Kate and Chris were married at the oldest Catholic Church in Philadelphia, Old St. Joseph’s this past Saturday.  Having not met either Kate or Chris until the day of the wedding, you sort of walk into things a little blind.  I had a great sense of their personal style and the look and feel for their wedding day, but I didn’t have faces to go with the email address.

When I walked into Kate’s hotel room, I was amazed at how calm everyone was.  Normally, I feel a little tension when I first walk in, maybe there are a few timing issues or something isn’t going as planned. Not on Saturday, the energy level was high and I really felt like I was meeting up with an old friend.

While, they did not see each other prior to the ceremony, we did have plenty of time to take photos!  Kate and her girls looked incredible and Chris and the guys cleaned up nicely as well.  Following the photos downtown we traveled over to Doylestown for their reception at Aldie Mansion.

Kate and Chris’ personalities are contagious.  Their relationship started in college,  they truly are best friends. Dispite a four year long, long distance relationship, they made it work. One of my favorite parts of the day was listening to Father Ruff talk about Kate and Chris’ relationship and the commitment to make a long distance relationship work and then to make it work for four years.  Being an outsider it allowed me to really get a sense of who they are as individuals and as a couple. Congratulations to you both!  I hope that you are having an amazing time in Europe!

One from my amazing second shooter!  I love how he knows exactly the look and feel I wanted from this shot.  Perfection!

.the details

Church: Old Saint Jospeh’s

Reception Location: Aldie Mansion

Caterer and Baker: Jeffery Miller

Florist: Poppy Florist

Makeup: Face the Occasion

Band: Janice Nowlan Band

Saturday’s wedding was incredible.  Kate and Chris were one of the most fabulous couples that I have worked with.  While, I had never met them until Saturday, I felt like I was hanging out with old friends.  Kate had found me through Style Me Pretty over a year ago and due to our geographical locations we were never able to meet. From our first phone call, I knew we were on the same page.  We had an instant connection of what each was looking for and able to produce on the wedding day.

Selecting your wedding photographer is so much more than liking the pictures and fitting into a budget.  Selecting your photographer should be based on the connection as well. For me, during my initial phone call or meeting with a bride, I love to get a sense of who she is, who they are as a couple and what their plans are for the wedding day.  Yes, the couple is interviewing me, but I am interviewing them as well.

Having trust in my clients to allow me to produce the photographs I have been hired to capture is the same trust they need to have in me to produce those images.  I often hear from members of the bridal party – “our photographer was terrible” or ” I wish I would have known about you… we didn’t get along with our photographer” those words are heartbreaking to hear.

I am a firm believer that there is the right photographer for every couple and the right couple for every photographer.  I know that I am not everyone’s cup of tea and I am okay with that.  In fact, I prefer not to be for everyone, just those who want amazing images and trust me and allow me the time to make it happen.

Some of the most incredible images I have ever captured were crazy ideas that my couple allowed me to try and they trusted me.

Here is one of my personal favorites from Saturday, more to follow:

Tonight marks the eve of the busy season.  Tomorrow morning by this time the butterflies in my stomach that will be almost unbearable and I won’t relax until it snap the first frame of the day.  After all of the weddings and portrait sessions I have photographed I still get a little nervous the night before all the shoot.  I don’t look at the nervousness as a bad thing, in fact, I think it is complete opposite.  I feel that the day I loose this feeling is the day that I find a new career.  The butterflies make me challenge myself, to push through and create amazing images for my couples and clients.

I am really excited about the weddings and sessions I have already booked for this year and can’t wait to see what other fun things come my way this year.  I have been working extra hard on a brand new custom website, with an incredible designer out of California that should be launching in a few weeks and the gallery space is finished and ready for visitors!

Check back next week to see photographs from tomorrows wedding!

I can’t believe how quickly time is flying by.  It feels like yesterday we were meeting with a breeder and picking up Jax to bring him home.  In 6 months, he has developed the most amazing personality and he still thinks at 80+ pounds that he is a lap dog.

Jax has become my test subject for all new equipment purchases.  Today, he modeled while I tested out my new 50mm 1.2 lens that I have been lusting over for three years!

On this rainy overcast day, Jax is spending most of his time napping and awaiting deliveries from the FedEx and UPS man

Happy Monday!

I have a thing for dark and bold nail polish!  I am not sure why, but I just love the way a dark and bold nail polish looks on a fresh manicure.  Even in the middle of July, I think a dark nail looks fantastic!

I was pulling photos for an upcoming project and noticed that several of my brides share the same love for dark and bold nail polish.  While, there is nothing wrong with a french manicure, I just happen to love the seeing such a bold choice for a wedding day!

I have to admit, I went with a french manicure the day of my wedding and I really wish I would have gone with something darker to really complete the look I was going for. Go bold or go home!

Here are a few of my favorites for the spring and summer: