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She gave me a lopsided smile. It was forced. “Thanks. It’s tomorrow actually, but our photographer bailed on us last minute, so we’re just going to wing it, I guess. Nothing says romance like a slew of iPhone pictures…”
“No, you’re not gonna wing it.” This was the best news! After telling them my background and a quick verbal resumé and handing them a business card, we settled on a location and time for the following day.
“Wow, I can’t believe we ran into you,” Jen gushed. “This is more perfect than when Steve used the space time continuum to go live his life over with Peggy. Thank you, Lucy.”
I had no clue who those people were, but I smiled and confirmed the details before ordering my coffee to go.
I had a location to scout.
I was meetingJen and Andy at one o’clock at Millennium Park.
We were meeting at the giant sculpture that was formally called the Cloud Gate, but lovingly dubbed ‘The Bean’.
Their two friends, Arnold and the other guy whose name escaped me, were there to be witnesses at city hall. Afterward, they were meeting me in the park to take photos.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The only direction I was given yesterday was that Jen wanted to have The Bean incorporated into the shots. Andy said very little, most likely out of indifference.
When I had met them on the plane, I recalled picturing them in their fandom tees saying their vows. It didn’t matter if she was in jeans or a dress; it was whatever made them comfortable. That sort of confidence was easy to capture and made for some of the best shots.
“Lucy!” I turned on my heel to see Jen and Andy walking toward me. Jen was much shorter than him, so her gait appeared to be sped up so as not to be swallowed by his strides.
“Jen, Andy! You guys look amazing,” I complimented.
And they did. Jen was in a tea length 50’s style white dress. The petticoat was rainbow and it peeked out like an unexpected smile with each step she took. Andy was a little more subdued in slacks, a button up and vest, but I could tell that Jen had put her mark on him: he had a colorful boutonniere in the same bright colors as her petticoat. They looked charming. And very much in love.
“Do you really think so?” she blurted. She was suddenly so shy about her appearance and it was adorable.
Before I had a chance to reply, Andy placed his arm around her waist and assured in a low voice, “You look beautiful.”
I had taken a few steps back and began snapping shots of them. They were none the wiser. The unscripted, unplanned moments were my favorite to capture. It showed raw honesty and true emotion from the couple.
The five of us moved about the park, taking advantage of the unique scenery while I posed them as a group, a couple, and as individuals.
The sun was bright and harsh overhead, which was never my favorite condition for shoots. What it did offer was amazing shadow effects, though. The soft, organic lines of The Bean, along with its reflective surface made for some artistic shots that I knew would be Instagram worthy.
It was strange for such a gorgeous day, but the park, which had been bustling with people when we got here, had suddenly grown quiet and relaxed. People were sparser and I wondered if they had hightailed it somewhere that had water features to cool down from the summer heat.
We were wrapping up, satisfied with not only the number of photos I got, but the sheer quality of them. I couldn’t wait to get back and start editing them. This was the distraction that I needed.
Snapping one last image of the couple, I was taken aback at Jen’s sudden change in expression. She had been totally photogenic the entire time, but as I glanced at her through the viewfinder, I didn’t know what to make of the shocked look on her face.
“Jen, I want you and Andy to focus on the horizon over my shoulder; don’t look at the camera,” I instructed.
But her face went from shocked to slack jawed. And she began pointing behind me.
Shit. Had I been spotted by the paparazzi? I’d been super conscious with my outfit today, but as much as I’d wanted to wear my aviators, they were cumbersome against the camera.
I began a rapid-fire rehearsal in my head. Scarf? Check. Deflective answers? At the ready. Four new friends that would come to my aid if needed? Definitely.
Instinctively I turned to face whatever was coming my way and I about dropped my camera.
“Jake? What are you doing here?” I was now wearing the same shocked look as Jen.
He too was wearing a hat with glasses and looked casual in a short-sleeved button up and shorts.
“Damn, you recognized me?” he teased, snaking an arm around my waist. “I’m beginning to think I’m no good at blending in.”
“It’s a little easier for me to be incognito, but you stand out anywhere you go. You look like a snack.” The shock had worn off and now I was unable to stop smiling.
