Why My Wedding Clients Make Me Cry
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Lately, I’ve had a spate of emotional moments relating to my clients. Fortunately, it’s the happy type.
One of my favourite parts of shooting a wedding is when I finally hand over the photos to my clients. The excited tension for them to see their wedding memories in a tangible form for the first time since their big day. As they unveil the images that will cast their memories into the proverbial stone.
Then….the waiting….and more waiting. Why the waiting?
At this stage, the couple are generally still in the process of hopping off the wedding treadmill, and might vomit if they have to talk about their wedding one more time! Or others, are slowly digesting their photos, savouring every single photo, reminiscing and absorbing the images into the memory banks of their wedding day.
Whatever the reason, it often takes a while for clients to make contact again once they’ve received their photos. And by a while, I mean a few days to a week.
So what’s happening in my head during those few days? – STRESS! Why haven’t I heard from them? What are they thinking? Is no news good news? Do they hate them? Do they love them? When will I hear from them?
I also give a running commentary to my husband – “I haven’t heard anything from them. Not a peep. What do you think that means?” *Cue him rolling eyes and reassuring me that they love the photos* (Good husband!)
So when I finally hear the ping of my email or see the little red notification on my Facebook page, I take a breath and read carefully! …and then…the lump in the throat…the shaky hands….the prickle of tears in the eyes. And finally – the relief!! They LOVEEEE the photos! How much do they love them? SOOO MUCHH!!!!! I know this because of the use of capital letters and the abuse of the exclamation marks!
My favourite kind of message. Bring on those CAPITALS and EXCLAMATIONS!!! You’re speaking my online love language!
Feedback from Mother of the Bride for Crestatia & Eduan's wedding
I think the reason this is such a big deal for me, is because I get personally invested in each and every wedding I shoot. I feel like a foster parent – for a short time, taking on the responsibility to nurture, care for and do justice for this baby.
Then, once I know I’ve done my best and can hand it over to it’s new owners, I’m relieved to know that my nurturing and caring made a difference and was felt.
So thank you for all my past brides and grooms and all my future brides and grooms – for the CAPITALS and EXCLAMATIONS!! I strive to do my best and it’s your feedback that encourages me to strive even harder!
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