Can we all just stop and look at how gorgeous Katie is? Seriously and this is what light from a window can do for you, as well as time before your wedding to take pictures. She was beautiful on her wedding day and I had a great time photographing her + Craig even with a little rain… since we all know I love a little rain. I’m a pro at the double hold – umbrella and camera – and those overcast skies are so nice to work with.

I really can’t believe I only blogged once last week (I missed you guys) but then again I can… since I was spending just about every minute with the xc team. Since I’m also an assistant coach and preseason has started things went from 0 to 100 pretty quickly. It’s been great and I love it (you know I do) but my blog was the thing that fell behind. Obviously now it’s time to catch up! Besides running 50 miles (I’m sorry, I’m really proud of myself and had to share) I was busy working on some editing that you’ll see soon and the day to day works that comes with having a business. I’ve had a lot of people as me questions about my business lately, and while I’m not ready for my tell-all interview, I am planning on posting answers to a few of them this week on the blog. This weekend I traveled out to the other side of the state and more specifically the Saratoga / Glenville / Albany of New York area and was able to photograph Craig and Katie’s wedding as well as an engagement session for Tom and Madeline. So, as always there is a lot in the works and I look forward to posting it all. Until then, if you are repeat song listener like me check out my two new fav’s : Ready to Start (Arcade Fire) & Magic (B.o.B) and see how many times you can play them back to back to back.

We were determined to make the session happen. After meeting up after the wedding I shot in Rome, NY we drove to our planned location and it immediately started to downpour. We waited it out for around 15 minutes until the rain died down, although it was still a challenge to find the right spot for pictures. After a few tries we found our way to a quite overlook where we could avoid the glances and stares of passerby’s – no one wants a crowd. So finally with no rain, no crowd, and a nice setting this is what I captured, starting with some classic boy + dog images…

this just looks so classic to me! their dog is hilarious and obviously very good with kids.
the Stevensons obviously already have one very cute son, so I can’t wait to see what their daughter looks like!

Diane looks fabulous! Even though it took me a little longer to finish these photos… they weren’t taken that long ago. I want to look this good 4 weeks before having a baby!

I’m glad we were able to meet for this session and I wonder what my chances are at photographing their newborn… too bad I don’t live closer! Either way next time I’ll plan better weather :)

I’m beginning to think that winter is the perfect time for a wedding. It transforms the landscape. You might have to brave frigid temperatures for you photos, but in the end they are so completely worth it. Joe and Molly’s wedding was one such occasion. Temperatures dropped into the single digits and believe me, it was a wedding for the record books. Molly actually said before I left, “you’re going to write about how this was the coldest wedding!” and it’s true, I am going to write that. I’m also going to write about how Joe and Molly’s wedding was fabulous day tucked away in the hills of western New York, and the day started at Molly’s house…

When I arrived the house was buzzing with activity. Bridesmaids were almost ready, Molly was tucked away upstairs, and family were getting all of the last details in order. When Molly came downstairs, she made sure to clean her ring before everything got started.

Molly not only was a bride, she was a gorgeous bride! I love these two portraits we took before heading off to the ceremony.

Off to the ceremony, which was personal and intimate, and even included a duet Molly and Joe sang to each other. What a talented couple!

After the ceremony, we went back to Molly’s house and took some photos on the surrounding property. This was the coldest part of the day. I have to hand it to the bridal party for getting out there, and of course Molly and Joe who braved the most weather. Doesn’t it look gorgeous though?

Like any prepared winter bride, Molly had matching boots and a coat so she could stay warm and look as good outside for pictures as inside. That’s a must if you’re having a winter wedding in my opinion – you always need more accessories.

So lovely, I think the series of Joe carrying Molly through the snow is just perfect!

For the reception we headed to Anastassia Events, which has transformed an old church in a great reception site (below) in Portageville New York. It’s a really unique place and has a bed and breakfast (presumably the old parsonage) attached as well.  It was my first time at the location and I think they did a great job. Before joining everyone in the reception, we finished up with the photos you see above in the b&b.

Some of the other details from their wedding day are below, and one of the most unique things was their choice of cake: ice cream cake! Molly requested Coldstone ice cream cake and if that’s your favorite, I say go for it on your wedding! There were about ten different flavors of cake, which were listed on the back of the menu card, so there was certainly something for everyone.

When Joe and Molly cut the cake, it was a little bit more challenging since they were cutting through ice cream… and once they tucked their napkins in I knew it was going to be serious business!

Having fun on the dance floor, I love this imperfect yet lively photo from the end of the day. I’m sure you’re dying to see more, so head over to my proofing site, create a profile, and then use the couple’s last name as your password to view the gallery. Also, help Joe and Molly win a free 11×14 or 16×20 by leaving your comments below! Congrats again to Joe + Molly – thank you so much for letting me document your wedding and enjoy re-living it through the photos!

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What are we going to wear? That was the biggest question on our minds when our engagement photo session rapidly approached. I was more consumed thinking about our outfits than I was thinking about what the actual photo shoot was going to be like. Next thing I knew we were on our way to Harrisonburg from DC and I started to contemplate the actual photo shoot. I was excited but also started to get a little nervous.

It might sound silly or unnecessary but most if not all the time photography was a part of my life because it was in a circumstance of some event— either on vacation or with friends and/or loved ones at a gathering, etc… but the focus was usually on something other than me! Emotion comes naturally due to the environment and the thought of having a camera capture the moment is welcomed. Thus the idea of having my photo taken just to get my photo taken was a new experience. I had high school graduation photos taken but not ones in which I was placed in an environment where I was to be “caught up” in a moment with my fiancé for the sake of photography! It was almost like I got a little taste of what it must be like to be a celebrity; in front of a camera for a living. The task during the engagement session for me was to act normal and natural despite feeling the exact opposite! I don’t know about you, but that is a challenge in itself. My fiancé David and I are self proclaimed introverts who would like to be doing anything but be in front of a camera. We laughed, felt awkward and made the best of it and were very curious to see the results!

Once getting our pictures back I was pleasantly surprised on many levels. I had two main thoughts. One, I looked shockingly normal considering how I felt. That in itself gives me a sense that I will be more comfortable in front of the camera for the next time—the wedding day! The reality of the situation, despite feeling awkward and unnatural, is not what the camera is capturing, so my advice is to just go with it and have fun. Secondly, Mary is very talented! The way that she used lightening, color and also the way she incorporated props (i.e. the moped) into the pictures was awesome! She was helpful in giving us tips and pointers but yet she allowed us to move and act naturally as we would in real life. I think this helped our pictures to look like us and not like we were mere puppets, being prompted like a celebrity at a photo shoot for the cover of People Magazine.

The thing that we enjoyed most about our engagement session was the prop that Mary had us use. As I mentioned before, she incorporated a moped in our pictures. This was a pleasant surprise because it gave us something to do that created natural emotion rather then us trying to conjure up emotion. It also gave us both something to focus on rather then ourselves. We also liked adding a personal touch to our photos by changing into our running clothes and having some less formal shots. We love our running photos!

Now that we had a little practice run (no pun intended) we are looking forward to our wedding day. As most brides and grooms know, photography is a huge part of the special day. Besides our guest’s memories, photos are the lens of what will be remembered of the wedding day for years to come. And, with a little practice and increased comfort level, we should be almost as smooth as Brad and Angelina in front of the camera. And, at least I already know what I am going to wear!

::thanks so much Dawn for the guest post + I hope everyone enjoyed. Look out for more from their wedding in March!