Brian & Eileen's Wedding Music Video. from LOCKDOWN projects on Vimeo.
I nearly peed my pants watching this video - this could be the best 3 minutes and 50 seconds you ever spend
Monday, May 25, 2009
Seriously - I am SO jealous of the amazing person that came up with this. And I'm trying to figure out how long it took to do at the wedding. Superb!!!!
More Kristine & Marc...
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Click on the little white "play" triangle in the image above for a mini movie of the photoshoot.
And follow this link to see the online gallery of images
Kristine + Marc :: Giddy
Thursday, May 21, 2009
When I first Kristine and Marc I knew I really wanted to be their photographer for so many reasons and they were all confirmed at their engagement shoot at Salisbury Beach.
We talked about their upcoming wedding at the unique Green Meadows farm in Hamilton, MA and then at O'Fado and how they want to celebrate their Portuguese heritage and pay homage to their families. I can't help but sense that as much as they're excited to get married, Kristine & Marc are absolutely giddy about simply being married.
I describe them as giddy (Dictionary definition: Having a reeling, lightheaded sensation; Causing or capable of causing dizziness) because that's the word Kristine chose to describe the way they felt after their first date together as they sat across from each other in the office and tried to work.
Now two years after that first date they're engaged to be married in the fall and in my professional opinion they are still completely giddy in love
Did I mention that Kristine & Marc are a hoot to be around? I sent Marc down to the water's edge to write something in the sand, I was expecting their initials in a heart or something cute so seeing PB&J threw me a little. But once they explained that they used to call each other PB (Marc is pretty smooooooth) and J (Kristine is super sweet) it all made sense.
Mmmm - soft blue sky and the gentle breeze.
I love it when people trust me when I get a daft idea - which is pretty often - I'll see some interesting light or location and so when I suggested we all lie in the road, Kristine & Marc were all like "sure - here? will you just tell us if a car's coming?" - love it!
As the sun started to set and turned the sky into a giant softbox, we went back down to the sand and Kristine & Marc sat down together. Kristine admitted that she'd been a bit nervous about the shoot and at one point said "you can photoshop my face right?" Oh yeah - totally - except that she looks like a supermodel in the photo below!
Sometimes at an engagement shoot I'll have to tell couples to lean in closer and hug tighter. Not a problem with these two. I've got a bunch more beautiful images to process and I can't help but notice in every picture how they just seem to fit - check out this one:
Kristine and Marc met in the office; it was a pretty big surprise when they first got talking and found out that they were both Portuguese. Marc is fluent and Kristine is learning as "we want to speak Portuguese to our children". May I be as bold as to say that I think they're going to have some rather good looking babies...
I'll end with a little silhouette/sun flare action:
October can't come fast enough....hope you guys had as much fun as I did!
We talked about their upcoming wedding at the unique Green Meadows farm in Hamilton, MA and then at O'Fado and how they want to celebrate their Portuguese heritage and pay homage to their families. I can't help but sense that as much as they're excited to get married, Kristine & Marc are absolutely giddy about simply being married.
I describe them as giddy (Dictionary definition: Having a reeling, lightheaded sensation; Causing or capable of causing dizziness) because that's the word Kristine chose to describe the way they felt after their first date together as they sat across from each other in the office and tried to work.
Now two years after that first date they're engaged to be married in the fall and in my professional opinion they are still completely giddy in love
Did I mention that Kristine & Marc are a hoot to be around? I sent Marc down to the water's edge to write something in the sand, I was expecting their initials in a heart or something cute so seeing PB&J threw me a little. But once they explained that they used to call each other PB (Marc is pretty smooooooth) and J (Kristine is super sweet) it all made sense.
Mmmm - soft blue sky and the gentle breeze.
I love it when people trust me when I get a daft idea - which is pretty often - I'll see some interesting light or location and so when I suggested we all lie in the road, Kristine & Marc were all like "sure - here? will you just tell us if a car's coming?" - love it!
As the sun started to set and turned the sky into a giant softbox, we went back down to the sand and Kristine & Marc sat down together. Kristine admitted that she'd been a bit nervous about the shoot and at one point said "you can photoshop my face right?" Oh yeah - totally - except that she looks like a supermodel in the photo below!
Sometimes at an engagement shoot I'll have to tell couples to lean in closer and hug tighter. Not a problem with these two. I've got a bunch more beautiful images to process and I can't help but notice in every picture how they just seem to fit - check out this one:
Kristine and Marc met in the office; it was a pretty big surprise when they first got talking and found out that they were both Portuguese. Marc is fluent and Kristine is learning as "we want to speak Portuguese to our children". May I be as bold as to say that I think they're going to have some rather good looking babies...
I'll end with a little silhouette/sun flare action:
October can't come fast enough....hope you guys had as much fun as I did!
What happens on an engagement shoot?
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Recently, I've posted quite a bit about super-fun engagement shoots I've been doing and I've had some inquiries/questions from people wanting to find out more. So I'm going to do a little mini-interview with myself and hopefully try to answer the questions. I haven't decided yet to interview in the style of Ellen, Oprah or Martha so let's just see where this takes us...
And just because every post is better with pictures, I'll add a few more from Denise & Krikor's shoot...
Q: An engagement shoot? I'm thinking cheesy posed shots of stiff couples with a lot of focus on the engagement ring - is that what it's like?
A: Nope - my plan for an engagement shoot is threefold:
1) Get people used to being in front of the camera
2) Get to know me and vice versa. Who wants to trust an almost-stranger with capturing the most precious moments on your wedding day? I love it when I'm photographing the wedding and I've got my professional photographer hat on (not really - you know I don't wear a hat right?) but because I've got to know the couple I feel so happy for them as they say their vows - I think my happiness somehow shows in the photos!
3) Experiment a little with the post-processing. I'll be shooting like crazy but then I edit the photos down to the best 30 or so and then I'll take extra time on select photos - adding a little texture, making the colors pop, trying a little antique look depending on the feel. It's great because it helps me understand the style of each couple even better depending on the images they like best. The shot above has a little texture/contrast added and it fits nicely with the location (click on it to go big and see in more detail)
Q: Is there any dancing? Let's dance!
A: Well Ellen, sometimes there is dancing. We seriously have fun (or at least I do). Couples get to relax at the beginning while I shoot from afar like a paparazzo, then as the shoot continues maybe climb a tree, maybe lie on the floor, maybe hide behind a tree, maybe bust some moves from their first dance routine, maybe kiss a little (they're nearly married - it's almost legal!)
Q: Hmmm, so what would one wear? Pressed khakis and a crisp tailored oxford?
A: Oh Martha - you're so funny - not everyone has a full time ironing expert on staff! I suggest clothing that really reflects your style and taste. So while the classic blue jeans/white shirt look is great, not that many people dress as though they're in a Lands End catalog. A cute summer dress with fun shoes matched with a shirt that picks out the colors in the dress is fun. Jeans, flipflops and a tshirt is cool too. School colors/team colors - whatever you like!
Q: Steadman says that he just doesn't understand the point of an engagement shoot, huh, well maybe that's why we're not engaged yet?
A: Well, Oprah - it's just a really relaxed shoot that captures the two of you at that fun time of just beginning of your life together. Some couples will pick their favorite image and order a great print or fine art gallery wrap for their home. Or request a custom guest book filled with the images as an alternative to the usual guest signature book. Or use photos in a save-the-date postcard. So many options!
Q: Well Leah, that was very interesting, I hope you had fun?
A: Of course, thanks Leah, I enjoyed it too.
And just because every post is better with pictures, I'll add a few more from Denise & Krikor's shoot...
Q: An engagement shoot? I'm thinking cheesy posed shots of stiff couples with a lot of focus on the engagement ring - is that what it's like?
A: Nope - my plan for an engagement shoot is threefold:
1) Get people used to being in front of the camera
2) Get to know me and vice versa. Who wants to trust an almost-stranger with capturing the most precious moments on your wedding day? I love it when I'm photographing the wedding and I've got my professional photographer hat on (not really - you know I don't wear a hat right?) but because I've got to know the couple I feel so happy for them as they say their vows - I think my happiness somehow shows in the photos!
3) Experiment a little with the post-processing. I'll be shooting like crazy but then I edit the photos down to the best 30 or so and then I'll take extra time on select photos - adding a little texture, making the colors pop, trying a little antique look depending on the feel. It's great because it helps me understand the style of each couple even better depending on the images they like best. The shot above has a little texture/contrast added and it fits nicely with the location (click on it to go big and see in more detail)
Q: Is there any dancing? Let's dance!
A: Well Ellen, sometimes there is dancing. We seriously have fun (or at least I do). Couples get to relax at the beginning while I shoot from afar like a paparazzo, then as the shoot continues maybe climb a tree, maybe lie on the floor, maybe hide behind a tree, maybe bust some moves from their first dance routine, maybe kiss a little (they're nearly married - it's almost legal!)
Q: Hmmm, so what would one wear? Pressed khakis and a crisp tailored oxford?
A: Oh Martha - you're so funny - not everyone has a full time ironing expert on staff! I suggest clothing that really reflects your style and taste. So while the classic blue jeans/white shirt look is great, not that many people dress as though they're in a Lands End catalog. A cute summer dress with fun shoes matched with a shirt that picks out the colors in the dress is fun. Jeans, flipflops and a tshirt is cool too. School colors/team colors - whatever you like!
Q: Steadman says that he just doesn't understand the point of an engagement shoot, huh, well maybe that's why we're not engaged yet?
A: Well, Oprah - it's just a really relaxed shoot that captures the two of you at that fun time of just beginning of your life together. Some couples will pick their favorite image and order a great print or fine art gallery wrap for their home. Or request a custom guest book filled with the images as an alternative to the usual guest signature book. Or use photos in a save-the-date postcard. So many options!
Q: Well Leah, that was very interesting, I hope you had fun?
A: Of course, thanks Leah, I enjoyed it too.
Click on the white play triangle in the image below for a mini movie
Side by side on a bench in the harbor - Krikor & Denise
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
I seem to remember reading once about the % of people that meet their future spouse at work. I know it certainly worked for me - I first saw my now husband in an office in Kingston-upon-Hull in 1997 and just look where we are now - so I tried googling to find the exact numbers but bizarrely found no surveys out there.
So in the absence of any true statistics I am going to throw out there that approximately 21.74% of people meet their future spouse in the office. And I have a lovely example of that for you now...
Denise & Krikor first met at work in 2004; they would talk to one another about all sorts of things including Lebanon where Krikor grew up.
- Denise thought that Krikor might be a good match for a friend.
- Krikor thought otherwise, asking "So when are we going to go out?"
And on their first date they went on a Boston harbor tour and ended the date companionably sitting side-by-side on a bench, enjoying an order of calamari to go, looking out at the ocean (and maybe at each other too...)
We went back to the harbor for their engagement shoot, the sun was high and bright in the sky so we decided to have a glass of wine and some more calamari at The Daily Catch until the sun dipped low enough for that beautiful golden glow.
When I head out with a couple for an engagement shoot I explain they may feel a little like stars being followed by the paparazzi for a few minutes and then they'll relax and by the end of the shoot there will be no stopping them.
Denise is also a wedding photographer and admitted that she was a tiny bit nervous about being in front of the camera but Krikor just rolled with everything in his relaxed manner and we soon began to suspect he had been practicing his best GQ poses
After a few years of dating, Krikor took Denise to Lebanon to meet his family, and while he was there he worked with a jeweler to design a stunning engagement ring...(click on image below to go big)
Denise is a girl after my own heart - she managed to locate the shoe district of Lebanon and return with not one...not two...but three pairs of shoes including these rather fabulous silver ones!
Spotted this rather interesting wall at the side of the Barking Crab:
Shortly after returning from the trip with the ring, Krikor took Denise back to the scene of their first date for an early birthday celebration. After a harbor cruise they ended up sitting side by side on a bench and Krikor gave Denise a card. She opened it to see not a birthday message but the words asking "Will you marry me?"
And so in August Denise will marry Krikor at St Stephen's Church in Watertown - yay!
Did I mention that there is a currently a 100% success rate for couples that meet in the office, have their first date in Boston Harbor and enjoy calamari?
So in the absence of any true statistics I am going to throw out there that approximately 21.74% of people meet their future spouse in the office. And I have a lovely example of that for you now...
Denise & Krikor first met at work in 2004; they would talk to one another about all sorts of things including Lebanon where Krikor grew up.
- Denise thought that Krikor might be a good match for a friend.
- Krikor thought otherwise, asking "So when are we going to go out?"
And on their first date they went on a Boston harbor tour and ended the date companionably sitting side-by-side on a bench, enjoying an order of calamari to go, looking out at the ocean (and maybe at each other too...)
We went back to the harbor for their engagement shoot, the sun was high and bright in the sky so we decided to have a glass of wine and some more calamari at The Daily Catch until the sun dipped low enough for that beautiful golden glow.
When I head out with a couple for an engagement shoot I explain they may feel a little like stars being followed by the paparazzi for a few minutes and then they'll relax and by the end of the shoot there will be no stopping them.
Denise is also a wedding photographer and admitted that she was a tiny bit nervous about being in front of the camera but Krikor just rolled with everything in his relaxed manner and we soon began to suspect he had been practicing his best GQ poses
After a few years of dating, Krikor took Denise to Lebanon to meet his family, and while he was there he worked with a jeweler to design a stunning engagement ring...(click on image below to go big)
Denise is a girl after my own heart - she managed to locate the shoe district of Lebanon and return with not one...not two...but three pairs of shoes including these rather fabulous silver ones!
Spotted this rather interesting wall at the side of the Barking Crab:
Shortly after returning from the trip with the ring, Krikor took Denise back to the scene of their first date for an early birthday celebration. After a harbor cruise they ended up sitting side by side on a bench and Krikor gave Denise a card. She opened it to see not a birthday message but the words asking "Will you marry me?"
And so in August Denise will marry Krikor at St Stephen's Church in Watertown - yay!
Did I mention that there is a currently a 100% success rate for couples that meet in the office, have their first date in Boston Harbor and enjoy calamari?
Carmen + Jamie :: Wedding
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Yesterday I was a GUEST at a wedding - yup, no official duties. Carman works with my husband and it was a beautiful sunny day as she married Jamie. The ceremony was at St Andrew's by the Sea Chapel in Rye Beach, NH, check out this window in the chapel:
As a guest, I'm always very respectful that the professional photographer has an important job to do and I stay out of the way - it can be really hard when I'm trying to photograph a wedding and a guest jumps in front and blocks my view, or shoots like crazy over my shoulder!
Plus as a guest I'm not going to bring all my usual equipment - back up camera, array of lenses and strobes. So I limited myself to just one camera and two lenses - the tiny 50 1.8 and my most favorite lens, the 85 1.4 and no flash as that was about all I could fit in my cute Coach purse ;-)
The chapel is small and intimate and the ceremony was very meaningful. Carman & Jamie chose a thoughtful scripture reading from Ephesians and it was requested that no pictures are taken during the ceremony so here's the happy couple after the service:
The elegant reception was just perfect at the Abenaqui Country Club in Rye, NH
Here's the new Mr & Mrs. Estabrooks - LOVING the reflection of the guests in the mirror:
Their first dance was to one of my all-time favorite songs,it's such a beautiful melody - "Flightless Bird, America Mouth" by Iron & Wine (follow the link and click on #12 to listen - divine!) from the super-popular Twilight film.
Just look at the way they're looking at each other - brought a little tear to my eye!
Congratulations Carman & Jamie! And thank you for inviting us to celebrate with you - we had so much fun
As a guest, I'm always very respectful that the professional photographer has an important job to do and I stay out of the way - it can be really hard when I'm trying to photograph a wedding and a guest jumps in front and blocks my view, or shoots like crazy over my shoulder!
Plus as a guest I'm not going to bring all my usual equipment - back up camera, array of lenses and strobes. So I limited myself to just one camera and two lenses - the tiny 50 1.8 and my most favorite lens, the 85 1.4 and no flash as that was about all I could fit in my cute Coach purse ;-)
The chapel is small and intimate and the ceremony was very meaningful. Carman & Jamie chose a thoughtful scripture reading from Ephesians and it was requested that no pictures are taken during the ceremony so here's the happy couple after the service:
The elegant reception was just perfect at the Abenaqui Country Club in Rye, NH
Here's the new Mr & Mrs. Estabrooks - LOVING the reflection of the guests in the mirror:
Their first dance was to one of my all-time favorite songs,it's such a beautiful melody - "Flightless Bird, America Mouth" by Iron & Wine (follow the link and click on #12 to listen - divine!) from the super-popular Twilight film.
Just look at the way they're looking at each other - brought a little tear to my eye!
Congratulations Carman & Jamie! And thank you for inviting us to celebrate with you - we had so much fun
Poetry to make you smile
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
I was in Anthropologie the other day - how I love that store - and picked up a rather fabulous little book called "Poetry to make you smile". And smile I have indeed. Here's a good one:
Flowers in the kitchen by Lemn Sissay
On buying her flowers
she said
"There's no food in the kitchen
and we can't eat flowers"
On buying her food
she said
"You don't buy flowers any more"
Right now, there are flowers in our kitchen but no food (except some corn). And because all posts are better with a picture, here is one of my two mini wiener dogs, Tiger Woods eating the said corn.
Flowers in the kitchen by Lemn Sissay
On buying her flowers
she said
"There's no food in the kitchen
and we can't eat flowers"
On buying her food
she said
"You don't buy flowers any more"
Right now, there are flowers in our kitchen but no food (except some corn). And because all posts are better with a picture, here is one of my two mini wiener dogs, Tiger Woods eating the said corn.
Matt & Caitlin
Friday, May 1, 2009
When a couple contact me to discuss their wedding photography, I like to ask how they met and fell in love as it helps me get to know them a little better (plus who doesn't like hearing cute stories?).
I met Matt & Caitlin in a Starbucks in Andover and I loved how we just chatted for an hour; they were super-relaxed and just happy to be together and getting married. After I heard all about their amazing plans for the ceremony in a tiny white New England Church, and the beautiful reception at the Rockport Art Association, I asked how they met.
As Caitlin declared "It's a great story, I always wanted a story like this!", Matt smiled gently at Caitlin as with blue eyes sparkling, she told me...
...Caitlin grew up in NYC, studied in Dublin, lived in Arizona and she had just moved to Boston. It felt like recently she'd watched all of her friends get married. After joining a coed soccer team, Caitlin found herself enjoying the game and her new friends but lamenting the lack of "hotties" on the team.
One cold, wet, miserable Sunday morning in March, Caitlin dragged herself out of bed for an early morning soccer game and as she arrived at the pitch she noticed someone new, someone interesting! Asking her friend "who's that?!?" she found out that Matt was "one of the twins".
Caitlin's reaction "There are TWO of them?!"
After the game was over, some of the young twenty-somethings were discussing going out and Caitlin laughed that she probably wouldn't go as she wasn't 21 any longer. Matt quietly said "What are you? Like 24?" and when Caitlin replied that she was 28, he immediately looked up and introduced himself "Hi, I'm Matt"
Caitlin asked her friend Olivia to subtly find out more about Matt. Olivia had the easiest wing(wo)man job in the world when shortly afterward she received an email from Matt asking her for Caitlin's contact info...just over two years later and they're getting married.
I had a ton of fun photographing Matt & Caitlin in Boston, we started in Beacon Hill where Caitlin lived when they first started dating:
Did you know that this may be the most photographed street in Boston? I didn't, but I know that the other photographs are as good as this one - they're missing a cute couple in love on the cobblestones:
Caitlin rocking it out here:
Caitlin, I think you found your "hottie" (Sorry Matt ;-))
I think Matt feels that maybe he found his "hottie" too:
Way too much fun. As we were leaving, Caitlin tells me (did I mention how I love her happy relaxed approach to stuff? I do!) "Leah, as long as we have maybe 5 or 6 images that are OK then that'll be fine". I think we did a little better than that, so I'll leave you with this OK image:
Click on the little white "play" triangle in the middle of the image below for a mini-movie
I met Matt & Caitlin in a Starbucks in Andover and I loved how we just chatted for an hour; they were super-relaxed and just happy to be together and getting married. After I heard all about their amazing plans for the ceremony in a tiny white New England Church, and the beautiful reception at the Rockport Art Association, I asked how they met.
As Caitlin declared "It's a great story, I always wanted a story like this!", Matt smiled gently at Caitlin as with blue eyes sparkling, she told me...
...Caitlin grew up in NYC, studied in Dublin, lived in Arizona and she had just moved to Boston. It felt like recently she'd watched all of her friends get married. After joining a coed soccer team, Caitlin found herself enjoying the game and her new friends but lamenting the lack of "hotties" on the team.
One cold, wet, miserable Sunday morning in March, Caitlin dragged herself out of bed for an early morning soccer game and as she arrived at the pitch she noticed someone new, someone interesting! Asking her friend "who's that?!?" she found out that Matt was "one of the twins".
Caitlin's reaction "There are TWO of them?!"
After the game was over, some of the young twenty-somethings were discussing going out and Caitlin laughed that she probably wouldn't go as she wasn't 21 any longer. Matt quietly said "What are you? Like 24?" and when Caitlin replied that she was 28, he immediately looked up and introduced himself "Hi, I'm Matt"
Caitlin asked her friend Olivia to subtly find out more about Matt. Olivia had the easiest wing(wo)man job in the world when shortly afterward she received an email from Matt asking her for Caitlin's contact info...just over two years later and they're getting married.
I had a ton of fun photographing Matt & Caitlin in Boston, we started in Beacon Hill where Caitlin lived when they first started dating:
Did you know that this may be the most photographed street in Boston? I didn't, but I know that the other photographs are as good as this one - they're missing a cute couple in love on the cobblestones:
Caitlin rocking it out here:
Caitlin, I think you found your "hottie" (Sorry Matt ;-))
I think Matt feels that maybe he found his "hottie" too:
Way too much fun. As we were leaving, Caitlin tells me (did I mention how I love her happy relaxed approach to stuff? I do!) "Leah, as long as we have maybe 5 or 6 images that are OK then that'll be fine". I think we did a little better than that, so I'll leave you with this OK image:
Click on the little white "play" triangle in the middle of the image below for a mini-movie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
