Channing Johnson Photography » A Photographer's Journal

Remember that one time I went to Miami and second shot with Josh Behan? Josh is one of my favorite wedding photographers anywhere and seeing how he works and just getting to hang out with him for the weekend was a great pleasure. Getting to know Georgia and Eric and their families was also a lot of fun. Check out Josh’s beautiful coverage here.

When I walked into Matt’s room at the Hotel Marlowe his dad asked if I was the rabbi. Maybe it was my beard. Or maybe he picked up on my Jewish ancestry. Or most likely he was just being funny. Everyone had a really fun and playful banter that day. Beth and Matt were such a pleasure to work with. They did a great job planning their wedding and on the day of let go and just enjoyed the rare opportunity of having all the people special to them in one place. One of my favorite parts was Matt joining the band to sing Lean on Me before topping it off with a little Bill Withers. Congratulations, Beth and Matt!

Patrick and Chad traveled up from Virginia to marry in Massachusetts. They are looking forward to planning a party with friends and family back home but folded their ceremony and honeymoon into one for something more intimate, and less stressful, than the traditional wedding. Bearing witness to their commitment and getting to hang out with these two was such a pleasure. Boston is on their list of places they might like to live once they’re done with their last bit of schooling. So, I lied to them and said the weather is like this all year. I think it may have worked. Congratulations, Patrick and Chad!

Erin and Jason met at a Fall River city council meeting. They love their city, friends describe them as champions of the underdog and they are two of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. I experienced their kindness first hand, but over-hearing stories their friends told painted a descriptive picture of their generosity and compassion. Hell, when Erin learned vendors working at The Plimouth Plantation weren’t allowed to have the lobster mac n’ cheese and filet she tried to give me hers. And when a late shuttle bus pushed everything back she apologized to all of her guests as she walked down the aisle towards Jason. These two were wonderful to be around, and I’m so glad I could even attempt to make a record of what it’s like to know them. Congratulations!

Tyler wasn’t sure if the new wedding ring would affect his guitar playing. He serenaded Kate at their reception and based on Kate’s happy tears I’m guessing it didn’t make much a difference. The sky was blue and there was a comfortable chill in the air that day. The distance between the church and their reception at Linden Place was close enough that a parade of family and friends followed them on foot from the First Congregational Church. The whole day was really beautiful. Congratulations, Kate and Tyler!

Shannon told Jason she was going to make her own dress. She even had a busted-up decoy hanging in the closet. She would occasionally talk about how difficult it is to make your own gown, and in the mean time she had selected a beautiful (professionally-made) dress to surprise him with at the alter. But even professionally-made wedding dresses aren’t always the easiest to get into. Shannon said she felt like she was being “burritoed” as she put it on. Both Shannon and Jason had great senses of humor. Jason walked into the Willowdale Estate and said he just had the perfect last bachelor meal: meatloaf with extra sauce from Boston Market. With that these two were ready to get married. Neither of them were looking forward to being the center of attention. That’s not an uncommon sentiment among the couples I work with. Which got me thinking how much more comfortable everyone would be if they had a dog like Boo to calm their nerves. Boo would make a great wedding-day therapy dog.