She walks up to him, taps him on the shoulder and says “Hey baby“. He turns around and exhales “wow“, “wow“, about five or six times before he sweeps her off her feet, swings her around, puts her down and says “wow, I can’t believe you’re mine“. I’m behind the big black camera trying to concentrate on framing the shot, but I can feel a huge smile on my face (and I don’t smile too often, but this is a contagious moment, a contact high of joy that would have made Meredith Grey smile).

We’re standing in the garden of the No 4 chalet at the Moon and Sixpence, framing and photographing. Elize and Michal are getting married in about two hours. They’ve decided to do their photoshoot before the wedding, and we’ve set up a cali style shoot* – the groom stands with his back to the garden and the bride walks up behind him, he turns around and sees her for the first time. You get the whole experience of seeing each other for the first time and it gives you a chance to spend a few moments together without a hundred people watching you, plus you get to spend your cocktail hour with your guests.

Today, almost 24 hours later, we’re watching telly, V is draping blonde hair over the black cat and I’m writing and smiling, thinking about that moment. They both just looked so happy, so amazed to be getting married to each other.

* I have no idea where I picked up that it is called Cali style or if it is indeed called Cali style.

These images are protected by copyright, no use of any images shall be granted without the written permission from Dror Eyal Photography.

This entry was posted Sunday, June 21st, 2009 at 8:18 pm and is filed under Moon and sixpence, V, Weddings, cali-style, real weddings.