Tag Archive for 'Photojournalism'

Growing…

THANK YOU for the emails and the calls making sure everything is going well.  YES, things are going quite well; we’ve never been busier or happier, but I admit… the blog has taken a backseat as a result of all our adventures.  We have been so swamped with work and creative projects for so long, that we decided to take the time recently to build some new creative alliances and “practice” our craft a bit.  During the past few months we have pursued every opportunity to improve, learn and grow.  Our time was not used in vain, as we’ve got lots of new photos to share… and stories to tell.

That being said, while we were traveling and shooting far away from the blogosphere, much occurred, and we will try to recap some of it here:

First up… my sister Lea and her husband Billy adopted an adorable baby boy!  Henry is absolutely beautiful, and has a remarkably calm energy about him that is just amazing.  Though we did miss the cranky-baby 2am diaper changes and feedings, we are quite certain that Henry is either high on baby formula… or just happy to be alive and have parents who adore and appreciate him so much.

Though we only stopped in for a few days during our return from Hawaii, one thing led to another… and of course an impromptu photo shoot occurred that resulted in baby Henry winding up in a salad bowl.  Sorry Henry, but you just don’t know where creativity will lead you!  Anyway, we wanted the whole world to know how proud we are to have him in our family!

And speaking of growing, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that we won a few more awards for our photography and we wanted to thank the sponsors for their encouragement and recognition.  First up, we managed to sneak out a few awards from the prestigious Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA.com) once again.  There are some truly incredible photographers that compete in their contests… so we are honored that we had NINE winning images in the past year.

Here are the two latest winners:

This image is from Matt & Ashley’s Hurricane Wedding at The Newagen Inn in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.  The photo is a fun grab shot of the bridesmaid being “blown away” in the wind.  The great news is that the bridesmaid holding the umbrella (Christine) is engaged to be married & in June we will be in Massachusetts to document their wedding for them!  There is no greater honor than to get the opportunity to support the friends of great clients like Matt & Ashley.  Don’t worry… we PROMISE… the weather will be better!

Next, from Heidi & Ross’ wedding at The Sebasco Harbor Resort, we won 4th place for dancing… but the true story is that the dancing started about 8 hours earlier, and the award should really be for the consistency and longevity of the dancing.  If I remember correctly, this is Heidi’s brother… who started dancing before the ceremony and in my mind is probably dancing wherever he is right now.  Congrats!

Last up, our favorite social media guru / Innkeeper Jason Schlosser (from The Newagen Inn in Boothbay Harbor) held a photography contest and self selected our entry because we were out of the country at the time (thanks Jason!!).  By popular vote, we were lucky enough to win the contest in 2008, and we never expected that we would again in 2009, but as luck would have it, we did!  The prize for winning the contest was a 2 night stay at The Newagen Inn, along with dinner.

In honor of all our good fortune, our great clients, and most of all… our precious new nephew Henry, we’ve decided that we are going to donate our two night stay at The Newagen Inn to raise money for LIVESTRONG and their continued fight on behalf of survivors like my sister in their battle against cancer.  More details about the raffle will be coming tomorrow: we’ve got a donation page all setup with LIVESTRONG, and Jason at The Newagen Inn is psyched to host the prizewinner.

So for now, thanks for all the support, love and emails.  We love hearing from everyone… and rest assured, we are back!!  Spread the word about the contest… more details right here tomorrow!

Lindsay and Josh: Mount Washington Resort Wedding, Bretton Woods, NH

First off, our sincere apologies to all our blog readers for being offline.  We been away on numerous, truly incredible photoshoots around the globe and are just now settling back in to our routine back in New England.  We’ve got lots to report, and many amazing images to share, but we will save all that for tomorrow; today is all about sharing the wedding story of Lindsay and Josh, who were married on March 20th, at The Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, NH.

Josh and Lindsay were two of the nicest people we’ve ever been lucky enough to work with.  They originally met while skiing together, so it was no surprise that they were drawn back to the mountains for their late winter celebration.

With plenty of snow still in the White Mountains they spent the day before their wedding skiing with family and friends, and then partied together until the wee hours of the morning at The Mount Washington Resort.  With seemingly boundless energy, they were up early the next morning to prepare for the big day!

To say that Lindsay is beautiful, fun and low maintenance might be the understatement of the year.  We met her in the hotel’s spa which is located about 3 stories under ground, and were impressed right away with her energy.  After her hair and makeup were absolutely perfect, the last thing we ever expected was for her to forgo the numerous available elevators and just run up the 6 flights of stairs back to her room (while carrying bags, open champagne bottles and a plate of food).  We’re in great shape and can run with the best of them… but Lindsay’s energy on her wedding day was electric.   I think you can see some of it in the photo above as her bridesmaids look on: she’s radiant!

We later learned that Lindsay and Josh had met while freestyle skiing and quickly fell for each other.  There were numerous thoughtful details that made their destination wedding so wonderful: from handmade “Welcome Gift Bags” for their guests, to Josh’s single rose that he sent to Lindsay’s room just before their ceremony… it was all beautiful to see.

Lindsay’s rings.

Descending the stairs to the ceremony!

Three adorable flower girls carried baskets of rose petals.

I know… what energy, right?  (Don’t worry Lindsay, there are plenty of other more “refined” shots of you coming down the aisle… but I love this one, because this is truly YOU.  So happy, so excited).

The Conservatory at The Mountain Washington Resort.

The big kiss.

So far we haven’t talked much about Josh, but it’s safe to say that if there was ever someone who might possibly keep up with Lindsay’s infectious enthusiasm… it would be Josh.

The bond is real.  Their love is obvious.  Two people made for one another.  It really was beautiful to see.

Remember that infectious enthusiasm?  Yeah, here it is (this is NOT me telling them to do this).  Josh has either just won the Super Bowl or just married the girl of his dreams…

Surrounded by the snowcapped mountains that is their playground and inspiration… this shot is timeless.

Lindsay’s elegant rose bouquet… just exquisite.

Looking down “The Notch” from the Eastern porch of the Mount Washington Resort.

Lindsay, those binoculars are for checking out the White Mountains… not your man!

Josh couldn’t resist a smootch, and I don’t think Lindsay minded!

All laughs, all smiles.

At the reception, the table cards were actually made of birch branches with the guests names.  The tables were all named for Lindsay and Josh’s favorite ski areas.

Their first dance.

A moment of joy between Lindsay and her dad.

Josh’s mom giving him a big hug during their dance together.

Guess who was the life of the party?

Captured only with available light just before the reception ended, this is a tender moment of Josh and Lindsay dancing slowly while the rest of their guests tear up the dance floor.

Lindsay and Josh:  Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful wedding day with us!  We loved capturing your story, documenting all the emotion and meeting your incredible families (and friends).  We can’t wait to hear how your honeymoon in Costa Rica went, and if you hit any of our favorite surf spots!  Congratulations on finding each other, it is so obvious to us that you were meant to be together!!

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Want to see the Lindsay and Josh’s complete wedding photos?  Just click here or go to www.brianwedge.com!

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Quinn & Chris: The Colony Hotel Wedding, Kennebunkport, Maine

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I wouldn’t wish for it to rain on anyone’s wedding day… but when it does, something truly special happens.  Quinn and Chris had a rainy wedding day, and that something “special” came in the form of family and friends who circled the proverbial wagons and hunkered down for an intimate ceremony in the tiny St. Ann’s Church by the sea, and an energized reception at The Colony Hotel in Kennebunkport, Maine.  As an observer of numerous wedding celebrations, I was amazed once again by how the entire party were galvanized by the adverse weather.  Strangers bonded under umbrellas, friends dodged raindrops together as they ran through puddle filled parking lots and families were linked forever through a day spent laughing and supporting the people they loved the most.

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Quinn & Chris couldn’t have been more relaxed about the weather.  They had the right perspective: their wedding day was about more than about the clouds or sun… it was all about their union, in that special church Quinn had always loved beside the sea as witnessed by their family and friends.

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Their rings in the mail slot of the room where they would spend their wedding night.

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Beautiful details found throughout the day.

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Quinn’s grandmother reacts to seeing her for the first time.

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On the way to the church, Quinn and her dad hold hands in the back of the car.

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It was REALLY raining.  Quinn’s ever present smile never faltered.

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Quinn & her dad walking down the aisle.

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St. Ann’s is an intimate and beautiful stone church right on the edge of the ocean.

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The timber frame construction at St. Ann’s is truly beautiful.

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The exchange of rings.

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Husband and Wife!!!

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At the end of the long isle, Quinn & Chris.

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Made entirely of large beams and stone, St. Ann’s was the perfect sanctuary on such a cold and rainy day.

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Beautiful design by “Let Them Eat Cake”

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A card left open on a table from Quinn to Chris reads “forever and ever.”  A natural background for a photo of their rings.

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Back at the Colony Hotel, the floral designs by Blooms & Heirlooms were exquisite.

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My favorite moment:  Quinn’s grandfather Moe, shares a hilarious and touching poem he wrote.

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The band “The Marsels” got the crowd going quickly.

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An impromptu twist contest broke out.

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The rain kept pouring… but Quinn & Chris wanted some shots outside.

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We went to the beach and Quinn just ditched her shoes, and walked around in the rain barefoot.

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Beautiful and timeless.

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A little rain wasn’t going to stop these two!

Quinn & Chris: What a wonderful celebration!  Thank you for having us there!  Your wedding was everything we love to photograph: real moments regardless of the wind and rain outside.  Thanks for being so much fun… we loved documenting your big day!

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Want to see the complete set of photos?  Just go to www.brianwedge.com or click here.

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Vendors:

Ceremony:  St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, Kennebunkport, Maine

Reception:  The Colony Hotel, Kennebunkport, Maine

Florist:  Blooms and Heirlooms, Kennebunkport, Maine

Band: The Marsels, Boston, Massachusetts

Cake:  Let Them Eat Cake, Kennebunkport, Maine

Dress:  Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Mother’s modified creation

Photography:  Brian Wedge Photography

Savoring The Unexpected (Washington, DC)

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to finally meet up with Caroline and Mark in Washington, DC to shoot their engagement photos amidst the cherry blossoms (2008 wedding at The New York Yacht Club in Newport, RI).  Because of my crazy schedule, we decided that I would arrive the night before for the morning shoot.

I’ve always been a fan of two major concepts when it comes to professional photography:

1.)  Deliver creative results that exceed expectations.

2.)  Make your clients look great while having fun.

I think we succeeded in Washington!  What started as a “night before arrival” turned into an impromptu hilarious adventure throughout the city with Caroline and Mark.  As a photojournalist it was wonderful to work with limited light, heckling spectators and not knowing what opportunities were around the corner.

 

The unknown and the unexpected are a constant source of opportunity.  As a photojournalist, I arrive (obsessively) prepared with equipment and skills… but a willingness to play, explore and have fun just can’t be understated.

Yes… I flew all the way down to DC just to get shots of them in front of those gorgeous cherry blossoms, but the trip was a reminder to all of us out there shooting to be open to those constant little opportunities to capture the unexpected!  Thanks Caroline and Mark for that unexpected evening photo shoot.  I can’t wait for your wedding!


 

So this is how it begins….

For those who know me, their jaw hits the floor when I tell them I have a blog.  ”What and Why?” are the first two questions.

Most folks would tell you that it’s because I have something to say, something to report or something incredible to share.

The reality is that I actually have little to say, almost nothing to report and only the ordinary to share. But the ordinary in my world is beautiful, interesting and at times even inspiring. My ordinary is also filled with the headaches, concerns and problems like everyone else… but my outlet is also my occupation.

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I’m a documentary photographer who lives on the edge of the sea in Maine. I am lucky enough to share in the lives of hundreds of individuals every year… often at meaningful junctures in time, place and circumstance. As I document moments in lives through photographs, I also weave a strange and complex network of friends through the process.

Lobstermen, young brides, cancer patients and college professors are part of this community. Expectant moms, jubilant students, poets and shipyard welders add to the list.

Their common bond… or I should say, our common bond is a shared love and fascination of images depicting life.

Frozen in time, the photographs reveal part of a story, capture one perspective of a scene and one element of a life lived. For whatever reasons, the photos I create often leave people wanting to know more.

This is more….

BGW