Our Journal

A shot in the Dark...

2008-07-19T20:59:51Z

...or should we say "A Toss in the Dark" and Page lines up for the bouquest toss at her reception at the Poinsett Club. We suspect the toss was going to be "rigged" as Sara, her sister, is also getting married this year, but the toss went its own way. There are known to do that. Jeremy, the groom, had even more trouble as you would expect, slinging the garter into a crowd of groomsmen, all with pocketed hands. It always seems to fall to the floor, untouched.

A Guaranteed No Return Wedding Gift

2008-07-14T01:35:37Z

Posts here usually don't stray from our wedding photography experiences, but I came across a news story today that is, for good or bad, a sign of the times. A wedding hall in the Israeli town of Jerusalem now allows guests to make a monetary gift using a credit card machine. Here's the link.

It's a safe bet this is one gift the bride and groom won't mind getting duplicates. I guess I should sell my shares of toaster stock.

The Essense and the Delimma

2008-07-10T20:10:17Z

First, the “Essense.” About a dozen years ago we were photographing a log home in Pickens for the manufacturer. We spent an hour frantically setting up and positioning lighting, shooting what were then Polaroid tests to ensure everything was right. When we finished, my wife and I plopped down on the sofa to wait.

The log home representative gave us a perplexed look, not understanding the rush and then the wait. We told him we we’re waiting for the right light. “We want to get the light both inside and outside, so we can see the view.” He thought and understood.

Well, it happened again on a recent bridal shoot. The bride wanted to try one last shot though the day was late and we’d been dodging rain for the last hour. I ran to check the location. What I saw caught me off guard. I went running back screaming, “Everybody out of the car. If you want this shot, we’ve got two minutes.” That, everybody understood.

Were we lucky? Oh, yes. But putting ourselves in a position to be lucky is part of our job.

Now, here’s the Dilemma. I can’t show you the photo. Bridals are the most closely guarded images in wedding photography. Only the bride seems the images first, and it’s up to her from there. So once the wedding occurs, we’ll revisit this again. And hopefully then you’ll understand what I mean when I say “Light is of the essence.”

Copy That

2008-07-02T15:23:01Z

(click to enlarge)

While passing by one of the tables at Amanda and Nathan's wedding reception, something that I hadn't seen in the photo industry in a while caught my eye. It's rare these days to see a film camera, much less a Polaroid. Plus it had such a nice image. So, of course, I had to copy that.

Bar None

2008-06-13T12:17:40Z

Aubrey's personality started showing on the Day of the Bridal when we used Greenville photographer David Crosby's Cafe and Art Bar (plus the Crosby Stills Studio) after hours for the shoot. Although formals were done a studio setting, Aubrey had little trouble using the bar as a backdrop for a quick shot as we were finishing the shoot.

The Wedding Day was full of energy and happiness. We brought with us our new colleague and expert Album designer Katie Blaker as a second shooter and she did a great job capturing the emotions of Aubrey and Chase:

Another addition was our version of the "Photo Booth" made popular at carnivals and state fairs. We set up a camera with a remote, friends added the own touch to the collection of images from one "Bar None" wedding:

Once Upon a Time...In Another Century....

2008-06-10T19:19:00Z

...but not in a land far, far away, I taught photography for the Continuing Education Department at Furman and for three years as an adjunct professor at North Greenville College. One of the overriding principals I tried to instill in my students was the understanding of perspective between the subject and photographer. In short, in the evening classes I saw plenty of photos of chidlren playing and sandboxes and such, but always from above. "The key with children," I always said, "is not to photograph looking down on them unless that's your intent."

It was more difficult in the days of film, but with the advent of digital photography, playing with angles is not only easier, it's cheaper. I kid folks by saying that my best photographs are taken when my eye is not on the viewfinder. But as you can see from the photo of the flower girl getting ready right before Janet & Greg's wedding, maybe it's not a joke after all.

Just a Little Something Blue

2008-05-18T15:46:26Z

We were headed back to the cars after a series of "Alone Shots" with the Bride and Groom when my wife, Mona, noticed that I was still taking pictures. With my arm well below my waist and in a crotched postion, I was firing off frames of the Bride without looking through the viewfinder.

My wife exclaimed "What are you doing?!" Without missing a beat, the Bride said, "Oh he's just trying to get a picture of my garter." Well, I was. It was her "something blue" and she was carrying her dress in such a way that it wouldn't be dirty, and the garter was easily seen. She knew what I was doing. She didn't care. And I did get the garter. Well, at least a picture of it.

Newly Wed

2008-05-05T18:19:51Z

Janet & Greg took advantage of the first Saturday in May to exchange vows at Christ Episcopal Church in downtown Greenville. Despite forecasts of rain they were blessed with no rain, clearing skies, and a joyous day.

With dry skies lots of photos were taken out of doors, which is a good way to capture the formal photos in a timely fashion so the bridal party can move onto the reception.
The "Just Married" Sticker says it all

Not to be out done was the party atmosphere at the Commerce Club. This picturesque "Top of Greenville" venue provides a view all the way to the mountians of North Carolina. Yet, most of the attention was on dancing.

Traditions

2008-04-29T03:52:32Z

It is my understanding that wedding cakes dates back to medieval times, when guests brought small cakes that were stacked in layers just high enough so the bride and groom could kiss to bring good luck to the marriage. This may explain why traditional cakes have a bride and groom topping on them.

The Romans practiced dropping the wedding cake on the head of the bride, again for good luck. Hopefully fruitcakes weren’t popular then. No matter the reason, the wedding cake continues to be a vitally important wedding tradition.

We’ve had the opportunity to meet many cake designers and find their craft amazing and wonderfully delicious challenge to photograph (couldn’t help it, I know).

A Whole Lotta' Fun

2008-03-05T18:16:15Z

Jaclyn and Steve's Wedding March 1st was quite a laidback and fun affair. Just letting things unfold as the day progressed, including their first rehersal just at the Table Rock State Park Lodge one hour prior to the ceremony, to a sincere ceremony, to fun shots and a cookout reception, the event was a blend of outfoor life and elegance.

The Lodge's Scottish Flair

An overwhleming gathering of Jacklyn and Steve's close friends from church and college added an intoxicating youthful flair to the day. There were serious moments and genuine well wishes, but the wedding shoot did not go without some college-style irreverence.

But what can one say? Maybe the best example of enthusiam for the day was Little Ben's participation in the Bride and Groom's first dance. After wandering out to the middle of the dance floor, 14-month old Ben decided a "high-five" (at least to him) was the best way saying "good job!"
Ben's High Five

A Floppy JalopyAnd yes, the couple is heading off to the Islands, but not in the way you may think. They have accepted positions as missionaries to the Bahamas, working to restore hurricane-damaged homes in poverty-stricken areas of the Islands. So the flip-flops tied to the back of their car are simply well-wishes.