So you may be wondering why all the photos in today’s blog post have the Fresh Look Photography logo on them… Let me stop you right there, No, I did not take my own bridal pictures… well, not directly anyway.
As photographers, we know that nothing ever really goes the way you exactly envisioned. You can prep and plan and hope for a certain outcome, but at the end of the day, you have to be flexible and roll with the punches. This was really hard to remember as I was getting ready to do my nautical bridal session at Norfolk Pagoda Gardens.

Nautical Bridal Session

It was just a few hours until my photo shoot was supposed to take place, hair and makeup were almost to my house, and the photographer who was supposed to take our pictures called me practically in tears because she had forgotten about a previous commitment and couldn’t do my pictures.

This is me in my head: DON’T PANIC!!!

I definitely had a mild freak out moment, but I know the photographer felt horrible and would have done anything to make it better, so I quickly moved on to “how can we fix this?”

Eric came in and said “why don’t you just let me take the pictures? I know how to use a camera!”
I immediately said “NO!” because I was very attached to the idea of having that first look with him on the wedding day (I was secretly hoping for tears! 🙂 ), so I didn’t want him doing the photos.
Keep in mind that this is now about 2 hours until I had to start taking pictures so we could get everything done before the sun set.

After contacting a few photographer friends, no one was available and I realized that if I wanted pictures, then I was gonna have to start thinking about having Eric take them…

Let me tell you, that was a tough call to make.

I had to let go of the idea of that “perfect moment” on the wedding day that I thought we were going to have and realize that Eric was going to love me now, and he was going to love me then.

In the End, We DID have that Moment

It just wasn’t on a boat, it was in our bedroom.
Eric wasn’t wearing his suit, he was wearing jeans.
There was no photographer to capture that “moment”.

But you know what?

Eric was still completely blown away.

And in the end, isn’t that all that really matters?

I absolutely LOVE these pictures because Eric took them.
I love these pictures because when he said he loved me and I looked beautiful during the photo shoot, I knew that he really meant it.
I love these pictures because he got smiles out of me that no one else ever could.
But most of all I love these pictures because they are such a great reminder that it’s okay when something doesn’t go the way you planned… sometimes it can be even better than what you initially wanted.

Couldn’t have had such an awesome session without my sister Stephanie helping, love you lady!!!

VENDORS: Hair & Makeup – Best Face Forward – Skin, Makeup & Color Artists | Flowers – Blushing Floral Designs by Alexandra | Bridal Gown – JJ’s House

Love What You See? Want to Chat About YOUR Wedding?!

If you’re looking at this nautical bridal session and are thinking to yourself – I want you to come photograph my wedding! Awesome!!! We would LOVE to create a custom wedding package for you and the ones you love! Feel free to message me by hitting the { CONTACT ME } button or by giving me a call at 757-749-5350. I can’t wait to create some magic for you!