Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. – Romans 12:9-10
First things first: I am not a wedding photographer. However, this past weekend and as a favor for a friend, I was a guy who took photos at a wedding.
So why would you care? And why is this blog-worthy? Well, and similar to my work as Presbytery photographer, looking through a lens changes my perspective. I see the event differently and I experience the event differently. I wasn’t a guest anymore. My purpose was to document the story rather than being in the story.
This is one of the ways photography is similar to writing. What I intend to achieve through the lens is the telling of a story. Because of that, my photography isn’t necessarily art so much as journalism. Some of the images are certainly nice to look at (everyone is beautiful at weddings), but that is not their purpose. The purpose is for the photographs to be read, like a book.
Because I spent four hours Friday and Five hours Saturday walking around as an observer, I came away with a complete composite image of Greg and Susan’s wedding, and it is a lovely story.
I could literally feel the sense of deep, grateful love wrapping itself around the families and friends. Good people falling in love and then making the decision to stand in love from this point forward. Thankful people aware of the pain that loss brings and promising to love and encourage and nurture one another with faithfulness and compassion. People of faith understanding that the Author of Love and source of light and promise intends to accompany them on this journey. Friends and family making promises too, understanding that faith is a community commitment and that we need one another if we are to be strong.
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Good people falling in love and then making the decision to stand in love from this point forward.
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Thankful people aware of the pain that loss brings and promising to love and encourage and nurture one another with faithfulness and compassion.
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People of faith understanding that the Author of Love and source of light and promise intends to accompany them on this journey.
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Friends and family making promises too, understanding that faith is a community commitment and that we need one another if we are to be strong.
So I pulled a few pictures from the wedding – starting with the sweet spirit that was present at the rehearsal – images that help to tell this story. Showers of blessing as guests arrived, images from the ceremony, leaving the church in the Woody/limo, celebrating at the Goethe home, covering everything in prayer.
I pray that you will read them and then use this opportunity to recommit yourself to purposeful love, to your family, and to the God who intends to be with us and to walk with us along the way.
Peace, and love, and promise – DEREK
