“My good friend David Anthony Williams recently wrote to me with the following thought:
:Who do we actually photograph a wedding for?  The participants? Not really.  We record these events for those that weren’t there or those yet to come.  It is to leave something tangible for those the couple love.”

This quote is taken from the opening pages of  Wedding Photography A Guide To Posing

I tried to go on reading beyond this quote, but I kept drifting back to it. Reading and rereading.  Letting all the subtleties of the message ignite a new awareness in my mind.   In honesty I have more than once told a bride their wedding photos would me so much to their children and grandchildren, but never really giving total thought to why I’d say that.  David’s quote crystallized in my heart.

I have put a link to David’s website above.  He is an incredible photographer and educator.  I cannot possibly capture a decent description of him in one sentence, paragraph, or blog post for that matter.  If you are a photographer you owe it to yourself to take one of his seminars… Almost Alone with David Anthony Williams.  Your photography and your life will change in those three days.

In the very same book I ran into the author saying there was usually a copy of Vogue in plain view during the interview with the possible new clients.  Time is needed to create the beautiful cover of each issue… as much as a four hour session and hundreds upon hundreds of images.   It is important for wedding couples to realize the need to leave time for their photographer to have some special quality time with the bride and groom.    Let it be food for thought if you are reading this.

In a recent interview with a couple I found myself trying to secure two 15 minute sessions during the reception when there was no demand on their time.  The groom’s position was he wanted to be with family and friends and didn’t see the need for time away.  This same groom expressed over and over his desire for intimate, personal, romantic images of him and his bride.   The couple’s wishes will always win out, but it should always be remembered………you cannot have it both ways.  You allow time for us to create………..or…… you don’t get some of the magical photos you saw on photographer websites when you were searching for your own photographer.

You, the photographer, time, and the location all go together to create the magic.  So!  With David William’s quote above, what are we creating and leaving for the ones that were not there and the ones to view them in the future?   There is so much to capture with endless possibilities.

This couple moved their formals outside to Rivermont giving us more than an hour to capture these and many others around the grounds.  They followed it up with a picnic for everyone.  The formal shots in the church were exactly 5 shots.

Everyone kept saying there were 35 people in the wedding party.  I have 36 here. :)  Not sure if we found one from another wedding or what.  What do you do with 36 people for a quick group shot?  Plant them in a flower bed.  What else?

Hi, guys!!  7pm Friday before the next wedding.  I’ve been editing like crazy, and yours is just burning to the first DVD of two.  I thank you so much you have been quiet about seeing them, because I know you are like every other couple……….let us see the pics!!

I have 3 of you to go to online galleries!  I will start the uploads in a few!!   Plan on coming in first part of next week.  Give me a call!

Here’s a couple for a sneak peek!

Elsa in prayer presenting Mary with flowers. For me it is a meaningful image because of the reason Elsa stands there with bowed head.  There are beautiful images, but this is the ONE for me while I prepare their images for them.  For sure this one will make the album. 

Elsa and Benjamin adore each other.   All of our hearts melt when anyone looks at us like Elsa is looking at Ben!

The dessert table was created by the talented Robin of LeCake!  I’m told they were all more delicious than the one before!

Florals were created by the very talented Damian of Milan Florist.

Linens and Event Coordination were by Tita’s Linens by Claudia!!  Not a single detail escaped Claudia!

Erin Kay Seddon did the bride and her attendant’s makeup. Hair was done by Five Star Salon. The Wedding Stringers provided chamber violin music during cocktail hour. Juan Carlos DJ’d.    I’m told the night did not end until 2:00am.  Jerry Bergheger of Atlante and Omelia’s prepared both the evening’s food but also prepared breakfast the next morning.

Edited to add:  Amazing how my brain does NOT work sometimes.   Our Lady of Lourdes for the ceremony and The Renwick Mansion for the reception. Alan my love I forgot to mention you did videography… sorry!! There are not images posted…..Elsa designs fabulous jewelry worn by all the wedding party ladies!!

Father Tim I forgot you as well……see you in 4 weeks for Kevin’s wedding…….will apologize in person

Images in this post captured by Kevin Walker of Walker Productions and 2nd shooter Scott for Studio D.

More to come!

It was a wedding day, but more importantly it was a day of family and friends getting together to celebrate a new family being brought together. Eyes sparkled when people came together, and their voices were filled with warmth.  You saw it everywhere throughout the two families and all the guests.  Kelly took time to kneel down and hug the young girls that brought the sacraments to the altar.  Kevin picked them up and hugged them when guests were being greeted after the ceremony.   It was a special day, and it gained its status from two people being in love and them sharing it with everyone around them.  There were so many moments  that spoke volumes about the couple getting married.  Moments that made you smile and sometimes tear up.

One of Kelly’s grandmothers coming to find her while she was getting dressed.

Kelly’s dad was often found quietly watching Kelly while we went about their first meeting and the formals.  While his exact thoughts were his it was plain to see his love for Kelly and how strongly the day was touching him.  Eyes do say so much.   In this image is their photo guestbook just below the roses.  Dad was turning the pages and I think his face says so much more than words.     (Image was captured by Tony)

St John Vianney has a glass wall in the lobby.  All of the family and wedding party was in the lobby and could see Kevin waiting at the altar for Kelly for their first meeting together.   Kelly’s grandpa is a sassy smart quipping young man, but when he saw Kelly he was almost speechless.  It was fitting she stopped to greet him and give him a hug before her journey to Kevin.   Studio D does not take a position for or against couples seeing each other before the ceremony.  What we do share is how special it is when they do.  It also allows us to get the portait session of formals done and over with so the rest of the day just flows freely as planned.

The families and the wedding party gathered at the back to watch through the glass. Kelly began her walk down the aisle. Kevin’s smile just kept getting bigger and bigger as he heard her footsteps approaching.   It is always a magical moment.

Kevin held out his hand and asked me if he could hold my camera.  Mostly the answer to that question  is no.  Something in his eyes and his voice …. I said yes.   Kelly asked him what he was doing. His answer silenced us both.  He personally wanted to take just one shot of his bride with the unity candle with their logo on it.   What woman wouldn’t agree to posing for the man she loves when he makes a statement like that?  Kevin…. you did great.  This image is all yours forever.

Hugs are always special, but this one was super super super special from Karen.  It was totally spontaneous driven by her love for Kelly.  You cannot be around Karen without smiling.  She is 200% adoreable!  Karen was one of Kelly’s personal attendants.  One of my favorite moments with her was when she came in the sanctuary with her camera to get a shot of their first meeting.   We make a big deal of them being alone during this time.  This didn’t stop Karen.  She came in and got her shot of them and left.  When I went to open the doors she told me that we both got the shot so she was sure “we had it covered”.  This was delivered with a thumbs up and a tremendous ear to ear smile.

Kevin’s mom asked for a photo with her two sons.   I put them on the floor and her up a step to reduce the vast difference in height.  They were absolultly towering over her.   She was sure for the first time they wouldn’t be taller.  Sorry!  They still are!

My absolute favorite moment.  Everyone was eatting lunch, and I could hear this great jumbled up mix of voices in the bride’s dressing room.   I cannot explain. You had to witness it.  It was one of highlights of the day.  Their sharing stories and catching up with each other over food made it special.  The beauty isn’t in the physical characteristics of the image.  The beauty is each one of them being able to  tell you what that time meant to them if you asked.

The last two images are of them.  They smiled anytime they were near each other all day.

So often people feel we are just there to photograph the day and leave.  That isn’t the whole story.  We are motivated all day long by what we hear and what we see. How do I tell anyone that I loved the intoxicating perfume of the stargazer lillies in Kelly’s bouquet?   I noticed that time had been spent on the some of the vases etching their logo and the date into them.  I saw that someone planned that the cupcake stand would be the right shade of red.  I noticed how close the familes were to bride and groom, and how incredibly proud they were of their children and their siblings.  As photographers we share the day.  In fact what you plan, what you do, and what you say influences what we capture.

Thank you for including Studio D Photography in your wedding day.  We were both touched and felt it an honor to be with you on your wedding day!

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW PROOFS. Password is the groom’s last name in lowercase.

My Saturday bride took what would have caused most brides to melt down in tears totally in stride.    This shot was taken in 36 degree weather with a 15 mph wind right off the Mississippi River.  She never frowned, complained, expressed anything negative at all.   It was her wedding day, and she had a great day. Her attitude made it happen.   Her dress was not finished being altered until just a short time before the wedding on Saturday morning.  It threatened to snow and did for a bit.   It was cold.  It was gray.   She smiled.  She laughed.  She comforted others.

Lance you are one very blessed husband.  You chose wisely!!

Back to editing.   Just had to share this one.   I was standing there pushing the shutter not feeling it at all because of the cold.   I know what she was dealing with!!

Don’t have that creation cleaned.   We are going to go for some more fun with it!!!!  Just you and me!!!  Maybe we will “let” Lance come along!!!

On the other side of the equation… you have to love a man whose touch causes you to close your eyes and smile ever so slightly……..totally lost in his touch!!

It was chilly, misty, rainy, along with a menacing cloudy sky.  In spite of all that and some plans altered  to keep Kristen out of the elements it was a beautiful day for the bride and groom.

Church - Redeemer Lutheran
Reception - Davenport Country Club
Florals - Damian Parizek of Milan Florist
Transportation - QC Trolley
Photographers - Studio D Photography
Cake - Le Cake
Reception Music - SAS Entertainment

Something blue took on a new definition at this wedding.

Kristen and David chose to see each other.  She had planned to have a great photo session before the church in her parent’s back yard, but the rain prevented that.   We did manage to check for no rain “at the moment” a couple of times and find a window of opportunity for them to have their first time seeing each other in the gazebo.  Kristen wasted no time coming down the steps and pathway to the gazebo where she called David’s name and asked him to turn around.

David broke into a huge smile, and checked out all angles telling her all the while how beautiful she was.  Brides melt when the men they love say things like that. Our promise is to shoot a few shots and then leave them alone to have quality time before the day begins.  This time we wanted to stay and keep snapping.  We didn’t, and we left reluctantly.

The extremely talented owner of Milan Florist “Damian” created all the florals for the bridal party, the church, and the Davenport Country Club.  Mom’s wrist corsage shows above was so stunning and fit her look perfectly

The bridal bouquet also created by Damian.

The last two images are at the Davenport Country Club.  One has to look very hard to beat the service and staff there.  Most excellent!

Tables, chairs, sashes, and napkins were draped by  - Tita’s Linens By Claudia.  Sorry for the late post on the vendors but not verified who the vendor was until Wednesday night late.

Proofs may be seen by clicking on this link, and the password is the groom’s last name in lower case.

Don’t get excited…… it is just a sneak peek. I am still editing.

Edited to add one more….. the temp guage on the right is way wrong.   The temp between them was way more.