Wedding Cake Photograph Created with HDR

I love real wedding cakes – I understand the economics of having a “stunt cake” or a fake cake where only part of the cake is real for the cake cutting ceremony. However, real cake is so much more tasty.

This cake was a carrot cake covered with real blueberries, strawberries, and currants. It was a little tricky to photograph – it was so dark and backlit. I photographed it several ways – with an off camera flash, with natural light, from outside looking in. This particular photograph was stitched together from 9 exposures and put together using HDR (High Dynamic Range).

I then edited the photograph to have a more film look – digital looks to perfect sometimes – and imitating film gives things a unique look.

Log Haven in Mill Creek Canyon

What defines a wedding in the memory of your guests? Obviously the bride and the groom – and then it would be location location location! Everyone will remember where you were married and what it looked like. And they will remember where you hosted the reception.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to photograph a wedding in Log Haven in Mill Creek Canyon in Utah. The only downside of this location is the lack of cell service – everything else is world class.

While the wedding party was eating – and I really don’t like photographing people eating – it is a bit embarrassing to people – I took the chance to photograph the location and I used a photographic technique called HDR (High Dynamic Range) to capture all the gorgeous detail.

Bride and Groom during a break in the rain

Rain drops fall on the wedding couple

The almost kiss

The flower girl had spunk! This was the third time she had been flower girl and she was a professional. After the ceremony she did launch lavendar at me and other guest – but it was a lot of fun. Check the SmugMug gallery to see all the photos from the wedding.

Flower girl spreads lavendar seeds

I love this photo – for the focus on the candle. Sometimes photos are for the photographer – and we hope other people feel that connection.

Candles light the wedding ceremony

As part of the Hungarian tradition – and that Zsolt is a stone mason trained in Europe – vows are exchanged holding hands and placing hands on a stone carved by Zsolt. Simply amazing craftsmanship.

Bride and groom exchange vows during the ceremony

Bride and groom embrace after the wedding ceremony

Zsolt is from Hungary and he has family members who were unable to attend the wedding. As a tribute to those family members there were 3 chairs with a single rose each.

Three chairs sit empty for those family members who couldn't make the wedding

Groom signs the wedding certificate

Wedding bouquet of flowers

Bride and the groom share a toast of wine

The wedding cake and flowers pose for a photograph

Flowers adorn the wedding cake – I love the detail shots.

Flowers adorn the wedding cake

I love real wedding cakes – I know the tradition is to have half real cake and half fake cake. Maybe I am just a fan of cake

Bride and groom cut the wedding cake

As soon as the clouds began to break and we had the rain stop we went out doors for some photography. As we waited for the groom I took a number of photos of the bride and the flower girl. I love the colors of the leaves after the rain – the color just popped.

Bride and flower girl walk together

Bride and flower girl walk together

This is my favorite photograph of the day – it just has a fun story. I did set up the situation but the flower girl played along perfectly.

The flower girl keeps the bride and groom from kissing in public

Bride and the Flower Girl

You can’t have rainbows without rain. And we had rainbows appear out the front door and so we snapped a number of pictures before the rainbows disappeared. I always have my camera in hand for any sudden photography moment. Be prepared for the sponateous situation should be the motto for every wedding photographer.

Bride and Groom Kiss below a rainbow

Bride and Groom Kiss below a rainbow

Bride and Groom Kiss below a rainbow

The mother of the bride and the bride were a gorgeous pair. I love photographing them together.

Bride and Bride's Mother

I love photographing the wedding rings. And flowers are often the best backdrop for the wedding rings. During the reception I will hunt down the wedding rings and photograph them – and return them quickly before you have a chance to miss them.

Wedding rings sit on flower petals

Sunset glows on the wedding couple

Photographers often avoid any kind of flare in their photography – and usually for good reason. But in this case the sun beams and the flare is so awesome. The golden sunlight catches the groom and bride in a kiss.

I was a second photographer for this wedding and I was so lucky to work with Heidi of Retrospect Studios. I love photographing with fellow photographers.