So. This one time… I fainted at a wedding.
Yeah.
Thankfully I was a second shooter, not the main shooter, and my body carried itself until dinner was just starting. So, no one really noticed me. It was a July wedding, and I had only had one glass of water and a banana at the start of the day. The main shooter was one I admired very much and I was too nervous to eat anything else. The ceremony was outside and the grounds where we were shooting were very sunny and had lots of little sunken gardens with stairs. Basically, I was getting a workout but not also refueling my body. Towards the end of cocktail hour I started to feel like I might get sick. I quickly asked a bar tender where the bathroom was, and walked into the house. There was a line. No way was I going to make it through the line. I turned around and saw the Mistress of the House. I asked her if there happened to be another bathroom. She said there was one downstairs and extended her hands out to me. I guess I had started to look a little woozy, and she tried to stable me. Unfortunately, it was useless because I already started to see the black dots. If you’ve ever fainted before, you know what I am referring to. They creep in from the sides of your eyes and by the time they hit the middle, its over. You’re out. And you probably fell and haven’t realized it yet. Well, as she was extending her arms to help me, I started falling. I kind of remember grabbing the wall to brace myself, and a few seconds later I woke up to her hovering over me. Again, it was a huge blessing that I was not the main shooter and that dinner had just started. This kind of behavior is in no way acceptable. Yes, I am mad at myself because I could have prevented it. For one, it’s unprofessional. For two, it’s a distraction. If I had been smart enough to bring some good snacks and just carry the stupid heavy water bottle with me, it wouldn’t have happened. Did I immediately learn my lesson? Nope. Later that summer I almost fainted again during a portrait session. Thankfully Jared was with me and was able to run over to a small store and grab me something before it happened.
I do know that I have low blood pressure, so that probably played a part, but the real reason was that I wasn’t drinking enough water and I wasn’t replacing sugars. I have learned my lesson now. I suck it up and carry water with me, and I bring a few choice snacks. There are times when I forget, but I am a lot better now! Here is what I have found works for me on wedding day…
Fruit Squeeze Pouches.
These are marketed towards children, but I find them perfect for adults. I also eat them while working from home because I frequently forget to eat throughout the day. On wedding day, I can quickly snap one open and down it in a few seconds. They are made with veggies and fruits, basically just purees, and work really well for me!
Clif Shot Bloks.
These are marketed towards athletes. Well, if you have ever shot a wedding in the summer, I would imagine it is kin to running some sort of long race. (Not that I would know 
) Not only are you running around constantly, by your mind is flying so many miles per hour trying to keep track of the days schedule and what you forgot to do. You sweat. A lot. These are little blocks of energy and are super helpful on wedding day.
Water.
Nothing beats water. Sure there are sports drinks, but I find them too sweet for drinking throughout the entire day. I try to drink at least 50 ounces while shooting. That might be 24 oz before I start shooting, and I drink the rest at the reception, or it might be all throughout the day. I also prepare the night before and drink tons of water.
What do you do to keep up energy? Have you ever fainted at a really inappropriate moment? Tell me in the comments!
