ramblings of a wedding photographer
Monday, May 23, 2011 at 12:01PM Before I dive in head first to editing thousands of photos from this past week, I feel it necessary to write. It can be all too easy for me to get a bit overwhelmed when I have loads of work ahead of me and as I was praying about that this morning I felt the Lord pushing me to talk about why it is I do what I do for a living.
I photograph weddings. To some this may seem like a simple task of putting on a pretty outfit, grabbing my camera and heading out the door to take pictures. Yes, I take pictures. I photograph weddings. But to me it is so much more than that. It is one of the highest honors of my lifetime. I am invited to document the moments on one of the most important days in someone’s life. I have witnessed more than a normal person’s share of weddings in the past several years. I have made mistakes along the way, I have tried to fit into a mold at times and I have come out on the other side feeling very confident in who Shannon Phillips is as a wedding photographer. I am an emotional woman and I am the best version of myself when I live from my heart. The same is true when I photograph weddings. I have heard other very successful photographers offer their advice to not show your emotions when you are shooting or let them get in the way of capturing the moments that may be happening. I tried that and it just makes me feel disconnected. For me, the best photos that I take come when I am fully in that moment, feeling what my clients may be feeling. That means that you may see tears come out of my eyes. I have learned to keep shooting through the tears in order to shoot with my heart. It is just one of the ways that I worship in my daily life. The Author of love is so evident in every special moment of a wedding.
Wedding photography is not just a “job” for me. I am inspired by the love and passion that my clients share. It inspires me to love deeper and to appreciate my husband the way that I did the day that I said “I do.” The love and emotion of a wedding is my favorite part of a wedding day and I have learned that embracing it helps to make my photos come alive. I want my brides and grooms to look at their photos ten, twenty or fifty years from now and remember exactly how they felt in that moment. THIS is why I am a wedding photographer.
As I sit at my computer for hours on end this week editing photos, I am working on someone’s most precious memories. It is good to remind myself of this.
Reader Comments (10)
you are so pretty. and this is a lovely post.
Love it! At Laura's wedding Saturday, you jumped up excited about one of the pictures you took! We all thought that was AWESOME!! I agree with you. I think the best photographers shoot with their heart.
Ha ha! Kara that is seriously making me crack up. I am such a dork!
Shannon. I love this.
And, I completely agree with you! How can we capture these most precious moments in one's life & not laugh with them. Not cry with them. I am so glad you shared this! I feel like I know you heart so much better.
P. S. I loved your comment about how you have make mistakes but still love who Shannon Phillips is. That is so honest, & I love it. I feel like we can live in fear, and forget that we ALL are emotional, flawed creatures. But... I think that humanity in us is what makes us artists & documenters.
Love it. Thanks for sharing!
Good luck getting everything done! xoxo
You have such a beautiful heart, Shannon. I'm so blessed to know you!
I heard a quote a long time ago...“Great dancers aren't great because of their technique; they are great because of their passion.”
I feel the same way about photography...your photography. Keep up the phenomenal work.
Shannon, you're adorable!!! Great Blog and great photos... of course! :) Always love reading from you xoxo Savannah
I am SO excited to have you take our photos. I LOVE reading your blog, and looking at your pictures. I have never been a wedding daydreamer, and probably a little too practical for my own good, at times... :) So... for me to look at your photos over and over again means I am REALLY excited and CAN. NOT. WAIT. I'm not one who poses well for photos, so I'm so glad you are a natural, emotional photographer. I think you're great and I've only met you through your pictures. Obviously, you capture person-hoods well. And now I will stop rambling...
Shannon,
You have truly found your calling, not only that but you I believe you have been touched by God with your talent. You made us feel at ease when taking our pictures, and I am grateful that we found you! Your pictures feel like they let us in on the "story", and yes there are even some that made me cry just looking at them...so I can just imagine shooting all that emotion first hand! Keep up the wonderful and amazing work you do. Just know that you touch peoples lives by doing what you do. People all around the world will be viewing our photos and I couldn't be prouder than for you to be the one shooting them. Your passion makes you even more precious...always hold on to it. P.S. can't wait for September!!!
Your post brought tears to my eyes...As a matter of fact I am crying right now! God gave you such a great talent and you use it in honor of the the Lord...You never take it for granted, you photograph from your heart; which is so personal and precious....No wonder you are so busy, people can sense all this just by seeing your work or spending some time with you. I am so proud of you Shan!