Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket

Pages

10.25.2010

[Stacey and Tom, the engagement]


There are days that I feel like I have never done anything but teach....I feel like I remember every student I ever had, and now many of those tiny little sixth graders I had once long ago are actually beginning to get married.  (How old does that make me feel?)
That's beside the point......Stacey was one of my first students that I taught when I was still in the middle school, and to date probably one of my most creative artists.  She would make "paintings" out of toilet paper and masking tape and all you could do was to marvel over the depth of the surface and the imagery.  She was always taking risks....a trait not seen too often at any level.
Now, she is all grown up and working as a graphic designer, and she's getting married.  And best of all, she asked me to photograph her wedding.
 This weekend, we got together for her engagement shoot with Tom, her fiance (whom I think might be feeling a little left out here, but what I can say is that he is an awesome complement to Stacey!)

st.077


st.062


st.018


st.053


st.036

st.101


st.135


st.166


st.200

[the Misterkiewicz family]


Over the weekend I was finally able to a small break from weddings and work with two wonderful groups of people.....one of whom was Gina, Scott and their two beautiful children.  Gina had been in Karen and Mike's wedding last September and wanted to have her family photographed this fall....Vincent and Liliana were so much fun to work with and just the happiest kids!  Here's a little peek-




cali.027


cali.092


cali.117


cali.128


cali.146


cali.125


cali.181


cali.201-2


cali.209


cali.251


cali.265

10.23.2010

[Laura and Greg, the wedding]


simply euphoric.  I really could stop there...that is the only thought I had in my mind as I drove home from Laura and Greg's wedding last Saturday.   Not only are they among the sweetest people I have ever met, but so was everyone else at the wedding!  AND, it was at Park Country Club in Williamsville, the same place that my sweetie and I were married ten years earlier...and can you believe, that in around 9 years of photographing weddings, that this was the first time I had the opportunity to photograph there?  So interesting to see it through new eyes.  But back to l & g, they had a perfect fall day (a little too perfect with that bright sun, but who am i to complain?) perfect venues and perfectly beautiful everything for me to photograph.  And even by the end of the evening Greg was still game for anything I had in mind (LOVE that in a groom!)  So here they are.....my second last wedding blog post of the year!




lg.0022-2



lg.0041-2

I absolutely love fall wedding bouquets...these were a really eclectic mix of flowers that came together perfectly!

lg.0079-2



lg.0127-2

St. John the Baptist Church in Kenmore, I think my favorite one for the light...

lg.0328-2

...and the angles

lg.0331-2

Laura checking out her new ring, she later said "this is honestly one of the best parts of today"

lg.0362-2

I only hope I can remember this when my kids get married....the smaller candles are actually Laura and Greg's baptism candles.

lg.0363-2



lg.0404-2

Pretty cool that the number on the trolley just happens to be the same as their wedding date...

lg.0512-2

Some of my favorite pictures from my own wedding were out in front of Park, so I took an opportunity to shoot some here...

lg.0530-2



lg.0539-2


We went inside for a quick peek at the reception goodies...*swoon*.  My apologies here for being somewhat redundant, but I couldn't stop taking pictures, and couldn't decide what to edit for the post.

lg.0552-2

If only the bands were chocolate rather than fondant....it would have been the absolute most perfect wedding cake ever, but this is pretty darn close :)

lg.0562-2

My husband just commented on the "Harry Potter" fireplace....I wouldn't mind having one of these right about now.

lg.0565-2

Back outside for some shots out back (photos!)  Well, some drinks too.

lg.0636-2



lg.0650-2

I think possibly my favorite ring shot of the year....I'll have to go back and look.

lg.0665-2

First dance...

lg.0776-2


lg.0771-2

Apparently Greg and his brothers were really into wwe as kids....Greg was thrilled at how realistic the belts were and couldn't wait to sport his later on.

lg.0791-2

Laura's dad was just beside himself all day....I love emotional dads :)

lg.0827-2


lg.0847-2

The second that the dance floor opened up, it was packed all night.   You don't know how badly I wanted to get out there and get my groove on!

lg.0890-2



lg.0891-2

And at nearly eleven o'clock at night, they were looking just as good as when the day began.  Thanks, Laura and Greg for such an amazing day!

lg.1027-2

10.18.2010

[Kelly and Mike, the wedding]



At nearly every wedding I photograph, I marvel over the closeness of family, the happiness of the day and the beginning of new family, and how much this all means to the couple in the spotlight.  Yet I have never before been a part of a wedding that comes close to the meaning that this one held for Kelly and Mike.
I photographed their engagement session nearly a year ago, and shortly thereafter, Mike fell gravely ill.  Since then it has been nothing but an uphill battle, and after much time on the path to recovery, Mike is now the picture of health.  I truly did not know what to expect for the wedding day (I kept finding myself thinking about it while say, driving to work and choking back tears), but there were far fewer tears than I expected. Rather, the day was purely euphoric and a perfect beginning to their next chapter in life.


kellymike.0006

Too true.

Throughout all of this, Kelly was a pillar of strength.  Each time I corresponded with her, she was so positive and enthusiastic about the day...I have to admit this whole experience really made me think about life a little differently, and how even the small bits of time we can enjoy with one another are so very important...

kellymike.0046

And Mike, looking positively dapper, is also one of the most resilient people I have ever met. Nothing was going to deter him from having the best day ever.

kellymike.0139



kellymike.0200



kellymike.0209



kellymike.0218

I just love this image- "we've made it at last!"

kellymike.0281


kellymike.0350


"Talking Woody doll if you smile for the picture!"  I love a good bribe :)

kellymike.0366

Kelly and Mike wanted nature for their photos, and Nature they received.  We went out to Tifft for some pictures, and the autumn light could not have been more incredible....

kellymike.0382


kellymike.0444


kellymike.0497


kellymike.0517

Pearl Street reception and Lego people!  Does this day ever stop being so perfect?!

kellymike.0544


kellymike.0586

During the speeches, it all hit home a little bit, but that didn't stop the rest of the evening from being the mot spectacular night....nearly everyone was out on the dancefloor, and it was one of those types of parties where I seriously wanted to ditch my camera and jump right in!

kellymike.0611



kellymike.0620



kellymike.0646



kellymike.0802

I am so thankful that I could have been part of something so profoundly important.  This is really why I photograph weddings....for certain, they satisfy my cravings for visual stimulation, but when it comes down to it, i really fall in love with my subjects, and their families and friends...and just a little bit, it reminds me of how important my own family is to me.  Thanks guys, for allowing me to be a part of your day!