My blog template had a little hiccup this week, so don’t mind the dust or the change while I decide what new template to go with…
I love weddings… and I do bring my camera with me, even though there are paid photographers for our friend’s and family’s weddings. I try to stay out of their way and not shoot behind them. I know how annoying that can be for a wedding photographer, to set up a shot, and then have other people just “steal” the shot behind them. Sounds silly, but for me it’s about being respectful of their job.
This wedding I went to was different though. It was my niece’s wedding and my sister asked me to take photos for her, even though “photography”… and I use that term loosely… was included in the package deal they purchased from the chapel.
As it turns out, the owners of the chapel were also the photographers, the caterers, the ministers…you get the picture.
I arrived late, so I didn’t hear any speeches, but shortly after I snapped a few photos and the ceremony was over, I was approached by the husband of the little wedding chapel and told I wasn’t allowed to take any photographs.
None at all.
He said, “We take all the photographs you could possibly need. We don’t want the newly married couple to be confused and not know what photographer to look at while we take their photos.”
To which I thought, Hmm… ok, I get that and I suppose I can just not take any photos to avoid ruining my niece’s special day.
But as the moments passed, the more I felt it seemed silly. And I’m more of a details photographer, that second shooter you see at weddings, going behind the scenes and photographing the small details. And my niece, who loves photography, too, is a lover of small details.
Why couldn’t I take photos of the special things of the day?
So after all the ceremony was done, the cake was cut, the dances danced… and the chapel owner’s camera put away, I took photos of the details.
And I’m very glad I did.
A few days later, I got a chance to look at his photographs. My sister and niece were upset… and understandably so. The photos were poor and washed out. No warmth. No candids. The beauty of the little chapel was all blown out… and then after some disagreements, the photos magically disappeared from their online hosting site and the chapel owner said he didn’t have copies, because they formatted the card after uploading to the site.
All they have are the few photos I took for them.
Such a bummer.
We took the girl to LegoLand Discovery Center Atlanta and that was just amazing. I actually have a ton of photos from there I’ll share later this week.
Last year, I received an Epiphanie bag for my birthday and while I love it, it literally started falling apart within the month. I had tons of popped stitches which annoyed the heck out of me since the bags are so expensive.
Not saying I won’t buy an Epiphanie bag again, just that I won’t buy it unless it’s on sale. I’m not sure it’s worth the price I paid for it to begin with.
This year, I decided to go a different route, to buy a canvas bag and just slip a camera protector insert in it. So far, I’m loving my bag, but still have some concerns due to the insert. It’s open on the top with no way to seal it, so if the bag falls and rolls, my camera is hosed.
Crossing my fingers that never happens…
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Tags: family, Nikon D600, photography, Project 365
Categories: 52 Weeks of 365
Kellie B. says:
August 28, 2013
So sad about the photos from your niece's wedding - she's very lucky to have the ones that you took for her. Love the "goofing around" shot :)
Yazmin says:
August 28, 2013
Thanks Kellie. Fortunately, she likes most of my photography and she loves black and whites, so all's well that ends... semi-well. :)
Idelisa says:
August 29, 2013
Hellooo estan preciosas las fotos ojala pudiera hacer mis fotos algun dia tan bellas como las tuyas quiero hacer un calendario para mis hijos y unas fotos familiar inolvidables y con la calidad y profesionalismo como las tuyas la bebe esta hermosa Dios te bendiga tu bella familia primis TQM love yah ;) <3
Yazmin says:
August 29, 2013
¡Gracias prima!
Trata tomar fotos en el "twilight hour" - esa la media hora al amanecer o anochecer. La luz es perfecta para los fotos de la familia. Estoy segura que te gustaran para tu calendario. :)
<3 Yazmin recently posted...A Visit to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta
Jennifer E B says:
August 30, 2013
Oh, that's so sad about the pictures! :( I"m glad you had something for them.
Such a bummer about your epiphanie! I have one and it has held up well, but I'd be frustrated if it was falling apart already.
Love the lego shots! Such a fun subject. :)
Jennifer E B recently posted...350 Graffiti in my childhood town
Yazmin says:
August 31, 2013
Thanks Jennifer! I figured the bag issue was just a fluke since everyone has such great things to say about their bags. :/
C'est la vie!
Lori J. says:
September 2, 2013
Oh what a nightmare for your niece! I'm so glad you decided to pull your camera back out. I would love to be a fly on the wall in the "photographers'" house so I could hear just exactly how they're trying to justify this one to themselves. :(
Lori J. recently posted...Project 365: August 2013
Yazmin says:
September 6, 2013
Honestly, I'm not sure he even bothered justifying. He is a man who felt he was in the "right" enough to lecture everyone on various issues. Some people are just that way. :/