I will admit it, not all that long ago, I was one of those people that brought my camera to every wedding and event.  For some reason I felt compelled to get THE perfect shot that the bride and groom would cherish forever.  These days when I attend a wedding I go "unplugged".  Meaning I leave my beast of a camera at home and am usually lucky if I remember to snap at least one shot of Mr. V and I with my phone.  My goal these days it to be present, to attentively and consciously be a part of my friends special day. That's why I was invited there after all.  I now listen to their vows and see with my own eye's (not behind a viewfinder or screen) the look on their faces. They have hired professionals that they trust to document their day and I don't want to get in the way. Ill admit that since I photograph weddings for a living I often feel like I should be doing something, but I'm learning. 

I got to share in some of our friends big day this last weekend (gorgeous wedding!) and as I watched the bride and groom share their first dance together and I saw the 15+people with their cameras surrounding the dance floor, it got me thinking. I completely understand why friends and relatives have camera's and phones raised at all the special moments during the day, but I thought I would share a few reasons to put the camera down for a few minutes and and join in the fun.

1. You may miss out on an important moment because you are preoccupied.  Ive done it, so focused on why I didn't get a shot the way I wanted it and I look up and the moment is over :(

2. Your photography may interfere with the professional pictures.  The professionals are trained and focused to capture those moments, but we occasionally miss them due to someone stepping in front of us or perhaps a random limb jutting out into the aisle.  You may not know it but your camera emits a red or green light to focus on your subject, this can be seen and is often in photographers photos.  Your pop up flash may over expose the professionals settings.

3. People are compelled to look at the camera but if there are multiple cameras no one looks at the same one at the same time.  This is especially true during family and formal portraits.  When I have a crowd of family and friends behind me taking the same shot I always have eyes looking off in strange directions.

4. The thing I hear most from brides is that they want me to capture the emotion of the day.  It is impossible to capture emotions when we cannot see your face.  You very well may be in the professional photos, but we don't see your smiling face, we see a body with a camera or phone.

5. The more you distract during formal's and portraits the less time the Bride and Groom have to enjoy the celebration with you and who doesn't want to join to jump in and enjoy all the hard work they have put into their day.

6. And most importantly, you are there to Celebrate!. Help the Photographers get awesome photos as you are totally engaged in the wedding festivities.  Laugh, Cry, Dance and share in the happiest day of your friends lives!  

Enjoying a recent wedding with my Love. One and only picture of the night.

Just a few examples below.  I know many photographers have LOTS of similar images of me in photos :)

Barkhau-Poston-558 LaRue-Camak_Wedding-636

Caught my mom and sister at a recent wedding :)  the rest of the images i have of them they are dancing and having fun.Barkhau-Poston-552

Only one set of eye's looking at me. Hyatt-Leslie-393