Archive for October, 2009

Bright and Boisterous 2

October 28, 2009

I love this first shot! The sun shining through the trees, the low angle, the crowd jumping and at their peak… very satisfying. In addition, what you may not be able to tell is that the crowd is lit evenly with a special light that we use. Without it, the people would all be dark and underexposed. I always work with an assistant who is there to hold a second light. That is one of the secrets to making photos look special, and ultimately… professional. You’ll also notice we busted out the faux-to booth, our photo booth alternative. It’s a service we provide for free to all of our clients that want it. At almost every event by the end of the night, people loosen up and start heading over to the live-photo booth. That’s when the craziness starts and the really funny photos happen. Also, check out her hair and make-up company WeddingTresses.com, they did a phenomenal job and are really professional.

Bright and Boisterous

October 27, 2009

Yay! Congrats to the newlyweds! This couple was really fun and great to work with. They were married at St. Catherine’s Church in Norwood with a reception at the Four Points Sheraton also in Norwood. Check out these multi-colored flowers, they were so bright and happy.

Beautiful Rain 2

October 26, 2009

Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain

October 20, 2009

They say rain on your wedding day is good luck, I believe it. Rain brings the crops and the flowers… and the abundance. Also on the positive side, rain makes for interesting photo op’s with an umbrella, in addition to the great lighting that the clouds create. Here are a few of our favorite photos taken by our amazing associate photographer Kelly, on this rainy wedding day She recently photographed this wedding at Zukas Hilltop Barn in Spencer, MA. Zukas is one of my favorite places to work. The site has a great country elegance, and with the fall foliage… it’s spectacular. What sets this venue apart most though, is the service and the people. They are among the nicest, most personable you’ll find. Definitely check them out if you’re planning a wedding.

Love at Lake Pearl

October 20, 2009

Another great wedding at Lake Pearl Luciano’s in Wrentham, MA. They did a really great job and the food was delicious. One of my favorite things about this wedding was the flowers. Harper Floral’s arrangements were incredibly fresh, practically bursting with life. The Calla Lily bouquet was held together really well. I’ve noticed that sometimes bouquets are kind of loose and are torn apart by the end of the day. Definitely check them out if you’re planning a wedding. The bagpiper, the orchids, the cake, it all came together to create a beautifully planned event.

Sacred Vows and Sunflowers

October 18, 2009

OMG, I love this post-wedding shoot! This is my new favorite. You may recognize this couple as I’ve photographed their engagement session, dress fitting, wedding, they were in my promo video and now… the post wedding shoot! I had envisioned a photo of them in a field of flowers but was unable to find the perfect location. After discussing my ideas with the bride, she told me about Weir River Farm in Hingham, MA. I had been anticipating this field of sunflowers from the moment I heard about it. As it turns out, it was a truly incredible experience. My fiance was my assistant that day, as well as all of our other shoots with this couple. We had all grown to know each other and had built a greater rapport. The setting sun and the fresh air set the scene. We all felt a little bit giddy as we began creating these images together because we knew that we were doing something new, and we all did our part. I felt invigorated creatively, the couple picked the spot, got all dressed up and provided us with themselves as subjects. The love and emotion they brought with them was a bonus. My assistant was particularly on point that day as well. In summation, this was an amazing shoot that I loved, hopefully you’ll enjoy it too : )

The orange and yellow mokara blossoms, and the yellow cymbidium orchids accented the entry to a wonderful autumn season. One of the places I photographed the couple was in the restaurants wine cellar… the sincere kiss was sweeter than the wine.

The first thing to know is that there is no right or wrong answer. Every photographer will have different preferences. Truth be told, the photograph is ultimately about you and/or your family, so do what feels best.

Having that said, there are a few things that I would suggest to avoid and things to shoot for.

Do Wear:

-What you like to wear and what you feel good in, that’s the most important.
-Coordinating outfits are great.
-Accents and colors that compliment each other are the goal. If the baby is wearing a particular colored shirt, maybe Dad’s collared undershirt can accent that color. If Mom’s wearing a certain color, maybe she can accent the color theme with her accessories.
-Colors that you know work well on you.
-The feeling you want to convey; lighter shirts on top give the pictures a more casual and bright look. Darker shirts on top give the portraits a more serious and thoughtful feel.

Don’t Wear:

-All black or all white tops, it doesn’t create much visual interest and can make for a tricky exposure
-Big logos
-Busy patterns that may overwhelm the photo, and distract attention from the subjects and your expressions
-Things that are too reflective, some eye make-ups that have glitter in them, and things that shimmer will also reflect the camera flash. They can be distracting and can look a little weird.
-Try not to wear the same exact outfit as the other
Hope that helps! 

Engaged Couples’ Survey

October 13, 2009

Engaged volunteers needed!
Cristina Reitz, a doctoral student at the University of Virginia is looking for volunteers for a study of attitudes towards marriage and parenthood among engaged couples. The study consists of a 25-30 minute online survey. To qualify for the study, you must be 20-35 years old, live in the U.S., and plan to marry or have a commitment ceremony within the next 365 days. You and your romantic partner must not have children, and this must be the first marriage for both of you.

You can:
-Help a doctoral candidate;-Increase the pool of scientific knowledge;
-Support research on marriage and families; and
Spend some time thinking about your relationship!

She is working with Dr. Charlotte J. Patterson, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. This study has been approved by the University of Virginia Institutional Review Board #2009025800.

If you and/or your romantic partner are interested in participating or want further information, please email her at survey.couples@gmail.com. She will send you a link that you can use to access the study.

Thanks!
Cristina Reitz
-Krueger Doctoral Student
University of Virginia
(434) 243-8558
survey.couples@gmail.com

Yay! Check us out in the current issue of Bride & Groom magazine on page 15!