This wedding will always hold a dear place in my heart. It was the first that I ever shot. This wedding was for my cousin Josh and his bride to be, Katie. I was honored that they chose me and humbled that they trusted me with their memories. I feel it’s always important to see where you started, so that you know how far you’ve come.

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Although I wasn’t new to my camera, I was obviously new to wedding photography, so I was naturally a little nervous. I was part of the rehearsal the day before, so I was able to meet some people beforehand and that helped take off a little of the nervous energy.

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Katie and Josh were married in July and it was a hot one. The ceremony was beautiful, officiated by Josh’s father, Tony. The flower girl and ring bearers hung in there like champs, despite how hot it had grown. By the time the ceremony was over, everyone was ready to get inside, but Katie, Josh and I stuck it out a little longer to complete family photos and formals. By the time we were ready to go in for the reception, we were all ready to jump in the pool at the country club where the wedding was held!

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The rest of the day was fun. I got to take photos and get practice for what would turn into a huge love of mine; wedding photography. We had a lot of family there, so it was a reunion as well. Looking back over the photos and on the day, I am happy with how everything turned out. I was able to get photos that Katie and Josh loved and I was able to learn a lot that would help me in my future weddings.

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I will forever be thankful and grateful to Katie and Josh for giving me my first opportunity. I am also proud that when their son gets older and they show him their wedding photos, he’ll be able to live those memories as well.