Make Love Real » Chautauqua

Britta’s Chautauqua wedding album

Neil — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:47:47 +0000

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

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

Here a SimpleViewer Flash gallery should be displayed. Click here to open the post in your browser to see the gallery.

Here is the whole album in a flash player, if you cannot see this player – please download an install the latest flash.

Here’s a lighthearted page at side 9 and 10 that shows how we can use creative cropping and image placement of seemingly unrelated images to create a bright color palette and telling design. The bottom left image is quite filled with detail if you can’t quite read it all notice it larger here:

Sometimes people equate taking pictures of ‘things’ as details pictures, saying “I love the details” well, we shoot images with detail in the texture, and storytelling in the composition so that they can fit back into the layout and add story to the finished product. There you can see the tourism magazine from the bedstand noting the location, a bridal accecory from Haute Bride, Britta’s mamosa and her lively pink moto rAzr.

Next we see a designed series of image showing Britta and Cameron’s first meeting just before their ceremony. You can see me playing with scale to show time from left to right.

And finally a subtle touch at that first meeting is a gentle picture representing the ceremony about to happen.

Here on the left we have a large bisected square representing in smaller squares all the flurry of activity just before the ceremony. The page is culminated by Britta’s father giving her a kiss on the cheek while giving her away.

Well I guess I’m noticing the details again, here I have 4 shots representing the event design and coloring of the reception in the historical Victorian Athenaeum hotel which has been serving guests since 1881. If you’ll notice my emphasis on the vertical design and incorporate it within the images and merge it within the design using a chair back as a photo design element to complement the album design.

Here we see another inventive combination of photo design merged with the book design.

Over these six pages I developed a storyline from the evening portraits, guest waving goodbye to Cameron and Britta, Cameron carrying Britta over the threshold of their honeymoon suite and a few tender moments on the bed to finish the wedding story all the way to the end of the night in the album design. I love building a relationship strong enough to allow me to portray my clients with such honesty and tenderness.

Finishing the day at the Athenaeum

Neil — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 02:05:33 +0000

So we’ll draw to a close the wonderous day at Chautauqua with Britta and Cameron.

Oh boy – what a great party, but every event must draw to an end.

Britta and Cameron say goodby from the second floor landing through the windows with a kiss as the guests cheer goodby.

First dance and toasts in Chatauqua ballroom

Neil — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:50:17 +0000

Well, today we’ll get through the opening of the reception with Cameron and Britta.

Cameron and Britta danced a Rumba step to Micheal Buble’s ‘Save the Last Dance for Me” which was a sparkling treat for the guests. My complements to their dance instructor who picked a perfect step to characterize these two playful souls. This should communicate it for you:

What a ham, that Cameron – just wait till you see him dance to get his Treo back! But then it’s time for Britta and her father to dance.

Britta and her dad had some moves as well as elegance.

After the dancing, Mr. Johnson started off the toasts to the couple.

And then Stockton and Brendan give a very humours toast, to….well…everything from Oedipus to their darling mother.

Who looks as though she couldn’t be prouder. But the main thrust of Stockton and Brendan, was that Cameron had chosen to marry someone surprisingly similar to his mother. And so I have to swerve away from these very nice pictures to counterpoint the jest – remember for a moment with me, Cameron preparing:

Exhibit A

Now, exhibit B in the prosecution’s case:

Need I go on? Cause I could…..

But I wouldn’t want to bring you to tears once again.

Besty holds back the emotion during her toast.

Cutting the cake to finish the reception and go outside for some sunset portraits.

The rest of the photos should be available tomorrow at Make Love Real.com if you want to subscribe to be notified when the party pictures are posted and the rest of the photos are ready, submit your e-mail address. And stay tuned for some wild party pics!

A walk down the lanes of Chautauqua

Neil — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 03:15:57 +0000

Well, we’ve made it through the ceremony and need to get back to the hotel….

So we end up making some portraits on the way back…

Here’s a sneak peek at the table settings while everyone else is enjoying coctail hour.

Tonight I’ll post the first dance photos and toasting and some of the reception images.

Bridal portraits and first meeting

Neil — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 23:32:53 +0000

Preparation at the Athenaeum Hotel

Neil — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 02:25:22 +0000

Well everyone’s eager to see some pictures from the weekend, I’m going to be trying some new things on the blog….so here’s the first installment from Britta & Cameron’s wedding. You’ll have to check back tomorrow for more or subscribe your e-mail to recieve updates automatically (at the bottom of the page).

I have to say that I really loved Britta’s choice of colors!

Room, #90 ‘the Bridal suite’ who’s claim to conversational relevance was that Bill Clinton stayed there.

Ah, mom – the quiet anchor.

Enough of the women, what’s the groom doing….

….trying to figure out male fashions.

Brody hit it off well with the boys and made this illustrative photo by dragging the shutter.

And the boys finish dressing by starting a cold one.

Britta tries on the Veil

Let me know what you think of the show so far, and check back tomorrow to see how the day progresses….
You can also view the photos on Flickr and comment on them individually if you like.

Athenaeum Hotel and Chautauqua NY victorian wedding experience

Neil — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 09:41:48 +0000

“Tini”

“Jake sees Tini”

And various other subtly emotional pj images

See all the photos from this Chautauqua NY victorian wedding experience

2005 Weddings photographed by Neil Cowley

Neil — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 20:24:58 +0000

A Note from Neil

The start of a new year is a reflective time for all of us. I start my reflection of 2005 with the gratitude and humility 2004 taught me. During that period I was focusing on developing a unique personal style putting my energy into making and thinking about inventive imagery. I looked for every opportunity to use lighting and composition to do something I had never done before. The results of that process were rewarded in 2005 with a top 5 ranking in the US by the WPJA. At the same time I was forcing my personal will into stretching my own conceptual boundaries of my craft – concepts of controlling and creating with light, shadow, perspective, and tonality – the people I served enlarged my spiritual boundaries as I stated last year “I wanted to make clear that God has given much more through you, than your dollars as I have received a new appreciation and understanding of love and art this year. I hope that I have been an equally effective conduit for God to give my talents away to you.”

Well enough for review, my personal goal for 2005 was to expand my consistency. The artistic inspiration can fall at unpredictable times and while that’s nice for winning awards, its not necessarily a reflection of skill as much as an ability to capitalize on good luck. So my intuition told me that I needed to really look at what went into those flashes of creativity I had in 2004, and learn to repeat them as a skill instead of as an accident. I’m only finishing my third year of professional service for weddings so maybe its too lofty a goal to ask myself for consistency after such a short period. But as I write now I feel a tremendous satisfaction looking back over the mountain of work that I’ve completed in 2005. Possibly I’m deceiving myself, but I am satisfied knowing that I have not overlooked the good to make something great. Sounds funny, but it has been a tremendous challenge to face this year – boredom – that could have eaten away the quality of my work as I sought to continue to top my own pictures. What brought me back to that point, was you again. Times where I began to feel rote, where I was being distracted by the small things – you gave me the expressions of Love that can not help but snap you back into focus. Love, the miracle that we give to each other; that we go through all these rituals to express and to seal; that I have the privilege to have the invitation to help you develop.

My reflection for 2005, has the same heart of the lesson learned in 2004 – learned more deeply. “The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve. (Albert Schweitzer)” This year I’ve matured enough to realize how I should act to reinforce my reflections. I see better the Tao that has helped keep me in balance and I will seek to nurture that harmony through my business practices. “We do not see things as they are; we see things as we are.(Talmud)” So this turn of my personal quest for photographic vision leads me to work to see you more clearly. I will draw upon my experience of over 100 weddings to help you express “How your Love is New” in photos and in person. I excitedly anticipate what you will teach me as my experience shows that it will be volumes.

Much respect,
Neil

Current images posted at http://makelovereal.net/

2005 events page has been dedicated to the bridal portrait

Micaela & Toby – Elim Gospel Church – January 7, 2006

Christina & Jacob – November 11, 2005 – Newark Club, New Jersey

Michelle & Brian – October 22, 2005 – Lodi New York Historical Society and Wagner Vineyards

Alexandra & Stephen – Oct. 16th, 2005 – Belhurst Castle Wedding Ceremony and Reception, Geneva New York

Sandra & Chris – October 9, 2005 – Westmont Country Club Patterson, New Jersey

Nicole & Andrew – Oct. 8th, 2005 – Saint Patricks Church and Binhampton Club

Kim & Will – Oct. 1st, 2005 – Butler Mansion Buffalo, NY

Lindsay & David – Cadet Chapel & 49′er Lodge West Point New York

Jessica & Greg – September 24, 2005 – Sheldrake point vineyard

Jen & Dan – September 18th, 2005 – Glen Iris Inn at Letchworth State Park

Leanne & Andy – September 17, 2005 – Saint John’s and Monroe Country Club

Sara & Tim – Sept. 10th, 2005 – Boldt Castle and Edgewood Resort

Lorraine & Aaron – September 4th, 2005 – Letchworth State Park, Glen Iris Inn

Elaine & Grant – September 3rd, 2005 – Chapel Hill and Monroe Country Club

Nicole & Jake – August 27th, 2005 – Belhurst Castle Geneva, New York

Shannon & Andy – August 20th, 2005 – Saint Rita and Shadow Lake Country Club

Christina & Ben – August 6th, 2005 – Bethel Christian Fellowship and Casa Larga Vineyards Fairport, NY

Mary Grace & Matthew – Auguest 5th, 2005 – Canandaigua Inn on the Lake, New York

Heather & Mike – July 30, 2005 – St. Charles Borromeo & Cobblestone Creek Country Club

Sarah & Dean – July 16, 2005 – Wedding and Reception at Glen Iris Inn Letchworth State Park

Mary & Paul – July 9, 2005 – Blessed Sacrement and Rocheter Club Ballroom

Karissa & Jim – July 2, 2005 – Perry Methodist Church and Wadsworth – Jerris Estate reception

Robyn & John – St. Louis Church Pittsford & Steamboat Landing Canandaigua NY

Audrey & Mike – June 12th, 2005 – Lauxmont Farms, Wrightsville Pennsylvania

Deb & Jim – June 11th, 2005 – Walker Bible Baptist Church & Senator’s Mansion Chili

Kelly & Peter – June 4, 2005 – Trinity Reformed Church and Woodcliff Lodge Fairport

Ella & Chad – May 28, 2005 – Sacred Heart Cathedral & Rochester City Hall Atrium

Juliette & Kevin – May 21, 2005 – St. John’s Church & Glen Iris Inn Letchworth State Park

Heather & Matt – May 20, 2005 – Saint Joseph’s church and Owego Treadway

Jeanne & Mark – April 23, 2005 – St. Thomas More & Memorial Art Gallery

Corie & Michael – April 9, 2005 – The Waterview in Monroe Connecticut

Allison & Jason – April 2, 2005 – University Presbyterian and Hemingbough Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Jodi & Dan – January 22, 2005 – Our Lady of the Lake and Crystal Springs Resort, Vernon New Jersey

Amanda & Shervyn – Jan 16, 2005 – Mansion on Delaware, Buffalo New York

Jan 5-8, 2005 – Manti Temple, UT & Strong Todd House Rochester, NY

2004 Weddings Photographed by Neil & Liesl Cowley

Neil — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 20:30:19 +0000

A note from Neil – 12.29.04

I have a debt of gratitude to pay with these words. I’ve been putting off lifting this weight from my mind due to its extraordinary size. But I recently found the catalyst, a quote: “God will give much more through you than to you.”

I am truly humbled at what you (my clients) have given me this year. You have invited me into your private moments of emotion, and extended the generosity of your families to me. You have provided reason and opportunity for me to expand my artistic vision deeper into the soul of human emotion. You have contributed your lives to my lens and you have generously donated your dollars to see my manic passion. Before this gets too self centered I wanted to make clear that God has given much more through you, than your dollars as I have received a new appreciation and understanding of love and art this year. I hope that I have been an equally effective conduit for God to give my talents away to you.

Gratitude and awe,
Neil

Naomi & Ken – November 13, 2004 – St Rose and Shadowlake Golf Club Penfield, New York

Heather & Todd – November 6, 2004 – St Francis of Assisi and Clarion Inn Niggard Falls New York

Carrie & Eric – October 23, 2004 – Geneva Presbyterian Church and Belhurst Castle Seneca Lake, NY

Christine & Jesse – October 16, 2004 – Interfaith Chapel and Crowne Plaza Ballroom Rochester, New York

Rebecca & Justin – October 15, 2004 – Annunciation and Rich’s Atrium Buffalo NY

Sarah & Jared – Oct 10, 2004 – Niagara Club, Niagara Falls New York

Chrissy & Chris – October 3, 2004 – Highland park overlook and Lilac Arches Rochester, NY

Yat Ming & Jon – October 2, 2004 – Rochester Interfaith Chapel and Daisy Flour Mill, Penfield – New York

Jackie & Brett – September 25, 2004 – St. Francis Xavier and Sherwood Inn, Skaneateles, New York

Pam & Joe – September 24, 2004 – Adam’s Mark, Grace Lutheran and Rich’s Atrium Buffalo, NY

Amy & Mike – September 18, 2004 – Hershey Country Club, Hershey PA

Sara & Tim – September 17, 2004 – The Krebs Garden and Welch Allyn Lodge Skaneateles, NY