Friday 3rd October – Prestwold Hall, Leicestershire. Two days before, I never thought that I would actually make it to this wedding! I was carrying a laser printer from one room to another and twisted to get through the door when all of a sudden my back went. The most amazing surge of sharp pain shot right up my spine and I ended up on the floor – luckily I somehow managed to save the printer from smashing into pieces.
For the next 15 minutes I experienced the most excrutiating pain when moving just millimetres in an effort to get up. No good. The paramedics were called and treated me to a good ol’ dose of laughing gas. Amazing stuff, I want some of this at home! This relaxed my muscles enough to enable me to get up and climb into the waiting ambulance where I was administered with a Morphine injection and whizzed off to Leicester Royal Infirmary. The only thing that I could think of was not being able to shoot the wedding of Chris & Lisa at one of my favourite venues. After a check-up on a side ward, a doctor discharged me with the diagnosis of a “bad muscle spasm” and nothing worse. He handed me a prescription for some industrial strength painkillers and off I hobbled.
Luckily, I have a network of photographer contacts and – by the end of the day – had managed to line up four emergency replacements who were all willing to shoot for me. I made the decision the following day that I would work through the pain barrier and shoot the wedding myself. As it turns out, the painkillers were so strong I hardly felt a twinge all day – and boy, what a glorious day!
The “Indian Summer” showed its kind face and provided some really dramatic light towards the end of the day. The shots towards the end are of my normal 10 minutes with the Bride & Groom, the only instructions I give are to act naturally and talk about the wonderful day you’ve had.
All the best to Mr & Mrs Clifford and thanks for keeping the pace slow to help with my back!
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