Tales of a Super Hero Pro Wedding Photographer

by Bill Collins

Copyright John William Collins 2014





 dedication


I dedicate this book to my wife, Sue, whom I love dearly, as much as life itself.

And to the memory of my mother, Oma Richie Collins, who made the world a better place to live while she was here.  As sweet a woman as you'll ever meet.

Bill





 table of contents


 Tales of a Super Hero Pro Wedding Photographer
 table of contents
 Chapter One
 Chapter Two
 Chapter Three
 Chapter Four
 Chapter Five
 Chapter Six
 Chapter Seven
 Chapter Eight
 Chapter Nine
 Chapter Ten
 Chapter Eleven
 Chapter Twelve
 Chapter Thirteen




Chapter One


INTRO:  Buckle up your seat belts.  We are off on a wild ride down memory lane through my world as a professional wedding photographer for about 45 years.  Very few people ever get a peek into what we see, do and encounter in carrying out our wedding assignments over the years.  I'm inviting you to enjoy just such a peek into my world and to see it through my eyes.

My Dad, Cy Collins, of Connersville, IN., was a most creative part time photographer when I was growing up. He was a tool and die rebuilder\repairman for Stants Manufacturing Company and an extremely good wood carver, too. When I was growing up, my bedroom windows were covered over on the outside with thick black tar paper and was pitch black inside when the light were turned off.  Dad used my bedroom as his darkroom to develop and print the photos he took.  (I grew up never afraid of being in the dark!)  I was never nearly as creative as my Dad was.  I became an accomplished photographer and was techniquely spot on in all I did, but not anywhere as creative as Dad was.

In Dad's day and age, during the 1940's and 50's, people didn't hire photographers to go to the church to photograph their weddings.  At best, they would stop by our house following the ceremony and have a couple of photos taken of themselves in their wedding attire.