I had been looking forward to this wedding for a while. Parker and I share a bit of history, dating back to when his dad and I were volunteer firefighters together. Over time, Parker's dad drifted out of the picture, but Parker grew interested in firefighting, often reaching out to me for advice. I was always happy to help him out.

One day, in the middle of Oregon, my wife and I spotted a car that had driven off the road. We turned around to help, and we weren’t the only ones. A group of grimy, dirty, but determined guys had also stopped to assist. To my surprise, one of them was Parker! It was such a random but special moment, reconnecting in person like that.

A few years later, Parker reached out again, this time with a different request—he wanted to propose to his girlfriend and capture the moment on film. We planned it out near the Pelican Pub in Pacific City. My wife and I set up the gear; I had a camera on a tripod for the video, and I offered to take their picture with my main camera. She never saw it coming, and everything went off without a hitch.

I didn’t think I’d be asked to shoot the wedding since some brides have friends with cameras, but I got the call. The wedding was set for June 22nd at The Barn at Tamarack Springs in Summerville, Oregon. It was too far for a walkthrough, so I scouted locations during the rehearsal dinner. The Barn at Tamarack Springs is a stunning venue, and I knew I had plenty of options. The casual western theme was right up my alley!

Meghan, the bride, wanted some "hype" shots of the guys. I had a few ideas, but once I understood her vision, I took it to the next level. With a group of firefighters and blue-collar workers, I knew we could have some fun. We pulled the truck around, grabbed some drinks and gear, and got to work. That set the tone for the rest of the wedding, and I knew everything would go smoothly from there.

A second shooter took care of the bride getting ready and captured some intimate shots of her shoes, dress, and rings, while I covered the rest. There was also a videographer, so we had to share some space, but we made it work.

There was a tender moment between Parker and his mom as she tucked a family handkerchief into his pocket. I watched and photographed as they shared some words and embraced. Knowing the family as I do, I couldn’t help but get emotional. That wouldn’t be the last time I shed a tear that day.

Meghan had seen me do shutter drag photos at other weddings and requested the same for the dance floor. Initially, I was worried it wouldn’t get dark enough, but the evening cooperated. With her light wands, we captured some incredible light painting and shutter drag shots. It was a blast and definitely added to my shutter count, nearing 5,000 photos by the end of the day.

This wedding was not only fun to be a part of but also deeply meaningful. Knowing that my photos will become cherished memories for this family made it all the more special. It was the first wedding where I found myself getting emotional.

We made it back safely to our hotel room, which was so cheap it didn’t have AC or an elevator. The fan only blew warm air, and I was tempted to make a late-night run to Walmart for a fan. But I was too tired and ready for bed.

Key Takeaways:

Research hotel rooms better—don’t go so cheap you end up without AC or an elevator.
Keep the "hype" shot idea for future weddings.
RGB light wands are a fantastic way to get people on the dance floor and make for great photos.

Woody and Jillian Wedding at The Benson Hotel - BlackFire Photography

About a year ago, I met Woody, a bartender at the local Red Robin. Despite being in his twenties and not knowing me well, Woody consistently remembered my order perfectly—even after months without seeing me. I was just an average customer, so his attention to detail always amazed me.

Fast forward to 2024, and during a chat with Woody, he mentioned he was getting married in August. Although I usually don’t hand out business cards to people I don’t know well, I suggested he check out my work at BlackFire Photography if he needed a wedding photographer. A month later, he reached out, interested in discussing photography for his wedding.

I scheduled a meeting with Woody and his fiancé, Jillian, to understand their needs and expectations. I find that face-to-face meetings are the best way to build trust and distinguish myself from other photographers. After a thorough discussion, I sent them a quote with various package options.

A few months later, we finalized the details for their wedding at The Benson Hotel. With no wedding planner on site, I knew I’d need to stay adaptable, checking in throughout the evening to stay on top of the schedule.

On the wedding day, I started with the groomsmen photos outside the hotel. We kicked off with a Reservoir Dogs-style walk, inspired by their “Mad Men” references.

Next, I went up to photograph the bride and her bridesmaids. I focused on using mirrors and natural light but had to manage a few hair emergencies first. Once we got rolling, I captured shots that showcased the bride beautifully and employed Rachel Traxler’s tip of having the bridesmaids say something funny to get genuine, candid expressions.

The ceremony itself had a few hiccups, like arranging flower petals for the bride’s grandmother, but I’m good at adapting and helping out when needed. Before the ceremony started, I checked the white balance, adjusted the flash, and set my ISO, using a Nikon 50mm 1.4 lens to handle the low light effectively.

After the ceremony, I took family and wedding party photos. I recommend doing these before the ceremony if possible, as post-ceremony time often feels rushed. We had about 20 minutes, which wasn’t quite enough, but I let the couple guide the flow while offering my experience-based advice.

Finally, it was time for the dancing. I’ve learned that using slow shutter speeds and avoiding flash results in more dynamic, lively dance photos. Despite the challenging lighting, I adjusted the ISO and used post-processing to refine the images.

Back home, I realized I’d shot 4,945 images—a lot, but it ensures a good selection of shots. Many of these were from the dancing, which can be hit-or-miss. I’ll send over some teasers for Woody and Jillian to share on social media and with friends and family.

Overall, the wedding was a success, and the couple is pleased with the photos so far. I’m glad I started using CloudSpot for sharing, as it’s more efficient than meeting in person and provides an easier way for clients to share their photos.