Happy to hear that Cathedral Falls was nearby, we stayed for a while, looking at it and photographing it.  It was a nice break from beginning to prepare for Carrie's wedding for which I was going to be the wedding photographer, my first attempt at this.

This photo was taken by placing my Nikon D90 on a rock with my Gorillapod and keeping the shutter open for about 1.5 seconds.  For some reason, this photo looks to me like it is HDR, but there was actually almost no post-processing except for the usual sharpening and minimal color correction.

After getting back from the waterfall and Hawk's Nest, we drove over to Bream Memorial Presbyterian Church, an old wooden church established in 1883.  The particular structure we were in in had been built in 1910.

But we were there to participate in the rehearsal.  I took photos from the balcony and the aisles.  I had just purchased my first flash for a camera a couple of weeks earlier, and I needed to figure out how to use it and the gels.  The light was really low, and it was difficult to get decent shots.  If I were to shoot weddings regularly - not something I am aspiring to do - I would get a lens at least f2.8 or faster, not the relatively slow 18-200mm VR lens I was using.  And much more lighting. And another camera and lens.  And...um, well, anyway, it's what I had, and I was going for it.

I took many photos of the rehearsal and the decorations. Gotta get those little details as well as the main event and all the people.

7 August 2010:

After photographing Carrie getting her hair done, we drove over to the church.  I set up both of Carrie's lights and set up the tripod and camera in the second pew so I'd have enough room for the formal photos.

And you know, sometimes, the test shot is the best shot.  This is a photo of the best man.  So cool.

I shot many formal shots and then put away the lights and tripod.

At 3:30pm, the ceremony began.  This is Carrie walking down the aisle.  It was on.

I went up to the balcony.  time to start taking some shots with the tripod.

I went back down after the second prayer.  I began shooting up close. Suddenly, my shots began coming out really dark.  I bumped up the ISO.  I then realized that flash was not firing. It's not a wedding unless something goes awry.

I replaced the flash batteries and set up for the second round of formal shots.

For both rounds of formal shots, I tried to make it fun by having people do silly photos, such as the one here.  I'd start off with some serious shots, move to the silly shots, and then sometimes, if the "serious" shots seemed a little stiff, I'd go back to taking a few more serious shots since they had gotten loosened up.  But really, everyone was more than happy to get weird.

The lights had to be spread farther apart.  The borrowed extension cords didn't stretch that far without the light falling over, so Lisa had to hold one of the lights for the entire second round of formal shots!

And Lisa had been taking shots at the church as well.  We packed up all the photographic equipment and made our way to the Holiday Inn, where the reception was being held.

This is the first dance, with the bride and groom.

Carrie the happy bride dancing.  I love this photo because of her exuberant expression. You just can't fake joy like this.

The reception hall was also quite dark, so I continued using the flash.  I was to photograph the entire reception as well. I met up with Lisa's family and everyone else and managed to eat.  I wasn't sure if I'd ever get around to it, so I had packed blueberry bars and trail mix bars if I didn't get any down time.

The theme of the wedding was all things Disney.  I took photos of several of the table arrangements, including the Lady and the Tramp.  The wedding has been over for three days as I'm writing this, and I *still* have "A Whole New World" buzzing around in my head.  Agggghhh!

When I was studying up on wedding photography, everybody mentioned taking photos of the little details as well as the people.  But most of the time, I was taking many candid shots of the guests, trying to get as many people as possible.  This is what Carrie and David both requested.  And it's also something I love to do.

The happy bride with her mouse ears and her gorgeous wedding dress. At the end of the reception, Lisa told me the time. I didn't believe it. I had thought it was three hours later. The whole wedding photographer experience was exhilarating and exhausting.

And to make it more fun, the next day, we woke up at 4:45am, catching a 7am flight back home.

~~~

Click on this link to see a few more photos from this wedding.