Culling Wedding Photos, Shooting Engagement Portraits

Erin just finished three days of Phoenix engagement sessions, with another engagement in coming up next weekend the day before our Sedona wedding, and I'm still culling.  I'm clearly not going to run out of work any time soon.

An important note for our wedding couples:

We've had brides and grooms ask us why they can't have ALL the photographs from their weddings, bad pictures along with the good.  It's the same reason I cull the photographs before Erin ever gets to take a close look at them.  When you're emotionally invested in the photographs (as brides, grooms, and photographers tend to be) and you only find one gem of a photograph among a string of lousy ones, you tend to get overwhelmed by the bad and start to ask, "Do I really make that face when I kiss?" or "Was that in my teeth the whole reception?!" or "Why did I ever became a wedding photographer in the first place?  I am a terrible person unworthy of love!"

Of course, the answers to these questions are:

"That wasn't a kiss, you were stifling a sneeze."

"You only had that in your teeth for a moment because the Maid of Honor made you laugh mid-bite.  Try this other photo of her making you laugh WITHOUT food in your mouth."

And,

"There are literally hundreds of beautiful photographs here--portraits, candids, indoor, outdoor, flash, daylight, getting-ready, ceremony, reception, action, dancing--in all different conditions, lighting, speeds, and subjects that PROVE this is what you were meant to be.  Also, I love you."

So don't worry.  You're going to end up with hundreds upon hundreds of gorgeous, funny,  touching, one-of-a-kind photographs to remember your wedding day by, and you don't need to worry about those lousy ones.  I'll take care of them for you.  It is my burden to bear.

Please send correspondence to:

Erin, Phil, & Scout
The Airstream with the Wheels Itching to be Turning Again
Phoenix, AZ