A few more shots for Nichole...

Almost every wedding that I go to has some sort of low light situation that tests my photography skills. I know some photographers don't have the equipment nor know how to really make those situations work. This particular wedding was the darkest ceremony and reception combo of the year. I did manage to get some really awsome photos from both venues. The reception area had no lights turned on at all. Candles and the tiny christmas tree type lighting for accent was pretty much it. Really makes for a nice atmosphere to eat, dance, and party. I go out of my way to capture it, it is my favorite type of photography...

When I look back at photos from any particular wedding, I'm always struck by photos like this (photo just below)that really capture the moment. Of course, I'm always looking for such moments, but it is hard to catch them like this. My hope is that I get half a dozen for each bride. Some weddings I'm blessed with a couple that is so into the moment that I get dozens, but it is hard to escape into your own world while particapating in a event that requires the bride and groom, and their family and friends, to interact with hundreds of other quests, vendors, AND PHOTOGRAPHERS! Bottom line, this photo of Nichole and her daughter is one of my favorites. Hope you enjoy it...

HighSchool Seniors 2008!

The best part about doing outdoor photography for Senior shoots is that the sets are endless, and always very interesting...

I wish I had the time to lug around the lighting equipment that I use for these HighSchool senior shoots for my weddings, because it really makes some beautiful photos.

Crystal & Dylan

At the end of this reception I felt like I hadn't really caught this bride and groom in a really candid moment that showed off something super special about their relationship. Oh, I got plenty of really nice candids, but I like to have something different for every couple. So, I turned off the flash and stayed pretty far off the dance floor while they hid on the dance floor and really had a great time dancing (Of course, little did they know that I was taking pictures between the other dancers the entire time!). I caught several winners, packed up my gear, and went and said good night and told them I wished I was going to the Virgin Islands too the next day! I need to find more weddings that fly me to the Caribbean!

It doesn't matter how long I shoot weddings, the best pictures are unplanned. Crystal and Dylan are from a very small midwest town, and they wanted a couple cool photos against this street light pole with the city buildings in the background. Well, Dylan's father was on a quest to get a operational tapper for the party AND we stole this great shot with him as he dropped by, my favorite of the reception!

I like my formals to be loose, tight, and happy!

I love low light detail photography, it's fun!

This past weekend was filled with happy brides! It is always nice to see a couple that is really happy. I do see some of the brides and grooms, and even their parents, friends, and family, stressing out over all of the details of the day AND if they are going to come off as planned. I generally try to set their minds at ease by mentioning that "everything is going to be perfect. You have nothing to worry about today, it is your day." And, typically that helps out a bunch. You've put in months of preparation into your wedding, now kick back, don't worry, and really enjoy yourselfs, you'll be glad you did.

Shoes, flowers, and more...

I think that the guys are jeolous of the ladies getting all the attention with their shoes, I've had more than a few grooms AND even fathers of the brides toss in their foot during a fun shot of everyones high heels!

Just some fun before heading to the church. Every bride and her wedding party love the details, the shoes, the jewelery, the stories of past weddings, so I make a point of getting a fun shot like this. Doing a shoe shot always loosens everyone up!

My father brought his camera to Cedar Point one year, and he caught some very exciting AND funny photography of us while riding roller coasters when we were kids. I stole his idea and I took my small digital camera on some rides with us. My son is looking around the corner to the next big hill, the story is in the photo...

This may very well be my favorite photograph of last year. I was setting up for another shot, and you see that I caught the moment we all are looking for. I don't even recall what the "set" formal shot ended up looking like because this shot overshadowed it! Most of my brides love that I'm able to catch photography like this while I'm doing formals OR just watching the wedding unfold.

I wasn't fishing, but taking photos was the next best thing!

Some favorites from the past year...

If you've been to my wedding photography site, then you'll notice that I like taking candid moments. I saw the father of the graduate just sitting all by his self enjoying that his event had really come off nicely. He sat there for a good long time, and I think this photo really captured the mood...

I go though stages with my own personal photography, I've found that if I'm always taking the movie or photos that I tend to miss out on some of the fun. Therefore, I've found myself deliberately setting the camera down so I could join in on the fun. Of course, regardless of my feelings, I am always handed the camera and expected to catalog every event! This was one of the times when I was into messing around with my camera. It was a timed exposure that really tells the story...