Singing in The Rain

08/02/12

Well that was January! It seemed to fly by in a blur.
I think its fair to say that we all take stock in winter, either for family or work related issues and the warm hazy days of summer ably fed to us on travel programmes, make us yearn for the bright light and longer days.
Well thats the theory and I know that many of you reading this will be preparing for your 'big day' and hoping that the weather will be 'kind'. Naturally, you want it to be 'perfect' so that you can make your entrance, with shimmering, golden shafts of sunlight pouring down on you as they stream through stained glass windows whilst your being proudly lead to the altar.
Well I dont want to be a merchant of doom but this is England and the unpredictablity of the weather is a topic we are so familiar with!
Reality kicks in, well it should do and for some of you it might not be quite as you wish but please dont let that dampen your spirits at all.
I have been extremely lucky in my working life to have only ever encountered one such horrendous amazonian downpour. Sure its drizzled or been cold and grey on many wedding days but what has always warmed me is the attitude of the bride and groom. They just get on with it. Without using too many of the numerous puns now at my disposal, please just let it wash over you. Of course in the big build up its always the, 'I wonder if' syndrome regarding the sun and its 'maybe' appearance. However, my advice is simple. PLEASE DONT WORRY. You cant ever control that so concentrate on things you can do.
The worse weather day I ever had to encounter actually took place last July, right in the height of wedding season. The week before had been the hottest and bluest of blue sky days and we had a super time at Garry and Jo's great wedding in Cheshire. It took place in a fantastic three sectioned Marquee, in her fathers farm field! Scorching hot day, fantastic people and one of those events you dont want to end. However, exactly one week later, the contrast in weather was so marked, with black clouds and rain virtually all the way. It was infact to become the heaviest rainfall weekend of the year!
This was the marrige day for Will and Grace (no not that couple!) and the attitude of everyone there was simple, 'this is going to be memorable, we cant beat it, so lets just get on with it'. I have to say it was one of the best of all the wedding days I have ever been honoured to photograph. The ushers were fantastic, ferrying and guiding people through the puddles with laughter aplenty and smiles all around. The wedding car company were very professional, as they utilised large, white umbrellas that were handled with consumate skill. The spirit engendered on that afternoon was heart warming. There were smiles and laughter in abundance.
Throughout the service, you could 'feel' that the congregation had one eye on the darkening skies that now saw the church lights glowing like beacons! Ceremony over, the happy couple finally made their way down the aisle and as they did so, the sun burst through the clouds, lighting everywhere up! However, within five minutes of Will and Grace leaving the church, enjoying their moment as friends and relatives hugged and kissed them, it began to pour! This time though it was a lot heavier. A quick retreat and I put 'plan B' into operation. All the 'formal' group shots where taken in the church, we had arranged all of that prior to the day with the vicar on one of our 'recces' and the 'operation' went smoothly. Group shots done they made to leave the church again and right on cue, as they left the church for the second time, the clouds actually rolled back with the rain moving away, allowing them to enjoy a drier, second half to their day.
So why do I tell you all of this?
The answer is simple really. Please do your homework when choosing your photographer. I dont say that in a condescending way and I know some of you are on really tight budgets but you get what you pay for. Many of the 'snappers' you find on the net and I am not being too unkind when I say this, would have really struggled to capture the day. The reason being that it threw up constant photographic conundrums that even the most 'compliant' of modern digital cameras would have struggled to have achieved. From beginning to end, I shot the whole wedding on full manual, constantly changing and adjusting all the settings as the light and condititons went from one extreme to the other.
Experience counts and I like to think that we offer a service that reflects that.
If your looking at present, I am listening and would be only to happy to sit down and discuss your day with you. Might not be able to control the weather but I can guarantee that your pictures will truly and accurately reflect your day. Just ask Will and Grace and the many lovely people whom I have been proud to deliver to over the years
Regards Mark