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Remarkably, this month marks the 10-year anniversary of my photography business. I am amazed because I simultaneously feel like it was just yesterday that I took a giant leap of faith to pursue this dream and also that I’ve been photographing the joy of weddings for far longer than a decade. To mark this momentous occasion for my little company, I’m taking a look back this month at some of my most favorite and meaningful images from these past 10 years in business. I start today with a favorite image from my very first official, paying, non-friend wedding clients, Erin + Donnie. It was, after all, their decision to hire me that marked the official starting point of my business. (My accountant unromantically declared that the date of the first retainer fee determined my official first day “in business.”) At that point, just eight months out of photography school, I had assisted a few other photographers at weddings and taken pictures for friends at their weddings. And I had practically grown up with a Nikon film camera slung around my neck. But none of that compared to the gut-wrenching experience of driving to that first official wedding with only my skills on the line, a bag full of digital photography gear and off-camera lighting equipment and a trunk full of film gear, just in case everything went wrong with those new-fangled devices called digital SLRs. Today, my most-favorite aspect of my job is catching little moments, fleeting glances and real emotion for my clients. That’s similarly what I was drawn to in this image of Erin + Donnie as they exchanged vows. Yes, my gear is better now and my photography skills have certainly improved over the ensuing 250 or so weddings. But a sweet moment is still a sweet moment. And I love this one of my very first official wedding clients. Thanks so much for trusting me, Erin + Donnie, to document such an important and joyous day in your lives!