This portrait at First Lutheran Church in Middleton, Wisconsin is one of my favorites of all time because it illustrates how I embrace the most impossible conditions to tell a story. The sun was blazing down from high in the sky casting harsh shadows. However, I thought the design of the church door would be an ideal spot to make a charming portrait that not only caught them in a romantic moment but included their location. If it were just a snapshot, the light would have been horrible and their eyes would be in black shadow. By giving them a simple pose and having the bride lift her chin, I was able to get light into her eyes and a beautiful sculpting of her face. I was also careful that the shadow from her nose didn't connect with her mouth. Just the simple suggestion for the groom to tickle her neck with his nose was enough to get a natural happy moment. Another challenge was this was a side exit door leading only to a small wooden platform and ramp. There was barely enough room for the three of us to be standing there and I was backed against the railing. I couldn't use a long lens to get the intimate compressed look I normally would. So I used a wide lens. That meant I had to correct for distorted perspective by having the couple lean slightly toward me to keep their faces in proper proportion.