An emotional wedding moment with the father of the bride is like few others on a wedding day. Sure, there can be many special moments at a wedding — the first look, first kiss, first dance. The list goes on. It is, after all, one of the most amazing days and milestones we can experience. After nearly twenty years in the business of wedding photography, the moments that I see move people the most involve the father of the bride. There is a special bond between a father and daughter that transcends most other relationships. I hear about it time and again. I’m not a father myself, but I believe it because I have seen it. I’ve photographed it!

One of those father-daughter moments is when he walks her down the aisle and “gives her away” to to her soon-to-be husband.

This is one of my all-time most popular photos. Over twenty years, you internalize your craft and the mechanics of photography. It becomes like a second language that you speak without thinking. You pray to the gods of creativity and aliveness that you remain awake, alert and in command of your senses, so that when the moments arrive you are ready.

Everything came together for this timeless moment: Composition, depth of field, a veiled bride whose beauty does not distract and the most important – Dad! That face is so precious and perfect. A split-second in time, and I was ready.

I can’t tell you how many times prospective clients have come to my studio and upon seeing this image, the tears begin to flow. There is no better compliment to my work than to see people emotionally moved by an image of someone they don’t even know. Let me know how it affects you and share this photo to see how it touches others.