You’d think after photographing dozens (and dozens) of weddings, I’d be immune to the tears. Spoiler alert: I’m not. I cry *a lot*. Quietly, behind the camera, with tissues stashed in every pocket of my camera bag. Some moments just hit different, no matter how many times I witness them.
Here are 7 of them, in no particular order (because they *all* get me every time):
1. The First Look (or the No-Look First Look)
Whether it’s the full teary-eyed reveal or the couple standing back-to-back reading letters—first looks always wreck me. It’s the pause. The quiet before the chaos. The way all the nerves melt the second they’re together? I’m done for.
2. Vows That Sound Like Journal Entries
I love a good vow that feels like a private love letter. The ones with inside jokes, handwritten on crumpled paper. The ones that start with “I wasn’t sure how to put this into words…” Yeah, those? They *gut* me.
3. When the Parents Cry (Especially the Dads Who Swore They Wouldn’t)
Look, it’s always the tough dads. The ones who say “I’m fine, I don’t cry” and then break the second they see their kid walking down the aisle. Immediate emotional collapse on my end.
4. That Just-Married Glow Right After the Ceremony
The way a couple looks at each other *right* after they walk back down the aisle? The laugh-crying, the “holy sh*t we’re married” face? It’s pure gold. I live for that ten-second moment of chaos, adrenaline, and realness.
5. The Dance Floor Moments You Weren’t Expecting
Like the grandma who doesn’t get up all night, then suddenly starts the conga line. Or the flower girl breakdancing in her socks. Or the couple slow dancing alone after everyone’s gone. Unexpected magic, every time.
6. Private Vow Exchanges or “Just Us” Portraits
Whether it’s reading vows alone on a clifftop or stealing away for sunset portraits while the guests eat tacos. Those quiet, meaningful pauses always hit me the hardest. It’s where all the noise fades, and it’s just them.
7. The Moment They Realize Everyone They Love Is *Right There*
Weddings are wild. When else do you get every person you love in one room, all cheering you on? Sometimes, during speeches or the last song of the night, it clicks. That moment of gratitude, of “wow, we’re really loved.”
And yep, I’m crying again.So yes, I might be the professional with the camera, but I’m also the one tearing up behind it. It’s not just about pretty photos, it’s about real, raw, unforgettable moments. And I’ll never stop being moved by them.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to pack more tissues.
