About two years ago I put my wedding business on hold while I took care of my Dad suffering from Dementia. I have no regrets in anyway and I cherished the time I had with him. These memories will always be in my heart. 

Unfortunately adversity can hit us at any given time. No one plans for it, it just happens. 

We shot a wedding about three years ago and we felt that we did a great job capturing the event. It was a beautiful venue and the Bride and Groom looked like they were right out of Vogue Magazine. We completed the post production as scheduled and posted their images on a private site for their viewing and sharing. However the Bride and Groom really never viewed their proofs or to order their album. We made numerous attempts to reach out to them to fully understand why. So we decided to archive their images so they would be safe for future use.

For a long time it trouble me and I often wondered if they did not like our work or were they not happy with how we captured their wedding day. As a photographer, you never want to disappoint anyone.

Then three years later the Bride reached out to me to ask if I still had her images. She went on to apologized for never getting back to us until now. She explained that she had a couple of ruff years and she wanted to surprise her husband with a wedding album. I was just so happy that her and her husband were still together and doing well.

I stopped doing wedding shows years ago because I saw a trend that Brides were more interested in finding a florists, tasting cakes and selecting the right venue, rather than finding that perfect photographer. I fully understand that a wedding is about beauty and every Bride wants their day to be spectacular. We all get it. As a Photographer I want the venue to be amazing. It makes for great pictures. 

In this case three years had past. Do you think anyone would still remember her Wedding Day. Would they remember what the flowers looked like or what the food tasted like? Would any of her guests have any images to share.

The iPhone may have devalued the Professional Photographer in the eyes of some Brides. I could never understand why a bride would spend more money on flour and sugar than a professional photographer. Social Media also has had an impact too. Photos are posted within second of the Bride walking down the Aisle. 

To any Bride that maybe reading this. Take the time and find a great photographer. Make sure you connect with them. Be sure that he or she understands your needs, your vision and I guarantee you will have beautiful memories for a lifetime. 

Dale Alan, Professional Photographer, Pittsburgh