Studio D Photography

The wind blew at gale force yesterday, and my compliments go to William Wesley Salon…. not a hair moved.  Matt & Jennifer chose to see each other before the ceremony, so we were able to do formals at Fairmont Collegiate (the old Bettendorf Estate).  It didn’t rain as predicted it would on Friday.  Perfect day to be outdoors with a bride.  Everyone in a shot with Jennifer had to artfully hold the veil so it didn’t look like it was being held.  If we didn’t do this the veil would have flown away immediately.

It was a day of family and close friends.  Lots of people gathered in groups for photos admidst lots of laughter and hugging.

Vendors

Celebration
Colemans - Florals
Tita’s Linens - Chair Covers & Sashes
The Abbey -
Our Lady of Lourdes
Fairmont Collegiate - Formal Captures
William Wesley Salon

We had families from several past weddings present.   It is always fun hearing what is going on in their lives.

Proofs may be viewed by clicking here.   Select matt_jennifer.  Your password is the groom’s last name in lower case.  Do not enter an email address.

Everyone should have at least one huge image on their walls that represent them up close and personal.  Marriages represent many things all rolled into one big bundle.  Love, romance, intimacy, friendship, and holding all the elements together is a very real chemistry between two people.  It mingles together from each person to make one something that is unique.

Large images (40×60, 24×36) scare some folks.  They get all itchy over a 16×20 being too large.  Bah!  Life is meant to be embraced.  Approach it with zest.   My thoughts on large images are they are fun and show you like yourself.   Over the top?  Too much?  Ostentatious?   Gauche?  Says those that don’t have one to hang on their own walls.

Be outrageous!  Be larger than life.  Put yourself on the Wall large enough you don’t need to be 2 feet or closer to see details in the portrait.

So often it is considered to be a bad business decision to discuss religion or politics in public view.  There is always that fear someone will be offended. Nonsense I say!  I am Christian, and I have been praying for people all along the Rivers of Iowa and Illinois.  Add to that communities, towns, and cities in both states.   This is a huge natural and national disaster that is having wide reaching consequences on people, the land, and the economy.  So! To those that wish to not read that I am praying, please skip this post. 

My heart is heavy for a friend in Cedar Rapids that has lost almost everything in her home.  She like many thousands of people were told they didn’t live in a flood plain therefore did not have access to flood insurance.  It will take a couple of years to fix this and lots of money as well.  No home.  Staying here and there.  My heart breaks for her and many others.  There are farmers wiped out this year. 

What can we do?  Give to your Local Red Cross if you live in Illinois or Iowa.  Give to the Disaster Relief section if you live elsewhere.   A big donation is wonderful, but if all you can afford is a few dollars don’t fail to give.  Everyone giving a few dollars will get the job done.   We are talking food and shelter here.   

Plain English……don’t be a whimp!  Donate!   Pray!   Be involved.

Katee’s parents during the anniversary dance.

Little couch time they didn’t have a lot of for the past year while they were in different places due to Katee being away working on her degree.

Yup! We did!  The Ladies Room… it was just too nice to pass up a couple of images.  Of course we made sure it was empty first!

Looks very romantic, huh?   It was.  BUT Stage Right we had their wedding party and their comments.  Upstage we had another studio photographing another wedding party and also seeing what all the commotion was in our area.  There were limos and wedding parties everywhere in Vander Veer.

He didn’t need any encouragement to hold or touch Katee all day. He was so proud of her, and he told everyone at every opportunity what a lucky guy he was she said yes.

He soaked her during their engagement photos, so he had a little surprise waiting for him at Vander Veer.  Of course there was no water this time.

Had to make sure the wedding party got in on the fun too.

Some people blow bubbles…….some try.

Honest, we did take all the everybody perfect piccies too.

No mention of this wedding would be complete without mentioning the two beautiful bride’s personal assistants….Veda on the left, and Jamie on the right.  They were lifesavers at the church…not to mention Jamie does hair and makeup for weddings as well.   Veda, we love the shoes!!

Crow Valley never missed a beat…..planning, execution, food, and service were superb.  Hats off to the wait staff that maneuvered a very busy and crowded room expertly and with beautiful smiles.

Heller Cakes and it was yummy….chocolate, carrot, pumpkin pecan, and a private flavor for the top layer to be enjoyed by the bride and groom later.  The lovely flowers were from Lynn Carr at Clazzy Designs.

Tim from Black Tie did a superb job dj’ing!   Celebrations was the source of Katee’s gown.   Crow Valley hosted the reception. Holy Family and Monsignor Morrissey officiating over the ceremony.

Click Here To View Proofs  Select Joseph_Katee. Password is the groom’s name in lower case. Do not enter an email address.

Brenda…..one of those rare individuals that  loves the camera.  It would be almost impossible to capture a bad image of her.   Instead of 6 images from our gang I could have posted 60 without even thinking about it.  These are all by the very talented Gary.  I “gently directed” Brenda and Dave with Gary snapping away, so we could get through everything and stay on schedule.

Click here to see proofs  . Select couple’s name. Password is groom’s last name. Do NOT enter an e-mail address. 

Dave & Brenda your disks will be ready today. 

The other appointment on Memorial Day was with Erin and Craig. 

Their ceremony and celebration will be at Tanglewood.

Friends of mine made the leap this year to provide a place in their family and home for an exchange student.  Much debate went into selecting just the right young man to come and stay with them.  Enter stage right … Lino!  Lino is from Switzerland, and other than his wonderful accent you’d believe he is a blood relative. 
After some discussion they decided to ask me to do a family and friend session to celebrate Lino’s year in Aledo with them.  Everyone is a little sad over him leaving, and he is looking a little glum about it as well.

The session ended my 3 day weekend of 2 weddings, 2 engagement shoots, and all the prep that goes into each wedding. I was dragging a little, but the minute I was surrounded by all the young adults it suddenly was time to play.

Himself - Sir Lino!

Caleb and Lino sitting on top of Moniq The Car of the Fabulous Swank.   Julia and Karen were allowed for a moment ONLY to sit in the front seat for photos.

The girls declined the boys generous offer to hang upside down.

Let’s play dead!

Note to the gang:  Disks of the images being prepared for each of you.  Get them from Karen when she is home.   E-Mail me and I will send you the links you need for the other stuff

We worked together in the Park on Memorial Day grabbing some images for them pre-wedding.   One for the newspaper, and some for each of them during this time they are apart in different parts of the country.   E-mail, text messaging, and great cell plans keep them in touch until the wedding. 

She wouldn’t…….. would she?

Mirror mirror on the wall… we all do it!  She truly was beautiful on Sunday radiating love and excitement everywhere she went.

It’s a huge step to go from Daddy’s arm to your new husband’s arm.  Exciting for the bride, and a little sad for Dad.

Sunday I took 2nd photographer position posing and directing to save time.  Formals are fun if they get posed and move along at a nice pace.  What works for one wedding may or may not work with the next.   We always try to get some alone time with our couples.  Sometimes it is just a few minutes.  My assistant Jordan was handed my camera, and I let him grab this time with Andrew and Lindsey.  He will be thrilled to see me using one of his images.  We all start somewhere, and we build skill upon skill.   Watch Gary’s blog for his images.  He shot formals and this alone time as I posed them for him. 

One of the hardest things that seem to attack new photographers is how to get formals to look natural, comfortable, and believable.  

The reception was at the Lodge.  The bride’s family wanted a 4 generation shot captured.  The youngest member was just 2 days old.  Where did we choose to put them?  It was going to be in the parking lot or here… the fountain that had no water in it. 

Think she had a great day?  She had just thrown her bouquet.

To view proofs click here
Select andrew_lindsey
password is the groom’s last name in lowercase

Do NOT enter an e-mail address . Leave it blank.