By Steve Burns

Good wedding photographers are a flexible bunch.  One day they are doing something one way and the next, due to a different set of circumstances, they are approaching things differently.  All the while they must have a certain consistency about what they do.

My taste, or style, in wedding photography is photo journalistic. However my earlier training in wedding photography was directed posed fashion(y) work. Constantly I find my self drawing on some of the skills I learned in my early years in wedding photography.  Some might refer to those skills and approach to wedding photography as classic.

The first time I met Lori was at her house just hours before her wedding.  She was stunning, and I realized that she had a certain awareness and confidence about herself.  When a photographer has the opportunity to work with such a bride, it is an open invitation to latch on to and work with their personality all day.  It can be a blissful experience.  Louis her groom was no different with his self confidence,  and  I thoroughly enjoyed working with the both of them all day.

Bellow are a few of my favorite images from their day.

As I was working on Louis and Lori’s images,  I found myself constantly being pulled back into frame of mind that called for a look from the early 1970′s.  A time where the film we had available to us had a slightly grainy, more contrast(y), but less saturated look to it.  Kodacolor 400 was such a film.  It is a feeling that I tried to maintain as I worked through the photographs of their wedding coverage.

The opposite of this look would be today’s overly used, heavily cooked,  contrast(y), and heavily saturated, totally rad look that in my mind calls attention to the post production of the images, as compared to the content of the images.   In essence I wanted to maintain a classic feel to the work for some very beautiful people.

Their wedding mass was held at The Church of The Assumption, Roselle Park, NJ with their reception being held at The Atrium in West Orange, NJ.  A special thank you goes out to the wonderful staff and management at the Atrium for being very helpful and accommodating that evening!

By Steve Burns

Who’s the most nervous at a wedding during the procession?  Is it the photographer as the bride and her father approach?  Is it the groom in anticipation of his bride to be?  Is it the bride anticipating joining with her groom at the alter?  Is it the father of the bride who is about to give his loving daughter to another?

Well the photographer should be a bit nervous, as should both the bride and the groom.  The photographer, is possibly nervous because they can’t control the moment though they have honed their craft so well that they could function on autopilot if called to so.   They are ready, their gear is ready, and their back up gear is ready and their mind is engaged.   The bride and groom may be a bit nervous in anticipation of their moment together at the alter, however they have a relationship that has been on going and is about to grow even more to support them.

The most nervous person is actually the father of the bride.  Even though he is beaming with pride and confidence as he walks his daughter down that isle where he will shortly give her away to his soon to be son in law; he is full of nervousness.  It doesn’t matter if they are the elder statesman President Clinton as he was walking Chelsea,  or if they are the simplest of common men.  They are all nervous  as they are about to give their child that they raised away.

When we are nervous, things can catch us unaware. It happens to all of us, and it should not be looked at as a fault, or an embarrassment as it’s simply a part of life.

For all of the fathers out there, here is something to be aware of.  I’ve seen this happen twice in as many years.  As you walk your daughter down that isle, she is going to be on your left arm. Your family is to the left side of you as well.  When you reach the head of the isle you will give your daughter a kiss and give her away to her groom.  As you do this she will cross a bit in front of you to join the groom.  As that happens you will turn to your left and go join your family.

If she is wearing a long veil it might blend in with the floor.  So as she walks slightly right and up to the alter, her veil will cross in front of you, and it is going to be difficult to see.  You might possibly step on it, or get tripped up in it.   If this happens the comb and veil will suddenly be ripped out of your daughter’s hair.  Oh-oh!

Thankfully the bride’s father did not fall.   And because I was immediately behind them I was was able to pick up the veil as the bride approached the priest waiting at the alter. As I approached her from behind, I took a quick look at the priest, who gave me a nod.  So I quite simply put it back into her hair at the alter as if nothing had happened.  Think auto pilot.   From there on their day went on as planned, two wonderful people were married, and we attended a wonderful reception a bit later that evening.

By Steve Burns

A ways back I covered a wedding of one of the leads from “The Phantom of The Opera.”  The newly married couple had a small intimate wedding.  Their wedding reception was held at the Westbury Manor on Long Island, NY.  At the reception places were set for 40 guests, with the music being provided  by a 16 piece swing band!  The happy wedding couple and that band elevated the wedding day experience of their guests from what would have been nice, to one that was sublime!

Music at weddings, as in life can leave one with many feelings.  It is not a visual thing, however it is something that  triggers things in the hearer’s mind that evokes emotion or feeling.  Well chosen music played at a wedding does exactly the same thing. It helps to support the days emotions.

Music can be loud, sharp, soft, sexy, sweet, sultry, romantic, brassy, sensuous…  You name it, and it can say it.

How music is delivered can also add to its impact.  As a wedding  photographer, I’ve witnessed weddings were music was delivered via an iPod,  from a DJ, to music performed real time by a band.  All of the mentioned ways of delivery can be done very well,  and all of them can have a significant impact on a wedding day.

One of the things that separates really good photography from OK photography, is that the former leaves you with the thought “this is what it felt like to be there,” vs. “this is what it looked like to be there.”

A responsibility of a good wedding photographer is to communicate to the viewer not just what the day looked like, but what the wedding day felt like.   You want to be taken back to the feelings of your wedding day when you look at your images.

When photographing a wedding, I’m sure to include something that speaks of the music presented that day, as it plays such a large part in the day.  I have to admit that I’ve never photographed an iPod at a wedding reception.  However  I take great, great delight in photographing a band!

Here are some favorites which when I revisit them, I feel as if they take me back to that day.

Working  the crowd at a wedding reception at the Fresh Meadows Country Club.

Sounding brassy at the Fresh Meadows Country Club.

A very hot wedding band vocalist at the Fresh Meadows Country Club.

Letting it loose at a wedding reception at the Ridgewood Country Club.

A sassy bass at the Chart House Restaurant.                                                            Enda playing for his wife at their reception, the Molly Pictcher Inn.

My hat is off to those that have come before, those that currently do, and to those that will provide the music which makes our lives so much richer.  Our world would not be the same with out you!

Steve Burns

By Steve Burns

A while ago I had the pleasure of photographing my dear friend Manny son’s wedding.

Karyn and George where married in a Greek Orthodox Wedding Ceremony at St. John The Theologian in Tenafly, NJ.

Their ceremony is one that I particularly love to witness.   It’s with good reason that I’ve fallen in love with the various aspects of, and the symbolisms in their service; having documented several over the years.

After their wedding mass, Karyn and George chose to have romantic photographs done at the beautiful Davis Johnson Gardens in Tenafly, NJ, a donation supported formal garden that loves to work beautiful brides and their grooms.  Without donations those lovely gardens would not exist.

The reception was held later that evening at the beautiful Graycliff in Moonachie, NJ.

Karyn and her girls getting ready.

Karyn, as a very beautiful bride.

Karyn being escorted down the isle by her father Carlos.

Karyn and George during their marriage ceremony.

Greek Orthodox Wedding Ceremony.

Beautiful late afternoon sun at Davis Johnson Park.

Karyn’s first dance with her now husband George, as their wedding guests look on.

And of course George and his uncle had to lead the cheers that evening!        Steve Burns

By Steve Burns

The phone rings and the words you hear are, “Help me, please.”

The Group of 10 was founded in part as a support group of friends, for friends.  All of the members are friends whom happen to be independent photographers, and all of whom are very active in the wedding photography industry.

We’ve been a support to each other so as to bounce creative ideas off of each other, act as a sounding board for each other,  and get honest feed back from each other.  We support each other in our marketing and creative endeavors.

Most importantly though, we are there for each other in times of need.

There have been times, and I’m sure there will be others, when we have loaned each other significant equipment in emergencies. We have taken on the role of “highly qualified responsible” second photographers for the other’s wedding coverage’s.  And most significantly we are willing, if available, to step in for one another as the principal photographer doing the other’s wedding coverage should an emergency arise.

As a bride, you invest heavily in your wedding day, and you should be aware that we are there to support not only each other,  but to support you as well.

So in times of need, who are you going to call?  ( Hint: Call your friends, they are your best back up. )

Bellow are some images I’ve created for others, and I thank you all for the oppertunity to work with you!

For George Weir…

For Neil van Niekerk…

For David Mielcarek…

For Berit Bizjak…

Steve Burns

By Steve Burns

“Little White Rose”

Little white rose that I loved, that I loved,
Roisin ban, Roisin ban!
Fair my bud as the moring’s dawn.
I kissed my beautiful flower to bloom,
My heart grew glad for its rich perfume-
Little white rose that I loved.

Little white rose that I loved grew red,
Roisin rua, Roisin rua!
Passionate tears I wept for you.
Love is more sweet than the world’s fame-
I dream you back in my heart the same,
Little white rose that I loved!

Little white rose that I loved grew black,
Roisin duv, Roisin duv!
So I knew not the heart of you,
Lost in the world’s alluring fire,
I cry in the night for my heart’s desire,
Little white rose that I loved!

Dora Sigerson, (1866-1918).  A poet from, “The land of happy wars and sad love songs”, Ireland.

A short while ago I had the honor to photograph the wedding of Anne and Paul at the Fordham University Church on the Rose Hill Campus in the Bronx, N.Y.   And I will tell you that their wedding celebration was most definately not a sad love song!

The wedding mass was co-celebrated by Father Bill O’Malley, and Anne’s friend, Father Chuks Afiawari.  Their day was witnessed by the rounding up of the usual supects of close family and friends from around the golobe.  Their wedding reception was held at the New Leaf Cafe in Fort Tryon Park.  The New Leaf Cafe, a wonderful intimate venue, is one of Bette Midler’s New York Restoration projects, were private events are planned by Tiffany Hogan.

Anne and Paul:  “May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”

These are just a few of the many images captured during their day…

Steve Burns

By Steve Burns

This has nothing to do with wedding photography, and then again it has everything to do about it.

Art is the skill that is acquired by experience, study and observation. It is the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects or works. Art implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power. It is a power that needs to be nurtured deeply on a personal level. (Taken loosely from Merriam-Webster)

Commerce, amongst other definitions, is the exchange or buying and selling of goods or commodities. In short it is doing business. Some aspects of doing commerce enliven, while some requirements are numbing.

The value of doing personal creative work, “art”, can never be stressed enough for any creative soul. Personal artwork is the food of the creative soul. You find it discussed through out “The Artist’s Way”, by Julia Cameron.

It is a vital experience, or activity for the creative soul to partake in. With out it one’s creative soul would die. Ian Summers’ uses the motto of “Grow or Die!” for his Heartstorming workshops. Truer words have never been spoken.

Through out my personal photographic life, I’ve always carried a camera with me be it to record my experiences, document what I’ve seen, or create what is in my soul. There have been times in my life when I’ve allowed the needs of commerce to get in the way of pursuing personal work. Too much of that and I begin to feel as if a part of my soul has been taken away from me in very short order.

This past December I was heavily involved in commercial work. On December 21’st, I sat somewhat brain numbed at the computer doing just that. It was snowing out side, and as dusk approached the light, and snowfall was particularly beautiful. I heard my soul calling out to me… “Get up, get away from what you are doing right now, and FEED ME!”

After putting on some warm clothes, and gathering some camera gear, I walked out my front door into the storm, to be greeted by the sight of a young marine walking down the street in the storm. A quick few snaps and he was along side of me. I stopped him, asking him if he would allow me to do a few quick portraits of him in exchange for a few prints?

Down the street there is a GAP store that was acting like a big soft box bathing the sidewalk in its light. I asked him to go down there with me, which he did. The rest is now history.

My creative soul was fed.

There is also another thing in life that is important to me, that being giving back to the world. I know that this young marine is willing to give something very dear for me, and I’m willing to give something to him and his family. They will be getting a nice large print.

Thank you Sir! Steve Burns

By Steve Burns

Perona Farms in Andover, NJ during the 1930′s was known as the place to go were one could get away from the bustle of the city.  Quite a few well known personalities were known to have enjoyed the peace of the country air there through the years.

Years later it became know as a place to go not only to enjoy the country air, but also sample world renowned smoked salmon.  Perona Farms, still known for its salmon and good fresh country air, is also currently known for its friendly and very attentive staff as a really wonderful place to have one’s wedding.

Kristin and Doug’s wedding, which I photographed there recently was all about children, beauty, love and romance; not to mention the great food, and the relaxing atmosphere that the venue is known for.

These images have been toned to a desaturated color pallet with some grain added to evoke some of the nostalgic feelings I experienced that day. I felt as if I were seeing images that could have been made with no longer available films from 30 years ago. -Steve Burns-

Young brides maids.

A child’s wonderment.

Brides maid’s dress detail.

Kristin dancing with her dad.

Kristin and Doug.

By Steve Burns

We put a lot into our days, both wedding photographers, as well as the families of the bride and groom.  When it is all said and done, we all look forward to unwinding for a few moments.

I recently  had the pleasure to photograph the wedding of Eileen and Jason at New York City’s wonderful and historic Roosevelt Hotel which is just across from Grand Central Station.  After the wedding was over I most certainly was looking forward to going up stairs where earlier we had done some “quite photography”, to enjoy a “Mad Mojito” at the hotel’s roof top lounge Mad46, before heading out of the city.

Eileen, a most elegant bride; helping her loving father Raymond with his boutonnière.

Eileen and Jason exchanging wedding vows by candle light.

Eileen and Jason, quite moments together.

After it was all said and done, a well deserved chance to unwind with some close friends towards the end of the wedding reception.  - Steve Burns-

By Steve Burns

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 putting her heart into making bouquets for her wedding.

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.

Wedding reception table center piece.

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.