kiss the groom

i am for the most part a positive girl…a glass is half full type of girl…but right now my glass if half empty….no, actually completely empty…i am a hungry photographer….not in a cute metaphorical kind of way…but actually hungry….starving….in need sustenance….let me see if i can explain…there is a dirty little secret in the wedding world…its called the “vendor meal”….i am calling out to all brides…and caterers….and anyone who may be listening….ladies…i am a passionate photographer….i love what i do….i can often go tirelessly for hours capturing the nuances & beauty of your wedding day….i will sometimes work for 8, 10 even 12 hours before taking a break…don’t get me wrong, i am not complaining about this…i LOVE being a photographer & will do just about anything to create beautiful images….the thing is when i finally do break, its usually for just a few minutes….and i am often ravenous….i am not sure quite how to describe the experience of coming face to face with a “vendor meal” but its very close to how it feels to be heart broken by the love of your life…it hurts…and words can’t really touch the way it feels…now a “vendor meal” can take all forms, from a soggy sandwich served next too garbage cans in the alley of a five star hotel, to cold pizza at a gorgeous estate, to the ever popular “box lunch” which is usually made at the crack of dawn & served in the evening & includes an array of barely edible nibbles….sometimes we are served a warm “vendor meal”, that is warm, yes, but also basically inedible….imagine lukewarm sliced turkey & soggy vegetables….i when i say inedible, i mean literally i cannot palate it, & instead of eating, i go hungry & wait until i get home or back to my hotel room & eat then…i realize this may sound a bit whiney…again this is not my intention….there have been a few occasions where i was fed wonderful food, i’ve been given the same plate of food the bride & groom were given, these beautiful moments are few & far between….if you still think i’m being too picky, think about this…a photographer is there to capture your wedding….if we are fed well, not only do we have fuel to go on, we also feel happy, appreciated & grateful…which means we can continue tirelessly  to photograph the things & people that are important to you…i also feel its important to emphasize here, that we do not need or want a long break to eat….we have no desire to experience your eight course meal….one edible plate of food will do…as a rule of thumb, if you do not want to eat it, probably we won’t want to either….i have never complained at a wedding & i would never want to distract a couple from enjoying every moment of their wedding day….that would be petty….but i’ve worked many a night hungry & with hurt feelings…photographers if you are out there, please chime in…and lastly, if a bride & groom are unaware of this, then of course they can not do anything to change it….and caterers, we are on the same team…we are all working together to create a memorable & beautiful day for a couple in love….some caterers are incredibly gracious about feeding us & others, not so much…ironically, the same people who will not feed us, are often the ones that want photographs of their food & the event…i am more than happy to share my images with anyone who worked on a wedding…just please share a little food with me, we are on the same team…my head is bowed, my heart is full & my belly is empty.

food for thought…i would love to hear your thoughts….xoxo