Sara and Matt – Columbus, Ohio wedding

Sunday, July 26, 2009 Posted in Columbus Ohio Photographer,Weddings

Last Saturday, Tracie and I spent the day photographing Sara and Matt’s beautiful wedding. To say that Sara and Matt are about one of the nicest couples I’ve ever met is definitely an understatement! And Sara is such a delight, very expressive and full of life, and it’s clear that everyone absolutely adores her (and Matt too!).

We had a couple downpours early in the day but the weather cleared and made for some really dramatic skies come portrait time. The ceremony was held at St. Peter Catholic Church on Smoky Row, we went for portraits at Inniswood Gardens, and then to the fabulous reception at Villa Milano which has the nicest in-house lighting set-up! A special thanks goes to Heather Odenweller of Natural Element Photography for all her help covering the reception!

So, onto the show!

Getting ready in the house where Sara grew up.

Group hug before the ceremony.

Sara and Matt’s first glance.

Sara’s mom and sister walked her down the aisle, stopping on the way to greet Matt’s parents.

So much love, so adorable.

See what I mean about Sara? Such a joy!

From Tracie.

I loves me some dramatic skies!

Bridesmaids hanging out until time to be introduced.

The first dance.

As a surprise, Sara arranged for their favorite local singer to sing their first dance song.

Watching a video of Sara’s dad dancing with her when she was a baby. Lots of laughter.

And lots of tears.

Sara’s sister’s speech, both funny and touching.

Then it was Matt’s turn to surprise Sara by singing to her after their thank-you to the guests.

Time to party!

And nothing says party like a spontaneous limbo with someone’s necktie.

Yes, this would be Y-M-C-A!

Congratulations, Sara and Matt!

Kristen and Drew – Columbus, Ohio wedding

Sunday, July 19, 2009 Posted in Columbus Athenaeum,Columbus Ohio Photographer,Weddings

A week ago Saturday, Tracie and I got to spend the soggy day with Kristen and Drew photographing their beautiful wedding. Luckily for everyone, everything took place at The Athenaeum, so there was no running in and out, dodging big raindrops. The weather didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits, though, and we had an absolute blast. Kristen and Drew were so much fun, and there was lots of love and laughter to go around.

Here are just a few of my very favorite images from their day:

Kristen has a great and easy smile.

From Tracie.

Um, yeah, that’s close! It’s how to get the best images! Close close close!

Another great one from Tracie.

And another. These really tell the story of the wait before the ceremony.

Crammed into the elevator.

A cool shot from Tracie.

Kristen enjoying a “dollar” dance with her maid of honor.

Kristen’s grandparents, married the longest.

Fun with light. This is Drew with his parents on the dance floor.

Congratulations, Kristen and Drew!!

I am a Photographer.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 Posted in Columbus Ohio Photographer,Personal

I knew I wanted to spend my working life photographing weddings about midway through the very first wedding I was asked to help shoot back in 2002. It was one of those “aha” moments, as they say, and “the rest is history”, as they also say.

I also knew immediately that I did not want to shoot for another studio or play second fiddle; I had my own ideas and vision, and wanted my own clients I could take care of and make things for. And I had my own thoughts on the style I wanted to shoot, or so I thought. There are lots of styles out there, to be sure, and, just starting out, it was difficult to find my own voice and easy to climb aboard the train of trends, so I tried that for a while. A long time ago. Ages, it feels like. But then I came to a crossroads a few years back where I felt I needed to make a bigger decision concerning the work I wanted to create and the question became: do I want to be a trend-follower or do I want to produce the kind of work that defies trends? I mean, which style is going to last longer? Which style is going to speak the loudest and for the longest period of time without obviously shouting “I was created in the year ____, back when (insert trend here) was all the rage”?

When you look at the types of images I study to inform my own photographic voice (and I hope you will), it’s clear that those images stand the test of time and have nothing to do with trends (unless you consider impactful, meaningful, emotion-filled, gimmick-free images a trend). The images I choose to study come from “oldies but goodies”, such as Elliott Erwitt (my personal all-time favorite for his delightful sense of humor), and from the amazing photojournalists who shoot for Magnum and the Wall Street Journal.

I look at that kind of work because it speaks to me – it speaks to anyone who looks at it – and that’s exactly what I’m after with my own work. There’s not a day – hell, not an hour or a minute – goes by that I’m not either thinking about or studying images in an effort to distill what about them works so I can incorporate those nuggets into my own work – the work I create for you. Because, you see, I do not define myself as just a wedding photographer, but as a Photographer. I am a Photographer. It’s not a job for me, it’s a calling. I do this because this is what I’m SUPPOSED to be doing. And I’ve chosen weddings as my platform because it’s absolutely the perfect thing to shoot. Every week, I’m given a plethora of emotions and action, amazingly stunning beauty, and all without risking life and limb. When people say to me they think I have a really great gig going here, I have to totally agree. How could I not?

So, what I create for you, I hope, will be timeless and not merely reflective of the trend du jour. OK, that might be a little trite, but you know what I mean. It’s my fervent desire and my ultimate goal to make images that will always have impact for you and your loved ones. And it’s my promise to myself and to you that I will never stop looking and learning so that I can be the very best photographer I can possibly be. I have to. It’s what I am.

I am a Photographer.

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