A Little Bit of Tenderness Goes a Long Way

Bride and Flower Girl

Last month I was in New York to visit my friend Harry.  He invited me to shoot his son's wedding.  Needless to say, I was eager to do the job.  It was an opportunity to capture the emotion of an event.  

For my generation tattoos were taboo; they certainly carried a negative stigma.  As I looked through the view finder you can imagine my initial concern that my main subject had this cute tattoo on her shoulder.   I knew that I did not have license to Photoshop it out.   

In that instance,  I put my biases quickly aside and stayed focused on the moment looking for an opportunity that would tell her story and not mine.  I had a special job to do for a very special friend and fellow photographer.  This was not about me or how I felt.  I was nervous as hell and didn't want to let anyone down.

 As the bride was getting prepared, I glanced behind me and I saw my shot.  I got down on my knees and captured a tender moment, an act of love and affection.  The bride who was also the flower girl's music instructor, had leaned over to console the flower girl.  It unfolded in front of me like the swan on her hair.  The juxtaposition of tattoo and tenderness ( a moment of love) overwhelmed me.  I was in my element capturing this demonstrative moment.  You can't fake this kind of love.

The scene moved me and it enabled me to put aside my bias and shoot some of my warmest shots.  That day was all about the celebration of two people in love.   There was plenty of love that filled that NYC penthouse  that evening.  There was one little girl who will never forget the embrace she received from her bride, friend.

When this bride and groom have children, they are going to be very lucky.  I know, I witnessed it firsthand and have the photos to prove it.  Life doesn't get much better than this.  Does it?