I’ve learned a lot about photography from photographing weddings and from my dad who used to shoot weddings. I even assisted him once when he photographed his brother’s wedding when I was a kid. Those days it was all on film, and stress levels were high, especially when your client was also your family.
So in October of 2011 when our friends were getting married during a small family ceremony on Martha’s Vineyard I was happy to photograph for them, but also a little anxious.
I had recently purchased my first Canon EOS 5D Mark II, after only having a Rebel in my camera bag for a few years. The weather was perfect, especially warm and sunny for October on the Vineyard, the perfect opportunity for my first wedding shoot.
The Gay Head Lighthouse was made available for after the ceremony, and the view was amazing. I was happy to have purchased the Canon EF 24-77mm F2.8 lens to be able to go wide when I needed, especially in the confines of the lighthouse, yet quickly go back to 50mm-75mm.
Being friends of the bride and groom also meant I was spending time with them before and after the wedding. One of my all time favorite captures is this one of the bride, sipping on wine on the porch of the bed and breakfast, the evening after the wedding.
The next day was unseasonably warm for October - nice enough to go swimming in the ocean. The bride and groom were excited about doing a Wreck The Dress style shoot and they didn’t disappoint. Being an impromptu shoot I didn’t have any lighting equipment or reflectors. It was bright and sunny and we used the beach across the street from the Bed and Breakfast. Now I wish I had paid more attention to shadows and maybe used a strobe to fill in their faces a little.
I will always be grateful to my friends for trusting me to shoot their wedding and be a part of the experience. I have since then done many more shoots with them including two maternity shoots. I think for their 10 year anniversary they should recreate the Wreck the Dress shoot, though it sometimes snows on the Vineyard in October.