25 Aug Susi + Shawn
The Jenkins have been family friends since I was 5. I heard that Susi was getting married. We discussed. She wanted me to shoot it. Her and her fiance Shawn were living in New York. I then receive word from her brother that Shawn might be sick. From then I constantly received updates, which increasingly grew worse and worse, until the words ‘cancer’ and ‘it’s bad’ showed up. I knew Susi since she was little, and I had never met Shawn. I constantly asked her brother for updates, and continued to hope and pray for everyone. Word of his optimism and all around genuine character spread, and I couldn’t help but be affected….and yet I still had not met him. The wedding plans continued………..then many months later….. Shawn, by the Grace of God, miraculously recovered through treatments.
I finally got to meet with these two 3 weeks before their wedding to chat details etc. We chatted like people do, with almost no mention of his recent trials. My heart grew, I immediately understood many things: ….her brother Matt’s deep admiration and respect for Shawn, as well as hers. I listened to stories of their relationship, the proposal, and other random adventures.
Then the wedding came. I can’t reiterate enough how much I love my job, and it’s day’s like this I fall in love with it all over again. She looked amazing, in a family hand made dress. Shawn looked awesome. The ceremony was held at a small beach in Redondo Beach. I confidently can say that those were the best vows I have ever heard in my entire career. Susi went first and floored everyone, especially her soon to be husband, when someone comically shouted out “you should have gone first Shawn!”, but then he came back with equally passionate, loving, and true words that couldn’t come from anywhere except a true heart. First time I’ve ever cried at a wedding, I quickly retreated pretending to look for a new spot to shoot from. I was touched. Not by Shawn’s journey to that point. Not from having known Susi since she was small. But by the overwhelmingly pure and honest love this one person could have for another person. The rest of the wedding was just as awesome. Susi’s father daughter dance offered me some great images to capture; Dave, her dad who would always greet me with a noogie and a hug no matter how old I was, smiled bigger than I thought physically possible with all the pride in the world. Also, the garter removal to Jimi Hendrix’s Foxy Lady along with a preemptive dance by the groom, bunny ears and all.
Susi is one of those rare and amazing people who cares from her heart with all the sincerity in the world….beautiful on the inside and out. These two are perfect period. These two are perfect for each other as well. I think the raddest thing, is that I would feel the exact same about this wedding regardless.
I can’t thank you enough Shawn, and Susi, for letting me into your lives to capture some great and real images, and letting me re-capture my own passion for photography…and life. All the best……..
