Something to Do on a Rainy Saturday

In Jennifer and Mike’s guest book, there was a rainy day picture of them strolling under an umbrella asking guests to answer the question, “On a rainy Saturday, Mike and Jennifer should celebrate by …”

My answer: “… getting married!” (It was a sweet coincidence that their wedding day turned out to be a rainy day.)

If you’d like to see their slide show, send me or Jen or Mike an e-mail or post a comment below and I’ll send you the link!

Jennifer is so beautiful. There aren’t many women who can be photographed with no makeup and not need at least a little bit of sympathy retouching. Jennifer needed no retouching on anything!

She and most of the bridesmaids had their hair styled at Salon du Soleil in downtown Stamford. Jen’s stylist was so nice to me!

Jen and the girls got ready at Mike’s parent’s house. I thought the light fixture over the kitchen table made for an excellent place to get my creative shoe shot. (The typical guy won’t get this, but to us girls, the shoe shot is very important!)

I always look for a creative way to show the day’s headlines. That was easy, since Mike’s dad was reading the paper. It’s awesome that there’s news on the front page that is meaningful both locally, and in a financial sense as well. I can’t help but wonder if some day many years from now, $4.65 million for a hotel won’t seem like much.

Mike’s mom was concerned that I’d be so focused on my art and creative photojournalism that I wouldn’t get any group shots for her. Not to worry, mom! Lots of group shots in the mix too! These were taken in the lobby of the Stamford Hilton, where the reception was held. We had hoped to take the bridal party shots at Jen and Mike’s favorite arboretum, but, alas, it was too rainy a day to be hanging out in the mud.

To back up a bit, I’d like to thank Matt Richman for hanging out with the guys while they were getting ready.

Matt is usually my second shooter at weddings, capturing the men-folk, backing me up during the ceremony, and assisting with groups. He got some awesome shots of the men!

I love this one, Matt!

Matt always gets a really nice shot of the groom’s hands.

Since Mike’s dad was at the house with Jen, Dave (Mike’s future brother-in-law) helped with the tie.

I love to watch the slide show of combined pictures from my camera and Matt’s camera during the “getting ready” phase. I think it’s compelling to see what the guys were doing at the same time as the girls.

FAVE!

FAVE! (In the bus on the way to the church.)

FAVE! My son, Bradley, was a ring bearer in Lauren’s wedding when he was about the same age as this young fellow, so I felt like I had some insight as to how nervous he might have been. I love this shot.

FAVE! Am I allowed to say that I’m totally in love with Jen’s dad?

Jack was TOO CUTE walking down the aisle in his little tux! (Matt took this one. I love this one, Matt!)

ALL-TIME FAVE! I don’t know whose idea it was to bring Cousteau to the ceremony, but I could just KISS whoever it was! Is that the coolest wedding picture or what? I love it! Especially since Cousteau is Jen and Mike’s dear sweet puppy that they love SO much.

The big moment: ring exchange.

I love the elegance of this one.

I am so happy that I actually got the kiss shot! I thought I had missed it because I had been focusing on audience reaction shots. I was so happy when I downloaded the pictures and saw that I hadn’t missed the kiss shot at all! YAY! Happy dance, happy dance.

Mike is too cute.

I told them to give me a good kiss shot once they were on the bus just in case I had missed the ceremony kiss. They had to practice a LOT.

Jack’s smiley face courtesy of Matt Richman’s famous “Elmo trick.” Leave a comment below asking for an explanation of the Elmo trick and I’ll be sure to oblige.

I was testing the lights. Sometimes the best pictures happen when people don’t really know they’re supposed to be “on.” Aren’t the flowers GORGEOUS? They’re by Racanello Florist in Stamford.

On the other hand, sometimes great pictures happen when people DO know they’re on! I love this shot!

I love it! This is Mike’s “GQ look.” Fave: Jen’s reaction!

If you’ve seen the slide show, you will appreciate the fact that “Stand by Me” was Jen and Mike’s first dance song. I love this sequence in the slide show!

This picture was used as the inside of Jen and Mike’s New Year’s card. I am so thankful to them for being so patient with me while I designed holiday cards for all my other clients. Their wedding was in November, and other than the pictures I put in their card design, and a few prints Katie and I sent up for Christmas presents, this is their first glimpse at their wedding images. Thank you for being SO patient!

This is one of the ones we printed for Jen. It looks AMAZING!

There’s Cousteau again! We used fun pictures I took of Cousteau and Jack in frames for the table numbers. It was awesome!

I did not take this picture of Mike’s parents. My little flower girl assistant did! Em, you were a GREAT assistant! I can’t thank you enough for helping me out so much and being so sweet to me!

That’s Em, walking with her new aunt!

FAVE! I love Jack’s tux, the pacifier, the blankie, the sweet look on his grandfather’s face, plus, his dad, uncle and cousin in the background. This is the kind of picture I would frame and hang on the wall instead of a posed group shot. But that’s just me.

She’s listening to Elizabeth’s maid-of-honor speech. Beautiful! (The speech and the unposed portrait, I mean.) Jennifer: you are a GODDESS!

Mike is listening too, and I believe, from the telling look on his face, that he is determined to NOT look at his sister because to look at her might mean he would completely lose it in front of his firefighter buddies. Correct me if I’m wrong about that look, Mike. (Sorry if I just outed you, you emotional hunk, you!)

Wow, that off-camera lighting really makes a dramatic difference. I love this picture of Elizabeth giving her speech!

Mike had no problem following along with his best man’s speech. It was too funny!

The DJ, Sean “Dig Daddy” McKee, had every single person on the dance floor. He was great!

Big Daddy! You’re AWESOME! Thank you so much for all the wonderful things you kept saying about me!

Lots of glass clinking going on! Ooo la la!

FAVE!

SERIOUS FAVE! Dave already has a series of him dancing with his daughter framed. Love it!

The father-daughter dance was so cute!

I love this part in the slide show too. Makes me cry.

But THIS, this takes the cake! I was lying on the floor (if you know me well enough, you know that I lie on the floor a lot to get creative angles). Jen’s dad stopped the dance to help me up. What a gentleman he is! Did I mention that I’m totally in love?

The mother-son dance was equally impressive. I have to confess though. I was watching Mike’s mom VERY carefully all day long. As the mother of two sons, I need good role models for how to behave as a really awesome mother-of-the-groom. Done and done. Mike’s mom was graceful, gracious, beautiful and elegant! No more role models needed, thank you very much.

Caption help needed. Come on Mike, we need a caption here. Leave a comment with your best caption, make me laugh, and I’ll spot you an extra print credit. I love to laugh!

Party’s over! OOOOO LA LA!

The flowers, by Racanello Florist in Stamford, were SO beautiful that I had to combine them with my ring shot! WOW! The colors were gorgeous and all the bouquets and boutonnieres were stunning! I love this ring shot!.

I got up with the sunrise to get my signature “sunrise shot” of the location. That’s the best time for location shots. I love the gorgeous blue sky! Congratulations again, Jen and Mike! Thank you SO much for including me in your awesome wedding!

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