A Pictorial History of Wedding Photography

The earliest recorded history, including hieroglyphics, has shown us that humans are social creatures who like to celebrate. In every culture, we have created traditions to honor what is meaningful. Weddings are one of those grand celebrations.

In "A Pictorial History of Wedding Photography," you will see how much culture has changed since 1856, the date of the first wedding image. Even Queen Victoria regretted not having photographs of her elaborate event with Prince Albert, so twenty years later, they re-created it to have wedding pictures of their own!

This book is about wedding photography but is also a study of fashion and history. World events shaped wedding fashion and celebrations. Celebrities set a style that many brides followed.

Photography captivated me after I purchased my first single lens reflex 35-millimeter camera to capture memories of my two young children in 1977. Soon people asked me to photograph their families. Eventually I shot my first wedding. Once the bride and groom drove away, I said to my helper, "I will never do that again!" I processed the film that night before I went to bed. I was so relieved that I had well-exposed negatives.

At that time, professional photographers in the Mid-South were not plentiful. Countless times, the bride or her mother asked about my husband, the photographer. I was amused because I knew I had something unique to offer-the female gaze, including my distinct eye and intuition.

As I photographed weddings across the Mid-South, I fell completely in love with the entire event, photographing each excited couple, their families and friends, their hearts immersed in every moment. I admire immensely the talented professionals in the Memphis, Tennessee, area who specialize in putting these fabulous events together. It is like watching a Broadway production.

Those experiences coupled with my adoration for antiques inspired me to collect vintage wedding pictures. My collection includes hundreds of wedding pictures that span from the mid-1800s, just as photography was born, to current times. I'm sharing my wedding photography collection so you, too, can appreciate what weddings say about our culture and our lives.