Quest for The Dress: a wedding photographer’s view
Last weekend, I had the privilege -- and just plain fun -- of covering the Brides Against Breast Cancer Charity Wedding Gown Sale at the Raleigh Sheraton downtown. I came away from the experience with a renewed appreciation for just how daunting it can be to find the wedding dress of your dreams. First, a little of my own history: I bought my wedding dress off the rack at Hudson Belks back when they still had a bridal department and Frank, not my mom, sister or best friend, went with me. I bought the first dress I tried on and -- gasp! -- he saw me in it right then and there. We were determined to do everything about our wedding differently. Shopping for the dress was just one more thing we weren't going to do the traditional way. I found out later that my mom's feelings were hurt that she didn't get to go with me when I chose my wedding dress (I was the first daughter in our family to get married) and I regret now not having her with me when I found my version of The Dress. Maybe I wouldn't have strolled down the aisle with an enormous bow on my backside if Mom had been with me.
It was heart-warming and eye-opening to watch brides with their moms, sisters and friends on the quest to find the perfect wedding dress. A portion of the Hanover Ballroom where the gown sale was held was closed off to create one big dressing room, Filene's Bargain Basement style -- no doors, just a large room of dressing "stations". You don't spend almost ten hours over two days in a large room with dozens of brides and dresses and not come away with some observations about the process. Here are a few of mine.
- Take only one or two people whose opinion you value with you when you go shopping for a wedding dress. More than once I saw brides get frustrated and confused as they tried on dress after dress, only to have members of their Wedding Dress Posse express different opinions about each and every single dress. In this case, the fewer the opinions, the better.
- Make sure you take someone with you who will give it to you straight. Someone who will block the door and say, "Girl, I love you, but you are NOT walking out the door with that dress. You are beautiful, but that is not the dress for you. Let's keep looking."
- Pure white is a hard color for 80% of women to wear. Plus, if your wedding day is sunny and bright and you get married at high noon, your photographer is going to have to put you in the shade and then -- guess what -- that pure white is going to take on the blue-ish tinge of the light in shade. Soft ivory is the more flattering choice for most of us and for some weird reason doesn't go as blue in the shade as white does.
- Be willing to be surprised. Be open to styles you might not have considered before. Strapless dresses continue to be the most popular style, but they're not for everyone. I have to admit, I don't get the popularity of strapless wedding gowns. I, for one, detest my upper arms and I haven't met many women who love theirs either. So, why all the strapless dresses? I think, to some degree, it's because that's the style featured most often in bridal magazines and boutiques. If you choose a strapless gown, the tailoring has to be impeccable. If not, you're going to spend over 8 hours under threat of exposing the Girls to all your nearest and dearest. Or the dress is so tight to keep it from falling down that you can't breathe, much less execute a perfect version of "Thriller" on the dance floor. Rule of thumb: you should be able to walk the length of a large ballroom and back without feeling the need to pull up on the dress. If not, it doesn't fit right. If your dress doesn't fit, you're not going to feel comfortable and it will show in your photographs.
- Finally, when you look in the mirror and can't stop smiling, you've found The Dress.
Happy hunting,
Elizabeth
NC State Engagement session: Kristin and Amin are engaged!
Remember Erin and Tom? The day before their engagement session at UNC, I met Kristin and Amin on the campus of NC State for their engagement session. NC State one day, UNC the next. That was a first for me -- engagement sessions at rival campuses back-to-back. Maybe I angered the ACC gods and that's the cause of the Tarheels' abysmal season? If so, I am very, very sorry...now can the Tarheels please, please start winning again?
I met Kristin at the wedding of Jen and Adam back in June (which is soon to be featured here on the blog). She is the talented stylist responsible for helping Jen to achieve maximum glow on her wedding day. I was like a little kid when she asked me to photograph her wedding to Amin this October at Highgrove. (Pecan chicken, here we come!) Amin is a brilliant numbers-guy who graduated from NC State and has a fantastic smile.
Here are just a few of my favorites from their engagement session.
Kristin and Amin brought their dogs for a few shots in the beginning of the session.
Those pups were so well-behaved they could have come out of Central Casting.
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If you graduated from NC State, it's kind of a done deal that you've got to have a photograph in front of the bell tower.
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The colors of the leaves on campus were at their peak. Kristin just happened to have on a gorgeous teal sweater.
Blue + orange = complementary colors = beautiful backdrop for photographs!
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Loooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeee.
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To: Whomever painted the colorful graffiti at the free expression tunnel at NC State
From: Me
Re: THANKS.
Hands down, favorite.
Kristin and Amin, we cannot wait for October 2. It's going to be awesome and we're so excited we get to be there!
Sheraton Raleigh: Brides Against Breast Cancer Wedding Gown Sale this weekend
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I am really excited to be a part of the BABC Charity Wedding Gown Sale, coming up this weekend at the Sheraton Raleigh hotel at 421 South Salisbury Street in downtown Raleigh. Ladies, if you haven't found the perfect dress yet, please come out this weekend -- the dress may be waiting for you downtown!
Brides Against Breast Cancer is a major fund-raising event for the Making Memories Foundation, an organization whose mission is to bring some joy into the lives of women who are losing their fight against breast cancer. Some of the gowns for sale have been donated by brides, but more than half of the gowns are donated by designers and bridal shops and have never been worn. Gown prices begin at $99; Couture Collection gowns are 35% to 75% off retail prices!
Friday night's VIP event features a Mother/Daughter dinner and fashion show. I'll be photographing the gown sale on Saturday and Sunday. I am literally beside myself with excitement to be a part of this -- I'm imagining it will be like getting to photograph an episode of "Say Yes to the Dress," a show with which I'm completely obsessed. (Yep, that's me you hear screaming, "$10,000 for a dress??? Are you kidding me??)
I'm donating my time and images to the organization and I'm really hoping some Sweet Life brides decide to head downtown this weekend to attend the sale. If you go and you find the dress, email me a copy of the receipt and I will add a $150 print credit to your package! I hope to see you there!
Shady Wagon Farm: Kim and Tim are married!
Something about this snowy day made me want to revisit the warm and wonderful April wedding of Kim and Tim at Shady Wagon Farm in New Hill, NC. It was such a beautiful day -- blue skies and warm sunshine abounded, bringing hints of summer weather to come. Kim and Tim are two of my favorite people on the entire planet. Plus, it's just so much fun to type (and say) their names: Kim and Tim, Kim and Tim, Kim and Tim. It makes me happy. So enjoy some of my favorite shots from their wedding day.
Geese are the unofficial greeters at Shady Wagon Farm. Good thing they don't bite!
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Kim's hair and make-up was done by Lanni Hatfield from Unforgettable Beauty. I've worked with Lanni on several occasions and she is super-sweet and so talented. If you're looking for a hair stylist and make-up artist for your wedding day (and I highly recommend that you invest in both), you can find everything you need all rolled-up into the one adorable package that is Lanni. She also makes beautiful custom wedding jewelry.
I love this shot of Kim coming down the steps. Her bridesmaids' reactions are great.
The detailing on Kim's gown was so gorgeous...
...and so was she!
The interior of the house is a beautiful location for portraits, filled with color and light. Every photographer's dream.
Meanwhile, the guys were cleaning up nicely downstairs. All the shots of the guys were made by my friend and fellow photographer Rick Ward, while Frank continued to recover from knee surgery. Here, Tim multi-tasks while helping out the ring bearer with his tie.
Then gets a little help with his own.
Cutie-patootie flower girl and ring-bearer made the wedding party complete.
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The ceremony begins as Kim and her dad make their way from the house and onto the drive.
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Rick positioned himself on the other side of the pond and used a telephoto lens to capture this great shot of the lighting of the unity candle.
Rick told the ducks exactly when to swim into view. And they obeyed. That's how good he is.
It's official: Kim and Tim are married!
While we were shooting the family formals, the guests headed off on foot to the barn for the reception. I love this shot of Rick's of the interior of the barn. What a great space: rustic and elegant all at the same time.
The first dance.
I squeezed behind the cake table to get a wide-angle view of the toasts.
This dancing shot of Rick's cracks me up. The lady in the middle is holding a baby bottle as she dances. Something only a mom can get away with!
Gotta love a bubble departure!
Kim and Tim, it was an honor to photograph your wedding! We wish you lots of love, luck and happiness in your lives and know you're going to be so happy together!
Kim and Tim's wedding dream team:
Event Coordinating and Catering: Kenton Jenkins, Xu Catering, 919-451-2192
Floral Design: Greg Kennedy, Brides and Bouquets
Videography: Mark Holland, Ron K. Smith Productions
Music: Joe Bunn DJ Company
Wedding Cake: Lorie Watson, Simply Cakes
Duke Gardens Bridal Portrait: Jessie
How about a little beauty, grace and style to start off your Monday morning? With the wedding behind us, I can finally showcase Jessie's bridal portraits on the blog!
My favorite!
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Jessie chose to wear a veil that has been in T.J.'s family since the early 1900's. It was absolutely beautiful.
Thank you, Jessie, for the privilege of photographing you!
Erin and Tom: Engaged!
Erin and Tom are the kind of couple that, were I a certain type of photographer, I would stalk them in Crate and Barrel as they selected items for their wedding registry, waiting for the perfect moment to ask them if they had a wedding photographer and hand them my card. Not that that happened. But they are so awesome, I would have totally stalked them. I can't wait for their wedding in June. Here are some of my favorite shots from their engagement session.
Hmmm...colorful leaves, a certain shade of blue...could we be in Chapel Hill on the campus of UNC on a Fall afternoon?
Why yes...yes, we could. Erin teaches writing and American Lit to undergrads at UNC while finishing up her Ph.D. Tom lives in Greensboro, but went to UNC for his master's degree in Environmental Science (my, but I have brilliant clients, don't I?). Tom says that from the first moment he saw Erin in a yellow sundress in the Newman Catholic Student Center, he fell in love. This being real life and not Hollywood, things were a bit complicated, since Erin was dating someone else at the time. But as with all things that are meant to be, the path smoothed out and four years later, he proposed.
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Erin has a very photogenic laugh.
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It was heavily overcast, but the rain held off. Erin got brave and changed into a sundress, even though there was a definite bite to the air. The Carolina blue sweather came back out soon. (Look at Tom, gamely putting up with this goofiness. A little goofy never hurt anyone, my cerebral friend.)
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FAV-O-RITE.
I'm like a bloodhound; if there's graffiti on a college campus, I will find it.
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Erin and Tom, June 12th will be here before you know it! We can't wait to share your wedding day with you!
Canvas Sale!
If you've seen the yummy canvases we love to display in our studio and at the bridal shows, great news:
all canvases are 30% off now through January 31st!
(Just 'cause we love our clients!)
Happy 2010!
So We Were Just Thinking…
Welcome to the first in what will be a new feature here on the Pixel Dust blog. So We Were Just Thinking will be a column of sorts (a blogumn? a collog?) where Frank and I can share our experiences as wedding-industry insiders with our readers. We're going to tackle a different subject in each column. I'll go first with my thoughts, then Frank will chime in on the same subject and I can almost guarantee he'll have a different (read: male) perspective. It might not always be photography-related, but it will relate to our experiences as wedding photographers. Kind of a "he-said, she-said" but about all things wedding-ish. What we've learned from other professionals. Things we've seen that made us go "hmmmm...." Maybe something that's burning our chops that week. We thought beginning So We Were Just Thinking at the beginning of 2010 would be just right. Follow us through the year, find out what we find out, and join in the conversation. I'll go first.
Today, we're thinking about: Wedding Planners.
Not the three-ring binder that becomes the constant companion of every bride-to-be and the nemesis of many a groom, but the living, breathing dynamos also known as Event Coordinators. Maybe it's because we just finished the 2010 Wedding Show, but I can't help wondering why more couples don't hire event coordinators. Personally, if I'd just gotten engaged over Christmas and then walked into the Jim Graham building a mere week later to be confronted by the reality of all that had to be thought about, considered, planned and purchased, I might have turned to Frank and said, "Book some tickets baby 'cuz we're getting married in Vegas." Flowers. Linens. Stationery. Transportation. Catering. Venues. Gowns and tuxedos. Wedding cakes and crab cakes. Music and lighting. The honeymoon. And OMG, all those photographers. My blood pressure is going up just thinking about it. How do modern day couples DO this?
Frank: Being a guy, thoughts of the playoffs take up more room in my head than wedding coordinators do. But I gotta tell you, when I am running around a church frantically trying to find the boutonnieres so that they can be pinned on the groom and his guys before the pictures (that's a pretty important detail and believe me -- brides notice if the guys are actually wearing their flowers in the photos) or trying to find Great Aunt Doris who wandered off during the family formals -- I am thinking about how great it would be if there were someone to help figure all of this stuff out. So that I could actually, you know, take pictures.
Elizabeth: Often, one of the first questions I ask couples who come in for a consultation is: Who's your event coordinator? (And I don't mean the lady at the church who's going to tell you when to walk down the aisle.) Most of the time, the response is: "Oh, we're just going to do it ourselves." As if you're not throwing the average person's version of a State Dinner at the White House. Or "my aunt is going to do it." Doesn't your aunt deserve to enjoy your wedding too? Often it's "we can't afford it." I think there's a misconception floating around that event coordinators are just for couples with unlimited resources. I think we have TV shows like The Style Network's "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway" and WE's "Platinum Weddings" to thank for that particular misunderstanding. Whether your budget is $10K or $100K, an event coordinator can mean the difference between actually enjoying your wedding or experiencing repeated melt-downs on your journey to "I do."
Frank: Just having access to the knowledge in a talented coordinator's brain and a little bit of guidance can really go a long way. They don't think the way the rest of us do, which is a good thing.
Elizabeth: I'll be honest: when there's an event coordinator on board, I enjoy my job more. Weddings run smoother, stress levels are lower and smiles come easier. I see people relax and actually have fun on their wedding day. I've shot weddings where the bride is looking at me when it's ten minutes past the time her wedding should have started and her cousin/wedding coordinator still hasn't come to get her yet. That's stress, folks. Half the time, the cousin/wedding coordinator is running around like a chicken with her head cut-off, in tears, because she doesn't know what she's doing, she's worried about letting you down and she KNOWS it's ten minutes past the time you should have walked down the aisle. What are YOU, the bride, likely to remember about that moment? Worry, frustration, anger. Not excitement. Not anticipation. Not joy...on what should be a very joyful day.
Frank: While I love to help in any way I can during a wedding -- anything from showing the guys how to use the button covers and cuff links on the tuxedos to pinning on flowers or showing the ushers which arm they should offer the ladies to walk them down the aisle -- I don't do a great job of time-keeping and crowd-herding because I have a job to do as well. If I'm working as the de facto event coordinator, I'm not able to capture candid moments.
Elizabeth: This is not a blanket endorsement of all event coordinators. Like wedding photographers, there are some good ones, some great ones and some awful ones. And if I'm honest, I have to admit that trying to get our work in front of some coodinators is like trying to get an audience with the Pope. It can be tough to get on their list of trusted vendors. But that selectiveness is something that really works in your favor if you're a client.
Are coordinators for everyone? Possibly not. If you're a super-organized bride who drinks stress for breakfast, you'll probably be fine on your own. And I've worked with a Mother-of-the-Bride or two in my time that I'm pretty sure are super-human. But if you don't have a lot of support on the home front and the thought of coming up with a color scheme or seating arrangement makes you want to hide under a rock...consider recruiting an event coordinator to be a member of your wedding dream-team. This weekend at the Wedding Show, I met some lovely people whose entire purpose in life (well, that's most likely an overstatement, but you get my drift) is to make your wedding day as smooth, as stress-free, as joyful as possible. Like us, most coordinators have packages that allow you to choose the level of investment and involvement you get from them. They know that for many of you, the fun of planning a wedding is in finding ways to make it uniquely you. Don't worry that an event coordinator wants to take over the reins and make it all about her (or him). They, like us, want their clients to be happy. Most will move heaven and earth to make sure that you are.
Happy planning! :)
The Wedding Show: January 2 and 3, 2010
I have a confession to make: I like bridal shows.
I know I risk sounding like a total wedding geek, but I love the sights, sounds, color, chaos and -- yum -- all the itty-bitty wedding cake samples. I love seeing all my colleagues in the wedding business; the "Hey!"s and "How are you?"s and "Did you have a great 2009?"s that we call out to each other as we're busy carting in and setting up all the components that make up the booths. Some of the best people you will ever meet are in the business of making wedding dreams come true. And even though we're supposed to be fierce competitors, I love seeing all my photographer friends. There are so many extraordinary photographers in the Triangle area and it's awe-inspiring and humbling to look at some of the work they've produced over the past year. I feel proud to be in their company. Over the years, I've gotten pretty Zen-like in my philosophy about the clients we book from these shows. I truly believe that the clients who commission us to photograph their weddings are the clients we're supposed to have. So it's not hard to wish my fellow photographers good luck and hope that they have a successful show too.
But the best part of bridal shows? YOU. The brides, their moms, mothers-in-law-to-be, sisters, maids-of-honor, even those reluctant grooms showing how much they love their fiancees when they tag along on these orgies of all things wedding-related. The excitement in your faces. Hearing your engagement stories. Finding out what's important to you when it comes to your wedding day photography.
Wedding planning can be truly over-whelming. I'm convinced that it's like having a second job. Attending The Wedding Show is one way to make it infinitely easier. Any person, any thing, any service that you could possibly need to plan, execute and pull off the wedding of your dreams will be under one roof. You'll get amazing ideas. I can promise you that if you're one of those lucky newly-engaged couples, you will experience a little shell shock from the sheer number of vendors. You'll start thinking: Oh wow, I never even thought about that. Or that. Or that! Bring comfy shoes, your support team and enjoy the chaos. And definitely plan to stop by our booth! Frank and I will both be there and ready to help in any way we can. So come say hi and tell us your stories. We'll be offering 10% off any of our packages at the show.
Here are some of the amazing couples that we've meet through bridal shows over the years.
Heather and Jason:
Siobhan and Mario (who are expecting their baby boy any minute now!):
Michelle and Frank:
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Kate and Randy:
Ryan and Michelle:
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Lindsey and Clayton:
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Carey and Daryll:
Jaime and Craig:
Meghan and Preston:
Stephanie and David:
I'm so excited about 2010. I know it's going to be an amazing year. Some of the couples who'll make it so great we'll meet Saturday and Sunday, January 2 and 3rd amid the wonderful chaos of the Wedding Show. The anticipation is killing me! (Almost as much as my feet will be killing me at the end of the show!) Congratulations on your engagement -- we can't wait to meet you!
Kelly and Chase: Married!
Kelly and Chase were married on October 10 at beautiful Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, North Carolina. I knew I was going to love working with Kelly when she scheduled a boudoir session as a gift for her husband-to-be. Then she said they wanted to see each other before the wedding so we'd have plenty of time for natural light photography. I love it when the photography is so important to a couple that they're willing to set aside old traditions to make our time together on the wedding day a priority. I knew it was going to be a fabulous wedding and it was, from mimosas in the salon early in the morning to their bubble send-off. Here are some of my favorites from the day.
I was trying to sneak a shot of Kelly putting on her eyeliner, but she caught me -- and I like this result better anyway.
My favorite type of bridal portrait is what we photogs call 3/4-length. A face this gorgeous and a smile so radiant should be seen up close, but with a 3/4 length, we also get to see details like the beading on her gown and her gorgeous bouquet.
Meanwhile, Chase gets some help with his tie from his best man, Gary. They were teammates on NC State's Men's Golf Team. Chase is a volunteer coach for the team now and is a golf pro -- so if you need lessons, call me and I'll put you in touch!
Whenever a couple chooses to see each other before the wedding, we insist that it be a private affair. That means no family, no wedding party -- just the bride and groom (and me and Frank, of course). We use long lenses so that we can be somewhat at a distance to give couples privacy when they see each other for the first time on their wedding day. We've done this many times and it never fails to move me to tears. It's a great moment and in my opinion, more powerful than seeing each other in front of 200+ guests. Plus, sometimes it's the only time you have alone together on your wedding day until it's all over.
Here, Kelly waits for the word that Chase is in position and she can head out to see him for the first time. In her hands is his wedding gift: an album of images from our boudoir session. I think I was almost as excited to see his reaction as she was! Look at this beautiful light on Kelly in this image. So gorgeous.
When we set up the First Look session, Frank and I get to the venue ahead of time (either earlier in the day or the week) and find a private place for our couple to meet. It was pretty challenging at Prestonwood on a gorgeous Fall Saturday, but we managed to scope out a path that was out of the way of both golfers and curious guests! I also like for the groom to have the bride's flowers with him so that he can present them to his bride. That's also a tradition, but oddly, one that didn't survive as strongly as the old "bad luck to see the bride before the wedding" superstition.
Here's Chase, with Kelly's bouquet. (Plus, don't you just love the unexpectedness of a shot of the groom holding the bouquet?)
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Those raised eyebrows say it all! I think he likes his gift.
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Did I mention Chase is a golf pro? Maybe Kelly is his secret weapon.
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Kelly's beautiful bouquet and all the flowers for the wedding were created by A Ming Rose.
I love how the reds, golds and oranges in the bridesmaids' bouquets pop off their black gowns.
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Many of the groomsmen and ushers were golfers, so of course, we had to make use of the props to be found naturally on a golf course.
Golf cart shot -- check.
Love the light pouring in through the windows as Kelly and the bridesmaids head to the ballroom for the ceremony.
Getting married in a ballroom with huge windows? Sign me up!
Love these happy expressions!
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Prestonwood at night.
First dance.
A different perspective on a heart-felt toast by the best man.
The scrumptious three-tier chocolate mousse cake was made by the very talented pastry chef at Prestonwood.
With all the formalities complete, it was time to begin the party. Here, Kelly dances with her niece and flower-girl, Maya. DJ Billy Ezzell with Complete Music had everyone on their feet and having a great time.
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A huge group hug to end the night!
Chase's mom lovingly hand-applied the customized labels to the champagne bubble bottles.
Bubble send-offs are so much fun to photograph! I love the way the bubbles show up at night.
Off to Happily Ever After!
Jen & Adam: Fearless
Well, this is a first: Jen and Adam's Fearless Bridal session is up before their wedding post! When my "summer vacation" starts in January, the number one item on my To Do list is to catch up on blogging, so expect a tidal wave of posts this winter. Here are a few of my favorites from our session in early November.
Love the yummy golden colors of the field and the light. I pumped up the warmth to accentuate those colors that grace us each Fall in North Carolina.
Jen, you are so gorgeous...check out those eyes! Her make-up was done by Kristin Patkunas at Tanas in Cary. I'm excited to say Kristin will be a Sweet Life bride herself next October when she marries Amin at Highgrove.
I think it was Adam's idea to throw the leaves. It took repeated tries, but we finally got the leaves falling and great expressions all at once.
When I say "Fearless Bridal" I literally mean fearless. Jen gamely tromped up a hill covered in crunchy late Fall foliage (thorns, stickers, etc.) to get these next shots. Thank you, Jen...you're officially bonafide. We shot in November and something about these next two shots made me think of winter, so I processed them to bring out the blues and lend a wintry feel.
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Yep, favorite.
Thank you to Jen and Adam for bringing a sense of adventure along with loads of affection and stunning good looks!
Check back for their wedding post soon...
Jessie & TJ: Married!
Jessie and TJ were married on October 3 in Kinston, NC at Queen Street United Methodist Church, a beautiful historic church built in 1911. The day was tailor-made for a wedding: sunshine, blue skies and puffy white clouds. If there had been blue birds fluttering around and bunnies hopping through the grass, it couldn't have been more perfect.
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The stained glass windows in the church were beautiful. I focused on a tiny part of one for a close-up of the rings.
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The church has a lovely bridal parlor, complete with antique furniture, a chrystal chandelier and an oriental rug, thoughtfully provided by the church's wedding director, to tone down the bright blue carpet. It was a great space for Jessie to get ready in. I loved the antique mirror, placed at just the right angle to capture the make-up artist as she worked her magic.
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This is always one of my favorite getting-ready shots: the placement of the veil. It's a delicate procedure. I love how Jessie's mom Debbie is holding onto her. I think she was actually keep Jessie upright so that the hairdresser wouldn't pull her over when she put the veil on -- she was making sure that veil wasn't going anywhere!
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Lately, I've found myself a tad obsessed with through-the-door shots. I especially like this one.
And this one...
While all the beautifying was going on, Frank was outside with TJ and his many groomsmen, all of whom were a riot. Frank said he spent much of his time with them laughing.
The man of the hour with his Dad. I really like this shot. Those windows were amazing!
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I LOVE this moment as TJ's mom Gwen spruces up his hair. Isn't that just like a mom? I can almost hear TJ saying, "Mom, stop! You're embarassing me!"
After photographing Jessie upstairs in the balcony, I noticed as she started down the stairway that the light from the narthex was throwing a lovely shadow on the wall and quickly fired off a shot. This is the result. I love it!
Jessie, you made such a beautiful bride!
Not surprisingly, the church had very strict rules about where we could be to photograph the actual ceremony. Frank and I spent the majority of the ceremony on opposite sides of the balcony. But I was able to be on the floor during the processional. As Jessie made her entrance, I was tucked away in a corner as instructed, but kept my eye on her mom and grandmothers. I love their expressions.
After scooting back up the aisle as Jessie and her dad passed, I flew up to the balcony to take my spot. We were instructed to position ourselves so that we would not be seen by any guests, which meant we spent most of the ceremony across from each other in the balcony, which curved around and directly above the sanctuary. The sharp angle down to the sanctuary floor provided some wonderful angles. I love this shot of Frank's as Jessie and her dad walked up the aisle.
Eight bridesmaids watch as Jessie walks down the aisle.
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Love the angles -- and TJ's expression!
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Married!
My favorite. Thanks, honey, for always being ready.
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Reception bound!
The reception was held at The Bentley, a beautiful bed-and-breakfast inn in the heart of downtown Kinston. The beautiful day turned into the loveliest of evenings, perfect for the guests who sat out under the stars and in the moon-light!
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Jessie and TJ's grand entrance down the center stair-case. Classic!
These two were so adorable!
I love to capture guests interacting. Jessie's sister-in-law Audrey is expecting soon -- I bet she had so many hands on her baby bump that evening!
The band was amazing. Just three guys strong, they had everyone on their feet and having the best time! This was taken from outside on the porch looking in through the window. First doors, now windows...I sense a phase coming on.
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What better way to end a perfect day than with a sparkler send-off?
Jessie and TJ, thank you for the privilege of photographing your wedding. We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!
PartnerCon in New Orleans: Shooting Workshop with Sean and Mel McLellan
We are back from an amazing week at Pictage's Partner Conference in New Orleans. We've uploaded all our images: there are 1,002 of them, so you'll be seeing more from the week on the blog soon. I'm really excited to share these few with you from the shooting workshop led by the crazy-talented award-winning team of Sean and Mel McLellan of McLellan Studio in Nashville, TN. A group of 25 photographers plus Sean and Mel took to Royal Street to photograph Peter and Whitney Carlson from Dove Wedding Photography and Mindy and Phil Thornton from Phindy Studios, also out of Nashville. Here's Mel, one of the most adorable pregnant chicas I've ever had the pleasure to learn from:
and Sean, her partner and husband, advising Mandi-Nikole about the set-up of a shot.
The workshop was added at the last minute because of high demand; somehow, we lucked out and got a spot. When Mel introduced Peter, Whitney, Mindy and Phil as our models for the shoot, she added,
"And they are very, very uncomfortable right now!" I would have been too, if I were in Whitney's place here:
It's good for us photogs to be on the other side of the camera every once in a while to remind us that it can be an uncomfortable place. I think Whitney handled all those cameras pointed at her with grace.
The focus of the workshop was making the most out of limited locations. Whether it's a lack of light or a lack of beauty in the surroundings, it's important for wedding photographers to be able to deliver beautiful images for our clients under a huge variety of circumstances. We literally stepped out of the hotel on Canal Street, turned the corner on Royal and got down to work. Of course, in a city like New Orleans in the French Quarter, beauty, character, color and texture are all around you.
Peter and Whitney
Phil and Mindy
Sometimes the light isn't right...too low or, as in this case, too bright. So you have to make the best of it by placing your couple in the sun and working with the light you have.
As we walked up the street, we passed a band of musicians playing on the corner. Naturally, a dance was in order.
When you're shooting a subject with 25 other photographers, sometimes you don't get much choice when it comes to your angles. That can be a good thing: I really like this shot not only because of Whitney's great expression and the sense of movement, but also because of all that great detail in the metalwork above the couple's heads. Here I'm shooting at street-level because there were at least five other photographers directly above me and I couldn't move...but it works!
The big finish!
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The wind caught the train of Whitney's dress as we moved up the street.
I don't know who styled the shoot, but I love the vintage touches!
My favorite:
More from New Orleans to come!
Dianna & Todd: Married!
See these flowers? See how elegant, how colorful, how simply exquisite they are? Well, that was Dianna & Todd's wedding. Perfect in every way...
...except for the rain. :(
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Hellooooo, beautiful!
Times three. How much do I love how the bridesmaids' bouquets pops off those gorgeous eggplant gowns?? ALOT.
Yep, Dianna, I agree...bald guys are sexy.
Especially when they're sweet to their mothers.
I love it when brides and their moms start laughing during pictures. I like to imagine that they're releasing the tension that can sometimes build up between even the closest moms and daughters during wedding planning. Or maybe my jokes are just that funny.
OK, everybody: remember this photo. There's going to be a test later and it will be important.
"Daddy, hold my flowers."
Lyn at Fresh Affairs is the creative genius behind all the flowers. Orange, pink, purple & green: so modern for a Fall wedding. Love, love, L-O-V-E.
I like to stay with the bride right up until the walk down the aisle, so Frank gets to cover all the action leading up to the ceremony. Like grandparents laughing...
and ring bearers being generally adorable...
and teenage greeters being teenagers.
Dianna gives her mom a hug before she leaves to be seated. Moments like this are why I like to stay with the bride.
Single-but-not-for-long girl walking. TO GET MARRIED!
Frank and Margaret, you're adorable.
This was our second wedding of the year at Edenton Street United Methodist Church. Remember Kendall and Jeremy's April wedding? Same rules applied here -- photography inside the sanctuary only from the balcony, so this is the best way to get a shot of the bride and her dad before heading down the aisle...and I love it.
It never fails that some of my favorite shots are those taken right after the ceremony where everybody's hugging, laughing and congratulating the newly-married couple.
If you're stuck inside due to rain, Edenton Street is a good place to be stuck.
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Than it was on to the party bus, headed for Woody's at City Market, one of Dianna & Todd's favorite places. Naturally, the champagne flowed.
Sweet Life does artsy-fartsy!
The reception was held in the Hanover Ballroom at the Raleigh Sheraton. I have to say how much I appreciate the staff here -- everyone was so nice and took good care of us. Definitely check them out if you're looking for a reception site. I was floored by how beautiful this room looked and what a huge difference the uplighting made. If I could, I would stand on a chair and yell, "If you want an easy way to make your reception stand out, use uplighting!" Love the flowers in the room too.
The cake, by Sweet Julia's, inspired by detail from the invitations and programs. So pretty!
Remember Dianna & Todd's engagement session and the motorcycle? Check out the cake topper!
The party begins with the introduction of the bride and groom -- look at the great color from the uplighting in the ballroom (and yes, I'm going to beat you over the head with it all through this post.)
Dianna and Todd are so wonderful together. Photographing them is such a pleasure.
Ladies, I've said it before and I'll say it again: always marry the one who makes you laugh. Todd makes Dianna laugh.
The wedding party gets into the First Dance.
Both sets of parents as Frank welcomes everyone to the reception.
Chocolate-covered strawberries...yum.
This ring-bearer thought so, too.
Dianna and her dad surprised us all by starting off their first dance to "Baby Got Back."
"I like big butts and I can not lie..."
Todd's turn with his mom, Barb. Todd, you're just awesome.
Dianna's sister Heather and Todd's best man Justin toast the couple.
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This was a very special moment. Heather's husband David is serving in Iraq. Heather arranged a special message from him via video link. Here's David:
While he was speaking, he complimented Dianna and someone in the room yelled, "Does she have a sister?" David didn't miss a beat and responded, "Yes, but she's taken!"
Time to cut that gorgeous cake.
Then it was time for the party to really get underway. And what a party! Even the little ones got into the dancing with great enthusiasm.
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Frank and Margaret burnin' it up.
Bill and Barb, bringing it in tight. (Notice the room lighting...just sayin'.)
Now this was something I can honestly say I've never seen. One thing that was clear: both families were very close, enjoyed themselves immensely and weren't afraid to show it. Apparently, there's a tradition among Todd's family to do this at every wedding: to the tune of "Rawhide," everyone gets on a chair and "rides" it around the room as if they were on a horse. Bizarre, hilarious and great to shoot. Dianna's first time on a "horse."
Everyone was having so much fun, thanks in large part to the skills of DJ Jason from Island Sound.
I love this shot of Dianna and Heather.
And Todd with his niece, Miranda.
Hmmm...wondering which song is playing in this shot? Could it be...YMCA?
Time for the bouquet toss.
The DJ Jason said we would keep repeating the garter toss until a single guy actually made an effort to catch it. If the garter landed on the floor, Todd had to do it over. We went through the process three times before one of the guys manned up and reached for the garter. But first Todd had to get it off.
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Oy...such enthusiasm.
Remember the eighth photo from the top? Well, here's that move again...
And again...plus many other photos featuring "the move" that I didn't have the space to post. Guys, maybe it's time to find a new move?
You know it's been a good night when the ring bearer is so tired he can sleep on three chairs with a raucus party going on all around him!
Last photo of the night (for us anyway...I think the party rocked on long after we made our exit.)
What a great way to cap off a beautiful wedding. I have to say I've never laughed as hard as I did at this reception. We have the best job in the world!
Dianna and Todd, it was so much fun to be your wedding photographers. We wish you years and years full of love and laughter and we know you'll be doing "the move" at your children's weddings, too!
Pictage’s PartnerCon November 3-5
The Big Easy. NOLA. The Crescent City. N'awlins. Whatever you call her, that's where we're bound for the next four days, taking part in Pictage's annual Partner Conference, three days packed with inspirational seminars and hands-on shooting workshops. I've always wanted to go to New Orleans. It's where I wanted to go on our honeymoon, but my more travelled husband insisted it would be way too hot (wimp) in September, so we didn't go. I'm beside myself with excitement, not only because of the destination, but because of the amazing talent we'll get to learn from and work with in the next few days. People like Joe Buissink, Carlos Baez, Denis Reggie, Lianna Lehman, Jared Platt...I could go on and on. We'll be taking a workshop with the talented husband and wife team from McLellan Style on Wednesday, learning to find the beauty in even the most-utilitarian places (Hello, mega-churches? A little more form with the function would be ever so nice). I know we're going to learn so much while soaking up all the beauty of the French Quarter. But I have no doubt that the most rewarding part of the trip is going to be on Thursday, when we take part in a huge charity photo shoot for 200+ families who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. NBC is purportedly sending a camera crew to cover the event, so look for us (maybe!) during the second hour of the news on Thursday or Friday. It's going to be awesome!!!
We'll be checking email and returning voice mails as time permits...thanks for your patience if we're not able to get back to you as quickly as we'd like!
Laissez les bons temps roulez!
Gaby & Andrew: Part II
As promised, more photos from Gaby & Andrew's beautiful wedding day on August 15! Their fabulous reception took place at one of the most elegant venues in the Triangle area and my personal favorite, the Carolina Inn. I always try to step outside for a few exterior shots once the sun has set, but it's not fully dark yet -- that's when you get that beautiful deep blue in the sky.
Some details from the reception, helmed by the always-wonderful Tracy Adams of Adams and Events. (Seriously, call her -- she makes wedding-related stress disappear.)
The couple's grand entrance into the Old Well Ballroom -- there were so many flashes going off, this must be what it's like to be Brangelina.
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The first dance. Gaby's just the right height so that when she looks up at Andrew, her face is at the perfect angle. Just one of those things photographers notice -- and love.
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The exquisitely-detailed, scrumptious cake from Cinda's Creative Cakes. The inspiration: champagne bubbles!
Andrew's brother Jeffrey kicks off the toasts, while Andrew's mom and dad proudly look on.
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Rather than toss her bouqet, Gaby presented it to her cousin and maid-of-honor, Emily. Gaby gave a wonderfully warm speech about how much Emily means to her. There's always a moment at every wedding where I get a little misty-eyed -- this was it.
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I love this shot of Gaby's dance with her dad. I've been asked before how I make decisions about which photographs to leave as captured (in color) and which ones to convert to black and white. The answer is both technical and mysterious -- sometimes the color in a photo is perfect and enhances the subject matter, as in the photo below. I love how the colors in the background seem to surround Gaby and her dad.
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But in this shot, up close -- I love how deleting the color and going with classic black and white helps to focus on their expressions.
Andrew takes a turn with his mom.
And then Gaby takes the floor for a spin with her stepfather, Arnold.
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Later, Gaby danced with her mom, Marianne. Love it!
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Everyone was having fun. This fine gentleman looks like he can't believe his luck!
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Oh how I love to photograph guests having fun at a wedding. Nothing's worse than framing up the perfect shot of a guest having a ball --
then they notice me and turn their back! FAIL!
The talented DJ responsible for keeping everyone on their feet having fun? Mel Manning from Joe Bunn DJ Company.
But best of all were Andrew and Gaby, thoroughly enjoying themselves. It's too bad Gaby's so unexpressive. ;)
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Gaby and Andrew met at one of Chapel Hill's most famous nightspots (I won't call it a bar) He's Not Here -- so naturally, the couple gave out cups with the distinctive logo.
Mayhem ensued. Just what was in those cups?
Weddings are also family reunions of a sort, so I'm always happy to take time out from the festivities to capture relaxed group shots like this one
of grandparents and grandchildren. These pictures are so important to get when everyone's together.
All too soon, it was time to call it a night. Last dance.
Off to Paris!
Gaby and Andrew -- words fail me. Thank you for being so wonderful to work with and giving us so much loveliness to photograph! We wish you everthing wonderful and a long life, with plenty of time for rocking on the porch together!
Michelle & Frank: Sneak Peek
Congratulations to Michelle and Frank, who were married yesterday at Edenton Street United Methodist Church. They celebrated with their families and friends afterwards at the Pavilions at Angus Barn, truly one of the most beautiful new venues for weddings and receptions in the area. Here's a shot by (my) Frank:
And one of mine:
I can't think of a better way to close out an amazing 2009 wedding season (hello, Christmas!) than sharing the day with these two lovebirds and one of nicest, most laid-back and FUN wedding parties we've had the pleasure to work with. I had to include one of everybody.
Michelle and Frank, thank you -- we wish you a lifetime full of love and happiness! (And the food was so good -- thank you for feeding us the "real stuff.")
Have fun in Fiji (how jealous are we?!?)
Heather & Danny: Sneak Peek
Congratulations to Heather and Danny, who were married Thursday, October 15 in beautiful Corolla on the NC Outer Banks. A nor'easter sat over the area for much of the week causing everyone, me included, to hold their breath wishing and hoping for a nice day for their beach wedding. When we left our hotel Thursday morning to head over to the wedding venue, the stunning Hemingway House, it was pouring rain. But for about two hours in the afternoon, it cleared up in time for both the ceremony and photography outside before the clouds gathered again. We even got a brief moment of sunshine, seen here in one of my favorite shots from the day from their First Look before the wedding.
We had so much fun with Heather and Danny and their family and friends, most of whom came down from Ohio for the week-long celebration. Here's hoping everyone had a safe trip home!
Kelly and Chase: Sneak Peek
Congratulations to Kelly and Chase who were married yesterday at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, NC. Kelly and Chase chose to see each other before the wedding (which I love) so that Kelly could give Chase a very special wedding gift and then have plenty of time for photography. I couldn't resist posting this shot of Chase's reaction when he turned around to see Kelly for the first time. I always feel so privileged to be able to witness these moments. I had my long lens on so I couldn't hear anything they were saying to each other, but their expressions in this series of photos are priceless...I can't wait to post more!
I decided to also post this one rather than a more traditional portrait because I love how focused they are on each other.
Their wedding was perfect...simple, elegant and intimate. A first-rate celebration followed in the Main Clubhouse with the couple surrounded by family and friends from NC State and beyond. The only thing that marred the day? NC State's brutal loss to Duke in football!
Kelly and Chase, thank you for allowing us to share this day with you. Have fun in Mexico!
Jessie & TJ: Sneak Peek
Congratulations to Jessie and T.J. who were married yesterday at Queen Street United Methodist Church in Kinston, NC. A lovely, Old South-style reception followed at the Bentley, a romantic inn in the heart of downtown Kinston. Here's one of my favorite shots of the newlyweds. As I was busy photographing the rest of the 17-member wedding party recessing out, Frank ran from his perch in the balcony to grab candids of the couple and their families immediately after the ceremony. I'm so glad he was there to capture their happiness! Jessie is the 12th bride in the family to wear that gorgeous lace veil, originally brought from Spain. She was an absolutely radiant bride!
Thanks to Jessie and T.J. and their friends and family for making us feel so welcome. Hope Hawaii is everything you deserve it to be!
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Dianna & Todd: Sneak Peek
Congratulations to Dianna and Todd, who were married yesterday at Edenton Street United Methodist Church. I love this shot of Frank's of the newly-married couple coming up the aisle. Their smiles are so full of joy and so them. One of the loveliest, craziest and most energetic parties we've had the fortune to document followed later until the wee hours at the Raleigh Sheraton. More on that in a later post...until then, have fun in Mexico you two!!!
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Gaby & Andrew: Married!
If you follow this blog, you've probably realized that I rarely blog my weddings in order. So while I'm behind on blogging my Spring weddings, here's one that's hot off the presses: Gaby & Andrew's August 15 wedding in Chapel Hill. I'm so thankful that we were able to share in their wedding day. Here are some of my favorites. Part II: The Reception will follow soon!
The ladies got dressed in a lovely suite at one of my favorite wedding venues, the Carolina Inn. Gaby's column dress was called the Calla Lilly. At our pre-wedding meeting with the event coordinator extraordinaire Tracy Adams of Adams and Events and Mel Manning of Joe Bunn DJ Company, Gaby was going over the songs for the reception with Mel (think Rat Pack and Frank Sinatra) and suddenly made the comment, "I think I was born in the wrong decade." I love her vintage-style veil. Perfection.
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Gaby is crazy for Andrew...and their alma mater, UNC-Chapel Hill. Check out her Carolina Blue shoes!
Gaby and her mom Marianne. They share a close bond that was wonderful to witness. Plus, isn't Marianne simply gorgeous? If it's true that as we ladies get older, we look more and more like our mothers, Gaby is going to be beautiful her entire life!
I love these next two...the light in the room was just amazing.
Hint: impromptu dance parties help to calm pre-wedding nerves!
A gorgeous bride, the loveliest bridesmaids, luscious flowers...yep, it's a wedding.
Gaby and her maid of honor, her cousin Emily.
You GLOW, girl! (Yes that was corny, but I mean, come on -- she's gorgeous!)
Just in case you're thinking I've forgotten one very important component of this wedding day, here he is, the Man of the Hour: Andrew. I really think he wins the prize for the longest uninterrupted smile maintained by a groom in history.
(Don't worry...he's just giving his face a little rest in this one. The smile comes back at full power soon.)
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One of my favorite parts of the pre-wedding festivities is the exchange of gifts between the bride and groom. Here's Andrew reading a card from his wife-to-be and opening his gift.
Andrew gave Gaby what has to be one of the most romantic gifts I've ever seen. Can you guess what it is? And no, it's not an iPhone.
Yep, rocking chairs for their front porch. So they can rock away the hours together when they're old and gray. Seriously, I die.
Gaby did, too.
When I look at this image, the song "Going to the Chapel" just starts up in my head. Gaby and her dad head out of the inn to walk across the street to the Newman Student Catholic Center for the wedding.
Gaby's brother Vincent performed the ceremony.
Almost time...
I love the sense of anticipation in this image. Just before walking down the aisle.
Here's a great example of why it pays to have two photographers covering your wedding. I love little moments like this. During the liturgy, Gaby and Andrew whispered back and forth several times. Here's Frank's view (and I must say one of my favorite images ever):
And mine, as Andrew reacts to his bride's whispered words.
Father Vincent blesses the couple right before the kiss.
It's official...
Gaby and Andrew are married!
Off to the Old Well for wedding party shots. We were blessed with a very generous shooting schedule. Lots of time for photography = awesomeness!
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I asked for some celebrating and celebrating is what I got.
Love this shot of Frank's of Andrew and the bridesmaids. Really, have you seen a prettier bunch of bridesmaids lately?
I can't be sure, but I'm thinking someone said something scandalous.
Gaby and Andrew, thank you for being so adorable, so sweet, and so generous with your time on your wedding day. Oh, and for being so in love. You guys rock.
New favorite.
Off to the reception in the Old Well Wing at the Carolina Inn.
Coming soon: Part Two -- Gaby and Andrew and One Heck of a Party!
Dianna & Todd: Sneak Peek
Things to know about Dianna and Todd: 1) they are adorable; 2) they are getting married in one month; 3) Todd's head makes a great light reflector; 4) a Victory is better than a Harley; and 5) they are madly in love. We can't wait for the wedding on September 26th!
Check out Dianna and Todd's engagement session slideshow
P.S. I finally found a good grassy spot that no one has destroyed yet. :)
