The Perfect Shot

It fascinated me
Watching the professional
Photographer work
As she captured the flavor of
My daughter’s wedding.

She was good at what she did,
Angling for just the right pose,
Ever conscious of the lighting,
Trying to capture a sense
Of the spirit of the occasion.

Being an amateur photographer myself,
I noted each shot she took,
How she composed that picture
And the artistry exercised
In deciding which picture to shoot.

It always seemed, however
That the perfect shot occurred
The moment after
The photograph was snapped,
The instant everyone relaxed.

It amused me to think
That had a false flash been used
To fool the posing subjects,
An entirely different set of pictures
Would have resulted.

I wonder if the rigor
Of photographing weddings
As a professional
Would dim the passion I have
For capturing the illusive smile.