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(ed’s note: This is Part 3 of Punam’s series on Boomie and David’s wedding week. You can check out Part 1 and Part 2 as well.)

It’s cold here in Santa Fe, and it just might snow. It’s funny how much weather I’ve passed through. I can barely remember how very sweaty I was on Boomie and Davids wedding day. And though I said he didn’t have to, Husbone was a real hero and wore his suit jacket, despite the heat. There are many interesting things that happened on this wedding day, but at the end of it there was one overwhelming notion. These two people love each other, so utterly and completely. It’s nice to observe the internationality of wonderful love. It’s the same across the globe -people find each other, they connect and they are enriched in each other. It’s such a great honor to be the one to preserve this love in photographs, and I’m honored to have been chosen for the task. This one, specifically.

Just to be clear, in my contract I’m the only professional photographer that can be hired for any event that I’m commissioned to photograph. However in Nigeria, it’s a general tradition that many family members hire their own photographers. In this particular case, it being Africa and all, I was happy to be flexible. But I must say, I’ve never worked so hard in my whole life. Seriously. I thought it funny that the mob of photographers and videographers surrounding all the action at close proximity at all times were often referred to off-handedly as the paparazzi. Seriously folks. I think that this is what it must be like to be a paparazzi photographer. Never before have I had to employ all my limbs, knees, elbows and all, to fight my way to a photograph. Good thing I’ve got New York in my bones, because my formerly timid California Girl self would have been no match. But between Husbone’s manliness, and my squirminess, we made it through. We fought for this wedding like we’ve fought for each other. And in all the chaos, amid those one thousand plus people, Boomie and David were the beating heart of the giant beast. Let me just say, I barely removed my wide angle lens all day.

I just want to say, to Boomie and David, thank you so much for this opportunity. Husbone and I have come to care for you both, and it seriously was one of the best experiences having you both to lay on couches with, in your hotel room, exhausted together, and looking forward to a new friendship in America. As overwhelming as it may have been at times, I’m so glad it was the two of you that we were working so hard for. You guys are so beautiful!