I’ve been a wedding photographer and photojournalist for years, but never really understood how significant the moment a man and woman joined in matrimony was until I did it myself. I’ve photographed and attended weddings of some of my closest friends and have been genuinely happy and supportive of them, but could only imagine what all the work and this first day meant to them. As a visual storyteller I did my best to learn and capture all the moments and retell their love story, but I always felt I was missing nuances because I was on the outside of their experience.
I usually interact with the bride more than I do with the groom. It’s just the nature of the industry. This time was the opposite. In fact, I only knew the groom, Kevin, and only knew Ashley through his stories.
And let me tell you: was gushing over her. He could tell me all the reasons he loved her and knew she was “the woman” for him, but at the same time he was enchanted by the je ne sais quoi of her. From his tales he simply knew that she was a positive force and everlasting focal point in his life.
I was simply a guest, but as photographer my camera wasn’t far behind.
Kevin and Ashley’s Pennsylvania wedding was the first one where I understood how they felt and the first time I totally got how he felt about her. It made being there as a guest and photographer an extra honor.