The Wedding Photographer's Best Shot

I've photographed weddings for fifteen years. People ask me about my favorite shot, and they expect a kiss at sunset or a first dance.

It's actually a photo from a small backyard wedding in 2024. During the cake cutting, the bride's grandfather, who is ninety-five and had been quietly napping in his chair most of the day, suddenly took the knife from her and did a little dance with it, singing an old Greek song. The whole family joined in, holding hands in a circle around the cake.

I caught the moment the bride threw her head back laughing, with her grandfather mid-twirl and her new husband reaching for his hand. Everybody in that frame is laughing or singing.

It's slightly out of focus. It's my favorite photo I've ever taken. The family printed it huge and hung it in their living room. They sent me a photo of it on the wall. I printed that one, too.