The average age of most of my wedding couples hovers around the 30's. The bride, usually younger than the groom, is usually in her late 20's or early 30's. The groom, usually in his mid to late 30's. They say, 30 is the new 20, and I can see why. Most men and women are getting married 10 years after what was considered the norm back in the 70's. My mother got married in her early 20's, and my dad, well he was in his mid 20's.

As for John and Kayla, they did it the old fashioned style. They were high school sweethearts, and a little after they both graduated high school, they decided to tie the knot.

So it was Kayla who first hit on John, according to Kayla's mother. And she literally hit him. With what I don't know. But I know it's not a tire iron. John at first didn't take to Kayla, calling her names such as "Barbie doll." But that opinion quickly changed. I guess John wised up. There's nothing wrong with having a skinny girl at your side. Trust me on that one.

In attendance to this young couple's wedding was both of their parents, and nothing more. No friends or enemies were present. It was a small affair, and very intimate. Performing the ceremony was Reverend Elias Parker, who did a stellar job as always. And there was this awesome photographer at their wedding...hmm..wait, that was me! haha.

John and Kayla tied the knot at one of my favorite beaches, unofficially labeled Secret Cove. It truly has no official name. Secret Cove is great for pictures, as the setting and lighting is perfect (if you know what you're doing).



I can tell you right now that a lot of wedding photographers struggle with taking pictures at this cove because the sun can cast a very harsh side-light. This side-light makes it very difficult for digital photographers. It can light up one side of a subjets face, and leave the other dark. If a photographer isn't careful, his or her shadow can be in the shot! The side-light can also make the wedding ceremony rather difficult, as either the bride or groom could be staring directly into the sun during the wedding ceremony if they are not positioned correctly.

The side lighting was so severe during John and Kayla's wedding, Elias and I decided to have the sun as the actual background for their wedding. With the sun as the background, John and Kayla could face each other, without squinting. Now for digital photographers, positioning the sun directly behind the minister, would be a disaster. The result would be a white washed out sky, and tons of photoshop work to fix skin tones. But for a film photographer, this really wouldn't be much of a problem, in fact it was a dream...as it was special effects time!

So that camera mumbo jumbo you read above here, that basically means I'm underexposing this shot, and using the flash to fill in for the foreground. If it wasn't for my flash, John and Kayla would be nothing but sillouttes.

I have to say, I truly envy John and Kayla. I always wondered what it would be like if I married my high school sweetheart. Of course, now that I think about it, I didn't have a sweetheart. It was just me stalking one of my favorite blond friends....good times...good times. All joking aside, planning weddings, taking pictures at weddings, doing the video, etc...etc... It's just really cool being part of peoples lives as they start a new chapter in their life. Every love story I hear is truly unique, and it truly gets you thinking, that there is such thing as destiny.

Man, I'm getting too sentimental and deep.



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