II faculty portraits II Dr. Mike James, chair– man of the communica– tion department and professional wedding photographer, poses with a camera in his office. James has been shooting weddings since he was a student at Harding. (Photo by Russell Keck) 144 II leadership Wedding bliss Professor makes hobby out ofphotography From curtains catching on fire to people dropping the ring off the side of a cliff, Dr. Mike James, communication department chairman and professional wedding photographer, has caught it all over the years. HI got started because I was a poor Harding student," James said. "Some students were having a wedding and couldn't afford photos, so I decided to help them out by offering less expensive photos." James said one of the reasons he lov~d weddings so much was because they were some of the happiest days in people's lives. He also enjoyed the variety in wedding ceremonies; from the different vows to the different places people chose to get married. "It keeps me younger and excited about life," James said. After word spread of James' talent, he began shooting weddings throughout the country, from Missouri to California. He shot weddings in huge cathedrals and some in tiny churches, some ceremonies with fancy dresses and some with overalls and bare feet. As time went by, James developed a technique for shooting weddings and discovered the type of shots he like taking. When the bride and groom were comfortable the posed shots look more natural. However, candid shots were the best because they captured the action of a special moment, James said. "The secret to good wedding pictures is to get a couple to relax and trust me," he said. Besides shooting weddings, James found the simple art of photography intrigued him because of the physics involved. He also appreciated the simplicity and mystery of photography and found it fascinating how an image could appear on paper by mixing chemicals and film. To anyone wanting to develop his or her inner photographer, James had this to say, "Always consider yourself a learner and realize you've never achieved perfection. You can find great images wherever you are. Look for God in everything you see." - Justin Bronson
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