COVID-19 is and has been the ultimate buzzkill. I know I’ve been pretty absent here on this blog (I’m going to try to work on that), but I’ve seen a lot of wedding heartbreak over the past two years and I’m sure this won’t be the first time this comes up.
That said, Judy and Kevin had to make a lot of sacrifices to finally make their wedding day happen. When they first booked with me and nailed down the details of their wedding day, COVID-19 was not yet a thing. They had everything the way they wanted it: Belle Isle Casino booked and ready, a massive guest list to accommodate their extended families, and a long day planned from start to finish. As their date approached and COVID ravaged the States, they made the proactive choice to change their date early, just in case. April 2021, at the time, seemed like a safe bet.
But as we all know now… not so. They had to change their date – again – and at this point, with a drastically shortened guest list, the Casino would no longer accommodate them. They shortened their wedding day by almost half and transitioned their guest list to immediate family only. Thankfully, the beautiful conservatory was more than enough for an intimate wedding and a close family.
I know I have a lot of work to share from the last two years; in those two years, I’ve refined my vision a lot and my creative priorities have drastically changed. COVID has forced many of us to shift our perspectives in life and work, and my work is no exception — life, family, and togetherness hold new meaning now. People have had to make sacrifices and give up dreams. Businesses have been left in ruins. People have lost loved ones. With this in mind, my work can’t be the same anymore. Gone are the days of feeling like I need to get THEE epic shot, the highly stylized portrait – the types of things my industry demands, prioritizes, and acclaims. It’s dishonest and unimportant. Photographers spend too much time on wedding days trying to lead the action rather than follow it. I have been incredibly lucky to find couples that align with these ideals — obviously we’re going to take amazing photos together where you look and feel your best. But as always, my priorities are watching, waiting, and listening. Observing what’s happening, seeing what’s underneath, and letting those feelings be made manifest in the images as they happen produces far greater and more authentic results than I could ever hope to imagine and stage.
There’s something so raw and vulnerable about intimate weddings. You’ll soon see what I mean. You may not know these people, but you’re free to be in your feels for this one.
