modern photographie

[owen, elliot, anna and liam]

2011-11-22T17:15:00.001-05:00

I had the opportunity over the weekend to work with two awesome families....here is the first of them. These four children were so much fun, and a photographers dream....heck, a parent's dream! Super polite, fun and beautiful, who could ask for more? Enjoy!

[rachelle and tim]

2011-11-19T08:40:00.000-05:00

I mentioned a little while back that I was lucky enough to have 2 "destination" weddings in 2012.....I am super excited about this one, as I get to actually take a plane there! Rachelle and Tim are an amazing couple who have a great laughter-filled relationship.....they are getting married in Florida in June and have asked me to come along to capture it all.

We met downtown last weekend for their engagement shoot, another gorgeous sunny day in Buffalo in November, except that the wind was gusting to about 70 mph in the wind shaft that is downtown. Despite that, it was an awesome time!

[kim and bryan]

2011-11-14T23:30:00.000-05:00

Another amazing autumn? In Buffalo? NY? Yep. And my favorite time of all to do engagement shoots! First up, Kim and Bryan. Kim is a super awesome teacher that both of my children adored, and I was thrilled when she asked me to photograph her wedding next spring. The three of us headed out to Tifft just before the time change to wade through a forest of grass and wander down by the water.....Bryan is a firefighter and he brought along some of his gear for us to play with as well. I couldn't stop marveling at the scorched surface of his helmet, it is so hard to fathom what a firefighter faces and without a thought of fear.

[julie and jeff]

2011-10-15T09:56:00.000-04:00

Julie and Jeff mark the official end to the wedding season, and it proved to be such a sweet ending to a great year. I was looking so forward to this one; it was my first time at the 20th Century Club and I was going to see a lot of familiar faces from weddings past as I mentioned in their engagement shoot post. Plus, Julie and Jeff were so awesome that I was really looking forward to hanging out with them again! Since the wedding was an evening one, the ladies rode the big yellow cheese over to the 20th Century Club so we could get together with the men for pictures prior to the ceremony. It had been a pretty gray day earlier in the morning, but it cleared up perfectly that afternoon.

I have driven by the Club countless times and have always wanted to peek in the back gate.....I never imagined that the gardens would have been as beautiful as they are.

I'm in love with every detail of this wedding....Julie's dress was perfect, and the colors were awesome for the space.

Not to mention that Jeff is absolutely her perfect match.

....tall guy in a little cooaat....

We then headed to St. Joseph's University Church for the ceremony....

(how amazing are gold painted mini pumpkins?!)

Thanks Julie and Jeff for such a wonderful end to an awesome season, and I can't wait to see you again in the spring!

[ellen and chris]

2011-10-06T21:30:00.000-04:00

You certainly can't beat an autumn wedding, especially when it is supposed to rain and it turns out to be the most perfect one. The light, the blue sky, a shining, happy bride and a dashing groom....a whirlwind tour of downtown and an evening at Connecticut Street Armory...I can't think of a more perfect day!

[Julie and Jeff, the engagement]

2011-10-02T21:52:00.000-04:00

Julie and Jeff are my kind of people. Last minute planners, yet cool as anything and happy just to be together. And so it is that I came to shoot their engagement photos.....less than one week before their wedding. Julie and Jeff are now I believe the 4th couple from an amazing group of friends who keep me in their circle for photographing their events.....Ellen and Dennis were the first (even before I had a blog!), and then Ellen's sister, Leah, next came the Spitlers and now Julie and Jeff (and looking ahead, Katie and Bob in the spring, plus a couple of baby shoots in there as well!) It is so fun hanging out with all of these people on a semi regular basis!Anyway, I had hoped to throw a couple of images up before their wedding, but time moves much faster as you get older (or perhaps I move more slowly, I'm not sure...) So here are a few one day after the wedding (and highlights from their wedding yesterday will be up soon!) We took pictures at their beautiful North Buffalo home, and then over to the park where Jeff proposed...

[kara and jay, or, catching up on the ole blog.]

2011-10-02T13:21:00.004-04:00

Yes, it has been awhile. A LONG while. I have been taking pictures, I promise you. But blogging? well that has been a bit of a challenge lately. So today I intend to try to gain some ground on what I have been up to lately.....aside from carting kids to their sports each and every day of the week :)Anyway, next year is going to be a very exciting wedding season! I have 2 Destination weddings that should be super fun. One of them happens to be Kara and Jay, who are getting married in Geneva, NY. I met up with them at Glen Falls Park, a place that I always take for granted.....it is really a great place to do an engagement shoot, with all of the textures and variety, and especially if you have a couple who is willing to climb around on ruins!

Who can resist a Mini Cooper with Union Jack mirrors? Not this girl! SO it is really my dream car, but I needed a solid excuse to be able to photograph it!

[katie and gwil, the engagement]

2011-09-14T22:51:00.002-04:00

The engagement session. So many things make them nearly my favorite thing to photograph. We can choose the day and time and if it rains, we can change it. We can go fun places without worrying about the limo, leaving behind beer bottles, and competing with other wedding parties. We can roll around in the grass and mud without worry. Hardly any stress, awesome pictures, it's all good.

When it comes to the engagement session, there are things you can do to make it an awesome photography experience......and to illustrate, I introduce you to Katie and Gwil. Quite possible one of the most fun, in-love and comfortable couples I have worked with yet. To start off, I arrive at Delaware Park and Gwil announces "we're all liquored up!" (A suggestion I often give for those couples who might be a bit camera shy...) Of course, Gwil was kidding (or hiding it very well...) but the pair immediately went into loving it up by the water. They are both so sweet and so into one another, it was an awesome thing to watch.

There was a wedding going on at Marcy Casino and while shooting some more pics there, a wedding guest commented on how evident it is that these two are totally mad (and made) for one another...

I loved editing this shoot....it was like having a whole mess of little mini shoots.....

This is going to be one incredible wedding....

[stacey and tom, the wedding.]

2011-09-11T09:50:00.002-04:00

I figured at some point, it would happen. Sweet little kids grow up and get married, and it happens now that all of my favorite students from my Middle School teaching years are on that path in their lives. It's funny, we don't see the changes in our selves, as we are always looking ahead to what is next. But when you have something against which to compare time, like a child growing up, time moves impossibly fast. So it happens that this year, one of my first and most talented art students asked me to photograph her wedding, it was bittersweet! Last fall, we got together for their engagement session and it was so much fun, I couldn't wait to see how Stacey pulled everything together for their big day!

Stacey wanted to make sure not to smudge the lipstick....hence the straw. Good ring prop, if you ask me!

Prior to the wedding itself, Stacey and the girls wanted to rock their dresses a bit...when I think back to the art she made in high school, I couldn't help to be drawn to Ellicott Creek Park for her pictures.

I LOVE the fresh color combinations they used- totally unexpected for me to see red and yellow, but it was awesome and bold.

Stacey and Tom had their wedding ceremony and reception at Sean Patrick's....

...Which is a pretty awesome place to take pictures afterwards....

Stacey designed everything, the invitations, the little owl fans/programs...

...and an awesome video dedicated to Tom that told the story of their time together...

A lot of my former students were there and it was fun hearing where they are in life now, and funny how in a lot of ways they haven't really changed too much since I last saw them.

Stacey and Tom, thanks you, thank you, thank you for letting me be a part of your day!

[summer]

2011-08-28T23:11:00.001-04:00

a great thing about doing lots of weddings is that I don't put my cameras away very often. a little break from editing weddings to try and get some of the family pics out there...

my girl has been picking up my camera here and there too.....she did a whole series of e that I can't wait to turn into a whole animation (love having continuous shooting mode!) Here are a couple, including one of me that I actually like. Don't be surprised if I take her on my shoots next year :)

Oh! While I am here, I found an awesome website today, full of amazing wedding images and ideas....check it out: The Bride's Cafe

[lauren and jeff, the wedding]

2011-08-26T23:07:00.001-04:00

As the wedding photography marathon continues, I got to work with a super laid back couple and yet another awesome car!

I met Lauren a summer ago at her cousin Kurt's wedding, and then Jeff at their engagement shoot. They are both a sweet couple who had actually known each other for years, as Jeff was Lauren's best friend's little bro. Funny how these things work out....

We began at Lauren's parents' house near the beach. The couple decided that with the schedule of the day being such that it was, that they would do a first look and pictures all prior to the ceremony and reception at Templeton Landing. So everyone met at the house, girls, guys, sweet cars....

Everyone was dressed super casual and cool (good for a steamy hot day), and the whole party wore flip flops...

We did a mini whirlwind tour of Buffalo beginning with Woodlawn Beach (which I had never been to but am reconsidering that now...) Both Lauren and Jeff worked there as teens so it made sense to hike on down to the beach.

Next, we headed to HSBC (well, it was HSBC that weekend anyway, and I suspect it will still be for a long time before people get used to the name change!) Of course whenever you are pressed for time there was ends up being a street hockey festival, not terribly easy for a ginormous limo bus to get close to the building, but we made it in for a few pics.

Then a final stop to Erie Basin Marina before the ceremony at Templeton...

I hadn't been to Templeton Landing since the name change (I actually have another gig there in September too...) but it is still a fantastic venue. Luckily too, it cooled down a bit so everyone could get a sit and not huddle under the cool shade of the tent.

I have to say again that I just love outdoor ceremonies....and everything about this ceremony suited Jeff and Lauren perfectly. Their vows were fantastic....just the right amount of sweetness and laughter, and the two of them just couldn't take their eyes off of each other.

If the day couldn't have already been awesome enough, then came the dancing. I don't think I would have guessed it, but Jeff was hilarious on the dance floor. A live band with its lead singer a Brazilian girl with a HUGE voice belted out the best version of Billie Jean I have heard yet and what began as a sweet first dance turned into a pretty hilariously choreographed number.

The rest of the night followed that lead.

Thanks again guys for a great night (and thanks Deanna and Kurt for leading me to them!)

[stephanie and dan, the wedding]

2011-08-22T09:18:00.000-04:00

SO much to show you, so little time! This August has been supremely busy for me and will continue to be through the end of the month (just in time for a crazy hectic school year!) The latest thing I have been working on is Stephanie and Dan's wedding. We had met earlier this spring for their engagement shoot where I got a little insight into Steph's personality, but I definitely wasn't prepared for this! She is hilarious...and I found myself cracking up pretty much most of the day.

The ceremony was at St. Mary's in Swormville, about a stone's throw from where I grew up (and ironically my first wedding shoot there.)

So many summers of the St. Mary's picnic- winning fish and eating clam chowder.....

A tiny redhead in a flapper dress.....what could be cuter?

I spoke with Steph on the phone the week before the wedding about where to go for pictures, and she had suggested the Carousel Museum, another first for me. It was a perfect reflection of the couple's fun loving spirit...

The reception at Creekside Manor was a blast.....

I love shooting weddings that make me want to be a guest rather as well as the photographer...awesome day, guys!

[a productive distraction?]

2011-08-16T22:59:00.000-04:00

Needless to say, whether I am at my full time job or working on photography, I am seated in front of my temptation riddled computer for quite a time longer than I probably should be. So, you must think that I am super productive, spending all that time cranking out proofs in record time. I wish I could say that were true, so in an attempt to justify my hours of brain-feeding image browsing, I thought that if I shared my ~~addiction~~ source of inspiration with you, that it wouldn't all be counted as a waste of time. In fact, it would all be worth it if I saw some of these ideas in person, if you catch my drift.

I will say that it is probably very good that I got married in 2000, when most of these sites didn't exist yet, otherwise we'd never have gotten married, becasue I probably couldn't make up my mind, but in any case, I know that all of you who are getting married soon are probably scouring websites for unique ideas. If you haven't already gotten addicted, you need to check out Pinterest. It is an online community of sorts where you can "pin" your favorite ideas from any website and visually organize them in one place. Then, you can look at other people's pins, boards or browse categories. I myself have nearly 600 pins in mostly home design, but I did start up a board that relates to wedding and photography ideas, which you can check out here, and if you want, you can even "follow" me. So many things to fall in love with....

[marisa and matt]

2011-08-04T01:24:00.001-04:00

This could quite possibly be my biggest wedding blog post to date! I have decided to update the look of my blog a bit in a more modern way, and honestly I couldn't resist these images from Marisa and Matt's wedding last Saturday. There could be more here, believe me, but since it is now past 1 AM, I have to put a stop to it somewhere.

You remember Marisa and Matt? Probably the coldest day I have ever held a camera in my bare hands was their engagement session....but we got to sneak around in the old Niagara Falls HS and relive their days in drama club....I was in love with them then, but not so much as this past weekend. I also had the honor of shooting with a friend of theirs, also from high school (and, as it turns out, a friend of my great babysitter and soon to be student teacher as well!), Sarah Bridgeman. It was awesome having a second camera around capturing the stuff I always wish I could be getting....that's actually the way I began, surreptitiously shooting the behind the scenes kind of things, and I really miss that sometimes. You can see some of Sarah's images on her Facebook Page, they are fab too.

Marisa had planned much of this wedding around handmade accents and bold colors that totally complement hers and Matt's personality. Touches of class and silliness....I totally appreciate when the wedding is a perfect reflection of the people who are doing it.

From the minute I walked in the door, I knew it was going to be an amazing day....a whole wall of windows at the back of the open floorplan house in which Marisa was getting ready, to the gray dresses and brilliantly colored flowers....and Marisa was stunning even before she got into the dress.

Marisa told me the day before the wedding about her Uncle's Rolls Royce, and how it was going to be a guest at the wedding. *Faint*

They got married at Duck Island, where we took some of the engagement photos last fall. Lots of great handmade accents here.....Etsy is a great big influence on Marisa (and me too, but you already knew that...)

More and more, I love outdoor weddings. Not just because I have no limitations when it comes to shooting them, but the air is definitely more alive and prickling with excitement. This ceremony was so intimate. Everyone was right there and able to be a part of it, not just seeing it from afar. If I could do it over again, I would have wicked cool invitations, and an outdoor ceremony.

Did I mention the Rolls? I could have (ok, I did) spent the entire afternoon with this car and it's British driver, Brian.

I died and went to heaven.....crazy socks AND Chucks?!

these guys tried to crash the wedding party with their own coordinating duds...

The reception was held at Antonio's in the Falls and showed off even more of Marisa's wedding planning brilliance....more vintage windows, cupcake centerpieces, lighters (?!)

Yes, that IS a Ninja Turtle toasting glass, thank you.

Many people love the song "Lucky" for their first dance....Matt and Marisa did too, except they decided to *SING* it instead. With a serious audience. Did I mention I am in love with you guys?

(ahh....LIGHTERS.)

The rest of the music selections were all 90's....and an awesome amount of energy pumped through the dance floor for the rest of the evening....and at around 10:30 or so, when the dance munchies set in, out came the pizza, wings and other assorted fried delights....best wedding snack *ever*.

Awesome, awesome day. Thanks, guys :)

[on the other side for a change]

2011-07-08T23:38:00.000-04:00

The most time I spend being a photographer is looking at the work of other photographers. For hours. Sometimes drooling. Wedding and portrait photography has certainly come a long way since even 11 years ago, when my husband and I went on our own search for a wedding photographer. Back then we wanted "photojournalistic" and at that time, it almost meant simply, "snapshots". We looked at two photographers- the first was an absolute no, and the second was thankfully a resounding "yes!" (if you are wondering, we had Mark Dellas do our wedding, and he was fantastic!) In any case, there are a lot of super talented photographers out there now, and it is really inspiring to me to see such a personal connection that these photographers can have with their subjects, rather than just taking pictures of them (in fact, that is probably my favorite part of photographing people-it's what keeps me in this side gig of mine.)

For a couple of years now, I have been particularly inspired by Rich and Alyssa of Nickel City Studios, who just happen to live in our same neighborhood. And I have to say, if I were to do the whole wedding thing over again, I would probably scrap the expensive dress and flowers and save up to hire them. Luckily, I don't have to get married all over again, and I have an amazing husband who totally surprised me with a family portrait session with Rich and Alyssa, which we cashed in a few weekends ago. Normally, I abhor being in front of the camera, but this was one of the most fun evenings I had in awhile...I am sort of addicted to having my family photographed now. It is amazing to see yourselves through some one else's eyes. I can't stop looking at them (thank you so much!) Check out their blog post here of our pics!

[ryan and alissa: a little sneak peek]

2011-07-08T23:15:00.001-04:00

I wanted to put up a quick post before a two week hiatus.....my good friend Ryan, fellow art teacher and overall great guy asked me to photograph his wedding to Alissa over a year ago. We went on a great engagement shoot last summer along with their dog to Tifft and the Cobblestone district, and then last weekend it all came together on a perfectly beautiful day. I took so, so many pictures, that while trying to plan for a little get away this week, I couldn't make it through all of them for the post, but I wanted to get some circulating before I returned....there is a strong possibility that this is not the last of this wedding to be seen!

[stephanie and dan]

2011-06-25T21:48:00.000-04:00

I met up with Stephanie and Dan at the very place where it all began....Niagara University. The two of them are such a great couple, Stephanie so free spirited and always smiling....Dan, the more analytic sort...they balance each other well. Plus they would pretty much do anything for a great picture aside from swimming in a fountain....Their wedding is in August, so make sure to come back then and take a look!

[simon and rachel]

2011-06-20T13:05:00.002-04:00

Last week I had an impromptu father's day shoot...Simon and Rachel and their mom and dad are among our best buddies....I have been dying to photograph them for such a long time now and had the chance. This is probably not the last time you will see them!

[gaby and jd]

2011-06-18T23:24:00.000-04:00

Back on Mother's day, which was the best one ever, by the way, my family took me out to Letchworth State Park for the day. We had a picnic of pb&j sandwiches (jelly only for e.) and a giant bag of chee-tos. We hiked around the park and wandered around the falls. It was perfect.

What made it even more exciting was knowing that I would be there again in a few short weeks (armed with my camera and another bag of Chee-tos) to photograph JD and Gaby's wedding. I ran around like a nut saying "this would be awesome!" and "I wonder if they would go down in the rainy waterfall area?" while my kids fed enormous fish in the pond near Glen Iris Inn.

I had met JD a of couple years ago when I photographed his mom Lori's wedding in East Aurora.....Lori had gotten back in touch with me this time to work with her son. I hadn't actually met the couple as "the people I am going to photograph in such an awesome venue" until the day of. Me = super nervous. It all worked out perfectly....the bride's family traveled from Ecuador to watch them exchange their vows right in front of the Inn, the sun came out, and I had a second perfect day in Letchworth, while my kids ate all the Chee-tos and hiked with dad.

I loved how JD kept stealing glances at Gaby throughout the ceremony...

Here is JD's brother Sam working out the critical details of the next shot:

and they were totally up for going in the rainy lower falls area....my kind of subjects! (although I do wish I had a plastic bag with me for the camera....)

Cake- Wegmans. Ultimate. Chocolate.

This guy and his little friend kept sneaking into the reception room....I tried to encourage him to get close to the cake, but no dice.

Gaby's dad giving an emotional speech....

Afterwards, the two families enjoyed a Sunday brunch, and I went on my way....not bad for a first wedding of the summer. And as I write this, I am definitely craving some hyper orange puffs of corn...

[Lauren and Jeff]

2011-06-07T22:13:00.000-04:00

A little preview from my first engagement shoot in awhile...I hadn't formally met with Lauren and Jeff prior to our shoot; they had hired me over the phone over a year ago, so I thought it went very well despite my own rustiness and lack of having very many conversations with anyone over the age of 18...it will be nice to get back into a different environment for a couple of months, for sure! Lauren and Jeff were really relaxed for 8 am and we had lots of fun walking in the rain and scoping out new (to us) walkways around the Historical Society. Their wedding is in August.

[link love]

2011-06-01T22:02:00.000-04:00

I'm thinking about weddings again. Thanks goodness, you must be thinking. I will be happily sharing lots of clever wedding ideas with you in the following weeks, as my chaotic secret teacher life begins to quiet down. I may even post an engagement session or two!

In the meantime, check out this dreamy site, rife with surreal wedding goodness:

Chloe

2011-05-01T22:07:00.000-04:00

I recently reconnected with my friend Jodi from high school and had the opportunity to photograph her beautiful little girl, Chloe, this past weekend. She reminds me so much of my own daughter at that age...precocious and fearless and always on the move. Jodi mentioned after the shoot that Chloe would like me to photograph her every day (which I am certain has nothing to do with the balloons and the trip to the nearby playground....)

[Caleb]

2011-02-27T23:10:00.002-05:00

It's been awhile! Today I had the good fortune to work with Peter and Maggie and their little guy Caleb. Caleb has been well trained to interact with the camera (I can't imagine why ;) Every time I clicked, he smiled. He is such a sturdy little fellow, making all of the adorable baby sounds and just being so darn cute...it's hard to remember such days when I look at my own kids, now 3 and 5. Anyway, he did an awesome job, as did his parents, and I can't wait to see him again soon!

[Jenna and Kenji]

2011-01-16T22:35:00.001-05:00

the day finally came!! i had so much fun working with jenna and kenji during their summer engagement shoot that i just couldn't wait for their wedding day to arrive! What better way to start the new wedding season (or off season, maybe?) with blizzard-like conditions and a beautiful bride and groom and their amazing families? Not to mention, all the gorgeous little children, balloon animals and a paper crane carved out of ice? Ok, I think we all could have survived without the wind and cold, but it all came together in the end for a really memorable evening for everyone. Check it out!

Fox Valley is such a stunning place to have a reception...we took a little limo-bus ride to the barn for some quick pictures...

If you're going to have a winter wedding, you have to know that anything is possible in Buffalo! I loved that the girls were totally up for some snowy pictures....

So many of the elements at the reception were made by the family. Jenna's mom made all of the centerpieces, while Kenji's mom took care of all of the paper cranes. And, all of the candles burning were so yummy and inviting...when you entered the reception the air was heavy with vanilla and warmth. I am not a candle burner but I may begin!

And the ice sculpture was made by Kenji's brother So, who has his own catering business, and just happened to also be the guy who carved the ice hockey table at last year's Powderkeg Festival downtown.

So also had a hand in all of the Japanese hors d'ouvres.

Instead of a cake cutting, Kenji and Jenna took part in a Sake Ceremony. Traditionally, the bride and groom offer each other Sake and then to their parents to signify the formal bond of the two families.

Thanks you, thank you, thank you Jenna and Kenji! You had a beautiful wedding day, and I am so happy I am so happy to have been there!

[Marissa and Matt, the engagement]

2010-12-15T22:18:00.002-05:00

winters in buffalo can be a tricky thing...some years it is warm all the way through November, and then *BAM* it is suddenly Antarctica during the Katabatic Winds. Imagine this as the backdrop for Marisa and Matt's engagement shoot.....ok, I am exaggerating....but damn was it cold!! Somehow, Marisa and Matt both managed to look warm and sweet, despite the fact that our eyeballs kept freezing in our skulls.

I met with them in their hometown of Niagara Falls, where they met back in high school. We started out with a few shots at home with their 3 doggies (!) and then continued to Hyde Park, where they plan to get married this summer.

Matt and Marisa met while they were students at Niagara Falls, and they were also the last class to graduate from the old building. Since then the building, still in much disrepair, has been turned into an arts and cultural center. They wanted to visit the old school and take some photos there as well....

Inside, we wandered all over, and ended up in the theatre....an amazing bit of architectural history with its bent wood seats and art deco chandeliers....Matt and Marisa were both into drama when they were students, so it seemed fitting to end up here.

Hopefully my next get together with Marisa and Matt will be a much warmer one :)
Happy holidays, and I will see you in January with my first wedding shoot of the year!

[the Carroll Family]

2010-11-15T23:00:00.001-05:00

I may have mentioned a couple of weeks back that it didn't get much better than photographing Laura and Greg's wedding at Park Country Club.....what is pretty darn close is getting to work with Laura's sister Kristen and her beautiful family. Little Cameron was all sorts of sweetness with his cooing and smiling...I wanted to eat him for brunch. Some of my faves....

[Andrea and Andy]

2010-11-14T21:35:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe that this is my last wedding of 2010...granted, my next wedding isn't too far away but looking back I can't believe that I'm here. I love looking ahead to the season, getting excited to work with all of the wonderful people I have briefly met and seeing new venues and fresh ideas. Then, suddenly, it all breezes past and the cycle begins anew.
Andrea and Andy's wedding was one that I took very late in the season, and I have to admit that I was tentative, as the weather in Buffalo in November is usually pretty lousy (happy to say that this hasn't been too much the case thus far!) Mother nature proved me entirely wrong and the day was magnificent, complete with a trip to the Butler Mansion in Buffalo for some pictures before the reception, and a new venue for me, the Timber Lodge in Akron. And the two of them were as happy as any couple I've ever seen...I was so thrilled to be a part of it!

cutest baby boy ever?

So the church was actually built by Andy's relatives of long ago, who had come to America through a bad storm...they prayed that if they made it, that they would build a church....they made it!

sweet, sweet. My favorite of the whole lot!

My photography professor back in undergrad would make us print, print and reprint to get the image perfect....this would definitely NOT please his aesthetic sensibilities, but I just adore the light and the crazy things it does.

So I say goodbye to the wedding scene for a bit....but I will definitely be around blogging some mini shoots!

[Stacey and Tom, the engagement]

2010-10-25T23:56:00.002-04:00

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!)

[the Misterkiewicz family]

2010-10-25T23:16:00.001-04:00

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-

[Laura and Greg, the wedding]

2010-10-23T23:35:00.002-04:00

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!

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

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

...and the angles

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

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

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

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

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.

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 :)

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

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

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

First dance...

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.

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

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!

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!

[Kelly and Mike, the wedding]

2010-10-18T23:06:00.001-04:00

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.

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...

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.

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

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

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....

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

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!

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!

[Ryan and Alissa, the engagement]

2010-10-14T00:01:00.001-04:00

Is there an eclipse? A sudden tidal surge? Have I finally just gone off the deep end? TWO BLOG POSTS IN ONE EVENING?! Plus an entire session edited? My husband is calling 911 as we speak.....

Seriously. I was super excited to go through these pictures from Ryan and Alissa's engagement session this weekend, since the day was extraordinary, and then I got carried away and actually got something accomplished! We met up at Tifft, (second time last weekend, the wedding post will come later this week!) along with their best buddy, Dublin, and then wandered into the more secluded parts of the city to close out the evening. Ryan is a fellow art teacher in my district, and it was really fun being able to hang out with him and not talk shop! And Alissa, what a sweetie! I really look forward to their wedding next July.

[Woof!]

2010-10-13T21:27:00.001-04:00

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I volunteered to do some photography for a calendar project that my friend Tom was embarking upon (um, no pun intended there...) In any case, I thought I'd share some of my favorite pictures with you. Funny, photographing dogs has its own set of challenges for certain....while they are not self conscious about being photographed (nor do they need a glass of wine prior to the shoot :) ) they definitely fidget quite a bit, and if I tried to lay on my tummy to photograph them, well, it was all over- they only wanted to play!

The calendar will be sold through Hospice of Niagara County in time for the holidays...I'll post a link when I get that info!

[Miranda and Mark]

2010-10-10T23:14:00.001-04:00

My first wedding in almost a month! Mark had been a groomsman in Christa and Sean's wedding a couple years back (thanks you guys yet again!!) and I actually didn't realize this until I saw him at the church...as well as realizing that many of the groomsmen were the same that I had worked with back then, and were as hilarious as ever. Miranda's girls were pretty hilarious themselves, and the day was an fantastic one, complete with wonderful families and friends, despite the frigid early October temperatures (thanks goodness as I am writing this the warm and beautiful October temperatures have returned!)

On to the Hamlin House in Allentown, where Christa and Sean had their wedding as well...beautiful old mid 18th century building with lots of secrets upstairs (I'm a curious artist type, what can I say?)

Miranda had been an Irish dancer....the more I see, the more I want my daughter doing this!

[Wouldn't it be nice?]

2010-09-21T10:33:00.001-04:00

Do you watch Project Runway? Do you remember Carol Hannah, from season 6 (who should have won?!) Whatever your answer, wouldn't it be amazing to have a wedding dress or bridesmaids dresses designed by her? I came across her etsy shop today, to discover that there are actually 2 shops that feature her beautiful designs.....just one more reason that I wish I were getting married in this decade! Check them out here and here.

[Jenna and Kenji, the engagement]

2010-09-18T22:29:00.001-04:00

i love meeting with prospective clients for the first time...seeing the excitement in their eyes as they dream of what will be the biggest day in their lives thus far never gets old for me. But I think by far, meeting Jenna and Kenji for the first time was like reuniting with dear old friends....they are such lovely, down to earth people with the kindest hearts...they could not be a more perfect couple! (Not to mention beautiful photography subjects....) We met up today at the Historical Museum for their engagement shoot, and it went like this...

See what I mean? Aren't they just gorgeous?

When I plan on an engagement shoot with a couple, I recommend a couple of things. 1. look at other engagement sessions to get a feeling for how not to be awkward, and 2. have a glass of wine. Or two. Kenji tells me all at once that they followed my advice!

I've said it before, I love a couple who will dance during their engagement shoot....

Bonus points for jumping!!

I can't wait for their January wedding at Fox Valley!

[Jude]

2010-09-12T22:35:00.002-04:00

this weekend, I had the fortunate opportunity to be involved with a photo shoot for Hospice of Niagara County....my friend Tom had asked me a while back if I'd be interested in photographing the animals of hospice- the therapy animals that come in to the facility to visit patients and families alike- for a calendar that would benefit Hospice. This cause is very near and dear to my heart....my mother had been a patient at Hospice of Erie County, and the people there were the most caring, wonderful people I had ever met. The entire Hospice experience was unbelievable, and so I thought this was a great opportunity to give back. Likewise, my mother in law has dogs that she uses as therapy dogs in nursing homes in Ohio, and I think that the idea of it just wonderful.

So I arrived at Hospice on Saturday to find that Tom had his little baby Jude strapped to his chest as his assistant for the day, I couldn't resist a little impromptu baby session in between the furry faces. My next post will be of the dogs, but for now, a few of Jude and his shockingly beautiful blue eyes....

[Liz and Ryan]

2010-09-10T10:40:00.002-04:00

I cannot even tell you how excited I have been to shoot this wedding....not only was it being held in my favorite place ever (the Saturn Club, where I almost had my own wedding reception 10 years ago) but it was the wedding of probably the most darling couple ever, Ryan and Liz. I had so much fun shooting their engagement session at their farm in East Aurora...Liz and Ryan are two of the kindest people I had ever met and I knew that the rest of the people I would encounter at their wedding had to be the same.

The day was such an iffy weather day....the plan was to have a first look and then do pictures at the Connecticut St. Armory, and then return for an outdoor ceremony in the courtyard of the Saturn Club. We were able to pull off the first part of the plan....

Liz and Ryan wanted to spend some time alone a bit before heading out...they were really happy to have the chance to see one another beforehand and felt so much more relaxed for the rest of the day to come.

So, the ceremony began outside....

And then the wind and rain came, just as Liz and her father were set to walk down the aisle. So we went inside...

Their ceremony was really unique and totally heartfelt....it included at hand binding ceremony, stories of how each had met one another and how each has transformed the other's life completely.

The Saturn club is a great venue..the food is fantastic, and the people are amazing.

Much like earlier in the day, the dancing began inside, and then the party went outside once it warmed up a bit....just about everyone was out on the dance floor...a perfect end to a fantastic day!

2010-09-06T21:55:00.002-04:00

[don't look at my website just yet!-no really!]

as some of you know i have been working hard to get my website up and running, and while I have most of it up and running, I have suddenly found myself in an interesting position....i have run out of space! could it be that I absolutely cannot edit down the number of images in my slideshow from 90? Have I looked at my new website hundreds of times to see if it was just right? Anyway, I got an email from the host saying that my limit for the month is about up...I don't know what happens next, but in the meantime if you need a fix, just come here instead! Here's some material to get you by til the next post :)

2010-09-05T15:20:00.002-04:00

[ellen and chris]

I met these two at Aubrey and Jon's wedding back in July, and they hired me shortly thereafter...they are getting married next September and having their reception at the Connecticut Street Armory, which thrills me to no end. For their engagement session, they wanted to re-enact a typical date that they often go on, starting at the Naval Park, not far from their downtown apartment. It was a gorgeous morning, and there were tons of people out jogging and taking in the sun- it was wonderful to see people enjoying their city!

I was really in love with the way that the sweetness of Ellen and Chris contrasted with the lines of the ships' ropes and all of the industrial metal...

They both wanted to take a break on this bench...the one on which Chris proposed to Ellen!

2010-08-28T22:12:00.000-04:00

[bridgette and jason]

so....two posts in two days! What is going on you may ask? A new computer and frantic editing, I reply! Oh, and a new website in the works as well. No time like the week before school begins again to tackle all of this, but that's how I roll, I suppose. Anyway, I hope you enjoy these images from Jason and Bridgette's evening wedding....I kind of wish most weddings were at this time, as the light is so gorgeous. The ceremony was at Trinity Church on Delaware, which has, if you didn't know, some beautiful examples of Tiffany stained glass.

This cracks me up....I LOVE this image of Bridgette and Jason....the way he looks at her, her beauty, the casualness of the group, and the bridesmaid who is clearly not aware that I am photographing.

Ahh...Pearl Street. My home away from home, it seems. BEST pot roast ever (this from a former almost vegetarian). They did not disappoint once again, despite not having power to more than half of the building for a majority of the evening.....even the candle lit bathrooms were rather cozy!

These two were busting moves all evening! And, I have to thank the flower girl, who was my shooting assistant for a portion of the reception :)

2010-08-27T23:36:00.001-04:00

[kimberly and matt]

When I met Kimberly last year, she mentioned that she wanted to just have fun on her wedding day. I love when a bride to be says that....I know it is going to be a laid back, creative sort of day for me, so how can I say no to that?

The day began for me down at her sister's house in Angola...

and then on to my new favorite church at which to photograph....Christ the King Chapel at Canisius, (and best Priest ever, Father Bucki!)

Since Kimberly and Matt are rather nautical people (Matt just became a Captain!), we went down to the waterfront for some fun stuff...

Kimberly's brother arranged for a little surprise- I can say I had previously never photographed a bride and groom on a boat like this.

Eric rocked!

Before the reception in Angola, Matt and Kimberly wanted to stop and visit Grandma Frost, who was recovering from a hip injury in Elderwood in Hamburg. She was so happy, seeing Kimberly in her dress....we were all crying (which makes it a bit hard to photograph!)

I love candy jars for the guests....lots of good color and shape to work with.

Good old fashioned cake fight!

2010-08-07T23:29:00.001-04:00

[sarah and ken, the wedding]

I know I am being totally redundant, but this has been one unbelievable summer for awesome weddings. And just when I think I was excited for the last one, the next one comes along and blows me away in another direction. Sarah and Ken's engagement session was one of my favorites- those two just couldn't stop smiling at one another. And despite the rainy day that somewhat altered their vineyard wedding, the smiles prevailed and lasted throughout the evening.

I got to Becker Farms just a bit before Sarah and Ken and fell in love instantly with all of the details....btw, the flowers by Wegman's were pretty damn amazing.

Here's Ken, true to form.

Sarah, stunning in her vintage dress and Etsy accessories!

A wet tux from the sudden downpour did not deter the smile from Ken's lips...

A red barn may just be my favorite wedding photo background....

I am noticing a trend here...anytime there are fowl nearby, the men of the wedding party feel compelled to chase them...why is this?

This little guy felt right at home in his role as best man understudy.

Maybe a bit too at home? (Yes, he is munching on the boutonniere)

I love the evening light after a good rain...it gave such an amazing glow during the first dance, not to mention s & k's pure bliss.

The guests did not disappoint either....it was a pretty fun evening!

2010-08-06T21:56:00.000-04:00

[link love]

while I am gearing up for another wedding blog post, I happened by this wedding posted over at Poppytalk. I am particularly taken with these bridesmaids' dresses, which they made themselves from vintage patterns.

I also am fond of the reception details....love those vintage chairs!

2010-07-28T15:41:00.000-04:00

[Jenna and Scott]

You just know that you are going to be in for super wedding when the couple you are about to photograph offers to dance at the beginning of their engagement session. That couple is Jenna and Scott. And yes, the wedding was much more than super.....marvellous, spectacular, I could go on and on. I had to really reign myself in for this blog post too, so that I didn't end up with 100 images!

Trinity Lutheran Church is where all the festivities began....Jenna's uncle officiated the ceremony. I mentioned in my last wedding post that the best weddings are those that are super personal and let you into the couple's lives.....this was one of those ceremonies. I am always struck by vows that are written by the couple, and in this case, Jenna's uncle had a lot to contribute as well.

And so began the sermon....Jenna's uncle had 2 backpacks filled with "essentials" both for camping, but as metaphors for a life together.....which started with two boxes of DOTS.

It does not get any better than this....Jenna and Scott did nothing but smile at and cuddle with each other all day long. Great camera material!

Jenna's dream wedding vehicle was a jeep....wish granted!

We then headed over to Tifft for some pictures....

Ok. So there is definitely something about Pearl Street for weddings. There is a certain energy, or is it the people that choose Pearl Street who have the magic? Don't know, but it was definitely something else!

I think this really set the bar for the rest of the evening!

Who else can pull off a TANGO for their first dance together?

I love, love, love Pearl Street for the brick everywhere. We sneaked outside for a few intimate photos....and then, I hear someone calling my name- Dave and Gretchen from a couple of years ago. I love Buffalo's small town-ness!

Another totally unique event at this wedding was the anniversary dance/garter removal.....Scott took a garter off of Jenna, then there was an anniversary dance, and then the lucky winners (Jenna's grandparents) got to put the garter back on. Too cool!!

Another wedding with lots and lots of kids! And these kids knew how to dance!

2010-07-26T15:08:00.001-04:00

[link love]

As a little girl I always loved to make bouquets out of Queen Anne's lace.....and I love watching my own daughter do the same....I was so excited to see this post today over on Poppytalk today. I hadn't checked out Project Wedding yet, but it has some wonderful DIY ideas.

See the entire post here: Do It Yourself ~ Linen and Lace - Project Wedding

2010-07-25T23:01:00.000-04:00

[joan and todd]

it has been a fantastic summer for weddings....each one I shoot seems to be more and more unique and personalized and FUN. I knew from the moment that I met Joan and Todd at Lake Effect Diner last spring that this one would be a good one for sure. Joan had sent me their wedding invitation and had clued me in on some of the details prior to the wedding, so I was nearly bursting at the seams to get a look. Besides, the wedding all took place at the Roycroft in East Aurora, and it was the sunniest day ever, so things could only be perfect, maybe even a bit more.

Joan had been inspired by the peacock for the colors and design of their wedding....the girls look fantastic in their shades of violet, blue and teal

Since the ceremony would be immediately followed by the cocktail hour and reception, Joan and Todd wanted to do a "first look". We chose the courtyard for the meeting. I never tire of these- while the ceremony is such an electric event, a first look is pure joy. The couple can totally express every thought and bit of excitement they are feeling for each other and the day right then and there!

Joan's first look :)

I've never seen white peacock feathers before....pretty cool!

Other than the awesome readings during the ceremony, Joan and Todd had a "ring warming" which I had yet to see....they had the rings tied to this portrait of themselves and had it passed around to all of the guests to say a blessing over it...this way, the rings would be nice and warm for them to exchange when the time came.

Another awesome thing about this wedding- it was rife with children! I am finding that weddings with kids are the most fun of all (although I may be biased now and just missing my own kids when I am away from them...) These kids rocked all night- they were dancing til the end and happily wore their little disguises and ran around for me when I asked them to.

The peacock theme was pervasive throughout the evening....it was funny how many people already owned something with the circular design, from shoes to dresses and jewelery, and now had the perfect place to wear them!

Joan and Todd had chosen all of the music for the dancing- and it rocked! They even had a robot dance contest, can you guess who was the winner?

2010-07-23T10:54:00.000-04:00

[sigh]

I am not usually this impulsive. For about 2 years now I have been planning, researching, contemplating and then not actually following through on redesigning my website. I had spent hours upon hours on my old one, creating the entire site through Photoshop and tweaking all of the html and so on to make a site that I felt was pretty good for having done it myself. But it's time to move on- I have to face it, I can't do everything, though I'd like to try. "Focus on one thing," they tell me. So I took the plunge, transferred my domain, chose a website design to work with and......forgot to transfer my original site to the new domain. So much for focus. So for a little while, I am mostly siteless. If you are reading this because you already figured that out, and you need to get in touch with me, please email! I will promise to entertain you in the meantime with a few new posts.

2010-07-12T14:41:00.001-04:00

[aubrey and jon]

You may remember them from their super sensational engagement shoot at Sunset Bay last summer...(if not, please check it out here!) It is quite possible that these two have the best luck on earth for fantastically beautiful days. Which complements them perfectly.

Off to Christ the King Chapel at Canisius for the ceremony....

Jon surprised Aubrey with a dove release...

We then headed to Delaware Park for some fun stuff...

And then to the Ellicott Square Building for the reception.

Aubrey's cousin Christa designed her invitations and many of the other graphic elements in her wedding....(here's her website!)

The light inside the Ellicott Square building is stunning...

by far my favorite-

Many very determined ladies...

And one very determined garter-catcher!

2010-07-04T08:07:00.003-04:00

[liz and ryan]

I love photography, but I think what I really love most about doing weddings is meeting the sweetest people....I really think that the way I work attracts my favorite kind of people, and the relationship that is built goes beyond being another vendor on the wedding day. I get so excited this time of year when I look at my calendar and realize that I am working with that awesome couple that I met last fall, and that really pertains to Liz and Ryan. During our initial meeting, I prayed and prayed that they would hire me, we got on so well (oh, and their wedding is at the Saturn Club, which I have never photographed, but nearly had my own wedding there!) They wanted to have their engagement shoot at their new home/farm in East Aurora, which I thought was perfect...it truly reflects who they are and where they are going in their lives....Ryan has a law degree, but recently decided he wants to be a farmer instead...They have it all, a big red barn, rolling fields, gun boots and two awesome farm dogs, Sarabelle and Mitchell (although Sarabelle was a bit more elusive, Mitch was very into being photographed.)

Not only are they having my dream wedding, but they have the best invites too! *Sigh*, how I wish Etsy was around 10 years ago....

2010-06-27T21:07:00.004-04:00

[kim and jeff, the wedding]

One of the things I really dig about shooting weddings is the fact that I can go somewhere and spend a day with a couple hundred people that up until that day I never met, and by the end of the night, feel like I had always been with them. It's pretty ironic, actually, since I am not the most outwardly social person, in fact I prefer to spend a lot of my time with my family and at home. I guess it's the camera that breaks the social barriers....and it hlps too that everyone is in such bliss at a wedding (at least the ones I get to photograph!) In any case, after hanging out a bit at their rehearsal, I already felt completely at home with Kim and Jeff and was super excited to see how the day would play out. The entire wedding was to be held at the Niagara Falls Country Club, with a ceremony outside, overlooking the gorge (and Toronto, you could say). The girls got ready upstairs at the club.....

Because the ceremony and reception were to be a the club, Kim and Jeff decided to do a first look, and then family and group pictures back at the beautiful home from the evening previous (which turned out to be the best idea all day, since it then rained after the pictures and right up to the ceremony).

Priceless! Jeff's mom was beside herself at the sight of Kim coming down the stairs :).

Back at the club, Kim was determined to have an outdoor wedding (who could blame her?) As luck woudl have it, the rain cleared up just in time for the ceremony, and Kim was able to descend the stone steps with her dad, just as she had envisioned.

And the reception was fantastic....to get the newlyweds to kiss, people came up to the dance floor and told hilarious stories. The rest of the night was so much fun....thanks to everyone!

2010-06-21T09:13:00.002-04:00

[laura and greg (and sophie!)]

my most recent engagement shoot happened on one of the most gorgeous days yet this summer, at one of the most beautiful locations I have been to in awhile. I met up with Laura and Greg at their house in Amherst, so we could get a few shots with their puggle, Sophie. All three of them were perfect subjects! Afterwards we went over to the Country Club of Buffalo and trekked around the grounds. Their wedding is in October at Park Country Club, which is where my reception was 10 years ago...I haven't been in there since then, so needless to say I am super excited!

2010-06-20T23:31:00.002-04:00

[jenna and scott]

there could not be a sweeter couple than Jenna and Scott.....they are both teachers, they love to dance and they remember each and every detail of their lives together. I photographed them on a perfectly dreary Sunday evening down by the water, but we laughed so much and had such a great time that the gray dissolved......we checked out the new Wright boathouse first and then ended up down at the riverwalk where they had their first date. We met a man by the name of Junior the Jamaican too, which must be good luck of some sort...

2010-06-20T22:53:00.003-04:00

[blog-o-rama]

It has been a whirlwind of shooting assignments lately! The magnitude of my posting this week may require a loud Canadian furniture sale announcer to do it justice....I will be posting slightly out of order so I apologize to those of you secret blog stalkers who had been waiting to see some images....I promise to get them all up! (By the way, every so often I hear how you are stalking my blog....I'd love to hear from you once in a while! :)

kim and jeff

I had met kim and jeff just 4 days prior to photographing them at a spectacular house on the Niagara Gorge during their rehearsal dinner. Sweet, sweet couple! And it turns out that Kim's mom, Beth, teaches with some of my favorite Lewiston art teachers....(small world, again.) Kim and Jeff's wedding was awesome, but you'll need to be patient to catch a glimpse of it in another post....

2010-06-11T09:03:00.004-04:00

[marcia and colin (and my 100th post!)]

The school year is winding down for me, just as the wedding (and engagement, and family) season is picking up...so expect a whole lot of new posts soon!
Marcia and Colin are a very cool couple that I had the delight to work with on May 22, down in Ellicottville. They were married at Holiday Valley Resort, outside of Yodeler Lodge. Gorgeous setting and lots of yummy details! And the little girls......they were hilarious! During the reception, they decided to hike up the nearby black diamond trail and then run down at full speed....girls after my own heart! I had a great time and really loved the family. Here are some faves from the day:

2010-05-03T10:20:00.004-04:00

[Jillian and Zach]

2 Saturdays ago, I had the best time working with the Ferry and Musial families at their children Jillian and Zach's wedding. Another gorgeous day in April....in fact they probably had better weather than some of the summer weddings will have! The day was all about family and fun times....both Jillian and Zach have nice big families with lots of crazy siblings....just my kind of people to work with!

Is Jillian not the most gorgeous bride ever?

This Jillian's family has this great yard to play with.....a little pre ceremony playtime with the girls.

And then off to the church, one of the best I have ever photographed in because of all of the natural light!

Jillian is a jewelry designer and designed the engagement and wedding rings....Zach must have been a bit nervous and the ring just wouldn't go on!

We went to Forest Lawn for pictures afterwards...here are the guys, coming in for their landing.

*LOVE* springtime flowering trees!

Jillian, getting ready to rock the reception...

The reception was at the Millenium Hotel in Cheektowaga...

I love watching father/daughter dances, particularly when they are upbeat and really reflect the relationship that exists there. Jillian and her dad danced to "Father and Daughter" by Paul Simon....awesome!

Thanks everyone for being so great to work with...I hope you like the preview!

2010-04-29T19:11:00.004-04:00

[free things are always good]

many of you know by now that I am pretty addicted to blog stalking...while sometimes it really inhibits my work, there are times that it really is good for everyone. today is just that moment- I found a link to some pretty amazing (free!) printable invitations that I though I'd share with you. Downloadandprint.com features modern invitations and reply cards that you simply download and print (Oh, I get it now! ;) )
Check them out and maybe save a few bucks in designing your wedding!

2010-04-26T09:22:00.004-04:00

[michelle and steve, part deux]

my first wedding post of the season! You can certainly tel I am trying to get back into the swing of things, editing and trying to keep up with blog posts. In any case, Michelle and Steve carried forward the momentum of their awesomeness to their wedding day....the entire shindig took place at Asbury Hall, and they had gorgeous April (?!) weather for it. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE everything about this day!

2010-04-10T08:49:00.003-04:00

[michelle and steve]

Today is my first wedding of the season, and while that is usually a bit daunting, I can say with total honesty that I am stoked. Michelle and Steve are an awesome couple, laid back and up for just about anything. Last week I met them out at Antique World last week for their engagement session....for an Early April weekend we were all sweating and enjoying the late afternoon sun....there wasn't too much to play with outside as it was a bit too early in the antiquing season, but here are a few of my favorites.

2010-03-23T21:39:00.005-04:00

[a king and queen, funny little boys and free things]

So spring is here and the weddings will be coming on like the tide....I am excited to begin again, particularly since all I have really photographed since my last wedding are embarrassing pictures of my son.

Easter weekend I will be shooting my first engagement of the year, followed by my first wedding, both shoots being the same couple. I can't wait! Michelle and Stephen seem awesome so far! In the meantime, I have been finding cool things to share with you, and this time it is something for free.

e.m. papers has this sweet little DIY wedding invite kit with vintage art, for download here. It has everything- the invite, response cards, program, place cards, and so on. Via How About Orange.

Oh- and I mentioned a little while back that I was going to try my hand at a wedding cake topper idea.....here it is, posted on Etsy.

I had picked up a number of ceramic molds for my sculpture class to play around with, and many of them are chess sets. I may add more soon. Til next time....

2010-02-03T21:21:00.006-05:00

[long time no see.]

so my photo/daycare friend Trish bluntly pointed out to me today that I hadn't blogged in a VERY long time (thanks Trish!)...so here it is. I'll try to make it a good one for being off season and not even thinking about photography.
I have however been roaming Etsy on a consistent basis and have a few goodies to share....

1. This wedding cake topper-

How darling is this? I am tempted to buy it just because. Oh yeah....I got married 10 years ago, so it really isn't relevant now is it?

2. The Sunshine on a gray day Boutonniere-

Not only is it my favorite EVER color combination (of the last few months anyway), but how whimsical! Clients: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE buy these so I can take a picture or 26! This little accessory makes me so happy! (Oh, and Joan, if you are reading this, check out the peahen feather boutonniere....maybe what you are looking for?)

3. Another Wedding Cake Topper, by Melabo-

An "Interspecies" couple....that should definitely raise a few eyebrows :).

Speaking of Wedding Cake Toppers, I have been intensely working in the clay studio at school....I teach a sculpture and ceramics class and just recently came into a bunch of slip molds, many of which are chess sets. So that said, I am trying my hand at a wedding cake topper of my own.....I'll post it soon!

Oh, and going back to the photography thing, I have been awarded a Bride's Choice award through Weddingwire.com, which is a cool wedding website that is geared towards wedding planning...I was one out of 23 total photographers chosen in the Buffalo/Rochester area. Thanks Weddingwire and to those who have left reviews!

In other news, I am completely booked for 2010, but am beginning to book 2011. Thanks to all of those who have been emailing me for this year and I am sorry :(.

Finally, I leave you with him.....see, I am taking SOME pictures!

2009-11-19T18:40:00.005-05:00

[jillian and zach]

I had met with Jillian (a jewelry designer) a while back, along with her mother (who is also an art teacher...) and I could tell then that there would be a strong chance that I'd have a lot of creative freedom in photographing her. I met with her and Zach at Ellicott Island Park in Amherst ( a place so near to my school and yet I had never been there before) for the second shoot of a perfect day a week or so back....

The park is a dog park, perfectly chosen as there is just this bridge to get onto the island...All of the dogs were very well behaved too for being loose (although there was a head on collision once or twice.)

Ahhhh! Leaf Woman! (This shot really makes me giggle uncontrollably.)

I love when people aren't afraid to get a little messy in the name of art!

Can I say here too, that I have major hair envy (of Jillian, that is) after an afternoon of rolling around in the leaves and swinging, it still looked incredible!

I am really looking forward to their April wedding.....thanks again guys for your ever smiling cooperation!

2009-11-19T18:34:00.003-05:00

[I wish...]

I wish that someone would actually make this their wedding cake and invite me over to photograph it!

(via Brandon Kidd)

2009-11-16T08:42:00.005-05:00

[sarah and ken]

Two Saturdays ago I had the good fortune to have two engagement shoots on probably one of the nicest days of the year. Sarah and Ken were up first.....their wedding is next July at Becker Farms, so they were looking for a bit more of an urban feeling to their photoshoot. We started off in the vicinity of Asbury hall....

I have been craving some pretty intense color and architectural elements for a bit now, and these did not disappoint....I had been watching them paint this building and thought it would be perfect for a "bubbly" couple like Sarah and Ken.

I love these.....it shows that their relationship is so well balanced....

I had also been eyeing this building in the theater district for quite some time...

Ken and Sarah's sweetness contrasts well with urban hardness.

Walking back to Delaware, I found this great bit of tall grass with the city in the background, so I made the two of them squish themselves behind it. They were definitely up for it and I think it worked out pretty amazingly...

We then made our way towards the Bidwell Farmer's market....nothing like a college bar during the day to find a neat bit of architecture.

Sarah and Ken were so much fun to work with.....willing to bend to my artistic whims....Thanks guys (and I can't wait till your wedding!)

2009-11-05T13:11:00.002-05:00

[weddings etsy style]

i think that i am going to make this a regular feature, especially now that my blogging is going to be slowing down in these cold wintery months....today I am going to focus on ring bearer pillows.....when we were married, my mother in law made our ring bearer pillow from leftover fabrics from our flower girl's dress....it was very pretty but perhaps couldn't be incorporated into our current decor. I love the idea of using the pillow for just that- an accent on a small chair or bookshelf. Here are some faves:

1. Kate Series Ring Bearer Pillow by 5eiszen

2. Silver Sash Bow Pillow by Emicibridal

3. Custom calendar ring bearer pillow by Giggleroom

4. Modern Poppy Pillow by evies

2009-11-04T09:13:00.002-05:00

[erin and jeff (or, at long last)]

My last wedding of the season was definitely one of the most fun of the year.....Erin and Jeff, friends of my photog buddy Kristen had their wedding at Pearl Street Brewery, (at which I am quickly becoming a regular) on a cold, cold October day....luckily for me the whole wedding party was up for some quirky shots and we had a blast in the meantime.

We tried at first to take some pictures at Hoyt Lake....check out this amazing sky!

But the cold winds took us to City Hall. The security guard there was awesome, he let us go up to the observation deck for some pictures.

Back outside, a "lifting the bride" picture soon turns into a childbirth roleplay?!

Sweetness!

Thanks again guys!

2009-11-03T09:20:00.004-05:00

[jillian and neil]

Another day at Knox Farms, another super fun shoot. Jillian and Neil wanted to play it up a bit, giving their engagement shoot a vintage "love in the time of war" feel. When Jillian initially emailed me her idea I was literally jumping up and down in my classroom....she bought a couple of vintage dresses through Etsy to wear, and Neil, being a WWII buff was perfectly outfitted down to his grandfather's pocket watch.

I really had a hard time choosing.....it turned out to be a beautiful sunny day and the light was too good.

Neil is such a ham....this is one of a whole "Neil" series...

2009-11-02T21:03:00.004-05:00

[WOW. or, A pretty inspired wedding link]

i love when I come across a totally random blog that contains a link to another random site of beautiful wedding styling that is in another part of the country altogether. I can spend hours doing this.
ok, actually it is a problem of mine. a large problem. I suppose it could be worse, I could quit my job and wait outside the casino every morning until it opens, but seeing as how i am not the gambling type, I'll stick to blog stalking. By the way, those of you who keep telling me in person that you are in fact stalking my blog, please leave me some comments! I feel like I am talking to myself over here, and that can be down right embarrassing.

so here are a couple of things for you to drool over, and incorporate into your own wedding if I am photographing it!

Joy Thigpen's Nashville Lifestyle Wedding:

2009-11-02T09:24:00.003-05:00

[kelly and mike]

I am a bit out of order with my posting, so please if you are looking for a particular (erin and jeff) event, hold tight! I'll be posting like mad this week now that Halloween is over and I am not having to construct robot light panels or making mummy cupcakes.

I met Kelly and Mike out at Knox Farms State Park....if you have not been there I URGE you to go quick before all of the leaves are gone. I actually shot two engagements there last weekend, and there are so many places to wander, peacefully. I could definitely move right in to the old estate house at a moments notice (in fact I contemplated just moving into the ultra cool modern pool house.)

But I digress......Kelly is the daughter of one of the directors at my daughter's preschool and is wonderful, and Kelly is the spitting image of her mom, down to her voice. Mike is great too....and they were really fun to work with. Here are a couple of favorites from the day. Luckily the rain began only after we got into the car to go home!

2009-10-26T11:11:00.004-04:00

[belinda and matt]

a couple weeks back i ventured down to chautauqua with my best photography bud, Kristen Davide to photograph Belinda and Matt's wedding. It was a stunning sunny day, although FREEZING, and all of the leaves were in full color....the perfect fall wedding. Kristen met Matt and his boys at the Anthenaeum Hotel in the Institute, while I met up with Belinda and the girls at the Plumbush Inn. I was in beautiful old home heaven!

Kristen had some amazing light with which to work....

Then it was off to the Hall of Philosophy for the ceremony. What a perfect place for a ceremony, aside from all of the obvious beauty, it was awesome to be able to be behind the scenes to get some pretty great close up shots. Kristen was able to cover the "audience view" so overall we had really nice variety of images.

This could be my favorite of the day (thanks, Kristen!!) I love the familial LOVE that is happening here.

There are so many images where Matt is completely lost in Belinda (who wouldn't be, she is one of the most geniune people I have ever met!).....I love these moments.

"Stay Back!!"

I couldn't resist doing the ring shot on the shards of glass...

Back at the Plum Bush for the outdoor reception....Dinosaur BBQ provided the dinner and happy hour featured Pimm's Cup drinks- had I not been the photographer, I definitely would have partaken in a few of those....delicious! Oh, and there was a restroom trailer that had, I kid you not, a fireplace inside!

Apple Pie cake cutting.....

When we left the reception, we saw millions of stars (it was that cold) but the perfect ending to such a wonderful experience.....