Patrick McDermott | Visual Journalist

The last three weeks have felt like a whirlwind between the NBA labor talks, lots of football, and Coach K’s 903rd win at Madison Square Garden. But this past weekend I set aside a few hours in my crazy schedule to photograph the Philadelphia Marathon where my friends Jake Krong and Andrea North were trying to qualify for the 2012 USA Olympic Marathon Trials. They both had amazing races with Jake finishing in 13th overall and Andrea in 12th for the women. Great job guys!

Please note: All images are copyrighted in this post by Patrick McDermott, 2011. It is illegal to copy, manipulate, print, distribute and/or use any of the content from this site without written permission from the copyright holder (in this case, Patrick McDermott).

It is rare as a photographer, especially as one who focuses on sports, to document a day were one is allowed to capture the truest human emotions. Laura and Matthew’s wedding was one of those days. Whether it was my long friendship with Matthew or ability as a photographer to disappear into the background, on this day I was able to capture photographs that one strives for as an artist. With that said, thank you Laura and Matthew for allowing me to share this special day in your life as a couple and do so as a photographer.

I’ll let the photographs speak for themselves…

Please note that all photographs are copyrighted by me and may not be reproduced in any form without my prior permission…ie don’t put on Facebook without asking me!!!!

A few years ago after attending (not photographing) the wedding of a cross-country teammate from college, I made a rule that whenever one of my friends from high school, college, etc. got married, I would make it a point to be the photographer. It is extremely important to me that my friends have the best possible photographs from one of the most amazing days of their life…

I first met Matthew way back when we were in 9th grade at the Field School in Washington, DC. Over the years, we both have done our fair share of traveling, but we always have caught up when I was in town. As a photographer who travels all the time, it is great to have a core group of friends from high school and college that understand my crazy life. So of course when I found out that Laura and Matthew were engaged I asked (maybe actually told) them that I wanted to photograph their wedding.

During the past few years, I have had the privilege to photograph a ton of weddings…but none of them will ever compare to this wedding over the July 4th weekend. What made their wedding so special was how unique it was. Two days before the wedding, Laura, Matthew, and their family traveled to a local flower farm (Field of Flowers) to cut fresh flowers for the wedding bouquets and table centerpieces. That afternoon everyone pitched in a hand to turn what was massive pile of random flowers into some of the most beautiful centerpieces and bouquets I have ever seen. Who needs a florist when you can do it yourself!

So here are a few from that day of Laura and Matthew…

I am not one who normally posts something like this on a blog devoted to my life as a photographer, but in this case I’m going to follow some advice from fellow photographer Jasmine Star about blogging. So here it goes…

I would NOT be sitting on a train to Brussels if it had not been for one person.

For the past three months, she allowed me to travel around Vietnam with her and take part in some crazy adventures. I still don’t know how we did not get ourselves killed at times. But during that time, she got me to start following my dreams again. To send emails that were way overdue, and take giant leaps of faith. If it had not been for her, I would be sitting in California still lost as a photographer. Instead I am here, right now on a train speeding through the French and Belgium countryside…pursuing my dreams. Words cannot even start to describe how indebted I am to her for everything she has done for me thus far.

So thank you for allowing me to travel around Southern Asia with you. For keeping me out of trouble when I was acting like a fool. And most importantly for helping me get motivated each and every day to follow my dreams no matter what road they might lead me down.

& I’ll see you soon…