One thing I do to fill my wedding-crazed brain when I can’t sleep is scroll through Instagram and appreciate the various photographer posts. I swipe down until I find a shot that makes me smile which is more candid, natural, and shows genuine happiness. I like to comment on these… “captured joy” – even in shots where eyes are closed, sometimes those are the best ones.
Recently, I came across THIS VIDEO that seriously moved me. What a genius idea by the photographer – give the Bride & Groom the camera and have them take pictures of each other. Why is this not done all the time? No fake smiles, no “line up here”, “turn towards me”, or “tilt head this way”. What was equally moving was reading what the photographer had to say about this.
Video: KMS Visions
Bride (a photographer herself): Meaghan Coles of Now and Then Photography
Words from the Photographer, Joshua Kane:
“One thing that always prods at me on a wedding day, is the question of how do I give this couple something beautiful and authentic… but also unexpected and creative? I pondered this at length in the lead-up to this wedding… and when the day arrived and the moments started unfolding before me, I began to notice something. Every time Meaghan and Tysen locked eyes, they seemed to be spontaneously overcome with emotions. Like an awkward but genuine flutter of nervous energy mixed with a deep sense of adoration. Every time this happened, it resulted in a rather animated reaction that was just too pure and uninhibited to be voluntary or contrived. And I realized, all of a sudden, that I would never be able to truly capture each of them in the way that they see each other… on this day, on any day.
And so, in a quiet field shortly after the sun had set, I handed off one of my cameras to the couple and gave them a very simple instruction. Capture just one portrait of the person you just married. Look past the camera and try to capture them how you’ll want to remember them in this moment.
Then, I (and the videographers) stood back and watched. When Meaghan suddenly noticed that Tysen was welling up behind the camera, she gasped and folded in two. The emotions that came rushing out of the two of them in the moments following were heavy and contagious. Pretty soon, we all had watery eyes and sore cheekbones. And the photos… well they speak for themselves. It was one of the most moving moments I’ve ever been a part of.
Thank you, Meaghan and Tysen, for your trust and enthusiasm for having me as your photographer. It was an honor!”
I’m not going to add anything else. The photographer says it all. If this touched Meaghan, Tysen, the photographer, and the videographer so much, my words will not hold a candle to anyone that witnessed this. Plus, he’s a much better writer than I am. I personally reached out to Joshua Kane and asked permission to post his words.
To see photographs from this wedding, click here:
https://www.joshuakanephotography.com/blog/meaghan-tysen-adelaide-hills-wedding
Below are some pictures I found from other weddings which are the essence of captured joy!
Photo Credit: JOSHUA KANE PHOTOGRAPHY I artisticfilms I Jonathan Borba I Wesner Rodrigues I StockSnap I Michelle Maria I jose villa photography I RYDER EVENS PHOTOGRAPHY I Noelle Franzen I fairyange I Cris Matei I Ned Horton I Wyn Wiley Photography I Ivan Samkov
On a final note, I found this picture for my blog title image and fell in love with it. It is my absolute favorite!
Check out my Candid Photos Pinterest Board
I love this so much! It made my eyes leak. Hubby and I were married 41 years ago two weeks ago, and I’d love to do it all again now with all those years of history together! <3
Thank you so much, Katharine, for your kind words. What an inspiration to other brides to be married 41 years! You should write a post on some pointers!