Sometimes, It's Best To Be Still and Wait For It [Bonus Photo Breakdown]

Read Time – 3 Minutes]

If there was ever a moment that solidified my love for being a wedding photographer, it was this one.

I remember it like it was yesterday, and every time I see this photo, it reminds me how important it is as a wedding photographer to resist the urge to jump too quickly into the moment to get the perfect shot.

Sometimes, you have to let the moment come to you...but you need to be patient.

You need listen that little voice that tells you to be aware and look for the clues that say,

"Hey, something special is about to happen."

The temp was a bit chilly for mid-March, but it was a picture-perfect day for a wedding.

The girls and the guys had all gotten ready. The guests were gathered upstairs as the golf club staff prepared to escort everyone down to their chairs for the ceremony.

Things were very quiet. Clue #1

I won't say this was a calm before-the-storm moment but it's not a bad metaphor. There wouldn't be a storm, but things would get very busy, very soon.

The bride was by herself. Clue #2

This doesn't happen very often, but when it does, it almost always unveils a special opportunity for you...to watch and wait.

I peeked into the dining area connected to the golf course and saw the bride looking out the window. There were no guests, just chairs assembled in neat little rows.

Click-click

I couldn't see her face or know exactly what she was thinking, but I had a feeling.

Click-click

I grabbed two more to be safe and slowly moved closer.

As I maneuvered alongside to see her face, I knew EXACTLY what she was thinking now.

Her hands gently moved to her mouth and I could see the glisten in her eyes.

Click-click

That's all I got. I quickly moved away and gave this moment back to the bride before she could even look over at me.

Could I have shot more? Sure.

Could I have said, "Ooo, that's great could you turn a little more to your right so I can get some better light to show the tears in your eyes?"

Of course, my real answer is something closer to, "Are you crazy?!!! but I suppose the answer could be "Perhaps," but let's not forget one very important thing.

This perfect moment did not belong to me.

In this moment, the bride was looking at her ceremony site. This was where, in just 30 short minutes, she would be standing hand-in-hand with the man she loved and would say "I do" to him.

Any interruption from me would have blown everything.

I may get a little romantic about being a wedding photographer, but I love thinking about a bride sitting down with her daughter and looking at her wedding photos together.

I'd love to hear her telling her daughter about her wedding day and how she felt at THIS moment – the excitement, the fear, the anticipation and the joy.

This wasn't my moment. This belongs to the bride, and by pausing, waiting and caring about her more than the perfect photo, I created the perfect photo.

It's not about f-stops and lenses. It's not about the most expensive camera or accessory.

It's about heart...and a little patience.

Every bride deserves that from you, and your reward will be moments you can share with other brides – telling these stories and saying without actually saying that you care...and you are awesome behind the camera.

Nothing sells compassion and creativity quite like an amazing story about that time when you caught the bride looking out the window.

Learning how to wait for a moment is one of the little parts of the "inner game of wedding photography."

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