Abbey Reznicek - Abbey Rez Photography & Film
As we travel through March of 2021 we are faced with the fact that we have officially been in this new “COVID normal” for a year. The mass shut down of society began to fall like dominos this time last year and nothing has felt the same. One of the most mysterious feelings I came across within my heart and the hearts of my students was grief of opportunities lost.
Of course, the loss of life is paramount and the pain that comes with that loss is unparalleled but we must also consider the toll COVID has taken on our ability to plan and orchestrate life’s memorable moments. The canceled events, missed celebrations and the “TBD” stamp on life is one that will take a while for us to wash away but we are starting to see some hope.
Some hope that I saw recently came in the form of photography, wedding photography that is. Of all the events that were rocked during 2020, wedding plans seemed to take the cake. But as Catholics the wedding shouldn’t change too much, even in our new COVID world, because the wedding begins and ends with the Sacrament.
The covenant of love and the journey back to altar is the glue that forever keeps it together. It was in witnessing Abbey Reznicek’s craft of wedding photography that I was brought back to the place of wonder that is the wedding experience.
I found myself looking at a recent shoot she did and I was sincerely lost in the images and the ways in which she captured the glory of the sacrament. A few more photos into the album it hit me, this was a “COVID wedding”. I was so lost in the craft and the story of the image that I didn’t notice the masked participants in the corner of the frame or the smaller attendance or any other minor detail that Abbey pushed to the side with her gift of focus.
I know a lot of wedding photographers have been negatively impacted by COVID this past year. I’ve been really blessed however and last year turned out to be my highest booked year yet - it has absolutely nothing to do with me, and everything to do with God and my clients! I’ve been so inspired by these amazing couples who have had to go through so much. Wedding planning is hard enough without a global pandemic! The love these couples have for each other and their commitment to the call to marriage is truly inspiring. I’m reminded of Christ’s relentless love for us when I see these couples move earth and sky so that they can get married, often sacrificing so much to do so.
- Abbey
Abbey is an artist who was able to take her gift of capturing images and let it transcend the climate around her. In fact, the only energy I could sense that Abbey and her camera let in was that of the Holy Spirit. It’s creative passion like this that will get us through this next phase of our wild human experience. It is only with the Holy Spirit that we can find hope and be in communion with each other once more. Abbey’s work is a gentle and beautiful wake up call to the reality that life is too wonderful to ever fully pause or delay.
I invite you to check out Abbey’s wonderful work via her Website, Facebook, Instagram page, and her new Facebook group for Catholic Brides. I hope and pray it moves you as it did me.
And as we all face new events and celebrations that were delayed, cancelled and then reimagined I pray with and for you to appreciate the gift of community. A gift that after this past year we must promise to never take for granted.
Be sure to check the new addition to the Creation of the Week experience. Our first Creation of the Week conversation is here and it offers you a deeper dive into the creator behind the creation as well as a fun and inspired chat on craft, life and fun facts. I promise it is a conversation that will offer hope and a laugh or two.