Fun fact: Aaron and I danced to Etta James’ “At Last” for our first dance. I chose it because I liked the song and it wasn’t on a list of “First Dance Songs.” When Bill requested that the band play that song for Michelle and I watched them twirling on the dance floor, I thought, “This couple is exactly who this song is written for.” It really summed up what we’ve witnessed since we met Bill and Michelle: They had finally found each other. It’s amazing to watch two people who have lived many years apart finally find the person who actually makes their lives complete. That sentiment reverberated through their entire day, from their laughs and cuddles while we shot with them in a creek bed to their personal vows shared in their living room surrounded by friends.

 

 

Us.

 

Joel & Ellie

Polaroid SLR 680 Land Camera | Impossible PX680 Color Shade Film

Luke & Katie

Fuji FP-1 Camera | Polaroid 689 ProVivid Film

Mike & Ashley

Polaroid SLR 680 Land Camera | Impossible PX680 Color Shade Film

Jay & Laurie

Polaroid SLR 680 Land Camera | Impossible PX680 Color Shade Film

You know it’s going to be a good session when a security guard asks why you’re climbing into an abandoned lot by the river and let’s you continue on course when you mention you’re just taking some pictures. He even offered some helpful advice to leave before dark to avoid the bums that sleep in the area and to look out for coyotes. I’m pretty sure that last part was false, because all we saw were a few bunnies. The best part is the Joel and Ellie didn’t even flinch, although they had already agreed to shoot with us in an abandoned lot so I’m not sure that much would phase these two… well, except for coyotes.

 

 

I’ve tried to write this post at least a dozen times and stopped in frustration. Cheri is one of my best friends and we were honored to be on the small guest list for (and then hired to photograph) her Jamaica wedding. We looked forward to visiting a new-to-us Caribbean island and shooting with Steve and Cheri.

The wedding day nearly went off without a hitch. The weather was perfect, everything ran on schedule, I managed not to cry as she walked down the aisle. The reception was similarly easy and fun (and we even got in on the dancing). Sadly the party came to a screeching halt when we discovered that while everyone was at the lower villa for the reception, the upper villa was being robbed.

I always say one thing goes wrong at every wedding. Unfortunately for my friends, their one thing was not a little rain or a leaning cake. I hope the pictures are a reminder for them that it was truly “one thing” and that the most important thing was celebrated throughout the rest of the day.

 

 

In our eyes, decrepit buildings actually pose less safety risks than shooting in the country. The biggest problem with country shooting is that you’re usually trespassing on someone’s land and that someone usually lives on the land and likely owns a shot gun. While we’ve never been chased off a piece of property, we know it’s a risk. So it was rather refreshing to shoot with Andy and Emily on her family’s farm, so we could lay aside any fears of firearms and actually climb inside a barn instead of settling for the exterior. Hello gorgeous light! … Oh, and hi cows that really thought we were there to feed them, which I found incredibly entertaining and more fully proved my city girl roots. Of course, if anything could change my mind about living in the country, it’s a piece of land that butts up to a river. Two words: Gorgeous and serene.

 

 

Just Aaron today.

If you think about your group of friends, Josh and Andrea would be the couple that are super chill and up for anything that’s fun. This easy going atmosphere was very evident in their wedding day. We pulled a “Limo driver STOP here!!!” to take advantage of some of the fall color before enjoying the stunning, intimate ceremony they crafted with the help of Julie from Bomb Events. After that it was all about partying and hanging with friends.

 

 

 

Us.