A challenging afternoon

So what happens when the photographer for your cousin’s wedding doesn’t show up, its five minutes before the ceremony starts and the bride is getting worried?

You put your skills to the test, of course.

I packed my camera for the wedding on the off chance I could chat with the photographer and ask to tag along and hold things after the ceremony to get some exposure to how a wedding shoot might work. I would have been seriously happy to just hold things and watch. I had my trusty OMD EM1 Mk 1 and my favourite 12-40mm f 2.8 lens, but I only had the batteries that were in my flash and no real way to know how much charge was left.

I took a deep breath, put on my most confident manner and set to work. There was no time to work out what photos were desparately wanted and where I could get the couple to pause - for the ceremony it was all reactionary and trying to run through my head what the traditional shots would be. My family were supportive with comments of “just do your best”. This was really their first opportunity to see what “my best” could be.

The dappled light was definitely challenging to work with, but the green of the plants in the afternoon light was amazing.

After the ceremony, the staff at Cedar Creek Lodges were extremely helpful and suggested some locations other wedding photographers would use after the ceremony. I really appreciated this, as I had not had time to scout the area. My favourite photos of the day were taken just after sunset. This was about the point I was worried about how much battery I had left in my flash.

After photos with the bridal party and a short break for everyone to catch their breath, we returned to the reception area. for dinner and dancing.

This was a good, if slightly chaotic and nerve wracking experience, but I learn and adapt well under pressure and I am proud of the results. The photo of the happy couple kissing with the moon in the background won a commended award from Capture Magazine’s Australasia’s Top Wedding Photographers 2021 competition!

Things I definitely learned from this experience were to always carry spare batteries for my flash to reduce that anxiety. For the next wedding I shoot, I really hope to be able to discuss expectations with the bride and groom before the event begins.

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