BANFII - logged!

Over the years, I've often asked myself this one question - what is my philosophy? In order to remain grounded and to keep deriving the same level of satisfaction from what I do, I have to make sure that I have identified my core competencies and aligned them with my beliefs.

Since the beginning, I had always be drawn to images that captured emotions and those that document the true essence of a moment! I always wanted to be the first to see the smile, the tear-drop, the expression on the face as a bride rests her head on her Dad's shoulder while dancing, or the squeeze of the arm as they both walk down the aisle to meet the groom.

How do you capture the first meeting - where the groom sees the bride for the first time? The long expected day - the one day where they both would become one. I would tear up on the inside because I could see the amount of love that exists between the two people who are right before me.

Throughout the day, I would see the exchanged looks, the gentle squeeze of fingers as they walk around the reception room, or the sigh of relief that the months, days and hours of planning are finally over.

When it is all said and done, I'm so emotionally drained from the intense level of concentration! I literally immerse myself into the day because I want to see the day through the eyes of my bride and groom, I want to feel what they feel, hear what they hear and also be attentive enough to see and hear all that is around and behind them! It sometimes seems like I have a thousand eyes around my head - I have to perceive what would happen next without being too eager which may ruin the moment. 

My philosophy had always been to capture a wedding in a way that the resulting images are an embodiment of everything that took place on the wedding day!

People ask me today "do you do the photojournalistic style"? Photojournalism is pictorial representation of news. For me my images have to tell your story. I want my images to reflect your personality, your lives, your day, your style, your life! Your images have to tell your own story!

Why am I going into all of these especially after 9 years of a successful business?

I need to remember ALWAYS what brings me the most joy in what I do and REMAIN TRUE to that one thing!

I am a photographer that shoots from the heart. I capture images of things that tug at my heart. I often cry during the first dance as I pace the dance floor with the bride and groom and I listen to every word from the song being played. I literally I'm dancing to the song in my mind and looking through the view finder at the beautiful couple to see how they would express their love to one another - most of the time, their expressions end up being those I had just thought about in my mind. Sometimes, I'm praying for the couple as they dance - praying for longevity, praying for anything good that comes to mind!

So, am I a photojournalist? Yes, but NOT the misused word!

I'm more of a secretary hired to take notes of an important meeting. Marriage is perhaps the most sacred of all of life's ordained institutions. And as such, I come in prepared to witness something huge, something of a magnitude like I had never seen before. Armed with my camera, I want to take notes of events that would never repeat themselves ever again!

Okay, I had better stop right here before i end up with an epistle!

~Roland