Lindsey and Josh Wedding, Mt. Timp

When I first started shooting weddings eight years ago I had a friend that was going to join the army. I told him wedding photography is a lot like combat. You have limited ammo (film back then) and there is only one of you and you have to shoot everyone in front of you. I explained to him how intense it can be at a ceremony that only happens once and you have to get the shots much like a sniper on a mission. Many times you must wait patiently for something to happen that never happens. When it does you can't be caught snoozing. If I am caught snoozing I to answer to an angry mother rather than a drill seargent. Equipment can fail (as it did when my Canon broke on Lindsey and Josh's engagement sitting) and people get sick. You must make a million split second decisions based on lighting, composition, shutter speed, aperture, film speed, which lens to use, angles, posing, flash, reflector, etc.. all the while making sure that everyone in front of you feels comfortable and is smiling. There are also politics. I have to please not only the bride but the mother of the bride. Rarely do they have the same taste. (For the record that was not an issue at this wedding). Eight years ago another friend said, "How hard could it be?" All you have to do is put somebody in front of you and push a button. If it were that easy I would get bored overnight. The amazing thing about what I do is I get to meet amazing people like Josh and Lindsey and their respective families and learn from them as I strive to perfect my trade. Unlike the Army I get to linger at receptions and mingle with people who want to talk to me not kill me. I slip in and out of crowds and eat amazing food and take pictures of amazing people. This reception was no exception. It was a blast and I made several new friends. It is now history, a very well documented history.