Dear Mister Wedding Photographer-

I am the wedding guest you hate.
I am commonly referred to as “Uncle Bob” because I have a DSLR at the ceremony.
I look like an amateur because I brought my backup camera across the country (at my mom’s request).
In fact, I probably am technically an amateur compared to your team of six stationed around the ceremony.

But I’ve hated me too when I have been at work.
The aunt getting in my shot EVERY SINGLE TIME.
The cousin setting up a family photo I didn’t know was important.
And now, having been on the other side, I have a different perspective.

You would have no idea that I brought my camera by request of my family to “catch a few pictures”
and there would be no way you could catch photos of my beautiful nieces on the way to the ceremony.

It would be nearly impossible for you to catch photos of special family members.
Trust me, I understand there is very little time for “requests”.

Even if you could honor a request, you would never know that my cousins are like brothers.
You would probably never think to take a photo of my son and his “uncle” together.

Believe me, as a professional, I’m doing everything I can to stay out of your shot.
But when you have a camera in your hand, sometimes it is hard to control yourself during beautiful moments.

While you take hundreds of photos of guests, it might be impossible for you to remember these women.
Being some of the most influential women in the groom’s life, it would be a shame for them not to a have a photo together.

You’ll take hundreds of shots of cute things happening on the dance floor, maybe even this one.
But my little sister and my son are my whole world and I may not ever see it.

There would be no way for you to know that this groomsman is like another brother to the groom.
And this father daughter moment is absolutely gold to so many of us.

You could never imagine that a year ago, this couple was going through the hardest time in their marriage.
And for the groom and all his cousins, this picture could move us all to tears.

You were probably told that the groom’s mother & father were divorced when he was a small child.
So it might not cross your mind to take a photo of them dancing together.
But for family, we know that their relationship is a shining example of how two adults can come together to raise amazing children.
And still care for each other.

Lastly, there is no way you could ever know that the groom and his twin were my “other brothers”.
It probably would never even occur to you to take a photo of him with a random guest.
But this photo will be precious to me for years to come.

So I thank you Mister Photographer (and your massive crew) for not getting too angry at me.
For not yelling at me to get out of your shot or giving me dirty looks when I pulled out my camera.
As a professional I promise to respect your shots, but there are some things even you cannot create.
You are not family, you just don’t understand these stories.

Congratulations Joel & Camie.
I love you both dearly.
I am so excited to see your life together and hopefully continue to be a part of it.
You’ve honored me in so many ways, I hope I can do the same for both of you in the future.

XOXO