Weddings evoke emotions worth remembering for a lifetime. We love photography and we put our hearts into our work.

sometimes what you see isn’t what you get …

August 19, 2008 – 7:15 am

by Neil vN

While helping my friend David M photograph a wedding recently, the maitre’d excitedly came to tell me that there is a full rainbow outside after a rainstorm had blown through.  I grabbed the wedding couple, and went outside, and saw the beautiful rainbow and set the couple up for this simple, but romantic portrait.

Yet, it wasn’t that simple.  Here is what the reality looked like:

While looking at a scene, we tend to not see the clutter and the things that detract … until we get the photo.  The camera tends to be relentless in how it reports something.  At the time, we would tend to only see the beautiful rainbow, with our brain ignoring the uglier parts such as utility wires.

It then often needs the Photoshop skills of the photographer to recreate the image as we perceived it at the time.  And that’s the subtle challenge for me as a wedding photographer, not just capturing the memories of the day, but also creating the images of the day as we would remember them.

By groupof10 | Posted in style, weddings | no comments         |

A Sense of Place

August 15, 2008 – 3:11 pm

by Zlatko Batistich

Clients usually choose their wedding location very carefully. In telling the story of a wedding, one of my goals is to create photographs that give a sense of the location. This may include architecture, weather, patterns, details, lighting effects, window views and other visual elements. Here are some examples from a wedding at Tribeca Rooftop in Manhattan.

By Zlatko | Posted in style, weddings | no comments         |

How do we look when we shoot ?!

August 9, 2008 – 12:15 pm

“I was watching you work during the ceremony…” started the conversation one of the guests during a cocktail hour of a recent wedding “…you looked cool in all your poses and when you were sneaking behind them, like a ninja or something !”. I started laughing. “I wonder how the photos will turn out !” they continued. “Oh, they will be cool, too - I assure you” I replied and went on to photograph people having drinks and hanging out while hunting for hors d’ orderves. So how do we look to wedding guests and couples on their most important day when we are at work ? We of course dress for the occassion while trying to feel comfortable and ‘lightweight’. With all the equipment on us it is extremely important to stay as flexible as you can. So let’s start with taking a look at our own Zlatko Batistich, enjoying a family formals shoot outdoors, surrounded by relatives, all having good time:

Here’s George Weir, working hard during a reception:

Josh Lynn trying to find enough space inside a limousine to get a shot of this pretty couple:

Some of us like taking more aggresive looking poses, Monika Broz ‘tackling the dress’ in 100F Virginia heat:

…and one of the resulting images:

Because we very often work as a team I think I sometimes try to be like her:

…but the results are worth fighting for:

Getting a good image sometimes really gives us wings !

Some of us prefer to just levitate slightly above ground when shooting:

…but again, the results speak for themselves:

Every now and then we find a photo or two shot by a wedding guest in our e-mail inbox… and sometimes they catch us… aaaam, yes working !

Questions about the last photo will not be answered. Hope you enjoyed reading this !

By David M | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | no comments         |

Professionals and their equipment

August 6, 2008 – 7:31 pm

From time to time, I get asked at weddings, in consultations, on assignment for a newspaper, etc. which camera am I using. I kindly tell them the make and model. Then I say ‘It is just a tool that helps me take a photograph which I created with my vision (light, angle, composition, etc.)’.

My camera allows me to do certain things, but no matter how you look at it, it was my vision that decided to make the picture. Photograph dancing with motion blur? My vision. Photograph a detail in selective focus? My vision. Use the video light from the videographer to light my couple on the dance floor? My vision.

Think about someone like Tiger Woods. It does not matter if he uses a Nike or Titelist driver. It is his expertise that makes him a professional golfer. Yes, the driver has a little to do with it, like the piano for Mozart or the camera for me. But the result is due to the person using the equipment.

So where am I going with this?

Photographers…Yes cameras are important to us. OK, that is an understatement. They are very important to us! But do not worry so much about upgrading to the new and latest DSLR every year. More importantly, push yourself to view your work/subjects differently. Photograph a new subject. Use new lighting. Focus more on your photographs than the tool used to create them.

Everyone else….Knowing which camera your hired photographer uses is really not relevant. Knowing they have substantial equipment and backups is. Even more important is knowing the consistency a professional photographer delivers is important. Ask to see current albums or proofs. If they have a blog, look at what they have created over the past few months. This will show how professional they are more than a black camera.

By Scott Bush | Posted in philosophy | no comments         |

Same Place, Different Looks

August 4, 2008 – 4:25 am

One of the things I love most about being a New Jersey/New York based wedding photographer is that there are a variety of cultures, venues, and most importantly, personalities to capture on wedding days. Wedding photography is reactive, intuitive, and aritistic.

Our job, without question, is the ability to enter into any situation and photograph it in the best way possible which suits our client’s personalities and environment while telling a complete story. It could be inside or outside, light or dark, rainy or sunny, cold or hot, previously seen or not seen. For example, it’s as lovely for me to photograph a wedding at The Pleasantdale Chateau in W. Orange, NJ, for the 30th time as it was the first time.

Each day to me is new and very different from the previous wedding, and each couple deserves a fresh, creative and artistic process that captures them! All of the following photographs I shot at The Pleasantdale Chateau during different seasons of the year, the first four being my most recent (and probably about my 30th there!) wedding from June of this year.

Bride at Pleasantdale Chateau

Bride at Pleasantdale Chateau

Bride and Groom at Pleasantdale Chateau

Wedding Party at Pleasantdale Chateau

Bride at Pleasantdale Chateau

Bride at Pleasantdale Chateau

Bride and Groom at Pleasantdale Chateau

Bride and Groom at Pleasantdale Chateau

Bride and Groom at Pleasantdale Chateau

Bride and Groom at Pleasantdale Chateau

Bride and Groom at Pleasantdale Chateau

Bride and Groom at Pleasantdale Chateau

By Berit | Posted in events, style, weddings | Tagged , , , | no comments         |

Lisa, you are my star! Fabulous new bridal dress designer.

August 4, 2008 – 4:06 am

Lisa Krizner- George is my neighbour. She and her family relocated to suburbia from Manhattan not that long ago. After a career as a costume maker on Broadway, she opened Vanilla Pink, a custom bridal dress designer salon. Her talent and vision was quickly rewarded- Lisa was just featured in New York Times article about women entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, a couple of weeks ago David and I spent 45 minutes of sunset with Nicole, a model from Long Island dressed in one of Lisa’s creations. We are planning another shoot very soon, so stay tuned!

By Monika Broz | Posted in Uncategorized | no comments         |

It’s the details that count… or is it?

July 25, 2008 – 5:19 am

It’s confession time friends; I like food, good food. In another life, I’ve worked in several kitchens, and in this life I still enjoy cooking. I have several friends whom through the years have enjoyed sharing with me their expertise in cooking, and I truly enjoy sharing in their meals. I’ve learned a lot by doing so.

The other night after a long day working on wedding photography, I settled down to watch an interview on “Charlie Rose” with David Chang of most recently the intimate restaurant Momofuku Ko. I was mesmerized by that interview. During it David explained his philosophy in cooking, which also translates into his wonderful philosophy of life, and one’s pursuit of the endeavors in life, such as for me wedding photography.

He went on to explain that it is the details that count, but much more important it’s how you put your heart into it! You have to do it right. You have to honor it. You have to own it. You have to elevate yourself in your endeavors.

If you want to be the best, then that is your journey, but whatever your journey is, it is important to put yourself wholly into your endeavors as others will realize that; and by doing so they to will be elevated by those efforts as well.

I keep those thoughts in mind when I practice wedding photojournalism. I am thrilled when I see a bride, a groom and their families do the same regardless of their station in life.

Two cases in point, the first is about a bride who’s wedding I covered several months ago. Early in the morning on her wedding day, Rebecca was to be found at the local supermarket buying buckets of the most wonderful roses.

When I met Rebecca a bit later that day at the Colonial Terrace in Cortlandt Manor, NY, she and her brides maids were making their own bouquets, and floral arrangements for her wedding that was to start shortly. Her energy, and warmth truly won me over, and the way she put her heart into everything that day carried me through my wedding photography coverage of her day.

Rebecca making wedding bouquets.

Rebecca putting her heart into making bouquets for her wedding.

My Mona Lisa that day.

My Mona Lisa that day.

The second is about a bride, a groom, and the groom’s family whom may have been from possibly very different situations in life.

In this case the groom’s family did all the floral arrangements from the bouquets for the wedding, the floral arrangements in the church, to the floral arrangements at the wedding reception which was held at the Meadow Wood Manor in Randolph, NJ .

The scale of their endeavor may have been influenced by the fact that Craig’s family operates Suburban Wholesale Florist in Chatham, NJ. None the less, they put their hearts into it.

Table center piece.

Wedding reception table center piece.

Craig and Shannon

Craig and Shannon.

So in weddings, as in wedding photography, and much more importantly as in life; the details may matter, but much more so it is how one puts one’s heart into what they do that matters the most. It’s one of the principals that all nine of us in the Group of 10 operate by.

-Steve Burns.

By groupof10 | Posted in philosophy, style, weddings | no comments         |

A Sequence

July 16, 2008 – 2:48 pm

by Zlatko Batistich

When something interesting is happening, I’ll often keep shooting. This can result in a sequence of photos that together tell a little story.

I just love this sequence from a recent wedding. During cocktail hour, this little member of the wedding party discovers a glass of champagne. His mom promptly takes it away and offers a plate of cheese, crackers and grapes instead.


Wedding photography at Tribeca Rooftop in Manhattan.

By Zlatko | Posted in weddings | no comments         |

“No Place to Hide” Beach Weddings

July 15, 2008 – 11:40 am

Just as on a wrestling mat, there’s no place to hide on a beach wedding!

So why would one want to hide on a wedding day?

Well, unlike in a church or other wedding location everything takes place in direct sunlight and given that Murphy’s Law will be in effect the sun is usually out in its brightest form.

Bright sunlight will of course create some pretty harsh shadows and there’s little hope of trees or other structures to give some shade.

In situations like this one cannot hide one’s inexperience or lack of skill. Correct Exposure is critical and that’s a little tougher than usual as the obvious solution that we usually turn to, adding some flash, just doesn’t work for many of the desired shots because of the power required to overcome the effects of the sun.

I tip my hat to the photographers in Florida, Jamaica and such places who do this, and do it well, regularly.

For brides: if you are planning a beach wedding, either in New Jersey or some sunny destination I don’t mean to imply that it’s a bad idea at all. Beach weddings are a lot of fun. I do suggest though that it is not the time to rely on someone who is “building a portfolio” or the well-meaning amateur. This is truly a job for a pro.

Also do check and see if a permit is required.

For the professionals a few do’s and don’ts;

Do have a full bottle of water on you and don’t forget to drink plenty beforehand.

Do wear a hat

Do wear shoes that provide some traction. I don’t suggest going barefoot-that sand can be hot, it can be cold and it can be difficult to walk on draining energy.

Do wear sunscreen. I keep a small stick of roll-on Neutrogena in my car, it has come in very handy.

Don’t carry a camera bag onto the beach. Lay nothing on the sand. Either carry everything on your person or have an assistant carry and hold extra gear.

So does one really need to hide at a beach wedding? Not at all, with a little planning, a good dose of experience and a good attitude there’s really no need to hide at all when photographing beach weddings. I hope you enjoy these few images I shot at last weekend’s wedding on the beach by the Lighthouse in Cape May, NJ.

wedding ceremony on the beach

cape-may-wedding

wedding-rings

Mum congratulates Svetlan

Beach wedding photography

By George | Posted in events, style, weddings | no comments         |

just a touch of flare

July 12, 2008 – 9:43 am

Something I find myself doing quite often on days when I photograph in the sun, is to seek out the sun purposely in the frame of my camera .. and allow the sunlight to flare as a burst of light streaking across the image.  I find that if I can place it carefully, it adds a cinematic feel to the images - and for me, also a sense of lightness and sometimes even a touch of the dramatic.

[ Neil vN ]

 

By groupof10 | Posted in style, weddings | no comments         |