Reasons Why You Should Reconsider Your Decision

This one photo sums up a million reasons why I will never be the kind of photographer who gets upset when guests take their own photos with their phones. Some may think it’s because I haven’t been in the industry long enough. Or because I haven’t been burned yet, over someone doing this. Maybe I’m just too naïve to know better or I’m too cheap to understand my worth, as some view this kind of behavior as being disrespected. The reason is none of the above. The only reason I can give you is because it’s the only photo I have of me and my brother on my wedding day. Just the two of us. This is when he stood in my dad’s place and walked me down the aisle.

My dad passed away, a few years prior to this day, so my brother had the duty of calming my nerves and trying to make me laugh as we headed down the aisle. I felt like I was going to pass out or puke, if I took one step into the church. As I look at this picture, I remember my brother telling me to chill out. “Relax,” he said, “this only happens once, so enjoy the walk.” Little did he know, I’d marry again fifteen years later, but that’s another blog. As they motioned for us to start walking down, he giggled at me and asked if I was ready. He told me to grab his arm and focus on what he’s saying. He told me to look at the altar and just smile. So that’s what I did. I couldn’t tell you who was in the crowd or what my Groom’s expression was when he saw me but I can tell you every word my brother said to me, every step of the way.

I also remember my pappaw standing at the end of the aisle. He was in the very front row and I probably only remember it because he grabbed my arm, pulling me out of my trance, as he leaned in and whispered, “are you sure you want to do this?” I remember I didn’t have a chance to answer him because my brother pulled me away. He had one job to do and he wasn’t allowing anyone to stand in the way of that. Once he got me to the Groom, the preacher asked who gives me to him, blah, blah, blah, and my brother said, “we all do, take her.” The whole church cracked up. I didn’t realize what was said because I was standing there like a psycho doll with a dry smile glued to my face.

Now, in light of everything I’ve just said here, I really couldn’t wait to get married but everything about the ceremony is a blur, except the one-on-one time I had with my brother. This one person who seems to play a small role on such a big day, is the only thing I vividly remember about the whole day. Other than family formals, which really, who keeps those? I didn’t see him again the rest of the night. He took off with some cousins and went to pick up some friends with our limo. Fast Forward seven years, my brother died and this is the only picture I have of us from my wedding day. This one photo floods me with so many emotions and memories all in one. I’m forever grateful to whomever took this photo. He has no idea how much happiness this has brought me over the years.

If you’re a Bride to be, do what is best for you. Don’t follow the crowds. If your family likes taking their own photos, just ask them to be discrete about it. All you want to do is make sure they aren’t obstructing the photo so the photographer doesn’t have to jump into photoshop too much. You never know what treasures await you from someone else’s view.

If you or anyone you know is looking for a photographer, I’d love to be considered. I’m the kind of photographer who puts your priorities over mine. I can lead and direct the whole day or I can follow the crowd and photograph what you give me, more candids if prefered. I’m ready to serve you in the style you’re accustomed too. Please reach out if I can be of further help or if you’d like to speak more in depth.

Love you, mean it,

Christy

Christy Sutherland