Archive for August, 2008
Jessica + Vito
What a beautiful and inspired time I had with Jessica and Vito at the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia! Both artists, they wanted their engagement portrait to be at an imaginative location. They couldn’t have picked a more perfect spot. I always go a little crazy with artistic Photoshop effects when I have a shoot at the penitentiary because I feel it so lends itself to that. I had such a blast working on these images but I just couldn’t just pick a few favs. On my “List of things to do during my slow season”, is to do a great slide show of all the images from this shoot. I’m really looking forward to Jessica and Vitos wedding at The College of Physicians in Philadelphia this coming November. I know they have many very unique details planned! Can’t wait!
How awesome are these!!! What a great idea–the textures on the walls are crazy-cool 
I love those green doors and the shot down the rows of cells.
Uma + Jack 08-09-08 (Ceremony 2)
Uma and Jacks guests were treated to a delicious vegetarian Indian luncheon while the couple washed all the rice out of their hair! After several hours of preparation Uma and Jack were ready for Round 2 of their wedding day ceremony. Uma changed into an “oh so sexy” Carolina Herrera Gown. It was such a perfect gown for her. LOVED IT! I’m not sure all of us gals could pull off a beautiful gown like that, but it was so perfect on her. The couples’ Catholic Ceremony was held at St. Teresa’s of Avila Roman Catholic Church in Summit, NJ. Uma and Jack were so happy and playful during the ceremony, even though they had no rice to throw! We went off to Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown, NJ for some scenic couple pictures. The Arboretum was packed with people as they were doing some sort of Revolutionary War reenactment. We got a cute picture with the musicians. I’ll definitely have to blog that image next 4th of July! We were able to find a few deserted locals for pictures. I really have trouble picking my favorite couple portraits. Hope I didn’t put up too many. Uma and Jack were just so relaxed and having such a great time having a few moments alone on a very busy wedding day. I thought I’d share a bunch with you!
Image:
Uma + Jack 08-09-08 (Ceremony 1)
Well, they say you can never have enough of a good thing and for Uma and Jack that meant 2 beautiful wedding ceremonies in one day. In the morning exchanged vows in an “oh so playful” Hindu wedding ceremony at The Westin Governor Morris in Morristown, New Jersey and in the afternoon they had a Catholic ceremony. I usually photograph at least 2 Indian Ceremonies each year and every one has been different in so many ways. It seems that different customs and traditions are followed depending on where in India the couple is from. Uma’s family is obviously from the “playful” part. Some really cute parts of the ceremony were the bride and groom throwing rice and flower petals on each other heads. This escalated to the couple throwing an entire bowl of rice on each other. Everyone was in stitches. The couple also played a cute game where their rings were placed on a jar with water. Whoever found the ring first was the winner. Uma found the ring 2 out of 3 times. A clear winner!
Sometimes you just have to “make do”. Uma and Jack wanted a few couple portraits prior to their morning ceremony. I was able to find a few rows of trees around the Weston parking lot. See, you don’t always need a park!
The groom arrives on his golden steed.
Though Indian weddings are outrageously colorful, black and white imagery is beautiful too!
One of the prettiest garlands I’ve ever seen!
Egod.. no wonder Cat told me to look at these. 
Very cool!!!
Wow! I’ve never seen so much color! I love the rice-dumping shots We have yet to photograph an Indian wedding, but I can’t wait!
Fran + Bill 08-03-08 (Part 2)
As promised, part 2 of Fran & Bills sweet wedding. I must tell you, I really found their wedding inspiring. I’m a single gal and always keep one eye open for “Mr. Right” or even “Mr. Sort-of-Right-but-very-Fun”. Because weddings are my life I sometimes think about what sort of wedding I would have if the opportunity ever presented itself. I always thought that “at my age” I would just do a small and quiet sort of thing. Fran’s wedding was such a beautiful celebration of love and blending of families (at any age) that I think I might do it big. All I need is the guy! Here are some more images of their lovely day. Check out the ice sculpture/martini cooler!
Fran + Bill 08-03-08 (Part 1)
Some might have thought that Bill was a “confirmed bachelor”, but that was before he met the effervescent Fran. His first marriage, Fran really wanted to make the day very special, and that she did, at the always beautiful Carinwood Estate in Bryn Athyn, PA. Fran’s three beautiful daughters gave her away and her grandson, Sincere, was the ring bearer. I must ask her how she arranged for the perfect “puffy cloud” day. With the backdrop of Bryn Athyn Cathedral for their ceremony I thought I was back in France. It was wonderful to work with Janet McKrancy again of Janet’s Weddings & Pretty Parties. She’s known for her classic and opulent wedding flowers and décor, which was a perfect match for Fran’s style. Check back tomorrow for some more details.
Zacaroo Down Under!
Zac, Mark and Jill want to say G’Day from Brizzie (Brisbane)! Their internet connection is VERY slow so it’s been difficult to send me images. They just wanted to say hello to everyone and let everyone know they are having an amazing time. Mark was able to get a few images through to share with everyone. They have been very busy seeing all the sights. Zac got to feed a little Wallabie at the Australian Zoo. (I’m sure he asked mom and dad to buy him one
Sara + Christopher 08-02-08 (Part 2)
As promised, here is part 2 of my stellar Winterthur wedding! Sara loves the color orange so she knew she wanted that color strongly incorporated into her day. I loved the sweet bouquets by Beautiful Blooms. A real special detail on Sara’s bouquet, the lace and buttons are from the sleeve of her mothers wedding gown. After the ceremony Sara and Chris too a stroll the “Enchanted Woods” at Winterthur, and was it ever magical. It had thatched roof cabins, Magical mushrooms and one of the best logs on the eastern seaboard. We had very limited time for couple portraits but the great grounds made it so easy to get very diverse images. I was totally WOW by the reception décor. There were three different centerpieces. I loved the lanterns and the birds nest. Daddy serenaded Sara with a guitar solo of “Daddy’s Little Girl”. Very touching! The cutest detail were jars that had twinkling “fireflys” in them. They were so “sweet”. I actually thought they were firefly’s. I must find them for my next outdoor party!
Zac in a Land Down Under
Yes, I know, if 2 weeks in London and Paris in one summer is not enough, Zac departed yesterday for 2 weeks in Australia. Everyone wants to be Zac! My family and friends loved our travel pictures of Europe so much that they all asked that I include some of his adventures in Australia on my blog. Well, why not! My daughter in law, Jill is one of my very talented second shooters. She has photographed many weddings with me and now she gets to try her hand at travel photography. My son Mark and his wife Jill have been planning their Down Under adventure for years. I’m so happy to see they are finally doing it. In preparation of the trip Zac and Mark both certified in scuba diving. (great father/son bonding) They plan to try their hand at underwater photography in the great barrier reef. Lucky guys! Well stay tuned for some fun pictures! G’day!
I can’t wait to see the photos!
(but man that kangaroo weirded me out! It looks so much like the pet one we keep in out backyard)
For any animal activists that was a joke
Sara + Christopher 08-02-08 (Part 1)
Well, I am finally back from my July wedding hiatus and started August with a bang. I had two amazing and totally different weddings in one wonderful weekend. On Saturday I photographed the magical wedding of Sara and Christopher. The two met as students at Penn State and have been together ever since. Many of their alumni friends were there to share their special day. I’m going to do a “2 parter” here as there are just so many stunning details. (And everyone knows how I love the details!) I fell in love with Saras gorgeous Vera Wang gown that she purchased at Suky Occasions. It’s such a new design that it is not even in the magazines yet. Check out the striking detail on the bodice. The wedding took place at the beautiful Winterthur Estate in Wilmington, Delaware. The beauty of the grounds of this former DuPont Estate is legendary and I was so fortunate to finally have the opportunity to photograph a wedding there. The flowers and décor were by the always amazing Donna O’Brien of Beautiful Blooms. I loved the gorgeous bay leaf garland down the ceremony aisle (yummy smell) and the crystals hanging in the green arch above their ceremony. I’ll have more floral details in Part 2. The wedding program “fan” that was very useful for a humid August wedding. Guests could open it up if they needed a little breeze! All the printed materials were by Two Paper Dolls. Tune in tomorrow for some more beautiful images of the day! It’s good to be back!
That’s the craziest, coolest centerpiece i’ve ever seen!!!!
Things
There is a house we always pass by when we are on the way to photograph a wedding at Carinwood Estate in Bryn Athyn, PA. I have always wanted to photograph it but there is no where to pull off the road to do so. For the first time there was no traffic so I was able to stop in the middle of the road and have Megan shoot off some images for me. Look at this extreme example of colleting “gone wild”. I used to have a problem with saving things so it really speaks to me. Magazine, playbills, notebooks, you name it I saved it. As the years passed I had a house so full of things I was trapped. I decided to sell the house and throw out all the “things”. I will admit, it was painful at first. I kept on thinking, I might need that someday, but I worked through the pain. Things have become much less important to me. What’s more important to me now are the people, the places and less of the “things”. I wonder what’s going on in this “collectors” head! Yikes!
That’s insane!!! Do they change the whole thing for Christmas or just string lights on everything? Egod… that’d be fun to move should they ever need to.
Hi Marie - just wanted to stop by & say how much I loved this set of images. Awesome couple & location & love the post-processing. I saw the photos on Collages.net’s website of the week & had to come by & check out your blog. There is lot of beautiful work to see here!