May 21st, 2012. I reach Chabil Mar in the morning, around 11 am. Wedding Ceremony was set for 4 pm. Was sunny and gorgeous weather and I was super happy that we did not cancelled the wedding during the bad weather from few days before. The sky looked kind of funky (kind of big clouds coming) but I thought “add drama to the photos… so, is perfect”.

About 12:30 pm I went in my room and order my food… clouds were coming and coming… in the middle of my fabulous lunch on my veranda start to rain…

Lunch on my veranda at Chabil Mar. feeling like a queen… before a long day :))

I never posted photos of what I eat where I’m going somewhere, so this will be my first. I want to give you a complete feeling of my day and I want you to know how I feel and what I do before a wedding.

When I was enjoyed my food & the view the rain start. And rain, rain rain… like real tropical rain…with cats&dogs!

I went inside my condo and the guy from the radio is saying “hehehe, people, stay inside and listen radio. We have a tropical depression here in Placencia and I don’t think the rain will stop soon”. This was 2 hours before wedding ceremony and I felt I’m melting…

I already have all kind of scenarios in my mind… and I start talking to myself “no, is impossible. We’ll have a break and sun will come out and at the end of the day we’ll get the rainbow…”

Then, I look around… at my room…  ”wow, this is a nice apartment”. I loved the living area so I snap few times…”. Staying in a nice place, eating good food is definitely improving the mood of anyone. People sometimes do not realize how important is to keep your photographer happy. Once is happy, creative mood is ON and is doing his best for best results…to make everyone around happy.

Here was my living room at Chabil Mar…

Stuck in the room… in mood for photos… and I said to myself… ”well, anyway I don’t have any recent photos...” and I start photographing myself. I can’t even believe that I’m actually writing this on my blog, but, I really want you to feel the mood of that day! :)

2:15… the rain stopped. I’m running to see my bride&groom… more huge clouds were coming… Ceremony suppose to be at 4 pm. So, I ask them, “guys, how you feel about having your ceremony in 15 minutes?”  and they reply  “not a problem. Whatever you think is best”. I am in Heaven with easy going weddings and I always found intimate being very easy going, so, done.

Heather & John told me that they are together from 17 years, so they already feel like married, but, somewhere, in the bottom of my heart, I knew this will be an emotional moment and I was so right.

I always start my weddings with ring photos… Belize,  ”mother nature’s best kept secret”. The toucan is “keeping” the engagement ring and wedding rings were on the secret and also one of our Belize Wonders, the great Blue Hole.

I had few minutes with John and his best friend, Dave.

This was one of my best weddings, when I’m talking about emotions. Living together from 17 years, you’ll think is taking away from the flavour of your Wedding Day. Actually, I think the opposite, is definitely adding more flavour and probably, during the ceremony they had many moments in their mind from their life together during the time spent together…

So, the emotions were there, but for some reasons they were really shy with the camera. The beginning was challenging for me and I decided to start with a little chat. Many of my couples think are not photogenic enough or they can’t have amazing photos. When someone contact me they usually warn me “Oli, I’m not photogenic… or… camera have a hard time with me…” And, in a way, is normal… but with me, I like to think that things are different… and I see people from another point of view.

I always compliment my brides&grooms, but never the same. Everyone is different in his own way and I want couple that will get married and are in their late 40′s or 50′s to see this story as their own.

I asked them a question “do you know why you hired me?” They looked at me and probably because of the fun we had until that point, they answered me “to entertain us?”… and than, I knew I have to tell them this so they’ll realize what I’m about to do.

(I post this answer on facebook and even if I was shorter at the scene, I’ll post the same thing here just so my readers can remember in the right way.)

“For me, photographing people is not only about someone’s “shell” (perfect body, perfect face, amazing outfits…). Of course, those help for photos, but … this is not all. I saw “empty” photos of super models and I saw “Wow” photos from ordinary looking people. Is all about photographer skills…
I now I said it before, and I will say it again and again: everyone have a good side, no matter what… when you fall in love with someone, that someone became, in your eyes,  the most beautiful person in the entire world… when you love someone, if you’re not superficial, you do it with all your heart, for inside and also outside. Wedding Day is one of the most important days in someone’s life and I try to capture the emotions… I create scenes, just to be able to give a feeling that is inside my clients, happiness, love, emotions… Every little girl is dreaming about… “My Wedding Day!”
Each Wedding is different, each person is different and I’m inspired by my clients personality…
Don’t tell me you’re not photogenic… or that camera don’t like you… for me, everyone is perfect in his own way”. 

They were really quiet during my speech and the result was exactly what I was hoping for: tears in their eyes and a big thank you in their look…that was my reward and I knew I’ll do my very best to give them the best photos they ever had.

And, because rain start again, we run in my apartment and had a bridal photo-shoot there, waiting for the rain to stop. Anyway I did not had the chance to photograph Heather because we had to rush the ceremony, so rain timing was actually perfect.

I want to tell you that first second when I saw Heather I had the feeling I’m back in time and seeing an aristocrat. Her face, her body, her finesse, the way she talked and moved… I don’t know, everything took me back in time and I felt so proud to be the chosen one to photograph her. For a second, my mind went wild and I felt like a king hired me to photograph his daughter… Might sound weird, but this is how I felt…

We were laughing about their shoes… Heather went with her best friends in a girls trip and all they write on the back of her shoes… They were at the wedding in spirit and I knew that they’ll think about Heather&John’s wedding.

Rain stopped (I told you is on and off) and we went outside… were everything was so fresh

I loved loved loved the flowers around Chabil Mar… Is just like a fairytale, everywhere you look

And then, Heather told me “Oli… we have the Rainbow!!!” We went on the beach and enjoy the view for few seconds… They are saying that at the end of each rainbow there is a treasure… and the rainbow ended at Chabil Mar… the treasure is there. not sure if physical, but those memories are priceless!

Everything around is exquisite…

They felt like a queen&king and this is the way anyone should feel in their wedding day!

We ended our evening with the doc in the background… the doc where they had their ceremony and also the wedding dinner (that was fabulous).

I really look forward to display their entire wedding album.

At the end of the day, is all about your day, your feelings and your photographer that will capture your feelings, not only your body… Photos are meant to keep your memories fresh and to bring a smile on your face and soul, every time you see them…

Heather&John, you’re one of a kind pair and was an honour and pleasure to photograph you!

Thank you for reading this post and I hope you got the feeling I had when I photograph this wedding.