Look at how they shine for you.

Thanks Tony and Laura!
Great job again Denise and Molly, good to see you after a while away!

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Here’s Gretchen’s comments from the design process – which she gave no input on – just let me do my thing:

First, THANK YOU! It’s even more perfect than we imagined!!! I’m all misty. Second, we have exactly ONE change to request: Dan would like to include the photo of him and the best man chest-bumping “backstage.”

Have you fainted yet? I know, I know, an immediate, low maintenance reply! Shockingly on-time. (It’s the only completion I’ve managed today.) I figure we owe it to you.

Thanks so much for all your patience, and your talent. Dan just kept shaking his head as I paged through the design, saying “He’s just so good!”

Dan – it takes a good man to know one!  I do want to put a sideline note in about my beloved bride Gretchen, a self described ‘type A’ as you can see from the lists and flow charts that decorated the background of page 2.  Gretchen took my advice about not stressing over the album image selection, and was thoroughly pleased with the results.  You may want to select your album images, but the process is often more rewarding when the design flows from how the pictures best fit together.

A few of my favorite spreads and some comments on them:

This spread from the opening moments of the ceremony is an engaging peek into Dan’s excitement, Gretchen grinning behind the doors, and walking down the isle taking Dan’s breath away, and drawing a tear from the groomsmaid.  The iconic shot of Gretchen’s tweaked nervous smile from behind the hall doors, gives a huge visual splash to the carefully observed moments of the beginning of the ceremony.  I shot this wedding alone, and I find it very satisfying to shoot the big epic graphics, and complement it with great storytelling shots to make you look closer at the page!

A moment in time – or a story across time.  I often try to tell stories in my pictures, but sometimes I can tell time too!!  But seriously, how else could you see how much fun Gretchen has with her dress, and Dan?  Good solid album design comes from good solid ideas while we’re shooting.  I often describe the process of ‘posing’ for me, more like acting for a movie–and this is why.  Good action, helps you forget  your nervousness, be natural in your expressions, and let loose with some fun.  Cheers to great results in your album design.

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Sweet success indeed for this well planned, wonderful event.  Catch the blended storylines in this intricately designed and textured wedding album design.

Here are a couple of my favorite speads:

Here Deanna is coming down the isle (which is a narrow row of cedar bushes) and my three shots on the left show her finding, posing and receiving the roses from her groom; which the key shot on the right is coming into view of the guests for the first time and was shot by the assistant photographer.

The first dace spread is a free flowing sequence that really tells about the interpersonal and environmental space is a freeform design over time.  To me this is the most gratifying way to view the wedding photos – and it’s also without color.

Which leads us into the next spread – which is all about color, the emotion and mood of their after dinner portrait session in the field.

I love all things Asian, and so love a chance to photograph that mysterious beauty and exotic flair!

Choose your portrait session and purchase some beautiful art portraits for your loved ones.

Artistic head shots on location. Give the eye contact that will get you the audition!

Professional retouched headshot package with 100 full color business cards.

Gretchen was excited to host her wedding day in her childhood neighborhood in Rochester.  She has taken all her Sacraments at Blessed Sacrament as well as attending school there.  Gretchen’s excitement and energy beamed the whole day.  Thanks so much for having me there guys – enjoy your slideshows!

Gretchen and Dan’s helpers are listed here:

• Church of the Blessed Sacrament
• American Association of University Women – Perkins Mansion wedding reception
• Reception Catering by All Occasions Catering
• Flowers by the (always fun) Jimmy Catalano, Edgerton Floral Company
• Ronda  Wedding gown by Pronovias

The above slideshow is in flash, you may download the podcast show below; here are a couple favs if you can’t do either!

• Save the date for Heather and Dave
• Skaneateles NY engagement portraits : wedding guestbook signature journal
• Waxhaw Weddington family and couples portrait photographer NC
• Lake Norman cove engagement shoot Sherrill’s Ford North Carolina
• Fall leaves and the Genesee Country Museum
• Custom designed Engagement holiday card – Lake Norman NC Photographer
• Personalized guesbook photoshoot and design service
• Your photographer can teach you wheelies
• Manhattan Engagement photo session photographer
• Where art lives – by Neil Cowley
• Organic trail running engagement guestbook

Glamour portraits – for you, or to impress!

Purchase your portrait session with Neil now:

• Studio session at Neil’s Studio in South Charlotte
• Location portrait session: Charlotte, Gastonia, Lake Norman, Rock Hill, Fort Mill etc!

I spent the day shooting for the E Agency models on the Black + White theme.

I’m more than glad to fill you in on the details:

• Nikka ceremony at the Islamic Society of New Jersey
• Wedding Preparation at the Satler Hotel
• Wedding hair and faces done by Makeup On Demand
• Wedding Ceremony at Sage Hall Cornell University
• Wedding Reception at the Williard Straight Hall Memorial Room
• The suburb and memorable menu was prepared and presented by James from The Heights Cafe & Grill
• Wedding cake and desserts by Sincredible Pastries
• The floral arrangements and wedding table decorations made by Michaleen’s Florist
• The mastermind helper and planner Tara Reimer from Terra Rosa
• Order prints and see the complete set of photos at www.MakeLoveReal.com

Thanks guys!

• Wedding Ceremony downtown Lake Placid NY at the Adirondack Community Church
• Wedding Reception at the Lake Placid Club Boathouse by Crowne Plaza
• Flowers and decoration by Trillium Florist, Tupper Lake, NY
• Wedding cake by the Lake Flour Bakery, Saranac Lake, NY
• Slideshow music free courtesy of Amazon.com
• View slideshow without music
• Login to Make Love Real.com to view all the photos and order prints

Penny and Will held their wedding near their first and favorite vacation spot – Lake Placid NY.  Penny and Will are silly and full of love for life and each other while they brought their friends and family together to celebrate this shared love.  Will was excitedly explaining to me how he wanted to drive to the top of Whiteface mountain to take pictures between the ceremony and reception and I was hesitant to make any promises knowing that the weather on top of a 5000ft mountain in the last days of May in Northern NY is as likely to be snow as sun.  Again this day the universe smiled on me and gave us good weather while on the summit of Whiteface Mountain.  Here are a few of my favorites from up there.

When we first came up a cloud was rolling up the mountain, while the sun was still shining over the cloud giving us a mystical and unique light!

The temperature on the summit was a brisk 45 degrees with a stiff 20-25mph breeze. As the cloud rolled over the summit we were momentarily lost in fog and then rested just under the belly of the cloud.

Will and Penny were surprised when I told them on the way to the summit that it would be great to be hit by a cloud, and they were even more surprised when it happened. My wilderness experience in the High Peaks has taught me about the amazing ecological conditions these mountains reside in. If you are yearning for a mountaintop wedding ceremony, Whiteface mountain just North of Lake Placid is an amazing summit. You can drive to within a few hundred feet of the summit and then take either the elevator or stairs to the top. But here is the panoramic view:

The Adirondack Park is really just a big swamp with mountains interspersed amongst it, and this picture captures that quintessential environment with the bride and groom.

Thanks so much guys for bringing me back to the Adirondacks for your great wedding day!

It’s a theme we have rolling here, it’s an answer to ‘what is a photojournalist’, ‘what is a visual storyteller’?

In today’s installment it’s also an answer to ‘How do I get good photojournalistic pictures?’ and how we as intense artists like to burrow into your life to tell these stories….let me illustrate so you can help me find these stories and threads to make your pictures come alive with your own family’s stories. You see I wouldn’t have known to look out for this, had I not ridden to the ceremony with the bride and her father in the classic Rols Royce limo:

In Courtney’s father’s hands is a plastic sandwich baggie of candy:

They are laughing sharing memories of how he would bring candy in his jacket pocket to keep his children occupied during church services.    Courtney’s not to old to demand a few sweets!

So when it comes to the real church service, I know what to look out for….

Grandpa handing out the candy, and grandson eagerly filling his cheeks with it.

These pictures are not technically masterful, or emotionally poignant – but simply show the care and consideration of a grandpa, and a photographer.

Maybe I should remember to sneak some gummy bears into the service to remind me to keep my eye on the story!

So when you’re filling out your wedding information forms, or something pops to mind on your wedding day – share the details with me so I can best be informed of what your family relationships look like.

Downtown Rochester wedding reception and planning details and information – check your wedding date to receive complete details and pricing information.

Photography by Neil Cowley and My wife Cowley

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