Radar, Resilience, and Rain Sleeves: Why I’m Always Ready for the Storm

Most people check the weather to see if they need an umbrella. I check the weather to see how I’m going to paint with the light.

When you hire me, you aren't just hiring a guy with a camera; you’re hiring a scout who is obsessed with atmospheric pressure. If the clouds roll in on your wedding day, I’m not scrambling—I’m already in position. Here is how I stay three steps ahead of the storm.

1. The Bee-Factor (Nature’s Forecasters)

Before I even check my professional radar apps, I check my hives. As a beekeeper, I’ve learned that nature has a built-in alarm system. If my bees are racing back to the colony and hunker down, a storm is imminent, regardless of what the local news says. This "boots on the ground" intuition allows me to pull you aside for portraits before the first drop falls, or tell you exactly when we have a 10-minute window of dry air.

2. The Inner Circle: Meteorologists on Speed Dial

I don't just rely on the "sunny" icon on a generic app. I stay in touch with meteorologist friends who understand local micro-climates. We’re looking at wind shear, cell movement, and humidity. By the time I arrive at your venue, I have a mental map of exactly when the rain is hitting and how long it’s staying.

3. Gear That Doesn't Quit

A lot of photographers "hide" when it starts to pour because they’re afraid of their equipment short-circuiting. I don’t hide. * Rain Sleeves: My cameras live in professional, reusable rain sleeves. They look like little raincoats for my lenses, and they allow me to keep shooting in a total downpour without missing a beat.

• Fast-Dry & Waterproof: I show up in waterproof shoes and fast-dry tactical clothing. If I’m comfortable and dry, I can focus entirely on your photos instead of my wet socks.

  
  

4. Making the Rain Work for You (Technically)

Rain isn't just "wet weather"—it's a texture. Depending on the vibe we want, I use my camera's settings to "control" the storm:

• The "Mist" Effect: By opening up my aperture, I can turn a heavy rain into a soft, romantic haze that looks like a dream.

• The "Diamond" Effect: By narrowing my aperture and using a quick shutter speed, I can "freeze" the droplets in mid-air, making it look like you’re standing in a field of falling crystals

  
  

5. No Panic, Just Pivot

The reason I watch the sky so closely isn't to worry—it’s to pivot. Because I know what’s coming, I can move the timeline around. Maybe we do family formals earlier, or we save the couple’s portraits for that specific "glow" that happens right after a storm breaks.

The Bottom Line: You shouldn't have to worry about the weather, because I’m doing enough worrying for both of us—and I’ve got the gear, the data, and the bees to back it up.