Please excuse me while I clear these thoughts that have been in my head the past few weeks.
Weddings, that’s what I am talking about. I have been asking myself (and since some clients) “what does a wedding mean to you”? The response all round has been interesting.
To me a wedding is ALL about the marriage. It is about two people declaring their love and committing to a lifetime of love, laughter and wedded bliss. It is about the families now being joined through the bride and groom and their friends all coming together and supporting them.
Over the weekend I had the pleasure of working with a Brisbane Master Photographer – Ben Clark. This allowed me to actually soak up the wedding that I was witnessing. It really made me realise just what we were photographing. I looked over and saw the Father of the Bride bursting with pride as he watched his wife lace his daughter into her stunning gown. I saw four bridesmaids that loved and supported their friend as she prepared to marry the man of her dreams. The boys were laughing and having fun as they helped their mate (the groom) dress and organise his morning before he headed to the church.
I am a hopeless romantic. As far back as I can remember I wanted to get married and live the fairytale with the man of my dreams. Lucky for me I am right now! When I meet couples and discuss their wedding day it isn’t the finer details that get me excited it is how they met, what they love about each other and what their dreams are together as a couple. I want to get into their souls and know them on a deeper level. I believe this helps me photograph them better.
Why am I sharing all of this I hear you ask?
2012 has seen me cut back on the number of weddings I shoot per year. It was a conscious decision late last year after a massive (yet beautiful) year of weddings. Although each wedding I have photographed has been important to me and I have felt connected with the couple I wanted to take things to a new level. I want to give MY soul to each couple that I photograph to then become part of the day and not just photograph it.
I declared this year that I have client-friends and not just clients. At the end of the day clients do pay my bills and help my family survive. But that is not the motivation for me (clients will tell you that I actually never know what they owe me without asking my husband/accountant). The motivation for me is to be part of their lives, not just for a fleeting moment but long term. I aim to connect with each and every client on this deeper level.
Thank you for letting me ramble and share who I am on this blog. Although it is hard to put into words at times what my “job” and my client-friends mean to me I hope this helps just a little.
It’s going to be cold tonight and I plan to sit in front of the fire with my “fairytale family”. Hugs!!
Comments
Susan you are truly a beautiful soul. Nothing is more rewarding in business than having client-friends xo
You’re so sweet. Love your attitude towards life and work.
Susan you are a great photographer and a great friend.. I think with every wedding we shoot we do become a part of the couples day, I always feel like a part of the family when I leave at the end of the night, usually with big hugs as I wave goodbye knowing that what I’ve captured will be a part of the family history forever .. You are so much more than just a photographer …
PS Thanks for the almonds …
:O)
Susan you are such a wonderful person with a beautiful soul. Tommy and I think ourselves so lucky that we have you to share our special day with us. Thankyou xoxo
Susan we feel just the same about you! A wedding lasts a day but the love shared on that day lasts a lifetime. You capture that love for all the world to admire! Thank You x
Suse, you nailed it! You are so special and I am grateful every single day to call you my best friend. xx
We’ve only met a few times, but in those times I have deduced you are a generous soul, and being a generous soul you can’t do any less than give your all when you take on clients. It shows in your work – that’s why your photographs are so good. I know what you mean – the marriage is about the relationship and knowing what the relationship means to my clients helps me create more meaningful and personal ceremonies for them. Keep up the good work.
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