Saxon brides and grooms are unconventional.  And sometimes that means weddings with unconventional timelines.  My fees are flexible to accommodate lengthy events or–in the case of Terra and Steven–brief two-hour celebrations.   The location, time, and place may change; but my ability to deliver compelling, story-telling candids and portraits remains consistent.

Over a year ago, the United Parcel Service misdelivered a 16×20 wall portrait of mine to another home in the neighborhood.   A neighbor found the package at her door, brought the large box to our house, and gave it to my wife.   The neighbor, Terra, was soon engaged to be married and began looking for a photographer.   A wedding professional recommended me; and Terra soon learned that we were neighbors–and that I was the one whose large package she had delivered months before!

Terra is the yin to Steven’s yang.  She is ebullient, expressive, and exuberant; he is easy, calm, and equanimical.

They chose to have their ceremony at Watersound Village Commons; and everything combined to make it a beautiful day.   It’s wonderful to see a couple so much in love.   I’m glad that they found each other and was so happy to experience their joy first hand through my lens.  Please enjoy the photos and slideshow.

Dana and Chris are UF Gator grads who wanted their wedding to be a fun and memorable experience for their guests centered around a celebration of their love and commitment.   And I was so happy for the opportunity to capture their beautiful moments with my creative vision.

Shark’s Tooth Club located in the lovely sanctuary of Wild Heron set the scene, and the nearby beach made for spectacular seaside portraits.

The ultimate satisfaction for me is the wonderful feedback from clients:

Shaun!!!!

Dana

 Click the image below for the slideshow.

I became a big fan of this Louisiana clan; they were very real and grounded.   So I was happy to be their photographer and combine my creative vision with their real moments.

There’s a wide range of emotions felt and expressed by wedding guests and families.  This group were extraordinarily calm,  relaxed, and comfortable, enjoying the day, the beach, and each other.  Among the family and guests were several children; I love kids, so I had a lot of fun interacting with them.

The weather was warm and clear, and the steady sea breeze cooled the foreheads while we marveled at the beautiful skies and emerald waters.

It was a pleasure to work with Shelby Peaden Events, the coordinator for Brittany and Derek’s wedding; she planned a great event and helped create a relaxed atmosphere that facilitated natural, candid photography.

Please enjoy the photos below.    And to see the full story, click for the SLIDESHOW!

Ryan and Rebecca are bulldogs, that is, they met at the University of Georgia.  And their friends and family traveled from Georgia and Tennessee to celebrate their love.  And celebrate they did!   This was such a fun group, and their families were so sweet and nice.  It was my pleasure to document their wedding day by combining my creative vision with their wonderful moments.

Please enjoy the photos and see also the SLIDESHOW.

The rental house below at Seacrest Beach.

Mother, bride, and two sisters getting ready.

Phone call on the porch.

These were three beautiful sisters.

Maid of honor lending a hand or two.

Bridesmaids taking pictures of bride.

Nervous moments before the ceremony.

I love the wedding tree–a giant southern live oak.

Here you see the wedding party framed by the strong oak and a second framing of the couple by more live oaks in the background.

The minister–and father of the groom–lifts up the rings. 

Mother of the groom on the left; parents of the bride on the right.

Always moving to see a mother of the bride watch her “little girl” get married.   

Grandfather of the groom looking very much like a modern Mark Twain.

We stole away to a nearby dock for some quick bridal portraits as the sun set over the bayou.

Arriving to the reception.

Sister of the bride enjoys a handmade breeze in the humid evening.  

A magnificent leap and catch of the bouquet!

No penalties for celebration here. 

Mother and daughters.

“Look, we’re married!”

The end to a wild and wonderful day!

It was my pleasure to document their day with good pictures.   Congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple and their families!

I start with this getting ready shot below, captured in a drab room with harsh light, which is not unusual for preparations.

We’re starting here because I want to show that–with an open mind and a keen eye–you can find good light and a beautiful moment in the most unlikely places.

A bit late into twilight but we managed to nail a sweet silhouette.

Scenic of the salon.

Bride reacts to some bridesmaid humor.

Stylist goes to work.

This is one way to be under a hair dryer.

One of the few Catholic churches on the beach.

I was intrigued by the saints and healing stones for sale in the church.

Saint Bernadette herself beckoning us.

Pretty stained glass inside the church.

Bridesmaid taking care of her dress.

In all the excitement, the bride put her shoes on a bit too soon!

Classic, lovely dress.

Stepping into marriage.  :)

Bridesmaids lending a hand.

The finishing touches.

Love the shape and lines of the arms.

Proof that some brides report an out-of-body experience.

We found some good light in an otherwise drab room with dark gray fabric walls.   Nice moment with bridesmaid helping with the veil.

Bride waiting briefly before the processional.

Scenic of the church.

Bride’s mother is overcome with emotion.

These two boys were adorable.

Father Ted conducting the ceremony.

First kiss as husband and wife.

I really like this one for the symbolism of the ceremony and the dedication of the elderly church volunteer.

Bride greets the guests.

Limo ride!

Living the high life.

We’re here!  Warm greetings from the fabulous coordinator.

Sis’ helps with the veil.

Walking into the reception.

A few details.

Bride looking so happy and pretty.   The stylist fixed her hair so she could let it down in the back with removal of just a few pins.  Gorgeous.

Parents kissing and guests snapping.

Bride going at the cake with a combination of devilish glee and wild abandon.

Helping each other to some of life’s good things.

Father gives a toast.

Having some naughty fun on the dance floor.

Do the hippie shake!

Boys entertaining mom and dad.

Bride looking gorgeous with friend snapping her picture.   Found portrait lighting with a kicker light on the hair and soft main light coming from the side window.

Now that’s a good smootch.

Bride’s mother and father behind serve to portray two generations of pair-bonding.

Speedy, improvisational portrait in the fading twilight.  Lovely couple.

Please enjoy the photos below and their multimedia slideshow.

Thanks to the following vendors for their collegiality and cooperation:

Big Day Rentals – Decor
Gulf Talent Services – DJ
Ocean Breeze Weddings – Planner
Paradise Cuisine – Catering
Allen House – Venue

Starting off with a few lovely beach portraits.

The beach house awaits.

Bride waves down to her man.

Everybody loves a good picture of someone reacting to a good picture.

Framing with a furniture spiral that reminded me of a nautilus shell.

Parents arrive to open arms.

The party mixologist.

Happy whales!

Someone makes a funny.

A couple more portraits.

Loved her new beach hat.

Adoring couple share a moment.

An adoring look.

Chef silhouetted against the Gulf skies as pelicans execute a fly-by.

Some details.

Yum.

Is that two brides and grooms?  Yes!  Another pair were getting married a couple houses down and came over to say hi.

A couple more candid portraits.

Florida dance floor.

Choosing an exposure to show movement resulted in these ghostly figures and cool multi-colored shadows from the DJ lights.

Bride and friends share a laugh.

…and a phone pic.

I love crazy reception action.

Interesting kiss, action, and layering.

Bride enjoying a swirl with her man.

Sometimes the “candid” includes candid interaction with the photographer.   These guys were having some crazy fun.  I love it.

Color accuracy is very important to me, so I painted the walls gray to avoid introducing any color bias into photographs.  I used the excellent Colorwheel brand of paint in Silver Shimmer 8772W.

During the day, I work by natural light.  But at night I use a Solux task lamp and bulb because it’s the most accurate daylight spectrum artificial light source on the market.   This light does not introduce false color casts when I’m doing color correction work; and when viewing prints from the lab, I’m sure to see the colors accurately in comparison to what’s on my monitor.

My Apple Cinema Display and Mac Pro allow maximum usability and productivity; ColorEyes and X-Rite DTP-94 Colorimeter calibrate the monitor.  And I love my new Herman Miller Embody chair: it fits my back like a glove, flexes as I move, and allows for the healthy reclined seating position.   Scanner to the right and trusty Wacom graphics pen and tablet near the keyboard.  Around the corner are some bags, gear, lighting.

Note for criminal miscreants of the world:  if burglary is on your mind, please notify your next of kin and bring a pre-written toe tag.   Homey don’t play that.

Please enjoy the photos below and the slideshow.

I really enjoyed Geneva, and apparently those living there like it, too.  In 2009, the city ranked third among the best places in the world to live, according to Mercer Consultings Quality of Living Survey, topped only by Vienna (No. 1) and Zurich (No. 2).

While in Geneva, I ate a hearty breakfast (my favorite meal) at a neighborhood cafe every morning.  The locals were very warm and down-to-earth, and they treated me like family.   Geneva itself is a beautiful city that wraps around Lake Leman and sits beside a small mountain range to the north with a view of the stunning Mont Blanc to the southeast with its stunning 14, 000 foot snow-capped peak.  It was a great time of year to visit.  The temperatures were cool not cold; and the leaves displayed bold, vibrant colors.   I enjoyed walking around the old city, meeting the locals, and even hanging out in the Starbucks near the university.

After Geneva, we spent several (rainy) days in Paris; on the way home, I spiked a fever on the plane and wound up in the ER getting IV drug therapy.  Feeling better now!   It was a great adventure, and we had a really fine time.

Enjoy the following montage of photos from Geneva.

Camera: iPhone 3Gs.  App: Hipstamatic

I felt a special bond with this couple, because Adam is a U.S. Navy FMF Corpsman, a rare breed with a gallant history of service.  In a previous life, I was also a Navy Corpsman and served with the Marines on Okinawa.   So I was really excited to work with Adam and his beautiful bride, Amy.   I was pleased that they placed a high value on photography and chose me to deliver with experience, skill, and vision.

Just before the wedding, the needs of the Navy intervened; and Adam received orders to Okinawa!   The administrative paperwork required for an overseas tour required an expedited marriage and ceremony.   Semper Gumby = Always Flexible!   So I covered the remaining part of their wedding plans, which included a gathering at their lovely rented beach house, strolls through Rosemary Beach, and dinner at Basmati’s Asian Cuisine.

I wish them fair winds and following seas as they set sail on their new life adventure.  Have fun in Japan!

Red truck making time under blue September skies.

Enjoying the ride.

Speigel shot!   Traffic was heavy at the start, so Lori was really focused on the road.

Big truck.

Spiegel shot!  Again.  Kyra reflects her mom at the wheel.

Big wheels keep on rollin’.

On the road refreshment.

Kyra exhaling a cloud.

A little friend popped up to say hi.

Time for a rest stop.

Blue truck speeding to its destination.

Backseat photographer.

I shoot with two cameras for weddings.  But this was a last minute decision to shoot this personal project.  And it was hot!  So I grabbed one camera (Canon 1Ds Mark II) and got all the coverage below with only one lens (Canon 300 f/4 IS).    The capture  format was JPEG.

Even though I shot with just one prime lens–and a long one–I used it creatively to approximate the view of a medium and wide angle on some shots for variety and scene-setting.   Sports is all about peak action and drama.   But, as always, I tried to capture the essential narrative of that morning’s athletics and tell the story of the event.

The session got off to an ominous start, as we were literally surrounded by thunderstorms; but we improvised with some portraits under shelter while waiting for the rain to clear then moved to the beach for group shots.   And granddaughter Katie is a senior this year, so I was glad to take some extra time with her for individual portraits.

Their flame burned so bright that a mighty ocean could not quench it; years could not diminish it; and continents could not impede it.   So last weekend they traveled to Panama City Beach to get married by the sea.  This event was the culmination of their international romance.

And now they will make Germany their home.   It was my pleasure to photograph their sweet and simple ceremony on the beach.  Also enjoy their multimedia slideshow.

A little nature walking.

A little dune strolling.  I just love the twisted sand oaks.

A little claim-staking.

A little reading.

A little sleeping.

A little sport.

A little refreshment.

And a little “America’s Next Top (Smartest and Most Beautiful) Model.”