Every once a while people would like to ask me why I loved to be a wedding photographer, the answer was always like "cause I love capturing the moments, and, the moment between moments!" These delicate frames always pushed me really really hard to think about what I was looking at, and how I could achieve them differently and uniquely. Since my first wedding shot in Princeton NJ for my lovely friend Lingbo, I haven't looked back for quite some time to think about how my style and the way of storytelling evolved along the way. After shooting more and more weddings, my experience accumulates, but my fear and pressure never alleviates. I still fear to lose the decisive moments, though most of times I know I am right there, with right setting and right time to capture them. My hands were still sweating and shaking sometimes. I know it's my clients' big day, and if I miss it or do it out of focus, I am a guilty man. Doing a wedding is not easy, no matter how much I charge, how large it is, or what the couples' personalities turn out to be, I still have to face the same problems again and again. The clients mostly never cared how you did the job or if you were an outstanding craftsman, they just tried to enjoy the show and the time spending with you, like John told me. I tried to remember, how many times I was stopped by the guests because of their admiring stare at my bulk camera and long lens, how many times I confused my clients' old parents because they saw me never used a tripod or flash, and how many times my clients say "wonderful job", "beautifully done" even to a picture that is captured in really awful lighting situation. This is a big day, so they expect you to play a big show, that's all!
Before my accepting the invitation of shooting Xinhui and Jixu's short wedding ceremony and reception at rose garden in Central Park, Schenectady, I have been ill for almost a whole week. I really need a short break and thorough rest after months of outdoor shooting. I knew Jixu as I shot his Ph.D. graduation portrait before. And I can't refuse his invitation because I knew he loved my style and work, and he was so serious to let me do something for this most important day in his life. I was glad for doing it, not only did I meet my old clients and friends like Le and Zhipeng, but also I made new friends and extended my network quite a bit there. I felt so happy for the newlyweds and my best wishes were all melted in these beautiful frames below. I wish all of you can see it, hear it and feel it, enjoy ~~~
