My First Bride

I was working as an assistant in for a “Tutor hiring program” in my junior year at TSU, when a polite young lady walked in to hand-in her tutor application. You could have told me that two years later I would be her wedding photographer and I could have laughed in your face, for I had neither a camera nor the skills.

Karine and I joined the TSU Pharmacy Doctorate program in the same year. It was one day while we were working and she was having a conversion with another classmate of ours, Racheal about her wedding plans and how photographers were so expensive, that Racheal who had seen some of my beginner shots told her I had a camera and I would give her a great price since I was just starting out. Karine approached me and the first thing I said to her was, “You do realize you’re asking an unskilled beginner photographer to take pictures of one of the most important days of your life.” Even I wouldn’t pick me to be my wedding photographer. I told her I would shoot for free, so that if it doesn’t work out, I owe them nothing. I must say having the task of shooting this wedding, made me more serious about improving my picture-taking skills. I bought a new lens and I started offering to shoot small parties for free, so that I could be ready for the big day!

Just when I thought I had a heavy task on my hands already, Karine said she liked how I do my make-up and insisted I do her wedding make up. That made me super nervous cos being responsible for someone’s appearance on her day…That’s Big! There’s no space for mess ups. Endless subscriptions to YouTube makeup artists, 10 million visits to Sephora and three make-up trials later, I glammed up the now Mrs. Atem for her wedding. (Fun Fact: Karine spent over $100 buying foundation, powder and other stuff…turns out she got the wrong shade and we ended up using my foundation and powder on her wedding day. I told the chic in MAC she was using the wrong shade as she applied a sample on Karine but she insisted…this is why I’m #TeamNars). We settled for a simple sweet look with golden earth tones of eye shadow and neutral pink lips.

I say, anyone can own a camera, but the perfect shot, lies within the eye of passion. I am not a talented photographer, but I am passionate about the art of capturing and sealing a memory forever. I have loved taking pictures all my life and having this opportunity was and will always be very memorable for me.

All the select pictures are in the video and a few have been added to the post.