Justin and Kelley didn't need much help from me. Beautiful late-summer light, a waterfront ceremony, a couple who were clearly having the best day of their lives. Sometimes the job really is just showing up and paying attention.
Their wedding took place in Branford, Connecticut with the kind of golden September light that makes every photographer's job easier. The ceremony ran long in the best way, full of the small pauses and unscripted moments that end up being the real story of a wedding day, not the ones anyone planned.
Justin, it turns out, is a bit of a ham in front of the camera, which made for some of my favorite candid shots of the day. Kelley kept things grounded, and together they had the kind of easy, unguarded chemistry that makes a documentary approach to wedding photography actually work. I wasn't directing much. I was just there to catch it.
The day had one more surprise waiting. After the reception wound down, Justin gave me a personal tour of Thimble Island Brewery, the Branford brewery he co-founded. Great couple, a beautiful coastal Connecticut wedding, and craft beer at the end of the night. There are worse ways to spend a September afternoon.
