Talk About Last Minute! Usher's Wedding in Atlanta...
This is a story I have to tell because it's so unbelievable! I got a call at 2:30am PST on Saturday Morning (9/1/07) and was on a plane at 6am. As I sat in first class on a Delta flight to Atlanta, I couldn't help but lean over and whisper to the sleepy fellow next to me, "I'm shooting Usher's wedding today." It was obvious that he could care less, but that didn't stop me from telling the guy in the seat in front of me next.I made myself comfortable and looked down at my iPhone to see if UncleRay made his flight. There's a text message from him that says, "My flight is delayed.."I text back, "how long??" he texts "45 minutes :( I did get first class, sweet..."
Poor Uncleray, I woke him up when the deal was closed just 3 hours earlier and told him to pack his bags and some extra CF cards for a long day of shooting. It was pretty funny because at first he totally thought I was joking. His poor wife Anna had to get up and drive him to Miami Intl. Airport.
The plan was to get Ray there a couple hours earlier so he could start shooting some getting ready shots and I would catch up with him when my plane landed at 1:30pm EST. A driver was to pick him up when he arrived and take him to the Chateau Elan about 1 hour from the airport.
Plane lands and I get another text from Ray... "Been here for 40 minutes, no one here, I don't know if they have my number". I call him and first thing he says is "I had Anna hire a web detective for $15 to get the wedding planner's phone number but nobody answered." I couldn't help but laugh.
We jumped in a car and rushed to the resort arriving just after 3pm (ceremony to start at 5pm). We checked in, I synced our D2Xs camera bodies while Ray ironed our shirts (thanks for the burn on my shirt Ray!) and we hurried over to the briefing room where security hooked us up with wrist bands (so we didn't get tackled with our cameras) and the wedding planner (the amazing Diann Valentine out of Los Angeles) briefed us on all the happenings.
Check People Magazine on shelves today (Thursday 9/6/07) for some pics from the wedding!
P.S. I want to give a big shout out and THANK YOU to the famous Joe Buissink for referring this wedding to me because he's in New Zealand/Australia on tour with Yervant and couldn't shoot it himself. I also want to thank Bob and Dawn Davis and David Beckstead who also should have done this wedding but were not available because of limited flight options. And UncleRay, we make a great team! Thanks for being there for me again!
Click Here for the story on People.com
Click Here for more Usher & Tameka Images on People.com

54 Comments:
The photos are great, Mike! I can't wait to see more.
Thanks for the heads up unclemike.Talk about short notice 4.00 am yea right...We could not have done such an Awesome job with out the Best Gear in the world Nikon baby...Goodtimes unclemike
And with all that last second timing to work out?! Good thing you both had Panerai to help! lol
You made that thing happen man. You and your support team ... haha ... rock on Mike!
What a story!! That's AWESOME! I can just picture you giddy with excitement when telling the people on the plane you're shooting Usher's wedding... i'm still waiting for my last minute celebrity wedding ;p
Mike this is so awesome. Congrats. I'll give you a big shout out on my blog. :-)
OMG... what a story, incredible! Sounds like fun though.
Thanks guys! This was such an exciting job for me. The stars aligned for this to happen and I'm still in a bit of shock. Please excuse some of the images People Mag chose for the feature... I swear there are better shots that the client did not approve. They are saving some for Essence Magazine and Instyle Mag. I'll let you know when those come out too! God bless you guys!
Congratulations Mike! What an awesome story and, of course, photos!! I can just hear what Ray must have sounded like when you called him!
God Bless,
Terry
Mike, that is so awesome! I can't wait to pick up the magazines. Nobody deserves it more than you. I can hear Ray now... 'Dude, Sweet!'
Best.
Sooo Cool!!!
A Rock Star shooting a R&B Star's wedding!!!
Yea for you two! I can't wait to tell my dh that Mike Colon shot Usher's wedding! And your name is under the pic in People and everything!!! I can't imagine how you felt if I feel this way just "knowing" you, LOL!
INCREDIBLE how things work out! Congratulations! ~ Dawn & Bob
This is crazy talk! So awesome, Mike. What an opportunity! Where does this rank in terms of best experiences ever as a photographer?
Mike I spoke to Ray. What a blast and lets hope not all the future ones are this tight.
Well done for pulling the stops out and bringing in Miami's finest on the job. Cannot wait to see more stuff, keep it coming.
All the best and hope to see you soon,
T the Brit.
You go!!! That is so rad!! gotta love it when it all falls into place!! meant to be!!
nice work!!
M
That is awesome, congrats.
WOW! Awesome surprise. Can't wait to see more images.
Yahoo! Now THAT'S a story for the books. I hope Aidan is learning all of Usher's songs. Getting ready for that band he's gonna be in. So cool! Congrats.
Dude you ROCK!!!
Congrats Mike!! If this happened to me.. I wouldn't know how to handle it.. it's so awesome!!
You guys rock! I'm so stoked for you...Praise God!
Wow that's a great story!
Enna
Hi Mike.. Thanks for your comments about our family video on our blog. See..... now you know why I've never breast fed... LOL!!! Okay... please remember having this (very short) conversation with me at the wedding... hahahahaha! Okay... I'm going now!!!! Hope to see you and Jullie again soon! xoxox ~ Dawn... and Bob!
Hey Mike,
Love the story...I'm going to start putting the phone by the bed :)
Congrats,
Garrett
Hey Mike,
Just caught a connecting flight in Miami and saw Ray sleeping at the airport? He said something about be on standby full time with you now? Dude your tough on your photographers, hope hes well rested for the next gig :)
Peace!
Adam Miasik
www.movingimagesphoto.com
Way cool.. I hope one day to have a story like this to share! :)
Just one word Mike.
"Yeah!" ;-)
Oops. I was logged in as my admin assit. Okay, here I go again.
Just one word Mike:
"Yeah!" ;-)
Ron Dawson
so cool! Congrats! :)
yeah! you rock mike. congrats!
nice score mike! hope you can show us some others someday. i would have come along just to iron. i'm quite good at it i think.
Mike -
That's awesome! It looks like you guys did a great job (although I wouldn't expect any less), and had a great time doing it!
Now that's one call at 2:30 in the am that I bet you were glad to get.
-
Sorry I couldn't make it out with you. I must've missed your call! : )
Congrats and thanks for sharing. I just need to know: Did they play Usher at the reception....and did he dance?
-Eddie
(Studio512)
Awesome. Congratulations!
WOW! what an amazingly awesome opportunity! Sounds like you had a blast
Yeah, I was booked too. ;)
Great job Mike. Have some fun w/ your revenge on DJ.
Dan
Mike-I've got stitches over here bro-LOL That's an awesome story.
That is so awesome. You are so blessed! I'm sure you did an awesome job. The picture on the site is absolutely gorgeous. Look forward to meeting you one day soon!
Tanya + Cesar Perez
Yay Mike!
And just to think the guy who shot my wedding 6 years ago is now wedding photographer to the starts. What a great experience for you, Mike!
Talk about a day of not being booked! haha. Congratulations!!!
congratulations!!! very well deserved!
jose villa
Wow! What a story! Way to pull that off! Congratulations, Mike!!!
hey mike, congrats bro, i love it when the impossible happens perfectly, nice...
that's killer mike!!! nothing like the last minute...a story that you'll be telling for some time!
Great thing happen to good People I just keep saying You are such a giver thats why God bless you with so many wonderful thing.
You Rock Mike
Mike Great Job!!! I'd loved your photos....but next time, call me I'm in the ATL. (hee hee)
www.mwsphotos.com
www.camera-ready.blogspot.com
770-634-9999
Wow, that is a great story, Mike! I had a wedding at Chateau Elan that same day and they almost wouldn't let us in because they thought we were paparazzi. The photos are beautiful, great work!
Awesome story, Mike!
Hey I've tagged you!
See my blog for details!
:-D
OMGOSH I just have to say you ROCK!!! I've ALWAYS ALWAYS admired your work! Thought I'd stop by & say....SAWEET shots & I did see the pics in the magazine while I was standing in line at the grocery store!...hahaha!
celebrity!
LOL, so today I was in a salon today getting my hair done flipping randomly through the latest People magazine. I saw Usher's wedding and look down to see "Photography by Mike Colon". My jaw dropped and I felt like you on the plane telling everyone you were shooting Usher's wedding. I couldn't help but lift up the magazine and tell those around me "I know the guy that shot this wedding!" :-) Congrats on the exposure Mike! God is good! You rock!
Awesome! Way to jump right in there and get it! Sounds like you two had a blast!
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