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

Philosophy

Typically I start my day a couple of hours before the ceremony. I switch back and forth between the bride and groom capturing the time before the wedding. Usually the bride will ask for make-up and hair photographs prior to the wedding as the wedding party is getting ready. The ceremony is the next step. I try to use as much natural light as I can and take advantage of the location.

Moving on couples often reserve time after the ceremony for posed pictures of family, friends, and the wedding party with the bride and groom. Typically I start with everyone and work my way down to just the bride and groom. The reception is where I shoot everything as it unfolds. I photograph the entire day to relate the story of the wedding. My goal is to provide and capture memories portraying the look and feel of the day.

Ramble

What’s important, what’s not. I listen to every bride and try to deliver what they want but I also try to deliver the feel of the event. How much does personnel style overlay the feel of the event? I know it’s depends on a lot of things and happy brides are my barometer. So far so good. What does everyone think? In the digital age do you show people your shots as you take them? Do you interact with the people there?

Light

Table Light

I like to walk around in the spaces and look for things that represent the feel of the wedding. In this case just before the reception the light coming into the room lit up this table with its setting. I like this picture, it has a stylish or classic feel, which reflected the wedding. It’s not really a defining image but an example of a good supporting image. I think the details are important. What do you think?