Happy Thanksgiving from Punta Cana!

John and Kimberly are Photographing an exotic event in Punta Cana and the Majestic Colonial Resort in the Dominican Republic. We should be back in the office by Wednesday Dec 3rd.

We have lots of exciting images to share with you from this fall so stay tuned. We will try to make a blog post or two while we are here but we have limited internet access. If you need to contact us, email will eventually reach us.

We want to wish all our clients and family members a happy Thanksgiving, we are sad to be away from you this year but excited that Kimberly and I will get to spend some time alone in an exotic land. Now if we can only find something other than our kids to talk about.

Katherine + Charlie

Where to begin....

What an amazing event! What an beautiful location! What an incredible family! The whole event was just perfect from the first phone call from Katherine's mom Nancy (our main contact), to the very end. We were so glad to be given the opportunity to photograph this wedding at their lake house in West Virginia. It was a fast paced day and everywhere we turned there was a special moment or detail to be captured. We truly felt welcomed into this close knit family...thank you all for making us so feel so at home! This was such a packed day filled to the brim with emotion, that by the end of it, when Kim and I fell hard into our hotel beds, we couldn't stop excitedly and happily discussing the images we had come away with. We certainly hope that we get the opportunity to work with you guys again!

...many apologies to Nancy and Katherine for making it so hard to narrow down your favorites for the album! ;) I guess that's a good problem. We had the same problem trying to narrow down images for the blog!

The wedding was held at the familys Vacation home and the Reception was held at The Resort at Glade Springs WV.

I'll let the images tell the story.


Getting ready.





Love this shot. I was jumping up and down (on the inside!) when I saw this in the viewfinder.




Details

Love the hanging buckets


This is a Panorama I captured during the event. This can easily be blown up to 60". So much detail.


If you only knew the significance behind this shot. Chills.









Portraits

These two are a prime example of our theory that if you are in love you will get good photos. Period. We had little time for these portraits, about 15 minutes. We told them where to stand... they did the rest. Love, people. Love makes the images pretty. These guys are not models or actors, in fact I am pretty sure that they were not too excited about being photographed. Who is? But they are so happy together that the moments happened without our instruction.. because of this we did not need the usual 45 minutes of portrait time and the pictures were awesome.












Reception

The details at this event were out of this world.


Such a beautiful moment.

























Here is one of our favorite parts of the story...the part that tells exactly who this family is and how much they loved on us while we were out there...

A few weeks after the wedding we get this AMAZING email from Nancy. We just had to share it with you all. (It's a poem for those of you whom are unfamiliar with the art.) ;)

'Twas the day of the wedding,
and all through the house,
all creatures were stirring--
yes, even a mouse.

The prized dress was hung
from the antlers with care
in hopes that the bride
would soon don it, and wear.

The bridesmaids were nestled
on top of Kate's bed
while vision of groomsmen
danced through their heads.

I, in my bathrobe, and Pa in his cap
remembered the days when Kate sat on our lap.

When outside my room
there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my chair
to see what was the matter!

And then in a twinkling
I saw at my door
Kim creating some magic
with rings and game board.

She was crouched and intent--
her headband it shone.
I knew in a moment,
special images we'd own.

They spake not a word,
her husband and she,
but went straight to their work
which filled me with glee.

Their faces so ardent
behind their cameras and gear,
I knew in a "flash"
true artists were here.

They followed and worked
and laughed and they smiled.
They caught every moment
as the crowd, they went wild!

And then in an instant,
the rumpus was gone.
All tables were empty--
not a light was left on.

But I heard them explain
'Ere they drove out of sight,
"Happy Wedding to all--
And to all a good night!"

—Nancy

WOW. Now we get a lot of thank you letters, but a poem! Nobody writes a poem unless they have some sort of emotional experience worth writing about. Its incredible and humbling that our work can have such an effect on our clients.. we are so thankful to be working for clients like this. Thank you!!!

and the slideshow.

Katherine and Charlies Photobooth!

Ok soo here are the much anticipated photos from the Photobooth at Charlie and Katherine's photobooth. This is what happens when you let a rowdy and fun loving crowd to their own devices and a camera.

NOTE: John and Kimberly do not take these photos.. the guests do. With that bulb thing in their hands. We have no idea what these guys are doing in there.. all we know is the laughter coming from that area was insane!

Luella+Monte

I wanted to start this blog post in a different way. I have always wanted to share with you all exactly how BLESSED we feel to do what we do. It is such an honor to be able to participate in one of the most sacred, emotional, romantic, and poignant moments of someone's life almost every weekend. Sometimes people ask us if we ever get tired of shooting the same thing over and over. The answer is: no!! It is never the same, never boring, never dull. We have seen quiet passion, exuberant love, big loving families, small intimate circles, wild dancing, amazing anniversary dances, first moments that take our breath away, and more tears than we can count. I (Kimberly) still cry at almost every wedding. Really. I do. Ask John. Sometimes it's because of a look that a Mom is giving her daughter, sometimes it's the walk down the aisle, the specially written vows, or the Dad who face crumples as he gives his daughter away. Sometimes it's a song. Sometimes it's just the overwhelming love showering the entire room. But it always happens, and when it happens I feel blessed and thankful again and again.

This wedding captured the essence of what I was trying to convey above. John and I fell in love with Luella and Monte from the very beginning. They have such a light around them and as soon as you get to know them you realize it's that they are just soooooo in love. They radiate love. That sounds corny but it's so true.

Meet Luella. She is kind, beautiful and has a great laugh. She was calm all day and couldn't wait to marry Monte.






Meet Monte. He was quiet and handsome and so in love with Luella. He also had an amazing sense of humor...(note the cardboard cutout in lieu of a missing brother!)



Some details of their day:



How cool is this church...see that skylight, a photographers dream!



This was our first foot-washing. It was such an amazing testimony of their love beautifully and humbly portrayed.





The getaway car!


The Wedding Party:


There were so many portraits of them that we loved we just couldn't narrow it down any more than this!










The epitome of Luella...how can you not love this girl!!


They had all sorts of games to keep guest occupied at the reception! It was so fun!




First Dance:




This was an open mic time that they had for their guests to wish them well or say a little blessing or tell a story...they are certainly loved by many!






The sparkler exit...just awesome.


We love you guys! I wish we lived closer so we could see you more often! Thank you for blessing us with your day. Blog readers stay tuned...you have not seen the last of this fab couple!

Last but not least...the slideshow....