My First Videography Job

Yes, it’s true. I am now officially a professional wedding videographer. I shot a wedding at Old Trail Golf Club in Crozet, Virginia near Charlottesville.

My wedding photographer, Jack Looney, knew I had some video experience so he referred the bride to me. She was looking for something simple and affordable, and it doesn’t get any more affordable than a graduate student.

I was very glad that Jack and my other wedding photographer, Dan Addison, were there to help me out a bit and keep me company. I was especially appreciative of their company since I was in the throes of a near-death-experience-like-illness.

I had felt terrible all day, laying in bed mostly when I needed to be double-checking my equipment and doing other stuff that I needed to get done. I laid in bed so long that I was running a little late and had not dressed or packed the car by the time I needed to leave. So it struck me that this would be just the right time to puke my guts out.

And puke I did.

And I puked some more.

Not the direction you thought this post was going when you started reading, is it? But I know how you all like a good puke story. Still, I won’t go into further details about the actual chunk-blowing part of the story. Thankfully, I did feel significantly better after throwing up.

The only problem was that I looked like some kind of horror-movie monster. You know how when some people throw up their faces get kind of swollen and they may even burst a few blood vessels? Well, that is what happened to me, but, like, to the n-th degree. It was seriously scary. I looked like I had been punched in the face a few dozen times and then dragged around by a speeding car.

And here I was about to go to a nice wedding where I didn’t even really know anyone. It was so bad I resorted to using some (a lot) of Emily’s makeup to cover the “bruises” around my eyes, mouth, and even my forehead. That didn’t help the fact the my face wasswoll, but it was a start.

So, with my face caked in makeup, and my eyes feeling like they looked like something from a Rocky movie, I got all dressed up fancy-like and went to the wedding. I was pretty self-conscience walking in there and having no idea who any one was, having to introduce myself to the family, the groom, etc. But I got through it.

I kept wondering if people thought that I looked like I had thrown up or if they thought I just always looked like that. At one point, a bridesmaid was taking a picture of the door mat I was standing by, and she asked me if she could take my picture. That didn’t sit well with me, but I opened my eyes as wide as my swollen, red eye-lids would allow and hoped the picture wouldn’t come out well.

I know, I know – you were probably expecting a post more about the wedding or the videography, and you got a nasty spew-story. I’m sorry. Maybe next time.

UPDATE: The photographer was kind enough to send me an action shot of myself. Luckily, most of my face is obstructed from clear view, but I think you can still tell that I’m looking a little swollen. I mean, I look good – don’t get me wrong – just maybe a little swoll.