To the Backyard: The Heart of a Wedding

After five years of wedding photography, I've been to all kinds of venues; documenting events from Boston to Providence and from Provincetown to Northampton. Some have been nearly palatial, while others have been a little more run down or rustic but five years ago Ryan Richardson Photography started with me standing in some stranger’s backyard.

The house was a rambling building, slowly built up over the years piece by piece in that particular New England style. After months of having gorged myself on pictures and dreams of platinum weddings, I stumbled. How could something in a backyard launch my new career? What I found on the other side of that weathered gray fence would surprise me.

As much as we venerate the Vera Wangs and Louboutins, the truth of a wedding isn't found in a stunning venue and $15,000 bridal gowns. It's about the story of two people and the community of love that they've built up around themselves and the life they want to build together. The most beautiful and powerful moments in Boston wedding photography don't come from having nice up-lighting or a gorgeous cake (or a perfectly matching set of bridesmaids), they spill out from that community and that sense of love and affection.

That's what I found out at my first wedding behind that old fence. Since that day, I've made finding that essence the heart of my approach to wedding photography and it has made all the difference.