Why Mistakes Are Awesome

This is the deal: I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life.  A lot.  And not small ones.  But you live, you learn, and you move forward.

Sometimes, life’s living and learning is more based in the mistake-making than it is in the perfect moments.  I find that to be true not only on a day-to-day, month-to-month, and year-to-year basis but especially in the way I shoot.

This wedding, for example.  Oh wow.  It was perfect down to the tiniest detail.  The couple is gorgeous and they looked spectacular.  The weather was idyllic.  The venue — Sundance — is a treasure trove of amazingness.

We did the First Look out by the private home area, and even *that* was perfect — her smile; his reaction; their effortless, affectionate mingling with one another.  My heart was all flippy-floppy with excitement.

We followed the First Look with a portrait session, and we’d had a fun plan for the bride blow confetti at the camera for a few shots (I’d always wanted to try that even though it involves more posing than I normally shoot).  We’d lined up everything juuuust right: they couple was in front of a beautiful rock wall, she had our stash of confetti cupped in her graceful hands, I had the proper lens & position, and V was in place for the second shooting.  We had one chance at this since we didn’t have much confetti.  All that was left was for the groom to mock-whisper in her ear as she blew the glittery pieces of paper toward me.

Well, the groom leaned in and murmured something to her… and she burst out laughing.  Since she’d only just positioned the confetti right next to her mouth, her laugh sent the confetti shooting everywhere… and when she realized what she’d done, she laughed even harder.  That was our moment.  And although neither myself nor V were ready for it, we both shoved our cameras up to our faces and clicked away with huge grins on our faces.

Was it perfect?  No.  Not technically, anyway.  And yet, it was completely perfect.  Her reaction — and his reaction to her reaction — was so genuine that I wouldn’t have it any other way.  As a result, they’re among my favorite photos from the wedding.  Maybe Martha Stewart Weddings wouldn’t see it that way, but the bride & groom do.  And I do, because it represents the type of authenticity I like in photos.

And, besides, I’ve looked at these a thousand times and they still make me giggle.