Farmers Image of the Week: Let Your Second Get The Safe Shot by Rebecca Carpenter

Let Your Second Get The Safe Shot

FARMERS IMAGE OF THE WEEK

Rebecca Carpenter

Farmers Image of the Week: Let Your Second Get The Safe Shot by Rebecca Carpenter

As I sit here, still processing a bunch of insights from a recent marketing conference I attended, I find myself reflecting on the power of in-person learning and its lasting impact. Conferences are undeniably hard work, both to organise and attend, and today, I’m feeling particularly exhausted.

Yet, there’s something about being in a room, hearing a message live, that imprints itself on your mind in a way that online content rarely does. This is precisely why we continue to put in the effort for Thrive – because we know that one day, something you hear in that room will push you to elevate your work, just as it did for Rebecca Carpenter.

Rebecca’s stunning image from a beautiful wedding in Morocco perfectly encapsulates this idea. Influenced by John Dolan’s inspiring talk at our last Thrive conference, Rebecca has gone beyond the obvious to create a photograph that is nothing short of breathtaking. This aerial shot captures the grandeur and elegance of the wedding, highlighting not only the architectural beauty of the venue but also the meticulous planning and vibrant cultural elements that make this celebration unique.

The composition of the photograph is outstanding. The symmetry of the courtyard, with its intricate designs and the long aisle leading up to a beautifully adorned floral arch, draws the eye immediately to the bride as she makes her way towards the ceremony. The reflection of the flowers in the water adds a splash of color, perfectly balancing the structured elegance of the venue.

What makes this image truly exceptional is the perspective. By choosing to shoot from above, Rebecca offers us a view that captures the full scope of the event – the guests, the setting, and the couple – in one cohesive frame. This vantage point allows us to appreciate the scale and beauty of the celebration in a way that a ground-level shot could not. It’s a reminder of the importance of thinking creatively and being willing to explore different angles (even when a considerable amount of effort is required) to tell a more compelling story.

Rebecca’s ability to blend the cultural richness of the Moroccan setting with the universal emotions of a wedding day is a testament to her skill and vision as a photographer. This image is more than just a documentation of an event; it is a work of art that evokes emotion and transports the viewer to that place in time.

Congratulations to Rebecca Carpenter for this well-deserved recognition as our Farmers Image of the Week. Her work continues to inspire us to push the boundaries of our own creativity and reminds us of the profound impact that dedicated learning and influence can have on our craft.

THE DETAILS

CAMERA: Canon R6 MARK II | 28-70 | 2.0

SETTINGS: ISO 100 | F/ 2.5 | 1/2500

PRESET: RC Presets Original Glazed (at 15%)

WHAT Rebecca SAID

“I distinctly remember him saying his personal saying is “Never leave the bride” and this really stayed with me. “

This shot was inspired by attending Thrive earlier in the year and hearing John Dolan’s talk. If there was one thing I remember from all of the talks it was his. I distinctly remember him saying his personal saying is “Never leave the bride” and this really stayed with me.

Because I ALWAYS leave the Bride. I always have. We do, don’t we? We leave them, run ahead to get in position, and get ready for them coming down the aisle.
But when I heard John Dolan insist – let your seconds get the safe shots, and shoot from the angles you wouldn’t expect.

So I thought to myself, ok this is the time. I’ve got an incredible second shooter who knows what she’s doing and can get the shots of the wedding party coming down the aisle. I stayed with the Bride and her Dad stepping back and capturing all the moments we don’t normally see. The waiting around the corner for all the wedding party to walk in, the butterflies, the anticipation, the last few words of love and wisdom exchanged between her and her dad. Being there in that moment I thought to myself.
“Wow, all of these precious moments I would have never captured if I hadn’t stayed. Johns onto something here”.

Capturing 4 day wedding coverage meant I got to know and bond with several of the wedding guests in the lead up to the wedding. The bride’s Aunty funny enough gave me a tour around her bedroom at the venue days before and showed me her incredible rooftop which had the best view of the courtyard. I saw my chance for an incredible aerial shot of the wedding (you aren’t allowed to bring Drones into Marrakech so this was an alternative option for me to capture the incredible courtyard from above).

Farmers Image of the Week: Let Your Second Get The Safe Shot by Rebecca Carpenter

Immediately I asked if I could access her room on the wedding day and she happily obliged as long as I locked the room afterwards.

In that moment I ran up the stairs, fell over not once, but twice up the infamous spiral staircase, dropped my sunglasses, left them and managed to reach the bedroom, climb up more stairs to the rooftop, climb over another wall (in a dress I might add) and was quietly praying out loud I hope I hadn’t missed her coming down the aisle.
“please, please, please god, let her still be there” I kept saying out loud to myself.

By the time I climbed over she was nearly halfway. I hadn’t missed her. I said a little thank you to the wedding gods and got the shot.

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