Today’s the last day of Spring Break, and I’m a bit sad it’s over. I’ve gotten a lot done in this week as far as shooting and especially editing. One main struggle I have as Fayetteville wedding photographer is juggling shooting and editing. I forced myself sit down Friday and I knocked out Dan and Jennifer’s wedding.
Fayetteville Wedding Photographer: Dan and Jennifer
This was a special day for me. Like several other weddings I’ve done, I knew the groom. Dan went to high school with me, so I felt a real connection with him and Jennifer. I also wanted the day to go perfectly for Jennifer because her mother wasn’t able to make it. We made a ceremony video just for her, so she could see the whole ceremony later. I wanted the photos to capture the beauty and magic of the day as well.
The ceremony took place at St. Joseph’s in Fayetteville. The dressing room was what appeared to be a classroom, so it wasn’t the best situation for photos, but we came up with some creative ways to make it look better. We took the details outside to try and find a better background. We found a wall to hang the dress and a stone stool to put the smaller details on. Jennifer had this special rosary, so I hung it on this other wall that was covered with vines. I got in nice and close so you couldn’t see all the other things going on around it. For a makeup shot, I placed a flash with a gel behind Jennifer and made a silhouette; this way you couldn’t see anything else in the room but her.
The ceremony was a full mass, which means there are a lot of things that happen. You’ve got singing, reading of scripture, greeting each other, and a lot of getting up and sitting down. One interesting thing did happen. Dan and Jennifer had a special bouquet of flowers, but when the time came for them, they didn’t know where they were. Dan was a trooper and ran back to the guys’ room to find it. Unfortunately it wasn’t there and we found it in a pew.
The reception was held at the Hilton Garden Inn, and this was a first for me. They had rented out one of the big rooms and did an amazing job transforming it. There was a large dance floor, the head table was all lit up, and the cake was on the coolest platform I have seen. Besides that, they had special macaroons made as gifts for the guests.
At one point in the night, I did some special portraits with each the bride and groom. With Dan, we did a long exposure. I had a few groomsmen run behind them with their phones using the flashlight. It created these cool streaks behind him. Then for Jennifer, I pulled out my Ice Light and did a dramatic head shot.
Dan and Jennifer are great people. They know how to enjoy life and are easy to be around. As a Fayetteville wedding photographer, I also want to do an amazing job, but when it’s for someone I know, the pressure is really on. There wedding was a beautiful day and I hope the photos truly capture that.
