Syndney and Nick
Sydney and Nick were my last wedding couple of 2020. Despite what was going on in the world, they made the best of the situation and had an incredible time. There was lots of dancing, laughing, smiles and family time. They got married at St Francis Hall in Washington, DC. This was my second time shooting here and it really is one of my favorite places to shoot a wedding. They have a beautiful garden across the street, which is great for couples portraits. The hall itself is great as well. They string lights across the rafters and it makes for a very beautiful atmosphere. In addition, the colors inside allow for incredibly warm, rich coloring.
The day was overcast, but that’s not a bad thing, because clouds are the best diffusers and really help out with photos. Everyone was having a fun time in the garden before the wedding, posing for photos; the bridal party, Sydney and Nick, etc. From there, the couple took a bit of a break to relax in private before the ceremony started. I took that time to get some photos of the hall as it was set up for the wedding. There were a lot of decorations out as well, so I took some time to get those photos as well.
As the ceremony started, everything ran perfectly. The ceremony was nice and included stories about Sydney and Nick from how they met and their journey to get to their wedding day. They had a friend play guitar and it sounded beautiful echoing throughout the church hall. There are the obvious photos that are must haves, including the first kiss, exchanging of rings, etc, but in between those moments, I like to get little unexpected things. I like to turn around and get photos of the guests as they watch the ceremony going on. I also like to look for someone who may be wiping away a tear. Weddings are beautiful events and are very emotional for some people. Finding someone who is crying is very endearing and I have been thanked by Brides in the past, saying that they loved seeing that moment of their sister or mother or father, etc shedding a tear.
As the night went on, the reception was lively with lots of dancing, mingling, laughing and photography. I like to follow the couple as they walk around and talk to their guests. It’s a mix of candid shots as they talk, show off their rings, introduce each other to friends and Plus Ones. It also allows for quick posed photos with the guests. I am frequently thanked for being so attentive to something that the couple and the guests think would be mundane.
As the wedding was starting to draw to a close, I had met lots of great new people, gotten great photos that I know Sydney and Nick will enjoy and everyone was amazed at the energy of the little kids that had still not tired out. The last shot was the sparkler exit. Luckily, Sydney and Nick had gotten the extra large sparklers. Sparklers are surprisingly hard to light and a lot of times with the smaller ones, by the time everyone has theirs lit, a lot of them are starting to die out. That was not the case this time as the sparklers burned more than long enough for us to get some great final shots.
This was a great wedding to end my year off with. The couple was great, their family and friends were a lot of fun to be around and I had a really fun time. I wish Sydney and Nick a lifetime of love and happiness.