I normally don’t shoot a wedding and post pictures of it on the SAME day. However, I just can’t contain myself. Robin and Neil were an amazing couple to work with and I am so excited about the great images we captured.
Here are a few:
Posts Tagged ‘wedding’
Robin + Neil
Sunday, November 21st, 2010sara + junior | key west wedding
Sunday, November 14th, 2010We arrived at Smathers Beach long before the sun rose over the horizon. The water was perfectly still, the sky the color of cotton candy. It was the most peaceful, beautiful scene I think I’ve witnessed. Perfect for a wedding day.
We took our time taking pictures before the officiant arrived. Junior would kiss Sara’s shoulder and whisper in her ear- Sara’s laugh would fill the air with lovely music. Just the way a union of love should be. 
Photographer AND Witness
After the ceremony, we headed back to the center of the island to grab a few most pictures.
If tropical island can have a ghetto, we were just steps away from it!
We got kicked off of the Conch Shop property, but not before we nabbed a couple of pictures.
The knotted trunks that so many of the trees in Key West had made for gorgeous drop off. I shot this with the 85mm 1.2L lens.
I met the owner of this jeep the evening before. He is a coconut “farmer” from Guyana. I spent a good portion of the evening with him as he educated me about the nutritional qualities of coconut and let me snap pictures of him cracking them open with a machete. He was in front of the INCREDIBLE (mostly vegan) cafe called Help Yourself. They buy FRESH coconut meat and coconut water for him to make their juices, yogurt and ice “cream”. AMAZING.
THANK YOU Sara and Junior for letting me a part of such an intimate, love-filled event. Your wedding is just the way a wedding should be and you inspired me to go the unconventional route with my own. I love you guys and can’t wait to see your family grow.
sara + junior | key west
Saturday, November 13th, 2010but mostly Sara.
In May I photographed this couple’s intimate wedding in Key West, Florida. Which, by the way, is vegan paradise- fresh citrus, pineapple, coconut and vegan cafes all over! I was so thrilled to be the sole witness (aside from the officiant) of their special day and even more thrilled that Sara and Junior allowed me AS MUCH time to photograph them around the island as I wanted. I even had a hand in picking the time of the ceremony based on when the light would be best. How is that for a wonderful bride?
The evening before the ceremony we headed out to chase the sun from one side of the island to the other for some amazing bridal/couple shots.
I love that Sara and Junior made the educated decision to purchase a conflict-free diamond ring. (from Brilliant Earth)
Drive around Key West until you find a beautiful spot. Park the car (likely illegally). Snap some shots. Jump back in. Repeat.
Sara wasn’t afraid to sit on the concrete, roll in grass or jump in the ocean in her wedding dress. I SO appreciate that.
Stay tuned for the actual wedding day!
desired things
Friday, November 5th, 2010…Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should…
-Max Ehrmann (a selection from Desiderata)
megan and eric | part 2
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010As promised, here is part two of Megan and Eric’s wedding. The ceremony and reception both took place at the historic Casa Marina Hotel in Jacksonville Beach. It was a great location for an outdoor wedding and they easily made modifications for the rainy day.
I love photographing Megan- she is so expressive. Her excitement here makes my heart happy.
Catching a tender moment during the ceremony while the guitarist played “I Will Be Here”.
Mr. and Mrs. Spurling!
Megan was such a classy/elegant bride.
We braved the rain for a short while…
before taking cover inside the hotel to stay dry and snap a few more romantics.
To me, these images feel like they could have come from the viewpoint of another hotel guest.
A delicious brunch reception
Two of my favorite food shots, ever. OMG- the waffles were too good!
As were the cupcakes- probably the BEST I’ve ever had.
I quite like all the laughter and facial expressions going on here
Fave!
One of the best parts of this wedding? Guests who ACTUALLY danced- and boy did they dance. Enjoy.
Thank you Megan and Eric for letting me a part of your beautiful wedding. I wish you two nothing buy happiness in the years to come. Hugs.
chelsea and tony | emporia, ks
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009Yet another wedding with a fellow Northern Heights (high school in the middle of a cow pasture) alum. Chelsea was a grade ahead of me (her super hot cross-country, personal trainer bod is part of what has inspired my recent running spree) and was dating Tony even back then. Seeing them interact on the day of the wedding- I can see why. They compliment each other so well.
Chelsea’s dress had beautiful beading and lace detail.
I love ring shots
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Shield your eyes for the next series-because Chelsea is just too hot to handle! I was super excited when Chelsea asked me to take a few pictures for Tony before the wedding and was even more excited when she said I could share a select few. P90X body in da house.
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Tony is such a sweetheart. He left gifts for Chelsea, her mom and his own mother. I quickly captured a few shots of Chelsea opening her lovely necklace.
I couldn’t resist another ring shot before heading out the door
Chelsea and Tony opted for a “first look”- so we headed to the Emporia State University campus.
From the beginning, Chelsea talked of her beautiful veil and how she wanted a shot of it blowing in the wind. Here’s my take on it. I think this one is over-the-fireplace canvas worthy.
Gorgeous colors, yes?
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These pictures aren’t technically anything wonderful, but they just crack me up. The bitty chair, the naked baby on the floor-and goofy Tony. The “first look” definitely helps to ease nerves.
Perspective
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I love Chelsea’s face
and the bubbles too
Tony is a firefighter, so after the ceremony we headed to the station for some shots with the fire engines. I love when clients give me ideas for pictures that have meaning to them.
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I love these two!
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It was THIS big. Yes, I am a 5th grader.
Aww how sweet, the first dance- and then BAM return of the P90X body. Just look at her back, shoulders and arms!
The image on the left is probably one of my favorite wedding dance images. It may not be all the way in focus-but the grain, the movement and the feeling to this one just moves me.
Chelsea’s brother gave the sweetest speech that brought tears to my eyes- and everyone else’s.
The most dancing I’ve witnessed of all the weddings I’ve shot to date.
Love it! Especially Sarah’s (gal on the far right) expression.
and finally, I leave you with this. The chick who caught the bouquet (just look at her fly) and Sarah’s disappointment.
Thank you Chelsea and Tony for flying me all the way to Kansas to photograph your day. Your relationship is beautiful.
sneak peek | kansas wedding
Thursday, October 8th, 2009I know its been sooo long since I’ve last posted. I have 2 more posts waiting to go-just as soon as I carve the time. Since returning from Kansas I’ve ben running non-stop between 38-45 hour AmeriCorps service weeks, 16 hour Assisted Living Sundays, and editing non-stop every moment in between. Yea. I’m out of energy just reading it.
Anywho-this post is not about me… it’s a quick one about Chelsea and Tony. I went to high school with Chelsea back in our tiny little Kansas high school. I couldn’t have been happier when she asked me to shoot her wedding. (doing so knowing, at the time, I hadn’t booked any of my own weddings) Chelsea-you were such a calm bride-made my job so much easier and I could tell just being around you for the day how much Tony is in love with you. It’s refreshing.
Here is a quick preview of them on the bridge over Wooster Lake at Emporia State University. More from me soon-promise.
sahar and samad | brace yourself
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009This one is going to be a doozy! I suggest you get yourself a refreshing drink, kick back and immerse yourself in a little culture. This is one long post.
I cannot stress enough how important it is for a bride to give herself (and the photographer..hehe) enough time. Sahar is the time QUEEN. I got nearly 2 hours to shoot her getting ready and her portraits as well as a full hour to photograph Sahar and Samad together. Perfection.
The ceremony was held at the Deerwood Country Club. As soon as we walked in and I saw this room- I knew exactly what would come of it.
Elegant and timeless portraits, of course.
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Sahar and Samad opted for the “First Look”, where the bride and groom choose to break tradition see each other before the ceremony. This is great for calming nerves.. ANDDDDD awesome picture taking!!!!!!
The country club had a gorgeous lawn out back-complete with a pond and willow tree (when Sahar told me this I screamed.. for real).
OH, beautiful details
Naturals in front of the camera? Check and mark!
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I love photographing people in love. For a few hours I can forget about the troubles of the world and just let myself be swallowed by happy feelings (you can barf now)
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I’m thinking the right picture would make a gorgeous, HUGE canvas.
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Pure loveliness.
We were greeted by Sahar’s friends and family when we made it back inside.
I pretty much refuse to use my flash unless it is absolutely necessary-I do not like the BAM-FLASH-IN-YOUR-FACE effect-I do like blending in to get a more “natural” feel. Embrace the grain!!!
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Sahar went upstairs to hide before the Baraat (not sure if I am using that in the correct context) and I captured this shot.
The Baraat is procession of family, relatives, and friends of groom that accompany the groom to the wedding ceremony. Traditionally the Groom makes his way to the ceremony on a richly decked horse or in a car and “baraat” follows in different vehicles. The Groom is given warm welcome by the bride’s family with flower garlands and rose petals.
Another instance where I embrace the grain-Before the nikah there was a religious ceremony.
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Finally, Sahar’s mother and father walk her down the aisle.
I wasn’t allowed to shoot during the actual nikah cermony, but this one was taken right before. Nikah is purely Islamic official wedding ceremony. Nikah is attended by close family members, relatives, and friends of groom and bride.
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Samad’s family showered Sahar with jewels.
A quiet moment I caught, while everyone headed for the food!
Ladies first.
Um, can we say-YUM! From the top-starting with the Naan (a flat bread), mixed curried vegetables, chickpeas, chicken tikka, goat korma, chicken biryani and salad. I also had the most DELICIOUS dessert called ras malai. It is a scrumptious dish made of sugary, balls of paneer soaked in clotted cream.
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When you see something like this-you should probably turn around….
Because, in this case, it was cake time!
Somewhere, in someone’s home video- is me. I’m sure they are thrilled.
And that’s all folks!
Off to Bowl America the Bride and Groom went…;)
