I love emotional weddings. Underneath my somewhat intimidating 6’4″ bearded viking exterior: I’m a big softy. Very often I’m tearing up right along with the people I’m photographing.

… and that’s the problem.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to focus a camera if you’re crying?!?… or much less even see what’s going on?

SeHee and John’s wedding represented the deepest union to them. John (who is normally a very cool customer) was immediately overwhelmed with gratitude and love from the moment SeHee stepped into view down the aisle. By the way, for those of you who think that seeing each other before the ceremony “ruins” something in the ceremony: SeHee and John had been around each other for about 2 hours before the ceremony even started and it obviously had no effect on the emotional potency of their ceremony.

It was the same with Charlotte and I: We got ready at the hotel together, walked across the street to the church together and separated at the chapel doors. I walked forward and took my position at the altar, and even though it had only been moments since I’d last seen her, the second she appeared at the top of the aisle it was as if I was seeing her for the first time. She was bathed in the light of love, God and hope. When you see your soon-to-be-wife walking down that aisle, there is no preparing for the flood of memories of your past and dreams of your future (together) that will wash over you.

It’s an honor to have to job that we have. It’s not gloating, but an acknowledgment of how awesome it is to have the responsibility of capturing these moments for our clients.