The Keller Wedding (part 1)

When my friend David Ducane asked me to be the second shooter at the wedding he was hired to photograph, I was ecstatic. Being obsessed with wedding photography and being someone who loves love, I had always wanted to shoot a couple’s big day.
Early Saturday morning last week, David, Dakota and I took a long and exhausting bus ride to New Jersey where we were met by David’s cutie-patootie girlfriend, Chelsea. The rest of the night we were loved on and fed by the lovely Ducane family. Although I did a fairly good job at hiding my nervousness, deep down I was stressed and feeling insecure. Without trying, the Ducane family calmed my nerves and soon I was excited to help document Laura and Justin’s wedding.
I woke up a couple hours earlier then the boys did to get pretty and to practice what I was most nervous about: the flash! A few hours later, with bellies full of chi tea and cinnamon rolls, we found ourselves at the house of the bride-to-be. We first shot the girls getting ready and some candid’s of the cute little kids. After that, we were off to the wedding ceremony (which flew by fast) followed by the reception where it got reeeally fun for us and where the guests let loose! Long story short it was an amazing experience and I'm so grateful I lost by wedding virginity to the Keller's! They are such a fun couple that are blessed to have an awesome family. If every wedding I shoot has a wild and entertaining family and group of friends like theirs, I will be one happy photographer!
Mostly I loved being on the dance floor with the guests and getting the chance to photograph with David and watch him shoot and interact with people. I am so very grateful for the opportunity to second shoot and can't wait for the next few weddings coming up. Although it's stressful and demanding, to witnessing and to photograph a couple in love and in their happiest moment is the most rewarding thing.
This is just the first batch.. more are to come. These are the pictures I took, to see the ones David too go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/photofanatic_photography/ (he focused more on the bride and groom). Hope you enjoy!

self-promotion

One of the assignments this week was to create a self-promotion piece using the techniques we've been learning recently. I'm usually my own worst critic, especially about a lot of the pictures I take. But I fell in love with the studio pictures I took of my beautiful friend Kris and knew I wanted to use it for my promo piece. This assignment was fun for me--I learned a lot about photoshop and fell in love with typeography. 

It's pretty simple but I think it works well with the sophistication of the picture.  It's not too Kelly-ish but perhaps it shows the direction I want to go in..

Welp, here it is: 

Pewfff. Phase One assignment is O-V-E-R. During the last two weeks I did a lot of shooting...and re-shooting.. and brainstorming...and shooting...and printing..and stressing. Overall, I'm happy with my work but I see what it is I need to improve on. I'm so thankful to have instructors that give constructive criticism that helps me learn and grow. This first phase is technical so incase your thinking that these images lack creativity..just you wait!!!! 

The muse of my life, Cali. We did this three times.. not because they all were horrible, but because I wanted to get it right and sharp. This was for my "outdoor portrait" shot. I love how the water looks like champagne. 

This was done for my "product" shot. Food and flowers can't talk back to you..they can't laugh and you can't see their personality. But finding props to compliment the product is fun! And moving them around is like moving a person--every prop or product has an angel that's most flattering. Although we're just getting started in the commercial studio, I'm realizing its sometimes more fun to be creative in there. 

The picture came out a tad hot but I liked that the oranges somewhat matched the oranges on the jar and how the flower was the same color as the background color behind the words "sweet orange marmalade."  It'll be great to grow in the commercial studio in the next 8 months and to always do this on the side. 

My beautiful friend Annie was in town last week so I forced her into being my model for the outdoor flash picture. I would normally never take a reading for the the sky and use a flash but it was interesting to do that. 

Cali and David for my two person indoor flash. We hit and chipped a lot of paint off moving this couch. I really don't like flash but its kinda sorta growing on me.. and I'm going to have to learn to love it for weddings. 

Dakota looking very light blue for my "cool on cool" picture. When I saw we had to do this color shot I immediately thought of him because of those beautiful blue eyeballs! I pretty happy with this one..I like that all the colors match well. 

My talented and helpful friend Cali. This is for my "warm on cool" shot. He is so great. He woke up early to go with me to take my self-portrait...he modeled and modeled and modeled for me.. he lent me his flash..and he encouraged and lifted me up time after time during this Phase One assignment. I am so thankful for him and honored to call him one of my best friends. Thanks Cal! 

When I received the assignment sheet and saw that we had to do a self-portrait I was eager to shoot and immediately inspired. Because this is such a technical first phase of school I thought that this would be a great way to unleash my creativity. But surprisingly, out of the ten photographs we had to take, it ended up being the most difficult for me. It took me three tries and I'm still not completely happy with the results. Although I submitted this image, I want to go back and re-shoot. Less sky, less makeup and hopefully look less sleepy! What I do like is the idea and the time of morning (6:00 am) and my pretty camera Diana. Totally open for your thoughts!

This is the beautiful Claudia helping me out for my "stop motion" shot. 

Thanks David for assisting me! 

  

Miss Anne Raft doing "freezing motion" for me.

David's girlfriend Chelsea was in town so I thought it would be cute if I used both of them for "breaking up lines." Me and my good friend Danny did a picture almost exactly like this about two years ago. I wanted to re-do it to see the growth I've made..unfotunatly, during the critique my, my teacher didn't really care for it. Thankfully he gave me constructive critism and said this angel distorts them and just isn't flattering. Personally I like it. I think its weird and unorthodox but maybe I could have worked on it a bit longer and played with the angles more..perhaps add a prop or two in there. Again, totally open for your thoughts!!