Results tagged “windsor ontario wedding photographer” from michele bowman ~ Windsor Ontario Wedding Photographer, London, Chatham Southwestern Ontario & Destination Weddings
172
10 years ago, some friends of ours asked if we'd like to join them on a little trip to their favourite vacation spot.
Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
sure, why not?
every year since 2001, we've been making the 16 hour drive from Windsor Ontario, to the fabulous hidden gem that is the Cape Hatteras. we love sharing our rental home with family and friends!
ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.......
it is now 2010, and we just celebrated our 10th year of traveling to the strangest, yet one of the most beautiful places i know (i lead a pretty sheltered life, so i don't know that many places).
if you've been following my blog at all, or are a friend on Facebook, you know that i have a crazy addiction to the ocean and all the life that lives underneath the waves. when i grow up, i'd LOVE to be a marine biologist (well, the ship might have sailed on that one) and spend my days diving, studying marine life, and working as an activist to save such a glorious ecosystem.
my son has the same dream, so maybe i'll just have to live vicariously through him instead.
i've told him that i will hold his clipboard and record data for him one day.
i'm cool that way.
while we're in Hatteras, we spend our days at the ocean and we even love the taste of saltwater! not swallowing it, but just the slight taste of it.
oh, and just to be clear, i am also NOT a fan of getting taken out by a wave and getting a head FULL of water that continues to slosh around inside my sinuses for hours on end.
just thought i'd put that out there.
this year, we had the glorious idea that we would spend 2 weeks in our rental home, enjoying even MORE time just hanging out and getting a killer tan.
yeah, well Hurrican Earl had other plans and we had to be evacuated on the Wednesday of our 2nd week there.
as a side note~ we took a detour and landed in Washington DC during what was, i'm sure, the HOTTEST 2 days of the year!! i nearly melted about 8 times.
true story.
here are a couple of photos from our trip. i haven't finished going through them all yet, so this is just a snapshot of my life .
it's a good life.
this is my happy foot and my happy beach shoes.
we did a fishing charter one day, and a sea turtle swam close to the boat! it was lucky i had on my 70-200mm lens!
my nephew Lucas, playing some frisbee game
Darryl and I went diving one day, and this was the ONLY underwater photo that turned out. the dive was unique, and we were stuck in a HUGE current down at the wreck. unfortunately, i needed my hands to hold onto the wreck, and couldn't use them to work my camera at the same time! believe me when i say that i DID see sharks, just some small reef sharks though. this barracuda was 4-5 feet long, and he and his buddies hang at the 15 foot line under the boat!
what would a {my life} blog post be, without some photos of my kids!!
sorry, i know i go overboard sometimes.
my Emilie
my Josh
my Cam
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10 years and counting..... {my life}
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170
in the beginning , i was an underwater photographer
suddenly, i became a wedding photographer
but, weddings are just the beginning.
then.....
comes life.
each moment that makes up your day, will eventually make up your life.
it's those little moments, the laughter, the hugs, and the love, that will shape who you are and who'll you become.
recently, we had a tornado warning in Kingsville, and i asked the kids to gather their most prized possession to take with them into the basement (if the time arose) and what did i gather?
i gathered up all my photo albums, hard drives and cd's of photos. that was it.
in the last little while, i have been asked if i provided lifestyle & family sessions. during wedding season i am not really available for much else (other than the weddings) but i am going to be branching out a bit in the next few months.
this fall, i am offering a limited amount of 'your life' sessions, and i'd love to hear from you if you're interested in scheduling one.
sessions range from your basic, fun photo session to full 'day in the life' sessions.
please email me ~ michele@michelebowmanweddings.com for more information & pricing.
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'your life' sessions
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168
a few weeks ago i photographed Joe & Catherine's wedding here in Windsor.
(check out my blog post from a couple of weeks ago)
i am currently editing the wedding and designing their album, and i came across this photograph and i am in love.
my heart just melts when i capture a vulnerable, honest, intimate and breathtaking moment between a couple.
this is the type of moment that fuels my passion for wedding photography, gets me excited about each and every wedding, and helps me to keep striving to become the best that i can be as an artist and photographer.
Joy:
this is so sweet and you can tell they cherish each other. love it! you're so awesome, michele!
(08.26.10)
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makes my heart go ahhhhhhhh.......
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167
an engagement session~
last week we were camping (read the last blog entry), and on our way home from our outdoor adventure i had the privilege of stopping in Goderich and photographing Sarah & Kurt's engagement session!
it was raining, it was buggy, there was lots of poison ivy & weird little flies, but we found some fun locations, tried to ignore the bugs, and had a fun time!
i love that all of my couples just want to have some fun with their engagement sessions, and these two were no different.
i want to thank them so much for braving the elements, letting loose a bit, and spending some time with me before their New Year's Eve wedding!
they've known each other since they were kids.
Sarah thought Kurt had great tractor toys.
there were some awkward moments in grade 8 (don't we all have those?)
they officially started dating in grade 11.
they adore each other to pieces.
'nuff said, and now onto the photos!
sarah :
Love the pictures!!!! Thank you so much Michele!
(08.12.10)
Fran:
Wow these are excellent. Michele you tease us with only a few! Can't wait to see the rest. I am excited to meet you New Year's Eve! (Kurt's mom)
(08.14.10)
Aunt Delcie:
Thank you for sharing your pictures with us. We really enjoyed seeing them.
(08.17.10)
caroline/dave:
Love the pictures, also can't wait to see the rest. Thank you for sharing these few with us.
Marlene:
Wow, beautiful pictures - but how could you go wrong with these two adorable people to photograph?! Can't wait until the big day and the pics to follow :)
(08.22.10)
Laura :
These are beautiful , i honestly love them !! you two make both sides of our family's proud!! can't wait to see more and can't wait to see you michele at the wedding! so excited!! :)
(Sarah's Sister)
Atlanta Photographer:
You really captured their love. I especially like the photos on the rocks. Nice work.
(08.23.10)
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165
some engagement photography~
Dana & Chad are getting married in Windsor in July of 2011, and i'm the lucky photographer that gets to document their wedding!
these two lovebirds made it to Windsor this weekend, and wanted to not only meet me for the first time, but have an engagement session as well. i was happy to oblige!
into the blueberry patch we went, and then to the park. it was such a beautiful night, and these two are so much in love. i love the fact that these two are just a 'little bit' crazy. i think we're going to get along just fine.
great time was had by all :)
now for a few photos~
Kait Larmond:
Too Cute!!! You guys look adorable! I can not wait to see more!!!! Love you both xoxo
(08.01.10)
Meaghan Sutherland:
Simply put, you two are the happiest, cutest couple I know! love you both to death...xo
(08.02.10)
Mom:
OMG!!! These pictures are gorgeous. So natural and fun and you are both so photogenic. Love these pics! xxoo
(08.02.10)
Niki Hall:
OMG !!! These are the most adorable pictures, you to are such a match made ion heaven....We love you so much and cant wait to share your special day...xo
(08.03.10)
Patty Martin:
My computer is slow but it was worth the wait. This is such an exciting time. Embrace all the planning and know we are all wishing you great joy and happiness and looking forward to meeting all the family. Love Aunt Patty
(08.03.10)
Jim and Jan:
Dana and Chad, Great pictures and we're excited about the wedding. Gee Dana, Chad is as cute as you (almost!) See you soon.
(08.03.10)
Lindsey McBride:
These pictures are gorgeous! The two of you look so in love!
(08.07.10)
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164
some engagement photography~
Andrea & Keith met me at the park on Thursday, and we had a little photo fun together!
These two lovebirds are getting married in September, and i have the honour of documenting their wedding here in Windsor!! YAY!!
these two were a bit camera shy at first, but quickly got into the groove and we had a really great time together. i love working with couples that truly adore each other.
i am leaving for holidays tomorrow, but i wanted to get a few teasers up on the blog for them to enjoy, especially since i did promise them that i'd try my very best to make it happen.
here we go......
Dayna Rod:
Gorgeous photos you guys!! What a beautiful setting. All the best to you in September and beyond. xo Dayna xo
(08.22.10)
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162
another windsor ontario wedding~
Mary & Rick got married here in Windsor, in a lovely Polish/Catholic ceremony here in town, with the reception held at St.Francis of Assisi Church Hall. i don't think i have ever been served so much food at a wedding before. it was impressive!!!
Mary contacted me last december, about the possibility of documenting her summer wedding, and i'm so thankful that she did! Mary is the good friend of one of my brides, Laurie, and the two of them talked about all things wedding when they climbed Mt.Everest last November.
yep, you read that correctly.
two of my clients are cool enough (and maybe a little bit insane enough) to have climbed not only Mount Everest, but they also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro a few years ago!! these adventurous pharmacists do these crazy things to raise money for charity, and i think it's fabulous!!
ok, sorry...... too many exclamation points in that last little bit. i'll try harder in the next paragraph.
Mary & Rick are not only adorable together, but they are goofy as well, and have the greatest sense of humour. even in the insane and unbearable heat of last Saturday, they both just had fun & joked around, laughed at each other, and i wouldn't have been surprised one little bit if they'd put one another in a headlock or something.
it was HOT HOT HOT, and i'm sure they were thankful for the air-conditioned limo.
if there had been a pool at Branteaney's B&B (where we took some photos), i wouldn't have put it past them to just jump in fully clothed. the bridal party was ready to run through the sprinklers (but they decided that an air-conditioned limo filled with cold drinks and brownies was a good alternative)!
i don't normally get quite as much time to just take fun photos of the bride & groom, as i did on this day, so there are quite a few more styled photos than i normally take. it was fun to just try some new ideas and make some quirky portraits.
i am so blessed to work with clients that are not only interesting and adventurous, but that are genuine and real. i just love people who can just be themselves and have fun, show me their love for each other and those around them. it's just such a treat.
when writing about each wedding, i try to think of something out of the ordinary that i got to experience, and there was one thing that happened at this wedding that made me smile.
for the reception, they hired a DJ AND a polish one-man band for the music. i have to say, that i have never heard polish disco before, and now i can say that i have. that guy was great!
Mary & Rick, thank you for just being you. thank you for allowing me to document some of the special moments of your wedding day, and to have a small glimpse into your lives. i know that you will have a marriage filled with love and laughter (goat chin moves & head-butts), and i'm sure that your new home will be fabulous. i wish you all the very best, and thank you for the heartfelt hugs when i left your reception. i love hugs.
church~ Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Windsor
reception ~ St. Francis of Assisi Parish Hall, WIndsor
decorator~ Soiree Event Extraordinaire
flowers ~ Flowers by Phil Sadi, WIndsor
cake ~ The Pastry Table, Windsor
DJ ~ Donovan Mariani, Open Air Events
gown ~ Bridal Couture, Windsor
make-up~ Nayeli Castellanos, Karitas for You
hair~ Megan, Unity Salon
Michael Toe:
Wow! Beautiful Pictures!
(07.21.10)
Lesley:
I love the bride's dress and bracelet! Gorgeous! Michele, some of my favourite pics you're doing these days are the compositions of all the wedding details (food, place settings, etc.). They compile all in one the vision the couple was trying to achieve, and you make it look so beautiful!
(07.21.10)
Photographick Studio:
Love the detail pictures, they are so unique and different, the angles are great and the colors pop off the page. Love the unique set-ups of the formals and bridal party pictures. Great set of images!
(07.27.10)
Marco Island Wedding Photographer:
Loved all of the detail shots, especially the teddy bears on the cake and the rings in the m and m's. Beautiful wedding .
(07.30.10)
Amelia Thornton / Flirt Photography:
OMG Michele...I am 100% in LOVE with every one of these images. Fantastic job!! So proud of you, my friend!
(08.06.10)
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161
a wedding here in Windsor Ontario~
it's that time again.....
BLOG TIME!!!!!
yes, it's a couple of days later than i hoped it would be, but i'm in the midst of wedding insanity around here, and i'm pretty much editing around the clock, so i'm hoping that no one will mind a blog post on Friday instead of Wednesday.
thanks a bunch.
last year, i got a phone call from a bride, we'll call her Stephanie, and we just hit it off immediately! i got a sense from this lovely bride, that she had some SERIOUS plans for her big day, and i couldn't get enough of her excitement!! you see, not only did Stephanie have some BLING BLING ideas for her wedding, but she was totally and madly in love with her fiance, and you could hear that in her voice.
when she asked me to be a part of her day, i knew that i was in for a treat!
i wasn't disappointed.
Stephanie & Kevin's wedding was last Saturday here in Windsor, and i think that the day lived up to Steph's expectations, in more ways than one. family & friends came from all around, to surround this couple with love and attention (and marshmallows), and i don't think i've ever seen so many tears of joy at any wedding thus far.
one thing that stood out to me, was the fact that Steph's grandmother flew in from Florida to not only be at the gown shop when Stephanie picked out her dress, but again when she had her dress fittings! that's the kind of love that encircled this couple last weekend, and didn't disappoint.
it was a HOT day yet again (imagine that.... a hot day in July) , but we tried to keep out of the blazing sun and spent some time finding a couple of shady locations for photos! let me just say, that an air conditioned limo-bus filled with cold champagne and beer always helps to keep people cool. just sayin'.
The ceremony was held at Assumption Church at the University of Windsor, and even though it was NOT air-conditioned, it was a beautiful service with lots of tears of joy.
Stephanie & Kevin picked the St.Clair Centre of the Arts for their reception , and i don't think they could have picked a nicer place. decked out in some BLING decor, with a cake that kept on going, the dinner and party was fantastic! i'm sure the party continued into the night, with dancing, hugging, and pelting with marshmallows (don't ask).
i want to take a moment to thank Stephanie & Kevin for letting me be a part of their wedding day. You guys obviously adore each other to pieces, and the commitment that you have for each other is wonderful to observe. you have had some crazy ups and downs with jobs and moving around lately, but all those things have made you guys come together and really commit to each other in such a great way. with the help if your 'lucky penny' , i'm sure that you will not only have the most awesome life together, but a life filled with adventure and love, boating adventures and the most wonderful family around.
big hugs to you both!!
scroll to the bottom of this post to see some of the awesome vendors that helped make this day special!
now.... the PHOTOS!!!
florist~ Girard & Co. http://www.girardflowers.com/
decor~ Designs by Diane http://www.designsdiane.com
cake ~Renee's Fine Cakes http://www.reneesfinecakes.com/
DJ & photobooth ~ Flashpoint Productions http://www.flashpointpro.com
wedding gown ~ David's Bridal http://www.davidsbridal.com
shoes ~ Deborah Thomson http://www.figgiephotography.com
reception ~ St.Clair Centre of the Arts http://www.stclaircentre.ca/
hair ~ Nicole White from Parlour, Windsor
invitations ~ You're Invited, Chatham http://www.youre-invited.ca
Emilie Bowman:
Looks like I get to be the first to comment :)
Beautiful photos as always momma, and even though I've told you a million times it doesnt hurt to say it again...You are so extremely talented!
Ps- I love the shoes! And the green and purple colours:)
(07.16.10)
Judi Beswick:
As the mother of the bride suffering post wedding blues, these remarkable pics of the wedding brought tears of joy and laughter. Mich, no question you have spectacular talent!
Judi
Stephanie BELL:
As the Bride - All I can say is ThAnK You!!! Thank you for capturing our day and making the memroies last on forever. Thank you for keeping the spirit light and fun even though we thought we might melt away. Thank you for making sure all the small details keivn and i were to busy to truly admire. Thank you for being so taleneted!!!
I couldnt imagin anyone else photographing us on our wedding day!!! I love the pics and cant wait to see the rest of them!!!
Your amazingly taleneted and so much fun to work with!!!
Cheers
Stephanie
amy:
looks like a fun couple!! love the colors they went with!!! i can see why the bride adores them!! they are really gorgeous images!!
(07.17.10)
paige ramsay:
i was lucky enough to be stephs "maid" on that special day and special it was...you captured it all...you have an amazing talent...thank you for helping in making stephs day so special!!!
(07.21.10)
Amelia Thornton / Flirt Photography:
1. Michele - WOW (again!)
2. Steph...please tell everyone where you got those shoes done...sooooo fabulous!
Stephanie BELL:
the AMAZING SHOES where Deborah . . www.figgieshoes.com. Not only is she amazingly talented but is the sweetest person I think I have ever met! Trough the whole process she was just as excited ( if not more ) than I was about the shoes. I didnt see them until the day before the wedding and didnt fret for one second. I knew they would be nothing short of amazing!!!! She does shoes for all occasions - not only weddings, birthdays a night on the town... what ever your looking for I would recomend her to create your one of a kind memory!!!!!
(08.19.10)
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a wedding in a backyard near Dresden Ontario~
i don't know how to begin this blog post, because there are just so many things that keep popping into my head about this wedding and how i feel about this couple! i'm finding it difficult to put it all into words.
please bear with me as i try to muddle my way through all of this.
today, eric & lesley are dear to my heart, but i didn't know them until they contacted me about documenting their wedding.
i have a confession to make......
you see, i grow attached to my clients, and when they get married, it just makes me smile from the inside out! i put every ounce of my being into my work, i try to make it personal and truly capture the essence and emotions of the bride and groom, and i grow attached.
when total strangers let me into their lives , like Lesley has, and allow me to get to know them even just a little bit, then i can't help but get all mushy about their FABULOUS wedding and all the lovey-dovey stuff of marriage.
not only has Lesley been sooooooooooo much fun to work with, but she took me purse and shoe shopping when i met her for lunch in Ottawa in June, and well........ that put me over the edge. i kinda (in a wee, small little way) like shoes and purses.
Eric & Lesley met on the train, Eric pursued Lesley with everything he had in him, Lesley was eventually won over BIGTIME, and they have been together ever since.
seriously? meeting on the train? awesome.
these two live in the Ottawa area, but they celebrated their wedding at Eric's family farm near Chatham.
it was the most charming wedding i've been to yet, mostly because of all the little touches of home and the effort of the community to make this an event to remember. jars of flowers grown in the neighbour's yard adorned the tables, homemade tarts for dessert, friends who fixed up their farms so that we could have beautiful locations to shoot photos, a tractor ride to the reception ,a local band to help this crowd party through the night, Eric's dad and his 'SURPRISE' wheel barrel of fireworks at 10:30pm, pulled pork sandwiches and potato salad for dinner, and the love and laughter of family and friends.
oh, and when you have a father that will dance AND do 'air guitar' at the same time, you know that you're having a great wedding. just sayin' !
the only downside to the day, was that i fell off the road when i was walking back to the reception after shooting bridal party photos. yep, i fell OFF the road!
i was walking along the road, carrying all my camera gear, minding my own business, when all of a sudden i twisted my ankle on the side of the road (which is at least 2 inches higher than the gravel shoulder) , and i found myself flat on the ground in a big cloud of dust, camera gear and all. first i looked to make sure that no one saw me (check), and then i limped back the to the tent. oh, did i hurt my knee!!! it's still purple and scraped, but oh well, i'm a clutz sometimes.
Eric & Lesley......
words cannot describe how thankful i am that you chose me to not only document your wedding, but to be a part of your lives. your joy, laughter, super-fun nature, and love for each other is contagious, and i am so grateful to have been a part of it all. i know that the next year will be a challenge with Eric being deployed, but you have such a great network of friends and family that will support you and hold you up until you can be together again.
my sincerest wish is that you have a lifetime of joy and happiness together!
thank you so much for everything.
here are a few photos from the big day!
Megan:
I absolutely LOVE her bouquets These pictures are so precious and it looks like the wedding was sooo much fun!!
(07.08.10)
Amy Malott:
I LOVE the Massy Ferguson Emblem with the rings, as a farm girl....love, love, love it. Great job.
(07.08.10)
CL Steele Studio | Portland Wedding Photographer:
Great images of a fun day! The man "playing the guitar" cracked me up! Great shots!
(07.08.10)
Emilie Bowman :
Wow, she is seriously beautiful. And you are so very talented momma :) Great job and awesome looking wedding :)
(07.08.10)
Olivia Weaver:
Fantastic job Michele! You did such justice to capturing the essence of the day and everyone's personalities. Thank you for the chance to relive last weekend! You are truly talented and Lesley is so lucky to have found you! (And of course we are so lucky my brother found her on the train)
(07.09.10)
Lesley:
Y'all are killing me with the lovely comments! I cannot stop looking at these pics. Michele's talent is so incredibly special. She just knows how to capture and make even more beautiful those moments that just draw you in. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Eric's too!
(07.10.10)
Tracy Walden:
What a great day! What great memories are captured here! I'm so bummed Brent and I were not there to share in the experience. Especially to see Eric's dad playing air guitar! These pics are the bomb.
(07.12.10)
Lindsay:
Wow, guys... Beautiful, beautiful. The photos are amazing, so touching. For a brief second, I felt I was there sharing it with you. I so wish I could have been. Lesley, you're a knock out. Eric, handsome as ever. You look so happy! Congratulations.
(07.14.10)
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159
this blog post is being written a few days later than i had hoped it would be, so i apologize to Rita and Bryan for taking soooooooooo long to post some of their engagement photos! being in the throngs of my busiest time of the year, i just needed a couple of extra days to get things done.
thanks for your patience!
Rita & Bryan are getting married this fall, and i can't wait!! these two are terribly sweet, fun to hang around, and they are just perfect for each other.
one of the things that i appreciated the most about doing this engagement session, was that even though these two were a bit camera shy at first, they still trusted me, let me do my thing, and ended up having some fun along the way.
oh, and they are super brave mosquito fighters as well. i would position them for a shot, take my shot, and then we would all start swatting at the mosquitoes that were attacking us! poor Rita seemed to take the brunt of it. i need to start bringing Deep Woods Off to every session i do.
these two met at the University of Windsor, namely Essex Hall, where they both studied (and then became) engineers. they wanted to incorporate the university into their photos, so that's we did. when i asked them what they adore about each other, and what they do for fun, they both answered that they love each other's sense of humour. i also found out that they like to speak in funny accents to each other as well, so i begged to them to do that, since (for some reason) i find that entertaining. it was a version of an irish/scottish accent, which was pretty impressive.
i am not good at fake accents at all, so i always appreciate people who give it there all and do their best.
These two have a nice fall wedding planned in Windsor, and i can't wait to photograph the big day!!
well, now is the moment where i post some photos!!
(disclaimer~ a great many mosquitoes were either harmed, squished or killed during the taking of these photographs)
Chris:
You guys look great! BA, I think you might need some dancing lessons. I can't wait for the wedding!
(07.08.10)
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158
the other day, my daughter asked if i would do a little photoshoot for her and her 7 friends. yep, you read correctly, SEVEN teenage girls and me!!
i guess that's what you do when your mom is a professional photographer right?
everyone had to wear white and blue, and they were ALL wearing high heels!! it was kinda funny watching some of them try to walk in such high heeled shoes, but since they were ALL better than me at doing it, then i'd better not say much.
these girls are good friends, and they wanted a photo to commemorate the ending of grade 11 and the beginning of summer.
here is a collage of these gorgeous young ladies and an extra one of my daughter (because i'm the mom and blogger, and i think she's pretty awesome).
aren't these girls all GORGEOUS!!! seriously people, these are some STUNNING YOUNG WOMEN!!!
Amber C:
Michele, you are the coolest mom ever! And it says a lot when your daughter isn't just willing to LET you take her friend's photos - she trusts you and your non-dorkiness enough to ASK you to do it! Beautiful shots, and what a great idea! Wish I'd thought to do this with my friends when I was Emily's age. xoxoxox
(07.16.10)
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good friends
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i met with these two lovebirds last year, when the met me at a local Starbucks and they open their lives to me, and shared the story of their love.
true love.
i'm a sucker for a good love story, and one that begins in childhood & in the teen years, blossoms into something real and adult, and then culminates in a wedding, is.......
moving, touching, awesome, a gift from God, real.
real.
not without struggles, challenges and hard work, this love story has been through it all, and has arrived at the other side stronger and God-centered.
beautiful.
this wedding day was a bit different than normal, since it started out in Windsor, and then became a cross border event. the reception was being held at the Dearborn Inn in Dearborn MI, and i was excited to get the chance to check out another wedding venue! i do have to say, that i've been very blessed to be photographing weddings that aren't all at the same venue, which gives me the chance to experience new things and have a wedding adventure every weekend!
i'm just an adventurous kinda gal :)
let's see...... what kind of stuff happened on their big day.
well, there was the fact that i got to watch the groomsmen iron their shirts, which was great, because i always enjoy seeing men tackling domestic chores.
Matt was gifted with some ROCKING cufflinks, which were little mini yellow Jeeps!! fabulous!
i didn't get pulled over at the border, and actually got through really quickly, so that was great because i didn't have to get all ninja on a border guard (i wasn't going to miss this wedding, no matter what).
ok, i might not have got all ninja on the border guys...... it would have more than likely looked like big-baby tears.
i'm ashamed.
back on track now.....
when we headed out to take some photos of the bridal party, we were ATTACKED by throngs of mosquitoes!! it was INSANE!
luckily, i was surrounded by videographers that seemed to have sweeter blood than i, so they took the brunt of the attack.
according to Matt, God put an old Jeepster Jeep in the parking lot, just for us, so that we could get some photos near a cool car. he was a happy groom.
Christine had two surprises for Matt, which were a cool Jeep groom's cake (i LOVED it) and she also sang for him later in the evening. very romantic.
hmmmmmm..... looking back, i see that this was quite the Jeep centered wedding!! fun stuff!
i would like to take a moment and thank Matt & Christine for allowing me to be a part of their lives. you two are some of the most lovely people i know, and i am so thrilled to have been able to witness such an important moment in your lives. you are both funny, loving, and gracious, and i smile every time i think of you both.
i can't wait to see what awesome things God does in your lives, as your journey as a couple and a family begins.
very exciting stuff!!
God is good.
Michelle Bondy:
Michele, these are gorgeous. Such creative shots and I always love the candid shots.
(06.25.10)
amy:
these are gorgeous!!! love the candid shots!! great job on these they look so happy coming down the aisle!!
(06.25.10)
amie leigh artistry:
wonderful work! love how you captured all those candid moments!
(06.25.10)
Newcastle & Hunter Valley weddings and protraits :: Xanthe Roxburgh:
Fantastic mix of sweet/subdued and having fun images.
(07.07.10)
Steve Campbell:
Matt, I saw your grandmother at camp and she gave me this web link. Congratulations to you both! We are so pleased along with you that God has brought you to this point. Enjoy the ups and downs of married life!
Warm Christian love, Steve and Susie Campbell
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156
some wedding photography~
this past weekend, i had the pleasure of documenting Melissa & Steve's wedding here in Windsor.
i have to start my post by saying that it was was FLIPPIN' HOT outside on Saturday, and i found out that with the humidity (i think it was about 80-90%) it felt like over 110F !!
the other problem was, that it was an outdoor ceremony and it was surrounded by trees, so no breeze!!
i think i almost died 3 times during the day (i don't do heat/humidity well, and never have). if there had been a pool close by, i wouldn't have put it past us all to just jump right in and cool off!!
ok, enough whining and complaining. i'll get on with the post now.
i met Melissa last summer, when she and her mother drove out to Kingsville to meet with me about photographing the big day. i instantly fell in love with Melissa, and both her and her mom kept me in stitches during our whole meeting!! i couldn't remember when i'd laughed so hard!!
i couldn't wait for their wedding (and i can't believe that it's been a year since we met).
in October, i photographed Steve & Melissa's engagement session just before the leaves all fell for the season, and it was a blast.
steve & melissa like a good party, and i don't think their wedding disappointed. they were surrounded by good friends, awesome family, and a good mood that just wouldn't quit!
the day started at Steve's place, where the guys were in great spirits even though they knew that wearing a tuxedo in the sweltering heat might be the end of them.
at Melissa's parent's place, the party continued with mugs of champagne, some tears of joy, and HOT PINK Louboutin shoes!!! i love fabulous shoes!!!
the ceremony was held outdoors at Branteaney's Bed & Breakfast, and it was a beautiful service that was the shortest i've ever witnessed (which was probably a good thing for the guests in suits in that heat). i think i am now a huge fan of Branteaney's. it was such a nice change from an indoor ceremony, and the setting was serene and beautiful. other than the clouds of mosquitos (because of all the rain we've had recently) , it was picture perfect.
i didn't want to spend too much time outdoors if at all possible, because when the bride and groom have to towel each other off before each photo, you know it's too hot . we fought through the heat and a few rain showers, and got some photos on the picturesque grounds. i couldn't believe how everyone was being so wonderful and patient, but i did work quickly.
next came the air-conditioned party bus, the nicely air-conditioned bar in downtown Windsor, and the air-conditioned reception hall (Torino's in Tecumseh)
gotta love the invention of AIR-CONDITIONING!!!
oh, and i love that cold water and gingerale were invented too :)
the reception was a party to remember, and the first time that i've ever met a blow-up doll named Alejandro. he was quite the party animal!
i want to thank Steve & Melissa for letting me party with them all day long, it was a blast!! you have both been so much fun to work with, and it was an honour to be a part of your big day. i will forever remember Alejandro, the fact that i worked with a groom with quite a few rapper names, and a bride that is courageous and stylish enough to sport Christian Louboutin shoes in HOT PINK!!
you two are such a great couple, and i hope that our paths cross again very soon.
hugs to you both.
some fabulous vendors~
gown~ Bridal Couture, Windsor
make-up~ Esthetica Day Spa, Windsor
hair~ Youseff's Salon, Windsor
flowers~ Oak Farms, Leamington
ceremony ~ Branteaney's Bed & Breakfast, Lasalle
officiant~ Joe McParland, Civil Marriages
shoes~ Christian Louboutin
reception hall~ Tourino's Banquet Hall, Tecumseh
photo booth~ Perfect Shutter Photobooth
cake~ Renee's Fine Cakes
decorator~ Windsor Event Decor
DJ ~ A. Donavan Mariani, Open Air Events, Windsor
now for some photos!!!
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155
as i got to talk with this lovely young lady, i quickly realized that she was pretty awesome and i think we clicked right away. she knew that i was just getting my photography business up and running, and she needed a 2nd photographer for some weddings last year, so we hooked up and it was the beginning of a great relationship.
Arica Ingratta is younger than i am (by about 15 years i think.... man, that makes me sound old), but she is a fabulous artist and wonderful photographer in Windsor (her company is Manifesto Photography) . even though she is younger than i am, i was seriously impressed with her maturity and her love for God and serving Him. i couldn't wait to work with this great lady.
not long after the two of us met, Arica approached me one day and asked what i thought of this guy Josh. you see, i have known Josh for about 8 years now. i met Josh's parents when we started attending Heritage Park Alliance Church, and i think Josh was just finishing up high school or something. Josh's family are some of the dearest people around, and his dad can scale a tree faster than anyone i've ever met (it's quite amazing actually).
Arica seemed to have a little crush on Josh, and mentioned that they had gone out for coffee one night. i told her my opinions about this great guy and his family, and she seemed pretty intent on seeing him again.
because i got to work alongside Arica week after week, wedding after wedding, and we spent all day together shooting these weddings , i was able to hear about her budding romance and watch as the love between this couple blossomed and grew.
it was pretty evident early on, that God had set up this match, because the more Josh & Arica sought after God, then closer and closer they became.
i just loved seeing the sparkle in Arica's eye every time she talked about Josh, how he made her laugh and how he loved her so very deeply. they challenged each other on every level, and it was just so wonderful to watch this all unfold before my very eyes!!!
i am very blessed to be deeply in love with the most awesome man on the planet, and our love for each other grows deeper and deeper as the years go by. every time Arica spoke of her love for Josh, i just knew that it was the same type of love that i feel for Darryl even after all these years, and i couldn't have been happier for the two of them.
everyone deserves this kind of true and deep love with their spouse!!
last weekend, i had the honour of photographing Arica & Josh's wedding, in a log cabin at the top of some mountain in Tennessee (can you say, scary road?). it was quite the media circus, since Arica's good friend Stacey is a wedding photographer as well , and we were joined by the videography services of Iris and Light (from California). there were 4 of us with cameras, trying to NOT get in each other's way, and it made me chuckle a bit!! i think we were all pretty great and didn't get in each other's way too much, and i know that i was pretty thrilled to have so much creative talent around me. the only trouble is, that when you have so many artists trying to document such an amazing wedding, in such a fabulous location with such great people, you MIGHT end up being an hour late for dinner.
just sayin'.
the whole wedding was perfect from start to finish.
Arica & Josh were surrounded by the people they love most in the world, they made sure that their wedding was centered around God, through lots of prayer and worship, and i was deeply moved.
i have never photographed the wedding of a close friend before, and i do have to admit that it was challenging in a few ways.
first, the pressure to take great photos is pretty high, especially when the bride is a photographer herself, and secondly, because you are emotionally involved.
there are so many times that i was just crying, hiding it all behind my big camera, as i watched love unfolding!!! i got so carried away in the moment, that i would forget that i was even working, and i just found myself wrapped up in all the awesomeness of what God was doing. it was almost too much to take!!!
you know what?
i actually find that watching parents crying is the biggest thing that sets me off with my own tears. i can't take it!!
i guess i am imagining what it'll be like when my own kids get married and start their own lives.
oh great, i'm tearing up even now. how embarrassing!!
here are a few photos (ok, a bit more than a few) of Arica & Josh's special day.
i wish them all the happiness in the world, and i want to thank them for asking me to help document their wedding.
Arica, you are truly one of a kind, and the best wedding date around. i have been blessed to have you in my life, and i will always remember your sneaky-sneaky face as you steal cannoli from the dessert table, before dinner. i loved being your shield from the crowd.
Josh, you are truly a man of God, and i know that you will treat Arica with all the love and respect that she deserves.
thank you both for allowing me to be a part of your lives.
Brandon- Alaska Wedding Photographer:
Details, getting ready, portraits...all amazing. I just love all of your shots...especially the last one.
(06.01.10)
Birmingham Wedding Photographer:
Love the detail shots...the color is esp nice. Great job!
(06.02.10)
Milla:
GORGEOUS job Michele. I love the portraits of the two of them... awesome, awesome job.
(06.09.10)
Andy | Devon Photographer:
Its amazing to see these kind of shots only a talented hands can do simply a masterpiece dude.
(07.16.10)
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153
last fall, i met up with Gil & Kathy in Belle River, to discuss the possibility of traveling with them to Mexico in May, to document their destination wedding.
we hit it off, and i was thrilled that they asked me to join them, on what would be my very first destination wedding. of course, i was thrilled that Playa del Carmen just happens to be on the ocean ( the bestest thing EVER), but i was even more thrilled that i would get to have an adventure alongside two awesome people & their families!!
by the way..... going away to get married, next to the ocean and with just a handful of people, is a FABULOUS decision!!!
that's my public service announcement of the day.
oh, and if you're looking to get a dog, buy a hairless one. my house looks like a couple of dogs exploded all over it (not that this has anything to do with weddings, but it's on my mind and i just thought i'd share).
last Monday morning, i boarded a plane for Cancun, and started my journey to Mexico! did you know that shooting a wedding abroad requires quite a bit of advance planning and lots of gear!!
also, when you plan to go scuba diving as well as all the camera gear, it looked like i was MOVING to Mexico, not just staying for a few days.
(in my defense though, i was also heading to Tennessee on my way back from Mexico, to photograph my friend Arica's wedding).
i arrived in Cancun to the longest immigration line in the HISTORY of immigration lines, but after that it was much more relaxing.
the resort i stayed at, was The Royal Playa del Carmen and it was INSANE luxurious! i mean it when i say INSANE!!!
i was especially fond of the extra soft pillows that arrived in my 'magic box' (room service box) and the turn-down service every night. i think i need to pay my kids to turn down my bed for me at night, light a scented candle, and leave chocolates on my pillow. yep, that would be sweet!!
unfortunately, the weather wasn't quite as awesome as the people and the location, and it pretty much rained every day, all day, for most of the week. luckily, the rain stopped long enough for the ceremony to be outdoors, but quickly started up again and Kathy, Gil & i had to run for cover while we were doing some beach shots. oh well, it was hot, we were being spoiled, and i was near the ocean. who needs the sun anyways?
i want to take a moment to thank Gil & Kathy for your hospitality, for bringing me along to photograph your wedding, and for opening up your lives and your hearts to me. i loved having that fantastic meal with the both of you (we totally should have ordered more lamb chops) and
i was so happy that you were both so easy going and flexible with all the rain issues!!
Gil, i'm sorry that i didn't have time to give you more body surfing tips, but the waves kinda sucked that day!!
now, here are a few photos of our little adventure!
this was our first attempt at a beach session before the wedding. it started thunderstorming about 5 minutes after this photo was taken
we finally got a day without rain (my last day there) and i was able to get this awesome couple out for some day-after beach photos!!
Kathy Borovicka:
Love the pictures!!!
(05.30.10)
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152
i'm home!!!
i feel so horrible that this blog post is a week late, but i've been away for the last 9 days, shooting 2 destination weddings, and i arrived home late last night.
i did try to get some work done while i was in Mexico, but the internet at the resort was very slow and very sketchy, so my well intentioned blog post did not happen.
so, i'm home and i'm back to work!!
on May15th, i had the honour and the pleasure of photographing Andy & Laurie's beautiful wedding in Amherstburg at Pointe West Golf & Country Club (which is just outside on Windsor Ontario)
i met Andy & Laurie last fall, and we had a super fun engagement session this past February, in the snowy cold.
their wedding day was definitely one for the record books!! it was a day of adventure and laughs, broken gear and a fun trolley ride!
first off, when we arrived at Andy's parents house, we found that we had a wardrobe malfunction with one of the groomsmen. i'll tell you right now, that duct tape isn't really made to hem pants!! of course, duct tape is pretty awesome and you can do so many great things with it, but you can't use it to hem suit pants, and it doesn't stick to neoprene (well, that's another story for another day).
after my gallant offer to hem this poor guy's pants, i quickly realized that i was supposed to be taking the photographs!!! soooooooooooo..... my 2nd shooter took to the task and hemmed away!
it was pretty funny.
thank goodness we didn't have any wardrobe malfunctions at the bride's house.
(always a good thing)
the ceremony and reception went off without a hitch, and i even got a ride in a trolley car into Amherstburg to take some photos.
who doesn't like a trolley ride?
i do have to admit that there was one little hiccup during the day. my main camera body broke, and i am so very thankful that i not only had an assistant that could run back to the trolley to get my back-up camera, but i actually HAD a back-up camera!!!!
public service announcement~ if you are a wedding photographer, you should NEVER photograph a wedding without a back-up camera body!
(you're welcome)
my camera is now in the shop, getting some lovin' and fixin' of the lens contacts.
because i was leaving the next day for 2 destination weddings, i had to go and buy another Nikon D700. fun stuff!
Andy & Laurie are away on their european honeymoon, but i'd publicly like to thank them for trusting me to document their wonderful day, allowing me to have a small glimpse into their lives, and for being such beautiful people that just adore each other to pieces.
nothing makes me love this job more, than witnessing true love between two special people.
i'm just a big softy for a good love story.
now, here are a few photos of the big day!!
awesome vendors~
cake~ The Cake Lady, Windsor
flowers~ Rainbow Flowers, Tecumseh
officiant~ Royal Wedding Gardens, Lasalle
venue ~ Pointe West Golf & Country Club, Amherstburg
wedding gown~ Becker's Bridals, Toronto
Amelia Thornton / Flirt Photography:
1. Your camera broke? OMG - worst nightmare come true!
2. I
3. F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C photos!!
Loni Oates:
All of your photos look gorgeous Michelle!! Looks like it was a super fun day, despite your camera issue, but you handled it like a pro!! =) Congrats to the new happy couple!!
(05.29.10)
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149
things have been quiet around the blog, and for good reason.
i was away.
away away away.
there is a place that pulls my heartstrings, and those of my hubby. this place is secluded and beautiful, raw and poor.
Roatan Honduras is this special place.
our 5th trip to this unique island, now sits on the top of all the previous trips. we were spoiled with the most fabulous weather EVER, and stellar diving conditions. it was awesome, amazing and wickedly cool, all rolled into one OFF THE CHARTS trip!!!
Darryl and i are a super happy married couple. we are both business owners and the busy parents of 3 teens.
life doesn't lend itself to much free time these days, and it's our regular trips to Roatan that keep us sane. it's so important to spend some quality time with your hubby, and we have a unique way of doing just that.
Darryl and i are avid scuba divers. if we actually had a mass of disposable income, we'd be on live-aboards in the Galapagos, diving with hammerheads at Cocos Island, and scouring the South Pacific for the most remote and secluded dive destinations.
the more sharks the better.
just sayin'.
for now, we spend our vacation time and money, on a little off the charts dive resort called Cocoview, located on a private cay that can only be reached by boat. it's our home away from home.
last week, we packed up all our dive gear, and travelled to our little slice of heaven.
when you get off the Cocoview boat, and the dock staff see you, get all excited, and run over to hug you, then you know that you are staying at the the best place EVER!!!
we've been to Cocoview five times now, so the staff know us by name and hug us all week! it's awesome!!!
i know that i am a wedding photographer, but deep down inside, i wish that i could be a full-time underwater photographer for National Geographic or something like that. i have the patience of a saint, and i can out-wait any fish, and my love of all things aquatic just keep me wanting more. my friends and family know this about me, but my leap into wedding photography was spurred by my adoration and addiction to underwater photography and because i bought a DSLR with the hopes of taking the ocean by storm! well, i didn't quite take the ocean by storm, but i quickly fell in love with documenting weddings and other than being a world-renown underwater photographer, i can't imagine doing anything else.
we live in the Windsor area, which is not really known for its oceans and spectacular reefs, but more for its murky lake and the Detroit river. when i get the chance to see all of God's awesomeness and get to visit the turquoise waters of the caribbean, then i'm like a kid in a candy store!!!
i would like to share a few photos with you, so that maybe you can get a sense of the beauty that i got to participate in. i am truly blessed .
(oh, and i got to use my new Canon G11 for the first time, and after a few rough days of figuring out how to use it, i quickly started loving it)
one more thing....
the majority of the photos that i took, are of creatures that are teeny tiny (under 1 inch long). i love to find all the macro life, and my Canon camera rose to the challenge and i was able to capture quite a few blennies (which a adorable little fish). anyone can get a photo of a damsel or parrot fish, since they are ALL over the reef and easy to see. i crave finding the small, the unique, and the rare. i was lucky enough to find lots of rare creatures. i guess i get caught up in the thrill of the hunt or something.
this photo is of some shrimp and a cryptic teardrop crab in a sponge along Cocoview Wall. this crab looks brown underwater, since you lose colour under the sea, and it's only about 1 inch in diameter.
this is a Sailfin Blenny. he's about 1.5 inches long, and this is his fighting stance. he saw his reflection in my camera and thought it was another male blenny. he came out of his hole to fight!
this little guy is a Flamingo Tongue, which is like a slug/snail thing. he's about 1 inch long, and they are almost always found on these types of coral/gorgonias.
this is a decorator crab. they are pretty small, and they are camouflaged like a growth that normally grows on this type of coral.
this is a lionfish. i had always wanted to see one, but not here. these guys are uninvited visitors and they are not welcome in the caribbean. they are native to the south pacific, and here they don't have any predators! they are now being hunted and killed by all dive masters.
we also ate some lionfish one day, and it was YUMMY!
this is a lettuce leaf sea slug (or nudibranch). i had never seen one before, and i was blessed to find two of them this week!! they are about 2 inches long, and move slowly along the reef. i LOVE them!
this is a green moray eel. i found it along Cocoview Wall, and it was about 4 feet long. people think that eels are scary and fierce, but they really aren't. they look fierce because they have to open their mouths to breathe, not because they are attacking or anything. i love finding eels!
here's another eel. he's just a little guy. i love finding this eel, because they are just so sweet looking !! i think they're called Goldentail Eels, but i might be mistaken.
this little brown seahorse was found on the wreck (the Prince Albert) which is located right outside the resort that we stay at. i was pretty happy with my find, since seahorses are actually pretty hard to find.
here's a little juvenile blenny that i found on a sponge. i am always happy to find a blenny!
this is a Christmas Tree worm. they are about 1 inch tall, and they are found all over coral heads, and in every colour imaginable. i just like photographing these little guys, since they are a pretty and they are all unique. lovely little things.
can you believe this cutie? this guy is like a box that floats around with his cute little fins. i am in LOVE with his colouring!!! he's a Cow Fish, just in case you were wondering.
this is my hubby, and the bestest diving buddy ever!!! i love scuba diving with the man i love.
this is a tiny find, called an Arrow Blenny. he's about 1.5 inches long, and it's only a few millimeters thick. they float in the water and have weird, jerky movements. strange fish.
ok, that's enough for the today. i'll post a few more tomorrow, and tell you the miracle of the sea slog find, and our rarest upon rare fish find!! exciting stuff!
amy:
you got some amazing shots!! that flamingo tongue one is my fav i think. glad you had a good time!!
(05.11.10)
Carmen Hess:
Thanks for sharing! My family and I leave for CCV in 10 days and we will be coconuts this time as well. We will be staying for 2 weeks again....It's just too hard to leave after one week. Several of our dive buddies from Timmons Ontario will also be there.
(05.12.10)
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146
it's been a few years since i got married and planned a wedding, and in all honesty, we didn't have a professional wedding photographer.
believe it or not, we asked a cop from our church to take our photos, because we heard he would do a great job.
ummmmmmm....... not so much.
that was a long time ago, but it's a shame that my photos kinda suck.
i still love my hubby though, so it's all good.
these days, with the digital age and the fact that there are so many photographers in most urban areas, i can imagine that it must be tough for couples to know how to choose the right photographer for them.
i feel badly for couples, because there is just so much to choose from, so many photographers that are trying to get clients, and so many websites to go through!!!
if you are recently engaged and have fallen upon my site, i just want to tell you that i can only imagine your pain.
it's like when i go to a restaurant and i'm handed a menu that is 15 pages long. how the heck am i supposed to choose what i want to eat?
too many choices!!!!!
how do you decide what you like, what you want, what's the best route to go?
so, you've Googled "windsor ontario wedding photographer " and you see that there are quite a few photographers in this area. what the heck?
you sift through the endless amount of websites and blogs, trying to narrow it down to maybe 5 or 6 photographers that you plan to meet with over coffee. great.
now, you've seen the photos, but you have about 30-60 minutes with this person, one on one, to see if you click and if they are the photographer for you.
tough decision.
recently, i read a post on another photographer's blog (Grant Perry), where he wrote something very similar to this list and i thought it was a super helpful idea. i decided to so something similar for my clients, since i want to make sure that clients hire the right person for them.
here are a few ideas for making it easier to chose who's the right fit for you (whether it be me or another photographer).
please don't mind the different font. i wrote this in Word and then cut and pasted it here.
1~ Relationship
the absolute, absolute, absolute most important aspect to you getting the results you desire from your wedding photography, is that you fall in love with your wedding photographer! you just need to click as personalities and as people.
also, a wedding photographer worth hiring doesn't just take pictures.
a fabulous wedding photographer should be an artist uses their camera to capture the art of your wedding day, not just any photographer or a good friend with a Rebel XTI. each and every wedding is filled with such emotion and so many passion filled moments, and your photographer is there to capture each moment as art. the art of the story and the art of the moment is what makes your wedding photos truly wonderful and unique. they are about you.
a photographer's images should, with one glance, create an emotion for the viewer . can you envision yourself in the photos that you're looking through?
anyone can take a picture, but you need to chose a photographer that you know will be able to capture your story, in a way that speaks to you
2~ Passion
so, you've booked a meeting at Starbucks with 10 different photographers. now what?
when you're sitting across the table from photographer #5, how do they make you feel on the inside? are you getting excited about your wedding day as they talk about how they might be involved? when they talk about their art and their product, do they get all excited for you, your dreams and your plans, or do you feel that they are they just selling something? what adjective comes to your mind to describe them if you were asked 5 minutes after you left the appointment?
if you leave the meeting and can turn to your fiance and say 'wow, that photographer has passion for their art!", then put them on your short-list and consider that a good meeting.
a great wedding photographer shouldn't be in this line of work , just to make a few bucks, but they need to be truly passionate about telling your story through their images, they need to truly care about you as people, and they need to be passionate about their art. PASSION!!!
3~ Fun?
sure, wedding days are full of timelines and schedules, smiles and hugs, but they are also supposed to be FUN!!!
when you sit down to meet with a potential wedding photographer, do you think that you might be able to have fun with this person all day long?
i guess it comes down to the relationship thing again, and whether or not you can just be yourselves and have fun with the person that will be working closely with you for up to 12 hours or so.
if you don't know what the heck i'm talking about and if you don't plan on having any fun on your big day, then you can just ignore everything i just wrote about the subject.
just kidding.....
you KNOW you want to have FUN! who wouldn't?
that's all i have to say, for now anyways.
oh, and a blog post is never complete without a photo
another one from Rob & Leslie's Willestead Manor wedding, here in WIndsor
Nick Everitt:
Great article, really good advice for couples looking for their wedding photographer and I love the image that you have included, thats an awesome first dance shot!
(04.21.10)
Philip Hawkins:
Good advice. I give similar advice over here in Scotland from time to time as selecting the right wedding photographer can be a daunting process to many couples. Excellent image choice, too...timeless!
(04.26.10)
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the art of choosing a wedding photographer
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144
i haven't slept well in two days and my eyelid is twitching.
it's the beginning of my 2010 wedding season and i'm a ball of nerves!!!
my hubby was laughing at me last night, saying that he always finds the pressure that i put on myself, to be kind of laughable.
i love weddings, i love my clients, and i love this job.
it's my love of what i do that drives me to have such high expectations of my work!
it's the same type of feelings that i used to get before writing a big chemistry exam, even though i had studied like crazy and was TOTALLY ready for it.
i am also SO excited that i get to begin my year with Rob & Leslie's wedding at Willistead Manor here in Windsor. I can't believe that it was in July 2009 that Leslie first contacted me about the possibility of documenting their vintage inspired wedding, and here it is, April 3rd and it's GAME TIME!
weddings make me get all mushy inside, and the emotion of the day is almost too much to handle. i have yet to find mascara that will stand up to my tears during the vows, and then again during the slideshow and speeches.
people need to STOP making me cry during their speeches!!
i am too excited for words, and if i could just get my right eyelid to stop twitching, i'd be the happiest wedding photographer around!!
Bring on the fabulous weddings!
Jayme Morrison:
You are going to do great! Today's the big day so I can't wait to hear :)
(04.03.10)
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142
hi all :)
when i embarked on the roller coaster journey of being a wedding photographer, i sat down an evaluated a few core beliefs and plans for my business.
the first thing i decided, was that i wanted to be able to give my clients the best possible experience !
how does a photographer give their clients a great experience ?
well, there are two things that i came up with.
first off, i would need to provide photos that capture the emotion and feeling of each and every client and their wedding day.
recently, while reading entries on a photography forum, a wedding photographer named David Murray posted a response to a discussion about wedding photojournalism.
"It is not so much that I want to focus on just the good things during the course of the day as much as I want to find and touch upon the things that we can all recognize as being part of a sublime testament to our shared human experience. Some times these moments are happy, sometimes they are quite or somber, sometimes funny, and sometimes they are filled with joy. But the common thread is that in an aesthetic way, they dig right to the root of what is best in all of us. That is what I strive for when I pick up a camera "
everything David says in this post, is exactly how i feel about what i do.
the second thing that i wanted to do for my clients, is provide them with great customer service. i want to be able to present my work to each and every couple, within a few weeks of their wedding, not months and months afterwards. there is no reason why anyone should be getting their wedding album a year or two AFTER their wedding!
to be able to be the best photographer, wife and mother that i can possibly be, i am only taking on about 20 wedding commissions per year.
i have almost reached that number, and i will not be going over it.
it is because each and every client is so important to me, that i'm limiting my number of commissions to 20.
the wedding season in Windsor is pretty darn short, and my summer is pretty much booked full (except for 1 or 2 weekends), and my fall has a couple of more weekends that i'm currently available.
if you are planning a wedding in 2010, and you're still looking for a wedding photographer, please contact me for more details about my availability.
i am currently taking bookings for 2011 and i'd love to hear from you as well.
my wedding season starts in 2 weeks, with Rob & Leslie's wedding at Willistead Manor, and i'm really excited about it. my biggest fear for the day, would be that we get some freakishly weird blizzard or something. Rob & Leslie are from Arizona, so i don't think that they would be too excited about sharing their wedding day with slushy snow.
here's a photo of Rob & Leslie, from their snowy engagement session i did for them this past Christmas
Brandon- Portland Wedding Photographer:
Congrats on filling up your season! That's always a great feeling. Very nice shot too.
(03.24.10)
Newport Wedding Photographer | Mark Andrew:
Beautiful image. I like your take on commissions. David is an awesome photographer and probably one of the best wedding photojournalists out there.
(03.25.10)
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