Kids at the Wedding
Before my busy wedding season starts in April I’ve been doing a multitude of “projects”. One of my long long put off projects was categorizing stock images from weddings so when a magazine editor calls me I can access them quickly. I just love the “ahhhh” factor of kids at weddings and thought I’d share some old favorites with you. The last photo of of my most handsome grandson Zac at my nephew Michaels wedding several years ago. He was the ring bearer!
Call Me Master!
OK, Mistress will do….. only kidding! I was recently conferred the Master of Photography degree by the Professional Photographers of America, which is the highest honor in this worldwide association of more than 22,000 members! It is one the most prestigious awards that can be earned in professional photography. Begun in 1937, PPA Degrees are professional recognition of accomplishment in photographic competitions for those individuals who have consistently excelled in the peer-judged PPA International Print. Artists all have our own paths to perfecting their art and their craft. Print competition has always been one of mine. Year after year, it has forced me to look at my work more critically and develop the skills needed to grow as an artist. I remember when I started doing competition I would sometimes not score as highly on an image that I loved. I would get angry at the judges, of course, but when I brought out the image a year later, I would see their point and I would grow. A wonderful compliment that I received last year from a judge was, “here is a photographer that knows the “rules” so well, they can break the rules, and it works”. As artists, we don’t always want to believe there are “rules”, but by internalizing them, we no longer have to think about them. Art is an ongoing process for me, always searching for perfection and never quite achieving it. I’m treating myself in 2010 and I’m not doing competitions. Sort of a little break! I’ll be back in 2011 to do competitions again, not for the glory but for the growth.
Bridal Open House at Elkins Estate
I’m looking forward to meeting many new couples at the Culinary Concepts March Bridal Open House at Elkins Estate in Northern Philadelphia on Thursday evening. I don’t often do bridal fairs but I was honored to be asked to do this with so many of the Philadelphia “A” list vendors. I’ll be bringing many of my albums for couples to peruse and look forward to meeting everyone. Elkins Estate is such a beautiful venue. Last summer I did an inspiring shoot there with Beautiful Blooms and Eclatante Design. The photos below are the beautiful and diverse product of this marvelous color story shoot at Elkins Park. You can see more of this shoot on Eclatante Designs blog, A Designers Diary. You can learn more about Culinary Concepts very special event at this link. See you Thursday!
Summer at Winterthur
With yet another snow storm in the northeast, I thought I’d dig up some beautiful summer imagery to remind everyone that summer will eventually return. Winterthur Museum & Country Estate is located in Winterthur, DE and is a most magical location for a wedding. Last summer I did an amazing editorial shoot with the talented team of Eclatante Event Design and Beautiful Blooms. Some of you may remember the beautiful fashion images from this shoot that I shared with everyone. This stunning bar at the reflecting pool at Winterthur was nothing short of amazing and I hope it is a source of inspiration. My next wedding is not until April so I hope to share with everyone some inspiring ideas that I don’t often have time to share throughout my busy wedding season.
Floral Feature in B Wedding Magazine
What a treat it was to arrive back from my 3 weeks in Key West and find a most beautiful publication waiting for me in the mail. What a gorgeous publication all the way from Ireland, B Wedding Magazine. The quality of this magazine was over the top beautiful. Their editor had asked to use some of my images for a feature story awhile back, but I must say I was astounded by how artistically they incorporated the images in their story. I adore how they used the poetic quotes. These innovative centerpieces were the brainchild the creative “Dream team” of Kendall Brown of Eclatante Design and brought to life by florist Beautiful Blooms. The centerpieces were actually from a Bat Mitzvah with the theme of Cities of the world, but you can see how well they can translate to a wedding. I was so impressed with this beautiful publication. I might just have to go to Ireland and do my first European wedding.
Somewhere That’s Green
It’s been a long and snowy winter in the northeast and I’ve been lucky enough to have a little hiatus down in warm and sunny Key West. I try to sneak away for several weeks every winter, just to be reassured that it’s green somewhere! This year I was exceptionally fortunate as I left town the day before the first blizzard! Good karma for shooting that blizzard wedding I guess! Key West is my favorite locations to “recharge”. So laid back, where else can you dine at a 5 star restaurant in flip flops! I’m on my way home soon and so renewed for a most exciting 2010 season.
Valentines Day at Innove
Happy Valentines Day! Some of you may remember Beka Rendell of the beautiful Beka and Jesse wedding and the national feature of her wedding in Brides Magazine. Well, as some of you know, Beka is also a most talented event planner in Philadelphia. Her company, Innove Events had some exciting changes this year and I went by to visit her. Innove Events has moved it’s offices to Old City Philadelphia and has joined forces with the talented Kimberly Fink who has been in the event industry for over 10 years. What a hot team these two are making! They styled a little Valentines day shoot when I visited and WOW was it cute. So cute in fact that it was featured on the front page of the amazing wedding blog Style Me Pretty. Can’t wait to see the amazing things they have in store for me to photograph in the coming year. Check out their most adorable feature on Style me Pretty and Happy Valentines Day to everyone!
Eve + Richard 01.23.10
Eve and Richards ceremony was filled with love and emotion. As you can see they even stole a smooch during the ketubah signing and Richard shed a tear (I love a sensitive man). Though Bianca did attend the ketubah signing, she did not a sign. A special kudos to my second photographer Jill, who took really amazing images of their ceremony from the balcony of Trust. Music was provided by Elan artists. The strolling electric violinist was just amazing. The pair just danced the night away with their guests!
Eve + Richard 01.23.10 The Details
One of the more creative locations for a wedding in Philadelphia is the “new” Trust. Formally known as FUEL house and formally the MTV Real World house it was originally a bank. It’s the sort of venue were you can really shake up the wedding rules and Eve and Richard certainly did. Prior to their ceremony was a cocktail hour followed by delicious stations after the ceremony. It’s been way too long since I’ve worked with event planner Melissa Paul of Evantine Design and what a striking, warm and glowing ambiance they created. Check out the amazing long tables; gosh I adore long tables! I also love the sheer glittery chair covers. I’ve never seen them before and hey just glowed! Equally beautiful and tasty was the food of Peachtree & Ward Catering. Stay tuned for a very heartfelt ceremony and reception.
Eve + Richard 01.23.10 The Portraits
And they called it puppy love. This was a first for me. Eve and Richard brought their sweet little pup along for couple portraits. After a few kisses from Bianca the couple had some romantic alone time together. The classic pair wanted the classic Broad Street Philadelphia shot before going to the Omni Hotel for family pictures. I LOVE the balcony over the staircase at the Omni. Always makes for a perfect portrait.
How cute! I did the same thing on my blog weeks ago!