“Shoot a wedding? …I’d Rather stick my face in a fan ? … (Rob B -2018)”

I’m not a wedding photographer. Let’s just start there. But I’ve always been fascinated by the genre—equal parts chaos and romance, like a live-action soap opera with better outfits. I’ve photographed a handful of weddings, and let me tell you, it’s not for the faint-hearted. The pressure is intense: your gear, your nerves, your entire will to live—everything is pushed to its limits.

You’ve got Bridezillas in full force, camera gear acting up at the worst possible moment, relatives who suddenly think they're Spielberg, videographers (our natural predators) creeping into every shot, strict church lighting rules, rogue uncles with DSLR kits they bought last week, unpredictable weather, and a laundry list of unrealistic expectations. Add to that the 2,000+ photos you'll be editing long after your legs have recovered, and yeah—it’s a vibe. Oh, and forget eating. Your camera gets more action than your fork. <sob!>

That said, I recently witnessed something truly heroic. I watched a photographer shoot a massive wedding while 8 months pregnant—with only two cameras and a Speedlight. Two! The legend in question was Samantha (seriously, go check out her magic on Instagram: @samantha.heather). She handled it all with this calm, radiant grace that made me question my entire existence. Smiling, floating through chaos, and still nailing those quiet, intimate moments. Naturally, when a friend asked me to second shoot at a wedding, I said yes. Because clearly, I make questionable life choices.

As the day crept closer, so did the dread. What fresh madness was I signing up for? But—and here’s the plot twist—I actually had a really lovely time shooting the wedding of Cristian and Nicholl. They were absolute gems: chill, sweet, and genuinely fun to be around. The kind of couple that makes you want to cheer for love and possibly consider, just maybe, possibly… doing this whole wedding thing more often?

Almost. Let’s not get carried away. 😅