As a photographer, there are definite influences I draw upon for my work. 17th century art happens to be one of those influences so when I met with Ross & Amy and they to me they wanted an NC Museum of Art wedding, I was over the moon to photograph it. Being able to have access in the museum with a camera and a cool couple is, well, one of those things that just refreshes my soul.
Ross & Amy wanted a low key, relaxed environment so having their wedding at the NC Museum of Art was perfect. The newly re-designed museum, if you haven’t seen it, from the outside looks rather minimalist but as soon as you walk thru the doors, you see what an incredible job they have done showcasing their art collections. The lighting alone is something I could spend days playing with – the museum really outdid themselves with providing perfect light for viewing (and in my case, taking photos) of the entire facility.
Ross & Amy both got ready at the museum and elected to see each other before the ceremony. They were going to just walk up and say hi to each other but humored me to build up the moment, just a little, in the front of an old wing of the museum. One of the really fun things about being in an art museum is the ability to incorporate the surrounding art into their wedding photographs. After we did their first look, we headed into the newer wing and shot all of the family formals. It was quite a warm day so being inside for formals was a definite welcome relief from the heat of the day. When I was shooting formals, it hit me how BIG the NC museum of Art is.
For the wedding ceremony, we headed out into the northern Courtyard of the museum which is a concrete paved area with water, fountains, lily’s, artistic pieces and trees surrounded on three sides by the tall glass walls of the museum. This provided a beautiful light to filter in over the ceremony and make for really gorgeous photos of Ross & Amy trading their vows. With so many cool aspects of the museum being present, I had to get a few “different” shots including reflections and one of the coolest pairs of tennis shoes I had seen.
After the ceremony, we headed into the wedding reception inside the museum where a table so long it would of made kings proud was waiting for the couple and their guests. With the timing of the wedding, we decided to wait to do the couples wedding portraits near the end of the evening. I did find a really cool opportunity, while everyone was eating, to do an “inception” style ring shot. Funnily enough, I haven’t seen the movie yet but not long after this wedding, I did see a “spoof” of the ring spinning scene. As their rings were not the normal metal (they are black wedding bands) I figured they would appreciate something a little different. After the dances and the cake cutting, we did get the chance to walk around the museum and get some really cool wedding day portraits. I always want my clients personalities to come out in the photos and, personally, I think I captured them perfectly.
Ross & Amy, thank you SO much for having me as your wedding photography. It was really a pleasure getting to hang out with you and your friends and family. I hope you love your photos as much as I do!
   
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If you read my last blog post, I mentioned how completely flattering it was to photograph a fellow wedding vendor’s wedding. It truly is one of the best compliments I can receive. Well, the hits just keep on coming! For my latest wedding, a destination wedding in Cancun, I was truly flattered to have been asked by another wonderful wedding photographer to fly down and photograph their ceremony. Well, we’ll call it a wedding but it technically was more of an elopement, but who’s keeping track.
I met Chris a few years ago at a photography convention in Nashville, TN. We talked occasionally after the convention was over and, funnily enough, he was back in Raleigh one afternoon so we sat down, with his wonderful Fiance’ CJ, and talked about the wedding business. Well, *I* thought we were talking about the wedding business, he was talking about hiring me. LOL.. ok, so I certainly have my moments but we got it all sorted out and, in the end, started planning for their destination wedding in Cancun.
I had never been to Mexico prior to this, so I was really excited as I flew into the Cancun airport. Chris had arranged for a car service to drive me from the Airport to the Secret Capri Riviera Cancun, where they were staying and having their wedding ceremony on the beach. The first night, we just kind of hung out, talked shop, had an amazing dinner and planned out the next day. The resort had a TON of amenities included including Hobie Cats that you can take out into the Gulf of Mexico. So here is where I give my disclaimer… I do love original shots and capturing those, sometimes, that the desire to do that will override the common sense gene that was screaming against the idea. So, yes, I hopped on the Hobie Cat with my camera and went out into the Gulf for a pre-wedding sail with the happy couple.
After we got back onto dry land, with a dry camera, Chris & CJ went back to their rooms and started getting ready for the wedding ceremony. As he is a wedding photographer himself, of course part of the getting ready process was setting up his own camera to capture video of the ceremony. CJ, on the other hand, was busy in the resorts day spa getting her hair and makeup done. The day went on as expected with the pre-wedding preparations on both sides, CJ getting dressed, Chris waiting patiently on the beach for the ceremony to begin. What made this all the more special, for me at least, is I was one of two people in attendance at their ceremony. This destination wedding had truly the perfect setting for such an intimate affair – on the beach at sunset with just myself and another guest witnessing the ceremony.
After the ceremony,. champagne toast and cake cutting (which was an awesome cheesecake), we headed out onto the beach and around the resort for couples portraits. The whole facility was spectacular and had no shortage of beautiful locations for portraits. As it was such a small affair, the wedding reception consisted of dinner on the beach for the 3 of us. I know i’m saying this alot but I really was truly flattered to have been invited to join them that evening. We were served dinner while sitting on pillows in a curtain enclosed hut right on the water. The curtains were lit with gelled lights and it was, in a word, a spectacular setting at night with the resort lights on one side and the roar of the ocean on the other.
After dinner was over, we headed back into the resort to get one final set of shots. On the top floor of the resort, there was, what I can best describe, as the “hall of lights”. This was an open room at the end of a hallway that had at least 150 different lights hanging from the 20 foot ceiling. Each light was unique and had glass or metal shades. This is the first time I had seen anything like it and with the lights hanging so low, we had to weave in and out during the photos so we didn’t crash into them. It was the perfect way to end Chris & CJ’s wedding day.
I want to sincerely thank Chris & CJ personally for having me down in Cancun to not only photograph their wedding, but to witness their ceremony and enjoy such a wonderful moment in their lives. As always, here are a few choice photos from Chris & CJ’s destination wedding in Cancun.
Yes, that is me...
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What’s one of the best compliments a wedding photographer can receive? When someone in the wedding community asks you to photograph their wedding. Jenn works for a local catering company and does wedding planning for the Cotton Room in Durham as well. So when she called me wanting to photograph her TPC Wakefield Wedding, I was truly flattered that a wedding vendor, who knows almost ALL of the other vendors, wanted me to capture her special day.
Jenn’s Fiance’, Chris, is a golf pro so having their wedding at TPC wakefield was definitely a fitting location. Set just off the 18th green, their outdoor wedding was in a shaded area of lawn just outside the clubhouse. Both Jenn & Chris got ready there and this marks the 2nd time in 3 weeks I’ve photographed brides & grooms getting ready in golf locker rooms. I know that doesn’t sound all that great, but these are seriously nice locker rooms complete with wood paneled personalized lockers, so we aren’t talking high school gym here. In others words, a very fitting setting for a gorgeous wedding!
As the wedding processional began, I caught site of Jenn riding in the back of a golf cart. Why this struck me as cool, I’m not quite sure why, but well, it was. As Jenn walked into the center aisle of the ceremony, I had a firm eye on Chris. While he’s gonna kill me for saying this, I knew he was going to, as I call it, “break” from the site of his gorgeous bride to be walking down the aisle. When I shot their engagement session the UNC campus, I could see it then and, ya, he did. The wedding was gorgeous and my 2nd shooter captured an amazing phot0 (as she always does) thru the treeline during this time.
After the wedding ceremony, we shot a few of their formal photos outside then headed over to the reception. Now, as you can imagine, when a wedding vendor gets married, they know all of the possibilities and have really creative ideas. Jenn’s wedding was certainly not a disappointment. From photo booths to ice sculptures to the coolest name card arrangement and, well, other awesome vendors, the reception was gorgeous and I was, again, so honored to have been the one to capture everything for the happy couple.
Jenn & Chris, congratulations to you both. Thank you again for having me capture your wedding. It really was an honor and a privilege to be at your wedding. Now, on to a few choice photos from their beautiful TPC Wakefield wedding! By the way, yes, that IS me behind the DJ table… we decided to switch roles momentarily.
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Well it’s been a heck of a week. My photography blog set a personal record with over 1100 hits in a single day, was commissioned by a national magazine (yes, I can guarantee you’ve heard of it) for a shoot next month and, now, I’ve had an article featured on a very cool website. The-Unveiled is a website designed to provide wedding photography tips to other wedding photographers. My Article, working in bad light, discusses how I shot a tough image with mixed lighting conditions (including camera settings and the thought process for the shot) and, if given an opportunity, how I would make it better.
As you may know (if you read my blog with any regularity), I love shooting at night, in tough lighting conditions and making something pretty cool and a little different in the process. To me, it’s all about having some fun on the wedding day and producing something unique and gorgeous for my clients. It was a real pleasure being contacted by Tobiah (who is one heck of a photographer himself) to submit something for his site. Make sure and check it out and keep an eye out for future updates!
http://www.the-unveiled.com
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by Brian Mullins
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