and I was "hired" by the most stunning couple with a most amazing wedding. They'll be flying me to Miami, putting me up in a hotel, renting me a car and having me shoot their wedding in a beautiful historic spanish style church. They want complete coverage, including getting ready shots, some fun formal and pre-wedding portraits all around their awesome hotel. Did I mention that the couple is fun, sophisticated and great looking? Well, that's an understatement!
I didn't have to sell myself at all, as they've seen some of my work and it's just what they wanted. They also know this is my first wedding (well... second if you count the one I did on film many years ago). One other surprising detail, they already had a photographer booked that somehow came in a package deal with the venue, but decided they didn't like his or her style.
Anyway, after we closed I suggested an engagement session. They mentioned that they already had one shot by none other than Susan Stripling, a fantastic local photographer. You talk about a hard act to follow! We're still going to do a short one so I can get to know them better.
All I wanted was to get my feet wet, not get pushed into the deep end.
This is such a blessing!
Sorry for the long story, guys, but I'm stoked and just had to share.
(I also get to use the dancing banana for the first time! )
Relax, have fun, and buy me a plane ticket! LOL!
