Between Rocks and Waves / Bridal Editorial / California

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Between rocks and waves.

The magnificent cliffs standing guard next to the mighty ocean. The beaches along California 1 were the perfect setting for these shoots, that I had planed in my head for some time, not knowing if they will become reality. 

My husband and I got married last May, a non fussy affair with a few very close friends, in front of the Detroit Public Library. I always knew I didn’t want anything big, and I don’t regret our extremely low key approach. Our friends generously helped with the pictures, mostly phones, but I also had a camera. The intention to have it on a tripod and take pictures with e remote control went out window pretty fast. It’s silly to hold a remote when committing to a life with the person you love. 

Again, it was all how we intended it to be. The story of our day was there, But I still felt a little like, ah, I wish my dress was prettier, I wish I had at least one picture that was, wow. I realized that maybe, I wasn’t honest with myself about what it felt not to really feel like a bride on my wedding day… I felt a longing to have the kind of picture I would create for my clients…So.

In February we went to Mexico. I purchased the lacy strapless dress on line, on sale, hoping it would fit. Packed the camera, the tripod and the remote. The locations were all exactly how I imagined them and even better… I had pictures in the lush jungle of Tulum at sunset, and then at sunrise at this spectacular rock in the ocean with pelicans flying so close to me I could touch them. I can’t tell you how wonderful it felt, I had beautiful pictures!

And then we got robbed.

My camera with the card ,and remotes, and everything I shot for a whole week was gone. Just like that, nothing left.

I cried, and I was so mad. I kept thinking if only… If only I didn’t leave my backpack in the trunk, or at least took the card out and had in my wallet… If only we got back to the car a little bit earlier, or never went to the beach… 

The glass half full ? We were both alive and well, me sans camera, irreplaceable work and an Amex, my husband without a passport and all kinds of fancy chargers. He was able to get on the plane from Cancun with a police report and a drivers license, and before the plane took off, placed a bid on Ebay for a Fujifilm XT2, with a 35mm lens, just like the one I was sadly leaving behind… When we touched down in Detroit , his phone chimed, and he told me that his bid had won.

California, was my redemption. Two dresses, three cameras and the hope of creating something worthy. I love every image here. They will not replace the ones I lost, but it doesn’t matter anymore. Between rocks and waves, I was grateful. 

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