This weekend I am shooting my first wedding (with a camera, not a gun). I can then add wedding photos to my photography site (which still needs a little tweaking, but just let me survive the next two weeks of accounting work first).
This is where I add a (very) small rant. Why is it that people feel it is their duty to rain on your parade? While most folks have been nothing but encouraging, a few random people I have talked to apparently are unable to actually comprehend the words that are spewing out of their mouths.
They say things like, “I could NEVER shoot a wedding. I could not handle all of the stress!”, or “Wow! Are you scared you might mess up? You only have one chance, you know”.
Thanks for being so, ahem, uplifting. Haters.
I am not talking about close friends who ask if I am nervous. They ask because they care, and want to see how I am doing. For the record, I am not really nervous. I am a little nervously excited, but not skeered or anything. The whole gig came about when a local girl who reads my site asked if I would be interested in shooting her wedding. She knows I have not done this before, but likes my style of photography. No pressure! Just fun!
They are getting married in a gorgeous spot. On the outskirts of town, overlooking a ravine on one side and the lake on the other, is an agricultural research station. They have a vast expanse of Ornamental Gardens. It is lush, and green, and bursting with beautiful flowers.
I took the kids up there this afternoon to “case the joint”. I wanted to wander around at the same time of day as the wedding will be held in order to get an idea of what the lighting will be like and such. On the way there, Miss Emily had a ten minute siesta in the car.

Sigh.
The kids had a great time wandering the trails and checking out all of the flowers. They stopped for a rest.

We wandered down the path that lead to the big ravine. The kids were fascinated with the raging waters down below.

I thought they looked so cute standing there that I got snap-happy.

I have also gone a little editing-happy, it appears.

I have been meaning to update some of the 8×10 photos I have of these guys (and gal) on display . I cannot decide on which one I should frame.
Which one would you pick?
43 Comments
Have fun with the wedding pics! It sounds like a great place for photos. I love the middle one of all three of them. They’re gorgeous.
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Comment by Missy on June 17th, 2008 @ 1:41 amI love the last one the best, but I guess since it’s in colour, it will depend on your decor. The middle one is my second choice. Such a cute photo
You are going to do an AWESOME job shooting the wedding, ignore the haters and just listen to the cool people (like me) … “YOU ARE GOING TO ROCK!!!!!!”
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Comment by Hannah on June 17th, 2008 @ 2:46 amI like the last picture the best.
Don’t listen to the haters. You’ll do great! You always take such fabulous pictures.
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Comment by K on June 17th, 2008 @ 5:13 amI like the last one best! But I also like the one of them sitting on the bench. So precious! Good luck at the wedding - just have fun!
Comment by Michelle on June 17th, 2008 @ 6:08 amI like the middle one, plus I would like to know how to make photos look like that. Care to share???
Comment by Heidi on June 17th, 2008 @ 6:16 amBench shot shows their faces. I’m just sayin.
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Comment by witchypoo on June 17th, 2008 @ 6:27 amGood luck!!
I’m a sucker for b/w. ![]()
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You’ll do great at that wedding…sounds a lot like the place we had our wedding. And you’ll be shooting digitally, I assume, so that’s a total advantage. You can shoot all you want and eliminate anything that doesn’t work out later on. I think it’s great that your site generated some business for you!
I like the middle shot best, myself. You’re right, they are really cute all lined up like that.
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Comment by Assertagirl on June 17th, 2008 @ 6:45 amYou’ll be great!
I like the second to last one best!
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Comment by Kristabella on June 17th, 2008 @ 7:02 amMy favorite is the second-to-last one. What did you use to edit it? What effect?
I get to do a wedding soon too, except I’m a bit nervous about it. I’m sure it’ll be fine, and it’s my sister-in-law who knows that I’ve also never done it before. I’m excited about it.
I’m also excited for you - and especially for you to show us what you accomplished. I do come here to hear (read?) what you have to say, but I also love your eye for capturing moments.
Have fun!
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Comment by Mrs. Wilson on June 17th, 2008 @ 7:04 amI like the middle one the best. Lovely photos!
I also think it would be cute to have the one of them on the bench, but that’s just me.
Oh, that’s my plan! I should have been clearer
I like the sepia one.
congrats on the wedding gig!
Comment by gorillabuns on June 17th, 2008 @ 7:48 amThe one of them on the bench is so cute. They are ALL cute but I am partial to that one and the second to last one.
I’m sure you will have fun shooting the wedding!
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Comment by sizzle on June 17th, 2008 @ 8:10 amI love the desaturated photo the best….I really pops. Weddings are fun, I admit I was nervous the first wedding I shot, just because it was new, but I enjoyed it. Have fun, you take awesome pics and it will show that you love what you do!!
Comment by Heather on June 17th, 2008 @ 8:10 amGood luck. I’ve shot two weddings in my life and they were fun. I just wish that I had had the camera I have now
With your camera - it will be a joy! Natural colours are my thing. I like number three.
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Comment by Elizabeth on June 17th, 2008 @ 8:16 am“I could NEVER shoot a wedding. I could not handle all of the stress!”
That sentence may just be their preference, not necessarily haterade. Still insensitive though.
“Wow! Are you scared you might mess up? You only have one chance, you know”.
This one is awfully passive-aggressive and it just reeks of sour grapes. Don’t let them get you down. You know you’ll do great. It’s people like that we all want to be rid of in our lives.
And as always, I prefer the BW. ![]()
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Congrats on the wedding gig, and good luck! I know you’ll do a fabulous job!
I definitely love the sepia-toned one.
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Comment by Sharon on June 17th, 2008 @ 9:06 amI think the second one is my favorite - great color, the kids are in great positions, and just all around beautiful.
This girl was so smart to ask you to do her wedding - I am sure she will be thrilled! I can tell you are excited about this opportunity! Have a wonderful, wonderful time!
-Andrea
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Comment by Andrea on June 17th, 2008 @ 9:10 amI’d pick the second to the last one. It’s lovely. Have fun and good luck at the wedding!
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Comment by Kristie on June 17th, 2008 @ 9:11 amI like the last one best - it looks like they’re glowing ![]()
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I love the way their hands are placed in the b&w one (especially Emily’s and Nathan’s) but love the sepia colour. Great pics!
Comment by Heidi F on June 17th, 2008 @ 9:36 amI really like the second last one.
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Comment by Kindra on June 17th, 2008 @ 9:38 amI like the second one of the three of them standing looking at the raging waters below!
Cute chubby legs and all in a row! ![]()
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Can’t wait to see the wedding photos. How’s the weather looking. My fave is the second last one too. Sepia? But still some colour? Very cool.
Comment by Rachel Joy on June 17th, 2008 @ 10:34 amI think I like the middle pic of the kids by the fence best, but the editing on the last one best…
I also love the one of the 3 of the sitting on the bench, so cute!
Looking forward to seeing the pics you take at the wedding! Have fun!!
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Comment by Kristin on June 17th, 2008 @ 10:43 amYou will do great! I would totally say I would never do a wedding but then again, I don’t want to. Cleary you do, and you will do great because you love it! That’s all that matters….we should all think before we speak
I can’t wait to see the wedding photos, good luck (not that you need it!) and have a blast!
Oh and I am with everyone else on the bench one and my favourite is the second one of them standing. I love the colours in it, very artsy ![]()
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middle one! for sure!
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Comment by Her Bad Mother on June 17th, 2008 @ 11:23 amThe B&W or the last one. All of them are gorgeous. And what a great photographer, casing the place beforehand. I bet a LOT of couples wish their very pricey photographer had done something similar. Experience or not, you can’t beat passion which you have in spades.
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Comment by She Likes Purple on June 17th, 2008 @ 12:01 pmI like the middle one the best!
Good luck Ange! You’ll do great. After you have one under your belt, you’ll feel that much more confident and have just that much more experience. You’ll rock it.
Comment by Jen on June 17th, 2008 @ 12:22 pmmiddle. love!
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Comment by ali on June 17th, 2008 @ 1:57 pmyou will be fantastic at wedding photos! not only because you TAKE great photos, but your personality is confident and fun and THAT will put everyone at ease.
i’ve shot weddings part-time for the last 5 years and love it (and still get excited nervous). my unsolicited advice: make sure to pack extra flash batteries, extra camera battery or charger. it doesn’t hurt to throw into your bag some shout wipes, bandaids and a little sewing kit. somehow being the photographer and being everywhere all day- makes you the go-to person and it makes you seem like the hero
my choice for the 8×10 print… bw fence shot. it’s classic.
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Comment by steph h on June 17th, 2008 @ 2:20 pmI like the last one….its pretty and soft. Have fun shooting your wedding, yahoooo….fun fun fun!! Thats all thats important is that you enjoy yourself and all will be well!!!
xo
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Comment by Heidi on June 17th, 2008 @ 3:38 pmdelurking to say congrats on the gig.
I like the middle one.
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Comment by SmockLady on June 17th, 2008 @ 6:38 pmLOVE the b&w for the emotion of it, and the last one for the amazing tones, like a painting almost. But you certainly can’t go wrong (dontcha hate decisions like that?). You will do AWESOME on the job, just trust yourself.
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Comment by Kaza on June 17th, 2008 @ 8:33 pmI love that kind of Sepia colored one. They sure are cute on the bench too! Good luck with the wedding pics!
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Comment by Elaine on June 17th, 2008 @ 8:48 pmI was thinking yesterday about the word encourage and how the root word is courage and essentially to encourage is to equip or enable the person to have courage. So I want to give you courage and tell you that you have everything it takes to do an amazing job. Everything. Now…go henceforth and have courage and you will be fantastic. I can’t wait to see the pics!
I like the middle picture. Nice and warm and bright. And will go great with your decor. Just an opinion.
Are you done work yet? I miss you.
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Comment by christy on June 17th, 2008 @ 9:05 pmThe last one. Good luck!
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Comment by slynnro on June 17th, 2008 @ 9:32 pmYou will do wonderful with your first wedding shoot! We can’t wait to see the photos.
I vote for the second shot, although all three are pretty cute! Good thing for you, you’ve got such lovely subjects to work with!
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Comment by Ashley on June 17th, 2008 @ 10:12 pm[...] scoping out the ornamental gardens on Monday afternoon, I took the kids to the water park. It was a tough sell, what with all of the [...]
Comment by Dutch Blitz » Waterlogged on June 18th, 2008 @ 7:45 amdefinatley the last one. LOVE.IT! you are fabulous behind the camera and a i am sure you will do a fantastic job with your wedding gig. i only wish i could say i was as talented.
Comment by Melissa on June 18th, 2008 @ 8:53 am[...] Gardens. You may remember me posting about the Gardens back in June when I took the kids there to case the joint for a wedding I was shooting. I have not been up there since June so I thought we should go and see what the Gardens looked like [...]
Comment by Dutch Blitz » Fallin’ on October 15th, 2008 @ 12:02 am





I cannot wait to see the wedding pics on your website! I love looking at wedding photos, they are so beautiful! I’m sure you’ll do a great job! I love the picture of Emily sleeping, so peaceful! I think I would pick the middle photo of all three kids to hang on the wall, but I love them all!
Comment by Michele on June 17th, 2008 @ 12:24 am