Life in Provo

Once I photographed a wedding where the bride got really drunk, talked really loud, and belittled the guests. And everyone went along with it. I wondered if they did so because they were used to it, or because it was her special day. It kind of made me sad.

I remember when that bride and I first met. She was sweet and pleasant. That’s the way I want to remember her, but the dominating memory is of her booing when someone sang a song.

Last night I photographed a wedding and the bride was just about as sweet as can be for the whole day. That’s been my experience at most weddings. It sure makes me like my job more and I leave feeling good about marriage in general, and specifically my own marriage.

I’ll admit it. I was nervous. But only about an hour before I was supposed to be there. During the week, just excited. Then, Saturday. I went to Banana Republic and bought new pants. Sale pants: $20. Then I went home and took a nap. I wanted to be all the way rested.

Then I started to get nervous. I went to Days Market and bought a rotisserie chicken. I’ve read somewhere that that’s supposed to calm your nerves. Just kidding. I didn’t read that. I just love a good rotisserie chicken.

I should say that I wasn’t nervous about getting good pictures. I didn’t have any doubt that I could perform. I’ve shot a couple hundred events and can get great pictures in any lighting condition and under any circumstances. So the thing I was nervous about was meeting “him”.

We arrived at the location right on time. Amy thought I was nuts getting there so early, but as it turned out, that was the perfect time to get there. Just enough time get the low down of how plans had changed since the last time we talked, and how things were going to play out during the night.

It should also be said that I signed a non-disclosure agreement stating that I wouldn’t talk about what went on during the party. So let me stop the narrative right there, and say, everything was perfect. I shouldn’t have been nervous. There was nothing to be nervous about. I had a great time and got great pictures.

And I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll get to do something like that again.

Today I signed two legal documents, both exciting. The first, a lease on a new office. It’s just two doors down from my current office, but has more possibilities than my current space, which I do love. My current space is cozy and comfortable and has a really great vibe. The new space is bigger and once I give it the once-over, will be an improvement on what I’ve got. The second legal document I signed today was a non-disclosure agreement for a fancy party I’m shooting. It’s for a famous person and that person keeps his personal life out of the public eye. So, a non-disclosure agreement is all part of the deal.

Two portrait sessions today. One girl rounded up her two sisters and her mother and came to be photographed. While there, right during the portrait session, she announced she was pregnant. The mother and the two sisters went nuts. Well played, I thought, and I felt privileged to be able to photograph that beautiful moment.

The other portrait session, a bridal session, was of a couple that actually got married last week. I’m not quite sure why I was doing a bridal session, but what the hey, it was fun and I got great pictures. She works at the BYU library. I told her I just had a show there. She said, I know. I saw your posters. I called my mom and said, he’s got something here at BYU so he must be good.