This wedding will always be super special to me because it was my VERY FIRST time helping to shoot a wedding! I've always wanted to get into wedding photography, but had no idea where to start. I definitely was not even close to marketing myself as a wedding photographer because, well, I had never shot a wedding before and a wedding is something you CANNOT take the chance of messing up! This is a once in a lifetime moment for the couple and the thought of missing shots, delivering sub-par photos of their special day is just not something I want to ever experience!
When I started practicing photography again, taking online courses, and upgrading my equipment, my coworkers were (and still are!) extremely supportive! One of my coworkers (unfortunately now ex-coworker) mentioned her sister was getting married. I half jokingly asked if she needed a wedding photographer. Amanda said no, but she would ask her sister if I could come to help out her photographer. Of course, I thought that was super sweet of her, but there was no way that would ever happen.
Well, I was so wrong! Amanda reached out to me close to a year later and asked if I was still interested in helping to shoot her sister Melanie's wedding!!! Melanie and her photographer were perfectly happy to have me there to help! OMG! My first instinct was to say no thanks because I was scared to death to get out of my comfort zone! But I knew this kind of opportunity doesn't come along often, if at all, so I went for it! I was going to help shoot my very first wedding!!!
To say this was a great opportunity is a complete understatement! It was a small wedding with a backyard reception and I was perfect! The bride and groom were an absolute joy to work with...so kind and gracious and grateful! Melanie was a stunning bride and knowing what a wonderful person she is just made her even more beautiful! It was a sweltering hot day and I was nervous from start to finish, but I loved it! I couldn't have asked for a better first experience and I will be forever grateful to Amanda and Melanie for believing in me!
