Photo by Ryan Brenizer Photography
Admit it.
We’ve all done it.
Texting at times when we probably should not have. Talking on the phone a little too loudly in public places. Updating Facebook statuses when we should be paying attention to our company instead.
I’ve done it. I do it. But that doesn’t make it good or right. And I’m trying to change it.
I have a two-year-old son and the last thing I want him to see is his Mom on the iPhone when we go to the park or go on a family outing together. It tells him that he’s not important. It tells him that I don’t want to spend time with him. Yet, time and time again, I see this kind of thing all over at places like Science World and playgrounds where parents are disengaged and disinterested. And it just makes me really sad.
Let’s change gears a moment. It’s your wedding day. Everyone is happy, laughing, talking. It’s a time of gathering family and friends ~ some of whom you may not have seen in a very long time, some who have walked through the worst and best times with you as a couple, people who know you ~ as in really know you. And then the cameras come out. With the flashes. And the iPhones, Blackberrys and Androids. During the ceremony. In the aisle. Even behind the altar. At the first dance. In front of the cake for the first cut.
You may see where this is going.
This idea has been going around Facebook today and it all began for me with a particular posting on Facebook. And then I saw a few more gems on the Offbeat Bride. I thought it was just too important to skip over and not comment on because as technology gets increasingly more accessible and instantaneous, we forget to live in the moment during important events such as weddings. Even though there are many moments in my life that I would love to hold in a frame, I won’t simply because standing behind the lens takes me out of the moment. This is why most of the time when I am with my family, even on a special outing, I won’t bring along my big camera. I don’t want to miss the important things in life because I was too busy thinking about how I wanted to frame the shot, exposing it properly, what shots I could take afterwards. This is what professional photographers are for *wink*
Perhaps this might explain things better and give some more practical reasoning too, from a photographer’s perspective.
Some Wording for an Unplugged Wedding
I’m not saying don’t take pictures, don’t Tweet and don’t Facebook at weddings. Just maybe think about the where and when of it. Giving the bride and groom your attention on their wedding day will mean the world to them and may be more meaningful to you as a guest, too.
