Now we will switch topic to photography. Peter will be the one talking, and we assume the groom will be the photographer. We do so only because it simplifies the otherwise cumbersome language to address both of you. By all means, we encourage both of you to take up the challenges of photography. You will be surprised at how much fun you will have when the two of you can discuss constructively on a creative topic. And, the quality of your pictures will be much higher when you are having fun!

When I started preparing for this project, I used a point-and-shoot digital camera. To my surprise, the result was already great. I was rather encouraged by that and decided to further challenge myself to use an SLR (single lens reflective) film camera. However, being a photography beginner, I had only basic ideas about shutter speed, aperture, and focal length. It took me a while to figure out the secrets of outdoor portrait photography. But once I have gained some experience and learned a few tricks, taking good outdoor portraits is actually quite straightforward.

In the following sections, I will share with you how I got myself up to speed to take our photos. I assume you have some basic knowledge about photography. However, before moving on, I need to give you the most important piece of advice:


Treat your bride like a princess This is simply the rule of thumb. Show her you are the caring man she deserves. You need to understand how much she would like to look perfect in the pictures, and consequently how much preparation time she would need to ensure her look and dress are flawless. Don't ever be impatient about her on this matter. Instead, the easiest thing for you to do is to help her with the preparation, and simply enjoy the process with her. It is fine to start the photo taking session half an hour late (or however long it takes). It is already stressful enough for her to wake up in the morning, put on the makeup, and get into that wedding dress. Remember that her dress is not at all like your three-piece tuxedo. It is usually the most uncomfortable piece of garment a woman has ever worn. To be willing to put that on for you, she deserves nothing but the best of you.

When you master this, she will be happy, and so will you. Then you will have the happiest couple to take pictures with! As far as the photos are concerned, what is more important than having the sweetest smiles on both you? As a bonus: the two of you would have also mastered the first secret of a wonderful marriage.