Last wedding....

After 200+ weddings, health issues have forced me to give this up. Doctor says that it may be temporary, but would at least cover the 2017 season. He also said to brace myself to give it up totally...

Nerve damage, major tingling from neck to left hand
some on right arm
lots on left leg

Biggest issue is gripping stuff, both hands are bad, left is worse.
the longer I stand, the more the left leg feels like its asleep, and the harder it is to walk and maintain balance

This will be monitored for the next few months, and then there will be a surgery discussion if the doc thinks it will help. he has even thrown the words "quality of life" around a few times. There was also a mention of me losing my driver's license.

Not asking for sympathy or anything like that... a lesson for many I'm sure.

If your doctor says don't do it, listen to him. I went to what is now my last wedding against his recommendation that I don't do any weddings until he clears me. i thought some rest ahead of time and meds on the day of would help.. It doesn't.
The only good thing I did is bring a 2nd shooter - the couple wasn't paying for it, but I thought I should have that safety net. I also thought that the doctor was exaggerating the issue, and that I was a lot closer to being Superman than he gave me credit for. My macro lens dropped to the floor on a swap. At least the 5D it was attached to was strapped to me. There was also a close call with a lightstand when I stumbled walking by. Church started great, and the first time I crouched down for some shots, I had a hard time getting up, and spent the next hour very slow to move around and keep up with what was going on.

After the nightmare that was Saturday, I spent most of the next 2 days in a very emotional state, and finally penned an email to send out to my wedding couples for the rest of the season.

Listen to your body. Listen to your doctor. And really, listen to your wife as well - that one hurts saying the most.
I didn't do any further damage to myself, physically at least. Embarrassed myself mostly. And I don't think I did anyone any good but trying to tough this out.

I've never missed a wedding. I've worked through broken toes. Colds. Sprained ankle. Headaches. I've missed funerals and birthdays.
And having to tell 17 brides that I'm not fit to be there for them really hurts.

I've already received responses from some. A couple are mad. I can understand that. Many more have said nice things back. Everyone of them, I have already reached out to local photographers to see what can be done to help them. I've also asked for an email address to e-transfer back all deposits.

Health is a precious thing.

That sucks, sorry to hear that. I hope you work through it and recover.

I'm on a break due to a couple of injuries as well, but they're sports injuries that should recover enough to do weddings in a year or two. Whether I go back or not is the question... it's a heck of a lot of work and effort, and unless you're doing at least a dozen weddings a year you don't really get into the swing of things. IT work is much easier to get, pays better, etc.

Thanks for sharing your story. I hope your recovery is swift.
No one realizes how hard weddings are until you do them.

Best wishes on a full recovery

AND you are 100% correct about you health.

I feel for ya bro! I used to be a DJ. All the heavy equipment I lugged around. Upstairs gigs were a killer. And when I got a new set of turntables that weighed 108 lbs, that made it harder.

tim wrote in post #18351190
That sucks, sorry to hear that. I hope you work through it and recover.

I'm on a break due to a couple of injuries as well, but they're sports injuries that should recover enough to do weddings in a year or two. Whether I go back or not is the question... it's a heck of a lot of work and effort, and unless you're doing at least a dozen weddings a year you don't really get into the swing of things. IT work is much easier to get, pays better, etc.

I used to play baseball and hockey when I first started doing weddings. I first stopped playing hockey because 2 sports and weddings on top of a monday-friday job was too much time away from the family. Then I started missing a lot of baseball when more and more couples wanted their engagement sessions on the same nights/afternoon I'd have a game, and if we had a rained out game, it would always be made up on the Friday evening, and I'd always skip those if I had a wedding the next day. In the end, I'd pay $200+ a year to play baseball, and maybe get into 5 games.

But I do remember going to a lot of weddings with sore ribs due to an OF collision, sore arms from being hit by a pitch, and just general muscle soreness due to getting older...

SMP_Homer wrote in post #18351083
After 200+ weddings, health issues have forced me to give this up .If your doctor says don't do it, listen to him. . .
Health is a precious thing.

Best wishes for a smooth and complete recovery. Perhaps in the meantime you can find something less taxing than shooting weddings. Professional hockey comes to mind.

Along with your words of good advice I'll add not trying to rush physical therapy. When the therapist says "Do twenty of these twice a day," doing forty four times a day isn't twice as good. (Yes, there is at least one member here that stupid.)

Hang in there. Im 60 this year and I find that I have to continue to exorcise a lot and work on staying in shape to be able to continue doing this. Next season, im going to find an assistant to help me lug crapola around. People dont realize how physically demanding being a wedding photographer can be. I now LMAO at the newbs coming and shooting for ridiculously low prices....they just have no clue what the job involves.

Maybe work with a trainer for a few months and see if conditioning will help with the injuries. Hope you can continue. There not enough good people who really know what they are doing in the field.....Lots of newbs....not enough experienced pros

I've been sitting on the back deck every night, 5D+100-400, aiming at various bird feeders we have in the yard. When the tingling comes, I lose feelings in the fingers, can't feel buttons/wheels, and shortly after I can't tell if I'm griping hard enough to not drop anything... and knuckles are white!

there a blue jay that's always in the neighbor's yard... nothing we set out draws him over...

SMP_Homer wrote in post #18357553
I've been sitting on the back deck every night, 5D+100-400, aiming at various bird feeders we have in the yard. When the tingling comes, I lose feelings in the fingers, can't feel buttons/wheels, and shortly after I can't tell if I'm griping hard enough to not drop anything... and knuckles are white!

there a blue jay that's always in the neighbor's yard... nothing we set out draws him over...

Plain peanuts in a shell...they love them

sounds like a pinched nerve. Might try a GOOD Chiro

this is a great thread thank you for sharing your experience and best luck!

Dear SMP_Homer,

Thank you for your thought-felt story and posts over the years…
Yes, health is so precious (including the sense of sight) and often maybe not appreciated nor valued until deprived.

Experience is sometimes an agonizing life-teacher and your story indeed a lesson to everyone.
Listening to your wife, is true words of wisdom - particularly going forward.
Perhaps time to put you & your wife in the center of YOUR “picture” of life, rather than brides & grooms.
(Continue embracing life with your heart & soul, perhaps maybe just without a camera).
Your Perfect Day (Jerry Ghionis):
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=8seGxgfgSJk (8:33 minute video)

"Youth is a gift, Age is an art."

Hope time will be kind to you…

Mary

P.S.
Aging Backwards (Miranda Esmonde White):
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=6_e-V5o8laE (4:26 minute video)
https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=8hLMitXvvbY (22:30 minute video)
-While everyone is different, I found this info helps keep a body toned, particularly for a 10-14hr day photography event.