Now normally, I do not do Weddings.  As most of you know, I am a Sports Photographer.  But it just so happened that a close friend of mine from Sprint Cup Racing has a step daughter that was getting married.  Joni called me up about 8 months ago and told me to block off January 13, 2010 on my calendar…………………She told me that her step daughter was getting married and that she wanted me to shoot it.  Now as I said before, I really have not done a whole bunch of Weddings, but when I do them, I really do enjoy them.  My Father-in-Law Fred Clanton  (www.ClantonStudios.com) is a very successful Wedding Photographer out of Sunset Beach, NC.  I have assisted him on Weddings, and I even worked for a Wedding Photographer when I was in college, but my career path never took me in that direction. But with the economy being what it is, I was greatful to get the work.  And I have to admit, I really enjoyed the shoot.  I plan on doing more in the future……so if you know someone that plans to get married, please have them give me a call!

These Images were all shot with my D300.  The ISO was 1600, and it worked out pretty good.  I used several lenses, everything from my 17mm~35mm 2.8, to my 300mm 2.8.  I shot 843 images, and I ended up working 254 for the client.  Here are a few that I liked.

I shot the following images from a loft that was above the sanctuary.  It was a Catholic Wedding, so I had a lot of time to move about.  I really liked shooting from up top because you could really see the faces, and the whole ceremony.

Both of the images above were shot at ISO 1000, f2.8, and a 60th of a second.

I came back down to finish up the ceremony.  I wanted to get the “kiss” from down below.  Here is what I got.  I shot both of these images at ISO 1000, shutter speed 60, and at f2.8…..I was living on the edge!

I really wanted to capture the essence of the ceremony.  I always see Wedding pictures from people’s ceremonies, and it seems as if it is nothing but posed shots.  I really wanted to break that mold.  I really wanted to document the event and catch moments……here is some of what I got.

In the above Image, I was wanting to get a prospective of the father walking his daughter down the isle………a feeling of the ceremony, and how this was the moment that Dave was going to be giving his “little Girl” away.  I think that it was a good shot.

In the image below, I was wanting to get just a good shot of them walking down the isle.  I swung out and shot this with my 70mm~200mm lens.  I shot both from a kneeling position.

This next Image is probably my favorite from the whole day.  You have to understand, the church that this was held in was huge, I mean a real big place.  I was able to move about without being noticed.  I saw Dave (father of the Bride) looking over at his wife Joni.  It was just such a tender moment.  I was really lucky to get it.  I shot this with my 300mm f2.8 lens.  Here again, the ISO was 1000, the shutter speed was 60th, and it was shot at f2.8.  I am very lucky that it came out………..but it did and it is nice.

These next Images are of various “moments” before the ceremony.  These all took place in the “Bridal Room” just before the Wedding.

The next series of images are various versions of Portraits.  I all of these in the Church right after the ceremony.  I did not have much time due to the schedule of the Chruch.  We really only had about 15 minutes total.  I really had to put together something fast…..and I could not set up lights.  In did some Filter work on some of these, but better to offer the Client more than less.  Here is just some of what I got.

These next 2 images were shot after everything was done and we were getting ready to go over to the reception.  Here again, just “moments.”  Trying to catch something besides just “posed” images.

This next Image was shot at ISO 400 @f2.8.   I turned the flash down and bounced it off the ceiling of the Limo.  I thought that it worked out.

These next Images are from the reception.  I used lights on the portraits were they are posed on the Grand Stair Case.  That was over at the Embassy Suits in Concord, NC.  I am just glad that no one tripped over the lights!

The next images are from the reception. 

I hope that I succeeded in getting something more than just “posed” shots.  Like I said, I really enjoyed myself.  If you know of someone that is planning to get married, please pass my name along!

Until next time, Thanks for reading!

Sam

704.905.4722