Sometimes your friends help you in the best ways.
I was lucky enough to shoot another wedding back in early October, with the lovely Keith and Nyssa. It was a lovely day and ceremony filled with beautiful and friendly people. I was very grateful to shoot two people that were truly in love.
But I’m getting ahead of myself here, let’s go back to the beginning. How’d I get this job?
I use to work at Dick Smith Electronics when that was still a brick and mortar store. I was only there for a year but I’ve made some good memories and even better friends out of it. One particular person, Ralph, I still talk to on a regular basis. I love Ralph, and he’s such a funny, genuine man and I’m glad to know him. One day, we were chatting away and he asked me a simple enough and innocuous question.
“Do you still do wedding photography?”
I answered positively, thinking it was just a random question. Before I could even ask why, Ralph’s added me into a chat with me, himself and Keith. He introduced us then left the group. I had no idea what was going on, but very quickly, Keith and I started chatting. The next thing I knew, I’d had a wedding booked for Keith and Nyssa. It wasn’t until October, as it was booked back in early 2019, but before I knew it the day had arrived.
The wedding was taking place at Mt Annan Botanical Gardens, right in my backyard, so I ventured out to scout the gardens and find some good places to shoot. I took my notebook and found a whole bunch of nice places to shoot, taking very detailed notes and went home satisfied knowing I’d got some places to capture the day.
As luck would have it, two days before the wedding, Keith messaged me. Thinking it was just to ask a question or two he dropped a bomb on me. “Hey, it’s suppose to rain on the wedding day”. My heart stopped. I’d planned the whole day around the fact it wasn’t going to rain. But it would be OK, they explained to me they’d be given an alternative at the garden. Everything would be fine.
I met Keith and Nyssa the next day at the gardens, as we were going to go through the changes and solve any last minute dilemmas or questions. We strolled around the gardens a bit and took in the alternative venue of the Plant Bank. It was a lovely building and when we walked in we realised everything was going to be OK. We left each other, confident in the fact that we knew the day would go smoothly.
The big day had arrived. And as we expected it was raining. I packed my gear, double checked everything and headed off to the hotel the soon to be wed were staying at. I first went to each other’s respective rooms and captured them getting ready.
The two had asked me previously, in a request I wasn’t expecting, if they could go out before the wedding ceremony itself and capture some photos. I was all for it, and with the weather being how it was, it seemed like a good idea. As soon as they were ready, we jumped in the car and went out to shoot. We grabbed some lovely shots and before we knew it, it was time to grab the rest of the wedding parties and head to the ceremony.
Everything came together perfectly, with the venue and the preparations, all the worries we had, evaporated once we saw the Plant Bank set up. Nothing would ruin the day.
Like the last wedding I shot, I wanted to make sure I caught everything I possibly could in the ceremony. I couldn’t ask them to repose or anything so it was a one and done deal. I was nervous as all hell, I stressed the entire ceremony. But I was lucky, Keith and Nyssa were so easy going that they made it easy and simple to shoot.
The ceremony was done, and we ventured out into the gardens with the wedding party to capture some photos. Luckily I was able to salvage some of my original plans and we ventured around the main garden, taking advantage of the scenery to make some memories. We only had just over an hour until the reception so we made our way around before heading there. We did make a detour into the playground nearby and had some fun. But before we knew it, it was time to head to the reception.
That’s when the party started. Food and drink flowed, people chatted and danced the night away. As the night drew to a close, people were saying their goodbyes and filing out, I looked back on the photos I’d taken from the entire day, and I noticed how happy and in love Keith and Nyssa were. I’d only known them for a short time, but I could tell almost right away, they were perfect for each other.
Thank you to Keith and Nyssa for letting me be a part of your day, and giving me a chance to capture your day. Enjoy the rest of your life together.
Brendan