This is going to be a different kind of post today.  I don’t usually go into a lot of personal details related to the wedding but this one in particular had such an impact on me, I feel compelled to share the story.  Jocelyn and Christian live in California and booked us without meeting us. Wedding season had already begun, and we had a pretty full schedule already (including a big wedding on Sept. 20th in northern CO that I already knew would end up being a late night) when I got the call from Christian.  Our conversation basically consisted of him telling me that they totally loved our work, that he and his wife were already married but that she had recently survived cancer and they were having a little renewal of their vows ceremony at Beano’s Cabin in Beaver Creek on the 21st of September, and wondered if we were available to be their photographers?  He didn’t know it, but his words hit me in a pretty deep place right at that moment.  I lost a very close family member to cancer about 2 years ago and I definitely still feel “raw” (for lack of a better word) about it on occasion.  Anyway, as I was on the phone with him I looked at my calendar and saw the insanity of the last week of August and all of September with double wedding weekends…and then I told him I would love to be their photographer!  Something about him and they way he spoke to me and what he said was all I needed to hear or know.  So, we booked it right then and there, took care of a few biz things, and then that was it!  On with wedding season I went.  It was going to be the “last” wedding of the heavy season for us…

I thought about them here and there over the next few months and we exchanged a few emails, but there was very little contact for the most part until just before the wedding to sort out time line details.  In my mind, I had created a really sweet, slightly older couple who had been married for a long time, and who were totally low maintenance (even though he never gave me any hard details about either one of them when we spoke).  I think now that perhaps it was the “old” soul in Christian that I heard on the phone.  Imagine my surprise when I arrived on scene and met Carol first, Jocelyn’s mother who looks about like my mom, and then Jocelyn, who looks like she’s about my age! We discovered later later that she and I lived directly across the street from each other in Boulder when we were both at CU. Anyway, the shuttle arrived almost immediately so we all hopped on and took the short ride up the hill to Beano’s.  We chatted a little along the way as I tried to quickly take everything in. When we got to the cabin, pretty much the first thing that Jocelyn said to me was something like “I’m really sorry, but I hate having my photo taken, so I apologize in advance, but I’m just not into it, never have been…”  Ok, so admittedly, that’s not usually something I “love” to hear as a photographer. But I took it very casually and told her not to worry about it, it would be easy and fine.  Then, Christian and the guys arrived and he was young too!  I had been totally off about everything, and it was definitely more than a “little” renewal ceremony… it was a full on beautiful wedding on the mountain followed by a beautiful dinner and reception at Beano’s!  I quickly decided to take a completely different approach with Jocelyn and I think the photos we ended up with are really amazing.  And despite her best efforts to avoid the camera, I got some stunning images of her before she even had a chance to feel uncomfortable.  Jocelyn’s beauty was shining all day, whether she realized it or not.  While Matt did his thing with the guys, I literally spent about 5 min taking “formal” photos with the bridesmaids and family and about 2 minutes, if that, taking photos of just Jocelyn by herself.  After the ceremony we spent about 5 min with the couple. (Just to put it out there, this is not at all typical for us.)  The rest of the day both Matt and I photographed from more of a distance, and both got to really “experience” (as well as capture) all the energy flowing around.  The love, the courage, the strength, the determination, the compassion, the dedication, and again, the love, the love, the love!  It was one of the most beautiful loves I have ever had the honor of documenting.  I get chills every time I watch their slideshow.

Jocelyn, you have given me a stronger and rejuvenated hope as I now support my 19 year old cousin who is currently fighting the same kind of cancer you have overcome.  Meeting you and Christian and experiencing your wedding day with you has made me realize again how precious life is, how special love is, and how lucky we are for everyday we get to exist as human beings alive on this earth!  I hope you really really “get” how absolutely beautiful you are!  And Christian…  all I have is love for you too.  Thank you for finding me!  I can’t imagine ending the craziness of wedding season this year in a more powerful way.  We wish all the best in the world to you both.

Posted: October 2nd, 2008 under Weddings, Colorado.
Comments: 2