The Johnsonian

Issue date: 1/23/08 Section: Entertainment

Sunny Hutchinson

Katherine Heigl, as the simple yet romantic character Jane, found her calling at the young age of eight in her newest film "27 Dresses."

With an open heart and an ever present positive mind-set, Heigl's character molds into the perfect bridesmaid. Sure, every young woman loves to be in their friends' weddings.

Wearing the dresses their friends picked out (whether they really can be worn again or not is another question) and doing the ever so common duties such as assisting the bride hold up her heavy dress as she attempts to pee during the reception…it's a ritual most young woman would like to someday experience.

Although it's obvious that Heigl's character enjoys every moment of helping her friends during the special day, a fellow character challenges why she is such a dedicated bridesmaid. Kevin, played by James Marsden, predicts that she concentrates on other peoples weddings instead of hers out of her pursuit to want a wedding and not a marriage.

At 22, I'm just now discovering if I've found my calling like Heigl's character so passionately found hers. While my high school friends may be surprised it's not to be a singer/songwriter or a wedding planner, I have to admit it's photography that has truly stolen my heart. Photography for me has become an addiction. I can't help but become content when I capture a moment in time that can be looked back on.

These moments that I capture in time vary in subject matters, but over the past few years young love has been a continuing inspiration. When a friend asked me to shoot her and her fiancée's engagement and wedding photos, I never knew what whirlwind it would send me into.

We shot the engagement photos at the beach where they were to be married the following September, and capturing the pure love in their eyes made my heart soar, as cheesy as it may sound. It came as a surprise to me when more offers popped up from friends to have their pictures taken by me as well.

Now, as I look at my calendar for the next few months, I have a handful of weddings to shoot, another handful of engagement shoots and a few personal couple shots as well. While I'm happy to shoot these events for my friends and clients, I also can't help but wonder what Heigl's character secretly thought to herself…

When will I get the chance to shine?

Although it doesn't always cross my mind, sometimes I do dream about what it would be like to be on the other side of my lens. Some day, someone will be photographing my wedding. Someday, someone will capture that moment that I want to remember forever.

Heigl's character dreamed of one day being the bride and not always the bridesmaid, but she never let her dream consume her. For that reason, I've discovered just how much I am a fan of "27 Dresses." Not because I am a Katherine Heigl fan in general (the George O'Malley and Izzy Stevens relationship receives a stamp of approval from me), but because it's the type of movie that allows young woman to continue their fairy tale dreams and to not feel so goofy while doing so.

I'm not sure if it was Heigl's attempt to sing Elton John's "Bennie and the Jets" with the added line of electric boobs, or if it was her characters confidence in her craft that made my final decision on this film, either way I highly recommend it. In the end, all that really matters is the other person at the end of the aisle, or on the other side of the lens.

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