St. Anne de Detroit Wedding

Alicia and Todd’s St. Anne de Detroit wedding.

As I write this, it is Thanksgiving morning. I think we can unanimously agree that we are all over the year 2020. It has been a rough, unfortunate, disappointing, frustrating, insert-your-favorite-adjective-or-expletive-here kind of year. However, today of all days is a perfect reminder that we all have something to be thankful for. My guess is, while we normally say it, this year we truly feel it – we are thankful for loved ones and the simple things we sometimes take for granted or overlook due to our busy schedules.

Yesterday, I nearly tripped over my dog Capone as he was under my feet. He is 20 years young. How can you get upset with a dog like that? Instead, I put down what I was carrying, laid on the ground, and gladly accepted his horribly stinky breath and kisses. Becky found me laughing as Capone was attacking me.

“Hearing you laugh is my absolute favorite thing,” she told me. I have long said the same thing to her.

It’s the simple and small things in life that become our most prized memories. The simple squeeze of a hand when no one is looking. A hug that lasts a little longer than normal. A look sent across the room that conveys an inside joke that only a spouse would know. A text from a friend checking up on you. Or even a simple note left on the counter to come home to. Whatever it is, that is the good stuff of life. I think we can all appreciate the normalcy and sense of security those little things bring as well continue to navigate these long and strange days.

Twelve years into this, I am still discovering things about weddings that go beyond just taking pretty pictures. Earlier this week, I sat down with Becky to look at our own wedding photos and video. Two photos into our slideshow and I was already experiencing an emotional attachment and appreciation for the image. It wasn’t perfectly composed or captured a once-in-a-lifetime moment, but it did capture something that meant something to me. Something, or someone, I valued. Again, it is the small things. Reflecting on that, I realized that my clients (hopefully) have the same reaction to their images, (hopefully) even years later.

This year, more than ever, wedding photography taught me how timeless and foundational love is. The world can be on fire around you (or so it seems in 2020), and love prevails. People will still gather, support, and celebrate love. This was evident at Alicia and Todd’s beautiful St. Anne de Detroit wedding. The day was filled with special moments and small moments to be cherished and thankful for.