Lots of wedding photographers like to recap their year with their favorite pictures. Instead of posting more than 200 pictures, we were really selective. Each one of our photographers picked 3 favorite images that they took. You get to hear why.
We’ll start with ex•Tyler.
You’ve got to give me props [to work with]. That’s what Becky did with this car. We had about 15-20 minutes for photos with it. In fact, we did a whole blog post featuring the Ford Model E. This picture was my favorite of the bunch. The light beaming on her face, her dress style with the car, the framing with just hints of white-wall tires, the colors of the bouquet (which match her toenails), the scenery out of focus in the background, and her perfect expression combined to make this one of my favorite (and classiest) bridal portraits of the year.
Eva & Matt, if nothing else, knew how to party. We traversed downtown Chicago for hours, going from location to location, stirring up trouble in Millennium Park, bars, Walgreens, shopping centers, and the middle of the street. Some clients don’t want to move or are very timid about some situations (which is OK and we respect). Matt was not that kind of client. I was thinking this was going to be a shot of Eva and him in the middle of the street quickly. He thought it would be better suited for the whole bridal party. Oncoming traffic just had to deal with it. What resulted was possibly my favorite wedding photograph of the year – though I doubt it will be their very favorite. The picture told the story of the day from our perspective better than any I have taken. The car whooshing in front of the (relatively) numerous wedding party, beautiful Eva striking a glamorous pose with new husband standing at her side, and the grandiose Chicago buildings in the background. Chaotic? Yes. Fun? Yes. Forgettable? No way.
For a lot of the same reasons that I like the wedding photograph of Becky, I like this image of Laura. A photographer cannot control many of the factors going into the day. We can’t make the beam of light come in a window perfectly when the wedding pictures have to be taken, so we use flashes to create it. Flashes make for some awesome pictures that can look surreal or otherworldly; they can also fix lighting situations and still look natural. However, when the natural lighting is just right, you can’t beat it. That’s what happened here at our first wedding of 2009. All the black and white wedding photography wasn’t bad from that day either.
ex•Rachel
Since Tyler showed off some of the glamorous images we capture at weddings, I decided to focus on our e•sessions. I love doing engagement sessions because, unlike the wedding day, there is no time limit or unexpected crises. We love meeting the couples and just chatting while we walk around their desired location having fun and taking engagement pictures.
The first two images were both taken in Alto Pass, IL, where Tyler and I lived last year. Now, I love downtown Peoria with it’s countless little spots, but it’s always a delight to shoot somewhere fresh. No worry about recreating your favorites from the past…everything is new and unique to that couple.
Martha and Stan made the trip when they heard about all the beautiful scenery in Southern Illinois. Here they are at the top of Bald Knob where the old
Bald Knob Cross towers. I love how it’s just the two of them and the wide expanse of sky behind. The framing is also fun with so much grass out of focus at the bottom. Another thing I love is that Stan is the focus of the picture. All throughout the shoot, he loved just looking at Martha and took any chance he could to give her a smooch.
Becky and Keith gave us another chance to explore the area. After roaming through peach orchards and enjoying the scenic overlook, we had fun in the tiny downtown of Alto Pass with their famous Rootbeer Saloon. I love this picture because of the colors, the depth, and the expressions. The hue of blue is so beautiful and looks great with their outfits. Becky couldn’t look happier to be in Keith’s arms. (This is a little off topic, but can I also add that they are expecting their first baby this summer? Abigail will have a little friend.)
Last,
Ebony and Evan. This shoot was especially romantic because he proposed the night before then told Ebony about the esession set up for the next morning. So love and excitement were in the air. This image is another great example of using a fun, old structure to frame the couple. I love the warm lighting that hits the couple in just the right way. And like the other two images, you get the feeling that there’s no one else around. Since the subjects aren’t looking at the camera, it’s like I wasn’t even there and they were just spending a special moment together. Those are my favorite types of pictures.
Here’s ex•Beau’s.
This photo from Michelle and Andrew’s wedding is special to me because it was from one of my very first weddings with exposure, perhaps the first. Since the beginning it’s been nothing but fun for me, a wonderfully happy marriage! I’m drawn to the photo itself because of the beautiful spotlight of natural light on the rings which brings life and shine to these rings. The nice blur and sharp focus add a little something to it’s beauty as well.
Guys appreciate flowers too! This photo is from
Amy and Kevin‘s wedding which happened last summer. The subject is what attracts me to this photo, because it shows the relationship of groom to groomsman. In this case it is the groom pinning flower on groomsman, a friend helping a friend. It is very easy to think only of the special couple on their big day but the bonds between friends at weddings are very strong and special as well. From a photographers point of view, I also enjoy the lighting conditions in the photo; the outdoor summer sun was very hot that day as I recall, but it produced some great contrast.
Also from
Amy and Kevin’s wedding this image captures a very specific moment in time. It reminds me of a photo assignment I had in photography class in which we were supposed to capture a defining moment, it was so difficult to try and find something and just happen to be there at the correct time and place within our 2 week time period – we all ended up manufacturing our own “special moments”. In this case I was in the midst of a special moment and luckily the cameras were rolling … or shuttering. I find the potential energy in that garter shot to be incredible and then the unique capturing of another camera’s flash, what luck. For that’s what it was, like a behind the back half court shot, but I think it’s those moments that photographers really live for.
ex•Nelson presents his favorite wedding pictures from 2009 last:
This is a picture of the bride and groom for the bride and groom. It is a portrait of them, their playfulness, their intimacy. The picture does not adhere to conventional compositional technique – I left a lot of room above the couple. This divides the photograph into two parts, and the couple has their space which, to me, feels private in this image. As I look at this image I find myself trying to not intrude on their moment. That dynamic, the decisions about where to direct your eyes in the frame, make this an interesting photo in my opinion. Not to mention the general cuteness going on in the moment.
Weddings bring people together for a beautiful rejoicing, fellowship and celebration experience. That important concept is what this simple image summarizes.
It’s hard not to love a happy candid moment. We try to balance getting great organized shots and a photojournalistic approach, and I love how this image fills the role of documenting a simple delightful moment without intervention on our part.
Here’s to a photogenic 2010.
Hopefully you’ll tell us what you think. If you haven’t ever commented before, now is the perfect time!
show hide 5 comments
becky lang - Aww! This is so neat!! You guys are awesome at what you do!!! We are also excited for our first little one this summer… We will have to introduce Abigail to baby Lang when he comes. :) I think they will be great friends!
Laura DiLeonardi - Rachel, Tyler and Nelson,
I was just browsing your blog and realized that we re-appeared in some of your favorite shots from 09, wow! We still can’t get over what a fantastic job you guys did with shooting our engagement pictures and wedding! A year later, we still get compliments about our wedding pictures, and cannot give you all enough credit for the phenomenal job you did. I recommend you to everyone :) Your beautiful baby girl is going to have the most wonderful pictures of any other child in history! She is just too photogenic!
Ellen Getz - You are all so talented- love these shots! Thanks for posting your favorites.
rachel - becky and laura, you could not have been any lovelier! thanks so much for choosing us. you have both been a joy to work with.
rachel - thanks, ellen! we have the best job.