My favorite role at a wedding is that of the guest. GWC in the photo world is often referring to the Guy With a Camera.

My favorite camera to use for these situations is my Fuji X-E2. It is small, and everyone doesn’t think of me as the “official photographer.”

This is my travel kit. As a guest, I carry this in a small bag and, most of the time, shoot everything with the FUJINON XF 18-55mm.

Now when you are a guest, the odds are you have a personal relationship with the Bride and Groom. The bride’s daughter is on the left, and my daughter is on the far right. I feel the smiles are different with family and friends than with a professional photographer.

This is why everyone should take a few photos at a wedding and share them with the couple. Just don’t get in the way of the professionals. They will get almost all the main images. It would help if you got things like I have done here, photos around the main action of the bride and groom.

There was a quick moment when the maid of honor gave her flowers to her boyfriend to hold for her. I thought this was a fun moment that most wedding photographers wouldn’t necessarily capture.

Because we are friends, some conversations brought laughter to the family that, unless you are family and friends, are more challenging to capture as the professional who is back a couple of feet peeking in versus being in the conversation as here.

What I love to give to people is my gift of photography. I think, for the most part, this makes for one of the most intimate gifts you can give to someone.