Wedding photographers will resonate with this. Brides (and their grooms) will understand we go through at weddings. Aspiring wedding photographers will know to stay away!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
0734 hrs:<\/strong> Wedding day. Wake up, bath, eat a solid breakfast. Next time I\u2019m going to eat is probably in 8 hours. Double check all equipment\u2026batteries charged, check! Memory cards cleared and formatted, check! Packed some water and an apple or two, check!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 0847 hrs:<\/strong> Got a call from a panicking bride\u2026frantic\u2026she\u2019s asking why I\u2019m not \u2018here\u2019. \u201cYour wedding starts at 2pm, you\u2019ll probably begin preparations around 1130, if I come their now, my time starts ticking, your 8 hours will be over before the wedding peaks\u201d\u2026I tell her calmly. I\u2019ve got calls like this more times than I can count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1012 hrs:<\/strong> The transport guy calls to find out where he\u2019s picking me. \u201cI\u2019ll be there just now, wait for me outside\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1145 hrs:<\/strong> I\u2019m still waiting. Maybe I should have just organised my own transport. #frustratedfordays! I\u2019m thinking to myself\u2026I should really write that article about my wedding experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1158 hrs:<\/strong> Finally\u2026he\u2019s here. Apparently he decided he could also see about the drinks while he was at it. Tired already from standing and wedding hasn\u2019t even begun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1235 hrs:<\/strong> Brides house. She hasn\u2019t even started dressing. I think to myself\u2026If I\u2019d come in earlier\u2026.I\u2019d be bored dead right now. Camera out\u2026basa ratanga. Shoot every interesting thing you see\u2026even before everyone is looking glamorous. They\u2019ll love these photos. There\u2019s the bride in her night dress. Click! Click! Click! Those look like her uncles. Click! Click! Bridesmaids frantic about their hair and makeup, Click! Click!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1242 hrs:<\/strong> \u201cKo mava kutotitora mapicture tisina kuchinja? Chimbomirai titange tageza\u201d. Click! Click! Click! I smile at them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1312 hrs:<\/strong> \u201cWhere\u2019s the guy who takes photos? The bride is almost finished preparing\u201d. Huh? But didn\u2019t I tell you to let me know as soon as she starts dressing? I walk into the room\u2026pretty small\u2026most space is covered by the bed. The eight aunties in there don\u2019t make it any better. I try to find the best angle to take photos of the bride. \u201cNdiri kudawo kutora muchati maphoto, ndinokumbirawo mubude panze.\u201d She reluctantly walks out\u2026.and comes back in again less than 5 minutes later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1318 hrs:<\/strong> Click! Click! Click! Lighting in small rooms can be tricky. Pull out the speedlight and bounce light off the ceiling. Much better!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1345 hrs:<\/strong> Leaving for the ceremony venue. Where\u2019s my transport guy???!!! Already left? Agghhh\u2026but didn\u2019t I ask for someone dedicated to just me? This is the last time I\u2019m negotiating about transport. \u201cHanti imimi vemaphoto munoda mota yakavhurika kumashure?\u201d NO! I don\u2019t take photos while the convoy is moving. And I don\u2019t like the back of open trucks! Aagghh!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1427 hrs:<\/strong> Ceremony Venue. Click! Click! Click! Those women in those funky hats must be close relatives of the groom. Click! Hey\u2026the page boy looks neat. Click!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1452 hrs:<\/strong> Ceremony. It\u2019s almost time for the kissing. I hate this time. Tablets, smartphones, point and shoot cameras\u2026everyone\u2019s the photographer these days. They are distracting my focus. I ask the MC to make an announcement that only the official photographer shoot be standing\u2026everyone to return to their seats. Much better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1502 hrs:<\/strong> Ceremony\u2019s done. I\u2019m beginning to get hungry. WHERE\u2019S Y TRANSPORT GUY???!!! Aaagghhh!!! Damn! Tava kuenda kumaphoto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1534 hrs:<\/strong> I wish the ciouple had consulted me before they chose this park for their photos. I hate shooting in parks. It\u2019s so clich\u00e9. Let me survey the place for spots that are\u2026ummhh\u2026different. Ok\u2026we could do something in that driveway. And that bridge. We could probably also get some good shots by the tool shed\u2026they are probably going to think I\u2019m crazy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1544 hrs:<\/strong> WHERE ARE THE RELATIVES? I NEED TO START WITH THEM FIRST!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1558 hrs:<\/strong> \u201cInini ndinoda kutorwa yangu ndega nevachati\u201d\u2026..\u201dAihwa sekuru\u2026regai tiite ne order\u201d\u2026\u201daaah kana\u2026ndiri kutoda yangu ndega.\u201d Ok chimirai apa\u2026Click! 1624 hrs:<\/strong> Done with everyone. Whew! Finally. Now it\u2019s time for the bride and groom\u2019s shots. I enjoy this part the most\u2026this whole day is about them. 1634 hrs:<\/strong> The time keeper\u2019s on my case\u2026giving me three minutes to wrap up. I tell him\u2026this is their day\u2026let me get them the best shots. People at the venue can wait. He says \u201dOk, five minutes then.\u201d I ignore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1659 hrs:<\/strong> Done. Great shoot! This is why I keep doing this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1720 hrs:<\/strong> At the reception venue now. Everyone\u2019s had lunch. I\u2019m so hungry! 1745 hrs:<\/strong> Back on the job. The bridal train is on the dance floor. LOL! The \u2018steps coaches\u2019 always..and I mean ALWAYS\u2026want to out-dance the rest of the bridal train and steal the show. The guys are born of the same mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1956 hrs:<\/strong> I\u2019ve been on my feet for close to ten hours now. My legs are on fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2132 hrs:<\/strong> Wedding\u2019s almost done. Vote of thanks. I\u2019m counting the minutes. Need to sit down somewhere\u2026my wife calls \u201cWhat time are you coming home? Hamusati mapedza?\u201d Ding ding, visa expired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2150 hrs:<\/strong> WHERE\u2019S MY TRANSPORT GUY???!!! Yap…this is definitely the last time I\u2019m letting the couple organise my transport! Defintely the last time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2240 hrs:<\/strong> Back home! I need to put these photos on the hard drive so I can start editing them from tomorrow. Wedding photographers will resonate with this. Brides (and their grooms) will understand we go through at weddings. Aspiring wedding photographers will know to stay away! 0734 hrs: Wedding day. Wake up, bath, eat a solid breakfast. Next time I\u2019m going to eat is probably in 8 hours. Double check all equipment\u2026batteries charged, check! Memory cards cleared […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":193,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-542","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-uncategorized"},"yoast_head":"\n
\u201cWatora here\u2026sei ndisina kuona flash?\u201d
AAGGGHH! That\u2019s how it feels inside\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For some reason we were cultured to pull a smile and pose awkwardly to the camera. It takes a couple of minutes to loosen the couple and get them relaxed. That\u2019s much better. I love the shots we\u2019re getting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Food\u2019s finished. \u201cKwasara chevachati!\u201d
Remind me again why I keep shooting weddings when I experience this ALL the time???
\u201cThe food\u2019s finished, kwasara chenyu, I\u2019m going out to get some food for an hour.\u201d
My contract has a clause that states if I\u2019m not provided with food I can go out and get my own for an hour.
The bride panics\u2026call the caterers and orders them to get me food immediately! The caterer lady\u2026who had told me there\u2019s no food for me earlier\u2026.looks at me funny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back to the bride and groom. \u201cGuys, we said you\u2019ll take care of my transport\u2026where\u2019s my ride home?\u201d
\u201cAahh mira tikutsvagire munhu ari kuenda kutown.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can\u2019t wait to see the looks on their faces when they see their photos.
I guess this is why I love weddings and I keep doing it over and over again!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"