5 Lessons I’ve Learned From Photographing Weddings
After photographing many weddings over the past 3 years, I have realized that no two wedding days will ever be the same. Along the way, I have definitely learned a few lessons that have not only made me a better photographer, but also a better human.
Here is the thing about weddings. You can plan for months (maybe even years), have the prettiest mood board, hire the perfect dream vendor team….and SOMETHING will still go not according to plan. And honestly? That is what makes them so amazing!
When I first started photographing weddings, I thought the most important thing would be getting the perfect shot, the epic sunset glow, the first kiss without the efficient behind them, or the Pinterest-worthy details. But after photographing many wedding days, I’ve realized that while those things are still important, it’s so much more than that. It’s about staying calm when the timeline goes sideways. It’s about not only chasing the good sunset light, but most of the times having to create and find good light. It’s about capturing moments you didn’t even know you needed until you saw them frozen in time looking back on your gallery. Being a wedding photographer has taught me - sometimes with a smile, sometimes with a deep breath - way more than just how to find good light or direct a group photo without losing my voice (although…. shout out to my trusty water bottle!) It’s taught me about patience, the power of creativity, connection, and just rolling with the punches, because at the end of the day you can only control so much.
Here are my top 5 of the biggest (and sometimes unexpected) lessons I’ve learned along the way - the good, the small, and the ones that keep me coming back for more on wedding days!
Grandparents don’t live forever. Honestly, this one makes me want to cry. It was the one that hit me out of nowhere and was a TOTALLY unexpected curve ball when I started photographing weddings. Now, I’m sure your thinking “Sam, obviously….nobody lives forever” But listen…. when you have a family member reach out to ask permission to use a photo you took at a wedding for an obituary photo, it hits different. It was a huge eye opener and truly makes me see wedding days in a whole new light now. Every wedding day I try to make it a point to take extra photos of grandparents together, smiling, hugging the bride and groom, and just enjoying life, even if it means stopping a “moment” like this bride getting in her dress, to do so!
2. The small moments matter just as much as the big ones. Everyone knows the big moments. The first kiss. The first dance. The bride coming down the aisle. But honestly- some of the most powerful photos I’ve ever taken happened in-between the big ones. The ones that nobody planned, or many may not have even noticed. It’s the way the bride holds her fingers as her mom buttons her dress, the quick glance a groom sneaks during the ceremony like he still can’t believe it’s real, or even the tear that mom wipes away when she thinks no one’s looking. Anyone can pose you in a pretty spot and tell you to smile. But capturing grandma dancing with you at your reception, or mom crying as you’re walking down the aisle, that’s the photo you will still be reaching for 30 years from now.
3. It’s OK if things don’t go perfectly. Spoiler alert: they almost never do. And that’s COMPLETELY NORMAL! Sometimes the dress takes a little longer to get buttoned, sometimes the timeline runs behind, sometimes the DJ plays the wrong song. But at the end of the day, you have married your best friend - and that’s all that matters. I’ve learned that staying calm when things are starting to go a little sideways, and finding ways to help where I can helps keep my couples calm too. My job isn’t just to take pretty pictures; it’s to hold space for joy for my couples, even when things aren’t going according to plan.
4. Comfortable Shoes > Cute shoes. This was probably of the biggest lessons and unfortunately, I had to learn this the hard way after leaving my first few weddings with more blisters than I could even count. Wedding days are marathons, not sprints - being on my feet for 8-12+ hours, crouching, running, climbing stairs, dodging tipsy groomsmen - I quickly realized the comfy shoes are never going to be cute. I have found a brand that I absolutely love, that has never given me any blisters and they are machine washable! Rothys! They are expensive, but worth every penny, and a plus is they do come in some pretty cute styles! Happy feet = Happy photographer.
5. Every wedding reminds me why I love doing what I do! I said above some lessons I learned with smiles; this was one of them! There is never a single wedding day that I walk away from, and I’m not reminded of why I love being a wedding photographer. Yes, there are challenges, but at some point, at every wedding I get hit with a moment of gratitude - usually after a moment when things got crazy, or off timeline, and I was able to be a positive impact in some way to help. The biggest wave of gratitude comes from when I get to take a photo with my couple at the end of the night! It’s a privilege to be trusted to capture these memories and witness such joy. No matter how many weddings I photograph, that feeling of overwhelming joy and gratitude will never get old!
Thanks for reading,
XOXO, Sam