Recently I was lucky enough to travel to Hawaii for the wedding of one of my favourite people in the world...my friend Dita. I wasn't there to photograph the wedding, but to be there, present, as a guest. So after a few initial quick photos at the beginning of the ceremony, I put the camera down and was just that...present. I listened fully, watched on without distraction and let the emotion I was feeling flow. I smiled a lot, feeling so much love as I watched my friend commit to the man she loves...and then I cried a lot. Big wet tears of happiness!

All around me people were taking photos and video and I felt such relief in knowing that I didn't have to worry about getting the ring shot, capturing that first kiss or any other photo that I have on my mental wedding check list. I could just be. I could just enjoy. I could just be a part of my friend's wondrous life event without having to document it. It was beautiful. My heart was so full it was fit to explode!

It now has me thinking about all the weddings that I do photograph and how often I watch people so busy trying to get all those perfect shots, that they forget to share the celebration and join in the lovefest of their family and friends. They're so connected to Facebook and Instagram that they are disconnected from the event and their emotions. I'm not saying people shouldn't take photos. By all means take a few quick pics of your own, but then let the pro photographer get the shots, so you can get back to why you're really there...the wedding of your friends. Be there with them. Celebrate with them. Make memories with them. Laugh. Skip. Hug. Sing. Cry. Dance. Just. Be.

HAWAIIN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

We went for a drive to Waipio Valley a few days later and I got a few pics of the newly weds anyway!

HAWAIIN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY HAWAIIN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY HAWAIIN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

HAWAIIN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY