Searching for the Best Light

Reese Moriyama '10

During my four years at Pacific University, in the midst of the classes, the socializing, and the adventures, I discovered I had an unwavering curiosity and fascination with photography. Pacific helped foster my love for the camera for which I am forever grateful.

Thanks to MarCom and the Photography Department, I attended more events, met more people and pushed myself more than I had ever imagined because of my photography. Many people spend their lives searching for something that really inspires them and I’m fortunate to have found a passion that has both guided and enriched my life.Today I will cover a topic that makes many photographers cringe: weddings. My exploration in this venture began about a year ago, and eight weddings later, I realize that I’ve found a dynamic and challenging world to immerse myself in.

Weddings are exhausting, but energizing, stressful, but rewarding. As a wedding photographer, I am being entrusted with the delicate task of capturing images that narrate the unique story which accompanies every wedding. To the bride and groom, the biggest day of their lives is often a massive blur, and images become central to reminding them of how special their wedding truly was. If my clients can laugh and cry and reminisce about the wedding when they view my photos, then I have done my job as a wedding photographer.
 
Shooting weddings is commonly held as one of the most stressful endeavors in the photography industry, and this is absolutely true. You have one chance to shoot the bride coming down the aisle, one chance for the first kiss, one chance for the first dance. A broken lens, an overheated flash, or a corrupted memory card is no excuse for missing those fleeting moments, so as a wedding photographer, I try to prepare for multiple scenarios. This is what I normally bring to weddings:

    2 camera bodies
    4 lenses
    2 flashes
    2 lightstands
    shoot through umbrella
    softbox
    5 sets of AA batteries for flashes
    6 batteries for camera bodies
    cleaning supplies
    48 GB of memory cards
    gels
    rain covers

 However, wedding photography is also incredibly rewarding. When you think about it, everyone at a wedding is looking their absolute best, especially the bride and groom, and this provides some truly unique opportunities for photos. In addition to the dazzle of colors and dress, the entire gamut of emotions is present at a wedding, and when I am able to capture a sliver of this visual energy and convey it in a beautiful However, wedding photography is also incredibly rewarding. When you think about it, everyone at a wedding is looking their absolute best, especially the bride and groom, and this provides some truly unique opportunities for photos. In addition to the dazzle of colors and dress, the entire gamut of emotions is present at a wedding, and when I am able to capture a sliver of this visual energy and convey it in a beautiful light, I am as eager to pull it off my memory card as a kid opening presents on Christmas Day.

Moriyama '10 holds a degree in history and uses photography to become more observant and appreciative of the world. When he is not photographing weddings or simply daily life in Honolulu Reese is pursuing a graduate degree. More of Reese's work can be viewed on his blog Observe. Compose. Capture.