Norm and Candice are married! // Creative Richmond Wedding Photographer // John Marshall Ballroom Wedding

Norm and Candice | Cathedral of the Sacred Heart | The John Marshall Ballrooms | Creative Richmond Wedding Photographer
Richmond, Virginia // November 18, 2017
And a little advice for my fellow wedding photographers while we’re at it…

So, it’s kind of convenient that Candice and Norm’s wedding was the next up on the list of weddings I am WAY behind on blogging for a few reasons.

One: I get to work with my favorite people over at CCS Events again this weekend… and this is the last wedding I shot for them.
Colleen and her team are always so great and make the day go SO easily for me.

Two: Social Media, man. If we’ve ever talked in real life… you probably know I’m not the biggest fan.
I don’t have facebook… and I really only have Instagram… and I don’t do the snapchat thing.
And part of that reason is because I get really annoyed by things people say.
I try really, really hard to not judge people… but sometimes, man… people make you mad.

Yesterday, I listened to a photographer I have followed for a while talk about not taking weddings just because they inquire and to always think about portfolio building…
and about how the biggest help for her business has been to just turn down every wedding in a church or in indoor locations that come her way.

The words “too boring and too traditional” were used.

‘Scuse me?
To each their own… and that’s fine, I guess… it’s your business…
HOWEVER… guys, it’s about making really rad images and capturing peoples’ memories and giving them something special.
DUDES: Churches do not mean boring. Ballrooms don’t have to mean traditional. And country club does not automatically equate to whack.
It’s a day full of moments. Happy ones. THE BEST ONES. Make peoples days look as awesome as their love. THAT is your job.

And I get it. Sometimes churches are tricky. Sometimes indoor spots are hard.
Sometimes the lighting sucks. Sometimes you can’t move.
Sometimes you can only take 12 photos. Sometimes you can’t take any at all.
But your clients chose this place. For a reason. And their love is just as worthy as the next couple.

I get the very, very, very, very best clients.
I know every photographer says that… and that may be totally true.
I love that people are researching and want to find the right photographer for them these days.
My people find me. Your people find you… and that is rad.
We’re not just another check list item anymore… and if someone inquires with you… man, generally speaking, they love what you do.
They want YOU to capture their memories. Out of all the people with cameras on the planet, they emailed you.
And that is crazy and amazing and humbling and awesome.

And you should never, ever, ever treat people like their wedding isn’t cool enough or good enough or insta-worthy enough.
If you want to run your business that way… I guess that’s your right… but at least never say it outloud. For the public. And for clients to hear. Dang.
If I could ask anything of other photographers, or could give any advice… it would be this:
Do this for your clients. FOR THE PEOPLE. Do this for the art. Do this for the memories and the legacy and the joy and happiness and tears and moments.
If you’re doing this to look cool to other photographers… please just don’t.
Don’t forget who your audience is.

I’ll never turn away a wedding JUST because it’s not on the side of a cliff.
(Don’t get me wrong… I’ll say yes in a heartbeat to unique mountainside weddings.)
BUT I promise to always, always capture your wedding day and you and your love in the best way I can.
Every moment and every day deserves to be captured. Every love. Every couple.
Church or Industrial Building or huge party or elopement. Whatever that means and whoever the couple is.
If you choose me, and trust me, and love what I do… I am going to do my damnedest to make images that are special and that you’ll love.

Rant over.
Back to showing off rad stuff to my clients from my clients…

Because: HOW FREAKING GREAT ARE CANDICE AND NORM AND IS THEIR KICKASS WEDDING that just so happens to be at a church and in a ballroom?
I freaking LOVE these images. I love hiding in church pews and shooting through things and finding angles and using negative space.
I love these all so much. They had an all-star vendor team and their locations were great…
And guys, they are the sweetest, funnest, greatest couple…
Here are some of my favorites! (None of which are boring, for the record.)

Thanks to my OTHER Mr. Ocampo from last year for second shooting.