The number of weddings I’ve been hired to photograph is nearly equal to the number I’ve turned down.

It’s something rarely discussed, but despite all the advancements in gear and software, professional photography still comes with many unknowns and uncontrollable variables.

The key to any successful shoot is minimizing as many of those unknowns as possible—and with weddings, I’ve always found that to be exceptionally difficult.

More than anything, the sheer level of expectations from the couple (especially the bride and her mother) makes wedding photography one of the most challenging assignments I’ve ever taken on.

When I saw a photographer capturing a stunning bride and her handsome groom beneath the sunlit Acropolis yesterday evening, I actually felt a little stressed on her behalf.

She’s probably spending the next few days sifting through hundreds—if not thousands—of photos. Phew.