I missed my close cousin’s wedding because I decided shooting the 2011 Indianapolis 500 was more important (to me).
I missed Rocky View Publishing’s Editor Stacie Snow’s wedding because I was shooting the 2011 Edmonton Indy.
I have missed a funeral or two, and generally hate the idea of shooting weddings, but recently I came across a great opportunity.
A Rocky View Weekly intern got married this past Saturday. I am writing this before the wedding has occurred, and due to my lack of knowledge surrounding the wedding, I am getting very nervous.
Alycia Kalupar, who interned here as a photographer for a month a couple years ago, is marrying her longtime love Kendall Till.
She approached me a number of months ago about the opportunity. She knows I don’t shoot weddings. She knows I shoot racing, and everything else under the sun.
I accepted this opportunity after hearing what other professional photographers in the industry with lots of experience charge for full-day service. Some charge $1,500, I have heard up to $10,000 at a time.
This intrigued me. Why not get some experience and try it out?
Due to my inexperience, I am charging considerably less than that. Kalupar chose me first of all because I am a friend, and secondly, she knows my style. She continually jokes that she will not be running down the aisle fast enough to pan her like a race car.
So, my concerns are as follows.
I know the bride personally, and we have had plenty of lunch and dinner meetings to chat about what she is looking for, so the typical bridezilla theory is out the window… but what about the groom?
I haven’t spoken to any other wedding shooters about the potential groomzillas, and because I do not know Mr. Till well, is this something I should be concerned about?
My second concern is having to deal with the paparazzi. With all due respect to everyone out there who owns a camera, I have to say the idea of setting up shots of the wedding party in a picturesque location, with the light in all the right places, and having Auntie Marg, and the father-of-the-bride over my shoulder taking the same photo freaks me out. I didn’t go to school for two years to have everyone with a Canon Rebel get the shots I am shooting.
Luckily, Kalupar shoots weddings herself and has planned everything as best she can to try and avoid having the paparazzi at her special day.
My last fear is weather.
Cameras, like people, are sensitive. You get a camera wet enough and it will decide to stop working like billionaire NHL owners in New York.
Rain, or even some mid-September snow would put a damper on my day, but, I have been hired to do a job, and will have to produce rain, snow or sleet. Maybe I can count on the old saying, “If you don’t like the weather in Calgary, wait five minutes.” Fingers crossed.
Either way, with my concerns, I am genuinely excited to document the Kalupar- Till wedding. There is a lot of pressure, but I work with weekly newspapers and cover professional motorsports on the side… I think two people coming together and inviting family and friends to celebrate their love should be one of the easier gigs of my career.
