2010 December |

Archive for December, 2010

12.04.10 – Elizabeth and David – Townsend Hotel (Birmingham, MI)

December 28, 2010

I first met Elizabeth and her mother at my Birmingham Showroom about eighteen months before their wedding date. Because they commissioned us so early, we were able to photograph their engagement party in December of 2009, as well as an engagement portrait session this past summer. It has been wonderful seeing Elizabeth and David through the year prior to their wedding day! So when the day finally came this past December, it was as if we were a part of the fabric of the story leading up to the day!

I began that Saturday morning in a familiar location that many of our brides like to start: The Townsend Hotel in downtown Birmingham. Elizabeth’s suite was filled with family, hanging out to support Elizabeth. She slowly began getting ready as her bridesmaids arrived and, before you knew it, it was time to leave for the church. The ceremony took place at the Grosse Pointe Academy Chapel, about a fifty minute drive from Birmingham in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. This is where I would finally see David for the first time, behind the alter, waiting with his groomsmen and the priest. The chapel is historic. It is beautiful and ornate. The ceremony was Roman Catholic and the happy couple was escorted for their recessional by a bag pipper.

After a few portraits outside of the Chapel, we drove back to the Townsend Hotel for the beginning of the celebratory reception, where the couple was enthusiastically greeted by their guests. This December wedding couldn’t have been a more perfect day! The weather was sunny and unseasonably warm. Elizabeth and David, their families, wedding party and guests were terrific, providing me with ample opportunity to find wonderful wedding day moments!

Enjoy the some of my highlight photos posted here in the blog, as well as scrolling to the bottom of the post to view their complete wedding day highlight slideshow! Enjoy!

Tags: Grosse Pointe Academy Chapel, Michigan wedding, Michigan wedding photographer, Michigan wedding photography, The Townsend Hotel
Posted in Slideshows, Weddings - 2010 | No Comments »

10.29.10 – Erica and Steve – Townsend Hotel (Birmingham, MI)

December 19, 2010

I met Erica and Steve earlier this past summer at their friends, Andrea and James’, wedding that I was photographing. Thank you Andrea and James for having such great friends! They commissioned me to photograph their wedding just a few months prior to the date! I am so glad that the date was still open on my calendar! The wedding day structure was very similar to many of my clients who were married in the Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills area of metro Detroit Michigan. I began the day with the bride and groom, photographing them getting ready in their separate suites at the Townsend Hotel, followed by a short drive up Woodward Avenue to St. Hugo’s Catholic church for the ceremony, followed by a return trip back to the Townsend Hotel to celebrate! Two of Michigan’s prized wedding gems couldn’t be more conveniently located geographically to one another for the making of the perfect wedding day! From the stately Townsend, to the historic St. Hugo’s, to the beautiful decorations and florals of the reception, the evening celebration was topped off by the talented Dan Rafferty Band. They provided the excellent music and entertainment which kept the party at full-energy all night long!

Erica and Steve’s wedding went flawlessly! Not only do they make an attractive couple, but they were fun and energetic! You can see this in the photos below! As a documentary-style wedding photographer, it’s my job to find great moments and preserve them photographically as artistically as I am able. My goal is always to find great moments, great compositions, great lighting and great exposures simultaneously. Erica, Steve and their family and friends were a perfect fit for me as they gave me all the raw emotion and excitement that I needed to capture wonderful moments! Check out some of my favorites above and below and be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post to see the highlight slideshow set to music!

Tags: Dan Rafferty Band, Michigan wedding photographer, Michigan wedding photography, Michigan weddings, Townsend Hotel, wedding photojournalism
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10.23.10 – Emily and Alex – Four Seasons Hotel (Las Vegas, NV)

December 15, 2010

Like my 10.10.10 wedding, Emily and Alex contacted me early in 2010 and commissioned me to photograph their Las Vegas wedding without meeting me in person. In fact, I don’t think we even spoke over the phone, but rather sent a lot of emails back and forth. My documentary style seemed to suit their tastes and having seen my work here on the blog and my website, they were convinced I was the photographer for them. I have had the privilege of photographing a few weddings at the Four Seasons Hotel – one of the finer hotels Las Vegas has to offer – and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work at this beautiful and classy venue once again. I’ll be honest though, it always makes me nervous to photograph a wedding without meeting the couple in advance to make sure our personalities mesh well together. What I didn’t know, and was pleased to discover, is that Emily has got to be the happiest person on earth! She is so full of life and breaks out into a huge, beautiful smile with ease. Check out some of the photos above and below and you will see what I am talking about! You will also see that she gets her expressions from her parents! One of my favorite photos of the year is the image where Emily is flanked on each arm by both her mother and father and their expressions seem to be on cue! If I gave out awards to my brides at the end of the year, Emily would win the award for “Bride with the Best Expressions!”

Check out some of my favorite photos above and below and be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post to watch the entire highlight slideshow set to music.

Tags: Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, Las Vegas wedding photography, Las Vegas weddings, wedding photojournalism
Posted in Slideshows, Weddings - 2010 | No Comments »

10.10.10 – Rebecca and Darryl – JW Marriott Resort Spa (Las Vegas, NV)

December 11, 2010

Rebecca and Darryl are from England and contacted me last year about photographing their wedding in Las Vegas. It’s not the first time I’ve photographed a wedding without meeting the couple in person, but the first time in that they were from another country. They did have one requirement that I had not had before: to photograph their “Stag and Hen” Parties a couple of days before the wedding. It’s not odd to photograph an event before the wedding, but I had no idea what Stag and Hen parties were! Simply, they are the American equivalent to our bachelor and bachelorette parties! Not only did I have a great time photographing these events, but it gave me the opportunity to meet both Rebecca and Darryl prior to their wedding day.

The entire wedding took place at one of Las Vegas’ premier hotels, the JW Marriott Resort Spa in Summerlin. It is one of the best months to have an outdoor wedding in Las Vegas and it ended up being a perfect October day in the desert. The temperature was typical for this month, in the low 80′s, as was the clear, blue sky. The Marriott has an expansive, lush garden setting. You could literally stay there for a few days and be perfectly happy not leaving for the Vegas strip. There is everything there for a tropical-like get away and the Rampart Casino is attached to the hotel. As for the wedding party, I loved being surrounded by all of the couples’ family and friends. It was the first wedding I’ve photographed where one hundred percent of the guests all spoke with English accents! It was very cool! Every person I met was absolutely fantastic and I definitely hope to photograph a wedding in the UK before I retire! I believe about fifty or so traveled to celebrate with Rebecca and Darryl. These two are a very special couple! I am not just saying that! They are very genuine, easy going, and know how to have fun. After getting to know them, it was easy to understand why so many people were willing to travel such a long distance to be with them on their wedding day.

Check out some of my favorite photos here and be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post to view the highlight slideshow set to music.

Tags: JW Marriott Las Vegas, Las Vegas wedding photographer, Las Vegas wedding photography, Las Vegas weddings, wedding photojournalism
Posted in Slideshows, Weddings - 2010 | No Comments »

10.09.10 – Carrie and Joe – Pine Lake Country Club (Orchard Lake, MI)

December 2, 2010

I almost was unable to photograph Carrie and Joe’s wedding because I had booked events in Las Vegas the day before and the day after their wedding date. Our mutual friend, Carolyn Hefner of the China Closet – who was also their wedding planner, was very persistent in keeping both Carrie’s family and me in touch, that we decided that we would make it happen. I am so thankful it did!!! Just take a look at the photos below! I love everything thing about the results! I love the emotion that was on display by Carrie, Joe and their parents! I had a hard time making a bad photo! Not to mention, once again, we were blessed with a beautiful Michigan, autumn day! Joe and Carrie are a great couple and they have great families! The wedding ceremony took place at a church I had never photographed before: Orchard Lake Community Church Presbyterian. The reception was at a venue that I have become fond of and have worked for a handful of weddings: Pine Lake Country Club in Orchard Lake.

Some of the other fine vendors included:
English Gardens – florist
Jerry Ross Band
Roma Sposa – wedding dress & seamstress
Lavdas Limo Coach
BBJ Linen Rentals

Be sure to check out the highlight slideshow set to music at the bottom of this post!