Most of my wedding couples usually book packages that consist of minister and photo services. Once in awhile, there's a few wedding couples who book my photography services only. And once in a LONG while, there's that one bride who books me just for video coverage. That one bride is Nam.

She came to me asking for a simple one camera video coverage for her ceremony, then asked later if I could upgrade the coverage to 3 cameras, and edit just the ceremony. I agreed, built her a customized package, and booked her officially with a down payment shortly after.

Nam's wedding was supposed to be an easy in-and-out job for me. I thought to myself, I would just set up the three cameras, hit record, then get out of there. Well, what I thought and what happened were two totally different things. To start, the original plan had called for Nam to get married near or on her vacation property rental. But I knew that wouldn't happen when I pulled into her property. Her vacation rental looked bad. The lawn wasn't manicured, the house wasn't in that great of shape, the housekeeper had his children toys thrown about on side of the lawn. I almost thought, I had the wrong address! But I didn't'!


I met Nam at her house and she told me the vacation rental was just a disaster, and that they were running behind schedule. Their new wedding location, Mokulei'a Beach. But even that didn't work out too well.

On the way there, it started to rain cats and dogs, so we moved the wedding location to a beach park further east, which was technically still part of Mokulei'a. Problem solved? Nope. Someone forgot the wedding bouquets at the house! So thirty minutes pass and someone shows up with the bouquets, so you would think by now, we would be ready to go.

Nope...not yet.

They forgot the groom's maile lei at their house.

Kalehua, the minsiter, made an executive decision for the couple. The show had to go on. He, myself, and the wedding singer, were running 3 hours late, and the show had to get going because the wedding singer had another gig. Kalehua, who I had worked with once before, quickly coordinated the wedding, even though he didn't need to, and we were on our way.

Once the wedding started, everything flowed pretty easy.

This is why it's important to hire a wedding coordinator. Stress like this, can be avoided..haha

Now, you're probably wondering who took these shots in here because Nam only booked me for videography right? They look like mine don't they? Well, they are. I took these with my G10 snapshot camera. And I posed the couple as well. Why did I do that? Well, I felt kinda bad for Nam and Paul because their friend who was in charge of photography, really wasn't a professional. He was missing a lot of easy shots, and I just didn't want Paul and Nam to leave Hawaii without great pictures.

I don't want things to look as though I'm knocking Nam's photographer friend, because I'm sure he gets great photos. But for weddings though, I could tell it was his first, as he was struggling with ideas and composition, and directing family and friends.

I want to make an argument here to why it is important to hire a professional photographer for your wedding. Nam's friend is what I would call a techno-geek amateur photographer. He owns a lot of great equipment, probably knows how to operate them, and has also taken a handful of great photos. But, professional wedding photography is an entirely different beast. And only a professional wedding photographer will know how and what family photos to take, how to deal with families, how to pose brides, grooms, and to work with wedding dresses...etc...etc... It's worth the investment to hire a professional wedding photographer AND coordinator...trust me on this

I took about about eight photos for Paul and Nam before I left their wedding, all at no charge. It gave me some extra time to practice taking photos on my G10, a camera I carry everywhere I go. That camera, was and is a great investment.

I want to take time here to also note that the reason these snapshots on my snapshot camera look professional is because it always comes down to the photographer, never to his equipment. Before shooting on a full-size SLR film camera, they photographer who trained me, had me shoot on a disposable film camera for 1 year, before I could even think about touching an SLR! I had to prove that I could get professional quality out of a disposable camera. I did....

Honestly, to me, it doesn't matter what camera I use to take photos with. It could be digital or film, a disposable snapshot camera, or my G10, I know how to get great shots no matter equipment I use. I like film better, because I can work with it better. Yes the quality is better. But I just have an easier time working with it.

I think the distinguishing character when it comes to classifying whether or not a professional photographer is professional or not, comes down to what he can do with what he has. It's never about the equipment.....

So back to Paul and Nam. Now you would think that Paul and Nam would be just at each other necks on their wedding day, given all the happenings. No. That didn't happen. Although they were concerned with all the "happenings" of their wedding day...they knew what was important. Love. And in the end, that's all what mattered. They had a great wedding, a great day, and a great funny story to tell their kids when they got older about mommy and daddy's wedding day.

Paul, Nam, I wish you my best.

Steve Young
The Hawaii Wedding Reporter
http://www.dreamweddingshawaii.com