Four years had passed since I photographed Whitney’s wedding. We had kept somewhat in touch over social media. We saw each other’s biggest life events over the internet: the unfortunate passing of her father, her move to the western coast of Australia, the birth of her and Rick’s daughter, Pippa. But I wasn’t expecting the message I received from her in May: she was planning another wedding with about a week’s notice. This one for her mother. Carol was the happiest Whitney had seen in the past couple years, she confided in me. All because of Frank, a retired New Jersey homicide detective who loved to tell jokes and make others laugh. Carol wanted to get married while Whitney was still in the United States and Whitney was set to reunite with Rick in Australia in a couple weeks. There wasn’t much time. Would I come down to Savannah? she asked.

There was no way I was going to say no.