A Moment in History

The most historic and sweet wedding I have yet to be a part of. Maybe because it oozed with femininity! Rachel and Kate got married legally this summer in New York at her Kate's Mom and Dad's house in Ballston Lake. Their three daughters were a part of the ceremony and I had the pleasure of witnessing and documenting history. It was a pleasure!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

I concentrate on everyone else's wedding bliss and potential martial success, so why not focus on me! Or US, I should say. Andy and I have been married for 10 years and together for 18. I know what it takes to have a successful marriage. It is a job in itself. Like the reading says: Love is not selfish. This is true. Our wedding was less than perfect, being only a few weeks after 9/11. The food was excellent, the caterers were not. The music was unplanned and so were the dances. Over all it was OUR day and it didn't really matter. One of the best things was this amazing photo of us taken with a 4x5 view camera by the amazingly talented Lawrence Lewis. I had close friends shoot our wedding since we all got our BFA's in photography, I thought "what could go wrong"? Well, I do not recommend this. They did a fine job but it does take a certain skill to capture the day. A learned "event picture-taking" skill, not just photographic talent. Yet Larry didn't have to run around and capture crazy moments that day, just us. And he did. Thanks to Larry.

A sample wedding: Sierra and Bryan

Here are some images from a wedding I photographed on August 5th at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel through the referral of Hillary Harvey Photography. An amazing group of people. Loads of fun and non-stop partying!

The links are added!

I just uploaded many links of all the people who have influenced me and my art over the years. I have worked with so many great photographers though the Center for Photography art Woodstock since 1994 when I was an intern there and when I worked in New York City from 1996-2002 as a free-lance assistant and studio manager. The only person I haven't worked with is Emmet Gowin, the rest I knew personally (either as an assistant or colleague)and gained mounds and mounds of inspiration from. As I continue to grow and evolve as an artist (one should never stop) I will be adding links...Thanks to you all!!!!

weddings...

A blob of inspiration

Emmet Gowin photography

A true influence. I even named my cat after him. Take a look....

I am not sure why I am so influenced or in awe of his work. Maybe because it is so varried and not really predictable. Emmet tends to try new things until something successful happens. His carefree approach brings me back to my college days when I did not have a style yet...yet he does have a style, I'm just not sure what it is or how to describe it. All I know is that I like it!

The love & _____ of it

Some people just really dislike shooting weddings. Why is that? Too stressful? I have had great experiences shooting weddings. I believe you get beck what you put into it. I go with a positive attitude and I usually get one back. No doubt there is always someone at a wedding (usually 40 yrs.+ male) checking out your equipment making sure you are legit. This is the same person who asks you a complicated mathematical pixelation equation to see if you are able to compute within seconds. That is when I ask them if THEY want to do the job! 

Honestly, I love the challenge of sincerely relating to the camera geek, grandma, the ring bearer, and the caterers. I feel there is a little bit of each kind of person who works or goes to a wedding in me. I love to find that essence and capture it. Simple. Maybe I am just crazy, but I love shooting weddings.

It is official?

This is the first page I have created for my professional photography blog. Since my Facebook page was hacked 3 weeks ago, I have come to grips with the fragility of social network sites by creating something that won't just "disappear". It is also time to show the world what I do as a professional and  how I think about all aspects of my passion and chosen profession.

The image above was magically created on the scene - the actual symbolic marriage ritual of ring swapping. Despite some grim circumstances (the entire outside garden room wedding was quickly converted to a plastic covered garden room) I managed to get some timess photos that have been solid parts of my portfolio for years. And this was one of my first solo gigs: May 18, 1998.

This goes to show that when a fine art photographer is faced with limiting challenges, she is able to muster creative solutions. It is time like these when that BFA in photography comes in handy. I seriously believe that all those classes mastering the relationship of line, shape ,value, pattern, balance etc... paid off in the end. Of course black and white photography is the best for shooting timeless wedding imagery. If only brides would request a black and white only wedding...I would be in heaven!!!