Jeff and I have been promoting The Firestarter Workshop on our Facebook page, and having a blast while we’re at it. It’s been fun going through our old work. Haven’t seen a lot of them in years. Anyway, I posted one of our favorite photos, the one that got included in Junebug Weddings’ Best of the Best 2010, and Nelwin Uy left a comment on it today and made me cry for the second time in this lifetime.
Here’s one of the many stories we were planning on sharing at the workshop, but it seems like the perfect time to share it now. Back in 2007 or early 2008, I emailed Nelwin with a sad little online portfolio and asked him if we could possibly shoot a wedding with/for him. And then I felt sick to my stomach and felt like vomiting for a day or two ’till he replied because 1) it was such a sparse portfolio and we obviously had no experience with weddings yet, and 2) we thought highly of his work. When he replied, he said he had a full team already and couldn’t take any more people with him, but he said he liked our work and we would “go far”. I didn’t even notice that he said he couldn’t take us on. (Haha.) I was just reeling from the last bit.
To have someone established like he was already say that to us when he didn’t really owe us anything was such a kindness, and so heartening and encouraging at a time when all we had were doubts. I realized I really, really wanted to pursue this. It was like someone opened a dam and all the many little stresses, apprehensions, and fears of pursuing your dream, THE dream, just burst forth in a spectacular waterworks extravaganza.
We’ve been pouring our hearts into this workshop since we decided to do this, and it’s been feeling a lot like 2008 again. And yes, I am nervous all over again. I haven’t felt like this in such a long time. Thankfully, Jeff is an amazing calming force. Last week, I asked him to take me to the hospital to have me sedated. Seriously though, this means so much to us, to be in a position where we could possibly make a difference in a few people’s lives. We can’t wait to share what we’ve learned over the years. Dreams are such fragile things, and sometimes all we really need is a nudge in the right direction. We hope to do so much with this workshop, and are grateful to everyone making this possible. To Nelwin, thank you for the support and kindness. To those already signed up, you would not believe how excited we are about this. My heart is full, and I cannot wait to meet you.
Leave a Reply