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!

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY EVERYONE !!! It’s today that all the happy couples do special, crazy things for love, isn’t it ? In the spirit of this amorous holiday we want to bring something exclusive to our clients !

Where have the days gone where it was a real struggle to get a low light shot ? In film days photographers who used ISO3200 film would be called crazy by some… because the final prints would be so grainy. You either loved that grain or you didn’t. Even in “early” digital years (2001/2002 when every major wedding photographer was either switching to digital or was about to switch) using the equivalent of ISO3200 was only for the really brave ones. “Safe” sensitivity cut-off was around ISO800. So whenever you did get a really low light shot and you nailed the exposure and the sharpness was perfect… there was something sexy about that grainy look…

Nowadays the latest digital cameras became so darn good that you can comfortably work with the levels of light your eyes can barely see anymore. Yes, of course that is a good thing. It expands possibilities and gives us wonderful tools that can be used in ways never dreamt of before. On the other hand though… something is lost in those incredibly clean looking images shot in alomst complete darkness.

As much as I love technology… I think you get my point. The below images were shot on Kodak T-Max ISO3200 film during the wedding season of 2008. Just for fun, for myself and… for the clients of course:

Film… there’s something magical about that very word.

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.

I don’t really know how many weddings I have photographed in my life. I never really counted them. I do have a record of each one, an entry in my calendar and of course copies of all the images taken.  My rough estimate, based on how often I was shooting during the past seven years of my career is… over 400. I know it is not a crazy high number, I know photographers who have done thousands. However, Imagine being a part of somebody’s life more than 400 times. The difference for me is that each one of those weddings was not just a job. Do weddings sometimes feel like just a job ? Oh well… I would have to lie if I said they don’t. There were times when I found myself shooting my third of a weekend with not too much sleep during the past two nights. At the end of such day you start wondering whether you are going to make it home or just fall asleep driving… but that’s not my point.

Every wedding photographer has stories to tell. When I look back at my 400+ events I remember so many good stories. Dramatic and trivial. Sad and funny. A few years ago I was shooting at a popular venue in New Jersey. It is close to cake cutting time, the maitre d’ approaches me and says “You were here just a few weeks ago, weren’t you ?” I said “yes”. “Do you happen to have any good shots of the cake we had that night ?”, “sure” – I answered. “Good… see, accidentally we lost the middle level of the cake for tonight…if we bring it out with just the base and the top will you be able to photoshop the mid-level in later on ?”. I don’t remember what my reply to that was but I remembered this as a quite extra ordinary cake cutting ceremony and this interesting look on bride and groom’s faces, something like “whatta… “ .

 During the past seven years I witnessed a person passing away at a wedding (if you really think about it – it’s not such a bad way to leave this world, you are after all having good time probably among people you love !), I drove the bride in her dress in my own car when the newlyweds were stranded and forgotten by their limo company after the ceremony and I was chasing a cat that stole the rings all around the backyard of a groom’s house. I photographed weddings in most gorgeous places and settings and also in the most severe and ruthless weather. With all this experience and memories it is easy to start thinking “yeah, I’ve seen it all…” and then… something happens.  

This past Saturday myself, Monika and Zlatko worked together to cover the wedding of Christie and John. We thought the most amazing thing about their day was the absolutely incredible luck with the weather. The forecast said STRONG STORMS between 1pm and 4pm. The ceremony was scheduled for 3pm and it was… yes, you guessed it, an outside ceremony. Against all odds the bride decided to go with it and… not a drop of rain fell on us during or after the ceremony. We were stunned but little did we know – the most incredible event of the night was just about to happen. Shortly after the beginning of the reception the groom was rushed to a local emergency room with severe pain in his stomach… imagine what kind of effect such an occurrence can have on all the guests and the poor bride. Worried out of her mind Christie decides to stay because… that’s what the groom wants – he sends a message from the hospital that he wants the party to go on. So the guests are dancing, the meals are served but of course it’s not the same anymore. At some point another announcement is heard through the speakers – the groom is fine but he is suffering from a kidney stone. Also – there will be no cake cutting, Christie can’t imagine doing it without her groom. The night goes on and the reception is almost over when the maid of honor picks up the mike again ! Guess what – the groom is on his way back ! He is tough and a fighter, we knew that but still… what an amazing comeback ! Have you seen “ROCKY” ? or any other “hero” movie for that matter ? Do you know that feeling at the bottom of your belly when tables turn and good guys come back to win the fight and and triumph in the end ? (with uplifting, cool music playing in the background !) You would have to be there with us to experience the euphoria of the guests screaming at the top of their lungs when John was entering the tent:

 …hugging his bride:

…and dancing with her like there’s no tomorrow:

It doesn’t really matter how many weddings I shot. The numbers don’t mean much. How and what we remember matters. What happened a few nights ago reminded me why we do what we do.

Paul Gauguin, one of the most prolific 19 century painters, at some point in his life in his longing for savage and unexpected beauty, made a conscious choice to escape the sufocating world of European civilization for South Seas. He settled on Marquesas Island in French Polynesia where he created some of his best works. His vividly colored, highly abstract paintings lead Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro to remark, “He’s in another world.”

Some hundred years later I share Gauguin’s fascination entirely. This past April when I arrived in Manzanillo, Mexico to document a super intimate destination wedding of Hope and Cody, my creative muses were flying high!

It is the lush colors of exotic locales, the technicolor light, the gentle fragrant whisper of mango blossoms, the tropical balmy air, the calming and never ending crashing of the waves that makes the couple, their families and friends feel and look marvellous. The sweet artistic challenge of the photographer is just …. to absorb it all, share the fun and the inspiration will follow, resulting in dramatic, juicy images. The visual appeal of Cody and Hope’s wedding was enhanced by Gaby www.simplyperfectmexico.com