Photo Doubleshot
A duet of the photographers found in Stacie & Bryan’s gallery. Stacie’s daughter Lexi asked if she could take a picture with Sara’s camera, so while Sara instructed her I photographed the lesson. Voila - photographer double shot. 
Season 4 Finale - Nicole and Scott!
Tonight Sara and I wrapped up our fourth year photographing together (our third year as my full-time job) with a superb finale celebrating with Nicole and Scott.
Believe it or not, I (Eric) love shooting salon photos. Lots of color, shapes, fun with the bride and her friends, time to test out ideas, coffee… and today, numbers. The numbered containers of Redken styling products at Ken’s Studio Hair sparked an idea. Guesses?
(Answer: it’s the wedding date)
My compliments to Nicole ans Scott for the all the forethought and planning that went into your wedding day timeline. Everything moved along perfectly without feeling rushed and there was never a dull moment in between all the fun! They had planned to photograph nearly all portraits before the ceremony, and when I heard Sara snapping in the balcony above me I looked up to see Nicole catch a glimpse of Scott in his tux.
Sara created this dramatic image as Nicole descended the balcony stairs to meet her groom.
Scott’s reaction when Nicole walked the aisle to meet him? All smiles!
Today brought a first for us - celebrating a Latin wedding mass. The traditional Latin ceremony was wonderfully beautiful. From the balcony the acapella voices of five men singing resonated through the sanctuary in serene worship. A thundering organ played out notes that superceded all but the voices that joined it in song. Two lives joined to become one.
Click a photo above or CLICK HERE to see the Newlyweds’ Instant Album Slideshow where you can relive the celebration, get a reminder when the photos are ready, and even pick up a copy of the slideshow.
Enjoy!
Congrats Nicole & Scott!
Today we’re celebrating with Nicole & Scott. Their wedding day wraps up one incredible year’s worth of celebrations and awesome couples Sara and I have been privileged to photograph!
Click the photo or CLICK HERE to see their slide show. Be sure to request a reminder too so you’ll know when the full wedding day gallery is ready to see.
Congrats Nicole and Scott!
Enjoy!
Slow down a minute
This week was all topsy-turvy. Hard to describe the feeling. Lots of changing weather, lots happening at home, lots of work to do for all the cool couples working with us to wrap up their super cool wedding albums. It never slowed for a second.
Thursday Sara was out of town for an overnight business trip and I got to watch Adrian for most of two days. Yes, I can change a diaper, and fast when you’re up against a wiggly baby boy. My sis Genna stopped by and helped so I could catch up some house work and eventually some photo work. Later Adrian went to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa so Daddy could get more office work done when Aunt Genna left.
Today was just me with my baby boy. Last weekend marked his 9 months birthday and he’s sprouted so much lately. I’ve gotta brag on him! He’s got 8 little teeth now, loves to speed crawl across pretty much anything to get into pretty much anything. He loves TV remotes, so many buttons and all the grown ups seem to always play with them. Toys are great, but he loves putting a DVD box on the floor and putting his hands on it and crawling with his new found glider to slide across the floor. He’s definitely got “Dada” and “Mama” down and is working on so many more little words.
Today he was doing great with eating, sleeping, and playing schedules. Yesterday he was awake from 8am breakfast to 4pm when he finally passed out after fighting sleep for most of an hour. 8 hours awake is like a college final exam all-nighter session for a 9 month old! Today, however, he had a nice long nap after lunch. I went to wake him up so he wouldn’t be too awake late tonight and he was snuggling his favorite monkey stuffed animal “Munkus.” I grabbed a camera to freeze this peaceful nap before I got him out of bed. I had to wake him up but wanted to be sure and hold onto this adorable, calm moment before he gets too big too fast. Sometimes you just need to slow down a sec and enjoy little moments.
Tuesday Thoughts v14.5
Wednesday again. Tuesdays escape me now too!
Daylight savings time really messed with my brain. Sunset happening at 5:30pm all of a sudden really threw me for a loop. Personally I would rather enjoy a longer day than an earlier morning, I’m sure it says something about my personality, priorities, and preferences.
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ELECTION DAY. Wow, pretty monumental day. I have to admit I went to the polls very undecided and filled in the president choice last. It probably says something when you vote for a county coroner (they’re elected?!) before choosing the persons you would want to run your country. I didn’t agree with a good handful of major issues from the Democratic party and honestly, couldn’t take the Republicans seriously. I know there are more than 2 choices on the ballot but let’s be real… TV has everyone’s brains baked to think there are just 2 choices. I really enjoyed all the parodies of the GOP candidates and have got to share this favorite campaign poster:
King of the Hill? You betcha.
President-elect Obama clearly cleaned up the votes, and I think we could hear the celebration in Chicago Tuesday night. Pretty wild to imagine it started just down the road from us Indiana folks.
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Adrian’s 9 months, crawling even faster, working on some words, and showing lots of personality. Ornery personality! Adorable too, of course, as he gets into everything within reach.
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This Saturday’s the big day for Nicole & Scott, wrapping up an amazing year of wedding celebrations with our awesome couples. We’ve been immensely blessed to work for and work with such fun clients. The album design wheels are spinning and we’re cooking up a batch of beautiful books!
Also it’s been pretty crazy busy - the good kind - around here. Note the “Tuesday” post on Friday…
Happy Halloween
Something new - fashion?
Today I joined creative forces with cohorts from the Creative Underground to photograph a selection of River’s Mark Trading Co.’s handmade Turkish bead necklaces and bracelets. It was nothing near the frenzy of America’s Next Top Model but it was our model’s fashion debut. (She did great!) I had to share a sneak preview from today’s shoot while the full gallery is prepared.
Here’s a quick blurb about the jewelry from RMTC from their website:
While founded in Indiana (USA), River’s Mark Trading Company, LLC represents an international partnership of people desiring to promote peace, social justice, and reconciliation. This is done through the development of relationships and creation of income generating opportunities for those in financial need. RMTC was founded in 2008 to work along side local artisans and cottage industry entrepreneurs in ancient Anadolu (modern-day Turkey) seeking to obtain a better life through the production and sale of traditional, hand-made crafts. Many of these artisans are women and stay-at-home mothers in families that are struggling to make ends meet due to difficult economic conditions. In working with these individuals, as well as working towards providing opportunities for others, financial and social needs can be met.
Coming soon - shots of the Bridal Collection! Enjoy!
Congrats Ragan and Scott!
This last week and weekend was a whirlwind of fun with great couples!
Saturday we celebrated with Ragan and Scott to wrap up an awesome October. Sara started off with the girls at Ancilla Domini Chapel on the campus of Ancilla College outside Plymouth, Indiana.
Sara’s photo of Scott’s ring
Scott getting ready - the guys were having a laugh warming up to roast him! Gotta have good laughs!
Ragan and her father ready to enter the chapel
Scott when he first saw his bride
Ragan enters Ancilla Chapel
I loved the architecture and ambiance - such an amazing chapel to photograph such a great couple!
Newlyweds outside catching the best of the last October weekend.
(Technical note, I loved this shot with the 85mm lens wide open at f/1.8 - see how the grass and trees fall out of focus? Superb bokeh!)
Sara’s version of it - the newlywed fall portrait
(50mm wide open at f/1.8 also has a painterly look to the background)
Newlyweds outside the Chapel
Just married! Off to the celebration!
Congrats again, Ragan and Scott!
Click any of the photos or CLICK HERE to see their instant album slideshow from Saturday’s celebration. Enjoy!
Tuesday Thoughts v13 Wednesday
One seriously amazing and busy weekend out of state and BAM, I’m way past out of sync. I’m working on getting back to calls and emails as well as being awake during daylight hours let alone updating the blog!
On the way home from our shoots in Grand Rapids Sara and I came across Christmas music on the radio. Seriously… it was October 19th, not even Halloween yet. Our GPS was out, too, so maybe we passed through some kind of time-warp-wormhole and were suddenly on the LOST island in a different space and time. Weird as it was the songs were the perfect medley to wake us up on the drive home. I’m listening to Over the Rhine’s Snow Angels
Fall is amazing. Golden light all afternoon has me feeling like the CSI Miami filter is stuck over Indiana. (Seriously, watch the show and see what I mean. There’s always golden yellow sun at a low, dramatic angle.) It got cold fast on tonight’s shoot but that didn’t stop the fun throwing leaves around on the Notre Dame campus. (More from Jill & Brad’s engagement to come!)
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Over the weekend or sometime this week Adrian cut more 4 teeth. I couldn’t believe it when I saw he now has 4 bottom and 4 top teeth. Everyone tells new parents that kids grow fast, and suddenly seeing our son’s new teeth proved it to me again!
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Loads of awesome shoots in the last week as well as plenty to come in the next week.
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I have a pretty good memory with dates, birthdays, anniversaries and special days. Today’s a momentus day among our friends. Two of my friends since high school and earlier both got married this day 3 years ago. Congrats Katie & Nathan, Leslie and Brad! We were able to see Leslie and Brad’s wedding before heading out to photograph Maria & Greg’s wedding. Congrats all you 3-year couples! Last year Sara and I joined Renee and Chris for a fantastic fall wedding in Michigan - congrats on the fist year, Newlyweds!
Sunday was the 6-year anniversary since Sara and I started dating. Seems like you’ve always been in my life; I love you Sara! I wrote her this simple acrostic poem years back, it could stand to be shared again.
Something unexpected came to me
Amidst these autumn days yet spent.
Romance found its way so free
Again to Dance. My heart’s content.
Sweetest Weekend - Nicole and Scott
Our weekend of awesome couples in Grand Rapids, Michigan concluded with a perfect afternoon Engagement Session with Nicole and Scott at Scott’s family’s restaurant - Noto’s Old World Italian.
If our incredible wedding Saturday wasn’t enough to make me want to visit Grand Rapids again, spending an afternoon with the Noto family and seeing their breathtaking restaurant made both Sara and I consider relocating north. I’m convinced we were spoiled to have perfect weather, two amazing couples and such fantastic celebrations to photograph.
The restaurant is rich with family history, and is an exceptionally special place for Nicole and Scott. It was an amazing honor to photograph these November newlyweds in the very spot where their engagement and wedding story began after Scott’s proposal during dinner in the wine cellar.
Thanks again to Nicole and Scott and the Noto family for the laughs, conversation and hospitality during our photo session. We look forward to celebrating with you soon in November!
Nicole & Scott’s summer engagement session at Saint Mary’s Campus can be seen here and the Wine Cellar session will be added later this week.
