Another wedding season upon me

It is a week until my first wedding for the year, and I am so excited! I had most of the winter months off to clean my house, learn some new technical things with my camera and be able to spend time with my munchkin. I am so ready to get back into doing what I love....

I think of the many different turns my life has made over the years. Leaving Fort Wayne to go to a huge university and pursuing my career goal of becoming a counselor was a huge disappointment. The academic counselors fail to mention that as a psych major you'll have a pretty difficult time finding a job unless you continue on for your PhD. All my life I have loved helping people, I've been "that friend". Ya know, that friend that everyone else tells their problems to, that people come to seeking advice, the one who goes out on a limb no matter the situation because they are truly dedicated to their friendships. Either you are a friend like that, or you have one like that....so when choosing my degree in college, it seemed like a no brainer that I should become a psychologist; afterall, I'd been doing it for years already and not getting paid for it.

Well...I am so glad that God had a different plan for my life, that still entailed the knowledge I gained while studying psychology. Now, instead of spending 10+ hours in an office and listening to all the travesties in someone's life (which by the way is still a very necessary profession), I get to be a part of the most important day of a couple's life together: their wedding. On several occasions I have been that listening ear for brides who are breathing into a brown paper bag, totally freaked out because they are about to walk down the isle. Or, I've been the friend to joke with the groom because HE can't believe he's about to get married. Either way, it is truly amazing to document the different weddings I have, but also to build friendships with the new Mr. & Mrs.

I can't say it enough how mch I love my job. Sure, I can get burned out towards the end of the season, who wouldn't after shooting 30+ weddings in a season, but that's how I know this is what I'm meant to do....no matter how exhausted or creatively burned out I am, I can still show up to weddings and get amazing photographs for my brides and grooms. Usually it takes a few minutes for me (at the end of the year) to get my juices flowing, but they come....

I just can not wait for this season to begin. I'm so excited to see how beautiful these ladies look in their carefully selected gowns, and the grooms trying ever so diligently to get that last piece of hair to stand up just right. And, wecan't forget the hilarious bridal parties, the friends who have seen the couples through many milestones in their relationship, the ones who have all the dirt on the rock stars of the day....the best man who tries to hide the fact he's crying watching his childhood best friend say he pledges his life to this woman. And, of course, the tear filled speach given by the maid of honor and reciting secrets she promised she'd never tell.

I can't wait to witness it all again this year. It's truly a blessing to see the carefully selected details of the day: the blue beta fish in a vase for the dinner tables, the 1000's of fresh petals scattered down the isle and up to the alter, the initial pendants on all of the bridesmaids bouquets to the superman cufflinks for the excited groom.

In advance, I want to thank all of you who have handed me the honor and responsibility of capturin your day. I promise you will fall in love all over again after seeing your photos!

Thanks for stoppin' by.

Till next time,
J