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

I just recently returned from a weekend trip to The Inn at Erlowest in Lake George NY.  Two full days of photographic coverage with an amazing couple,  great family and some awesome vendors.

The threat of rain came just as we were wrapping up photos by the lake..

Finishing the night off with some fireworks!

Some more images can be found on my facebook page, or more will be coming to my personal blog soon!

Josh

David’s earlier post about “how come you don’t call yourself a photojournalist”  is great!  I am similar in I don’t consider myself a pure photojournalist photographer,  but I find it amusing that some photographers I have met over time DO call them photojournalists yet they do more posing then me.   So getting ready, ceremony and reception – I have a Photojournalist attitude.. shooting as it happens

However I love playing with light..   capturing moments and having a good time at weddings.  Is that so wrong?

The following images were all taken at the Grand Colonial in Hampton NJ.

Josh

www.joshlynn.com

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 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-

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.

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.

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