When is a wedding fun to shoot???

A wedding is only really fun for me to shoot when the couple Im shooting are truly relaxed, having fun and a joy to be around...eachother!  Sounds like every wedding right?  Not so from a photography perspective... All too often weddings are set up like a fashion shoot and the photographers job is more about staging phony setups and poses that would belong in a bridal magazine rather than a personal wedding album.  These photos say absolutly nothing about that couple, who they are and what they really mean to one another. I have always steered away from these types of weddings because it becomes more of a production than a celebration of two people joining their lives.  I honeslty think that the heart and soul is missing in alot of wedding portraits of today.  In my view, the photographer is there to witness the event and capture it from afar, but with the close eye of a lens... This is what can capture those real honest moments; the moments that their partner saw in the first place that made them fall in love...  Wedding photography should capture all of those things and more... now of course you have to have those set ups with family, etc...but those shots can be a celebration too, and one in which everyone is alive, experiencing joy, having a good time and most importantly; a reflection of the couple they are there to honor...thats what I loved about shooting R&R's wedding.  They were just being themselves, and I just fleeted around that day.  I was a witness who happned to have a camera in tow.  Joy breeds joy and thats the energy that was flowing this afternoon and everyone was infected with that spirit.  I was smiling when I was taking these pictures because I felt the connection between these two, and it was powerful.  When that happens you capture magic, you feel what they feel, you see through their eyes forever.

Have something to say when you have something to shoot...

Its been awhile since Iv posted, and not because I don't have new pictures to post, quite the contrary...  I think I just have not had much to say, and why write something when you don't really have any new insight at the time? Today however was quite a new venture for me and one that is really inspiring and no doubt will fulfill another dream - mixing two passions and coming up with one fantastic piece of joy.   Animals (plus) photography (equals) joy.  To rewind a bit.  Some or maybe more than some of you know about my recent loss of my beautiful baby maine coon kitten due to a very swift and deadly virus called FIP which is thought to be caused by the corona virus.  Apparently lots of kittens are exposed to the corona virus...about 80% are carriers, and only 5-10% of those experience the mutation of the virus, and unfortunately there is no cure at this time. It was of course awful and no need to go into all of that except to say if you have ever lost a pet due to any reason you know the pain involved.  So I happen to "get adopted" by a new kitten a day after I had to put my baby down... yes one day...  It just happened and here I am with a brand new fragile furry life.  I took pictures of this beautiful creature thinking I was going to adopt her out... Well, that snowballed into taking pictures for a shelter that rescues orphaned / abandoned cats and kittens back to health in order to ready for adoption.  So today I put aside my human clients for a smidgen of time to focus on using my photography for a "cause" for the first time in a long time, and it felt like ... well it was what the big man put us on earth to do...to effect a change and do something in order to better ourselves and hopefully our fellow peeps.  I had a blast taking pictures of all these beautiful creatures and hope this will help spurn pet seeking onlookers to maybe take a pause at these beautiful  photos...why?  Because animals are mysterious, beautiful, loving, joy and speak to us through their  poignant honesty with just a look.  They are simple creatures made up, from what I have always experienced, of a few ingredients...  Patience, Forgiveness and of course unconditional love...  There was one doggie out of all the kittys today I happend to take a picture of, and this little guy really represents every shelter, rescue organization and animal cause out there... His name is Hero and he was beaten with a pipe on his head by his owner.  Thank god was rescued in the nick of time from the abuse.  He was the friendliest, cuddliest, cutest pup I have laid my eyes on and if I had  200 acre ranch (fenced in of course)  I would have taken him on the spot with all the other animals I met today.  He just wanted to play,  be a dog and please us silly humans.  I was apart of his getting better today by playing with him, loving him and letting him know all of us are not bad people and I also took his picture... a beautiful picture of a beautiful animal who maybe will get a visit so folks could see what I did through my lens with that silent strong spirit.  It was one of the best shoots I have ever had, and I will never forget what I learned and what I can do now with my photography.  It is art and that is beautiful, but it can also be a cause that can effect change.  For more information on Hero and all the other animals I met today please visit "Another Chance Cat Rescue" on facebook