Shooting With My Husband

This is something that was simply a dream for ages.  Once I started following Jasmine Star and then noticing other couples in the industry who worked together... well, I wanted that too!  But I had no idea if the guy God would bring would have ever even held a camera, much less know how to work one or ever have the desire to shoot weddings.  And would we be able to work together??  What does that even look like?  Would we be at each other throats?  Would I be too bossy?  (sadly to say, internet, this is totally possible)  Would we want to spend an entire day together taking pictures at someone else's wedding??

When we started dating, there was one Saturday that I was at a Clemson game and Ben had gone to the Euro Auto Show at BMW.  I remember seeing his pictures that he posted on Facebook and thinking that this guy had some talent!  The angles and pictures he was getting (with his phone, mind you) weren't what the average Joe was posting online.  I think the picture below is the one that really grabbed my attention (although the comments look a little funny with our wedding pictures next to them!).

Ben's background is in video, so I knew he had an eye, I just had not seen any of his work.  And he was actually game for learning how to shoot a still camera!  I was so excited!  So, we had some lessons and he's been a quick learner.  It's actually stretched me too because I'm having to figure out how to teach what it is that I've been taught.  Some things are just second nature at this point so finding the words to explain why I do something can be a challenge.  But, he's patient with me and he's so eager to learn.

When he went with me last summer to shoot Brent and Abigail's wedding, I remember telling Ben that if I got too bossy during the day to call me out and ask me to chill out :-)  When I asked him at the end of the day if I had been difficult to work for, he said no and that he had had a lot of fun!

So, this is our first full wedding season of working together.  And it's nothing short of wonderful.  In case you aren't familiar with wedding photography, it's a full day of work!  Usually on the weekend!  So, the fact that we get to spend the day together while documenting the beginning of a couple's life is amazing.  And who better to work with than someone that knows me better than anyone?  I love it.  I just love it :-)

And just to show you what it looks like for the two of us to work together and what that means for our couple's and their pictures...

While I'm getting the shot on the left (from Steph and Joe's wedding), Ben is getting the shot on the right...

While I'm getting shots like this...

Ben is getting shots like this...

I love going through images after a wedding and pulling the best of the best (this is called culling) and seeing what all Ben was able to get.  With two sets of eyes, we don't always see the same things... and it's awesome!  So, this past weekend, as I was getting pictures of Janet getting ready, Ben was shooting some details and the cake.  And I think I may have swooned when I saw this image...

Ben, I am so thankful for you and that you not only support me in pursuing this crazy dream of mine, but that you want to work with me and support me throughout the day.  You are incredible to work alongside of and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!