I love weddings with loads of details. All sorts of little personal touches hidden in every corner. It’s like a veritable photographic treasure hunt for me. Mike and Nikki had details everywhere at their rustic wedding. And, as Nikki is quite the photographer as well, they were more than willing to have a bit of fun in front of the camera. We invaded a few farmer’s fields, seed lots, etc. and it payed off. Here’s some favorites (and I had many).
I have taken 1 or 2 photos since I last updated this thing. Maybe it’s time for a few more.
I met with Liz and Greg in the fall to do a few engagement shots with them downtown. The evening light was gorgeous and they are a great couple, so I had a lot of fun playing around at their expense. Ok, hopefully they had fun too.
Andy and Kailey were in town a couple of weeks back and we were able to get out and about Grand Rapids to get some engagement shots of the two of them. As these two are from the Mile High City, I would have much rather gone and visited them for an engagement session, but we made good ole’ GR work. I will have to keep my desire to do a crazy shoot on the top of a 14er on the back-burner for the time being. Thankfully these two make any picture look good, despite Andy’s hesitation with being in front of a camera (believe me, I can commiserate).
Not paying attention to the camera and just loitering on a sidewalk is always a good start.
Lipstick - good on women, bad on men.
Love this one.
Seriously, can’t go wrong with these two. And while it’s not on a mountain top, I can’t wait for their wedding. Whenever I get out to Denver, maybe we can do a bridal session of sorts, just for you Kailey. Andy, you can be the “art director,” A.K.A. not the one I’m pointing a giant lens at all the time.
And if you happen to know someone with a helicopter standing by to put us on a ridgeline… It would be cool, that’s all I’m saying.
I will be the first to admit I’m a bit of a quirky guy; the things I like, I really like. As a photographer, I like light. Really like. I will, on occasion, suddenly stop and gasp, which elicits questions out of anyone I may be with. Obviously, they think something is wrong. Instead, I reply, “Look at the light over there, how it comes through perfectly and creates great dimension, but it is especially cool right here because…” and most tune out long before I get to that point. John, on the other hand, is one of the rare few who will appreciate those moments or even beat me to them. We first met years back on the set of a film we were both involved with, an industry which he has made his career. His (now) wife has a great appreciation of a good image as well, so I took this appreciation as an open opportunity to find as much dramatic light as I could.
Mmm, sparkly.
We wanted to get a few fun shots with them in the church, but the mostly overcast day was making thing difficult. Then, pop, the sun come out for a precious 4 or five minutes. I stick them right in the sliver of light and shoot like mad.
I snapped two like this before we lost the sun. Good thing I got it.
Leave it to film gaffers to go gung-ho with the lighting over the dance floor.
I would dare say this is the most dramatic bridal party shot I have ever done.
Gotta love the J.W. Marriott. The light that they have scattered about, coupled with loads of fun spots, makes finding great locations nice and easy.
Congratulations John and Juli! Since most of the film work is over in Detroit, our days on set together will be fewer. Sad, as lighting nerds can be hard to find.
Someone may have noticed it’s been a little while since the last post, so I figure I owe a few by now. Hey, I’m busy, what can I say. I am going to put up stuff randomly, so it will be like Memento. But, with blogging.
So what better way to start than with Ben and Rachel’s wedding. I had been looking forward to this wedding for a while as they are both good friends of my brother’s. Here’s a few pics from the day.
Everybody likes an entourage.
Rachel is pretty doggone easy to shoot. The girl knows how to get her model on.
Didn’t I tell ya?
This little man was a stich. Ben can tell he was being upstaged.
Ben was able to get a sweet old MG for a getaway car. While Rachel almost got an accidental peak before hand, this was her first glimpse.
You’d get a little attitude as well if you had a car like this.
Party time. Sorry ladies, I know Ben’s dance moves are irrisitable, but he’s taken.
This beautifully emotional moment is brought to you courtesy of Kelly, my second shooter for the day. Skills.
And, being the 4th of July, a fireworks shot is kind of needed.
You two enjoy your lobsters this weekend.
I did some still photos for an indie film that a bunch of my good film-nerd friends were shooting. It is going to be sweet. I’ll give you some BTS (that’s behind the scenes for you non-film folks) a little later with some more stories. A good set always makes for good memories. Here are some stills of the main actors to give you a quick taste.
Uh, and if you can’t tell, it’s a western.
Ready for the close up
And a couple more, just cause. And, since I’m a guy, I think guns are cool.
A little detail of the side of the cabin, with authentic wood smoke!
What’s a western without a couple of horses?
You can tell from the horse’s breath, it was COLD. Yeah, more on that later.
Yes, their engagement session is directly below their wedding on my blog, a testament to my negligent blogging. A faux pas, perhaps. Nevertheless, here is the wonderful and amazing wedding of Scott and Kristen. And because it’s been a while, I’ll give you a few extras. Ha, naw, I’m just using that as an excuse to put up more pictures that I think are cool. I’ve got a load of ‘em…
Let’s start at the beginning.
The snow ain’t gonna shovel itself boys…
The brave soul.
Ladies and gentlemen, the bride:
I love Kristen’s dress glowing up front.
Now this is what I call group formals.
When I told them I would make these outside shots quick due to the cold, blowing, snowy conditions, Kristen told me, “no, I’m fine; let’s go take pictures.” Music to my ears.
Jenn, from Modern Day Floral, works wonders. Yes, those are feathers in that arrangement.
More of her handiwork-
I ALMOST had a second piece of this…
“Let’s hear it for the photographer!” they were all shouting. OK, no, they really weren’t.
And no wedding photo album is complete without a shot of… the photographer? Yeah, hard for me to believe as well. Me, surrounded by beautiful women. Look outside, you might see pigs flying.
The one complaint I had about the day - it went by much too fast. Scott, Kristen, thanks for being so much doggone fun and letting me be there for it.
You may have noticed by now, I love couples that are fun and adventurous. I don’t think I have kept that much of a secret. When I get to shoot a couple that meets these strict requirements, I get pretty excited, dare I say giddy. Enter Scott and Kristen. These two were just so comfortable together, goofed around and did, well, whatever I asked. “You wanna sneak into the trainyard?” says I. “Sure,” they answer. “Mind descending the frozen and treacherous staircase?” “You bet.” Risking life, limb and criminal charges, these two were a blast. The wedding is but weeks away, so here’s a look at the fun I get to have soon.
These are the safest pictures they got to be in.
Now on to the trains…
I love graffiti
And the staircase of death
Look at how edgy and moody it got once I climbed over the rail.
No, I kid. I did that after the fact. But the true rocking of the camera came totally and completely from these two. I just had to point and shoot. They make it easy for me. Make sure you stick around to see their wedding pics…
Now on down to Chicago, where the Walima was to be held. I left early enough to beat most of the bad weather, but boy, the snow definitely made an appearance. But I’m getting ahead of my self. First things first.
Welcome into the room
Getting ready for the entrance…
This night was all about letting the bride and groom relax, talk with guests and have some fun.
Kids are surprisingly good at having fun…
I love catching family together having a good time. Usually not too hard.
And, of course, who can forget the FOOD. It is a good thing I had my camera in my hand (for the most part), otherwise I would have gorged myself this whole weekend. The food was terrific.
At the end of the night, we were able to quick get some fun shots of just Rabya and Nauman.
Remember I said the snow hit later on? Well here you go, the proof. And proof that these two are brave. It had to be done.
There you go. The end of Nauman and Rabya’s wedding saga. I hope you had at least a fraction of the fun looking at it as I had shooting it!
Here we go, next installment…
The hair… These mirrors made for a pseudo-funhouse shot.
Next, the make-up
The detail of this sari is just fantastic -
Rabya is stunning…
Of course, everyone wants to help out
Awww.
Nauman and his family arrive
This one was Rabya’s idea…
The grooms cake, made by none other than Barb at Sweet Cakes.
As the end was approaching, Rabya’s sisters handcuffed her to a railing on the stage. Let’s hope Nauman has deep pockets.
I had another photographer join me part way through the day, Jen Kroll. Maybe you know her? It was a change of pace having HER shoot for ME. Thanks Jen.
Let’s see if I can’t get Part 3 up before Christmas…