BED Blog

Inspiration: Green

2011-03-15T15:30:00.004-04:00

With St. Patrick's Day coming right up this week, Real Maine Weddings published 'Inspiration: Green' on their blog. I was happy to learn that they included this ring shot of mine

Over on the RMW Blog they run a weekly 'Inspiration' in their 'Style' section. Here is a screen capture from The Real Maine Weddings Blog

Pretty cool! Thanks Real Maine Weddings !!

Spring Crust

2011-03-11T13:45:00.003-05:00

We recently had a nasty ice/sleet storm which created a very rugged crust over the 3 feet of snow on the ground. This has made for some easy getting around for the local deer population, and these youngsters were out and about yesterday afternoon munching on the tender honeysuckle shoots in the front yard :)

One had had it's fill of having it's picture taken and decided to head back to the woods

We have seen these two around since they were tiny little spotted fawns, running around the homestead. Nice to know they survived the winter and are healthy!

Valentine's Day Special

2011-02-09T13:54:00.004-05:00

Love is in the air and this year I am running a special promotion for Valentine's Day. Receive a FREE Signature Engagement Session with any Wedding Package! This is like taking $300 off from any package! To qualify for this free $300 session, just initiate your booking process with me between now and Valentine's Day. Easy peasy :)

And because every blog post is better with a photo...here is my 11 year old daughter, Emily, snowblowing the drive on Superbowl Sunday morning

Snowmen, Bitter Cold, and Snowshoeing

2011-01-27T12:10:00.004-05:00

We waited and waited. But the snow never came. November...the ground was bare. December...the ground was bare.

We had one small storm towards the end of December, but the snow didn't last. Emi & Jack managed to scrape up enough snow to make some small snowmen though :)

Jack's seems to be wondering about the lack of snow (and in need of some 'Orbitz')

Em's

Finally in January the snow started coming...finally!

But so did the cold! I think the wind chill factor was in the -60's, -70's BRRRR

Now that we have snow, we have been getting out and doing some snowshoeing (when it's not 20 below zero)

Jack breaking trail

Waiting on Chance to catch up

Jack standing next to one of the 9 deer beds after we jumped them out of bed

Jack and Chance by a huge boulder in the deep back woods

Jack and I were able to find a stump to set the camera on so we could set the timer and get a picture of us together :)

Breaking trail on the way home

Tough going in places but he did a great job leading the way back :)

Winter in Maine, it's what you make it ;-)

Jen & Brian: Shelburne, Vermont Wedding

2010-11-15T12:08:00.006-05:00

Back in early October I had the pleasure of returning to Vermont for Jen and Brian's beautiful wedding at All Souls Interfaith Gathering along Lake Champlain. The weather cooperated and it was a beautiful Autumn weekend as family and friends gathered from across the country for the joyous event.

The view

Jen's Dress

And Bouquet

Jen and Brian planned their day out very well and made plenty of time for a 'First Look' as well as time to shoot group pictures with their Wedding Party before the ceremony.

Jen on her way to meet Brian for their First Look as he anxiously awaits her

Brian was literally speechless for the first couple minutes of seeing his beautiful Bride. It was such a wonderful moment between them. First Looks are priceless! :)

After their First Look, we piled the Wedding Party into a few vehicles and went down the road a ways to take some fun pictures amidst the Fall colors

Then it was time to get back for the Ceremony. Jen being escorted down the aisle by Mom and Dad

The Kiss

Mr. & Mrs.!

Again, because of a well planned day we had plenty of time to get away for some 'Alone Time' portraits! :)

Strolling through the meadow on their way to where we wanted to shoot ;)

The colors and the location were just sooo nice!

One of my favorites

I have to include one of just the beautiful Bride :)

Then it was time to return to their family and friends for a night of celebration.

Jen and Brian are very adventurous and spend a lot of their free time traveling the globe. Their love of hiking mountains was displayed on each table with signs of peaks conquered :)

Table for Two

Watching the slideshow their friends in the Wedding Party presented to them

How special is it to have your father play piano for your First Dance?? :)

I'll end with this great moment as Jen and her Dad danced

A big thank you to Jen and Brian for allowing me the pleasure of being a part of your
wedding! Your E-Session in Boothbay this summer was so much fun, (one of the most fun sessions I have had), and your wedding weekend in Vermont was wonderful! You two were made for each other and I wish you lifelong joy and happiness.

Soccer Season Winding Down

2010-10-14T16:27:00.004-04:00

We're down to one game...The Championship Game!!

This is Em playing tough defense in last week's regular season finale. She is one of only a few 5th graders on the school team this year and they are holding their own pretty well with the older girls!

They found themselves down 0-4 at the half vs. Stratton and it wasn't looking good. But the girls reached deep and fought hard, coming back with 4 unanswered second-half goals to tie it up, where it finished 4-4 after overtime. Last night the #3 Strong girls had to travel to #2 Stratton for the first round of the playoffs and battled to a 0-0 tie after regulation AND overtime, eventually winning by Penalty Kicks 3-2!! The win pushed them straight to the Championship, Saturday night under the lights at MT. Abram High School. :)

Fall

2010-10-05T14:19:00.007-04:00

Beautiful Fall day here in Maine's Western Mountains! I have been stacking firewood all day today, and at one point this morning the sky filled with thousands of tiny little white clouds so I decided to take a break from the firewood and shoot some of Mother Nature's beauty.

Hope everyone is enjoying this great day! :)

Kara & Shamit: Boothbay, Maine Wedding

2010-09-30T13:08:00.008-04:00

I spoke with Shamit during the week leading up to he and Kara's wedding, and he asked me if I had been tracking the hurricane. Yes, hurricane Earl was blasting up the east coast and was due to hit Maine by weekend...Kara and Shamit's wedding weekend along the Maine coast. The good news was that Earl was a fast moving storm and was predicted to hit Maine Friday evening and be gone by Saturday mid-day. Fingers crossed. Friday evening, as we gathered for rehearsal at the beautiful Bold Colorful Life Inn, the dark clouds began to fill the sky. The storm held off through the rehearsal, but not for long. Right on schedule Earl hit and Friday night was a wild, windy, soaking wet night. I woke up Saturday morning to the warm early September sunshine and let out a sigh of relief! It was going to be a beautiful day for the wedding :)

When I arrived back at the Bold Colorful Life Inn, the place had come alive with family and friends who had come from all across the country and across the globe to be a part of this joyous celebration.

The kitchen table was filled with flowers

Kara's bouquet

As Kara and I walked the property on Friday, we found some special little rocks tucked along the stone walls and I knew I had to shoot their rings with them :)

The Inn was built using a lot of old farm/barn materials which made for great contrasts with Kara's dress...

...and shoes

The ceremony was held down by the pond and was officiated by the wonderful Sally Bullard of A Maine Wedding . I have worked with Sally before and it is always a pleasure and was great seeing her again.

I don't think Shamit stopped smiling at Kara throughout the entire ceremony :)

Exchanging rings

The Kiss

Mr. & Mrs.!!

Kara and Shamit made sure to plan for plenty of time for us to stroll along the property shooting 'Alone Time' portraits as their guests enjoyed the cocktail hour, which you know I love when my couples do this!

We started near the pond under an old apple tree.

Next, we went to the library for a few minutes

Then we headed down to the waterfront, which was no easy walk to say the least (especially in heels!) as parts of the trail leading down are quite rough and filled with loose rocks and sticks/branches but Kara and Shamit knew that they wanted some great portraits in this area that we scouted out the previous day and were willing to do whatever it took! I love my clients! :)

On our way down we passed through this area in the woods that was absolutely flooded with the golden light of the setting sun. I think the results are amazing and this is one of my favorites of the day.

We found a small, rundown shack in the woods which was the perfect contrast for Kara to work her gorgeousness!

Once we actually made it down to the waterfront, the setting sun gave us the most amazing light to work with! Sometimes things just work out to perfection ;)

I love just stepping back and letting them enjoy the moment, it offers such wonderful, intimate pictures

We took a different route on our way back to the Inn and passed through this section of woods that was very dark and the moodiness, if you will, made for such a unique portrait and another of my favorites from the day :)

Well we made it back safe and sound to the delight of the guests who patiently waited as we were off shooting 'Alone Time' Portraits, the celebration began and went well into the night! I will end with this great dip during their first dance ;)

I had such a great time being a part of this wonderful celebration, a huge thank you to Kara and Shamit for allowing me the chance to be a part of it! I thoroughly enjoyed having so much time with you both in such a short amount of time (only about a month between the E-Session and Wedding)! I wish you all the best in your new life!

Kara & Shamit: Portland, Maine E-Session

2010-08-19T12:55:00.004-04:00

A couple of weekends ago (yes, I am once again falling behind on my blogging) I met up with Kara and Shamit for their E-Session while they were up from New York.

We began our journey of Portland in the Old Port, stopping to use this doorway on Exchange Street

Being Sunday morning, it seemed as though we had the city pretty much to ourselves

Since it was past 5:00 a.m. we figured it was safe to loiter here

The next several are all using one of my favorite buildings downtown. One building...so many possibilities.

Sometimes sessions are like shooting with models :)
This is on of my favorites from the day

Wouldn't be a 'Brent Deming Photography Signature Engagement Session' without a little of this ;)

Another of my favorites from the day

Sat them on the stairs, stood back and gave them a minute to just be themselves... and got this great moment :)

Playing around on Moulton Street

Then we made our way to the Marina and enjoyed the cool ocean breeze for a bit

We walked down to the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad in hopes of maybe catching a ride but when we got there it was just leaving the station

:)

We had a fun morning wandering around Portland together. Kara and Shamit did a GREAT job! Their wedding is just around the corner, September 4th in Boothbay...I can't wait!!

Allyson & Scott: Stowe, Vermont Wedding

2010-08-06T10:34:00.003-04:00

I recently had the opportunity to go to Stowe, Vermont for Allyson & Scott's amazing wedding weekend. I had been anxiously awaiting their wedding ever since we got together for their E-Session (see post below this one), knowing it was going to be not only be a beautiful wedding...but a lot of fun to be a part of as well!

The beautiful sunset over Stowe as I left the rehearsal on Friday night

The next morning I meet up with Scott and his party as they played 18 at the Stowe Country Club. Here are a few from the 18th hole :)

Then it was time to head back to Stowe Meadows for the big event

Allyson sneaking a peek from above moments before...

...as the guys waited below

First glimpse of the beautiful Bride as she prepares to walk to her awaiting Groom

Escorted by Dad

It's a very rare moment when both Bride and Groom look in my direction during the ceremony, so this one is pretty cool :)

I love this moment...the way Allyson is looking at Scott

The ceremony was joyous...filled with laughter and beautiful moments

Scott placing the ring on Allyson's finger

Allyson placing the ring on Scott's finger

The Kiss

Mr & Mrs

The three of us then snuck away and went down the road a short distance to an old farm with this huge field to have a little 'alone time'

Then it was back up to Stowe Meadows to celebrate with all of their family and friends.

First dance

It's always nice to have a wedding guest who can change $1 bills into $100 bills right before your eyes ;)

The Complaints drove up from Rhode Island to rock the party all night! GREAT BAND! They kept the dance floor full and played until 12:30...lot of fun!

Allyson got up and sang a couple songs with the guys during the evening! :)

It was really hard deciding which pictures I wanted to use for this post, as there were/are SOOOO many I love(d)! Meeting Allyson and Scott back in June was wonderful, and being a part of their beautiful wedding was an honor. I truly enjoyed every minute I spent with them. Thank you Allyson and Scott for having me...your wedding was BEAUTIFUL, your families and friends were a lot of fun, and your celebration was a blast! Congratulations, and as always...my best to you both.

Allyson & Scott: Edgecomb/Boothbay Harbor Engagement

2010-06-22T10:27:00.004-04:00

A week ago Saturday, I met with Allyson and Scott who drove up from Massachusetts for their E-Session. I had been looking forward to this for quite some time as we had talked about doing it last fall, then we planned to get together in April (and the weather was simply LOUSY and it even snowed the weekend we wanted to shoot). Allyson and Scott even drove through some rain once they came into southern Maine which made us a bit nervous. The weather guy said it was supposed to be a nice day...but it was raining! Allyson and Scott's drive was around three hours, and my drive to the Boothbay area is about two hours...5 hours of driving is a lot if the weather wasn't going to cooperate. Luckily it turned out to be a great afternoon and we had a great session!

They brought their adorable little Boston Terrier, Solee (I hope I am spelling her name right), along and we included her in the beginning :)

Right outside of the hotel they were staying at was this fantastic walking bridge

Their natural interactions throughout the session were great :)

Again, I love these natural moments. I think they make fun pictures :)

One of my favorites from the day!

We then headed to Boothbay Harbor and drove over to the east side of the bay to climb around on the rocks (and escape the bugs that were PESTERING us in Edgecomb) ;)

It was a really fun day! Allyson and Scott did a GREAT job! They were very trusting in my ideas, brought some ideas of their own, happy to try anything, and a lot of fun to shoot with. Their Stowe, Vermont wedding next month is sure to be a great time!

Elyse & Dirk: Mississippi Wedding

2010-06-16T17:55:00.003-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of going to Mississippi to visit old friends and shoot their daughter's wedding. The plan was to transport the ladies to the wedding location aboard my friend Jimmy's boat...but the weatherman said it was going to be a rainy day. Boy was he wrong, it was a beautiful day for a boat ride to the wedding along the Gulf Coast!

Elyse and her mom entering the marina

Boarding the 'Cooler Breeze'

All of the beautiful ladies on board and ready to go

Well wishes from the Harbor Master before we set sail :)

The groomsmen arriving and looking sharp

Dirk arrived ready and excited!

The beautiful Bride being escorted by her Father

First moments joined together in front of their families and friends

Dirk placing the ring on Elyse's finger

Elyse sliding Dirk's ring on

The Kiss

Followed by a BIG, long hug :)

Mr & Mrs!

The Gents

The whole gang

Then Elyse, Dirk, and I had some 'Alone Time' as everyone made their way to the reception. I absolutely love when my couples make sure they schedule some time for us to shoot beautiful portraits all by ourselves! :)

I was excited to have the chance to use this old Live Oak as a location for portraits! No Live Oaks in Maine/New England ;)

What a fun wedding day! A big thank you to Elyse and Dirk for allowing me the privilege to be a part of your special day! It was a lot of fun meeting and getting to know you both, your friends, and your extended families. I wish you all the best in this new chapter of your lives as Husband and Wife. Cheers!

Jen & Brian: Boothbay Harbor Engagement

2010-05-17T18:10:00.004-04:00

This past Saturday found me back in one of my favorite locations, Boothbay Harbor, for Jen and Brian's E-Session. When my wedding clients are from out-of-state, (Jen & Brian drove up from Massachusetts for the session) the E-Session is often the first time we get to meet in person which makes it even more exciting for me!

We started by the water in East Boothbay

Maine weather is always a concern when couples travel from so far away, we set a date and then hope for the best. We got lucky and it was a pretty good day with a mix of sun and clouds although a bit windy...oh, and the one slowly passing rain cloud that insisted on getting us a little wet as we sat unprotected out on the rocks. Jen and Brian were great sports and we hung in there and waited it out, then the mix of sun and wind dried us out before too long ;)

I really like using textures, and have been playing around adding textures to personal pictures in Photoshop as of late...but I LOVE natural textures such as this rock they are sitting against!

We then headed in town Boothbay Harbor, strolled through the streets and eventually ended up in the Marina. I had them walk down onto this dock with no instructions, I just wanted them to have some time and space to themselves to interact naturally.

My view from above

After a couple of minutes I snuck down to another dock running parallel to the one they were on in hopes of being undetected so that they would continue just being themselves without my 'interference'.

This is what I got :)

I didn't notice the boat names in the background as I was shooting, only during editing. I think it's GREAT ;)

Did I mention what GREAT sports they were? Soooo willing to do and try anything! We were having too much fun :)

Next, we decided to work our way over to Southport in hopes of finding some lobster traps to use in our pictures. We had been keeping our eyes out for traps the entire afternoon with no luck. It seemed all of the traps were on private landings/docks so hope was fading.

However, we found a bridge ;)

Again, I just had them walk part way across the bridge...the next thing I knew they were doing this :)

And just as we were ready to call it a wrap...we finally found lobster traps sitting out on a pier that had public access!

I can't believe we spent 4 hours together...from East Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, and Southport. It seemed to pass in the snap of a finger. It was such a fun E-Session! Jen and Brian did an AMAZINGLY great job! They we so easy going and open to any ideas...the ideal photographer's couple! :) I can't wait for their October wedding in Vermont!

Real Maine Weddings

2010-03-18T13:54:00.004-04:00

I was very excited when the editor of REAL MAINE WEDDINGS contacted me a couple months ago about using one of my pictures in an ad for The Lucerne Inn for their Spring 2010 edition!

As I talked with the manager of The Lucerne Inn I learned that they loved the picture so much that they were using it as the desktop/background photo on computers at the Inn :) Very cool!

Here is the full two page spread ad featuring the picture of Kerri & Brandon strolling along the grounds of the Inn as their family and friends are enjoying the reception (It is also Kerri & Brandon in the gazebo picture).

To see more of Kerri & Brandon's wedding click here

Cluster Map Archive

2010-03-18T10:22:00.002-04:00

Every year around the 10th of March my Cluster Map, seen to the right of this page, gets archived. I always hate to see the past years map go, and with it all of the locations of my blog visitors. Cluster Maps assured me that if they did not archive the map it would eventually turn into one giant red spot...so I guess I'm okay with it. I had a lot of very interesting locations this past year due to the worldly locations of friends and family members of my incredible wedding couples who come to my blog to see the 'sneak-peeks' of the weddings. I greatly appreciate all my visitors and look forward to where they will all visit from this year!

Here is the map from this past year

Stay Tuned

2010-03-08T14:27:00.007-05:00

This past Saturday night I was invited to Stay Tuned's band rehearsal. They are gearing up to hit the stage again after a few years hiatus and wanted some pictures for a promotional poster. I was more than happy to help and it was a lot of fun listening to them jam!

I shot a ton but here are some of my favorites...

John Winter, Keith Corson, and Dan Libby are Stay Tuned

Keith rockin' his bass

Dan bangin' in his corner ;)

John jammin' on his Fender

Keith

John and Dan

Keith and John

Different perspective

Keith and Dan

Dan out from behind his drums

The boys sounded GREAT! If you get the chance, go out and see Stay Tuned when they come near you! Their first 'reunion gig' (if you will) will be at the legendary Nostalgia Tavern in Kingfield, Maine on April 10th.

Signs of Spring

2010-03-08T13:35:00.004-05:00

The weather has been sooooo nice as of late that it makes one think that maybe, just maybe, Spring is right around the corner. Temps are getting close to 50 during the sunny days and everything is melting FAST! This picture is of some dead ornamental sunflowers (last years). This was late enough in the day that the snow melting from the roof was dripping down onto the sunflower and then freezing again into icicles as it ran off from the sunflower. The little icicles were forming at an angle due to the constant wind blowing while this was happening.

Late Winter '10

2010-03-08T13:21:00.004-05:00

Wow, can't believe it is already early March! I have been terrible about blogging this winter. As I always say, when things are busy, hectic, etc. blogging has to be pushed to the bottom of the list.

Things seem to have calmed down a bit and I may actually have some time on my hands to do things such as blogging before the busy season begins once again. I have been wanting to get something 'winter-ish' posted for a while, so here are a few pictures of Emi's cute little snowman she made after a recent snowstorm.

Here's Emi with her snowman (I said it was little ;) )

Lex didn't bother to slip her boots on when she came out to see what we were up to. Brrrrr (she must be from Maine)

Hopefully there will be no more snowmen being made around here for another 10 months or so. Think Spring!! :)

Veteran's Day

2009-11-11T09:33:00.003-05:00

Wishing a peaceful and safe Veteran's Day to all my fellow Vets out there. Special shout-out to my brothers and sisters of the 4th ID. The 1st Brigade of the 4th ID captured Saddam Hussein, former President of Iraq, on 13 December 2003. To date we have lost 310 brave soldiers from the 4th in Iraq who were sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, moms, dads, uncles and aunts.

Andrea & Chris: Wedding

2009-11-05T11:04:00.015-05:00

Andrea & Chris are friends of one of my wonderful 2008 wedding couples, Alisha & Mike. When Andrea first contacted me back in January she told me I was "highly recommended" by Alisha and that she had seen all of their wedding pictures. This of course gave me the warm fuzzies and we were off to a great start! :) Referrals work both ways to me. I adore all of my incredible wedding clients, so when one of their friends contact me to document their wedding event I know right away that 1) They must also be a wonderful couple and 2) That I will connect with them and their wedding event will be a pleasure to be a part of! With this theory I am batting 1.000.

Andrea & Chris live in New Hampshire but planned to get married in the Brunswick area, her home town. We met in Augusta this spring on one of their trips up to work on their arrangements and I was instantly 'at home' with them. Now the hard part...waiting until October to see them again and shoot their wedding. Once I meet with my couples I am ready to shoot their wedding the next weekend, I get so excited!

October finally arrived!

Andrea and the ladies got ready at Andrea's parents house and here are a few of the Bride's details...

I didn't shoot the guys getting ready so it was nice that the rings were with the bridal party

A little mimosa toast to get the day started is always in order :)

I was pleasantly surprised when Alisha arrived to do Andrea's makeup! I assumed I would see her at the wedding but this gave us a chance to talk and catch up a little. Always great to see my past brides :)

The dress

Moments after putting her dress on. Gorgeous!

All of Andrea's bridal party signed the bottom of her shoes :)

The very touching and beautiful ceremony, which was filled with laughter and tears, was held at the South Freeport Church

I REALLY like this moment

You know I love a close-up of the hands during the ceremony

Roses for the moms

The Kiss

Mr. & Mrs.

As you know, I LOVE when my couples make sure to schedule time for us to get away and shoot some 'Alone Time' images! Either before or after the ceremony, or both. It is THE BEST thing you can do when planning your time-line for the day. Andrea and Chris did just that so right after the ceremony we headed to the water and got some great portraits. It was COLD at this point in the day and the wind was picking up but they hung in there and did an AMAZING job!

I told them as we were shooting that their pictures were looking like shots for Bridal/Wedding Magazines. I'm not sure if they believed me at the moment, they should now :)

Yeah, Chris was diggin' it ;)

The whole gang

Then it was into the warm vehicles and off to the Brunswick Golf Club for a rocking night of celebrating (yes Chris, top 5 ;-) )

First Dance

Mmmmmmm, cake! (love the Autumn colors)

This makes me laugh. Looks like Andrea is expecting cake in her face but hoping not! Chris was a gentleman :)

Yet another GREAT wedding weekend! Thank you Andrea & Chris for the pleasure to be a part of it all! The day was wonderful. The weather cooperated and was spectacular, your ceremony was beautiful, you rocked your 'Alone Time" portraits, your celebration was a blast, very fun families and friends!! Couldn't have a more perfect wedding. Congratulations and all the best to you!

Brent Deming - Award Winning Maine Wedding Photography

2009-10-15T17:28:00.005-04:00

Brent Deming - Award Winning Maine Wedding Photography

One of my pictures from Sara & Gary's wedding recently took 16th place in the Wedding Photojournalist Association's International Wedding Photojournalist Contest for Q2. I love this picture and was really excited that it placed in the top 20 amongst this very talented international field of wedding photojournalists. This is my second award through the WPJA.

Here is the picture not as a 'screen shot'

Aria & Rich: Wedding

2009-10-14T16:08:00.006-04:00

Family and friends from all over the country gathered at the beautiful Kingsley Pines along the shores of Panther Lake in Raymond, Maine this past September 19th for Aria & Rich's wedding weekend. Aria, Rich, and I met up in August to shoot their E-Session (see post below) and I had been anxious for their wedding weekend ever since. Although the nights are a bit on the chilly side at night in late September, the days are usually beautiful and this weekend was spectacular!
Some couples just seem to be destined to be together, and Aria and Rich are definitely one of those couples! The perfect fit.

All of the flowers were from Heather Caron

Here comes the bride...

As Rich waits for his bride to come ashore

Rich slipping the ring onto Aria's Finger

The Kiss

Aria's dad not only brought her ashore via canoe, but he also performed the ceremony. How special is that, to have your dad perform your wedding ceremony?? :)

Married!

I've never had one of my couples leave by canoe before...LOVED IT!

The getaway

After shooting the Group Portraits we grabbed a few relaxed pictures before heading to the beach for some 'Alone Time' Portraits

Really like this one

The guests enjoying the cocktail hour at the lodge as we made our way to the beach. Notice the smoke coming out of the chimney...once the sun started setting the temp dropped quickly.

In only her wedding dress, Aria hung in there despite the plunging temps and we got some great images along the shoreline. I LOVE when time is allotted for 'Alone Time' pictures! :)

I really liked having the boathouse in the background of this one as the last of the sun's rays touched Aria & Rich's faces just before setting

What a wonderful weekend! Possibly the most laid-back, easy going wedding weekend I have ever been involved with :) It is always so nice to be around a very close and loving group of siblings and parents. Aria and Rich are blessed to have such amazing families and friends. I truly enjoyed watching the interactions between them all. I thank you, Aria & Rich, for allowing me the pleasure of being a part of your most special event. I wish you all the best!

What a difference a day makes

2009-10-13T13:02:00.002-04:00

Yesterday...

Today...

Crazy huh? Yesterday I mowed (which is crazy in itself for mid-October), kids and I stacked a couple cords of wood and then played soccer, and I even got a sunburn on my face. Today it's 30F and snowing.

Aria & Rich: Sunday Morning E-Session In The Park

2009-08-17T21:12:00.007-04:00

The alarm startled me at 4:00 a.m. this past Sunday morning. I'm usually not excited to get up that early, but I was this time because I was going to Freeport to meet with Aria & Rich to shoot their E-Session! The plan was to meet at Wolf's Neck State Park at 7:30 so we could beat the heat (90F & humid was the forecast) and use the yummy early morning light.

Natural light doesn't get any better than this!

I thought this was really cute...their hands were interlocked and Aria simply brought Rich's hand up to shield the glare as she looked across the bay

Great little footbridge along the trail

The morning was sooooo peaceful

My only concern with having them go out onto the rock in the previous pictures was getting back, but with a helping hand the adventurous Aria had no problem :)

Then we left the park, which still wasn't officially 'OPEN', and headed up the road a short distance to this beautiful old stone house which offered a lot of great spots for shooting.

We started on the lawn

Then to the house

Love all the different textures in the next two

And of course we had to use the great stonewalls on the property. Loved all the natural interactions between Aria & Rich, they were SO easy & fun to shoot with!

This last one is one of my favorites from the morning

The wedding is just about a month away and I am very much looking forward to it. It's going to be a lot of fun! Big THANK YOU to Aria & Rich for such a fun session and thanks for being so laid back and trusting in my directions and willing to try anything. I enjoyed our time and getting to know you and I'm excited to see you again in September!

Kerri & Brandon: Wedding

2009-07-22T11:25:00.003-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of shooting Kerri & Brandon's wedding in Bangor. As you may know, 'The Summer Of Rain' continues here in Maine so I was soooo happy for Kerri and Brandon that their wedding weekend was blessed with great weather! They drove 30 hours from North Dakota to be in Maine so they definitely deserved beautiful weather for their special event :)

Kerri's plan was to get dressed at the church since we were doing the group pictures at the church prior to the ceremony to ensure everyone had plenty of time to enjoy the cocktail hour and we would have time to do some 'Alone Time' portraits post-ceremony. Always looking for a new and unique place to hang and shoot the dress, I knew we had to take the dress outside and shoot it against one of the church's side doors. This created one of my all-time favorite dress shots!

The Dress...

Wider view...

The beautiful Bride...

Kerri & Brandon chose to do a 'First Look' before the ceremony which I LOVE when my couples decide to do! :)

Brandon waiting to see his Bride...

When he heard the door opening he got a huge smile on his face...

The tap on the shoulder...

The moment of seeing each other for the first time is priceless...

Brandon checking out the back of the dress...

Enjoying the moment...

Walking down the aisle with her Dad...

I love this moment as Kerri is looking at Brandon :)

A couple wider shots of the beautiful St. John's Catholic Church...

Again, I love how Kerri is looking at Brandon, and how he is looking at the Priest...

At rehearsal the Priest told me he prefers to have his back to the guests so that the couple is up on the alter so they can be seen better as they have to turn towards him and the guests. Great idea...except when it came to the ring exchange the priest was right between me and their hands so I had to quickly work my way into the pews and find a 'somewhat' open line of sight before the moment was gone. I'm on the tall side but I still had to squeak out a couple more inches by standing on my tippy-toes to get this shot...

Mr. & Mrs.

Then Kerri, Brandon, and myself sped away to reach The Lucerne Inn before the guests. Once there they jumped in with me and we drove up a steep, rough, winding, mountain road to reach Sunset Rock to do some 'Alone Time' portraits as their guests enjoyed the cocktail hour below.
As we were testing the light I told them to, "just do whatever for a minute" and the next thing I knew Brandon had Kerri swept off her feet :)

What a great location for us to shoot the 'Alone Time'

Then it was time to descend back to the Reception Venue where guests were anxiously awaiting the Bride & Groom.

The newlyweds being toasted by Kerri's father...

I love this shot! :)

First dance in the gentle evening breeze...

The touching Father/Daughter dance...

The adorable flower girl enjoying a dance with the bride...

And I have to include a picture of this little guy. He rocked the dance floor all night long!

Evening stroll along the grounds of The Lucerne Inn as the celebration continues...

A big thank you to Kerri and Brandon for letting me be a part of your most special day! Kerri and Brandon are so laid-back and easy going...it was a lot of fun spending time with them and getting to know them. A great couple who are sooo in-love. I wish you both all the best as you journey through life together. Cheers!

Christina & Adam: Wedding

2009-07-08T11:58:00.003-04:00

Maine has been very wet this summer...too wet actually with rain almost every day since early June. We have had a couple days here and there when the rain has taken a break and fortunately Christina & Adam's wedding at the Spruce Point Inn in beautiful Boothbay Harbor fell on a couple of those days. Christina, Adam, and myself met a couple of times in Boothbay Harbor last summer to shoot their E-Session and I have been anxiously awaiting their wedding weekend ever since. Christina and Adam are two of the sweetest people I have had the pleasure of knowing and it was wonderful spending time with them once again, as well as meeting their great families and friends.

The Dress

The guys were getting ready right next door which made it soooo easy to bounce back and forth between rooms

Adam had plenty of help getting ready :)

With Olive

On Friday Christina, Adam, and I scouted out some locations to do some 'Alone Time' Portraits before the ceremony but due to some unforeseen challenges we were not able to risk the time it would have taken us to drive to the spot, shoot, and return in time. This change in plans did allow us ample time to do a 'First Look' however. :)

I love the way Christina is looking at Adam

Adam was all smiles seeing his beautiful bride-to-be

Christina and her Dad on the way to the ceremony

Great moment as Christina's father announced, "her mother and I do"

It was a very joyous ceremony filled with a lot of emotions and laughter

Christina placing the ring on Adam's finger

The Kiss

Married!

A relaxed Portrait before shooting groups with the wedding party

After we shot with the wedding party we had some alone time and captured some beautiful images. The fog was slowly creeping back into the bay during the ceremony and by the time we started shooting our 'Alone Time' images the fog was quite thick and set a beautiful mood and tone for the photographs

Maybe my favorite

Then it was up the hill to the Pemaquid for a night of celebration

First dance

Mmmmmmm cake

Nothing like the Hora and Chair Dance to get the party really going!

What a great, great weekend! A big thank you to Christina and Adam for allowing me the absolute pleasure of being a part of such a wonderful event. I had so much fun with you last summer and this past weekend :) Couples like you make my 'job' sooooo enjoyable!! I wish you both the absolute best in all that life has to offer you. Cheers!

Ahhhhhhhh...Boothbay Harbor

2009-07-01T10:25:00.002-04:00

This weekend found me back in Boothbay Harbor, one of my favorite destination wedding locations. I was in BBH for Christina and Adam's wedding weekend and will post some pictures in the next few days. This picture was taken while driving around on Friday as I was scouting out some locations for our 'Alone Time Portraits' which we planned to shoot before the ceremony on Saturday. There was a lot of fog over the weekend and I caught this image just as it was lifting and this little island began to emerge from the thick, eerie, gray blanket.

Sara & Gary: Wedding

2009-05-19T10:13:00.007-04:00

They had originally planned on marrying in the Fall, but life is ever changing and full of surprises and they had to move the wedding up several months to mid-May. I began communicating with Sara at the end of February, first via e-mail and then over the phone. Due to the fact that they live in Los Angeles we were not able to meet in person until about a week before the wedding, once Sara arrived back in her home state of Maine. I met with both Sara and her mom at a cafe in Portland's Oldport and instantly felt 'at-home' with them and knew this was going to be a great wedding to be a part of. Planning a wedding is a huge undertaking, to completely change all of the logistics in a short amount of time and move a wedding up 4 or 5 months and have it go off without a hitch is simply amazing...and a testament to the great families and friends that fill Sara and Gary's lives.

So let's start with a few of the beautiful bride in preparation:

where would we be without friends...

something blue...

The gorgeous bouquet from Studio Flora ...

meanwhile across town...

Best Man John with the helping hand...

while shooting the guys getting ready I have seen every type of sport being watched on tv as they prepare for the big moment. Gary and John were watching poker which, as an avid poker player myself, I thought was pretty cool and a first for me :) Gary keeping an eye on the game as he buttons-up...

looking sharp and ready to wed...

Sara and Gary chose to Marry at the 'Cousin's Island Chapel' in Yarmouth, the most charming & quaint little chapel that I have ever covered a wedding at. I LOVED it! I was allowed to position myself anywhere I wanted which was such a luxury to me as many churches have restrictions and rules for this sort of thing ;) We decided to have me up front on the alter as Sara walked down the aisle which allowed for such a unique perspective.

99 out of 100 weddings will not see this moment from this angle as it is usually shot from the back. Isn't the Chapel great?!?! And what a moment, dad giving his daughter away and one last kiss before she is married...

The kiss...

And I do mean THE KISS! As I was shooting 'The Kiss' from the back of the chapel, the limo driver was watching from the door and said to me, "I've seen a lot of kisses at weddings...now THAT was a kiss!". I couldn't agree more :) It was long, easily the longest kiss I have ever witnessed at a wedding which I think is GREAT!! Wonderful moment shared.

Married!

Immediately following the ceremony we jumped in the limo and drove to a little secluded beach area for some alone time so they could soak in the moment, one another, and get some great images.

*(Gary is a horror movie screenwriter which encouraged me to be a little more 'free' and 'artistic' with my post-processing so I played with some darker tones and different shadings than I usually get to, which was a lot of fun)

A portrait of the beautiful Bride...

and the dashing Groom...

And this one just because it is so cute. After all, he came all the way from Los Angeles to be in the wedding too :)

Then it was off to The Royal River to celebrate.

First dance...

Sara's new left hand...

Gary's new left hand...

Being toasted dockside...

and the cake was finger licking good...

It was a VERY nice event. Sara and Gary were great, such a wonderful couple who are very deeply in love. Great families, great friends. It was a privilege to be a part of such a special occasion. Sara and Gary, thank you so much. I wish you all the best in your new life as husband and wife and with all of the new adventures that the future holds for you.

I don't usually end a wedding post with a picture of the brides mom, but I am going to today. This beautiful lady is Sara's mom. She was so sweet to me and took such good care of me that I just wanted to say a special thank you to her. She even had a flower for me (from the florist) to pin on my shirt for the wedding. I felt so special :). Thank you Rosie, you made me feel like one of the family and I truly appreciated it.

Shooting Moose...can be a challenge

2009-05-13T12:29:00.008-04:00

7:15 a.m. this morning: Jack and Emi head out the door to go catch the school bus and one of the dogs starts barking like mad part-way down the drive, so I step out to see what he sees and it was this big bull moose. Back into the house I run, grab the 5D with 70/200 and go after him. Of course by now all the commotion in the front yard has driven him into the woods, so I give chase. Unfortunately he knew I was behind him and he just kept going deeper into the woods, stopping for a moment to look back at me was just what I needed to get this shot. The dense brush and bushes between us made it extremely tough for my camera to lock focus on him so I was only able to get one halfway decent shot of him. Hard to tell in this picture but his antlers have started to "bud" and it won't be long before he has a huge set. I think he is the one we see now and then and that I posted pictures of on here a couple years ago (just click the 'September 2006' link over on the right side list of archives if you want to see).

Nancy

2009-04-29T11:33:00.002-04:00

I recently had the absolute pleasure of shooting with Nancy on a FHEO (For His Eyes Only) Session and wanted to post one image from our shoot. I know, only one is a tease...but that is the idea behind the FHEO ;) Beautiful!

I offer FHEO Sessions for my brides who want to make a very special album as a gift for their brand new hubbies, but anyone can do this for their 'Someone Special' so by all means contact me if you would like to create some beautiful images too.

+116 Degrees

2009-04-28T12:42:00.003-04:00

Today it is 92 degrees in the shade. The leaves are not even on the trees yet, crazy. Must be a record high for this date (?). The reason I am posting this is because I had a post dated January 16th of this year and it was -24...so in just a little over 4 months time there was a temp change of +116 degrees. That's pretty extreme...but then again, this IS Maine afterall.

Evening Visitors

2009-04-14T18:49:00.002-04:00

The snow this winter was deep, very deep. With deep snow we don't get to see our regular family of deer all winter long. As the snow melts they slowly start making their way from the deep woods back to the outskirts of our property, and we started seeing them again a few weeks ago but only along the tree lines where the ground was first bare. Now that the snow has finally left our yard for good (knock on wood) our deer family has returned to grazing in our yard during the evening hours...almost a nightly occurrence (except when run off by our dogs when we fail to look out the windows prior to letting them out one last time for the night). This was last night shortly after 7:00, taken from a second floor window as Emi knocked on the window to get them all to look at us so we could take their picture ;)

Pick a card....

2009-04-04T12:18:00.002-04:00

SanDisk just a ran a HUGE sale on some of their CF Cards and I took advantage and stocked up on some new 4GB Extreme III's. I have always used the Ultra II's and have always had great results but I hear good things on the Extreme III and at these prices how can I go wrong. I think I now officially have wayyyyy more Gigs than I will ever possibly use during a weekend-long wedding event, but better to have too many than too few ;) And if you are not shooting with SanDisk...well, you should be.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

2009-01-16T10:38:00.002-05:00

6:30 this morning...yes that's -24

Christina & Adam's E-Session.....at last!

2008-09-12T10:49:00.003-04:00

I say "at last" because back in June, Christina & Adam came up from Massachusetts with Christina's parents to spend a weekend at the beautiful Spruce Point Inn to show her parents the amazing location where they will Marry in June of 2009. We planned our E-Session together for that weekend...you know, the old 'two birds-one stone' thing. When I arrived in Boothbay Harbor on that weekend the weather was not cooperating, it was very foggy with drizzle and rain showers, ugh...we would need to reschedule the session. Luckily, Christina and Adam planned to return to Maine one more time before winter so we crossed our fingers for better weather for their return trip...and we lucked-out! So a couple weekends ago we reunited in Boothbay Harbor and the weather was spectacular, an absolutely GORGEOUS late August summer day along the beautiful Maine coast.

After strolling around and shooting on the grounds of The Spruce Point Inn resort for awhile we decided to go in-town Boothbay Harbor to shoot the second half of our session.

This was taken on the boardwalk/bridge that spans the bay and connects the two sides of town. We must have shot on the boardwalk for at least 15 minutes due to the constant flow of summer tourists walking back and forth. But patience pays off and we actually were able to get a few images without other people being in the shot :)

Enjoying a silly moment as they "tried out" this chair that was on the sidewalk outside one of the shops ;)

There was a small Art Festival taking place on the lawn of the Town Library but we wanted to shoot there anyway :) It's always fun to go into a busy location and start shooting during an E-Session! We definately become the center of attention and it's funny to observe the faces of the people around while doing so because it's not like we are tourists who stop and pose for a quick 'snap shot' and go unnoticed...no no, we come right into the location and 'work-it'! :)

There were so many beautiful little porches attached to many of the Inns along our stroll that we just had to stop and use them (of course) ;)

The sun was blazing hot on this day...but it was quite H-O-T in the shade too! ;)

On another porch of an Inn. I REALLY like this one...

This last one was right at the very end of our session. We had used just about every spot in town we could think of, called it a day, and were headed back to the car when we found this fence. I'm glad we did find it...I think it works great in a b&w image!

It was great to finally be able to spend an afternoon with Christina and Adam after waiting all summer to do so! My streak of having the best couples as clients continues! Christina and Adam did such a GREAT job during our session, they were so laid-back and willing to try anything, and to step outside of their 'comfort zone' to get the image I was seeing in my head. I think I even told them once or twice that "I am soo proud of you guys!" as we were shooting. So much fun!

Christina and Adam were my first couple for 2009 as they booked with me back in January for their June 2009 wedding. I love when couples booked me that far in advance for many important reasons, and it also increases the chances that I am available on their special weekend. So it is NEVER too early to contact me ;) The only negative I can think of of booking well in advance is that I have to wait sooo long to see them again. Not that I am one to wish time away, but as soon as I shoot the E-Session and make that connection/bond I am super excited for the wedding event ;)

Jenna's Senior Session

2008-09-03T14:20:00.000-04:00

I have had no time for blogging as of late but really needed to post a few pictures from my recent Senior Session with Jenna. Jenna was a lot of fun to shoot with and she did a really good job! :) She picked some really pretty locations for her session with lots of flowers :)

I LOVED this field full of wildflowers and chose to show this wide angled one to show how pretty a setting we were in. The contrast of Jenna in pink amidst the field of white is great :)

This old swing was right along the stone wall border of the field so I just had to have her get in it :) Love her big, natural, pretty smile in this one!

Then we relocated to a spot that was lakeside with more beautiful late summer blooms

Although it was a hot/humid day and the bugs chewed us at will, it was a lot of fun and such a pleasure meeting Jenna and her mom :)

Devon's Senior Session

2008-07-29T14:44:00.001-04:00

Devon and I have been planning her Senior Session since June so I was really excited to finally meet up with her and shoot! The weather had me a bit concerned that we may have to reschedule because it was raining for most of the afternoon here in Strong yesterday. Shortly before leaving town I called Devon to check on how it was up in Rangeley and she gave me the good news that it was sunny and HOT! When I arrived around 5:45 the sun was still a bit too high in the sky and quite harsh so we all jumped into the boat and went looking for some better light...and did we ever find it!! Beautiful, golden light....

Once back to shore the sun had settled a lot and was providing some really great light for us. There is nothing like relaxing in a hammock on a hot July afternoon in Maine...

I have to include a headshot to show off Devon's beautiful eyes up close...

At this point the sun was about ready to set and a lot of clouds were drifting by making some interesting light changes every few minutes. I really like the tone of these next two as we were starting to lose the light...

And this was taken with the last few golden rays from the sun JUST before it set...

It was really hard to select a handful of images from our session to post here because they are all so good! You did a GREAT job Devon!! :) It was great meeting you and your family, and of course a lot of fun shooting with you!

Alisha & Mike's Wedding!

2008-06-10T15:18:00.009-04:00

4 days ago I was headed south on I95, driving through pouring rain en route to South Berwick for Alisha and Mike's Wedding Weekend. Once in Portsmouth, NH and all checked in at the hotel it was back across the Maine border to meet up with Alisha and Mike for their rehearsal at the historic Hamilton House. I was actually a bit ahead of schedule so Alisha invited me to stop at their home and hang out until everyone was ready. Upon arrival, I sat in THE most comfy bar stool I have ever sat in and Alisha poured me a tall, cold Sam Adams Summer Ale :) The weekend was off to a great start!! This being the first time we had ever met face to face, it was nice to have some extra time to sit and talk with Alisha and get to know one another a bit. It did not take long before I knew that Alisha and Mike were my kind of people and that they and all their friends and families would be a lot of fun. And they were! Everyone was sooooo nice and sooooo hospitable that I just felt very 'at home' being around everyone, which is always a welcome feeling when documenting a wedding :)

August arrived early on Saturday morning, with temps climbing into the 90's and the humidity was thick...stifling hot!! Not what you expect when you plan an early June Wedding in Maine. But the afternoon was tolerable as I spent it inside at Alisha & Mike's where it was much cooler shooting the girls getting ready.

Alisha doing her final touches:

The Gents (and kudos to them all for being dressed up and standing in the field as we waited for the occasional cloud to block out the searing sun so we could snap off a few):

Alisha being escorted by her Mom & Dad, making their way into the garden with the historic Hamilton House in the background:

Mike watching his beautiful bride on her way to join him:

Exchanging of rings:

If you have ever done an E-Session with me you know how much I love the "Almost Kiss". It is even better when I can capture it during the ceremony:

The Kiss:

Tender moments:

Married and taking their first stroll as Husband & Wife:

And now I just HAVE to post a handful of the Stunningly Beautiful Bride :)

Alisha could not have stopped to turn and look in a better spot than in this first one...that light is simply delicious!

Possibly my all-time favorite bridal portrait, done with a hint of antique finish:

Then it was off to The Spring Hill Lodge for a night of celebration! How fun! These amazing people partied it up until past midnight :)

"Together for the first time anywhere, Mr. & Mrs...."

Father/Daughter Dance:

BIG hug as they danced :)

Hang on...Chair Dance!!

I just knew Mike was going to have his head bounced off the ceiling (but thankfully it was avoided). They were lifting him SO high!!

And there was a Birthday Girl in the house :) Alisha's grandmother was celebrating her birthday and here she is dancing with her son (Alisha's Dad) :)

And I will end this post with a fun one of Mike playing 'a little guitar' for Alisha:

What a great weekend! The Garden Wedding was beautiful, the reception was tons of fun!! What a wonderful couple, great friends, fabulous families!! A big thank you to Alisha and Mike for allowing me the absolute pleasure of being a part of your most special weekend! I had such a great time! Thank you for everything! :) Here's to a long, healthy, loving, fun lifetime together! Cheers!!!

Brent Deming - Award Winning Maine Wedding Photography

2008-04-18T09:16:00.002-04:00

Brent Deming - Award Winning Maine Wedding Photography

I am now an INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNING WEDDING PHOTOJOURNALIST!! I'm pretty excited about this. One of my images recently placed in the top ten of the 2007 Q4 contest for the WPJA . I feel very honored, as the competition for the contests is extremely tough with so many thousands of wonderful images being submitted by the worlds best wedding photojournalists.

This is my winning image from Kathryn and Rob's beautiful wedding at
The Spruce Point Inn

JUDGES COMMENTS: "This simple photo is very storytelling. The bride’s nervousness shows as she tightens her fingers during the ceremony. This is documentary photography."

I hope my next award winning image comes from YOUR wedding!! :)

1st Day Of Spring (?)

2008-03-21T15:12:00.003-04:00

This was taken yesterday, on the first day of Spring. Look like Spring to you?? Nope, me either. If you are viewing this from out-of-state then maybe your backyard actually does look 'Spring-like'...but this is how it looks out back here. Kind of depressing, ugh. Wish I had spent this past week in "VEGAS BABY!!!" at the annual WPPI convention, but alas I am stranded here in the snowy Western Mountains Of Maine. It would have been fun to see photographer friends of mine from across the country who were/are there...maybe next year (sigh).
This post also serves as the resurection of the BED BLOG. It has been awhile, since Halloween actually. Long tough winter here and blogging had to be moved to the bottom of my priority list. My children and myself have had more than our share of sickness (we caught every bug going around I think) and we have had at least two storms every week here. hard to worry about blogging when every few days I have to spend a good portion of the day cleaning up from a big storm. Winter in Maine...I love it (to some extent), but this one has been a bit much. Everyone I know is more than ready for some melting, warm sun, and yes even the arrival of the usually dreaded "mud season". I would love to see some mud. Anything besides white. But with a good three feet of snow still on the ground, I am sure it will still be awhile.
Well there, I did it. I posted on my Blog. I hope I can make the time to begin doing so on a somewhat regular basis again. So much has happened that I wish I had been able to post during the past several months, maybe now and then I can sneak in something from the past just to catch up. A lot to come as well, and hopefully I can keep current :)
Easter this weekend...kind of early huh? No outside Easter Egg hunt again this year with the snow. Happy Easter to all!!
Cheers! :)

2007-10-31T12:57:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween!!!

Of course this is Lex, Emi, & Jack

Kathryn & Rob's Wedding Weekend

2007-10-18T08:14:00.001-04:00

The air was unseasonably humid as the sun moved along it's low path across the sky on this first weekend of October. Family and friends gathered from New York and Colorado to the beautiful coastal town of Boothbay Harbor for Kathryn and Rob's weekend wedding event at The Spruce Point Inn . The weather was absolutely great and guests were spotted enjoying activities along the Maine coast such as sea kayaking and sightseeing by bicycle.

One thing that became very apparent to me shortly into the weekend was the closeness between the families and the friends. There was soooo much laughter and many, many hugs throughout the weekend. This came as no surprise to me really, after getting to know Kathryn and Rob over the summer I naturally assumed that this is how it would be. The bonds between the couple and their friends made this a very intimate event to be a part of. Because of this I have decided to blog more intimate, upclose, behind-the-scenes images than usual. I love shooting the 'Getting Ready' part of the wedding day. To be a part of this most personal time means so much to me, and I cherish the moments I get to witness between the Bride and Groom with their closest of friends. Although it can be some of the most stressful, hectic hours for couples getting ready to vow their lives to another, I find it to be the most relaxing time for myself while taking it all in and capturing fleeting moments. This time allows me to understand the friendships and to learn why everyone in the rooms are so dear to the Bride and Groom. It's simply priceless.

So with that said, here are some of the not so often seen, but some of the most important and memorable images leading up to the big moment. (click 'em to enlarge 'em)

The final touches:

A series of getting the gown on, which is no easy task! Especially to do it without messing up the hair ;)

The Stunning Bride in some beautiful light

To quote The Beatles, "I get by with a little help from my friends" ;)

Rob's dad giving him a hand with his tie

A couple different shots of the rings. Kathryn told me that Rob's band was done by a local artist, a true one-of-a-kind. Rob and Kathryn are so connected, they both had the other's ring inscribed...and the inscriptions are identical! Pretty cool :)

Kathryn and Rob decided to have a private meeting prior to the ceremony to ensure that we had time to get some portraits of just the two of them. The ceremony was to start at 5:00 and it being early October in Maine, there would not have been very good light for doing this post-ceremony so I am really glad they wanted to do this first! :) I love when couples make sure they schedule some time to do some 'alone time' with me.

Rob anxiously waiting for Kathryn to come meet him

Kathryn on her way to Rob

For those of you who have seen the pictures from our E-Session this summer, you know that Rob likes to dip Kathryn :) If you haven't seen them be sure to scroll down through the blog and check them out! And once again here he is with his spontaneous dip

The shy, but adorable flower girl

Kathryn's Mother and Father walking her down the aisle

The look of Love :)

Kathryn placing the ring onto Rob's finger

A closer look as Rob reads his Vows to Kathryn

Rob breaks the glass on his first try ;)

The Kiss

Kathryn and Rob danced their First Dance to 'Let's Get It On'. They choreographed a really fun dance for the song and even stayed up late after their rehearsal dinner practicing it in their room :) It was GREAT! I hope I get to see the video of it someday! I have several images of them during their dance but chose this one because it really shows on their faces how much fun they were having while performing for everyone

Father Daughter

Party Time! HORA!!

I had to end the photo part of the post with a picture of Rob doing his signature move with Kathryn :) There is so much going on during receptions so I felt really fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to capture this

Thank you to Kathryn and Rob for allowing me into your lives and the privilege to be a part of your most special event. It was WONDERFUL and I had such a great time! You two are amazing people and a remarkable couple. I am so happy for you that you have one another to share life with.

I think of you as friends and I am looking forward to seeing you again in the near future! Also looking forward to doing some more sessions together :) Congratulations, I wish you only the best in your new lives as a married couple!! Cheers!

Erin & Tom's Wedding Celebration

2007-10-02T19:06:00.000-04:00

ok, first just let me say that I know I am behind on my blogging...but better late than never ;) I have been sooooo busy!

The weekend of the 21st & 22nd found me back in the Yarmouth area with my super fun clients/friends Erin and Tom for their wonderful wedding weekend. I had such a great time hanging out (and shooting) with them and their families/friends for the two days. I had been looking forward to this weekend ever since I met Erin and Tom last winter, and even more so after our marathon E-Session this summer.

Tom did the decorating of the church inside and out. He and his crew did a FANTASTIC job!! It was amazing and the Autumn colors were beautiful. All of the pumpkins, mums, and corn stalks were furnished by 'Estabrook's' located in Yarmouth. I definately had to include some pictures of Tom's handy work :) as always, click 'em to enlarge 'em:

The Beautiful Bride walking down the aisle with her brother, Ryan

A tender moment when they were first united at the altar

And Tom could not take his eyes off Erin :)

Tom placing the ring on Erin's finger

The Kiss

Married!!

The whole gang!

Limo-in It to the Reception Venue

First Dance

Mmmmm, yummy cake! (pretty too)

The Newlyweds Enjoying a Section of the Scrumptious 'Make-Your-Own' Ice Cream Bar

And lastly, I had to include an image of this 'Signature Vase'. I had never seen one before...what a great idea!!

Again, I have to say what a good time this wedding and all of it's events were. A big thank you to the friends and families that made me feel like I was one of them. I was very well taken care of and was frequently asked, "Brent, do you need anything? Brent can I get you a drink? Something to eat Brent? Have some of this to eat Brent. Have another drink Brent. How are you doing Brent, can I get you something?" It was sooo nice of them all to care about me the way they did they did all weekend long! I greatly appreciated it. And a big thanks to Erin and Tom for all of their hospitality yet again. I really enjoyed kicking back at your house during the "after party" until almost 2:00 am :) And as I said to Erin's mom Sunday morning as we hugged good-bye, you all made me feel like family. Thank you and I wish you all the best!

Carly & Todd's Wedding Event

2007-09-20T11:23:00.000-04:00

This past weekend found me back at Spruce Point Inn in beautiful Boothbay Harbor for Carly and Todd's wonderful weekend wedding event. Friday evening is typically rehearsal night followed by a rehearsal dinner/party...but the wedding coordinator was a no-show for the rehearsal so after some mingling/visiting by family and friends it was off to the rehearsal dinner. The mode of transportation from the SPI to the dinner venue for everyone can be seen below :)

Navigating the tricky loading dock

The ride was great as it was also a scenic tour of the Boothbay Harbor Region which took between 30-45 mins. Very enjoyable!

The sunset as seen from the stern of the boat:

A few pre-ceremony images:

The Groom in waiting

The Bride doing some last minute checks on her gown

The Shoes

The Ring Bearer keeping an eye on the weather as he waited for his big moment :)

The ceremony was to be held on the ocean side deck but the weather turned NASTY Saturday morning and it was cold & rainy for the better part of the day so plans changed and the site was moved to a tent that is attached to the Pemaquid Reception Hall.

How cute is the little Flower Girl?!? ADORABLE!

Both in action :)

Carly slipping the ring onto Todd's finger

The Kiss

By now the rain had stopped so we made our way down to the oceanside deck for some group portraits. The air was damp and the wind was blowing off the ocean making it quite raw outside but everyone hung in there and we managed to get some really great (and fun) images :)

The Beautiful Group of Ladies

The Gents

Dispite the fact that by now most everyone was chilled to the bone, we stayed a bit longer to get a few of just the Newlyweds

Catching a cart lift back to the warmth of the Reception Hall

Family and Friends worked on the details all morning and early afternoon creating as beautiful a room as you will ever see. I just had to include a few detail shots here and of course the slideshow will have many, many more.

The center pieces were filled with seashells and dunegrass

The Room

The Table For Two

Cake. YUM!

A closer look

I'll end this post with Carly and her Dad during the Father/Daughter dance

It was a spectacular event. No detail overlooked and everyone had a GREAT time!! Great Families and great friends. The reception was a blast...these people partied hardy and rocked it all night long!! Lots of great images from the reception party that will be included in the upcoming slideshow. ;)

It was such a pleasure to be a part of Carly and Todd's most special event! Congratulations you two, and may only the best be in your future.

Allison & Matt Wed In Boothbay Harbor

2007-09-11T07:02:00.000-04:00

It was a beautiful September day for a wedding on Boothbay Harbor. Friends and Family from near and far gathered to witness the joining of Allison and Matt as the big sail ships raced in the background during the annual Shipyard Cup. The sun was warm and the soft breeze off the water was refreshing. Just a lovely day for a beautiful event.

Here are a few from the day (be sure to click to enlarge):

The Beautiful Bride

The Lovely Ladies

The Handsome Groom

A Helping Hand From The Best Man...a.k.a. Dad

The Goodlooking Gents

The Guests

The Proud Father

The Very Touching & Emotional Vows From The Heart and Soul

The Kiss

Ladies and Gents

Then Allison, Matt, and myself were able to sneak away for some alone time and we got some really nice portraits...

The Getaway

Congratulations Allison and Matt!! All the best to you in your new life together :)

Meet Michelle

2007-08-20T14:35:00.000-04:00

Just yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting up with Michelle to shoot her Senior Portraits. I know what my regular Blog followers are thinking...and yes, this is exceptionaly quick for me to post SO soon after :p

We were scheduled to shoot a few days ago but shortly before our session the dark clouds rolled in and it began to rain.

The weather has been a bit odd as of late so I was happy that we could do this on our second attempt. It was a really nice evening, except for the mosquitos that at times were a bit distracting (to say the least).

Michelle is a beautiful young lady with a very outgoing personality and we had a lot of fun just strolling around her neighborhood looking for locations to stop and take pictures. The entire neighborhood extended their hospitality by offering their yards for our use. Really nice :)

Here are a few from our session together (be sure to click to enlarge)

Her very pretty, natural smile is almost permanently affixed to her face (which of course is a wonderful thing!) and it was actually a challenge for her to look serious when asked. She would try really hard and that would just make us crack-up laughing, which made it even harder for her to try and compose herself into a serious state. The effort was cute...and now and then she actually managed to do it :)

I had to include this last one because I love locations/spots that have special meaning to the person I am shooting with. Michelle has been climbing this tree in her front yard since she was 4 years old! I took my eyes off from her for only a moment to adjust my camera settings and in a FLASH she was in the tree :)

Great job Michelle! It was really fun meeting you (and your family) and having the privilege of shooting your Seniors :)

Kathryn & Rob: Taking Portland By Storm

2007-08-15T15:32:00.000-04:00

Monday found me back in the Portland area. I spent the afternoon visiting with my Dear Friends Cynthia & Glenn, then at 5:30 I met up with Kathryn & Rob to shoot their HOT E-Session! I hadn't seen Kathryn and Rob since we met back in the Spring so I had been very anxious to get together with them all summer long, excited to learn more about them and of course shoot with them :)

We started out in the Old Port section of Portland, to get some "urban feel" for their images. I love the possiblities of shooting in an urban environment, it is really growing on me as a favorite style of location!

I chose this first image to be first because it shows Kathryn and Rob completely natural, they were interacting with some people passing by who were commenting on their engagement and congratulating them on their upcoming wedding :) What a great moment! It is rare to get a true photojournalistic image while doing a portrait-style session. But for this brief moment they were not having their picture taken...they were interacting naturally with some friendly strangers, and 'voila' I was able to capture a few really relaxed, natural images of them. I loved it!!

*As always, click 'em to enlarge 'em!

Meet Kathryn and Rob:

Then it was back to business ;)

I have to take a moment here to mention how GREAT this wonderful couple did during the session. They were such naturals. It was like working with a couple of models who knew exactly how to position themselves, expressions, everything! :) I actually asked them at one point if they had modeled in the past. For example...I asked them to walk hand-in-hand down this street towards me for a few shots and the next thing I knew, Rob spun Kathryn around and dipped her! There was even a truck wanting to come down the street that had to wait, and of course it caused all the people on the sidewalks to stop and stare! IT WAS GREAT!! :) Way to go Rob!

I couldn't decide which version of this image to post here so I am posting 3 version :)

It's fun to see the reaction of the people around when shooting a session like this. Some people stop and look a long time trying to figure out if the subjects are famous or just what is going on :)

This next image made me think of a few people passing by that really slowed down and I could see on their faces that they were trying so hard to determine if they recognized my "models" ;)

Now don't you think that Kathryn & Rob could be doing Calvin Klein ads?! I do!!

At this point the sun was getting low on the horizon so we decided to let Portland cool off ;) and we headed across the bridge and off to Ft. Williams where Rob had surpised Kathryn with his proposal.

The park closes at 8:00 I believe, so by now we had not only lost decent light but we were being hurried out of the park. As we made our way back to the car the beatutiful color of the ocean drew us over to it for a few last shots despite the warnings being broadcast over loadspeakers by the Park Rangers that, "if you fail to leave NOW the gates will be locked...".

Well we risked being locked in the park all night to get this image (the sun was down, the pink of the ocean was reflecting from the pink clouds...just beautiful!)

Once again, I have to say I get the NICEST couples as clients!! I truly do. Other photographers should be jealous of me getting the great couples ;)

I absolutely love shooting E-Sessions with my couples. Not only do we get great images (and all couples should have nice photographs of themselves), but it is such a great way to get to know, and bond with, my couples. It is great fun as well as productive. And I found a perspective assistant too (right Kathryn?) !! :D

A big thank you to Kathryn and Rob for a wonderful evening together. Thank you for sharing your fun, personal stories with me while driving around :) Not to rush time by, but I can't wait until October 5th & 6th!!

Erin & Tom: The Urban E-Session

2007-07-29T14:55:00.000-04:00

Thursday found me headed south again. This time to Yarmouth to meet up with Erin and Tom for their E-Session. Probably the longest session I have ever had :) I arrived at their house around 1:45 p.m. and we finished up a couples minutes past 8:00.

When I first arrived we decided to chill-out on their back deck while enjoying some ice-cold, yummy cocktails that Tom twisted up for us (a great way to beat the 90+ degrees and humidity). We coud have sat right there all afternoon, but after a while we figured we should get get moving. I jumped in the back seat and Erin played 'Tour Guide" and drove me to both the Church and the Country Club where their September Wedding & Reception will be held before we headed into Portland's Old Port to begin shooting.

This first image was taken in front of 'Thai'd in Knots' furniture gallery...since they wil be "tying the knot" in less than 2 months. I know, the pun is kind of corny but I thought it was a cute spot for a picture :)

Tom bustin' out some of his 'Pole Dancing' moves for Erin...(wink)...or at least thats what it made me think of :)

...well whatever it was he was doing, it had an amazing affect on Erin (wink again), resulting in these H-O-T sidewalk images...

Tom doing a bit of 'sidewalk shopping' (kinda like window shopping) during our session ;)

I think he hated to just walk away from what caught his eye...

Ok...back to the H-O-T-N-E-S-S

this one might be my personal favorite of the day

There was no escaping this FIRE...

At this point we decided to take a break from the heat and had lunch and more tall, frosty beverages at 'The Dry Dock'.

Once break-time was over we headed to THE SPOT where Tom and Erin got engaged :)

We arrived JUST in time for sun set.

Check out the beautiful lighting we got for "Their Spot"!! Is that light delicious or what?!?!?

The very last minute of golden/red-ish sunlight for the day washed across their faces as we captured this tender moment...and then it was gone.

What a great day! What a Great Session! What a Great Couple!! My streak of having the nicest couples continues :D I feel so fortunate. My couples make my job sooooo enjoyable!!

I realize this was a long post, but I figured a 6 hour session needed a longer than usual post. What a fun day, I had a BLAST! I would like to thank Erin and Tom for their kindness and hospitality!! Thank you.

Can't wait until September 21st/22nd!!

Meet Amelia

2007-07-27T13:37:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday, the 21st (yes I know I am behind on my blogging...but what's new?!) I had the opportunity to meet Amelia and shoot her Senior Portraits :)

One of the first things Amelia said to me was that I "had my work cut out for me because she isn't very photogenic." WELL I BEG TO DIFFER!! :D She's a beautiful young lady who takes beautiful photographs!

Amelia has a great sense of humor and was a lot of fun to shoot with, we laughed almost the whole time except when we were cursing the sweat flies and black flies that were RELENTLESS.

Here are a few from our session, which proves I am right and she was very wrong :) (and as always...click 'em to enlarge 'em)

Allison & Matt

2007-07-16T10:58:00.000-04:00

Just this past Friday I took a ride down to the coast to meet up with Allison and Matt in the Topsham/Brunswick area to shoot their E-Session. Being from Virginia, this was my first chance to meet Allison and Matt as they were up in Maine for the weekend for Allison's bridal shower, visit with family, and shoot our session.

I feel so lucky, I get the NICEST couples as clients...I really do! Allison and Matt were great and I had such a fun evening with them :)

As with most couples from far away whom I don't get to have the initial meeting with, it can take a while to loosen up and get comfortable being in front of the camera of a person they just met who is asking them to display very open public displays of "affection" ;)
But they got the hang of it real quick and were a lot of fun to shoot.

The beautiful Sapphire Matt designed for Allison

And how HOT is this last one?!?! VERY HOT!!!

Carly & Todd

2007-06-18T13:52:00.000-04:00

I spent this past Saturday afternoon in beautiful Boothbay Harbor shooting Carly & Todd's E-Session. Carly & Todd were my first E-Session of the summer and I could not have asked for a nicer couple to start with! They are both from Rhode Island and have recently moved to the New York City area. They were up in Boothbay Harbor for the weekend working on the arrangements for their September wedding at Spruce Point.

The weather called for overcast/cloudy skies along the coast that day so we planned a mid-afternoon start time...well the forecast was wrong so we were shooting in mid-day bright, hazy sun but we made the best of it :) Here's a handful of images from our time together:

This last images was taken on the very spot that Todd Proposed to Carly last year :)

1st Swim

2007-06-17T08:07:00.000-04:00

Two days ago on Friday the kids FINALLY got to go swimming in the pool for the first time of the season. I say "finally" because they have been pestering to do so for a while :) But things have been busy and the pool was not ready as early as it usually is. They usually take their first plunge near the end of May. The water temp was a brisk 69 degrees so that is why you don't see any pics of me jumping in, I like it more like 78-80ish ;)

Seems like summer is here now!

The Bugs & The Bees

2007-06-13T13:57:00.000-04:00

The early summer flowers are now in bloom here in Zone 3. The following are from my gardens by the house.

Ants busily working on the Peonies, they will have them open in a day or two...

This Bumble Bee was extremely tolerant of me, luckily. It was not easy to get good images of this Bee. If you ever watch Bumble Bees you know that they are very busy workers, never staying in one place perfectly still which makes it really hard to lock focus on such a small target (not to mention how grumpy they are :) Well it took me at least 10 minutes and some 40 odd shots to get these images...

Jack's 'Reader's Theater'

2007-06-06T14:21:00.000-04:00

Well I managed to fall behind on blogging yet again. I just have to come to the conclusion that when life gets busy, blogging is a low priority and I will blog when I can. There :)

With that said...Jack's Kindergarden class recently held a 'Reader's Theater'. It was sooo cute. Instead of costumes and acting out little plays, the kids stand up in little groups of 3 and read their stories. It is so fun to watch this age group stand up in front of a room full of onlookers and read! They all did a GREAT job, and they overcame their "stage fright". Jack's little group of three read a cute story about some Little Ducks who were scared off by a motor boat.

Jack of course is on the right. He kept a close eye on Dad and smiled the whole time :)

Spring....we hope!

2007-04-25T11:20:00.000-04:00

Wow, over a month since my last entry, and I was going to do soooo much better :p
I am going to blame it on the weather, all we have had is snow, snow, and more snow. UGH. Anyway....we think Spring is here now. This past weekend we had temps in the mid 80's, no that is not a typo...80's! And I have never seen a couple feet of snow melt soooo fast!! :)

Yesterday I had to get out and walk around my property since the snow is mostly gone, and check out winters damage to trees and whatnot. I took some refreshing Spring pics as I was out walking.

This is a Lilac bud on the bush outside my home-office window. Should open into leaves soon! :)

A Maple bud, almost ready to open

Open Maple buds, leaves soon!

Open Maple buds with the moon

The warm April Sunshine

April can sometimes be a winter month in Maine, and the first 2/3 of it was. Let's all hope that Spring is here to stay :)

Beautiful By Sunset...Scary Fun By Day!

2007-03-22T11:56:00.000-04:00

The last snowstorm we had was supposed to dump another two feet on us, instead it snowed a short while and then turned to a sleet/snow mix for about 8 inches. It then turned bitterly cold again for a few days and the wind whipped through the area for days. The combination left us with a very hard, shiny, slippery snowcover surface.

Lex noticed one evening how beautiful the sunset light was reflecting on the icy snow surface and told me I should take some pictures. Well she has a great artistic eye for photography (really) so I just had to go and look at what she was seeing, and this is what she saw(as always, click to enlarge the images)...

There is so much beauty in nature, in so many places in so many forms. Ok, that's the 'Beautiful By Sunset' part. Now for the 'Scary Fun By Day' part!We love to slide, one of our favorite winter activities, and we are lucky enough to have a great sliding hill as part of our back yard which gets lots of use. But when it is sooooo slippery that it can't be walked up, the sleds have to be put away. Far to dangerous to sled on. The kids are all extreme sliders and have been schooled about 'rolling out' when they are going too fast and a crash is imminent, (like into the house or woods/trees, etc :) ). When conditions are like this even to bail out is futile, for once the speed is achieved you would still keep going 'sled speed' after abandoning the sled. These conditions make for some of the funnest sliding ever though...sliding on your butt, tummy, whatever! It's tricky to get up the hill, you have to kick 'toe holes' in every step of the way and one mis-step sends you sliding back down the hill in a fashion you don't want to!

Here are Lex and Emi heading up:

And here is Lex coming down. There is very little control once you let go and start down, you just have to hope you have a good line!!

And one of my rosy-cheeked, blue-eyed Emi after some extreme butt-sliding :)

Another WedPix Article on 'Alone Time'

2007-03-22T10:16:00.000-04:00

ALONE TIME: WEDDING DAY PORTRAITS WITH JUST THE BRIDE AND GROOM AND THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Amid all the flowers, food, music and festivities, there are two people at the focal point of a wedding: the wedding couple.
With all the attention heaped upon the bride and groom, a portrait session away from the crowds can help capture private moments between them. It gets the couple away from the pressure that comes with their wedding, and a chance to be alone to reflect on the occasion.
So why not consider at least a brief window of time to go off with the photographer to make some creative portraits in a picturesque environment, whether it be a park, old barn or nearby beach?

To be sure, a creative portrait session is not something that will happen at all weddings. Not all couples need or want one, and many prefer to let the moments captured during the ceremony and reception serve as photos of just the two of them.
And while it may seem like a deviation from truly just sitting back and letting the wedding photojournalist document the day as it unfolds, such portraits are no different than what photojournalists may find themselves doing most days while working for a newspaper, magazine or wire service. And it’s hardly the heavily posed photos of traditional wedding photography, but rather a way of putting the bride and groom into an environment and sometimes just letting them be.

ALONE TIME
Ideally, photographers will want to spend a relaxed period of time with the bride and groom during a portrait session. But with the demands of the wedding planner, caterers and others worked into the schedule, that luxury cannot always be realized. Sometimes a schedule may leave up to an hour for portraits. On other occasions, it may be only five minutes, or perhaps no time at all.
If it is something they choose to do, the couple of honor should make sure there is some window in which they can get away. It’ll pay off, as this quiet time will often produce some of the best portrait opportunities.
If the bride and groom choose to have a portrait session, says Shawna Herring, a WPJA award winner, “I’ll suggest that we plan on spending about 15 to 20 minutes after the ceremony with me, away from everyone else.”

WHEN TO STEAL AWAY
Opinions vary as to the best time for the bride and the groom to get some isolated quality time with the photographer, although most tend to try to capture a few portraits before the reception, when everyone still looks fresh.
WPJA award winner Bradley Hanson says that sometimes a bride and groom will want to do the portrait session before the entire ceremony. In these cases, he likes to start photographing the bride getting ready, and then observes as she meets the groom for the first time on their day.
Others find that taking the bride and groom away between the ceremony and reception leads to a great photo session, since the couple has just exchanged their vows and is experiencing the emotions of being a newly married couple.
“Something palpable happens after the ceremony,” Shane Carpenter says, “whether it’s just sheer elation that everything has passed, or the psychic emotional bond that's happened now that they've entered married life. As the documentarian, it's my job to catch that transition.”
A session after the ceremony also works well logistically, as wedding guests are often shuffling from the ceremony location to the reception hall. The travel time also lets the couple head off somewhere with the photographer for a shoot in an attractive environment.
Though it may be impossible to achieve the ideal alone time due to tradition, family responsibilities or scheduling conflicts, the bride and groom should work together with their photographer to find the best period in the day to have minimal disruption and optimal time.

LOOSENING UP BEFORE THE CAMERA
Unless the wedding involves a runway model marrying a seasoned actor, the odds are there will likely be at least one subject— the bride, groom or both— who is unfamiliar with being the focus of a portrait session. “Most people have a preconceived notion of what it's like to get their picture taken,” Herring says. “They almost expect to feel uncomfortable.”
One of the best ways for couples to loosen up in front of the camera is by forgetting it's even there. “I talk to the bride and groom and keep them focused on things other than being photographed,” says Hanson, who notes that he peppers the couple with questions about how they met, what they do, and where they’re off to afterwards to put them at ease.
Another way to get a few creative shots is to pick a day before the wedding for a photo shoot. Herring tends to do this, taking the couple out for two hours to a location of their choice. This strategy helps to build a relationship and lets the couple get comfortable with being in front of the camera. When the bride and groom begin interacting with each other, the camera stops being the focus and the result is great, un-posed images.

TOP TIPS FOR GREAT PORTRAIT SHOTS
Set aside a good chunk of time to spend with your photographer.
Get away from the guests and family to capture those truly intimate moments between the newly married couple.
If someone is camera shy, bring a relative or friend to help them loosen up.
Go out for a pre-wedding day shoot with the photographer for a totally relaxed session.

“It helps to calm their fears,” Herring says. “I don’t want them being nervous with me on the big day.”
If on the day of the wedding either the bride or groom has a hard time acting naturally, Hanson sometimes will pull in someone else—either the best man, maid of honor or another sibling—just to make the mood more informal.

KINDLY DITCHING THE RELATIVES
With all the great emotions that pour out when the couple are alone together, the last thing the wedding photographer needs is a portrait session ruined by the couple being distracted by numerous flashes and guests vying for their attention. It can also be overwhelming for the couple to have so many “look here” or “do this” demands tossed at them from a crowd of well wishers.
That’s why most suggest keeping the guests away for the private photo session. In fact, Herring stipulates it in the contract that everyone stay away for the private shoot.
If the families don't understand the snub, just be sure that someone explains that the whole point is to get the best creative portraits of the soon-to-be or newly minted husband and wife—images that will season the collection of other, more unplanned moments to be shared forever among family and friends.
— by Paul Ziobro for the Wedding Photojournalist Association

PLaying With Actions

2007-03-07T10:09:00.000-05:00

I love Black and White versions of images, both portraits and landscapes. Yesterday we had a high temp of -2F with windchills at negative-30 or less at my house so I happily spent the day inside, feeding the fire and playing with post proccessing actions. I usually convert my images to a "traditional" black and white but then really turn up the contrast to make them a little more 'edgy', but I decided to try some other variations and here is what I came up with:
(be sure to click on the images to enlarge them)

This one is the original, straight out of the camera (just camera pre-sets)

This is a "modern antique", it is almost b&w but there is some color left behind. This isn't the best image to showcase the action, but I think it's cool still

This one is "b&w mocha", kind of washes out the highlights a bit much but I still like it

This is called "chocolate syrup", mmmmmm yummy! This action is growing on me

This is "split tone" it is a cross between b&w and a sepia tone. I am really starting to like this action. It is what I used on my profile pic

And last but certainly not least is this edgy b&w that I applied a LOT of grain to. I love grainy b&w's!!

So there are some different variations of the same image using some pretty cool actions on it :)

WedPix Article

2007-03-05T09:18:00.000-05:00

ALL-ACCESS PHOTOGRAPHER PASS
For many, the most exasperating and dreaded moment of every wedding is right after the ceremony and before the reception, when everyone in the wedding party is called together for a grand staging, row after height-organized row, of matching taffeta and tuxedo silk.
"It's 'formal' picture-time!" - a wedding element as traditional as cake-cutting and garter tosses.

These days, however, brides and grooms are far more likely to break tradition when it comes to their weddings-and their photography. Couples are throwing creative and intensely personal weddings that represent their relationship. And they want their photography to capture that story-not the one a photographer is directing. Instead of pre-determined, posed stills, brides and grooms want to remember the unplanned, special moments that define the individuality of their wedding: a laugh between bridesmaids in the dressing room; a mother watching her daughter adjust her veil; the intimate moment between a father and his daughter, minutes before walking down the aisle; or the flower girl sitting in the grass, oblivious to her role, more interested in a dandelion than her basket of rose petals.
But there's a catch to pulling off this highly personal, documentary-style approach: you have to be willing to allow the photographer behind the scenes, giving him or her access to your most personal moments, so they can tell the story of your wedding-from beginning to end, and all the hidden parts in between.
BALANCING ASSETS AND EXPECTATIONS
Even if you think you've given your photographer unlimited access to your day, there are sometimes sticky situations that are out of your control. Churches, for example, often institute strict rules about where a photographer is permitted to stand during the ceremony. Another common restriction involves the use of flash photography. If that's the case, and there's truly nothing you can do, then you have to be realistic about the photos your photographer will be able to capture. If he or she has to stand in the back of the church, it will be impossible to document the bride's expression as she approaches her groom.
Amy Deputy, a wedding photojournalist and member of WPJA, says that designated church areas are one of the biggest roadblocks to access. "Churches have had such obnoxious photographers in the past, and it is a very sacred event," she says. "Sometimes it helps to talk it over with the pastor, and let him know that your photographer has promised to stay down low in the front and be respectful of the ceremony."

Daniel Sheehan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning commercial and editorial photojournalist, developed a strategy when he started photographing weddings-an interest that arose when he did a photo essay for a friend's wedding. Sheehan likes to attend the rehearsal, if only for a few minutes, in order to identify the key players in the wedding, as well as coach them if necessary on what kind of photographs he likes to capture. "At the rehearsal, they're thinking of everything that's going to happen the next day, minute-by-minute, and I can get an idea of what moments are important." And, if there's still a family member who's not cooperating the next day? "After working in newspaper for 15 years, I'm used to not listening," Sheehan says.

SCHEDULE ALONE TIME (UM, WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHER)
You will be tremendously busy on your wedding day, often with every minute scheduled and accounted for. If you know you want photographs that capture the two of you sharing a special moment alone, you should schedule time together-on a park bench, walking down the street, or just canoodling. "I like to have 30 minutes with just the couple," Deputy says. "Is that faux photojournalism? Maybe. But it's also creating a natural and special moment where they can just be in love." She won't set up a shot, but she encourages you to make the time, so these moments have a chance to take shape organically. Otherwise, they might not happen.

A PART OF THE FAMILY, FOR A DAY...
Deputy also recommends giving your wedding photojournalist a primer about your family dynamics. Share some personal details about your parents and siblings, so the photographer can get an idea of how to capture their strongest attributes, as well as the relationship you share with them. What's their story? Who should be photographed together? What do you love to do together?

To avoid any problems with family members barring the photographer from intimate settings or bugging the photographer for specific, posed group photographs, Chicago wedding photojournalist Anne Ryan stresses the importance of preparing your family beforehand for the type of photography you've chosen for your wedding. She has had good luck with couples who delegate a point person. This person is in charge of communicating with the photographer, identifying the VIPs, so the photographer can capture candid moments involving the near-and-dear cast of family and friends. "Everyone has that one friend or family member with drill sergeant mentality who likes to give orders," Sheehan says. "They become my accomplice." He also recommends putting together a shot list in advance.

EMOTIONALLY OPEN ACCESS
Most photographers agree that granting an all-access pass isn't just about physical spaces. "Photojournalism is about documenting great moments with totally unguarded emotions," Deputy explains. That means letting your guard down enough to let your photographer see who you are. Take time to get to know your photographer, and make sure you hire someone you feel a connection with.
You have to completely trust your photographer to handle your emotions responsibly, and to know intuitively when they should or shouldn't photograph. With trust comes comfort. "When people are the most natural and comfortable, that's when they look their best," Ryan says. "The moment you start directing, they start acting differently."
That's another reason Sheehan likes to make an appearance at the rehearsal. If he takes some photos at the rehearsal, he gets a preview of the people who pose. "People are trained-you point a camera at them, and they turn and give you a big smile," he says. "At the rehearsal, I can give them a talk, tell them to act natural when I'm around."
"When they know they're OK just the way they are, they give themselves permission to open up. And all of that is done in an instant," Deputy says. "When people are comfortable with who they are inside, they can look right into the camera-and there's a really powerful connection. That's a picture that tells a story."
— by Meghan McEwen for The Wedding Photojournalist Association

Student Awards

2007-03-03T13:52:00.000-05:00

Alexis and Emily each earned student awards this past Wednesday. They are such great kids and are both great students, which makes me so very proud of them!! They are both very well rounded with many interests both in and out of school. I just had to brag about them a little :)

I enjoy going to the monthly Assembly whenever possible, it is such a wonderful event for the students. The Strong School is a 'Blue Ribbon School', one of only three schools in the state to earn that high honor, and one of only 300 odd schools in the nation. The expectations are high for the students in our school, and a lot is demanded of the students. For all their hard work they are awarded recognition in front of the entire Student Body and Faculty each month and there is always a large number of students called up for numerous awards. These are not just "fluff" awards given for simply trying, they are awards that are earned with hard work and excellence. The students set goals and tend to meet and exceed them on a regular basis. The positive effect on the children can be seen at the monthly Assembly as they are recognized for all they do. It is just a great event at a great school in a great community.

Ok, enough boasting about our school :) here are some pics of my girls from the Assembly this past Wednesday (the gymnasium is lit by harsh florescent lighting only, so I used some post processing actions on the images to enhance them which I rarely do. The action is a 'Hollywood' action, designed to make the images "dreamy" and "hollywood-like" :) ).........

Emi receiving her certificates for all 100's on her spelling tests for December and January

Lex receiving a certificate for being invited to the 'Principal's Breakfast' for "Helping Others With Technology" . Introducing Lex to the computer when she was one years old is paying off ;)

Here she is receiving her award for High Honors (all A's). She was one of 4 in her class.

And last but not least, Lex was awarded "Student Of The Month' for the month of January '07. The write-up accompanying her award was really nice. She does such a great job in school, is super helpful to others, volunteers for everything, and gets involved with everything going extracurricular wise.

These are of her receiving her S.O.M. Award :)

WedPix Article - The Rehearsal Dinner

2007-02-27T14:03:00.000-05:00

I love it when something I have offered from the beginning, such as Rehearsal Dinner Coverage, is the topic of an article of something that is beginning to catch on or becoming trendy :)
The following article is from the WPJA's 'WedPix' magazine....

PHOTOGRAPHING THE REHEARSAL DINNER
Next to the pomp and fanfare of the wedding day, the rehearsal dinner has historically gone undocumented by the wedding photographer. Without photographs of the evening, it’s been treasured only in the memories of those who attended it. Well, no longer. A number of vanguard wedding photojournalists now document the rehearsal dinner and in so doing are able to capture the entire wedding experience, from the setting of the first plate to the dimming of the dance floor lights at the reception.
In order to gain more insight, we turned to two WPJA award winners whose work has led them to document those once not-so-flashy dinners. Not surprisingly, we found that their experience reflects the overarching aim of every wedding couple who hires a wedding photojournalist: It’s about the moments.
REUNITING WITH LOVED ONES, NEAR OR FAR
In looking for the origin of this relatively newer practice of photographing the rehearsal dinner, we found that most signs point to the beach, the mountains, abroad, and to every other idyllic locale imaginable. When family and friends fly from far and near to a beautiful destination to be with one another and celebrate their host and hostess, it’s common for the bride and groom to want more than a single day’s worth of photography. Especially since the photographer is flying in as well, most likely for a pretty penny.
Yet you don’t need to be hundreds or thousands of miles away from home in order to capture the magic of the rehearsal evening. Wherever those closest to you are gathering, even if it’s just down the street, you can still preserve those one-in-a-lifetime moments.
In either case, for some, it seems a waste to wait until the actual wedding day for the camera to start flashing.
Award winner Hollye Schumacher notes that “A lot of times the rehearsal dinner is when the family members see each other for the first time. This initial reunion is a little more genuine…it’s exciting.” By the day of the wedding, those first emotional moments have passed. While there is definitely a lot of excitement on the big day, it surrounds the bride and groom, and the guests may be more reserved, at least until the reception is in full swing.

Schumacher’s photograph of a rehearsal dinner cocktail hour overlooking a cityscape was taken of several guests and family members who had flown to Scottsdale, Arizona, from England. In this instance, the bride had asked Schumacher to attend the rehearsal dinner as a guest, and never to be one without a camera in hand, she photographed the evening.
Beyond the initial reunion between the guests, WPJA award winner Meg Baisden finds that she is able to gain greater insight into the relationships between the guests and the bride and groom. She notes, “We can make real honest connections with our clients; and being a destination market, that’s not always the case if you show up the day of. This [photographing the rehearsal dinners] gives us the opportunity to find out who their families are and view them interacting.” By the day of the wedding, she is more adept at spotting those special interactions between the guests who are most significant to the bride and groom.
THE DIFFERENCE

What happens at rehearsal dinners that doesn’t happen at wedding receptions? A lot, according to Baisden. She says, “It’s where the real toasts are given. Everyone stands up to toast the couple. It’s one of the most emotional events of the whole wedding process.” She speculates that more toasts are given on this evening because the crowd is generally smaller and there is a more relaxed vibe.
Many WPJA photographers point out that photographing the rehearsal dinner also enables the guests to become comfortable with them. By the day of the wedding, they are less camera-shy than they would be if they had only shown up on the wedding day. They may even completely ignore the photographer, which is her goal, Baisden explains. “If they’ve already seen that I work in the background, letting them ‘do their thing,’ they are more likely to fall into a groove right away without worrying about what I’m doing.”
THE CONCEPT
While more and more photographers are capturing rehearsal dinners, many brides and grooms haven’t considered it as an option. Baisden has a blog devoted to the rehearsal dinner so that potential clients know ahead of time that she offers this add-on and they can see the results for themselves.

When you consider that your wedding photojournalist may be available to document the entire wedding experience, it’s not hard to understand the potential memory opportunities in photographing the rehearsal dinner, even if the dinner is expected to be relatively small. Baisden has had clients who had not planned on having a large party but after seeing her work and “the smiles and the tears,” decided to build a big rehearsal so she could photograph it.
How much extra might this cost? It depends largely on your wedding photojournalist. Schumacher charges her clients an hour and a half for the dinner, so, as she puts it, “They know my time is valuable. Otherwise, they would be asking me to stay indefinitely.”
Baisden is also reasonable in assessing her fees or the rehearsal dinner coverage.
HOW REHEARSALS ARE PHOTOGRAPHED
The basic idea behind photographing the rehearsal dinner is the same as that used for the wedding reception. Schumacher says, “I get all the overall shots, because that’s what they’re looking for. I photograph the location, the restaurant signs and so on to get a broader feel for the setting, and then I move in and get the moments that are happening inside.”
Baisden finds that at the rehearsal dinner there are a lot more of what she calls “grip ‘n grin” pictures, where guests request that their pictures be taken, usually with an arm clutched around a couple of people. Though she generally shies away from these types of pictures, always opting for a photojournalistic style, she prefers to get them out of the way at the rehearsal dinner.
It makes sense to plan for the rehearsal dinner to be a part of the memories you want captured. The additional planning and expense involved with having your photographer present is worth it. Photographs of this evening will help tell the story of your wedding experience in its entirety.
—by Lauren Ragland for the Wedding Photojournalist Association

WedPix Article - Church Restrictions

2007-02-27T13:49:00.000-05:00

The following article is from the WPJA's 'WedPix' Magazine...

DEALING WITH CHURCH PHOTOGRAPHY RESTRICTIONS
You can argue that of all the photos on your wedding day, the ones taken during the ceremony are the most meaningful—that’s why you’re there, right? It’s ironic, then, that wedding photojournalists regularly have the most trouble shooting their best work in the churches where these very ceremonies take place. Often times, significant moments unfold in front of camera lenses that are too far away, positioned at awkward angles, and photographers are forced to operate under sub-optimal conditions.
While few wedding photojournalists would recommend selecting a church based solely on how the photos will turn out, there are some important points to consider before the big day—if capturing the moments of your church ceremony is a priority, that is.
UNDERSTAND THE RESTRICTIONS

Church restrictions pertaining to photography can vary wildly. And while wedding photojournalists all cite different restrictions that make them particularly crazy, one thing seems to jive with many: they want to know up-front what the restrictions are, so there are no surprises on the wedding day.
“Very few brides and grooms even think about this stuff beforehand. They book a church because it’s beautiful and then they get their rules,” says WPJA member Tyler Wirken, who gets frustrated when brides and grooms have to play catch up, retrofitting their photography needs to fit often misunderstood—and in his opinion, arbitrary—restrictions.
“There are times when I’m not allowed to photograph the ceremony at all,” WPJA member Kathi Littwin says. “But it shouldn’t be something that just pops up on the wedding day. They need to find out ahead of time, so they can decide how to proceed.”

“That’s when you have to dissect those rules, like nobody’s business,” Wirken says. If they say “Absolutely no photos during the ceremony,” he recommends getting creative with semantics: Does that mean no photography? Or no photographer? “Because you can always set up a camera on a tripod, just scheduled to shoot away with no photographer.” You may not get the greatest photos, but at least you’ll have some record of what actually happened during your wedding ceremony.
Wirken is very frank with his clients about what he can accomplish, given tight restrictions. “I don’t just say, ‘We’ll figure it out.’” He feels strongly about letting his clients know exactly how the restrictions are going to affect the photographs. For example, if the church will only allow a photographer to shoot from behind the last row of people, then the couple should not expect a spread of shots showing their facial expressions during their vows. There’s always going to be a repercussion.
Churches often impose rules about where the photographer can stand during the ceremony. Some churches won’t let photographers on the altar. Others insist they can only stand behind the last row of people, or shoot only from the balcony. WPJA member Peter Pawinski says the most common request he gets is the pick-one-spot-and-stay-with-it restriction. He can do it—and get some really nice, tight shots from almost anywhere—but the couple should not expect a wide variety of angles.

“The couples need to understand what is and isn’t possible. The bride and groom should discuss the restrictions with the wedding photojournalist,” says Pawinski. “Feel him out. See if he’s comfortable working with the restrictions.”
GETTING FACE TIME
Wirken doesn’t mind having to be in one spot, as long as he can get access to the emotion during the ceremony. “I have to see those faces during the ceremony,” he says. “That’s the whole reason we’re there that day. It’s that 30-minute ceremony. To me, that’s the peak action.”
He wants to be able to capture those poignant moments that define the wedding day. “It’s the little glances—that’s what I live for during the ceremony. If I’m in the back of the church, I can’t get that, and it frustrates me. I’m back there, knowing those moments are happening, and I can’t get them.”
Pawinski agrees. In the albums he shows people during consultations, there’s a beautiful shot of the bride facing the groom during the ceremony. “It’s a quiet, intimate moment shared between bride and groom. As a photojournalist, I’m really disappointed when I can’t get into a position to capture that.” During every wedding, he says, there’s a glance at one another, a shared laugh. “There’s a whole gallery of expressions when they’re at the altar that you can’t capture when they’re facing the priest,” he says.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Our wedding photojournalists have the same advice: talk to your wedding official. They usually have the power to bend the rules. Sometimes the restrictions are outdated, sometimes they are not enforced, or the official is willing to overlook them, if you make a strong case.
“I go to rehearsals just to sit down and talk to the official,” Wirken says. “I’m one of those photographers who says, ‘No, I want to be here.’” He says it can depend entirely on the mood of the person making decisions that day.
The clergy person or justice who will serve as your wedding official, or officiant, needs to understand that your wedding photojournalist is not going to show up and cause a major disturbance. Perhaps that person has had bad experiences with pushy, inconsiderate wedding photographers in the past. It’s your job to let them know your wedding photojournalist will be respectful of the ceremony. Littwin makes sure the officiant knows that your photographer will shoot with a tripod and without flash, if necessary. Wedding photojournalists, by definition, are there to capture what’s happening as inconspicuously as possible —almost invisibly.
“In journalism training, you learn to move at certain times, when you’re not going to make a distraction. I wait for everyone to stand up in the pew, when there’s going to be noise, before I move,” Wirken says.
“There are times where I’ve seen a photographer step on the altar during the ceremony, and receive instruction from the officiant. I will not do that,” Littwin adds.
In order to capture facial expressions in a church that won’t budge on its photographer location policy, Pawinski recommends asking the officiant if they’re willing to set up chairs facing the audience. When there’s no angle straight-on, this at least allows the photographer to capture their faces during some of the significant moments.
IRKSOME INJUSTICE
Another point to raise: the restrictions are usually placed only on the photographer—not the guests, who are all snapping (and flashing!) willy-nilly with their point-and-shoot cameras. That’s one of Wirken’s biggest frustrations, considering he makes every effort at being discreet—and will avoid using flash when asked (“it doesn’t look good anyway.”)
If patient explanation gets you nowhere, bring out the big guns. “My last-straw, biggest trick is always the bride. Never tell them, ‘My photographer wants this.’ If the bride says, ‘I want him to be able to be up there.’ That goes a longer way. It works,” Wirken says.
What most wedding photojournalists will not do is break the rules. “There are rules within the church,” Pawinski says. “And most of us will not break the rules for the bride and groom. We have to show professionalism. And the ceremony is a sacred event, not a theatrical show,” Pawinski says. ”I’ll move wherever I’m allowed, but I will not draw attention to myself.”
Other wedding photojournalists may not be so docile. As the ones hired to actually document the ceremony, they feel that if rules are placed only on them and a ‘No Photography’ or ‘No Flash Photography’ general announcement is not made to all guests in attendance at the wedding, then they are free to follow what the guests are doing. If the guests are shooting flash, they’ll use it as well, if needed, regardless of the do's and dont's that were mandated in advance.
In churches where they won’t allow photography at all, Littwin says, they usually suggest restaging the important moments from the wedding. “Nobody ever wants to do that, including me,” Littwin says. It defeats the notion of wedding photojournalism.
What’s most important, she insists, is that the couple has an attachment to their church—that they feel comfortable and connected to the place they choose. “My desires are second to that. Regardless of what the priest lets me do, I make it work.” Just like most wedding photojournalists, her biggest request is open communication. “I don’t want to be surprised or have to look for someone on the wedding day.”
— by Meghan McEwen for the Wedding Photojournalist Association

Don Morrison's Crab and Corn Chowder

2007-02-26T19:46:00.000-05:00

YUM! YUM! YUM!

If time permits I like to catch '207' on WCSH TV 6 out of Portland which airs at 7:00 p.m. Great local flavors for the arts, entertainment, food, areas of interest, etc.
Well one night a while back I happen to watch when Don Morrison was on making his Crab and Corn Chowder. I am so glad I watched that evening! We here in Maine love to have Chowders as well as stews and soups in the long cold winter months....but mostly Chowders. I love chowder! I love all types of seafood chowders and I really enjoy a good corn chowder as well. I never would have thought to combine the two until now. This is wicked good! Do yourself a favor and make this chowder! If you go to the WCSH Website and look under the '207' section you can even find the video of Don Making this. Enjoy!!

Don Morrison's Crab and Corn ChowderIngredients:
4 oz. Butter
1 ea. Large Onion (diced fine)
4 ea.Large Potatoes (cubed and cooked)
1 cup 1/2 & 1/2
1 cup Evap. Milk
1 cup Clam Broth
2 cans Canned Whole Kernel corn (Drained but save the Juice)
1 can Creamed Corn
2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
1 1/2 pounds Fresh, hand picked Maine Crabmeat

Directions:Step 1: Preheat 6-quart soup pot on med high heat with butter.

Step 2: Add onions, whole Corn, and half the crabmeat. Cook until onions are clear. Add Old bay seasoning and Cook 3 more minutes.

Step 3: Add Clam broth, liquid from corn, and creamed corn. Bring to boil and add evap. milk and 1/2 & 1/2 and slowly bring chowder to a low simmer being careful not to boil. Add potatoes. Add the remainder of the Crabmeat the next day, just before serving the chowder.

Step 4: Cool chowder in refrigerator overnight and serve the following day. All chowders are always best if made the day before. Enjoy!

Wedding Party Roles

2007-02-26T10:24:00.001-05:00

Being a member of the WPJA, I get an online magazine from them called WedPix. It has some really great articles in it pertaining to the Bride and Groom so I thought I would start putting some of them onto my Blog for you to read. I hope they prove to be of interest and of help to you :)

The following article is from the Feb 2007 issue of WedPix:

WEDDING PARTY ROLES

While wedding party stereotypes still exist, most people realize there’s more to being a bridesmaid than looking beautiful, more to being a groomsman than adding life and excitement to the reception party. But even the bride and groom might not fully understand just how helpful these roles can be, long after the train is bustled and the speeches given. With a little direction (and not that much effort), members of the wedding party can facilitate great wedding photojournalism—a favor that will elicit enduring gratitude every time you look at the wedding pictures.

WPJA award winners offer some insight on this matter:

INTRODUCE YOUR WEDDING PHOTOJOURNALIST

Don’t assume that everyone in your bridal party understands wedding photojournalism. And it’s not your wedding photojournalist’s job to spend the day educating everyone. You have picked (and paid) your wedding photojournalist for his documentary style and creative eye, so you don’t want him fielding too many special (cheesy and posed) requests from your wedding party—taking away time from the natural moments you hired him to capture.

David Crane

WPJA award winner David Crane, who has had mostly positive experiences with wedding parties, attributes his good fortune to working closely with the bride and groom before the wedding day, so they understand how he works. “The bride and groom have paved the way for me to do my job,” says Crane. “They have briefed their family and friends as to how I will be working throughout the day and what to expect from me.”

Introducing your wedding photojournalist to your wedding party is key, says WPJA member Nate Kaiser, stressing the importance of the informational introduction. “Say something like ‘Hey everyone, this is Nate. He’s a wedding photojournalist, which means he takes candids.’ You need to preface the style. It’s pre-wedding instruction,” he says. A few of his bridal parties have actually circulated wedding day handbooks, including a line or two about the wedding photojournalist and how to act (or not act) for the camera. “It’s really important to let them know they don’t have to stop and smile and pose for the photographer,” he says.

WPJA member Kevin Kelley says it’s helpful when brides and grooms let their party know to go about their day naturally, as if the camera isn’t there. “Awareness of this general rule helps drastically,” says Kelley. “I’ve missed some beautiful shots as a result of someone stopping what they were doing because the camera was present, thinking I wanted them to smile.”

WHAT NOT TO DO

When you’re briefing your wedding party about the philosophy of wedding photojournalism, it’s crucial to include a list of things not to do, so your wedding photojournalist can get the best possible photos.

Nate Kaiser

Kaiser offers a couple of examples of how your wedding party can be detrimental to good wedding photojournalism. First, there’s the quintessential frat party photo: “The group that won’t let you take a candid shot without stopping and grabbing their friends, who all throw their beer can at the camera.” Then, even more annoying (because the wedding photojournalist takes the brunt of the scorn) there’s the person who takes personal offense to the efforts: “The moment you train your lens, you get the look of death that says ‘What are you doing? Get away from me.’”

This is why it’s important to explain to your wedding party what kind of photos your wedding photojournalist will be taking.

“When a wedding party understands your style of shooting, they won’t freak out when they see you capturing an odd angle or photograph of detail, says Kelley. “A general understanding of your style by the party will also aid in producing a higher level of quality photos throughout the day. If your style is to capture everything naturally, the more people who know this, the more opportunities the photographer will have for great images.”

The wedding party should also understand when it’s appropriate—and even more often, when it’s not—to give your wedding photojournalist direction.

“The ‘direction’ that I don’t mind is when people alert me if there is action on the other side of the room or dance floor that I may not be noticing at the moment,” says Kelley. An overprotective bridesmaid who wants your wedding photojournalist to capture every perfect photo op is another story.

Kaiser agrees. He has experienced bridesmaids who want to stage situations that were photographed at their own weddings—like requesting he photograph the bride’s head going under the veil, and then insisting that she do it again and again to make sure he gets the right shot.

Help your wedding party understand the difference between direction and friendly forewarning—especially when a memorable and unplanned scene is unfolding across the room and the wedding photojournalist is immersed in another (maybe not as important) photo.

“I have gotten some fantastic shots because family and friends of the bride and groom have given me a heads up about a situation that they know is going to occur. With the popularity of wedding photojournalism growing, my ‘job’ has become much easier,” says Crane.

GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND

An obvious task for wedding party members is making sure everyone is where they should be for group photos. “When important people are missing from such shots, I have to spend much of my time during the rest of the day rounding up the missing people for the group shots, which the couple wanted, sometimes missing great "moments" to do so,” says Crane.

Kaiser recommends appointing a go-to person, like the maid-of-honor or a sibling, who knows all the family members and important guests. He usually asks the couple before the wedding to designate someone to find missing people, so the bride and groom don’t have to worry about it.

Last year Kaiser shot a 600-person Chinese wedding, and no matter how much he tried to negotiate, they wanted 45 formal group shots. An incredibly helpful and outgoing groomsman stood at the front of the church and barked orders to families, and they got through 45 formal groupings in 25 minutes. “He rocked,” says Kaiser. “And we’re actually shooting his wedding this year.”

Kevin Kelley

Kelley says the wedding party can also help make the wedding photojournalist’s job easier by trusting the photographer and heeding his/her suggestions, such as moving to a different location for portraits because of lighting. And, of course, staying focused and attentive during the portrait session helps with flow. If the bride and groom are nervous, their nervousness will show up on camera. Bridesmaids and groomsmen are the best people to help put them at ease, so their wedding photos reflect more genuine expressions.

As the night progresses, ask one or two members of your wedding party to check in on your photographer from time to time. Water, dinner, questions, administrative needs (like handing over any checks, or requesting additional time), so you’re free to enjoy your wedding. Often these gestures do something even more important than the obvious: they make your wedding photojournalist feel welcome. You might even want to encourage your wedding party to invite the photographer into semi-private moments or unique settings throughout the wedding and reception. It’s the little things. “I would go anyway, because that’s my job,” says Kaiser. “But it’s nice to know that you’re wanted.”

—by Meghan McEwen for the Wedding Photojournalist Association

New Gear Arrived!!

2007-02-20T15:27:00.000-05:00

Well my new Canon 5D arrived safely last week. A few days late due to the Blizzard, but better late than never! This camera is unbelieveable!! I LOVE it!!!!! I won't bore you with all the reasons why I love it so much, but a few things I truly love are the full-frame sensor, the incredible files this thing delivers and the ability to have soooo much control of of how the images come out of the camera with the in-camera settings. Below are some samples, and NONE of them have had any post-processing done to them...they are straight out of the camera (even the b&w's). The colors are amazing, just amazing. I have barely put this camera down since I got it 5 days ago and have already put a few thousand clicks on it. It is just such a sweet piece of equipment!!

I was really impressed with the following outside shots. The snow can really cause troubles with whitebalance & exposure and make it hard to get good images without doing some post-processing work so I knew this would be a good test. Again, all images straight out of the camera...

Later on, after the sun had gone down where we were sliding, the images were still great. The color is still fantastic after the sun dropped below the western horizon. No sun, no flash, and the colors still "popped". What a great camera. I am soooo pleased!!!

I soooooooo can't wait until the weather warms up and everything turns green so I can start shooting my Incredible Clients with the new 5d!! :) In the mean time I have a few great sessions coming up in the Portland area with some beautiful ladies, and of course I will grace the BED BLOG with those H-O-T images as soon as they happen!

Think Spring!!

California Dreamin'

2007-02-15T10:43:00.000-05:00

THIS...

(Today, the day after the "Valentines Blizzard of '07" as seen from my breezeway)

Or This...

Santa Catalina Island as seen from Laguna Beach, CA

Ahhhhhhhh, Sunny Southern Cali....this time last year I was in Laguna Beach. This year I am two feet deep in fresh new powder...but not skiing, no no. Snowblowing. ugh. Quite a storm...I would rather be in Laguna (sigh). Being a skier you would think I would be excited. I am, sort of. I do like snow and have always loved big storms. But I have Southern Cali in my blood now and winters just don't seem the same (sigh again). Well here in the Western Mountains we definately had blizzard conditions, with white out conditions all through the overnight. The winds are really strong today as well with gusts upwards of 50 mph which really makes snoblowing a drag. The snow blows in the face, can't see, not to mention the wind chill factor.

I am expecting new gear, a new camera and lens. It was supposed to be delivered yesterday by UPS but they failed to show. I went out in the storm every two hours yesterday and snowblowed my drive and yard just so the UPS guy could get up to my house (I have a drive that is an easy 300 feet long with the first 100 or so uphill). No small task. And he never shows!! I have been tracking the new gear online and UPS stated that I, "WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO SIGN FOR DELIVERY OF PACKAGE". That irritated me a bit to say the least, after I made sure I was home all day and even kept this huge driveway and yard cleared of snow during the storm so he could deliver. He just failed to show and then put it in the system that it was my fault. Oh well, let's hope he arrives today as I am very anxious for my new gear!! :) I'm like a kid on Christmas morning when it comes to new photo gear arriving!!

BLOG Much?

2007-02-11T11:15:00.000-05:00

Wow, where to start.....I have been sooooooo slack with blogging! I cannot believe how long it has been since I made the last entry. I had all the best intentions to BLOG regularly when I started but I have found it very hard to maintain. Maybe it is because of my lifestyle; Those of you who know me know that I raise my three young children by myself which is extremely time consuming, operate two businesses, and outsource nothing. I was going to get back in the swing of regular blogging on New Years...how'd that work?!?! Well at least it wasn't a resolution ;) (Happy Belated New Years to you all btw). I think blogging is a good thing, it allows clients a chance to know me better and to get a glimps into my world not only professionally, but also personally. As you can tell by the archives, I tend to mostly blog about the personal side. I plan to do more on the business side this year as well, especially since I link to this Blog from my photography website. That is also the reason I need to blog more regularly...I considered taking the link from my website since I never seem to update the Blog, but decided it best for all reasons to leave IT and just try to find the time to blog more :)

Just got over the Flu, ugh! It had me in it's clenches for what seemed like forever. Then of course it had to make it's run through the house making the kids sick as well, UGH! The past few weeks have sucked to say the least. No maid shows up when I am sick, no chef, etc. Things still have to be done to keep the household up and running, when all I really want to do is stay in bed and rest.
Then there was the trouble with my WebHost. Because I have been sick and/or taking care of sick kids I didn't notice for awhile...but I was not getting any e-mail!! Once I realized this I contacted My WebHost to let them know that I was not getting mail for almost two weeks and poeple I spoke with told me they were getting e-mails returned saying my box was full, trunkated, etc. Once informed, the WebHost addressed the problem and my inbox was flooded with two weeks worth of e-mail. I have been trying to catch up so if I have not gotten back to you, I will. Anywho....

I have a lot of photos I planned to include in my posts throughout the Fall, so i may just start plugging those in in my next few posts, just to make sure I am blogging something ;)

If I had gotten around to blogging a bit sooner than this, I wanted to do some sort of Valentines Day promo. Something along the lines of a contest perhaps, awarding the lucky winner a free session (engagement, bridal, something wedding related). Maybe offering a discount on any wedding package booked on Valentines Day...something. So if I have any 'BED Blog' followers left, let me ask you...Is/Was this a good idea and is it too late to do so(maybe run a post-Valentine contest....kind of like a "Belated Valetines Day" thing??????) Comments welcome.

There are some great things in store for 2007. I have some wonderfuly fantastic couples that I can not wait to work with! And I WILL keep things up-to-date on here (that's nt a promise, that's me convincing myself to do so) ;)

STAY WARM!!

My Little S.O.M. !!!

2006-10-18T18:30:00.000-04:00

EMILY........
..........was awarded the 'Student Of The Month' for the month of September in her 1st Grade Class! :) I am sooo proud of her!!! She has worked very hard and is very deserving. The 'write-up' of her which accompanies the award was full of wonderful comments about Emi, and the phone call I received from her teacher previous to the award ceremony was a very nice one in which some very nice things were said about her as well.

Other school news.....Lex just wrapped up the soccer season this past Monday. After a tough rebuilding season, her team was eliminated in the first round of the tourney. Lex is now eager for Basketball to start :)

Perfect crisp, clean, fall weather prevailed all season for every game. It's funny, Lex seems so big at home compared to Jack &Emi but when she is on the field as a 5th grader she sure doesn't look as big next to the 8th grade girls she plays against. But she holds her own and is off to a great start in her soccer career :)

Moose X-ING

2006-09-19T08:30:00.000-04:00

Due to this mornings weather I decided to take the kids to school so we wouldn't have to wait for the bus in the drizzle. When I returned home I noticed this BIG visitor down in the front yard. We get lots of wildlife roaming through our property, but no moose since this spring (will post some pics of the little moose from this spring soon).

He stayed for a while and let me get relatively close, but then he decided he had had enough of me and headed back where he came from. I was glad he decided to go that way instead of my way because I had slowly worked my way quite close to him and I was in the wide open with no safety within a hundred feet if he had decided to come at me, and as it is getting deeper into Fall and closer to their Rut Season you never know how the bulls will react. But close is worth it, gives you an adrenaline rush to get up close to these monsters!

And as he started to "get away from me" I started to rush towards him to get a few more shots which actually made him start to run off, and then he crashed into the woods and was gone...

Cool way to start the day!! :)

First Day

2006-09-07T08:38:00.000-04:00

Last Wednesday was the first day of school for the kids. We have to get up at dawn (5:30) in order to make a 7:00 bus for school that starts at 8:05 (and we live within 2 miles of the school, figure that out). It is barely light and usually quite chilly....

The favorite thing to do while waiting for the bus is throwing rocks across the road...

Saying goodbye...and the dogs sadly moped all day after the kids left

And then they left. At least one of them has always been home since Lex was born over 10 years ago...a HUGE part of ME got on the bus too...(sigh)

Alyson's SlideShow

2006-08-26T20:31:00.000-04:00

I did it, I actually got Alyson's slideshow done today!! So to enjoy...turn up your spreakers and click here

Alyson

2006-08-25T21:09:00.000-04:00

Had the pleasure of shooting Alyson today. She is simply amazing!! I had such a great time working with her! She has the most beautiful smile, and such a positive, fun, upbeat personality...making her a joy to work with. Here are a few from today and if I can narrow down the almost 900 images we took to a decent slideshow amount I will post the slideshow....hopefully tomorrow!!

I was even lucky enough to have my picture taken with Alyson at the end of our session!! :)

Rev'd Up!!

2006-05-24T12:59:00.000-04:00

Well Spring has sprung, and bikes are out! Did a really fun shoot with Dan a short while back. He looks like he shoud be modeling for motorcycle ads!! It was great fun and he was a good sport putting up with me and my requests that we drive here and then there to get the shots. Turn up your volume and click here to see the slideshow.

Spring Cut

2006-04-10T17:36:00.000-04:00

It was time for Jack and myself to go get our spring haircuts the other day, and I have never photographed him getting one before so I took the camera with me. We had a good time getting cuts together...Jack made me go first to make sure everything was going to be fine when he had his turn ;) He had a little mishap while getting his shampoo, the water got a bit too hot for him so he instinctively sat right up and got his shirt completely soaked. Faith threw it in the clothes dryer while he had his cut (he wore his wet T while his hair was cut) and it was all dry by the end so he just switched shirts and we were good to go...out to lunch together :)

Jack needed a little assurance that the clippers were not going to cut him...

This haircut stuff is pretty serious business...

Or is it.....?? ;)

Emi's Tooth

2006-04-06T15:49:00.000-04:00

Emi reached a milestone today...she lost her first tooth!! The girls got off from the bus today all excited and trying to tell me how she lost her tooth just as fast as they could talk. Well what seems to have happened was this....Emi decided to pull out one of her very loose front bottom teeth today...ON THE BUS!! Silly girl....so it caused quite the big event on the bus as she was bleeding quite a bit and the bus had to be pulled over so the driver could help attend to her with some wet paper towels. I have been trying to get her to just pull them out for a while now, and today she decides to do it on the bus. The other one is ready to come out as well, and she is thinking of pulling that one out as well ;) As you can see from the picture, she has her two permanent ones growing in BEHIND the baby ones....ugh, can you say "Braces In The Future"?!? She has been looking forward to contributing some teeth to the construction of the ever expanding Tooth Fairy's Palace. She is really proud of herself....and so I am :)

What To Do On A Teacher's Workshop Day

2006-03-25T22:51:00.000-05:00

Lex, Emi, Jack & myself decided to take advantage of a Teacher's Workshop day and some relatively warm weather(we didn't need jackets, gloves, & hats) and head down over the hill to my Uncle Robin's barn to take some pics yesterday. Most of the snow has melted around the barn except on the north side of course. The kids had fun being the subjects of the "shoot" (I think they liked it mostly for the chance to go up to the deck on top of the old silo which now houses a sauna), and we did manage to get some nice shots. A few samples below.....

Young Photogs!

2006-03-10T07:17:00.000-05:00

My children already love being Photogs! They actually take some pretty nice images, and they love to "chimp" their work. The beginning of a future family business? hmmmm...

Jack, age 4

Emi, age 6

Emi with sister Lex ( age 10, blown out in the background)