Just 10 Minutes
June 18, 2008 | Filed Under Wedding Photography, Weddings | 1 Comment
I often ask my clients to give me just 10 minutes out of the reception for us to sneak off and get some photographs of them alone. I like to do it while the reception is in full swing and no one is likely to miss them too much.
This set is the result of less than 10 minutes taken out of Emily & Glen’s wedding reception, after dinner and before they cut the wedding cake.
I really try to avoid stopping and posing photos throughout the wedding day. I never stage shots, telling people to put on the rings again so I can get a closeup, or pretend to repeat the kiss for a photo opportunity. I do pose family and wedding party photographs — and these 10 minutes. I prefer to let the rest of the day be organic and flow. Your wedding isn’t about me, it is about you.
These silhouette images required a little more positioning than usual. I didn’t want lines coming out in weird places. I wanted the reflection on the ground to be just right. I could see the image in my mind - and Emily & Glen were so fantastic about patiently helping me make it a reality. “Just a step forward. Wait, no, half a step back. Move in together. Ok, now lean back.” In the end though, our teamwork took it from the vision to the reality.
The other perk of the 10 minutes? It gives couples a break from the day. You’re not moving and focused on entertaining everyone else for just a few minutes. You get a break to be alone. You get to snuggle and embrace, laugh and whisper secrets. You get a moment to just focus on your love.
Sometimes, the guy even gets to have a portrait or two alone.
The last photo has nothing to do with the portraits — but there was just no way I could pass those beautiful flowers up without a photograph.
Congratulations, Emily & Glen! Wedding in Houston, Texas
June 16, 2008 | Filed Under Wedding Photography, Weddings | 2 Comments
Emily & Glen were married on Saturday, June 14, 2008 in a beautiful, intimate ceremony at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston in the Museum District of Houston, Texas. The reception followed at the church.
Years ago, Emily moved to Missouri for a job. As her step-dad said in his toast yesterday, she came back to Houston … with Glen. They are such a wonderful couple together, and such fantastic people. I love to see how they make each other laugh. Another thing I love? Glen’s waffles. They are quite delicious! I was treated to them during our pre-wedding consultation, when they invited me over for breakfast to go over the wedding day plans. Emily works overnight at a local TV station, so early morning meetings worked best for her schedule.
Being a journalist, Emily wanted the pure moments photographed. This worked well for me, because I don’t like staging photos unless they are absolutely critical. The above shot was the reaction of Emily being handed her incredibly beautiful bouquet. She just could not stop smelling it - it was incredible!
And before we knew it, it was time to get ready to head downstairs for the ceremony. Emily stopped to look outside, and was happy to see that it wasn’t raining as the forecast had predicted. Matter of fact, it was a beautiful, sunny day! Hmm… maybe Emily should talk with those weather men she works with about that. Then again, we always say that if you don’t like the weather in Houston, wait a few minutes - it will change.
Photograph on the left taken by Elaine Mesker-Garcia.
Photograph taken by Elaine Mesker-Garcia.
Emily’s mother, Diane, wrote an amazing song for Emily & Glen for their wedding and sang it. It was so beautiful, and so very moving. I always say that I’ll start to worry the day that I don’t get all misty-eyed during the wedding ceremony that I am photographing. This was that misty-eyed moment for me. Glen’s mother did a reading during the ceremony, and Emily’s father played an amazing piece on the piano.
At the reception, Emily & Glen share a moment after the toasts.
The Spiffingtons performed at the reception, and they were fantastic! This is the second wedding that we have been to this year where they have performed, and I can’t recommend them highly enough. They kept the party moving and everyone having a great time!
Elaine totally gets credit for the portrait of Emily above - she suggested it, and I executed it. How is that for teamwork?
When Cooper sang “What a Wonderful World it Would Be” along with The Spiffingtons for Emily & Glen, even Louis Armstrong himself would have been proud. I love that song - I had goosebumps from his rendition of it, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one!
And then they were off! We wish you both nothing but the very best in the years ahead. It was such an honor being a part of your beautiful day! I’m testing a new proofing system, and their proofs are online already; select the “Clients” link above, register for the online gallery using your own unique username & password, and after selecting their gallery use the access code which is Glen’s last name to view the photographs. Enjoy!
Wedding Vendors — all highly recommended!
Caterer: Jami’s Fine Foods - Jami & Steve 6600 S Rice Suite C Bellaire, TX 77401 713-661-5264 (Vegetarian options offered at the reception.)
Florist: River Oaks Plant House - 3401 Westheimer Houston, TX 77027 713-622-5350 Ask for Gary
Linens: Party Cloths - 1102 Autrey Houston, TX 77006 - 713-523-0853
Wedding Musicians: Ruth & David Zeger - Zeger Entertainment - 3928 Byron Houston, TX - 713-666-4153
DJ: Adam Zeger - Zeger Entertainment
Band: The Spiffingtons, booked by Zeger Entertainment
Cakes: 3 Brother’s Bakery - 4036 S Braeswood Houston, TX 77025 - 713-666-2551
Dresses: Maison de Mode - 2431 Rice Blvd Houston 77005 - 713-527-8285
Alterations: Maison de Mode
Hair & Makeup: Teri at Cutloose - 1711 Westheimer Houston, TX 77098 - 713.520.7401
Busy Days!
June 13, 2008 | Filed Under Wedding Photography | Leave a Comment
It has been a fabulously productive week around here, but blogging is being postponed for a few more days. Instead, I have:
– Returned from Florida and caught up on almost everything.
– Had my first bridal shoot at the new studio, which was awesome! Photos under wraps until the wedding at the end of the month. Thank you, Brandi!
– Had my first official boudoir session with Tish at Hotel ZaZa - I posted a “teaser” from her session below, but let me just say it was fabulous.
– Had my first official client meetings at the new studio - thanks Sophia & Staci!
– Have made a nice long list of things I need to add to the studio / office before my next meetings there. Including framing and hanging prints on the walls.
– Have proofed and uploaded the following weddings:
The Carson - Robson wedding in New Braunfels, Texas on May 3, 2008
The Banks - Wall wedding at Shirley Acres in Houston, Texas on May 10, 2008
The Harper - Pope wedding in Houston, Texas on May 24, 2008 (partial)
I’m almost done proofing several other sessions too, along with Kara & Bryan’s wedding, so keep an eye out for emails of updates on them!
Blogging to resume next week, when the new “after wedding process” goes into action. Oh, this is going to be so much fun!
Engage!08 in Celebration, Florida
June 2, 2008 | Filed Under Wedding Photography, Workshops | 1 Comment
I’ll be out of the office and have only limited access to the phone and email for the next 48 hours or so. I’m in Celebration, Florida for the Engage!08 Wedding Business Symposium. Such an awesome concept, I’m really excited to be a part of it! As Rebecca Grinnals pointed out in an email to me a few months ago when I contacted her about it, wedding photographers are great about networking … with other wedding photographers. The same goes for many of the other vendors in the wedding industry. The goal of Engage!08 is to bring vendors from all different areas together so that we can work together, helping one another grow, exchanging ideas, and making weddings as a whole fabulous! Personally, I’m especially excited about having the chance to meet Liene of Blue Orchid Designs, a luxury wedding and event planning firm based in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona, in person at last! I’ve been reading her blog for some time now, and it is always full of great tips and information!
As industry leader Preston Bailey pointed out, “I believe it is the first of its kind, a business to business consulting for the wedding industry on a global scale. They say it best so I am going to steal their quote: “Quite simply – no one understands the “ins and outs” of this lucrative but constantly changing and super competitive market better than we do.” Which is absolutely the truth; just take a look at who the founder is! Rebecca Grinnals! That woman is a genius!”
From their own email a few weeks ago (I was already signed up by then!):
This is the final opportunity to sign up for engage!08: the wedding industry’s most exclusive and intimate networking, educational and inspirational event. Join some of the most respected names in the luxury wedding business for a jam-packed day on June 3rd, 2008 at the Celebration Hotel in Celebration Florida!
Speakers include Preston Bailey, Marcy Blum, Susan Moynihan, Simon T. Bailey, Harmony Walton, Christine Boulton, Liene Stevens and host Rebecca Grinnals of Engaging Concepts!
Connect with over 60 attendees coming from 8 countries and 13 states including:
Five-star Resorts and Hotels in Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Turks & Caicos, the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, Antigua and throughout Florida.
High-end wedding planners and designers from New York, LA, Chicago, Grand Cayman, St Kitts, Seattle, Arizona, Savannah, Tennessee, Virginia, the Bahamas and throughout Florida.
Award-winning Video and Photojournalists from Texas, Maine, Savannah and throughout Florida.
(That is me! I’m the one from Texas! *grin*)Expert wedding PR, Marketing, Advertising and Travel executives and more! See all the information on the website and the blog!
It all kicks off with a mix & mingle happy hour in the lobby in about 2 hours, and then a jam-packed full day tomorrow. On Wednesday, I’ll be getting together with some of my local photographer friends, including Robyn of Buttons and Bows Photography, and Jen of Soltren Photography. It is going to be an action packed week - and I’m so excited about it all!
Jacque & Joe’s Wedding - Tomball, Texas
May 28, 2008 | Filed Under Wedding Photography, Weddings | 6 Comments
I started off the day meeting up with Jacque and the rest of the women at Natural Retreat Day Spa along 290 in Houston, Texas. This above photo was the very first shot of the day. The flowergirl had come over to show Jacque how she wanted her hair done. Of course, she had picked some of the craziest styles in the book - and she was not happy to be told no. I have to admit it - the whole thing made me laugh.
Eventually, she moved on to the makeup artists’s chair. I think I freaked the poor gal out when I went to get this shot. She was a bit unsettled by the fact that she didn’t have any makeup on herself, and she was in my photos.
Photograph by Elaine Mesker-Garcia.
Elaine met up with me at the salon and we moved on to the venue, Events, Etc. in Tomball, Texas. Elaine was upstairs with the flowergirls and Jacque as they were getting ready, and caught this moment of the final preparations for the flowergirls. They had a hard time keeping still while they waited for the rest of the wedding party to get ready!
Kelly Niemann also joined us for this wedding. We don’t normally have three photographers, but we had wanted to work together and Kelly was available to join us. It was so great to work with her! Thanks, Kelly!
Photograph by Elaine Mesker-Garcia.
One of the fun things about working with other photographers is getting to play with their gear! Kelly had these cool spot video lights, and used them to light this photograph for Elaine. I love the spotlight effect on the rings!
Eventually, it was time for the ceremony to begin! It was right as the sun was starting to set, and I love the warm glow that it gave us. We were lucky to have such a nice day for an outdoor wedding!
Joe, as he first sees Jacque coming down the aisle. His mother, daughter and sister are right there with him.
Jacque’s father, giving her away as her mother watches.
I got a moment to play with the rings and the macro lens while the guests were eating dinner. The handkerchief is a family heirloom.
Photograph by Kelly Niemann.
The First Dance - photograph by Kelly Niemann.
The Chicken Dance! I know a lot of people put this song - along with YMCA - on their “do not play” list for the DJ, but it is so much fun when everyone gets up and dances to them. They pretty much guarantee that people will get up and out on the dance floor - and the photo opportunities are such fun!
We couldn’t resist getting a shot of the empty bottle of Patron that had been enjoyed throughout the reception, along with the rings. Then the mini bobblehead Dallas Cowboy from the groom’s cake had to be brought out too. Both of these shots were a team effort - I took them, but Elaine & Kelly both played a part in setting them up.
It was a beautiful evening, and I know that Jacque & Joe looked forward to this day for so long. Thank you to both of them for allowing us to be a part of their wedding day!
Their wedding gallery can be viewed online - enjoy!
Congratulations, Sarah & Sean! Wedding Photography in Houston, Texas
May 25, 2008 | Filed Under Wedding Photography, Weddings | 4 Comments
I just wanted to share a sneak peek of some of the photos from Sarah & Sean’s wedding day! They were married yesterday at Christchurch Baptist Fellowship in northwest Houston, Texas. It was an especially touching ceremony because Sean is the pastor’s son, and his father officiated the ceremony. It was so sweet hearing the story of how Sarah & Sean’s love began and grow in the church community, and to see the support of that community for them.
Thank you again to Sarah & Sean and both of their families for the opportunity to be a part of such a special day!
