As much as I love to see so many weddings over the past few years featured in online blogs, there was something about me that wanted to see just one in print. I know how difficult it is to get any wedding featured (the day itself has to be beautiful, match the style of the blog, not be too similar to other published weddings, and come during the right season) so I was sure that having a print feature was several years down the road. Content with this idea, I have been working harder and harder each wedding to be better for my couples and for myself, with lofty future goals in mind.
After Michael and Jessica's wedding at The Manor House at Kings Charter in Richmond last May, I was able to develop a relationship with the wonderful coordinator there. When I sent over images she told me what I had only hoped to believe: she thought this was a wedding that had the potential for a print feature. I didn't let myself get too excited, but I finished the submission process as quickly as possible, sent off an email, and held my breath.
To my utter surprise and amazement, the editor of Richmond Weddings Magazine responded with excitement - their wedding would be published in the winter 2017 edition! Mary Jane (the coordinator there) and I were absolutely thrilled both for Michael and Jessica as well as the whole vendor team!
And me? I learned a valuable lesson. I learned that hard work absolutely pays off - and let me tell you, I absolutely work hard on a wedding day. Each time I photograph a wedding I walk in saying to myself: This will be the best wedding I have ever shot and each time, I strive to get better. I have goals each year in specific areas I will work on. I talk to my couples in advance about timelines, vendors, and anything else they might need so their day goes off beautifully and without a hitch.
The other lesson I learned? Sometimes big dreams come sooner than you expect. Sometimes you sit there thinking back to the girl who first started her business. I wish I could go back a few years, sit down with her, and say: You'll make it. You will be able to go into wedding photography full time. You'll get featured in dream blogs and in PRINT in just a few years. You will meet amazing couples and travel the world doing what you love. Don't worry about anything right now - you'll do just fine.
So today I'm celebrating, patting myself on the back, and taking a little break from the hard work because oh how it has paid off this year!
Here are all the vendors who made this day amazing:
Wedding Dress: Watters | Bride's Shoes: American Duchess Historic Footwear | Dancing Dress: Anthropologie | Menswear: JoS A Bank | Hair/Makeup: Elle Style Studio | Bouquets, Boutonnieres, & Corsages: The Green Flamingo Flower Co | Other Florals: Family friend | Venue: The Manor House at Kings Charter | Catering: Edwards Catering | Cake: The Celiac Cakery | DJ: Richard Greene Entertainment (Mike Beene) | Officiant: Whispering Pines Weddings | Videography: Christy Stevens
