This negative box contains 23 negatives, all related to a wedding that according to Joel’s scribble, took place on Sept 12, 1948. There is no location mentioned.
I check the usual resources and couldn’t locate any Collins wedding around that time frame in Stockton. Then it dawned on me that this could be any locations, this job could have come to Joel through a variety of channels.
In the second image Joel used a light to lighten up the background in the mirror.
The house number above, 2101, led me on a wild goose chase trying to figure out how many streets in Stockton even had this house number. (31 in 2022 … )
None of the addresses remotely matches the more opulent style of place here. This is most likely not in Stockton (or Lodi).
Joel learned from his previous wedding, where he missed the ring shot. This is obviously not during the ceremonie, but works as well and less risk.
Joel works his way through the obligate wedding image list.
Reception line and bridal party portraits are next.
The bouquet toss was most likely next. The bride choose to toss the bouquet from the balcony.
Capturing the bouquet is always the hardest part, and requires typical a wide-angle shot.
Now it’s time for the cake cutting.
Then it’s the turn for the other guests to have some cake.
And yes, there’s an end to the festivities. The bride changes in a more comfortable outfit and makes their exit for the honeymoon, or so we assume !
All in all, this wedding photography adventure worked out quite well for Joel. He’s learning.
But photographing weddings comes with a lot of responsibilities, and it is a give-away that Joel wants to be a professional photographer and make a living of photography in general.
There’s more commercial work in the next few boxes.
Cheers !
Finding Joel Pahl Dardis 