Take a look at Greatchen and Dan’s wedding album!

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.

Deanna finally approves her wedding album!

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.

What do I need a sensual journal for?

Handmade 6×8″ Sensual Journal – buy now

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Here’s a good look at Kelly and Tom’s 70 page Make Love Real album design:

Here are a couple of my favorite spreads:

If you’ll give me a moment to talk about the elements of design we use in our albums – in this horizontal spread, I cropped the images in a tight panoramic 1:5 format to show the tight moments of the bride and groom placing the rings on each other’s fingers. The tight spacing and blurred edges allow for a quick ‘read’ of the eye across the page. That emphasis is heightened by the horizontal bars of color running through the background of the image at the grooms eye height and the bride’s ring height. The lines tie together the separate pictures with implied continuation of line that I ‘felt’ between the photos while laying them out. This extra amount of care and attention brings your album to life telling the visual stories of your wedding.

In this spread we use the design element of a light vignette to tie together and soften the overall page design, can you see the subtle darkening at the coreners?

And if you’re looking for a creative photographer, look at how we tie the action of the day into the album design! We’re wiling to see the whole day for what it is, without presuppositions about what wedding photography ‘should be’ – so we notice the littlest things that make your wedding yours! (did you notice the bee on the clover in the above spread? – I know it’s hard on the web, but we noticed it and shot it!)

Enjoy your album Kelly and Tom.

Here’s the design layout for Morgan and Jason’s toronto skyline wedding:

A couple of my favorite design layouts feature the close combination of related photographic moments:

I can’t wait until my next Toronto wedding photojournalism assignment!

You know Charlie & Courtney from their magic making.

You can also see this album delivered by me, here’s the layout in detail:

Courtney & Charlie’s wedding was at the Episcopal Church in Pittsford NY while we shot family photos and wedding party photos at the George Eastman House and gardens on East Ave.  We then continued out to the Rochester Country Club for their tented wedding reception. Apples carried the fall theme and colors through the centerpieces and decor. No matter the location their rich personalities show through in all their photos while their caring and compassionate family moments are seen clearly in their album.

Sit down with us and talk albums…

The Album Meeting with  Neil & My wife Cowley –  Watch in HD on Vimeo.

Joshua and Erica’s album tied in the bold colors of their wedding with the romantic charm of their location.

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Tammy and John’s wedding album custom designed by Neil Cowley.

Tammy and John’s wedding was held at the Genesee Country Museum and this natural organic album design flowed from their gorgeous event. Read the extended post below to see the full design and read Neil’s discussion of the design elements.
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Well, hopefully you’re not sick of these two yet, but let me show you their personalized guest book design since you’re getting to know them.

You can view their full 48 page custom designed book from their destination engagement session after the jump, or order one here.

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Brea & Ed’s signature journal as an example as we have many of them in production right now.

To see the whole design click blow and view in our flash player. Here is the same book filled with signatures at the end of the evening with Brea and Ed.

Purchase a custom designed wedding guest book for your guest’s signatures.

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Here is a view of Britta’s Chautauqua institute wedding album from June:

Read more below to see the whole design in a flash player and a few of my comments on the stronger page designs.

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Tom & Mary Jo’s Greek wedding album design shows a clean and modern design with little embellishment getting in the way of their urban wedding photos.

Read on below the jump if the flash gallery above does not show up in your browser….

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A graphic, but minimal design for this stylish New Jersey skyline wedding

Christina & Jacob held their New Jersey wedding photographed by Neil & My wife Cowley in the skyscraper overlooking the New Jersy and New York coast from the Newark Club.

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Holly & John’s wedding was in downtown Rochester NY

Click below to see their complete design…

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