Matt and Christine’s January 31st wedding at The Point was just lovely. It was intimate, with just Matt and Christine’s most favorite people. If you’ve been to The Point for a wedding or reception, you know that the view from the modern, pointed front of the building, is just gorgeos. It looks over Salt Lake City and the day was perfect for a wedding with a view. The sky was a perfect blue and as the sun set, the sky turned orange and yellow and pink like it does in Salt Lake City. You could see as far as the Great Salt Lake. Christine looked gorgeous in her dress with the chiffon skirt and Matt beamed when he saw her.
There was such a great atmosphere during the reception; relaxed yet elegant without a bazillion people or the stress and chaos of a big wedding. It was just so nice.
Click here to see more of the wedding photographs or order prints. Enter the bride or groom’s first and last names in the search box.
Holly and Eric’s engagement session pretty much ruled. The only time we could meet and have good sunlight was at 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning in February. I met Holly and Eric at their place and off we went to the Great Salt Lake. It was really cold, but really beautiful with the clearest blue sky. Whoa-as I just wrote “clearest blue sky”, Johnny Cash sang, “clear blue sky” from my computer. Coincidence? I think not. Okay, back to regularly scheduled blogging…
So, Holly and Eric and I set off on our cold photographing adventure. I knew I didn’t have to do anything typical with them, and could really let my art out. The thin blanket of snow, crisp blue sky, and frost clinging to grasses was the perfect backdrop to Holly and Eric in their simple black and jeans outfits and their natural look. I teased them about how they had the same glasses and they told me that they are basically copies of each other with their glasses and long hair, often both wearing black and jeans. They both love and own Volkswagons. Eric sells ‘em and probably knows more about them than just about anyone. He also races them and wins a lot. Anything other than VWs are “off brand”.
Holly and Eric’s wedding is in September at Rose Sachs Gardens, a place I love to shoot. I’m looking forward to it. I also can’t wait for Holly’s bridal portrait session. I’ve got some awesome ideas for that and I got a sneak peek of her dress the other day. It’s gorgeous.
What’s Dance Church, you ask? Well…it’s fun, exciting, freeing, spiritual, uninhibited, carefree, a tribe, a community, a place for self improvement and introspection, a chance to dance and let yourself go. It’s held at Flow Yoga every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 5:45 p.m.
Jill and Michael Jeppesen started Dance Church SLC after having experienced it in other states like Washington and California. They are friends and clients of mine and asked me to photograph one of their Dance Church sessions so they could convey the joy and energy of Dance Church to others. I have attended Dance Church several times and it is a wonderful, fun, expressive event. Michael is the DJ and Jill coordinates and speaks at each meaning, providing the group of dancers a wonderful reading and intention before each dance session. She does this at the beginning and end of each Dance Church, with everyone sitting in a communal circle. It’s lovely. I think these photos explain what Dance Church is better than I ever can. Click on the arrow below to start the slideshow.
Music: “Yeke Yeke” Hardfloor Remix by Mory Kante
Click HERE to view all of the photos or order prints. Enter Dance Church in the Search box. All proceeds from Dance Church orders go to maintain and support Dance Church events.
Dance the way your body wants to, without choreography or judgment! Get out of your head and into your body, discovering the innate body wisdom you possess. Ecstatic Dance is an authentic, spontaneous, expressive, meditative movement practice inspired by various people, cultures and practices (Gabrielle Roth’s 5Rhythms™ http://www.gabrielleroth.com, Osho’s moving meditations, Rumi, Vibrational Medicine, Shaking Medicine http://www.shakingmedicine.com, Vinn Marti’s Soul Motion™ http://www.soulmotion.com and, of course, many indigenous cultures).
Go beyond the limits of your habitual movement patterns and explore your unique inner dance. No experience needed, just a willingness to move and be moved! It’s about putting your soul in motion and giving yourself permission to dance without holding back. If you love to dance, this is for you!
We dance barefoot (or with appropriate soft-soled shoes) at our own pace for a little more than an hour. There is no choreography or instruction, but a “focus” and other suggestions may be offered by the facilitator/DJ to help deepen your experience. You’re free to dance by yourself, with another, or join a spontaneous group expression. The music gradually builds to a high energy level and then winds back down to a meditative, relaxing finish. Be prepared to sweat. We become a community or “tribe” that looks forward to dancing together each month. And we look forward to welcoming you into the group!
It was a treat because it’s not the type of event I normally cover and all the special lighting for the concert was already set up for me. I got to focus on composition and capturing the expressions of these talented musicians. I loved the sweeping fabric and vibrant colors that the Rose Wagner Theater used for the stage. It was simple and beautiful.
I have to give a shout out to Sandie, whose engagement photos I shot in January, for showing me around and giving me the low down on Rose Wagner Theater. Sandie is an usher there.
Music: “Angel Next To Me” by Steffon
To see more photos from the concert, go HERE and enter Steffon and Peter Breinholt in the search field.
Spring is the quintessential season for getting hitched. But hosting an affair this time of year can also bring its share of problems. Here’s how to navigate around any issues gracefully.
Pitfall #1: Rain
The Plan: A good rental company can be your best friend. For an outdoor wedding, find a rental company with a rain policy; this agreement will get you a tent at the last minute (usually for a little extra) in case of a soggy weather forecast. If guests will be walking between different buildings or tents, rent hallways to provide coverage along the way. For venues with a flat front, order a canopy and have valet parking to guarantee dry guests. Rain can also do a number on your hair. Consider weaving in extensions or a hairpiece; they won’t frizz or go flat.
Pitfall #2: Mud
The Plan: Include an instant stain-remover stick in your emergency wedding kit. If your dress does get muddy, wait until the dirt dries (a hand-dryer or blow-dryer can speed up the process) and try to flick it off. Still there? Use the stick. To protect white wedding shoes from mud during downtime, step into plastic bags and secure them at the ankle with rubber bands (included in the kit). Or for a cute photo op, wear preppy galoshes.
Pitfall #3: Chilly Evenings
The Plan: Cooler temps predicted? Post the news on your wedding website, alerting guests, especially out-of-towners, about proper attire. Another gracious touch: Set out a basket of colorful shawls. (Ask a friend from a big city to grab cheap ones from a street vendor.) Keep candle flames alive when it’s breezy by placing pillars in glass hurricane holders, using battery-operated flameless candles that look real (and even flicker), or ordering pre-used candles — they’re romantic and the sunk-in wicks won’t be exposed.
Pitfall #4: Bugs
The Plan: If you’re saying “I do” by a lake, at the beach, or on the grounds of a country club, critters can crash your party (not as funny as Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson showing up). Keep baskets of bug repellant at the end of the aisles, and light citronella torches during the ceremony to scare away mosquitoes. Ask your florist for the best blooms for outdoor weddings (ones that don’t attract bees). If you can’t live without a certain bug-friendly flower, the florist may be able to remove the stamen to get rid of the smell. Have your hairstylist use unscented hairspray and skip the perfume until you’re inside the ballroom.
Pitfall #5: Afternoon Heat
The Plan: Scorchers sneak into spring. Hang parasols along the back rows of chairs for guests to grab. Or buy small cold packs, put them in fabric sleeves imprinted with your monogram, and have your ushers hand out the frozen favors (for wrists and the back of necks) with the programs. Elegant and practical gifts for the groomsmen are personalized handkerchiefs; during a steamy picture-taking session, they can wipe away perspiration. If your cake will be displayed outside, order one covered in fondant icing, which holds up well in the heat. With all eyes on the bride, play with a half-up, half-down hairstyle that can easily be pulled into a bun if you get overheated. When a dress with sleeves is a must, consider an airy mesh material.
Special thanks to: Laura Bianco and Kara Thorson, co-owners of My Bellissima in Florham Park, New Jersey
Nikki shines from within. Her eyes are alive and her smile is wide. She really knows how to work it for the camera, too. Nikki was a bride whose wedding I photographed about a year and-a-half ago and she is still one of my favorite brides. Her husband, Joe came along for part of the maternity session for some wonderful husband/wife/baby in-the-belly shots. We had to do a shot with Joe grabbing Nikki’s butt because we have a great one like it from their engagement session before they were married.
I am so pleased by these photographs. It makes me want to offer a maternity through baby’s first year package. I think I will!
Nikki and Joe had their baby, Hope, on February 19th (if I remember correctly) and I’m sure she’s a beauty with such great looking parents.
When do I get to see and photograph that little baby, Nikki? I am so happy for you.
Sandie and Matthew were married in the Manti LDS Temple recently-many congratulations, you guys! Now you get to do that thing you wanted to do on Valentine’s Day, Sandie! wink-wink
They’re those kind of people who are smiley, sparkly, and totally into each other-my favorite kind of people to photograph.
While shooting their engagement photographs in downtown Salt Lake City, I got us in trouble because I moved a big ‘ol bicycle rack out of the opening of a parking garage because, frankly, it just ruined my shot. The parking attendant lady yelled at me, but I got her to let me finish my photographs. We put the thing back. Sheesh! No harm, no foul.
Toward the end of the session, we took Matthew’s Scion-esque vehicle to a cool spot and did some photos with it. Matthew demonstrated how much he loves his vehicle by crawling on it like a pinup model! Check out Matthew making out with his car below.
Baby Max, as I fondly call him (like it’s all one word almost), is my new nephew. He was born on December 21st and I took these shots about 2 weeks after he was born. My sister and brother in-law live in Logan and by the time we got up there, it was almost dark, so I just used the light from the adjacent hall to the room I was shooting in as my light source. I quite like them and his momma, Tami, does to. Looking forward to watching you grow up, Max! Oh, and in case you were wondering, Max is not short for Maxwell, Maximus, or Maximillian. It’s just plain Max and I like it.
Lydia and Jesse are hot. They totally rocked their engagement session in downtown Salt Lake City. We had a little breeze to give Lydia that gorgeous wind-in-the-hair look, they had on great outfits, fabulous shoes, and Lydia and Jesse let their personalities shine through.
There were pigeons flying from one building to another in an area where we were shooting and I imagined a shot of the two of them kissing with pigeons flying over. I told them to “hurry up and kiss!” and I thought I didn’t quite get the shot, so we waited for the pigeons to fly again, and we waited…and waited…and waited. We yelled at the pigeons, trying to spook them, but they weren’t going for it. We were able to recreate the shot after many tries, but it turns out, the first one was the best because it was unstaged. That’s the beauty of photojournalism-capturing authentic moments when they happen. Staged, forced moments don’t tell the same story. I rarely ask for people to restage a moment, especially on the wedding day, but for an engagement session, it’s okay sometimes. I learned my lesson, though! Thanks, Jesse and Lydia, for putting up with all that ridiculous waiting.
Later, we went up to a special spot above the city. It’s a little gem in a neighborhood. It usually has tall grasses, but because it’s winter, they’re all flattened down in pretty wavy patterns. I got some lovely sunset shots of Jesse and Lydia that Lydia and I had been planning for and then, came the sexy part. I had Lydia unbutton Jesse’s shirt and have a little makeout session. Oh, baby! The neighbors across the street were looking out the window wondering what on earth was going on, but as I always say, “anything for the shot!”
Christine got married January 31st at The Point, so now I get to show off her bridals! We had a lovely session at the Utah State Capitol. I just love Christine’s creamy skin and beautiful red hair and the skirt on her dress…like a chiffon cupcake dream.
When we decided to do her bridals at the Capitol, Christine told me to remind me her to tell me a story about her and the Capitol. When she was little, on a school field trip, she got her head stuck between two of the marble balusters on one of the railings and the fire department had to come get her unstuck. Upon hearing this funny story, I insisted we recreate the moment. Her head is a little bigger now, so she didn’t get it stuck, but it was fun to pretend. Watch the slideshow to see our recreation.