For so long I have LOVED weddings and wedding photography, but never knew exactly why. I still get teary eyed at every wedding I photograph, I still am just as excited about every couple as I once was. But I keep asking myself why I love doing wedding photography because of all the work?!
God has instilled something in me about marriage and about AFTER the wedding. I tend to stay in touch with 80% of the brides even after the work is over. I feel so drawn to some of them that they become close friends. I ask again, WHY do I continue to do wedding photography?!! All the work REALLY begins after the wedding. People don't understand the man hours in wedding photography!
Well, I guess it finally dawned on me in every realm of my life, that "Joy comes in the morning!" In doing wedding photography for so many years and all the JUNK it brings (yes there is a ton of junk!), I realized why I am SO excited for the couples, and compelled to become close to some of these brides. I truly want to see the morning for each of them! They are so excited initially...then comes all the planning and stress... then the actual wedding! All that is great, but if they don't know what to expect in the morning (the marriage) then they sleep right through it!
I know that is a lot of metaphors, but we, as wives, must prepare for the "morning." You can't wake up and expect everything to just happen because it does in the fairy tales! You have to get up and make breakfast and get ready for the day! Sometimes you burn the bacon, but don't throw away the whole meal! I found that I love to see the weddings turn into marriages that succeed! A success is a daily thing in marriage. SO GLAD to see these marriages find the joy in the morning!
So, I ask myself, again, why do I do wedding photography when i could do so many other things? It's because I want to see the Joy in these marriages and realize the hopes they have are real and hard! Nevertheless, I have a Saviour who gives them(and myself) joy in the morning and the strength to continue each day! I hope i can encourage these brides as I am with them! It is so important that they have a Godly influence, and if i am it then WOOHOO! Marriage (not the wedding) is the most important and given to us by HIM. We should treat it as such. I have a hard time being successful some days, but I hope when brides that I do influence look back on their wedding experience, that they remember the joy and peace they felt going into the marriage!
Wedding photography is a picture of that joy and overwhelming peace! When they look back and see the photos, I hope they remember that it is a reminder of the promise they made WITH God and to each other! Marriage is never easy, but the photos throughout our lives are just reminders of the the test we had to go through to get to that point. Everyday doesn't spring forth roses, so meditate on the Joy that comes when the roses BLOOM!
