Most people work in food service or bagging groceries for their first job. I took the most important pictures of people's lifetimes. While splattering grease or unruly customers are not fun to deal with, they are nothing compared to a Bridezilla when you're 16.

1. I barely knew how to work a camera.

Learning from doing has it perks--you learn the craft really well, but that is because you fail really bad and really often.

2. Most of my shots were trash.

While I was learning from professionals, they couldn't babysit me the whole time. I had to wing stuff as it happened. In the bride's room, I wasn't sure whether I was supposed to take photos of the girls getting ready or not, so I took pictures of the flowers and shoes instead...for 45 minutes.

3. They were long days.

Weddings take forever. Especially Catholic weddings, which I did a lot of. When my feet were hurt and my memory card was full, the day only just beginning.

(This happens very rarely.)

4. I was most explicitly: The help.

It is THEIR day and they let me know that. I have comforted brides on their makeup, their waistline, their unruly children, the messed up wedding cake and the venue before she even put on the dress. I have fetched batteries for my camera and water for the bride. Wedding photogs are hired as the servant...who happens to take photos.

5. Editing is the devil incarnate.

Long days turn into long nights of editing. You realize that the bride has a giant zit on her nose in every shot. The groom's hair is messed up in the kiss shot. The ring is turned sideways. The shoe has a stain. All of your photos have grain that looks like bad reception on a TV. Grandma asked you to take out her wrinkles. And the only flawless photo you took is of the bouquet. And on top of all of that, they want a seven-day return. You have a long job ahead of you.

But at the end of the day, wedding photography made me happy and gave me great experience. Finally, when the couple used my photos everywhere--I felt like the best photographer ever.