Big Sky

Stephanie and Vern were married outdoors. While we were shooting posed pics outside I asked if we could walk to the edge of a fence row and shoot these pictures. They really didn’t like the idea but I did promised them that they would like the pictures. I set them up and then shot the first picture in the series. Right away I walked up to them and displayed the first pic to them. Immediately they repsoned and were happy to take a whole bunch more. Its important to let couples know what your doing and ease there mood. A relaxed and understanding couple makes for better photos.

 

Big Sky

Vogue Posing

I shot this wedding late in the summer. The day was warm and humid but the evening was cool. It was one of those days where you wonder when the thunderstorm is going to open up over top of you. Jessica and Greg are definitely southern California transplanted to the east coast. This pic, vogue posing, is well before the wedding. I typically roam back and forth between the bride and groom catching scenes from the day prior to the wedding. In this case Jessica had a huge group of people that were very laid back and California cool. They all however were just standing around looking at me. It is really important to figure what people would do then try to shoot it for them. Jessica had a huge calm presence and everyone else was full of energy. So I sat Jessica on the bed and had everyone pretend to be fashion models or “vogue” on the bed. I moved to a chair and shot at a high angle from the corner of the room against the ceiling wide open with my 14-24 wide angle. I like the results. What do you think?

Vogue Posing

Website Updated

Just an FYI-

          Starting to get my act together after all the editing. The goal is to update my main website, www.ajphotographyonline.com, with images from the past year. This is of course just the first cut. I am sure there will be more edits as I agree and disagree with myself on which images to use. Let me know what you think?

AJ Photography Update

I just realized that I don’t have to post pictures to update my blog and you cannot call it a blog unless you update. October has been really busy. AJ Photography is shooting four weddings during the first two weeks of the month. I have lots of pictures to edit in the next couple of weeks from Gettysburg, Hedgesville, Middletown, and Frederick. My print website, http://www.ajphotographyonline.printroom.com/ has also been re-organized for an easier look and feel. I am also looking forward to seeing everyone during the wedding show season this year. Trying to throw in a couple of new wrinkles this year and offer some new things to brides this year. Once I have times and dates for the shows I will update everyone.

Sugarloaf Wedding – Stronghold Mansion

Allison and John married on Sugarloaf in the rain. Not a little rain, not a misting, but a whole day of steady rain. Allison was not about to let a little rain ruin her wedding day. It is really nice to see a bride make the best of things and I think the pictures show that determination. Even with the rain and the wet dress and all the normal stress of a wedding day the pictures turned out great. It was a real pleasure photographing Allison and John and I hope to have more brides like Allison even if there weddings are on rainy days.

Garden view

Swan

Shelley & Dennis

The church

The ring

Shelley just before the service

Framed in the church door

I met this couple through friends and then we talked briefly at one of the bridal shows last year. Shelley and Dennis were married on a really nice day at a quaint Church with some really nice natural light. I try hard to utilize the look and feel of the day at the ceremony. The Church was a little different. The pews were right on top of the bridal party and there was no center aisle. Most of the work was angled or shot across the crowd. So you have to either shoot wide open or in tight. There was also a nice balcony that I shot from as well. I used the 1.4 50 in the Church quite a bit with a little bit of the 2.8 14-28 as well.

Mary’s Wedding

Mary's Wedding

This is from Mary’s wedding on Halloween last year. The groom, Mike, is keeping his, “Eye on the road and your hand’s upon the wheel”, late in the day at the reception. I shot this one from on stage above the action with my 14-24 wide open in tight. Just a little bit of bounce flash off the ceiling and the speakers blarring behind me. I like the expression and the emotion plus of course the “let loose” factor. I try to show emotion, movement, and expression at the wedding, from the wedding. I don’t think they even knew that I was there which, I think, is how it should be; photographers should stay out of the way and shoot what happens. Great wedding Mary & Mike.

Jim

Wedding Shows

Just finished the Frederick Wedding Show last Sunday (1/25/09). I received a lot of feedback about AJ Photography and what brides want these days. The one thing that really impressed me is that a lot of brides are planning much earlier these days. Many of the couples I met have dates in 2010 with some in 2011. All my work is digital and I offer a DVD of the day with the package. My contract also gives all my brides full rights to all the pictures.

Bridesmaid

Last minute check

With the holiday’s it’s been difficult to keep up but here is something new. I have been trying lately to shoot more images with natual light. It is difficult at weddings to shoot natural since weddings are usually indoors and almost always poorly lit. This is the reflection of a bridesmaid with great light over the shoulder. I shot it with my Nikon 1.4 50MM lens, handheld. I always have two flashes at my weddings but if I see the opportunity for something like this with good natural light I will shoot it.

Thanksgiving 2008

I shot this image with my Nikon D300 at f2.8 hand held with flash at a focal length of 14mm. This is my new Nikon 14-24 2.8 superwide wide angle lens. I often show people these photos, they tend to break the ice and start people laughing.

Three Brothers