From College Roommates to Bridal Showers: Being a Bridesmaid Behind the Camera
There are some moments in life that you know you'll remember forever. Not because they're extravagant or once-in-a-lifetime, but because of who you're sharing them with.
A few months ago, I wrote about our bachelorette trip to the Delaware coast. Before that, I photographed Kait and Riley's proposal on Seton Hill's campus. Looking back, I realized I've had the privilege of documenting so many milestones leading up to their wedding, and Kait's bridal shower became another one of those chapters.
This time, though, I wasn't just there with my camera. I was also there as one of her bridesmaids.
More Than a Photographer
Being a bridesmaid means your role starts long before the guests arrive. The morning was spent decorating at the venue, arranging tables, setting out details, and making sure everything looked just right before Kait walked through the door. There is something really special about watching a room slowly come together. Balloons are inflated, centerpieces find their place, gifts begin to pile up, and suddenly an ordinary space becomes somewhere worth celebrating. Helping create that environment made me appreciate it even more once the shower officially began.
I wasn’t hired per se; it was more something we had agreed I would do as a gift to her. There wasn’t an expectation that I’d document every detail. But once everything was ready and everyone started arriving, I didn’t naturally reach for my camera right away. I was first and foremost there as a bridesmaid, helping and being present. As the day unfolded, I found myself moving between bridesmaid duties and photographer duties.
The Photographer Friend
I think every friend group has "the camera friend." The one who quietly documents birthdays, vacations, celebrations, and random moments that everyone is grateful to have later. Somewhere along the way, I became that person.
Photography has become one of the ways I show people I care about them. Not because every moment needs to be documented, but because I know how quickly those moments become memories. Having the ability to give someone photographs from a day they'll never experience again feels like one of the most meaningful gifts I can offer.
Throughout the shower, I found myself doing exactly that. I'd take photos of Kait opening gifts, conversations between family and friends, laughter around the room, and all of the little moments happening between the big ones. Then I'd put the camera down, go back to being a bridesmaid, help where I was needed, join the conversations, and simply enjoy celebrating one of my best friends. It never felt like work. It just felt like another way to contribute to a day that meant so much.
Watching the Story Unfold
One of my favorite things about photography is that sometimes it allows you to tell a story over time instead of in a single day. I've had the opportunity to photograph Kait and Riley's proposal, celebrate with everyone during the bachelorette trip, and now capture memories from her bridal shower. Looking back through those photos, it's incredible to see how each event represents another step toward their wedding day.
What's even more meaningful is that I would've been at every one of those moments whether I brought a camera or not. The photographs simply became another way to preserve them.
As much as I love creating individual images, I think I love documenting chapters even more. A proposal isn't just a proposal. A bridal shower isn't just a bridal shower. They're all pieces of a much bigger story, and it's been really special watching that story unfold from both behind the camera and beside my good friend.
The Best of Both Worlds
One thing I've been thinking about lately is how fortunate I am to experience days like this from two different perspectives. I get to be fully present as a friend while also preserving the memories that everyone will look back on years from now. I don't have to choose between celebrating and documenting because, over time, I've learned how to balance both. There was something really rewarding about helping decorate the shower, watching everyone enjoy the afternoon, and then later looking through the photos knowing those little moments had been preserved.
The details we spent the morning setting up.
The smiles when Kait walked in.
The hugs, the laughter, and the conversations that happened throughout the day.
They're moments that passed quickly, but they'll last much longer because someone thought to photograph them.
Final Thoughts
Photography has introduced me to incredible people and unforgettable experiences, but every once in a while it gives me something even more meaningful. It lets me preserve moments for people I'd show up for whether I had a camera in my hands or not.
It's been one of the greatest privileges of my photography journey to document so many chapters of someone's life that I'd be celebrating even if I never picked up my camera.
From photographing their proposal to celebrating at the bachelorette weekend and now capturing Kait's bridal shower, these photos mean more to me because of who they're for. They're not just another gallery or another event. They're pieces of one of my closest friends' story. In just a few weeks, I'll trade my camera for a bouquet and stand beside Kait as one of her bridesmaids. For the first time in this journey, my only job will be to celebrate, cheer her on, and be fully present.