Boston at Night – Zakim Bridge

Just a quick post. I was in Boston for a bridal consult the other day. Of course, no trip to the city is complete without multiple cameras and accessories, despite the freezing temps. I think I nearly contracted frostbite a couple times! Here is a photo I shot of the Zakim Bridge and TD Garden before I hopped on the train to head home. The plan is to go back and spend a day shooting lots of photos when this weather finally warms up, if it ever does. At this point it feels like we will be in perpetual winter forever. Am I right? Enjoy!

Emily & Alex – Ipswich Country Club Wedding

I had the pleasure of working with Kristin Griffin Photography again as a second photographer to help her capture Emily & Alex’s Ipswich Country Club wedding. It was the day after Valentine’s Day, a perfect weekend to get married! Even if a blizzard hit… it’s a good thing I live nearby! They added a lot of personal touches to their wedding day, which I loved. Emily surprised Alex with a pretty awesome wedding cake, their adorable dog Roxy was part of the ceremony, and much more. You can tell that a lot of thought and planning went into their special day! They were such a cute couple and very much in love. You could also see how happy their families were that day too. Scroll on to check out a few of my favorite photos!

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Unplugged Wedding – Why You Might Want to Consider It

A term I’ve been hearing quite a bit lately, and I’m sure you have as well during the course of your wedding planning, is the “unplugged wedding”. What is an unplugged wedding? It is where you kindly ask your guests to turn off and put away their electronic devices and enjoy the wedding day with you, letting your photographer and videographer (if you have one) capture the day, or at minimum, the ceremony without any distractions or interruptions. I’ve been pretty lucky so far, but the more weddings I shoot, the more I’m starting to encounter guests, usually unknowingly, sometimes purposely getting in the way of photos.

With the boom of affordable digital cameras including DSLRs, as well as phones with better cameras, and even tablets, many people are bringing these with them to weddings to capture their own pictures. While we don’t have a problem with guests taking some shots throughout the day, an issue that many photographers are now encountering is wedding guests jumping in front of us to get the shot that we need to get, or putting their tablet or phone right in our line of sight and ruining a photo. Most times we have one chance to catch the bride coming down the aisle or the first kiss that lasts only a few seconds. Then we check our pictures and cry inside because a guest’s giant iPad is covering the bride’s face. We can do a lot of things in post processing but there isn’t much we can do to rescue that important photo.

Another issue is the flashes from other cameras. When we take a picture, we have it exposed for our lighting conditions, and that may be natural light or it can include our own flashes or lighting equipment. The flashes from guest’s cameras will blow out pictures we take beyond any point of recovery. As professionals, we can sometimes rescue a photo that is less than perfect, but when a photo is way overexposed due to multiple flashes, all of that information is lost and there’s no chance at fixing it. I’ve actually come across a Craigslist ad where a bride was asking for help fixing their overexposed wedding photos that their uncle took (another reason to hire a pro). Once a picture is severely under or overexposed, it is usually not fixable. After all we are artists, not magicians!

Now that you’ve decided on an unplugged wedding, how do you let your guests know in a clever yet polite way? You can ask your officiant to make an announcement at the beginning of the ceremony (see the video below), and/or create some signs that guests see on their way in, or you could even include a line or two in your program if you have one. It can’t hurt to go with both a sign and an announcement, since not everyone will read a sign or the program. I don’t have any images of signs to share, but if you do a simple search in Google or on Pinterest, you’ll find a lot of great ideas!

This video is from our friends at Joseph Testa Films who were gracious enough to share this clip with us, of an officiant making an announcement for guests to take some photos, then put their cameras and phones away for the rest of the ceremony. Here’s the direct link: http://vimeo.com/75032317

Say Hello to Luna Mae!

A little over a month ago, my family had to unexpectedly say goodbye to our beloved Chocolate Lab, Maggie Mae. As many labs and other dogs do, she hid the fact that anything was wrong, and she was battling bone cancer. She broke her leg while out on a walk, and that’s when the cancer was discovered. At the age of 10, and as far as the cancer had progressed, there wasn’t much that could be done, so she crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Maggie loved and was loved back by everyone she met, even if it was only once. She could make any bad day better, and will always be my Best Girl.

My Dad and Stepmom decided that they have a lot more love to give, and that another furry baby should join our family. As of Sunday, little Luna Mae is the newest member of the Morris family. It was love at first sight for me. As much as I will always miss Maggie, I know she left us when she did so Luna could become a part of our family. She will watch over as Luna gets to experience all of the wonderful things that she did in her 10 years. So, say hello to Luna Mae! And be prepared to see more photos of her pop up on the blog 🙂

The Barn at Gibbet Hill Wedding – Massachusetts Wedding Photographer

Yet again I had the pleasure of second shooting with Kristin Griffin Photography to kick off my 2014 wedding season last month! We shot a beautiful wedding at The Barn at Gibbet Hill in Groton, MA. If you’re looking for a rustic, barn-like venue, this is it! It’s all beautiful wood on the inside but it is very elegant and classy. It was a perfect setting for Christine & Josh’s Greek inspired wedding.

When I first arrived, my assignment was to take the usual groomsmen photos. Much of the time, the groomsmen are more interested in just hanging out and talking, and sipping on their drinks and it can be tough to get them in the mood to pose for photos. I was pleasantly surprised when this fun group of guys started coming up with great photo ideas such as arm wrestling and football poses! I had a lot of fun with them before they had to head off to the wedding. Afterwards, I covered the ceremony and cocktail hour, then my day was done, but it was definitely one of my favorites so far! I got a great mix of details, candids and ceremony shots, I’m very happy with how this one turned out. There are quite a few black and white photos too, this was such a classy and elegant wedding, I felt like black and white would be quite fitting. Please enjoy!

Video Games are very serious business, you guys.

There was a Patriots game on this night. I’m pretty sure these guys were watching 🙂

To See or Not to See – The Benefits of Doing a First Look

A new tradition that is popping up more and more at weddings is the First Look. Some brides, me included, wanted to stay traditional and not see the groom until the ceremony. My husband also wanted to wait. But many couples are now choosing to do a first look before their wedding ceremony. It’s your day and whether you do a first look or not is totally up to you, but there are some great benefits that are worth thinking about.

Create another memorable moment for your wedding day. Doing a first look can result in some great photos. Sure, your spouse seeing you for the first time coming down the aisle can make for a great photo, but you transition right into the ceremony, and don’t have time to take that moment in. Having that moment lets you both soak in the moment of seeing each other for the first time. You can also be creative in the way you do your first look, so we can make it lots of fun and capture some great photos!

The First Look can be a great way to calm your nerves right before the ceremony. Enjoy some smiles and laughs with your wedding party and relax. You can also opt to have a private moment with your spouse to be, spend a few minutes together, and let all the tension and nerves of wedding planning go away so you can enjoy the rest of your day. Sometimes grooms are more nervous than they let on, so getting to see you will help him relax too!

It can be a time saver. Especially during the winter months here in New England, we lose light quickly in the afternoon. If you decide to do a first look, we can get your family and bridal party formals out of the way before the ceremony, and depending on the season, before we lose daylight if you want outdoor photos. We can even do some of your bridal formals ahead of time, leaving you more time at the reception. With family and bridal party formals out of the way, you can also join your cocktail hour to mingle with your guests before the reception starts. Most of the time, photos are done during cocktail hour, so if it’s something you would like to attend, doing the photos ahead of time would open up that time for you. I love snacks, so if I had thought about it, I would have wanted to go to cocktail hour!

So if you’re on the fence as to whether or not to have a first look moment, consider these great points. If you decide to stick with the older traditions, hey, it’s YOUR day!

Wedding Photography Consultations – Why they are Important

One part of my client services are wedding photography consultations. In this digital age of e-mails and text messages, you can collect a lot of information very quickly and go about your day. You cannot, however, get to know someone and their personality through your computer screen or phone. Meeting with the photographer, DJ, and officiant, to name a few, will help you select the people that mesh with your personalities as a couple and fit with your wedding day visions. On your search for a photographer, you will look at many websites and images trying to decide on who to hire. Once you find a photographer with the style you are looking for, you will want to meet with them to see if they are a good fit for you. Your first choice might not be the perfect fit, so don’t give up hope! Spend the time to meet with vendors until you find the ones that fit you best. It will be worth it when you look back at your photos and all of the wonderful memories of your special day.

When I am contacted by you as a prospective client, I will gladly answer any questions you may have asked in your initial e-mail, but I also ask right away about setting up a meeting at a time that is convenient for you and your fiancé. I prefer to sit face to face with both of you (if possible) so we can get to know each other while we go over the details of your wedding day. I am happy to meet wherever you’d like, whether it’s in your home, a local coffee shop, or restaurant. As long as it’s somewhere quiet where we can chat and not have to talk loudly to each other, it’s all up to you and what will make you most comfortable. Once we sit down, I start by collecting the general details of your day such as times, venues, wedding style and colors, wedding party, and family members. If you have a basic timeline set up already, we’ll go over that too so I can make recommendations on when to fit in formals. I use the timeline to come up with the best times to fit in all of the different formal photographs, so your day flows smoothly and you can enjoy it as much as possible. If you’re still early in your planning, don’t worry! No pressure, you can always update me later. I also ask what style of photos you are looking for or most interested in. I’ve had couples most interested in wedding details, some more interested in candids instead of posed bridal formals, and some who like an even mix of everything. It’s your day, and the photos should be what you want to see when you look at them years from now. Consultations usually last an hour at most, so we don’t take up much of your time. I also do a follow up meeting a few weeks ahead of the wedding so I can gather your final timeline and any details and changes you may have made.

I’ve only had one couple that I didn’t consult with. They booked me only a few weeks before their wedding and we really didn’t have a time to meet because of our schedules. While they were still very happy with their photos, I had a harder time trying to come up with ideas on the fly. I was also unable to do site visits prior to the wedding day, something I do with venues I’ve never shot in before. I’ll be writing another post about those later! When I already have your information ahead of time, I take your feedback and ideas from our meeting to come up with ideas prior to your wedding day, and will document them in your electronic file in an app on my computer (which syncs to my phone and other devices so I always have it!). I am much more prepared and confident, which is what you deserve in your photographer!

Everyone has a different style and yes, different price points when it comes to weddings, or any special event. While staying within your budget is a big factor in your wedding planning, connecting and clicking with your photographer is just as important if not more. You want to trust and feel comfortable with the person or people you choose to document your big day. The photos and video (if you choose to have it) will be one of few tangible things left after the day is over. Your photos will be hanging on yours and your family’s walls forever. No matter what point you’re at in your planning when you look for a photographer, always set up a wedding photography consultation. I, along with most other photographers offer consultations at no charge. If we meet and you don’t feel that we are the perfect match, that’s perfectly okay and I will not be offended if you choose another photographer. All you have to do is politely follow up with an e-mail or phone call and let me know so I can open your wedding date back up to other clients. It’s as simple as that!

Just as every couple’s wedding style is unique, so is every photographer’s style of photos. Choose the one that fits you best, and you will have the most beautiful and perfectly preserved moments from your wedding day to look back on and enjoy for years to come!

Long Island Wedding at Oheka Castle

About a month ago I had the great pleasure of working with Kristin Griffin Photography to shoot a wedding at the incredible Oheka Castle, located on Long Island in New York. It was one of the most beautiful venues I have ever seen with so many great spots for pictures, both indoors and out. I could literally spend an entire day shooting bridal formals! I was assisting Kristin, so she took care of the bride and groom, but I was able to snap some great details (my favorite!) and some fun shots of the bridal party, family, and friends. The flower girl quickly befriended me and was happy to be my muse for a few picture ideas. Once the ceremony was over, it was party time, and she was the leader of the dance floor. She made sure that everybody was up and dancing! Check out some of my favorite photos below. I would love to shoot another Oheka Castle wedding someday!

Family Portraits – Jennifer, Mario, and Baby J

I almost forgot to blog this session from over the summer! It’s a little late, but better late than never, right? In November of 2011, I photographed Jennifer & Mario’s intimate home wedding, which they celebrated with a small group of family and friends. I was thrilled when Jennifer contacted me this summer to come shoot their family portraits with their new baby girl. To make things as easy as possible, we decided to have their session at their home so the baby would be most comfortable and easy to work with. She was around 2-3 weeks old, so we were a little past the typical “Newborn Photo” stage. Those photos have to be done within the first 7-10 days at the latest if you want the sleepy, squishy baby pictures with lots of props and hats. We had great natural lighting in her nursery, which worked out great so I didn’t have to use the flash and disturb her. We went with a more “Lifestyle” type of shoot, capturing details of the nursery, and natural photos of the family, as well as some posed shots. It made for a very easy session, and it was easier to comfort the baby when she was fussy or needed to be fed or changed.

It was very clear that she has her Daddy wrapped around her tiny little finger. He was the only one that could calm her down when she was fussy! Once we got her to sleep, we got most of our best photos. She even stayed still enough to let me put one of my tiny tiaras on her head! I had bought them for another photo idea, and tossed one in my bag on a whim before the session. It turns out that her nursery was decorated in a princess theme. How perfect! I’m honored that I have my first repeat client, and I hope to see them again soon!

Rockport Engagement Session – Janelle & Eric

I had the pleasure of photographing Janelle & Eric’s Rockport engagement session last month, in a few locations in the beautiful seaside town of Rockport, MA. Janelle’s father is the drummer in my Dad’s band, who played at my wedding. I was thrilled when they contacted me about shooting their engagement and wedding. As soon as we met, we started brainstorming lots of ideas for their session. They had some things in mind and we bounced ideas off of each other to figure out what shots were most important to them, and the best way to set up their photo shoot when it came to the logistics on my end.

Eric proposed at Halibut Point Reservation in Rockport, so that’s where we started. I had never been there before, and it was absolutely gorgeous, and full of incredible natural backdrops that made for amazing photos. They told me the story of their engagement, as we walked the trails looking for the spot where he proposed. We made stops along the way as we both had ideas for photos. I always encourage input from the couple, so I was happy to oblige when they had a request! One of my favorite parts about this session was that they wanted a lot of different poses. They weren’t afraid to try different things and they took direction from me very well, as you can see from the samples below.

After a long hike through the reservation, we made our way to Back Beach since Eric requested some beach photos. From there we headed to downtown Rockport since I wanted to visit Motif #1 and try to get a few shots of them amongst the little shops. They are an adorable couple, and were very comfortable and natural in front of the lens. The proof is in the photos! This was definitely one of my most fun sessions yet, and they even told me how much fun they had, which made me very happy. I can’t wait for their Cambridge wedding next year!