Lisa and Michael were referred to me by Michael’s cousin, Mandy who’s wedding I shot a couple years ago. They planned a very intimate affair at the State House in St. Mary’s Maryland where they both went to college. It was an amazingly beautiful day with an outdoor ceremony and reception under the tent.Lisa and Michael had their friend’s band play during the reception, and Lisa sang several songs. I have to say, I have such talented couples that sing, and dance and play instruments and Lisa has an amazing and beautiful voice. Later, Lisa and Michael shared a cupcake from their cupcake tower, and had an ice cream cart serve guests ice cream treats for desert. (can you say Choco Taco? I knew you could!)  The whole scene and evening was one of casual elegance and I’m sure everyone had as great a time as I did. Thank you Lisa and Michael for asking me to shoot your wedding, I had a blast!To see some images from the wedding, click on the link below.

I’m just posting about the amazing week I had at the Roots workshop in Cape Cod in July. Since I returned, I have been busy getting back to work, image editing, album designing, meeting with couples for 2009 … all of the things I do on a daily basis, so I haven’t had the time to post about Roots until now.

First of all, I want to thank Emilie for putting Roots together and working so hard to make the first workshop happen, I’m sure it will start to feed itself now that the first one is done. I know everyone had such an amazing week it’s bound to be a must attend workshop for the future.

Secondly I need to thank Arnold Miller, the multi-media editor for NewsDay and my team leader for the week. Arnold was a great mentor and friend during the week helping look through the images and guide me to see what I was missing from the story. We shared many late nights and gin and tonics to get through the week and I truly appreciate the hours that Arnold spent with me and all of his team. Arnie’s shack was definitely the place to be!

Finally, my subjects for the week, Liz, Carl, Katrine and Hilary. As a wedding photographer I am invited briefly into the lives of my couples every weekend. I see a small snippet of who they are and get to document very important moments in their lives. At Roots I was invited into the not so momentous occasions, but the day to day activities of this family of artists. My assignment over three days of fourteen to sixteen hour days was to document their life, no celebration, no fan fare. I can only imagine what it is like to have a photographer tagging along with you on your morning coffee run, or picking beans in the field, or following you to the beach with your friends. At no time however did I feel as if I was intruding in their lives. They opened themselves up to me and the process of being documented without hesitation. I am truly thankful to have been assigned to this family and feel as if I now have extended family in Cape Cod.

Click on the slideshow below to see a selection of images from the three days of photographic coverage of this family. The last couple of images in the slideshow are from the first night when I was invited to dinner and Katrine measured and wrote my name and date on the door jamb in their house. I truly felt welcomed and a part of their family from the beginning. Thank you is not enough, but it’s all I have.

Thank you!

Jennifer and I had the opportunity to work together for the second time this year at Melissa and Gabe’s wedding. Melissa and her girls got ready at her parents house, while Jennifer photographed Gabe and the guys playing Wii at a friends house!

After getting ready Melissa and Gabe were married at the Chapel at Loyola College.  We had a very brief period of time after their ceremony to do all the family formals Melissa and Gabe requested, but they were prepared with a complete photo list including all the names of each person in each photograph and their friend Margarite called each group as they were needed, allowing us to tear through the formal photos in record time!  

After the ceremony and formals we headed to the Belvedere for their reception.   I have to be honest, the Belvedere is a difficult location for photography.  All their rooms are beautiful, but the height of the ceilings, the shear size of the rooms, the windows and mirrors make it difficult for photographers.  This was the first time I had the opportunity to photograph a wedding in the ballroom during the day, and what a difference! The natural light filling the room, made for beautiful photographic opportunities.  I also found these awesome red velvet curtains that I had never noticed before, and convinced Melissa to come out to make a couple more formal photos during the reception.   

Jennifer and I had a great time spending the day with Melissa and Gabe.  I loved being  invited to their rehearsal dinner and having the opportunity to meet their wedding party and their families before the big day.  I want to thank Melissa and Gabe for choosing to work with both Jennifer and me to document their wedding.  I hope you both had a great time on your honeymoon!   

To see a small selection of images from their wedding, click on the slideshow below.