Tresor and Naomi

14 years ago an email popped up in my inbox from my friend Maranatha. She was getting married and she needed a photographer and she wanted ME to take the pictures. I immediately refused. To that date, I had only taken photos of animals and landscapes... the occasional portrait of a friend or family member... but nothing even remotely close to a wedding. I was an amateur, with amateur equipment and I was absolutely unsuitable for the job. But she said she had faith that I could do it and wouldn't take no for an answer. I proceeded with heavy caution and a warning that she may regret her decision. Their wedding was beautiful... but it was the most stressful day of my life to that point. I was shooting with film so I had no idea how the pictures were turning out. I ran out of batteries and film and scrambled to nearby stores to restock. I told myself I would NEVER EVER do it again. And then I got the photos developed. They were beautiful. Not like the ones I take now, but still the most rewarding images I had taken to that date. As you all know, it was not the last wedding I would shoot.

Now, one and a half decades later, I stepped off the plane in Montreal to photograph her baby sister's wedding. Ironically my life has taken many twists and turns and I feel like it may be one of the last weddings I take on because I have so many other commitments. But I am grateful I was wrangled into this family to shoot their weddings because in the past 14 years I've had the opportunity to travel to awesome places, grow as a person and an artist, and fellowship with amazing people. Naomi and Tresor were no exception.

Naomi is a born and raised Montreal native. Tresor is an African immigrant living in Paris. Both are amazing artists and musicians. Naomi is my age, 35, and she gave a beautiful speech speaking of God's love in her life when He gave her Tresor. How he numbers the hairs on our head, and knows before we do how we will spend our days, and who he will place in them to share them with. It was wonderful to see how God placed them together... and a reminder that he has someone perfectly suited for everyone.. and through trial and tribulation.. He already knows the end of the story, and if we are supposed to be with someone... God will make a way.

Naomi's and Tresor's faith was so evident at their wedding... even down to her confession that ALL WOULD WORK OUT with the details of the day. There were many miraculous things that happened down to how God intervened to get me to the wedding on time. Everywhere we went beautiful light followed... and when they agreed to take their shoes off a descend half way down a cliff face to get photos in front of a waterfall... they were greeted with a rainbow. I pray that for the rest of their life, that when they decend into valleys... when times get rough or challenging... that they embrace it the way they did the cliffs on their wedding day. With no fear or hesitation. With excitement for the results that would follow the challenge. And with God's love ever present and highlighting each part of their lives like that rainbow did.

Le Dieu vous benit Tresor and Naomi! And thank you to the Fergusson family for always believing in me (especially you Maranatha). You're a big part of my journey and I will always be thankful and grateful for you!

Here are a few of my favorites of their day in Shawinigan, Quebec!