As a wedding photographer, I am always considering the worst case scenario in order to avoid exactly that. This is why I have backups of backups and the photos that I take are never (not even as I am shooting them!) only in one place.
Over 12 years of doing business I have learned from mistakes (my own as well as those of others) and have contingency plans in place, or at least have an idea for a solution for most possible scenarios. This is why I now always have a change of clothes in my car (see example of time that I fell fully submerged into cold October water during an engagement session). I have even been the contingency plan of others (see example of time that I filled in for a photographer who broke their collarbone weeks before a wedding).
But despite all amounts of planning and thinking about possible situations, sometimes the only way to remain committed to ensuring a couples’ wedding plans are not disrupted in any way is by slapping on a smile and pushing through the pain. This is what happened this fall for me at Sam & Gino’s beautiful wedding. About an hour before I was leaving for their wedding I was out behind our house with my family and while removing a small sapling from one of our trails I managed to glance the hatchet off of the tree and into my foot just beside my ankle. The slit in my boot and the blood on the outside of the boot told me it wasn’t good and this was confirmed after removing my boot and seeing the inch long gash that pulsing blood.
I’ve got to get pressure on this was my first thought. My second was the fact that I had to leave for a wedding in about an hour. I was going to have several hours of being actively on my feet in just a short time. My mind raced with options. This cut fairly obviously needed stitches, but I surely didn’t have time for that. Do I attempt to find a replacement? This being a last ditch effort in my mind- I’d prefer to be dying before taking this step- not going to happen. But without stitches is being on my feet really even an option at this point? My wonderful wife used some of the few minutes before I had to go to zip over to the pharmacy to get some bandages (our First Aid kit is more robust now!).
Several layers later the bleeding appeared to be held at bay and I could walk.
Pretty well.
Mostly normally.
I was quite confident that, with enough extra bandages to switch out with throughout the day as necessary, I would be able to make this wedding happen (perhaps without even the bride and groom knowing how close I was to needing to utilize a contingency plan). I was committed to not only being at their wedding to do the job I was entrusted to do, but also to not have them be concerned about anything like my foot on their wedding day.
To make a long story short, the wedding was lovely and I loved being a part of it. I hobbled around a bit, but the bandages held fast and kept the bleeding at bay. My visions of leaving a trail of blood all over downtown Ottawa never came to fruition and Acetaminophen did wonders at allowing my mind to stay focused on the task at hand.
After the wedding I drove myself to the ER for stitches. The nurse doing my check-in was a bit surprised when she looked at the gash and clarified, “So you are telling me that you did this this morning and then went and photographed a wedding?” I couldn’t help but feeling a bit of pride when I answered, “I sure did” and I would do it again if it meant that a couples’ wedding could happen without a hitch.
Videographer: Armand Adams \ Florist and Decor: Maison Anthea \ Bridal Gown: Revelle Bridal \ Hair Stylist: Hair by Adamo \ Makeup Artist: One Fine Beauty \ Venue: Restaurant E18ghteen \ Officiant: Luc Despatis from All Seasons Weddings
