Archive for October, 2013
Whenever we sit down to explain how we do what we do on the wedding day, I find that the most rewarding part of the chat is the happy look people get when they realize we’re very serious about not being all that serious. It’s a wedding, not a war documentary. The ceremony certainly demands discretion and respect. It is, after all, why we’ve all been invited. But something I’ve learned from many wedding now is that my thought process and my attitude will come through in the images that I capture. So, from the very beginning of the day there’s a commitment to keeping my eyes open, my mind open, and having fun with everything going on around me. Sometimes I think I must look like a fool with a smile on my face all day long, but I can’t help it. While everyone is having their own personal good time, I get to witness and photograph everyone doing that very thing. Weddings are hard work (no, we certainly don’t “just work on Saturday”, thank you for asking) but getting to spend it with happy people every weekend makes it all worth it and I wouldn’t trade it for any other type of photography. We believe (and hope you can attest) that it comes through in our work.
With Suzanne and Chris, we didn’t have to work hard in the slightest to have fun. It came with the couple. Their happy and playful attitude was infectious and it ran right through the entire evening. Sweet bow ties, smiling faces, and smooth dance moves were just the tip of the fun iceberg here.
I also want to thank Jennifer McBride of McBride Events. While we are honored to be a part of each and every wedding celebration, it’s of special significance to us when a wedding planner and designer of Jennifer’s reputation and pedigree asks us to be there for her family. Jennifer placed her brother Chris and beautiful new sister-in-law Suzanne in our hands and we humbly thank her.
Enjoy.
Here’s some summer fun in Richmond with Claiborne and Gian. Check out Gian’s custom Nike footwear for the men. See, it’s not all about Badgely and Vera.
Enjoy!
We are getting really excited about cooler weather arriving, and it’s inspired us to continue on our winter wedding theme. Matt and Christina’s December 2012 wedding at the John Marshall Ballrooms embraced the holiday season with beautiful lighting (from one of our favorite vendors Blue Steel Lighting Design), whimsical centerpieces and some sweet tuxes and tails that really brought out both the spirit of the season and the formality of a classic evening reception.
For those keeping score on the photography front, we’re going to talk about moments for the what must be the 720th time. Why? Well, because we’re so fond of them. You see, it doesn’t matter if your backdrop is a Scottish loch in spring or a white wall in a hotel hallway…great wedding photography is about things that happen at your wedding that are uniquely yours. Happy and expressive faces is what I really love because that will mean more over the years than anything else I could toss in to the collection. Don’t get me wrong. I really dig those beautiful touches that often come from many months of joy, sweat, and planning! But the real magic lies in seeing you enjoy it.
I’ve posted a few times recently about the “other months” of the wedding season. There are so many options that are perfect for when there’s a chill in the air. Lindsay and I have fallen in love with the unique look and feel that only a winter wedding can bring!
Considering how a photographer captures an event in a similar environment to the one you will have becomes especially important during the fall and winter months when the days are shorter. We’ve talked a little here before about the importance of light or the absence of it. Here I’ve posted an example of just that situation. Rhonda and Corey chose February as their wedding month and, while when I first started out in photography I might have been intimidated without an abundance of natural light, I’ve grown to love the “other months” for their own unique look and the challenge of creating beautiful images without the sun.
Rhonda and Corey chose Second Baptist Church in Petersburg, VA for their ceremony and the recently restored John Marshall Ballrooms for their reception. Having photographed Corey’s brother’s wedding a few years back and getting to know the family, we knew that there would be no lack of party vibes no matter the time of year. What we didn’t know was how lovely and warm this classic church would look on a snowy February day. And we certainly didn’t expect that amazing night sky that the snow clouds would bring us as they hung over downtown Richmond. Sometimes it’s not about your plans or your expectations. Sometimes, it’s a simple as being there and being ready 🙂
