My first wedding

I don't mean this is the first wedding I've ever been to, just the first wedding I've ever been to as a job. Of course, I felt the responsibility of taking good pictures, and I did get paid, but it didn't really feel like a job. 

Last year a married lady in my church asked if I would take the pictures for her and her husband's vow renewal. They had been married by a Justice of the Peace 10 years ago, but now they wanted to have a larger wedding, which included their 2 children, family, and friends. 

So I guess you could say it wasn't a full blown wedding, but it was just enough to get my feet wet in wedding photography. I stressed over what I was going to wear, worried over my lens and not getting good enough pictures, and was terrified of being in the wrong spot for the picture of "the moment" or saying or not saying something I needed to. Thankfully, those fears faded on the big day. I still had a touch of nerves, but as I walked around the familiar surroundings of my home church, with people I know and love, with the wonderful feel of my camera in my hands, it all felt right. And I was ok. All in all, it was a great experience to prepare me for my big wedding I'll be shooting in Florida in December.  

Now the editing process has begun, so I wanted to share a few pictures with you, of the preparations before the wedding. 

~Stephen and Cindi's wedding~  

I had so much fun spending time with friends while doing the job I love. A good friend of mine, Kathryne, did this wonderful wedding cake. Isn't it gorgeous? She's awesomely talented in many other areas as well. I told her that I wanted her to do my wedding cake. :)