They say you never forget your first.
Shooting my first wedding was both exciting and nerve-wracking. Though technically this was the second wedding that I booked, it would be the first one that I shot as the lead photographer. Michelle, a good friend of mine from university, was getting married to Ryan, and I was thrilled to be able to capture their special day.
I over-prepared, renting out extra equipment for every plausible scenario. As I drove to the bride’s house, I could feel my nerves start to kick in. This was a big day for Michelle and Ryan, and I wanted to make sure I did everything I could to capture it perfectly.
Luckily for me, Michelle was an incredibly organized bride. She had an extremely detailed schedule and had built in good buffer times in her schedule. This gave me plenty of time to capture all of the important moments without feeling rushed or stressed.
Nellany, who was my girlfriend at that time, was Michelle's maid of honour, so she wasn’t shooting with me, however, Dorothy, who is a phenomenal artist and wedding photographer, second shot with me.
I remember all the nerves leaving me and the thrill of the hunt building as I set out to capture the emotions, smiles, tears, moments between the couple, and the guests. As the day progressed, I started to feel more comfortable behind the camera barking out instructions ensuring to capture all of the important moments but also capturing candid moments between the couple and of the guests enjoying themselves and having a good time.
Overall, shooting my first wedding as a professional photographer was a fantastic experience. I had a blast capturing Michelle and Ryan's special day, and I was grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such an important moment in their lives. It was a great feeling to see the joy on their faces when they received the photos, and it made me excited to shoot more weddings in the future.
