08/05/2026
The Day My Commitment Was Tested
For the first time, I felt true fear during a wedding photography event. In this picture, you can see my reaction to the chaos unfolding behind the lens. My friend captured this moment and kept telling me to calm down.
Here is what happened:
Last month, I faced one of my biggest challenges during a wedding reception shoot. One of my key team members had a family emergency and couldn't make it at the last minute. Then right as the reception started, my main zoom lens stopped working.
I felt an overwhelming pressure. I started calling every backup photographer and assistant I knew, but everyone was busy and some of photographers out of station. One friend finally agreed to come but warned me that peak traffic would delay him. I told him, "Just come as fast as you can."
For a moment, I was truly scared. These are someone’s dream moments, and I couldn't allow myself to fail them. My mind was racing, the traffic was heavy, and my backup was still miles away.
But in photography, "giving up" isn't an option. I didn't panic. I quickly switched to my 35mm prime lens and kept shooting every single group photo. My crew stepped up, switching to their second cameras to cover the candid shots. I handled the pressure internally, and even though you can see the intensity on my face in this photo, I didn't let the clients see it for a second.
At 9:20 PM, my teammate finally arrived. I took a 15-minute break just to breathe and wash my face. When I showed the final results to the couple, they said, "All the images are beautiful! Thank you for your work."
They never knew the situation I was in, and that’s exactly how it should be. To me, photography is a commitment. When a family trusts me with their life's most important day, I will find a way to make it perfect, no matter what happens behind the scenes.
I am Arvind Kannan, and I believe in fulfilling my promises.
Arvind kannan Photography
