Photography supplied by Christina Martin Photographers
Written By James Rada, Jr.
It is supposed to be a perfect day. After all, it is their wedding day. Brides are supposed to be looking more beautiful than ever and marrying handsome gentlemen. The June sun should be shining down on an idyllic setting. The guests should all be smiling and happy.
Unfortunately, things do not always go as planned.
Award-winning Sykesville photographer Christina Martin remembers a wedding in which the couple had planned to release a box full of butterflies to celebrate their union. The butterflies would flutter around them as they took to the sky, creating a lovely memory for the bride and groom.
“It should have been okay, but it was the end of September and it had been cold,” Martin recalls.
When the couple opened the butterfly box, nothing happened. They shook the box. Finally, the bride reached in to scoop out the butterflies. The butterflies were alive, but the cool temperature had made them lethargic.
Although that incident was humorous, Martin also remembers one time when things went seriously wrong.
“The groom passed out at the altar,” said Martin. “He was a doctor, but he had an illness that he was not aware of.”
As the groom waited for his bride to join him at the front of the chapel, he suddenly fell over. People rushed forward to help him. It turned out that he was diabetic and hadn’t eaten all day. Luckily, some people in the audience had crackers and a kid’s juice box. The snack raised the groom’s blood sugar. He revived and the wedding continued.
The first wedding that comes to Reisterstown photographer Alexander Morozov’s mind when asked about unusual weddings is one that took place on October 31.
“It was a Halloween theme,” Morozov says. “The bride and groom were in costumes. The guests were in costumes. It was very unique.”
It certainly meshed with Morozov’s philosophy of telling a story with his photos. He takes a documentary approach to his photography in order to find a creative way to tell the story of the special day.
Bridezilla and Groomzilla
Just about any photographer has a Bridezilla story or two to tell. But many also have Groomzilla stories. For instance, on occasion, the photographer asked the groom’s party to show up early for picture-taking, only to find that the groom was missing.
So where was he?
As it turned out, he was easing his tension with a shot or two at a nearby bar. Although a bride might feel somewhat insulted that her future husband needs to be slightly toasted to marry her, things are even more offensive when the groom actually shows up at the altar drunk.
Martin said her most-interesting Groom-zilla story in her 20-plus years of photographing weddings was an occasion when a groom who had paid thousands of dollars for a wedding photographer did not want any of the pictures to show him and tried to avoid Martin while she was shooting photos.
Jack of All Trades
Most people would think that wedding photographers need to be diplomats well as good photographers. But, as it turns out, they also need to be jacks of all trades.
Martin said she has had to help sew adjustments for a bridesmaid’s dress and create a boutonniere for a groomsman. In one instance, the bride’s mother panicked because no one could find the marriage license. Martin had to set down her camera and help search for the misplaced certificate.
Martin does not mind being called on to do the extra jobs. She considers it part of her job to help the day run smoothly. It also helps her in her work because she can take pictures of people who are happy and not stressed out by a torn dress or missing marriage certificate.
Nowadays, wedding photographers also have to be computer-savvy. With digital cameras and photo-editing software, there are many ways that wedding photos can be manipulated to create desired effects.
“Digital cameras actually increase costs,” Martin said. “While you don’t have to buy film, you have to spend more time on the back end adjusting color and other things. People expect more and you can do more.”
Be Prepared
A wedding photographer not only needs to be flexible, but ready for any eventuality. Sometimes the unexpected can make for a good photograph. Many times, though, it just complicates the job.
Martin remembers an outdoor wedding that was held in a beautiful location. She found a lovely tree with arching branches that she thought would be a great setting for a picture of the couple. She got the bride and groom positioned and then backed up to take the picture.
“Suddenly, my leg felt on fire,” Martin says. “I had stepped on a wasp’s or bee’s nest in the ground and had been stung. My leg was all red.” As part of her “be prepared” philosophy, she had a back-up photographer with her. He took the photos while Martin hurried off to get first aid.
Morozov remembers a wedding that he photographed in which one of the groomsmen split his pants, not once, but twice.
Make it Memorable
A wedding photographer’s goal is to capture not only the visuals of a wedding day, but also the spirit and memories of the day. A well-produced wedding album allows the couple to relive one of the happiest days of their lives with clarity. It also helps if the photographer likes weddings.
“I’m an incurable romantic,” Martin says. “If the bride is crying, then I’m crying and it’s hard to take pictures with blurry vision.”
Behind the Camera
Christina Martin Photographers
www.christinamartinphotographers.com
488 Talon Lane, Sykesville ¥ 410-795-7997
Photography by Alexander
www.photographybyalexander.com
625 Cockeys Mill Road, Reisterstown ¥ 443-858-8743
