In Front of the Lens: A Photographer's Wedding

For almost a decade I have been photographing weddings...and on this day, I, the wedding photographer, was the bride. Much is different on such a day when you are in front of a camera, rather than behind it.

From my view as a photographer of such an important day, such as a wedding day, I have been privy to a multitude of intrinsically beautiful moments. Instances that have made me laugh, tenderness that has made me cry and emotion that has made my heart swell and appreciate the simplicity and yet, irreplaceable value of love. Family. Beloveds. Life. All from behind my camera, quietly I observe hour upon hour the details, the sentiments and exchanges. I record all of these monumental moments packed into an incredibly fast-paced day. What an honor and privilege it is to watch these events unfold in front of my lens.

I document love.

From my view as a bride on such an personal and special day, where I am not directing and posing but rather being posed and directed—it is a phenomenal whirlwind of activity, spotlight and excitement. I understand in that moment both what the bride and photographer make happen on that day and the importance of both roles. I have to remember that I am not the "photographer" that day. I am not framing anything except the mental snapshots I take in my mind of the people I love. My only captures are the ones I am silently taking in my heart and soul of the beautiful split seconds of this fleeting and delicate day.

How does the wedding photographer go about selecting her very own wedding photographer? In my case...fate. Another photographer whose style is quite similar to my own contacted me about photographing her own wedding this year. I laughed at the irony as I myself was trying to figure out who I would hire to shoot my own wedding. The beauty of this industry is sometimes you get lucky enough to trade services with really great photographers. Nico Studios did an incredible job in such a short amount of time covering my day. I was also lucky to have my own second shooter Ashley Potterbaum, who has worked with me consistently for several years, work as a second shooter for Nico Studios on my wedding day.

Being a wedding photographer wasn't something I ever saw myself doing. I studied Fine Art in college and went on to pursue a career in graphic design and marketing. All of those years were stepping stones to where I am today. One of the most wonderful things about life's journey is that we start out sometimes on one path—not knowing the entire time that it's leading us to a greater path, the very one we were meant for. My heart is full of gratitude. I have been on both sides of the wedding camera. And respectively, have been able to appreciate and admire each multi-faceted side.