It's strange how something can really change your perspective...

This weekend I got to be a part of an awesome wedding. I had really been looking forward to it- it was the first one of the season for us, and I knew that Derek and Kristen were going to be great to work with. But this one was going to be different.

New venue for us? Check.

Visually challenging? Check.

Less-than-perfect schedule? Check.

My second-shooter Natalie even asked me a few times why I was so relaxed and stress-free. Truth is, I received a call the night before informing me that my Grandfather was in hospice care and time was short. I was raised by my grandparents, so this was a big deal. This was the man that instilled my work ethic in me. The man that never took a vacation. The man that said there will be time for fun when the work is done. Whether he knew it or not, I took these words to heart, but adjusted them to suit my personality. I work my ass off, but I have fun doing it. And that brings us back to this wedding day. As I spent the day doing what I absolutely love, there was no stress. With the knowledge that his time on Earth could be ending at any time, I had the comfort of knowing that I was right where he would want me to be. Right where he would be. Working his ass off, doing what he loved, and providing for his family. With all that in the back of my mind, nothing else seemed important enough to stress about. 

The day went amazingly well. I got to spend the day with awesome people, we created some beautiful images, and we captured one of the biggest days of someone's life. 

Later that night, we got the call. His pain was finally gone. And even though this will forever be Derek and Kristen's big day, it will be a big day for me as well. A day that I paid tribute to a man that forever will have an impact on me.

Here are a couple of quick sneak peeks of that day...