Andrew+Emily Jenkins 5-31-08

Hi gang! I hope this finds everyone well. We've been busy playing catch-up and got the images from Andrew and Emily's wedding done. Before I go further though, (just like the last post) I really need to give a huge shout out to my good pal Steven Bridges...

THANK YOU!!!!!!

Steven and I go waaaay back to our newspaper days when I was working at the Daily Times and he was freelancing for the News Sentinel. He's a great photojournalist and a great friend so it was a real relief to know that he was available for the second wedding we were going to miss due to my stupid fractured elbows. So when you get a chance, swing over to his website and check out his awesome work.

And speaking of his awesome work, here are some of my favorites as I went through editing and toning...



Check out the cool aisle decorations by our good friend and floral designer extraordinaire Lisa Foster.




Since their wedding was in town and I was more mobile, we stopped by to help Steven organize the portraits. And as soon as we walked in the door and were greeting Emily and her mom Kathy, Steven decided to test his lighting. Danielle insisted I include this one on the blog (I think it's because I look like such a schmuck).


Dress excitement.


Emily with all her girls.


The fun bride.


The dapper groom.


I think Emily was warning the bridesmaids that if they didn't behave, she was going to have to whip out her guns.




Andrew napping before the ceremony.


Attack of the Ringbearer!!


The opening of the doors.






I love the chaos in this photo because it sums up something we witness at every wedding... the mystery of the bustle.




This is a fun shot.








This is a great swing dance sequence.


Just like Chris and Kate's wedding, there are some things that I guess I had to be there to understand. This is one of those photos.


The mad dash for the honeymoon.


And after the bride and groom left, Steven let some of the bridesmaids help him try a little light painting.


Again, a big thank you to Emily and Andrew for understanding about my arms and for putting up with Steven for the day. ;) It looks like you all had a beautiful day and I hate that we weren't able to be more of a part of it.

Stay tuned for more updates this week. I still need to share my experience from the David Williams seminar we went to and I have a few more updates before I get to this weekends wedding (my first since my accident a month ago!).

Talk to you soon,
Wes

Chris+Kate Mielke 5-24-08

Greetings from the land of humid days, recuperating elbows, and countless files littering the hard drives! I finally have the files done from Chris and Kate's Robbinsville, NC wedding. Before I go further though, I really need to give a huge shout out to Tara Kneiser from Dixie Pixel...

THANK YOU!!!!!!

Tara really saved our bacon after my little elbow cracking mishap and drove all the way down to the Smoky Mountain Mansion in North Carolina with our assistant Beth in tow to photograph Chris and Kate's nuptials for us. She did a great job and we are very much indebted to her. The photo community is so tight that it's great to know that when something catastrophic happens to one of their own, wonderful people like Tara and Steven Bridges step up and help out without question. I hope all of you know that I will do the same for you all in a heartbeat. So even though she's the competition *wink-wink* check out some of her other work (besides what I'm about to show you) over on her blog here.

Alright, enough mushiness... on with the show!

Let's start with a few details.


I think this shot had to be for Chris. Instead of focusing on the rings, Tara went with Chris' blingier (that's a new word) Nikon D3. Remember me talking about Chris' love affair with photography in the post from their engagement session? Well played Tara, well played. Chris you have the kind of gear that makes grown up professionals drool.


Aw, the couple that chimps together, stays together. Don't know what chimping is? Check it out here.






A little wedding day Wii.








I can't forget the lovely Beth, our assistant who went above and beyond and helped out someone she'd never met. She got this nice moment of Kate and her Dad walking down the aisle.


Doesn't this look like a nice place for a wedding?




Tara will have to tell you the story behind this... I don't think a crane or ladder was involved. And no groomsmen where harmed in the making of this image.




One of my faves from the day.


And I have to remember to pick up a rusty Ford the next time I'm at the prop store. What a great find!


See, this is where not being there hurts me during the edit process. I love these next two photos from the reception, but I don't know if it's some new dance craze or if someone was robbing the wedding party. "Everybody on the ground!" ;)






Also, we do have to give Chris and Kate a big Thank You for being so understanding. Like I said in the broken elbow post, I can't imagine finding out a few days before your wedding that your photographer is having to move to his emergency plan. You all are a wonderful couple and I hope you have many many great years (and hikes!) together.

All the best,
Wes

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there!! I had a nice relaxing day hanging with family (including a great nap with Maddie). I thought I'd post a quick pic from Maddie's Bible School kickoff tonight. She was having a blast playing on all the inflatables with her cousin Bradley. And then she wanted to wear her D-Paw's (Danielle's Dad) sunglasses and I couldn't resist.



That's my cool kiddo.

And here's one from yesterday.


I'm working on getting some photos together from my unbelievable week at a seminar in Nashville last week. And we've got some wedding work we're churning away on. Stay tuned.

-Wes

Things I've Learned

Greetings all! I downloaded our little point 'n shoot the other day and thought I'd blog a few things I've learned over the last two weeks...

#1: Waffle House is a perfectly acceptable 8th Anniversary date (or "Danielle's a cheap date").


#2: Fractured radial heads make for some cool bruises (or "Things not to show your clients before breakfast"... sorry).


#3: Maddie loves to play in her Nemo sprinkler...


#4: Maddie hates to leave her Nemo sprinkler.


#5: Maddie loves Chuck E. Cheese (even if the pizza sucks).


#6: Danielle is ruthless when it comes to air hockey. She annihilated Maddie 7-2 (including this score). So much for letting the kid win to build her confidence.


#7: The Roller Coaster simulator at Chuck E. Cheese is not meant for people my size (okay, weight). Even if I hadn't been weighing down the right corner, I don't think it would have been that much fun. Glad we used a free token.


#8: A little moldy bread provides 40 minutes of entertainment for one 2.5 year-old and about 84 tortured Greenbelt ducks.


#9: Stickers are the new piercings.


#10: If you can't fly to New Orleans to eat one, the best muffaletta is a homemade muffaletta. My gosh this sucker was delish!


#11: Little Girl Two (we still are nameless) is already a cutie. Look at that grin.


#12: My arms are well enough to hold my camera (and beards are sexy)!!


Catch ya later,
Wes