Lynn & Dan: An Ocean View Inn Wedding

As far as days go, Lynn and Dan could not have hand picked a better one for their mid-day, ocean side wedding. Spring in New England can be a little touch-and-go, but on this day the sun was shining, the sky was blue, and there was a pleasant ocean breeze that greeted us as we arrived at the Ocean View Inn in Gloucester, MA.

I began the day with Lynn and her bridesmaids in the bridal suite as they were preparing for the nuptials to take place downstairs.


Beautiful, bright light shone in throughout the entire room illuminating Lynn as she slipped into her dress...


I love this image of the flower girl with her bouquet...


Lynn's father Eric was in and out during the preparations, always with a smile. He struck me as nearly excited as Lynn!


And here is Lynn ready to head downstairs...


Before moving on to the ceremony, below is a collection of details from the morning.


Lynn and Dan's wedding service took place in the main living room of the Inn. As I understood, quite a few more people than expected arrived, which necessitated breaking out more chairs, and still dozens of people were standing along the back of the room. Needless to say, a spacious room became quite tight and a little on the warm side, and moving around was difficult. One of my favorite image from the ceremony is below on the right, taken from outside the room through a small window by the stairs.


Lynn and Dan were surrounded by their family and friends, in what was an intimate and moving service.


When they finally turned around, I was not surprised at all to be greeted by Lynn's smile...


Following the ceremony we moved outside and across the road to the rocky coastline for formal -- and not-so formal-- portraits. There was not a cloud in the sky and I think everyone enjoyed the extra space and cool breeze.


A fine example of one of the not-so-formal portraits...


Once done, it was back inside for dinner and dancing. Here Dan dips his lovely new bride...


And my assistant David caught this wonderful kiss at the end of the first dance!


Often parent dances are amongst the most emotional moments of the wedding day. This embrace by Dan's mother Mary is just priceless...


Once the festivities died down and guests began departing, Lynn, Dan and I moved back outside for some portraits of just the two of them, taking advantage of the lowering sun...





For more from their day, please check out the slide show below:

Thank you for a wonderful day Lynn & Dan, and thanks David for accompanying me and for your wonderful images.

Kim & Al: Odiorne Point Engagement

In just a couple of short weeks I will be photographing Kim and Al's wedding in Laconia, NH. I am very excited for their Fourth of July wedding, and it's going to a blast! I know this because I got to spend a really fun evening this past Fall getting with Kim and Al during their engagement session. I thought I would share a few of my favorite images from that colorful evening prior to the big day.

Meet Kim and Al...


We met a little before sunset at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, NH in order to catch the warm light of the setting sun.



For about an hour we wandered around to various locations within the Park, including different aspects of the rocky shore line.



Once the sun dipped behind the trees we left the park and headed back towards Portsmouth, NH on Rt. 1A, stopping at the inlet bridge just a little ways from the park entrance. The light here was incredible, and the Fall foliage gorgeous. There were also several small tidal pools along the grass flats that allowed for nice reflections.



Kim and Al proved to be real troopers when I asked them if they were willing to trudge across the flat to this old dock. I have photographed here before and always like it. I think Kim was skeptical, even after we got there, but I know she loved the results, if not the wet feet!



As the sun sank even lower we traipsed across the bridge to the other side of the inlet. I love the texture in the grass, and and the light was still warm and pleasing.


To see more images from Kim and Al's engagement session, view the slide show below:

Going into the wedding in a couple of weeks I know we are going to have a blast. Look for a post of the wedding in July!

Sterling Rope Photo Shoot with Big Up Productions

A couple of months ago I was part of a great project with Sterling Rope in Biddeford, Maine. Sterling has recently released it's new F4 Escape Kit, a critical safety tool for firefighters in the event they need to make a quick exit from a multi-story building. The F4 is a hands-free rope decent device coupled with a high heat resistant rope, grappling hook and deployment bag. All in, there is a lot of very elegant technology in a very compact package.

On this day, I was brought in to capture still images of the F4 in use while members of the Portland Fire Department put the kit through its paces. Big Up Productions was also on site filming the action. Their teaser clip is posted at the end of this post.

Below, a fighfighter bails out of a second story window at a burn house in Portland. The intimidating Crosby Hook anchors to the window jam allowing for a fast and secure exit. On the right is a detail of the F4 rigged and ready for deployment prior to bailing...


Here is an internal view of the Crosby Hook being set, while on the right the Captain watches closely in the burned house...


Shown below is another detail of the F4 device, in this instance weighted during a lower. Depress the handle and the FireTech rope eases through the device. Let go and you stop.


Here is a portrait from the day that I love. This image was captured in between location setup...


I thought it would be fun to include some behind the scenes images from the day in this post. First up is me on the roof top of the building next door. Perspective is so important in high-angle shooting, and this roof offered me a good one. It was from this position I captured the first image in this post. Thanks goes to my assistant David for the images of me...


It was great working with Josh and Brett Lowell from Big Up, and seeing how they rig their shots. Over the years I have enjoyed their climbing films, and often wondered how they setup for some of their amazing angles and sequences, as well as the equipment they use. Today, the lines between still photography and video are blurring. The 5D MkII is a digital SLR that also shoots stunning high definition (HD) video. All of the visual effects that you can get out of the still camera are available in motion, such as a very shallow depth of field. It truly is amazing, and cool to see this equipment being used by Big Up. Below, Brett adjusts the Canon 5D MkII.


Here, Josh is operating the boom used for their silky smooth vertical pan shots (see video below). The boom allows for fantastic perspective otherwise unattainable. Oh, and that is me hanging out of the attic window too!


Back inside, we blocked off windows and added some warm light to the scene. In this shot, a firefighter was to cross the top of the stairs, making his way to the bathroom window. Josh, Brett and the Captain confer with JB from Sterling.


Below is one final image of me shooting detail of a nule post anchor with firefighter exiting through the bathroom (outside of the frame).


Kudos to Big Up for the excellent teaser video below:

And thank you to JB and Sam at Sterling Rope for setting up this day, and to the Portland, Maine Fire Department for being so great to work with. They repeatedly trudged back upstairs only to jump out the window again in full turn out gear, with oxygen equipment. Awesome! Sterling is always a great client to work with, and this day was no exception.

Allison & Dan: A Zorvino Vineyards Wedding

On April 3 I had the great pleasure of photographing Allison and Dan's wedding at the Exeter Inn and reception at Zorvino Vineyards. A few "technology" issues have sidelined me from blogging images from their wonderful day -- as well as anything else for that matter -- but I am almost up and running again, and at least able to post! Look for more posts as I begin to exit the log jam. Now, back to my point...

We had an incredible Spring in the Northeast. Not like last year where it rained pretty much straight through until August. Easter weekend was no exception. It was a great day for a wedding...


Both Allison and Dan prepared for their nuptials at the Exeter Inn. The halls were a buzz of attendants flirting back and forth between separate wings at the Inn, while the bride and groom tried hard to not see each other beforehand.

Here is Allison having the final touches put on her makeup before getting dressed.



I think it is worth noting that the week prior to their wedding Allison was in Haiti with the earthquake relief effort, and following the wedding Allison was home for only a couple of weeks before heading back. Kudos to you!


In the guy's room, Dan was nervous, but having a good time!


And looking sharp, too...


Some may ask what is going on in this next photograph, but to a climber it's perfectly obvious -- BETA! Allison's brother Jon is an avid climber, like me, and I was psyched to see him miming his latest project...


Prep completed, everyone headed downstairs for the wedding ceremony...


From the moment Allison walked down the isle with her father, through most of the ceremony, Dan was grinning ear to ear. I love seeing that.



Following the ceremony we all headed out to the Inn's back lawn for portraits and to enjoy the wonderful weather. Here is an intimate moment between the new husband and wife...



Then it was off to Zorvino Vineyards for the reception. Here is a capture from Allison and Dan's first dance as a married couple...


I was accompanied by photographer Doug Levy. Below is a great image taken during the cake cutting. I love the perspective and expression that Doug captured...


The party then kicked off in a big way. I think everyone was enjoying themselves...


Including the newlyweds!


I'll end with a great shot that Doug snapped from outside the winery.


To see more of their day, please take a moment to view the slide show:

Thank you Allison and Dan for inviting me to share in your wedding day and for being such fun to work with. And thank you to Doug for your outstanding images.