The Blog | Adventures and advice from an euphoric wedding photographer.

Passion, Love & Happiness. I'm on a journey to capture these emotions from people who radiate their inner beauty and joy into my lens. I photograph because I adore weddings, a spontaneous lifestyle and meeting amazing individuals who will change my life. I hope that next unique someone is you.

Can Creativity Be Calculated?

August 25, 2010

The weather has been awesome this summer and for the first time in ages, I’m really sad to see fall approaching. Warm weather allows me to sit on my front porch and work on my lappy all day without feeling caged in. I’ll be the first to admit I’m terrible at multi-tasking and I really don’t believe anyone can do it well, but sometimes while I’m pounding on my keys I’ll listen to a podcast or watch a live show at creativelive.

A few weeks ago I was watching a show on creativity and how to draw inspiration. I don’t usually have issues with being creative, but a particular idea really made sense: if something really inspires you in a scene, figure out what is creating an emotional response and photograph it. Sounds simple but sometimes it isn’t.

So I decided to take a photograph that day of the grass. For days I had been overwhelmed with how happy I was to be working on my front porch and I realized I loved watching the grass sway in the wind. It really represented why I love being outside. So with my new theory in mind, I set out to photograph the swaying grass.

Ugh…it really didn’t go as planned. I took many photos of blurry grass but they looked like I dropped my camera. To me it looked like…grass. Blah. I really tried photographing the movement and beauty of my lawn for 30 minutes then gave up because I just wasn’t feeling it. I sat in my chair defeated looking at my crappy photos on my camera.

The wind picked up again and as I was muttering to myself I saw this:

This was what it was all about. I needed my pooch in the scene to portray how wonderful it felt to feel the wind in his face. Here I was trying to capture the object, when in reality it was the touch of wind on my skin that was inspiring me. It’s the random shoe next to my dog because he’s enjoying an occasional chew. It’s was the feeling of happiness knowing I was privileged to work at home with my dog and make a living.

So can creativity be calculated? I think so…just expect a random result. :)

Posted In: The Deelicious Life

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You Won’t Miss Your Photos Until It’s Too Late

June 03, 2010

As a photographer with a “high-tech” camera, I’m used to the fact that I’m usually the one taking photos, not smiling in them. About a month ago, we celebrated Billy’s birthday with 30 of our closest family and friends and of course I forced everyone to pose for a snapshot. Wanting to prove that I was actually at the event, I asked a slightly tipsy friend to take a photo of me and my Grandfather. This was the result…

Pretty terrible and this was the only shot of us the whole night. I didn’t think much of it until my Grandfather was rushed to the hospital less than a week later. He’s still there. And I’m extremely mad at myself. Not for letting someone take a bad photo of us, but because the last photo I took with my Grandfather was at my wedding a few years ago. I’m mad because I take hundreds of photos every month and yet I rarely take photos with the people that matter in my life. The photos that I would save first if my house was burning down…the photos you can never take after someone is gone and you realize too late.

I had a depressed bride email me last week telling me her family had talked her into hiring a cheaper photographer. Brides often cut corners on photography to pay for fancier meals and venues. Do you remember what you ate at the last wedding you attended? Neither does anyone else, even if it cost $100/plate and yet the moments are gone and the photos can never be captured again and they realize too late. I know because I hear this all the time from guests viewing my work and it breaks my heart.

So I’m on a mission to photograph what matters most to me more often. Though my visit was short, I was sure to snap a few shots with my parents and Grandma this holiday weekend. In fact the whole family (I have 30 first-cousins on one side of the family!) is itching to get a copy of Grandma’s portrait because it’s been years since she had one too.

Don’t wait until it’s too late!

Posted In: The Deelicious Life, Wedding

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Spring, the Sweet Spring

May 21, 2010

Spring, the sweet spring, is the year’s pleasant king,
Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring,
Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing:
  Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!

The palm and may make country houses gay,
Lambs frisk and play, the shepherds pipe all day,
And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay:
  Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!

The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet,
Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit,
In every street these tunes our ears do greet:
  Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to witta-woo

-from Summer’s Last Will and Testament by Thomas Nashe (1600)

Posted In: The Deelicious Life

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Would you like some wine with that cheesy smile?

May 10, 2010

Before my wedding in July of 2008, I wrote 5 journal posts describing my emotions before my wedding. I wish I had written several more as it really was an exciting time in my life, but I’m lucky that I took the time to write at least a few and have these memories to share with my children someday. (Gasp! Yes Mother, children will come SOMEDAY…) Enjoy these goofy rants and if you’re engaged, spend a few moments scribbling down your experiences before AND after the big day. You’ll be so happy you did. :)

Written October 6th, 2007

I’d like to think I’m a pretty relaxed and easy going bride. Rain on my wedding day? Big deal…. Rip in my dress? Who cares… My wedding will be perfectly planned so stress won’t be an issue….OR so I thought.

The night before my engagement photo shoot I was a mess. It might have helped if I had started planning things before 9pm, considering we had to be up by 5 in the morning to catch the sunrise. But who has time to plan?

I start to throw this and that into bags. Five pairs of shoes? Check. All the makeup I’ve ever owned? Check. A bottle of wine? Well you never know…Check. And as I start to fill the bags, I start to get a little nervous.

What if the weather is lousy? What if we don’t pose well? What if we’re uninspiring to Neil? And after filling the fifth bag, it hits me. I’m a wreck! Is this what the wedding jitters is all about? I don’t think I can get married!

I go to bed at 1am, worrying about my hair and makeup, so I never really sleep. When did I turn into such a Barbie? (Without the DD cups, *sigh) We get up the next morning and head out the door at 7am. Late as usual.

When we get to Letchworth Park, it’s absolutely stunning. I’m not a morning person (morning being any time before 11am) so I was captivated. Neil was setting up with the most tranquil music playing from his car. What a wonderful way to start the shoot. Ok, take a breath.

We pose for some amazing shots and head to the next location. “Stop being so stiff,” Billy says to me in the car, “just relax.” Wow, was it that noticeable? I peek at the wine bottle in the back seat. Maybe just a sip.

A few swigs later and I’m feeling much more Cindy Crawford. I couldn’t stop smiling or talking to Neil’s dead cat. (Don’t ask.) And I finally start to relax. The effects of the nasty drink didn’t last long, but it had served its purpose. To allow me to live in the moment.

I realized then that these photos weren’t relying on a flashy smile or the way I crossed my legs, but about how happy Billy and I were at that exact moment being with each other on such a gorgeous day. How could that photo not be beautiful? No wonder I love Neil & Liesl’s images. They know how to capture that moment.

And I laughed. Weddings aren’t about schedules or fresh flowers. They’re for living in a moment of immense happiness for the whole day. I can’t imagine. I can’t believe I was so stressed over nothing! I can’t wait for my wedding.

Posted In: Engagement, The Deelicious Life, Wedding

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Spring Luncheon at Hillside Inn in Wyoming, NY

April 23, 2010

Today I attended a lovely luncheon for local business women at Hillside Inn in Wyoming, NY (a beautiful wedding reception venue) sponsored by some of my favorite clients, Laura Lane and Kelly Ashcraft of the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce. It was almost as thrilling as speed dating (something I guess I won’t get to experience in this lifetime, rats!) as we quickly promoted ourselves to a table of new acquaintances for 5 minutes. I touched on my web design and photography, but of course photography is always more interesting so I received numerous questions and compliments while they browsed through my albums.

I really enjoyed meeting so many interesting people in a short amount of time and ended the afternoon with an offer to showcase my work in the local Art Council Gallery. How exciting! I’ve never put on a gallery show before, but as soon as it was suggested, my head exploded with ideas. Luckily, the director was open to a show based on wedding and love portraiture, as much of the photography in this area is of our beautiful landscapes, not people. I’ll keep you posted on details as this is an opportunity I don’t want to slip away!

Though I brought my camera for snapshots, the event was a little too fast-paced to get in any photo time, so I grabbed my girlfriend Bridget and we took this adorable portrait under a tree just waiting to burst with new golden leaves. I think this is the first time we’ve taken a nice photo together. I need to grab more portraits with family and friends, jeesh!

And PS….I’m wearing my favorite dress and shoes at the moment. Yeah, you can’t see the shoes, but trust me, they’re killer cute! Chances are you’ll see me sometime this summer in this dress because I wear it every chance I get. I love the color!!!

Now step away from your computer and go pick some daffodils!

Posted In: The Deelicious Life

Tags: hillside inn - ny - wyoming

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