Here are a few of our favorite shots. The lighting was hard to work with that day. No clouds in sight and a blazing sun. The solution is often to have everyone face right into the sun and hope for the best. Watch out for your shadow. It’s easy to get focused on other aspects of your image only to realize there is a ridiculous shadow of a photographer with a camera sprawled across the bottom of the composition. It happened twice that day.

[Click here for larger slide show.]

While Ellis was getting the opiate of mothers milk, we put suede in the large bass drum for a few shots. She has the cutest squeaky mouse voice and would repeat anything we asked her to. Getting genuine smiles from her was not an issue. The lighting was just right to get the sparkle in her eyes.

Enter stage right, (whether he liked it or not) is Ellis.  He’s the cutest baby that always seems to be staring off into space pondering the meaning of life.  We had a full drum set to work with so we picked out a tom just his size.  Looks cozy.  Suede kept checking in on her little brother.  The pacifier and cloth diapers were a nice touch.

We let Suede out to stretch her legs and ended up with her on top of little Ellis.  There were a few shots I liked in this pose, and I decided to try two tone coloring…interesting effect.  The drum was lit by placing a strobe just on the other side of the white drum head giving the baby a nice glow.

Not forgetting the reason for the shoot, we let Ellis have the glory of the spotlight for a few clicks as well.  I experimented with green because green is nice and it matched is plug.

If you’d like to see a selection of the shots in full screen, click here.

Enjoy.

LINK: Surfing Under an Orange Sky

LINK: Film vs. Digital

As a second shooter, I shot a very fun and unique military wedding this last weekend. Here are just a few of my candid shots.  The daughter of 2-star General Marks and her military fiance had a full line up of military dressed grooms men to give them a most unique wedding. Military weddings are unique and a privilege of those in the armed forces or cadets. What most guests at a military wedding are most likely to remember is the “crossed sabers,” also known as the “arch of sabers,” or the “arch of steel. Traditionally the bride and groom walk through the arch of swords. That passage is meant to ensure the couple’s safe transition into their new life together.

The General surprised us both with is friendly nature and ability to get down on the dance floor.  Half way through the event he removed his uniform jacket and to everyones shock, he had been wearing an modified Hawaiian aloha shirt with a faux tuxedo front.  Too funny.

The wedding was done in a beautiful Catholic chapel in Northern Virginia.  It had a great choir loft that allowed me to shoot a few overhead wide-angle shots and capture the beautiful interior of the chapel.  I always enjoy the deep meaning that comes from the symbolisms of a catholic wedding.  

I couldn’t get enough shots of the cute ring-bearers.  So stylin.  

And sleepy…

This shot was taken as they left the building.  I liked the silhouette look.  Simply put, this was a very enjoyable wedding to cover.  Great families!

I try and get out to cover local events when they occur down town.  Two days ago I decided to see what interesting shots might be awaiting at an American tea party in front of the White House.  Full gallery here. (Music provided by The Pressure)

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