Was hired for a simple wedding. Bride was 57, never married, never kissed. They dated for 20 yrs before saying their vows. The bride couldn't find a dress she liked, so she found a vintage dress. I don't consider this spectacular in any sense, but this was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime shot. Before doing the formals, she insisted on a make-up break. This wasn't posed.

All said, be the end of the day I found her charming, unlike any other I've met.

That is lovely, and what an interesting story. I'd love to know how it works out.

Never KISSED? wow!

That photo is terrific - really surreal!

Ya, quite the storybook wedding! Sounds like a fairy tale in the making! All the best!

Great moment! Would love to hear more of this story!

well... you asked! Met the B&G at a bridal show in Nov, and they were getting married 12/22. I guess after dating for 20 yrs, no since wasting time once you've said,"Yes". Quite frankly, we got off to a bumpy start. The groom is a perfect gentleman. The bride is a bit severe, as you might imagine an old-fashioned librarian. After booking me (no deposit, which I didn't require), I learned she didn't like the images on my website. Well... why go forward when the customer already doesn't like your work? (She didn't like this picture either.) I had a long conversation with the groom, being very clear about why I wanted out. I simply didn't see an upside to this.

The groom explained that he'd already been to every photog in town (north of Chicago, so there's LOTS of them), and he couldn't book anyone. So... I explained that I did want them to have wedding pictures, that I'd take the job, that we would live by grace, and hope it all went well.

In the end? The bride was easy to work with and easy to talk to. I did make a mistake during the day and we did a reshoot without any complaining. She has a charm that grows on you, and is mildly self-depricating. She couldn't find a dress that she liked ("They all stop where I think they should start!") She found this vintage gown, gold colored, and it must have been ten ft long. The veil was vintage '50's. She spent $500 getting it repaired and altered. And under it all, she was wearing green long underwear, which she wasn't at all bashful about. And her makeup compact looks like her mother used it. There's not an once of fat on this woman. Before taking the ring shot, she held her hand over her head for a while, then posed for a quick picture so her blue veins wouldn't show. Stuff like that. Honestly, by the end of the day I almost fell in love with her myself.

As far as weddings go, this was very simple. Both sets are parents are deceased. No children. Only a matron and best man. They don't dance, so there was no first dance. No garter toss (Heaven forbid!). A nice change of pace, actually.

I guess the best way to describe this is that I got to look into a relationship that just doesn't exist anymore. Like all of Heaven was watching, and I had a front row seat. This bride is priceless.

Technically, my lighting is a Quantum w/ a 12in softbox mounted on a pole set right in the middle of the isle, set on full power, triggered wirelessly. D200 or D2x, can't remember which. My shutter is always set to 250 for flash, and f-stop is manually metered. Pretty much untouched in Photoshop or Lightroom. More and more of my shooting is manual shutter and aperature. I only use auto-whatever when I hand the camera to someone else. I recently decided that I took better pictures in the 1970's with my much beloved and worn out Canon FTb, and that was all manual. So I've returned to my roots, and and now wondering why I have a D2x and D200. All I really need is a digital sensor and reliability. I just don't use the auto functions. Actually, the D2x is on Ebay right now.

It's a long answer, but all my answers are long. It goes with being a seminary student.

Thanks for your interest.

-Saint Mike

Literally....her lip pen is breaking off in that picture. lol

Aside from that, I really do like it. Great story too.

I noticed that too!!! Lip liner doesn't work so well when it's broken!

Great story and thanks for sharing, it must have been nice/interesting to do something different.

Love it. What a terrific opportunity. And I love the breaking lip liner. It's just... perfect.

Is she Donna Reed or what??? LOVE IT!!

NOW I feel like I've seen EVERYTHING -- a wedding dress that actually looks GREAT with glasses! Would you PLEASE tell her for me that I am in love with her tastefulness.

Ok, but um, they dated for 20 years and never kissed? I'd pay 9 bucs to see that movie.

Sure dont hear many ppl doing that anymore. My oldest daughter and her fiance never kissed until they were married. Their recessional song was This Kiss... and our last wedding of the year was a young couple who also had not kissed until their kiss at the altar.

I cant imagine the feeling of the first kiss right there at the altar in front of everyone but I think it would be so meaningful and romantic!

Great story! Thanks for filling us in on the details!!!