Sorry for the two week hiatus!
Two weeks ago today it was world mental health day and I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with that day as a ‘day’ if you know what I mean.
On the one hand of course it’s a major issue and bringing light to it is never a bad thing, on the other hand I don’t need telling by 1000 people that if I just exercised an hour a day and stopped eating Doritos I’d be happier.
So I thought instead of adding to the epic noise of that day, my service was to deliver a slice of silence. I love silence. It’s underrated.
Last week I just didn’t feel like writing.
But today, I do. So here we are!
On Tuesday I didn’t go to Coda Conference. And that’s a shame because it looks like it was an amazing day, and I want to congratulate my friend Roo on creating something there that’s clearly exactly what our video friends have been crying out for.
Lots of people are lauded as ‘the nicest person in the industry’ and I’ll tell you now, it’s Roo. So I’m happy for him that it was such a roaring success.
And this isn’t a sales pitch, because unfortunately you can’t go to the next one as it’s already sold out. It sold out in 43 minutes yesterday. Congrats again to Roo.
No, I’ve never watched Game of Thrones. Is that where they say winter is coming?
Anyway I shot my final wedding of 2024 on 12th October.
It was a weird feeling.
Normally, my final wedding of the year is much, much later. Late November, sometimes December.
So to have shot it in early October was weird. And honestly, I was looking forward to the season being over… I usually feel a sense of proud euphoria the moment the clock ticks over the final minutes of my season.
But this year, it just felt… odd.
I can’t explain it. It felt like a massive anticlimax. A sort of sense of unfinished business. Could be because my last wedding was super fun, at a venue I love and with a bunch of people who make this job an absolute pleasure. The sun shone, the drinks flowed, people had a wonderful time and I had a grand old time too.
I think it was the kind of wedding that reminds me why I love being a wedding photographer, so to come away knowing it’s 6 months until my next one just felt… I don’t know… unfair!
So what’s the message here?
Don’t wish the season away, don’t go into countdown mode, don’t hate on the job, don’t focus only on the edit pile, don’t bitch and moan in an industry so conditioned to bitch and moan.
Give however many weddings you’ve got left the gift of your conscious enjoyment and best self instead.
Push yourself to make photos you love. Bring the best version of your personality to each one. Go out all guns blazing.
We do this job because we frickin love it, and yet so many of us are wrapped up in how hard it can be, and the negative effect it can have on family and social life through crazy season that we forget that we frickin love it.
I wish it wasn’t six months to my next wedding. Fingers crossed last night’s zoom for a February wedding books me.
Treat the winter break as a reward for a season well done, not a welcome break from a job you’re so lucky to be doing.
Thanks for reading.
Adam