One of the hardest things to hear as a photographer is that it’s going to be bad weather the entire day for an outdoor wedding.
My initial feeling (even after shooting for over 10 years) is panic. How am I going to get all of the formal photos in a small amount of time?
Once that feeling passes, I get to work. I research areas at the venue and surrounding areas to see where I can optimize on lighting (OCF if necessary) and dryness.
I formulate a new plan of attack, I get all of the necessary photos and the bride & groom are happy; not ecstatic. I need that one photo, that one captured moment to put them over the edge.
So I wait for that perfect moment, a break in the rain (it was for only a few minutes). I have all the necessary tools (ie. camera, settings, lighting, umbrella, pose to work off of) standing by.
When that break finally comes, I spring into action and tell the bride and groom, “it’s time.” They are now as excited as I am for the potential of this photo. I get the strobe in position, pose the couple and get into position.
I tell them, “Imagine you haven’t seen each other in months. You hold on to each other tightly and with anticipation you slowly move closer and closer to each other. You take everything in because you never want this moment to end. You both are so in tuned that you can feel each other’s heart beats in your hands.” I then have the groom place his hand on the brides hip and tell him to dip her slightly so as not to take her away from the protection of the umbrella.
I shoot. Perfection. A moment that will forever be remembered by the couple. A moment where the couple is happy that the weather was the way it was.
That is what photography is about. Writing a poem through the lens.