Tim Monzon

This could almost be a Men's Wearhouse ad.

So another wedding has come and gone, and this one was a special one for me. It starred and brought two of my best friends, Annie and Jason, in holy matrimony. Awesome stuff. It’s a bit weird to think that they’re married now, but that just because I’ve known them for so long already.

Yesterday’s ceremony was a bit unusual for me, because I was Jason’s best man. But its not even that fact that caused hesitation for me. It was the fact that I wasn’t behind the camera. That responsibility went to Nicole and my sister. And I was uncomfortable not knowing how the photos would end up. Personally, I would’ve rather taken the job myself than being the best man, because to me, the wedding photos are some of the most lasting memories for a family.

That’s not to say that my sister and Nicole didn’t do a good job. I’m sure they did. I haven’t checked out all of the photos yet (I’m the one proofing them), but I’ve seen a few good shots here and there. The only photos I took that day were the private session after the ceremony, which includes the photo above. However, we only had about 5 minutes or so to ourselves before people were telling us to hurry because everyone at the reception was starting to get restless.

Now, we’d have had ample time if it wasn’t for the inefficiency of the ceremony shots back at the church. I didn’t mean to be agitated, but it was extremely unorganized, and other people noticed it as well. One of the things I forgot to mention to the girls was that as a wedding photographer, you’ve got to take charge when it comes to directing people. Sometimes its necessary to be a bit assertive at times in order to get things moving smoothly. There tends to be so much chaos after a ceremony, and discipline is required to command the masses that comprise the wedding entourage.

As many other wedding shooters will tell you, it takes a lot of courage to claim responsibility for the photos that will stay with a couple for a lifetime. No one wants to be the reason a bride and groom’s photos came out crappy. It’s also why people are willing to pay top dollar if it ensures that their photos will come out spectacular, even if their own wedding is modest.

I really ought to start updating more often. This once a week thing is, although consistent, not enough for me. Hopefully I’ll find extra free time in the future to blog.