Archive for March, 2010
Party at R2L
I recently photographed the décor for a party at the new restaurant R2L in Philadelphia. It was my first time there and it was a fantastic location for a very special party like a bridal shower or rehearsal dinner. On the 37th floor of 2 Liberty Place, the restaurant offers full panoramic views of the city. The décor for this urban chic event was superbly designed by Evantine Design. I absolutely fell in love with the glittery table overlays. It was a feast for the eyes!
Wedding Photojournalism
Before my very busy wedding season begins in a few weeks I thought I’d do a little post on wedding photojournalism. I would have to define my style as an artistic photojournalist. I want to tell the story, and I also want it pretty! When some couples meet with with me they are a little surprised that they can expect to receive a minimum of 1,200+ images of their wedding day. On a wedding day, I’m not only documenting the details, the portraits, the kiss after “I do”, but all the range of emotions of everyone that day. That can take a lot of images to capture. I am documenting an emotional history of the wedding day. I am inspired by a quote by William Faulkner, “The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fix so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again, since it is life.” I hope occasionally that this magic happens. For inspirational Wedding Photojournalism check out the Wedding Photojournalists Association which I have been a member of for many year. I find much inspiration there!
Fun New Sample Wedding Albums
Every winter I always do a few new sample wedding albums. I try to show the latest and greatest new offerings of my album company, Leather Craftsmen. One special new offering is a Photo Plate Cover. The cover photo is printed on metal. Very beautiful! I also did a press book as a clone of the wedding album. I though this would be a great idea for a parent album or for an extra to keep in your office.
Fomals and Photojournalism
As a wedding photojournalist, one of the most common questions I am asked is “do you do formal pictures?”. There is a misconception that true photojournalists do not photograph formal family portraits at a wedding. Though this may be true for a minority of wedding photojournalists, the majority of do formal groupings. As a photojournalist, I am there to capture all the traditions of a wedding, and formal family portraits have been around since my grandmothers day. A photojournalist wants to capture all the traditions and not change that because it’s not their style. I am there to photograph as many and as few groupings as the couple and their family wants. It’s more in how I photograph the formals that is dictated by my style. I put each group together but I do not try to overly pose the group. I am more interested in the couple and family expressing their own individual style. So families are more classic and some want to express their wild side. Some families want large groupings and some just want immediate family. Don’t forget that the reception might be a time that you want some casual group pictures. Some couples want group pictures with their work associates, their sorority or fraternity pals or maybe their cousins. It’s always best to plan ahead to give your photographer the list of groups you want. Here is a sampling a my “PJ” formals.
Usually I photographing the “formal” my second photographer might be photographing it from the side.
Express who you are in your formals.
After the ceremony the couple asked all their guests to pose for a group portrait.
College friends at the reception!
My Grandmothers Wedding
In the midst of spring cleaning I unearthed some wonderful family photographs that I have not see in years. Oh, how I love my family photographs. I remember as a child sitting for hours looking through all the albums. I guess my family were real photography buffs. They truly documented so many special and everyday events. I would sometimes feel I was there with them…. back in time. I also adore going to museums and looking at old tintype photos. You can sometimes feel the people speaking to you. Maybe that is why I have such a passion for wedding photojournalism. I want to tell a story and share this happy day with many, many generations to come! A photograph can do that.
The photograph was taken in 1918 at The Henry Studio in Perth Amboy, NJ. No longer in business, the moment lives on. Check out my grandmothers amazing bouquet!
That’s awesome! I have been scanning and posting photos on my blog from my family’s weddings as well. I call it “old-timey tuesday” 
I have one photo of my father’s grandparents that I haven’t posted yet that might be even older than this picture — everything else is from the 40s and later, but they’re all quite magical!
I’m Ready for Spring Bouquets
From my “stock” images I thought I’d share a few fanciful spring bouquets. I can’t wait for a whole new season of floral inspirations!
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.
Thanks for the gorgeous photos of Ted’s 40th Birthday Party! What an incredible place to host an event - such amazing views and you managed to catch the views at sunset! STUNNING!