I will be blogging the photographs later when they are ready for publishing. In the meantime I figured I would share the two family photographs.

The first photograph features the family portrait from the Salt Lake wedding. My brother Jonathan (the youngest of 7 kids) married Kelli Jo in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Jonathan and Kelli Jo were married in December at the Salt Lake Temple

My brother Joel married Carissa 2 weeks later at the Snowflake Arizona Temple. My brother Paul wasn’t able to make it out for that wedding so I will be adding him with the power of Photoshop.

Joel and Carissa were married in January at the Snowflake Arizona Temple

Our family is very excited for our new sister-in-laws! They are awesome and they have really meshed well with our family. Most importantly they enjoy our family’s sense of humor – which is important

Now if we can find someone for my sister…

I wanted to share a Polaroid photograph I created of Joel and Carissa. I created this at their wedding reception in Orem, Utah on Saturday. A few months ago I bought 2 Polaroid CloseUp cameras – one is for black and white film and the other one is for color photographs.

The past year has seen a number of changes for my shooting style. I have been seduced by the novelty of film and Polaroid film is probably the most unique film out there.

Joel & Carissa on Polaroid Film

To each of my weddings, bridals, and engagement sessions I have been bringing along at least one film camera and often one Polaroid to snap a few photographs. I am definitely seeing the world a bit differently when I shoot film. My hope is to create a unique look for my clients.

In most cases I will scan the film into my computer and then send the client the original Polaroid. In the future I will probably just hand the Polaroid over to the client and they can have a truly unique one of a kind photograph of their very own.

I have a few more Polaroids that I will be posting. Brides have been head over heals for the look. Everyone likes the vintage look and feel. I can imitate that in Photoshop, however, there is a certain magic feeling that a real Polaroid or film photograph contains that can’t be captured digitally.

For those that are curious – Polaroid the company no longer makes the film for Polaroid cameras. There is a new company called The Impossible Project. They are the masterminds who have reverse engineered the film to work with Ye Olde Tyme Polaroid cameras. I just call everything Polaroid since that is what people think when they see this film.

Life has gotten so busy but I am managing pretty well. In two weeks there were two brothers marrying to amazing women in two different states – it has been madness and totally amazing. I was the wedding photographer for both weddings and I will be posting photographs eventually on the blog.

In the meantime I will share with you a photograph of my nephew chilling out at the wedding reception last night. Sometimes I wish I could just relax like this – chill and play on the iPhone. However, the life of a photographer is non stop marketing, photographing, and editing. And I wouldn’t change that for anything.

Chilling out and relaxing at a wedding reception?

And I am sure I sound like a broken record when I promise to blog more – and I am sure I can make it happen. Although blogging is right behind my goal to get to the gym to get in shape. That is my top priority in life right now and it is important. What good is being a photographer if I can’t carry all my camera gear to a wedding? And I need to be in shape to spend 8-15 hours on my feet taking photographs of people’s weddings.

This was the third time I have photographed a wedding at Rose Sachs. In fact I helped another photographer photograph a wedding at Rose Sachs that very same morning. It is located half way between Salt Lake City and Park City and it is a gorgeous location.

I am going to start off with one of my favorite photographs – I usually show these chronologically – but I am going to tell this story a little differently.

Teresa and Nelson's formal wedding photographs at Rose Sachs

Getting ready photographs aren’t necessary but they help tell a story. Of course it is important for the bride and groom and the people involved to be comfortable with a photographer in the area. Often times I just wait outside and wait till people are dressed enough for some “getting ready photos.”

Getting ready for the wedding - waiting out the rain

The groom wore a kilt from his family’s history and they used YouTube as a checklist for the proper way to wear a kilt.

Using YouTube so we know how to wear a kilt

The wedding ceremony was presided by a Buddhist priest/monk and so it is a good thing that Rose Sachs had a Buddha statue already there.

Rose Sachs had a buddha statue on hand - coincidence that the wedding ceremony was a Buddhist ceremony.

This is one of the first Buddhist wedding ceremonies that I have had the opportunity to photograph. It is really cool to witness different cultures and different religious ceremonies. That same morning I had helped photograph a Chinese wedding ceremony which included the tea and red envelopes.

Buddhist wedding ceremony

Buddhist wedding ceremony

Buddhist wedding ceremony

Getting to photograph the rings as they are exchanged can be a challenge. Couples don’t always turn the hands to show the rings. And I won’t get so close to be a distraction – fortunately there was room where I could get a great shot of the rings being exchanged.

Exchanging wedding rings

I have some new and improved software that I use to create the perfect black and white photograph. It gives me so much control – I can even imitate popular black and white film! I can definitely add all the drama I want! Occasionally I will photograph with actual film cameras but when it counts I am going digital because of the flexibility, creative control and quality.

You may kiss the bride. First kiss.

And then time for wedding portraits! We started in front of the Rose Sachs waterfall and then moved to the area that was having some amazing clouds and sunset. The light was beautiful but also disappearing quickly.

Formal Wedding Portraits in front of the waterfall

Group photographs of the wedding party

I saw these clouds and colors and knew I needed to move people over quickly. The early storms had left way for a beautiful sunset and colors in the sky.

Formal portraits in front of the gorgeous backdrop

Taking advantage of the beautiful sunset for these photographs.

Here are some of the wedding details. I always go for the flowers, cake, wedding rings, decorations, food. The details are always important – you design a great wedding and the details help tell that story. And if you ever want a wedding published in the magazine you have to have amazing detail photographs. So I always shoot hoping that things look like a magazine.

The wedding cake in front of the Rose Sachs Waterfall

The wedding bouquet and the waterfall

I really like photographing wedding rings. I see it as a miniature version of the bride and groom and we place them in unique locations.

The wedding rings

A few more wedding portraits

Time to party!

There are the traditional activities of cake cutting, the garter belt, and the tossing of the bouquet. They had the groom toss the bouquet and then the bride removed a part of the kilt setup.

Cutting the cake

Teresa removes the groom's garter

Nelson throws the bride's bouquet

This isn't the first dance - but I really like this photograph

Congratulations to Teresa and Nelson!

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

We were nervous that the day was going to be rain filled, however, we were spared rain and it was overcast – which did create some beautiful light for the wedding day.

Spring time weddings means the temple is decorated with tulips

David and Jenn exit the temple and are greeted by their children. And we then took group photographs and the formal portraits of David and Jenn. I am so happy the weather cooperated! I can’t stress that enough. If worse came to worse I had offered to photograph their family again another day.

David and Jenn after their sealing in the temple

Their children waiting for them outside

For this wedding – they hired me with one of my 4 hour wedding packages. It is a half day of coverage and in this case they purchased a disk with the full resolution photographs! Just wanted to show folks what can be done in only 4 hours of photography coverage.

Group photo in front of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple

And I was not the only photographer there – it is always fun to capture some candid moments before the wedding.

I was not the only photographer in attendance

These are a few of the formal portraits for David and Jenn. I like to start with the large group photo and then dismiss family and friends so we can focus on the bride and groom. It pays to be a bossy photographer to move the family and friends along. We want to spend as much time with the bride and groom as possible and we don’t want to spend too much time with photographs. Photographers can spend a lot of time but the most important part of the wedding isn’t photography – it is spending time with your family and friends! So I try to be as efficient as possible.

Formal wedding portraits of David & Jenn

Formal wedding portraits of David & Jenn

I try to edit photographs as quickly as possible. In the day and age of digital photography it is totally possible to have the photographs online the same day as the wedding. However, I believe in taking a little bit of time to make sure I have eliminated photographs that aren’t up to par. If someone is blinking, or people aren’t smiling or if I have to replace some faces of people who blinked, or weren’t smiling. I work quickly but I don’t want to cut corners.

Formal wedding portraits of David & Jenn

Formal wedding portraits of David & Jenn

Formal wedding portraits of David & Jenn

Formal wedding portraits of David & Jenn

Formal wedding portraits of David & Jenn

Formal wedding portraits of David & Jenn

Formal wedding portraits of David & Jenn

Formal wedding portraits of David & Jenn

Formal wedding portraits of David & Jenn

After we were finished with the wedding portraits I played the roll of limo driver – somehow the keys to the bride and groom’s car were misplaced and they needed a ride to their wedding reception! I should vacuum my car before a wedding next time

Wedding Bouquet

The wedding was originally planned for a backyard wedding reception. However, due to the threat of thunderstorms and rain the reception was moved indoors. We worked with the tight quarters and it worked just fine. The cake and flowers were beautiful!

Wedding flowers

Wedding cake with wedding cupcakes

Wedding cupcakes! Nom nom nom nom

David and Jenn departed for Mexico for their honeymoon – but not before they were barraged with wedding flowers.

David and Jenn leave for their honeymoon in Mexico!

The wedding limo - is a cool Mini Cooper

The wedding ceremony was held at the First Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, Utah.

First Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, Utah

Kamrin and Manuel’s story is unique – at least to me it is. They met back in 2004 and since then have 3 children that they have raised. They have faced obstacles involving adoption, immigration, and more. I think these were some of the reason they were select for this year’s wedding.

Manuel helps make sure the tuxedo is dressed to the nines

Kamrin and Manuel have 3 children - these are their sons

One of the advantages of being a second photographer is the chance to capture more candid moments. First photographers have to capture the formal portraits and often they miss photographs like this dance with one of the flower girls.

A spontaneous dance before the wedding ceremony

Flower bouquet for some of the wedding party

Formal portraits at the church right before the wedding ceremony

Kamrin, Manuel and their kids with a few extras

Manuel walks down the aisle for the wedding procession

The flower girl was so nervous she didn't drop any flower petals

Their daughter clings to one of her fathers

The wedding procession had been practiced the Friday before hand and even with practice there were a few hiccups. The flower girl didn’t drop any flower petals, the ring bearer dropped the pillow with rings about 3 or 4 times. And then the CD player didn’t play for the second part of the procession. These are moment I capture on camera best I can and they will become unique memories for the wedding.

The ring bearer dropped the ring and pillow about 3 or 4 times while walking down the aisle

This was also my chance to photograph from the balcony of the church.

As second shooter during the ceremony I covered the ceremony from the balcony

Karmin is escorted down the aisle

The couple choose to have several wedding traditions involving 13 gold coins, a glass rope to bind the couple and a unity candle.

There were several Spanish wedding traditions that were followed

The priest gives 13 gold coins as part of the wedding ceremony

Lighting candles

Kamrin & Manuel exchange wedding rings

Their first kiss

As soon as the couple started down the aisle I booked it over to the University of Utah Tower at the Rice Eccles Stadium. I photographed the wedding cake, the catering by LeCroissant Catering company.

The wedding cake

Catering was provide by LeCroissant Catering

Catering was provide by LeCroissant Catering

Belly dancers entertain the wedding reception

The wedding reception feature belly dancers, dancers with swords, first dance, and music entertainment by DJ Pauly Entertainment.

Belly dancing with swords

Champagne is poured for the wedding toast

Kamrin and Manuel's gold wedding rings

Kamrin & Manuel cut the wedding cake

The first dance

Dancing to the music - DJ Pauly Entertainment was the DJ

The dollar dance - people dance and give a dollar or some dinero to the new married couple

DJ Pauly Entertainment

Breakdancing

Everyone photographs and records some Single Ladies performances

The Single Ladies perform to Beyonce's hit Single Ladies

Some of the wedding details - this is used to put the red dot on people's foreheads

My job as a second shooter is to be where the other photograph is not – if he is on the right side of the wedding I should probably be in the center or on the left. If he is shooting with a wide angle lens I should probably be photographing with a telephoto zoom lens. My job is to give the main photographer photographs he couldn’t create at the same time he is creating his own photographs.

Wedding guests entering the wedding

This was my first wedding at the Grand America Hotel – I have photographed several fundraisers, parties, and events there before but this was the first wedding. And of course I check with the main photographer if it is ok if I blog these photos – I wouldn’t dream of doing so without their blessing. And a second photographer should never blog or post the photographs before the first photographer does so. I have a back log of weddings that I have second shot but not blog yet. One of these days I should blog them.

The groom is blessed before head walk on a path of flower petals

Because of the vivid colors for this wedding I decided not to convert any to black and white. I might do so later, however, the colors are just amazing. In fact all of these photographs are pretty much straight out of camera – I haven’t run any actions or tried to do anything different to these images.

The groom's wedding party approaches the tent

Thanks again to Nick for letting me photograph this wedding ceremony with him. I have a lot of fun photographing for him. He definitely photographs some very beautiful high end weddings.

The head priest performs part of the Indian wedding ceremony

The Bride is blessed before she walks down the rose petal pathway

The bride is shielded from the groom by a veil

As a second shooter it is my job to photograph from a different location than the primary shooter

Women sing the mangal-ashtaka

The groom is blocked from viewing the bride by a veil

The bride and the groom are revealed to each other after the veil is lowered

The high priest performs the various parts of the wedding ceremony

The flower petals that lead to the wedding ceremony

Changing the point of focus to the wedding ceremony

The brides parents perform part of the wedding ceremony

The wedding couple perform several oaths during the ceremony

The bride and groom catch a glance during the wedding ceremony

The groom places a necklace around the bride's neck

A ceremonial fire, or homa, is lit and prayers are offered

The wedding party watches the ceremony

The bride and groom prepare for the sapta-padi - they take seven steps together

The groom applies Sindoor to the bride's hair signifying the bride as his wife

The priest blesses the new couple

People pour rice and give good blessings on the bride and groom

I had photographed Megan’s brother’s wedding a few years ago and she loved those photographs so she flew me out to Pennsylvania to photograph their New Year’s Eve wedding. I will confess – it is fun to travel for a wedding. I can see new locations and it is fun to travel.

So here are a number of photographs starting with wedding preparations then the wedding ceremony at a Catholic church. The wedding reception was held at a country club and then fireworks welcomed the New Year.

And I have to OK to link to the SmugMug gallery – it is a big gallery including rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, wedding, wedding reception and the last 140 images are edited for the wedding album.

Stylists prepare Megan's hair for the wedding day

Wedding details are very important – and when the bride makes her own shoes with little touches of fancy it just helps make some amazing photographs.

The bride's wedding shoes

Wedding dress and veil

Makeup ready for the big day

Capturing weddings on photographs is more about telling a story these days than just taking pretty pictures. It is part photo journalist and part story teller. Capturing moments of the bride reading a note from her soon to be husband is one of those many moments I look for.

Megan reads the note from Tony - the note came with a dozen red roses

And I took a peek and the note - perfect photograph for the wedding album

Tony gets ready for the wedding ceremony

Gage and Tony pose for some photographs. Gage was Tony’s engagement gift to Megan. Gage is a sweet heart and he turns out does not like cameras. So we had to be quick to get some photographs.

Tony & Gage - Gage was the gift for their engagement

Megan puts on her wedding dress

Megan puts on her wedding dress

I have already posted some of Megan’s bridal photographs here.

One of the bridal shots before the wedding

Megan planned everything down to the last detail – the wedding was very organized and ran like clockwork. She also had a large limo to carry the wedding party to and from the wedding to the wedding reception. This way everyone could have a few beverages and not worry about transportation.

A toast in the limo - on the way to the church

The Catholic Church in Scranton, PA

Megan was excited to have black and white photographs – and so I probably created more black and white photographs than I normal would.

Wedding procession

Groom and the father of the bride shake hands

Tony is not Catholic so the wedding ceremony was not the full Catholic wedding ceremony. The whole ceremony was beautiful and I chose to work with available light in the church as to not disrupt the ceremony. I did check with the priest before the wedding to know what guidelines to follow – it is always important to put the ceremony first and photography second – my job is to be a ninja photographer. I don’t want to detract from what is happening.

The wedding ceremony - not the full Catholic ceremony

Megan and Tony exchange wedding rings

Megan & Tony's First kiss

Megan & Tony light their Unity Candle

Best exit from a church ever!

Fireworks light Megan and Tony's exit from the church as husband and wife

I had planned this photograph in my mind before the wedding ever began. I had my lighting setup planned out in my mind and I think this is one of my favorite photographs from the wedding. I really believe in having some formal portraits with the bride and groom – even if we spend about 10 minutes I can work some magic. I don’t like the idea of full photo journalism and I do like to create a few formal portraits.

Megan and Tony's formal portraits after the wedding

Megan and Tony's formal portraits after the wedding

Megan and Tony's formal portraits after the wedding

Megan and Tony's formal portraits after the wedding

Yes, wedding photography should be 90% bride and groom but I do love to photograph the wedding details such as wedding bouquet, rings, cake, decorations and more. If I ever try to get published in a wedding magazine they editors love wedding details – and they want to see a lot and they want variety and unique approaches.

The wedding reception

The wedding cake

I did photograph the wedding rings in a number of different locations and always tried to create some variety. This photograph the wedding rings are also paired with Megan’s sister’s ring.

Megan and Tony's Wedding ring - and Megan's sister's ring

Megan's Wedding bouquet

The first dance photographs – I can’t wait to show off the spread in the wedding album that features their first dance.

Megan and Tony's first dance

Megan and Tony's first dance

Megan and Tony cut the wedding cake

Fireworks at the stroke of midnight – these photographs were a challenge but I pulled it off. If I ever photograph a bride and groom beneath fireworks again I will know exactly what to do.

Fireworks at midnight on New Year's Eve

Megan and Tony watch the fireworks on New Year's Eve

Megan and Tony dance the night away

Megan and Tony dance the night away

Right now I am designing their wedding album. As the album is almost done I will be blogging some of my favorite photographs for the wedding. Right now the bride and groom have a password protected gallery on my SmugMug site so they can see and review the photos. We will be making that gallery available to friends and family when Megan gives the thumbs up. I’m excited because Megan really loves the photographs – which is always great to hear. Woo hoo!

Fireworks go off as the bride and groom leave the church

So many great photographs to choose from. Right now I have 215 photos that are destined for the wedding album. I am sure the number of photographs will be whittled down to a more reasonable number, lol. That is a lot of photos for an album.

I wish Utah would legalize fireworks – we need them at more weddings.

I have known Amy & Julianne for years! And they are my favorite lesbians of all time so it was an honor to be selected as their photographer. We spent a few days before the wedding visiting Vermont and acting like tourists and I took a ton of photographs. I think that made this destination wedding a blast and memorable.

And they are just the cutest couple! I am excited to share these photographs with you. If you are offended, then you shouldn’t read the rest of this blog post. And I am probably not the wedding photographer for you. However, if you support equality and love and you are cool and groovy then I know you will love the photographs I have captured and created for Amy and Julianne’s special day.

Amy & Julianne's Formal Wedding photograph

If you ever want to visit the best bed and Breakfast in the east coast you must check out Phineas Swann Bed & Breakfast. The accommodations, food, and atmosphere is just amazing. I took a ton of photographs and even supplied the folks at the bed & breakfast photos they can use in their marketing.

Phineas Swann Bed & Breakfast was the wedding venue

I love the sunlight peaking over the mountain behind the wedding gowns. The sun was setting quickly and I was able to set up the gown photograph before we lost the sunlight entirely.

The Brides' wedding dresses were custom made for this special occasion

The nice thing about a lesbian wedding is the brides did hair and makeup in one location. If there was a bride and groom I would have to bounce between two locations to take preparation photographs.

Amy prepares her makeup for the wedding ceremony

Preparation photographs – of makeup, hair, putting on the gown aren’t critical but they help tell a story of the day. Things were running late because the couple and friends and family had been touring the cider mill and the Cabot cheese factory earlier in the day. Weddings almost always will run a little bit behind schedule. Just remember, there is rarely a reason to panic – enjoy your wedding day.

Julianne blow dries her hair

Curling irons and flat irons to the rescue!

Julianne's turn for makeup

Taylor was excited for the wedding as well!

Taylor gets ready with mom's help

I had to be quick to capture this photograph. We don’t want to capture photos that are embarrassing or show to much.

Amy and Julianne in their wedding dresses

Because of the delay in the wedding we didn’t have much time for formal wedding portraits with Amy & Julianne. Good thing I am prepared and I can work quickly. We spent 5 minutes taking these photographs by the river. This was late October in Vermont and the autumn foliage had been knocked to the ground earlier in the month due to a hail storm. It is still beautiful there and we were able to get a number of wonderful photographs.

Formal wedding photography before the ceremony - we only had 5 minutes

Amy and Julianne share a kiss during the portrait photography

Formal wedding portraits next to the river - the season was too late for autumn leaves

We were uncertain if we would be able to have a wedding outside or inside. The weather was just warm enough that the brides decided they could have the wedding outside on the back patio of the Bed & Breakfast. The ceremony was short and beautiful. I even captured a few teary eyes of the brides.

Wedding ceremony behind the Bed & Breakfast - the weather was just warm enough

Julianne & Amy's Wedding Ceremony

Amy gets a little teary eyed during the ceremony

Montgomery Center is such a small town that many people in the city have multiple jobs and responsibilities. The caterer was also the Justice of the Peace who married the couple. After the wedding she was going to be performing with her band at the local drinking establishment.

Montgomery Center is so small that the caterer also performs the wedding ceremony

Capturing the exchange of wedding rings is a challenge – and I told the brides ahead of time to turn the hands so we could see the rings being exchanged. I also want to be able to capture these moments with the lens.

Julianne places the wedding ring on Amy's finger

Always the best moment – and some people kiss pretty quickly. So I had less than a second for the first kiss.

You may kiss the brides!

I pronounce you wife and wife

Congrats, Amy & Julianne. Huge smiles all around.

Immediately following the wedding ceremony we held the group, family and friends photographs & portraits behind the Bed & Breakfast. Everyone was able to brave the cold and the brides were true troopers – they had goosebumps at the end of the photo session.

Big group photograph of the friends and family

Amy, Taylor, and Julianne

The sunlight and twilight were falling quickly so we had to photograph quickly to get a few portraits and formals of Amy & Julianne. Such beautiful brides! I wish we had more time to get some formal portraits but we work with what we have.

Formal wedding photography after the ceremony - it was freezing!

Formal wedding photography after the ceremony

I absolutely love this photograph and so do Amy & Julianne. I hope they put a big print on the wall!

Amy and Julianne's favorite photograph from the wedding

Once it was too dark and cold for outside we moved indoors for a few photographs. We didn’t want to take too long. There was still the dinner, cake cutting, and spending time with their friends, family and guests.

Wedding portrait inside the Phineas Swann Bed & Breakfast

Each wedding bouquet was unique. And one of the bouquets feature a prominent white flower as a tribute to Romeo and Juliet where a white rose figures prominently in their love story.

The brides' wedding bouquets

While everyone is enjoying dinner is a perfect time for me to photograph the wedding rings. It can be a challenge to find a perfect location to photograph wedding rings. I usually try to find flowers from the wedding and I definitely succeeded in that regard. These two wedding ring photographs are among my all time favorites.

Silhouette of the wedding rings

The following photograph is going to be featured prominently on their wedding album. It is going to be on a two page spread – I love it!

Amy and Julianne's wedding rings in a large flower

And the last few photographs are the wedding cake and the cutting of said cake. There was no cake smash on this occasion.

The wedding cake

Amy & Julianne cut the wedding cake

Amy and Julianne exchange wedding cake

Thank you for reading my blog! I certainly hope you enjoyed the wedding photographs for Amy & Julianne. I would love, love, love to photograph Vermont weddings more regularly. The area is beautiful and I understand there is a shortage of wedding photographers in Vermont. I’m available!!

And from now on I will be blogging weddings from both straight couples, gay couples and lesbian couples. I realize that this might drive some potential clients away from my wedding photography – and I realize that they probably should find someone else. Personally, I believe that you need to have a good relationship between brides, grooms, photographers, and even the parents.

Anyway, I will get off of my mini-soap box and I hope to hear from you!