Bob and Natascha Weir

This is a “Guest Shot”, an industry term that doesn’t give enough credit to the portrait possibilities at a wedding. The wedding was my second one of the day. The first was earlier, in Carmel Valley. I flew in a small plane from Monterey to Novato, was met by a driver and delivered to the former home of concert promoter Bill Graham. The town car proceded to run over my camera bag, as it reversed out the driveway. It has been proven multiple times over in my career, that Nikon makes some tough gear. I entered a Morroccan themed tent and found this guest alone, sound checking his guitar. The bride wore a tie dyed gown and the groom accessorized with a fanny pack. After dark, the wedding planner dissapeared for hours and returned with leaves in her hair. Many guests ended up in the pool. The music followed me down the Corte Madera hillside at 3am, which felt like an early departure.

Lessons in Love

I took this picture over 25 years ago. I’d been shooting weddings for a short time, after graduating from California College of the Arts, with a BFA in photography. I’d originally wanted fashion school, but my father refused to pay tuition for my choice. As if photography were a more practical career.
I asked him to kiss her. Her hand pressed into the back of his neck and his hand covered hers. Her sweet handbag likely carried kleenex and a lipstick.
Marriage is a beautiful mystery to me. The couples I’ve photographed have taught me about love, through the slightest glance and gesture.
I gave my husband a print of this image, not long after we met. We live next door to one another now, while we learn to appreciate everything we took for granted.