Okay, I can't believe this. This morning I was taking a few shots of a couple friends. During this little shoot I watch the girls face freeze in panic, I turn to see what she was watching. An older woman had fallen and wasn't getting up. My heart stopped, and I quickly went to her. While her glasses lay broken at her side and the blood was coming from her mouth I tried to figure out what had happened. She managed to sit up and then she spit out a white circle (I totally almost wet myself), I didn't want to ask if that was some sort of weird tooth... She said that was a mint she had in her mouth. I told myself to relax and giggled at my stupidity.

Anyways, another woman offered to help her as well. Amazingly, most people just kept walking by and didn't bother to give her a second glance. That totally made me sick. This poor lady started to cry and everything. (she was feeling really stupid and embarassed) I tried to help her feel better by telling her that it could happen to anyone and explained that I hurt myself all the time. I even offered to drop my pants and show her a gnarly bruise on my leg that I got from being a klutz, she started to laugh a little (which was the point). The woman was a bit bruised up and had a cut lip but ended up being fine.

The other woman who had stopped to help had started talking to me about kids (my little girl was with me). Anyways, she ended up finding out we had adopted, then that we had a older daughter in a Residential Treatment Center, etc. She then started to tear up while she shared her story. They had adopted a little boy at five and he was now in a residential treatment center too. She explained it has ripped their family apart and she was needing to get him into a different place, etc. She said she had flippently prayed that God would bring someone to help give them direction, and thought I was that person. I gave her my number and told her to feel free to call if she needed to talk or any resources, etc. She was so grateful... I was totally humbled.

THEN, I turned back to the two friends I was shooting. Wow, has stuff like this ever happened to anyone else during a shoot? Amazing how important the details can be!
Just thought I would share to remind everyone that the details DO matter.

Grace and Peace,
Crystal

911 has had to be called outside of a wedding venue twice as me and the wedding party were entering.

Once, it was for a woman who was threatening suicide and who was lying down on the sidewalk wanting to end it all.

The other time, it was for a heavy older man who was having a heart attack.

Good for you helping her out!

I've never had anything like that happen when I was photographing... I'm sure it's just a matter of time.

Wowzers! Glad to hear it all worked out in the end.

That is pretty wild. I have only had (3) bridesmaids and (2) groomsmen fall out during the ceremony (not at the same wedding mind you). Scary when it happens, funny after it is all over and everybody is alright.

your story gave me the shivers - in a good, positive way.

Had a Bridesmaid collapse during the ceremony, usually they are all so nervous and excited they forgot to eat something and that can happen. She missed all the formal shots and felt bad because she did affect the pictures but was fine later. I try to remind them to eat something when they are getting ready.

This reminds me, I was 2nd shooting a wedding where a guest collapsed during the ceremony, she hit her head so hard on the ground/pew that the minister even stopped the ceremony! The ambulance came and she was fine.