The Wedding of Melanie and John 11-10-07

It's a chilly November day, it feels just like you would expect November to feel. The air I breathe in is crisp and I swear I can see it as I exhale. I'm heading off to the Radisson-Warwick in Center city to shoot the details and getting ready shots. I love Philly locations but hate the parking situations so I was already dreading the $30 hotel parking charge for my 2 hour stay. I'm heading down Walnut street right around the corner from the hotel, ready to make my left on 17th and you gotta be kidding me, a spot, empty, right here!!! Woohoo!!! For those of you who have done the parking search in any city, well you know this is like winning the lottery. This single event pretty much set my day in motion and things from this point on just clicked.
Melanie looked so amazing. From the elegance of her dress to her upswept hair, she just glowed. From the moment she walked into the suite she carried herself in a way that was nothing less than positive even though I knew that there were a few glitches that morning. I don't know of many wedding days that go completely smoothly. I do know though that things aren't the way they are, they are the way that you make them! I loved this quality of composure in Melanie. She's also uber organized, optimistic and lead the way by setting the tone with her attitude. Everyone fell in line from family to groomsmen. Like I said, it was cold but you would never know it by the way she smiled at John outside on the Parkway. Not a single complaint could be heard from any member of the bridal party for the entire time that we were outside shooting. Everyone bonded together to do whatever it took to get the kinds of images that Melanie and John would want to capture their day. What an exceptional group of people to work with. Sometimes you just need to suck it up for the greater good and today there were so many great examples of friendship. Kudos to everyone! All in all it was a great day filled with lots of laughs and love, the kind of day that I'd like to bottle and release every weekend...

Sunday Brunch at Lacroix 11-4-07

These are just a few of my favorite things that day....

Today was a great day to be a foodie! All thanks to the wonderful Sarah and Jesse! You may remember Sarah and Jesse from their April wedding blog or maybe even the post bridal session on the beach at Atlantic City. Well they read how I love food, wines etc.. and surpised me this amazing gift certificate to Lacroix.
Lacroix is located in the Rittenhouse hotel and has been labeled as one of the best restaurants in the states and one of the 66 best for travelers in the world. The food is a fusion of regional and international flavors with a French flair. I had high expectations for this brunch and I am so happy that my expectations were exceeded beyond what I could have imagined.

The food was inventive and delicious and many times a myriad of flavors in mere mouthfuls. The service was impeccable. The decor an understated beauty and the light from large windows made for a nice ambiance. There were so many tasty morsels, way too many for me to list so I will detail a few of my favorites

• Jumbo Shrimp w/cocktail sauce: could not be consumed in less than 3 bites- perfectly poached
• House Smoked Salmon: The best smoked Salmon I have ever had -delicate and like butter melting in your mouth
• Caramel green Apple Soda: refreshing - tasted like Halloween- I could picture this drink as a yummy shot
• Polenta Fries: sooo good, perfectly crispy texture on the outside and creaminess on the inside
• Sunny Mimosa: how can you go wrong with Champagne and OJ
• Oysters on the half shell: these were so fresh and delicate in flavor that I had to have more than 1( okay , I had 4)
• Braised Beef Short ribs: so tender and savory- reminded me of grand mom
• Roasted Cauliflower w/toasted almonds: A yummy smokiness and nutty finish
• Local Squash creme caramel: OMG , subtle yet powerful flavor and texture
• Earl Grey Creme Brulee: my favorite dessert

In short, after 2 hours of dining, chatting, taking pictures, it was time to go. I left with my belly full and a confirmed appreciation for the talent and hard work that goes into not just the refined tastes and flavors that some chef's put into their food but also the visual stimulation of some very artistically prepared dishes. If you have the chance to go by all means treat yourself and enjoy!!!

The Wedding of Mia and Sean 11-3-07

Today Val and I have the pleasure of shooting at the Franklin Institute the Wedding of Mia and Sean. A beautiful couple who really complement each other. We knew that today would be a long day but the schedule had been set so that we could incorporate every aspect of the day and it was important to Mia that she not feel stressed. She even told me that I made her feel calm and that she knew everything would all fall in place. Mia and Sean chose to see each other prior to their ceremony and we were able to set up a "first glance." I always feel very lucky to be able to witness this as it is a very private moment between a bride and a groom. I love to see the gleam in their eyes as they see each other in their wedding attire. I feel like it's the realization that yes, today is the day that you will be married. Mia looked flawless and I'm sure that Sean thought so. Today I witnessed laughter and tears and so many moments in between, but all in all, the location was amazing, the flowers breathtaking and Mia and Sean, well they were elegant and wonderful and pleasure to work with. So here's to you both and may Rainbows always dot your horizons!

Are rainbows really good luck?

We all have symbols that we think are lucky. For some it's a rabbit's foot or a coin and for other's it's a rainbow. As far as science is concerned they are optical phenomenons, but have you ever thought about the spiritual meanings behind the visions of rainbows?

Today Val and I are shooting the wedding of Mia and Sean. A wonderful couple who have in the planning of this special day incorporated many spiritually significant details. So when I caught this first rainbow through the misting spray at the fountains of Logan's Square I was pleasantly surprised. Because after all rainbows are pretty and maybe even lucky and until now I never knew, spiritual as well.

Now with this next image things take a turn for the amazing. I captured this image on the rooftop of the Franklin Institute after finishing up with the Bridal Party and Family Portraits. After everyone had walked indoors I happened to look up and saw this rainbow I looked at Val and pointed and we both clicked away.

This rainbow is sometimes called a fire rainbow or a circumhorizontal arc. A circumhorizontal arc is an optical phenomenon similar in appearance to a rainbow, caused by the refraction of light through the ice crystals in cirrus clouds. It occurs only when the sun is high in the sky, at least 58° above the horizon. The phenomenon is quite rare, since the ice crystals must be aligned horizontally (instead of the more typical vertical alignment) The conditions necessary to create this vision are so precise and are rarely witnessed let alone captured.

So seeing these two rainbows today got me thinking. Are Rainbow sightings lucky or maybe just a weather phenomenon or even yet are they Spiritual in meaning?

Rainbows are mentioned in four separate passages in the Bible. A study of these passages gave the following representation of what the Rainbow signified at each mention.

• Promise
• Hope
• Power
• Mercy

So as I reflect on the day I must conclude that although I know the science behind how they are made I do feel a sense of awe and spiritual connection as well. I translate these images to the meanings as follows:

PROMISE- whatever hardships you are experiencing you will be brought through the storm

HOPE - never give up! Ever
POWER - have trust and know that there is power and a plan to get you through difficulties
MERCY - through Love you can have mercy and thereby extend grace

Things that make you go hmmmmmm.

Just a quick Rant!

For those that know me either on a professional or personal level you can probably attest to the fact that I am a glass half full kind of girl... The eternal optimist always looking for how to make a bad situation better... The type of person long on patience but knows when to assert herself. I pick my battles and above all else conduct myself with respect whether it be directed towards my clients, friends, family or other vendors. With all that being said let me just climb up onto my roof and scream as loud as my voice can carry and for as long as my expanded lungs can expend air!

I really have very little tolerance for lack of respect or lack of professional courtesy. Especially in this industry. So please everyone in blog land and wedding central and the ghosts of videographers and catering managers past, have some respect for us photographers.

We are all trying to achieve one common goal. I would HOPE that the goal is to provide unparallelled services for the lovely people who have hired us and entrusted us with their wedding memories. In order to make this happen we must all work together in a symbiotic relationship of sorts, not against each other! It's not a popularity contest. There is no crown or presentation bouquet of roses coming to you at the end of the night so why must I have to deal with vendors and or managers who cannot get on point.

Now I am fortunate that the season is almost over and I have had very few situations that required attention but most recently I have been annoyed so much so that I feel the need to blog about it! So here are a few issues of late...

Videographer's - there should never be a power struggle. We can in fact co-exist. How about we shoot side by side or if we are on opposing sides keep in mind where we are in relation to each other and that you are editing your coverage down and I can not edit you or your assistant out of every critical shot.

~ it's not respectful to step in front of me every time a member of the wedding party comes down the aisle
~ it's not respectful to step in front of me when the bride and groom come down the aisle
~please stay out of the "first glance: shot. This is a moment between the bride and groom and I don't think they want you smack in the middle of their moment
~ I don't think the bride wants you in the reflection of her mirror either when she is getting ready or having her portraits done
~It's not respectful to step in front of me for every announcement of the bridal party and family
~ Repeat above for toasts and other key moments.

we are trying to capture the same moments so when you do these things you are making it very difficult to be respectful to you and I will pull some ancient Chinese secrets out on you. Trust me, hundreds of years of dominant genetics has instilled in me very strong powers. All kidding aside, I will persevere and get the shot regardless of your selfish antics so you are just irritating me and will get zero referrals.

Catering/Event Manager's - I know that your job is a very difficult one and the photographer is the least of your worries. I really am low maintenance so I only have a few requests.

~ It would be nice to be clued in to the schedule of the evening
~ It would be even nicer to have our meals ready WHEN THE BRIDE AND GROOM EAT
this way we can be available to capture any moments occurring once they are done eating
and start making their way to greet tables and or mingle.
~ by the time we get to the reception we have already been running around for 6-8 hours without breaks so a hot meal would be very much appreciated our typical day is from 10 -12 hours with the Bride and Groom. A passed out irritable photographer is not in the best interest of any party.

Alright, so that's my rant, now can't we all just get along?

*note to self, pack some PB & J's, power bars and stilts in the new emergency kit.

The Wedding of Amber and Sean 10-27-07

I'm staying somewhat local today in Northeast Philly for the wedding of Amber and Sean. I was a little worried on Friday when it poured down rain like crazy for the better part of the day. When I woke up Saturday morning there was a little misting and the ground was wet. Now so far this year mother nature has a big fat zero when it comes to raining out the day. I crossed my fingers and said wow, those clouds have such drama so let's compromise... The rain stops and we'll keep the rain clouds. Later on when the weather cleared up I jokingly said to Joe, Amber's Father, that we would be fine because I ordered up a clear day. We were fortunate to have a beautiful day!

The piercing blue of Amber's eyes could have easily filled in for the traditional "something blue" on your wedding day. She looked simply gorgeous. Every detail seemed to top the next. Getting ready and the details were a breeze because she had everything so well prepared, we ran early which rarely happens! Every aspect of the fall theme was carried out to the smallest of details.

This very special vehicle, a 1977 Cadillac El Dorado, drove her to the ceremony. This car was a very symbolic "something old." It belonged to her uncle and has been the prop of many a picture taken. Pristine in appearance from the shiny rims to the grill and interior!

This is the coolest pumpkin Ever!

Sean held this cake as if.....

The end result =) Of course happy cake smeared kisses soon to follow.

All in all the day went by so smoothly and both Amber and Sean were a complete delight to work with!

The Wedding of Taryn and Mark 10-20-07

Today Val, Jacqui and I are playing Paparazzi with Taryn and Mark. I'm really excited because not only do we have 3 photographers covering this beautiful event, there are 26 people in the bridal party. I love big groups. It can be challenging but usually lots of personalities = lots of fun. Today was no exception. Taryn really planned an amazing and beautiful affair. Such detail put into everything from her bouquet which had hidden within the stems a few sprigs of rosemary to bring the scent of her mom's garden to her when ever she needed to bring a reality of home to the day, to the ribbon that accented the table arrangements, bouquets, candles and cake.

I've been a part of these details so I know how hard Taryn and her family have worked to make this day so special so I wanted to do something special for them tonight. I've been fine tuning a new service that I will be offering next year and tonight I plan on unveiling it for the first time.
I believe we executed this gift flawlessly and a big thanks go out to Taryn's mom and dad who diverted her attention while we set up the show.

But enough about that, let's talk about how absolutely gorgeous Taryn looked! She wore her grandmothers wedding dress which her mother had worn on her wedding day as well. She had an antique aura about her with a modern fit. The dress could not have better complemented everything from her shoes to her rings. She absolutely owned it! Mark looked so handsome when I visited with him for a few minutes before the ceremony and snapped a few while noticing how calm he was. However I did notice him peeking in and out of the altar area waiting for the ceremony to start. He surprised me once they were pronounced married and proceeded down the aisle towards the exit. Mark was so exuberent, what a smile on his face! He high fived and celebrated with everyone he passed and every so often thrusting his fist in the air with a big yeah! I thought that that this was so endearing. He totally made me smile. I love, love , love the emotions of the day and we ran the gamut of them! Here are a few of my faves.