This image was shot with this developed image in mind.  Why?  Not simply because I can, but because it fulfills a statement I made to a friend a number of years ago.   We all go through ups and downs, and good times and bad are guaranteed to happen to us all.

Friends and families always tell you, “It will get better”!  This plus a lot of promises for the hurt to be replaced with beauty and joy.  We say them because we don’t want our friends to hurt or suffer.  It is in our hearts to comfort them.

It took a few years, but my friend, the fairytale did indeed happen to you! May all of God’s blessings rest on you and yours.  Let me just say……. I TOLD YOU SO!!   :)  This image was created to remind you dreams, hopes, and  answered prayers do happen to all of us!

It was fun for me to do both the images and the advertisement for the June 2010 Gold Book for Tita’s Linens By Claudia.

…I can see all the innocence and mischievousness  of your young years.   This young lady was the center of the day…..the bride and groom just think it was all about them   Much more to come!

This peppery ball of fiery energy is the bride’s niece.   Everybody has a story to tell about her.  Her lovely purple cast was changed from pink and green so she would blend in with the wedding party.  I believe she had only had it for a week and already the bottom purple was worn away.   The girl roller skates on the ceiling at break neck speed!

The Walker Wedding

At last…….. their day is only a few hours away.  Kevin Walker Photography & Video & DJ Service is my next wedding!  Many of you know Kevin from B100 fm.  He has been a long time friend of mine, and I have watched him go through some tough times.  The love of his life is Katlin.  Now we can add another love of his life Katie!

I did some shooting for Kevin several years ago, and Katie was assisting Kevin.  I remember thinking how good they looked together and wondered if it would possibly happen they would start seeing each other.  So, when Kevin told me he had proposed to Katie I wasn’t surprised.  They are so cute together!

We have 3 days of coverage planned, and II am excited.  The ceremony will be at Our Lady of Lourdes, and the reception will be at the River Center.  We have a trolley ride to one of my fav places to shoot.  AND we have a little alley time along with the downtown streets.

Kevin, Katie, Katlin Walker

Love you guys,  charging batteries and ready for tonight!!!

“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.

Just so you know I open Christmas packages early too.  Waitin’ is not in my vocab!

Ok! Going back to editing!

Drew and Kristy are the kind of couple when they walk in you want to stop what you are doing and just sit down with them for a really warm fuzzy funny sharing visit.  I can’t help but smile when I see them coming!

Yesterday I got to meet the rest of the family.  Jack and Ellie.  Jack hanging out of the frame is appropriate for him.  The boy has one speed…….full steam ahead pushing the envelope!

Drew just melts when Kristy speaks, touches him, or she comes into his field of vision.  His sentences just fade away before completion.  His smile gets bigger, and his eyes light up!  Best part is his voice lowers and softens.  It is totally adorable.   AND  I bet he denies it when he reads this.  He’s a little bit shy!!

One of the lines I use during my interview is, “A couple is unique, and they fit together like two pieces of a puzzle.”  Look at Kristy and Drew…….perfect fit!!

Love you guys!   Did a few images while waiting for the wedding to download!!  Rest will be ready soon!

couple more for you

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?