Now this was a fun wedding!  I can’t remember the last time we laughed so much before, during and after a wedding… but Katie & Tim’s celebration was a blast.  This Southern California couple did things their own way, and lucky for all of us, we were there to photograph all the fun.

Sebago Lake in Casco, Maine is an incredible location.  Migis Lodge is one of the few venues that will allow you and your family/friends to take over the property for your weekend long celebration… and that’s exactly what Katie and Tim did.

Migis Lodge is as classic as it is stunning.  Built in 1916, the 125 acre property is nestled in a pristine pine forest on the shores of Sebago Lake, and the perfect spot for a weekend long party.

Katie reacts to seeing herself in the mirror for the first time.

At the church, it's Tim's turn for a first look.

Beautiful.

Think Katie's Dad loves his daughter? Yeah... that's a real hug.

This poor girl will never live this down. She was so adorable, constantly looking around, swinging her feet... I just had to take a photo (or 4).

The kiss!

Love the "Just Married" sign on the boat.

Champagne in hand, newly married, on a beautiful boat... life doesn't get much better than that.

A quiet moment after the boat ride.

Tim is an Air Force Academy grad... and having the flag in one of his photos was something he hoped for. I think we got it Tim!

Beneath the ancient pine trees at sunset.

Off to the reception!

First Dance.

Katie's dad giving a toast.

Lots of emotion all day... but here's something special: Katie looking beautiful with tears in her eyes as she dances with her dad.

Tim is such a nice guy.

Then there was some dancing.

Katie & her mom tearing it up.

The bridesman and bridesmaids...

Not exactly sure what was happening here.

Oh!  And we brought our photobooth for guests to use as a visual guestbook, and they LOVED it!  So much fun.  Be sure to check out all the photos at the link below.

Inside the drawn hearts, it reads "K&T".

Tim's mom and dad.

I just love this woman's expression!

I don't understand it either... except for the We Love You Guys part.

The last shot of the night: Surrounded by partying friends & family, Katie & Tim sneak a quick kiss.

Enjoy your well deserved honeymoon and thanks for having us!  We had so much fun with you both, and appreciate how welcoming everyone was!  Congratulations!

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The COMPLETE collection of photos are available to view here:

http://www.brianwedge.com/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=786

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These photos and MORE are already posted to Facebook!  Tag your friends here:

http://www.facebook.com/brianwedgephoto

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Ceremony/Reception: Migis Lodge (coordinated by Robyn… thank you!)

Flowers: Marica Davis

Dress:  Amy Kuschel, San Francisco

Cake: Migis Lodge

Photography: Brian Wedge Photography

Sebasco Harbor Resort is one of our favorite locations on the coast of Maine.  Situated just across the water from our Boathouse Studio in Cundy’s Harbor, Sebasco is our backyard, and returning again to photograph there feels like coming home.  The staff are our friends, the atmosphere is as beautiful as it is laid back, and the property is large enough for us to create unique imagery each and every time we photograph there.

When I first spoke with Melanie and Ben on the phone over a year ago, I felt like I had known them forever.  We had all spent years teaching in the outdoors with Outward Bound… an incredible school that forever shapes the lives of it’s students, as well as it’s instructors.  I had been looking forward to their wedding for months, and the fun was well worth the wait!

Melanie managed to get ready in approximately 3 minutes.

Ben took an entire 30 seconds.

Rock climbing is a near constant in their lives.  Whether in the Pacific Northwest, or on course in Utah or Maine, climbing carabiners are a fitting representation of their bond.  These carabiners were personalized with their wedding date, and were a useful aide for transporting their rings via a very adorable ring bearer.

Ben's card to Mel just before the wedding.

Watching the guests arrive with anticipation.

Mel and her dad walking down the aisle.

As family looks on, Ben sees Mel for the first time.

I love this image because it's so expressive of Ben and Mel. Their energy and love is absolutely wonderful to be around!

joy.

Bubbles!

A tender moment immediately following their ceremony. With tears in their eyes, this is their first hug as husband and wife.

The simple beauty of Sebasco.

Overlooking Sebasco Harbor.

Vegan cake by SeaFlour

The grand entrance to the reception!

First Dance.

I LOVE the kid who is transfixed by the cutting of the chocolate cake. His intensity is awesome... and I love that Ben's mom knows him well enough to hold him back. Charge!

The fog rolled in and we dashed outside for one last shot. I love the silhouette of the trees.

Party Time!

Flash mob at a wedding? Yup. That was a first for me!

Sing along to Bon Jovi.

Mel's parents getting down.

Last dance of the night.

Melanie and Ben: THANK YOU for having us at your beautiful wedding!  We had so much fun with you, your family and friends!

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The COMPLETE collection of photos are available to view here:

http://www.brianwedge.com/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=781

**********************************

Photos are already posted to Facebook!  Tag your friends here:

http://www.facebook.com/brianwedgephoto

****************************************************************

Ceremony/Reception: Sebasco Harbor Resort (coordinated by the wonderful Marianne Vold)

Flowers: Emily Carter

Paper: Invitation Consultants

DJ: Dan Dibiase

Cake: Stacie Blouin / SeaFlour

Photography: Brian Wedge Photography

]]> http://www.brianwedge.com/blog/2011/06/03/melanie-ben-sebasco-harbor-resort-wedding-maine/feed/ 2 http://www.brianwedge.com/blog/2011/05/10/one-night-at-a-costa-rican-rodeo-roca-bruja-part-ii/ http://www.brianwedge.com/blog/2011/05/10/one-night-at-a-costa-rican-rodeo-roca-bruja-part-ii/#comments Tue, 10 May 2011 21:50:53 +0000 brianwedge http://www.brianwedge.com/blog/?p=4066 Continue reading →]]> On our last night in Costa Rica, our friend and surf guide Andres told me about the tradition of local rodeos being held in small rural villages during the Christmas holiday season.  He talked about how the entire town would gather to party, eat, drink, dance… and dodge bulls.  And by dodge bulls, he literally meant that the spectators would be the participants, and that it wasn’t uncommon for folks to be gored or trampled by a few thousand pounds of beef.  I’ve been around the world… but this kind of Latin American Machismo was something I just had to see.

Nobody does bugs like Costa Rica... and nobody shreds on waves like Andres.

Any professional photographer will tell you that light is everything when it comes to making a creative exposure.  Decisive moments, emotion and storytelling details are all critical components of photojournalism… but without light and the proper lenses to capture that light, well, you’re in trouble.  That being said, I showed up to this rodeo like a kid wielding a knife at a gun fight: I had no flash, no spare camera backs, no telephoto lenses: nothing that I would typically use to cover fast action.  So bear with me here, the following images might not be technically perfect, but they help share a great story.

The "stands" for kids

One aspect that I did have working to my advantage was access.  Logs had been assembled with bailing wire on the village soccer field to form a ring.  Spectators stood or sat on the fence or in the ring to watch the bull riding.

In the action: a rope is tossed to lead a bull out of the cattle car.

I wandered near the cattle truck that held the bulls, and an older man quickly motioned to me to climb up INTO the chute that led the bulls from the truck to the ring.  As an understatement, let’s just say that there were no restrictions, no OSHA, no insurance liability wavers to sign… and as important, no one there to tell me (the blond idiot in flip flops who spoke almost no Spanish) when to get out of the way.

When to get out of the way.

As luck would have it, the first bull came out of the chute so fast that a rider couldn’t get on it’s back in time, which scarcely mattered much as the real entertainment was watching the spectators almost get trampled by the bull.

Costa Ricans: The friendliest, most chill people on Earth.

Is it possible that there is such a thing as calm mayhem?  I would think not, but there was a sense of fun and calm and relaxation amongst the tortured animals and the bleeding, sweating men.  It was incredible to take it all in.

This image was exposed for 1/30th of a second. This guy's ride lasted about as long. He was thrown from the bull almost immediately.

The taunting of the bulls…

The end result of taunting the bulls… an injured teenager is taken to a waiting ambulance.

A rider straps in for his ride. Note the taught rope around the bull’s neck.

As a journalist, I often hear that I’m supposed to suspend my judgement and emotions… just capture a story with integrity, creativity and depict scenes honestly.  It’s with complete honesty then that I’ll say it was sad to see these bulls being zapped with cattle prods, poked with spurs and generally manhandled for entertainment.  I’m not a member of PETA, nor a vegetarian… but I was close enough to touch these bulls separated by only a flimsy wooden board.  I found myself whispering apologies to them as dozens of men attempted to incite them.

There really was no fight in these bulls.  They wanted to get away from the cattle prods, the jeers, punches and spurs… but they were at once powerful and dangerous while simultaneously being timid and scared.  It was a strange feeling to be so terrifying close, yet feeling so much empathy for them.

In a blur of motion... another bull sets off.

I had my fill of bull riding pretty quickly.  Luckily, Costa Rican Rodeo’s lack of security allowed me access to the ambulances and ringside triage centers.

An injured bull rider is attended to.

As seen through the tinted window of an ambulance, this rider was trampled by a bull.

Family members wait anxiously for riders to appear from triage.

As his son looks on, a rider is treated by a local doctor.

A woman holding her infant son can be seen in the window's reflection as her husband is attended to by medics.

Andres.

The rodeo is a family affair. A young boy patiently eats chorros.

Maybe the coolest taxi on the planet?

As I’m taking that photo of the CTITW (Coolest Taxi In The World), this guy runs up on me and starts smiling.  At first I think he’s drunk, so I do the obligatory smile and snap a photo of him.  But then he dashes off into the darkness and returns with his young son.  He’s not drunk, he’s just PSYCHED to have his photo taken.  Next thing I know, I’m following him down some darkened street, prepared to either be mugged or to learn something new about Costa Rica.

The guy leads me into his home and shows me all the amazing food he has prepared for the rodeo.  He is asks for photos of each dish, and then tries to feed me after each picture is made.  He is proud of his kitchen, his cooking and his home.  I’m not fluent in Spanish, but I can understand his pride and appreciate his enthusiasm.  Beyond the dusty dirt streets, beyond the relative poverty here, beyond that bullring that’s filled with machismo, adrenaline and pain… this guy is just thrilled to share with me his food and his home.  It’s a connection that transcends cultures.

Happiness.

It’s another reminder for me that happiness is a state of mind… and this guy has it.  As I leave his house to return to the dark streets, he calls back to me for one last photo with his wife.  Just as I release the shutter button, he turns and plants a kiss on his “amada.”  His beloved.

What a night.

It wouldn’t be the New Year without a brief look back on where we were, and a BIG, BIG “Thank You” to all our fantastic clients, thoughtful supporters and wonderful friends and family.  We would be remiss if we didn’t mention a few key partnerships that kept us going in 2010: one with Apple Computers (you know, that little California company), another with Canon Professional Services and last, but not least our friends at Broncolor Imaging and Calumet Photo.  For those that aren’t familiar with Broncolor: simply put, they make the finest lighting equipment in the world and through their New England rep Dave McRitchie (and Calumet’s Wayne Cozzolino)… they also provided incredible 24-7 support to keep us “in the field” doing what we do best.  Thank You!

We’re starting 2011 with a short update on the tail end of 2010:  Thanks very much to our friends at The Wedding Photojournalist Association who again selected one of our images for an award in their international photo contest.  We always feel lucky to be selected… and congratulations to Lyndsay & Josh for having such an amazing winter wedding at The Mount Washington Hotel!

In other (belated news) our friend and fellow Bowdoin alum Coren Moore, featured many of our weddings on her website.  Coren is wildly successful dress designer in Manhattan, and we were honored that she would feature our images in her blog (here, here, here and HERE!).  Thanks Coren!

We have news and updates from California, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Maine… and everywhere between!  Rest assured, we’re back… and have lots to share!

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!

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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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.

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.

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

Beautiful details found throughout the day.

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

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

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

Quinn & her dad walking down the aisle.

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

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

The exchange of rings.

Husband and Wife!!!

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

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

Beautiful design by “Let Them Eat Cake”

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

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

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

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

An impromptu twist contest broke out.

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

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

Beautiful and timeless.

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

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!