It was my first wedding ever and I was scared as…well, you can only imagine. I had bailed on work that Friday to help a friend out under the guise of getting wedding cake at the end of the night. I never had intentions of becoming a wedding photographer. I never had intentions of owning a business. I never had the dream of owning a studio. I never…well…I could never imagine anything being what it is today. Never.

The day went on. The rain poured on. Her happiness never subsided. There was something about the day that just instantly made me fall in love. There was something about the day that made me work extra hard. There was something about the day that made me realize that this was what I was destined to do. That this would make me insanely happy. That this would turn mediocre dreams into outlandish realities.

Four years ago today, I shot my first wedding…ever. I went home that night insanely tired. Insanely achy. Insanely happy. I laid in bed that night after a hard day and whispered to Mike, “I’m going be a wedding photographer.” He flopped his arm across my back, pulled me closer and whispered, “uh huh…” This morning as I prepared to come into the studio I reminded him of this day four years ago and he said, “It seems so long ago.” For me however, it seems like only yesterday. I pulled out the DVD from the wedding and laughed. How in the world I thought back then that I would make this work is beyond me. It certainly wasn’t about the pictures! All I can say is that there’s something magical about wedding photography. There’s something amazing about being part of day. There’s something exhilarating and scary and fulfilling and awesome about what I get to for a living. It’s been a long, winding road…one that I hope never to see the end of.

Four years ago today, I did something that has completely changed my life and I couldn’t be happier.

So…this picture. We had just shot their first glance and were on our way downstairs for family formals when the couple and I became locked in a tiny stairwell that was being blocked on the other side by a grand piano. As we waited for the piano to be moved and the door to opened, I shot pictures. 

A fabulous bunch of people and places that made the day spectacular!

Church: Old. St. Joseph’s Church

Venue: Cescaphe

Band: Central Park

Florist: Carl Allan

Videography: Life Images

Photography: Isabel March Photography

Second Shooter: Girl Photography

I’m so, so excited for Leslie and Bill’s wedding next month…

BUT…every now and again, there’s a monkey wrench and I feel as though the whole week’s equilibrium is completely out of whack.

This week. Oh, this week! This week has been a complete, hot mess. It’s been full of unexpected meetings, appointments, computer issues, shoots, home improvement projects, dinner mishaps, lack of wine (tons of other whine). At one point this morning I looked at my sad list and sighed. Nothing that I had set out to do has been done. And here we are at Thursday. So, what do I do? I set realistic goals for the remainder of the week…starring the more important things that just need to get done…and simply adjusting my stance in anticipation of next week. It’s just the nature of the beast…but I find that by setting realistic and short term goals, I’m better equipped to make decisions that affect my current circumstances. Instead of getting sidetracked by goals that haven’t been met, this method curbs my frustrations and lets me enjoy where I am…today. And really, even if it’s only a piece of the whole cake…at least it’s still cake.

Now that it’s Wednesday…I can breathe just a little easier. Happy Wednesday, Internet!