No pictures today.  Just a funny story.  

A few years ago I shot a vowel renewal at the Ritz-Carlton right before Christmas.  Two hundred of the city's movers and shakers in attendance.  Formal ceremony in the beautiful courtyard.  Nighttime.  At this time my husband is my assistant, read - equipment grunt - as he puts it.  Each wedding dictates my footwear.  This one called for my Doc Marten boots.  

There is a lovely gazebo at one end of the courtyard, which is where this couple is renewing their vows.  The gazebo is very close to the wall and flanked by some large concrete planters.  The only way to move around to get 'the shot' is either to constantly walk in front of guests, or worse yet, stop and block or move between the gazebo, pots and wall.  I always cover it with my couples in advance as one of my rules is not to be disruptive or obvious when shooting a ceremony or reception.  Better to blend.  So I choose the gazebo/pot/wall route.  

The ceremony is in full swing.  He is saying his vows.  The videographer is where I want to be so I quietly, and what I think is stealthily, move towards him when I encounter THE TWO CONCRETE PLANTERS.  Side note: my camera body and flash are brand new, just added them to my gear.  So I have to get past these planters.  Either I step on the gazebo stage during the recitation of vows or I find a way to traverse these tall pots just about 4 - 6" apart.  Having made my important decision, I lift my right leg up high, with my camera and flash in a death grip with both hands I step over the top of the planters.  I lift my left leg behind me up and then....my damn Doc Marten gets stuck between the planters. Remember they are concrete and the boots are heavy/thick leather, they stick together like a glue-gun.  

I totter every so slightly and then...face down I go.  Camera and flash stopping me just in time to not break my nose and front teeth.  Husband says it sounded like a brick was slammed to the floor and although he does love me, I know it took everything he had not to laugh uncontrollably.  I am now lying on the ground, face-down, camera and flash in hand and not moving.  I'm not moving because I am in shock, VERY embarassed, trying to assess how bad my injuries are and at the same time listening to see if I interrupted the vows.  Nope, they are still reciting.  Its good.  I can lay here a few minutes, regain my composure, step out and check my gear, replace anything broken and finish shooting without missing any shots.  Well, apparently I stayed there too long.  I knew I was pretty hurt, even if I didn't want to admit it.  But, I should have stood up because now a guest and licensed nurse is at my side, the vows have stopped and she's asking if I'm okay as I lay flat on my face at the feet of 200 guests, a bride and groom and pastor.  I say "I'm fine, don't let them stop the ceremony. Just give me a second, go back to your seat, I'm fine."  She say, "no, I'm not leaving till I know you are okay".  So I very slowly stand up.  Tell her I'm fine, again, the vows continue and I go back to work.  

I finish the night without limping till we stop and I sit down.  I roll up my pant leg and my knee is swollen 3x its size. Its black and purple all the way up and down my leg.  I have lumps and bruises everywhere and now I cannot walk. Adrenaline is a great thing folks.  I never told them I was hurt, they never knew and all ended well.

Except I must have looked like a cow on skates when that boot stuck between those pots (remember I was trying to step OVER them not between).  Sigh...  Oh and no the videographer did not get video of it but he said the sound was funny.  Thunk, splatt.

I do love my profession.  It's not a job.  Its a friggin' blast.  One minute crying over a moment, another uncontrollably laughing and then splatt face-down on the concrete.  Just another day in the life of a photographer.