Shawn & Kara (Wedding)
Location: Greystone FieldsA year after we shot the couple’s engagement, we found ourselves reuniting with the two for their wedding day at the halls of Greystone Fields under the bright blue skies of July. The preparation of the groomsmen ignited with their continued celebration of the previous night over some glasses of scotch. The bridesmaids were getting ready with the light backdrop of pop and country music. When I sensed that the wedding nerves were rising, I instructed Brittany (bridesmaid) to energize the atmosphere by playing a song that’d relieve the tension of the room. When Bieber’s 2010 hit ‘Baby’ played, the ladies erupted with laughter and dance.
My favorite part of the day was directing and capturing the moments after the ceremony with the bridesmaids and groomsmen. My respects go out to the initially reluctant guys who stowed their reservations and executed their instructions to dance with the groom himself. In a sharp contrast to his nervous and tense demeanor in the engagement shoot, Shawn’s new confidence shined through for the world to see.
During the reception, I was honored to capture the emotions of the parent’s during dance. The free flow of drinks and song brought the rest of the guests to their feet who helped carry the night forward with singing and dancing. As the night wound down, we found ourselves at the hotel afterparty. Kara fell asleep on the way there while the rest of us finished the celebration over crisp beers and fire.
Cheers to a bright future, guys.
Mike & McKenzie
Location: Moraine State Park, PA I first met Mike and McKenzie two years ago at a UFC party hosted by a close mutual friend. While the two were a new couple at the time, the sparks were obvious from the start. Of course, I was ecstatic when the couple requested for us to shoot their engagement about a year and a half later.
There were a couple observations that stood out to me during the shoot. First, I noticed the large number of people and boats in the early morning. This made sense in hindsight as the soft mists and tranquil waters painted an alluring portrait of serenity. Second, despite the supposed elevated nerves (lookin’ at you McKenzie). the easy-going, optimistic energy of the two are a photographer’s dream. Finally, Mike is apparently not only a great fisherman, but also a world-class cook when it comes to his catches. Naturally, I graciously invited myself to the next cookout.
Jokes aside, I am honored to share countless laughs with this lovely couple.
Alan & Jolie
Location: Apollo, PA (Edgewood Winery)I shot the couple’s engagement last Summer so we’ve already developed a solid relationship before the wedding. Alan was gracious enough to let us stay at his place the night before the shoot (they were partyin’ it up elsewhere) as his home was only 15 minutes from the venue. While he initially came relaxed and ready, the wedding day nerves and the sleepless night before gradually built up angst for the groom.
We coordinated with the groomsmen to ensure that everything from the sound to the wedding schedule would run as smoothly as possible. Jolie would embrace her husband, offering him solace and assurance that everything would turn out fine. From the emotion-filled ceremony to the ecstatic dancing, to the beautiful fusion of Egyptian and Chilean food and traditions, Alan would look back and realize that he hosted a day that everyone would remember.
Shawn & Kara
Locations: North Shore | Mount Washington | SouthsideWe met up with the couple before the crack of dawn on a frigid Saturday. The couple mentioned they were nervous about the shoot, so I took a few laps around the Grandview Overlook with the two to pump up the vibes before having Shawn pop open a crisp bottle of champagne. Before they knew it, Kara got on her fiancé’s shoulders with her liquid encouragement while they laughed and drank like it was 1999. It was a great time.
