Life's Special Moments

I picked up the free copy of the Mesa Republic insert today as I do whenever I encounter it. On their "Special Moments" page I found the story of a couple whom I have known over the last 8 years or so. The accompanying story announces their 65th wedding anniversary. Congratulations, Thomas and Evelyn!

They were married less than a month before I was born. The war in the Pacific had not ended by that date in 1945. He returned to Indiana to marry his bride.

I love wedding pictures from that era. The groom stands stoic and sober-faced in his Navy uniform. Beside him the bride stands shy and innocent in a formal wedding dress and veil. These many years later this couple is charming and cheerful. Clearly, marriage was meaningful. Many wedding images from this time period show the same iconography. A similar, memorable photo of my in-laws sits in a prominent spot in our house.

One of my joys in life is photography. My focus is event photography. I like to shoot activities containing people living life's moments. Wedding photography is a favorite.

Wedding photography has not changed all that much over the years except that quality of innocence seen back then seems rare. Sixty-five years ago so much was expressed by the wedding act itself. Weddings were held in various venues because of the restraints of time, money, and rationing. Bridal gear was often simple and practical; a hand made dress or a suit could function in other circumstances. The rite of marriage, whether civil or religious, was the focus. The observers came to endorse and support the newly married couple.

Formal pictures (as well as others) of the bride and groom taken nowadays have a different look. My job as a photographer is to document the love expressed between the couple through looks, gestures, and even chemistry. This is more important than the singular stoic pose of the past.

Today's wedding ceremonies remain reserved and solemn in most cases, but receptions are often vibrant, alive, and joyful. The task is to capture the spontaneity and excitement along with varied details. Guests come to celebrate and have a good time. Photographs are intended to capture the excitement and happiness. The photographer gets to be a storyteller.

Sixty-five years ago, photography acknowledged a singular and significant event in the lives of the couple. Today's photography tells a bigger story. The focus is still love, romance, happiness, and fulfillment. So much of what existed between a couple back then was implied and simply allowed exist with privacy. Nowadays it wide open for all to see. When today's couples look back at their wedding images, I wonder was descriptive word the next generation will assign to their mementos of that day.