From the moment I got engaged, people were asking me who would shoot my wedding. I didn’t realize I would be shooting part of it myself. I had asked a good friend and wedding photographer, Jake, if he wouldn’t mind taking a few snaps. In fact, I asked him the DAY OF the wedding. I’m not a huge fan of being on the other side of the camera. Besides, my parents had hired some traditional photographer and videographer in Bangladesh so I thought it would be fine. That is, until I actually met a traditional Bangladeshi wedding photographer. I could already see my most precious day’s pictures turning into a Bollywood nightmare, awkward smiles and cheesy poses bathed in hot light, ultimately encompassing the cover of a self-printed DVD box. Luckily, Jake came through.
During one point we were all hanging out on the roof, trying to escape the 500 or so guests that had gathered at the Samarai Convention Center in Dhaka, Bangladesh, right across from the Bashundhara Mall. Jake was taking some snaps of Kelly when I suggested he take a detail shot of her earrings or something. “Actually, do you want to take them?” he asked. Yes. Yes, I did! I didn’t know I was allowed to, but why the hell not? It was my wedding after all. As soon as I put on the camera straps, I already felt way more comfortable than I had the entire day — posing, smiling and shaking hands with distant relatives and, often, absolute strangers. The following is a spur of the moment recap of an incredible day in my life. My most sincere gratitude to the 15 friends and family that made the trek from New York City, Los Angeles, Indiana, and even Germany to be there. My love to all the wonderful relatives and friendly people we met in Bangladesh; my parents for actually planning the entire event so all Kelly and I had to do was show up. And, of course, special thanks to Jake for the everlasting memories.
