It’s confession time friends; I like food, good food. In another life, I’ve worked in several kitchens, and in this life I still enjoy cooking. I have several friends whom through the years have enjoyed sharing with me their expertise in cooking, and I truly enjoy sharing in their meals. I’ve learned a lot by doing so.
The other night after a long day working on wedding photography, I settled down to watch an interview on “Charlie Rose” with David Chang of most recently the intimate restaurant Momofuku Ko. I was mesmerized by that interview. During it David explained his philosophy in cooking, which also translates into his wonderful philosophy of life, and one’s pursuit of the endeavors in life, such as for me wedding photography.
He went on to explain that it is the details that count, but much more important it’s how you put your heart into it! You have to do it right. You have to honor it. You have to own it. You have to elevate yourself in your endeavors.
If you want to be the best, then that is your journey, but whatever your journey is, it is important to put yourself wholly into your endeavors as others will realize that; and by doing so they to will be elevated by those efforts as well.
I keep those thoughts in mind when I practice wedding photojournalism. I am thrilled when I see a bride, a groom and their families do the same regardless of their station in life.
Two cases in point, the first is about a bride who’s wedding I covered several months ago. Early in the morning on her wedding day, Rebecca was to be found at the local supermarket buying buckets of the most wonderful roses.
When I met Rebecca a bit later that day at the Colonial Terrace in Cortlandt Manor, NY, she and her brides maids were making their own bouquets, and floral arrangements for her wedding that was to start shortly. Her energy, and warmth truly won me over, and the way she put her heart into everything that day carried me through my wedding photography coverage of her day.
Rebecca putting her heart into making bouquets for her wedding.
My Mona Lisa that day.
The second is about a bride, a groom, and the groom’s family whom may have been from possibly very different situations in life.
In this case the groom’s family did all the floral arrangements from the bouquets for the wedding, the floral arrangements in the church, to the floral arrangements at the wedding reception which was held at the Meadow Wood Manor in Randolph, NJ .
The scale of their endeavor may have been influenced by the fact that Craig’s family operates Suburban Wholesale Florist in Chatham, NJ. None the less, they put their hearts into it.
Wedding reception table center piece.
Craig and Shannon.
So in weddings, as in wedding photography, and much more importantly as in life; the details may matter, but much more so it is how one puts one’s heart into what they do that matters the most. It’s one of the principals that all nine of us in the Group of 10 operate by. -Steve Burns.