Spotlight on Northwest Indiana Wedding Receptions

Today's Wedding Journal is all about receptions.  I have covered many different types of these parties from outdoors in the afternoon to all night dancing to calm early evening dinners.  I'll try to give you a taste of all types.  Speaking of taste - the above photo is Heather and Flo having fun with their wedding cake at the Knights of Columbus hall in Hammond.

If time permits, when I first arrive at the reception venue, I like to take a wide shot of the untouched scene as well as detail shots of the various decor.

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More often than not, I will then take these wedding details and create a photo montage for the bride and groom's wedding album...

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For first dances, I have a unique method of that involves ( I kid you not) an automotive flashlight.  Hey, it works for me as seen by this image taken at Avalon Manor in Merrillville, Indiana and the one below it at Marquette Park Pavilion in Gary. 

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One of the most fun receptions was a family themed wedding at Coffee Creek Park in Chesterton, Indiana.  The bride and groom walked out to bubbles being blown by their guests and they rented a playground for all the kids attending.  It was a summer family picnic atmosphere complete with DJ and dancing...

Nothing like some cold Orange Crush on a hot summer day...

I guess some bubbles were left over from the bride and groom's big entrance...

I had to crawl on the ground for this photo of the flower girl, but it was totally worth it...

While it certainly is important to capture all of the reception events such as first dance, cake cutting, etc. this is also the time for candids.  The reception is when everybody finally gets to relax including your wedding photographer.  Natural, smiling faces ensue....

Sometimes I'll set up some shots that look spontaneous.  Andrew and Megan were up for it when I suggested getting on top of the bar at Amore Restaurant in the downtown Square of Crown Point.  One of my favorite sexy bride and groom shots...

Here is another candid photo I caught of these guys just before dinner was to be served...

When wedding party introductions occur, you never know what is goping to happen.  Sometimes people really surprise me with a gyrating, dancing intro like these shots from The Patrician in Schererville, Indiana.

This bridesmaid and groomsmen are ready rock as they are introduced on the balcony at Avalon Manor...

Yes, it's true - the cake cutting is a wedding cliche.  However, it doesn't mean you can't have a good laugh when doing it.  Don't worry, no one is watching (not)!!

If you are a bride who likes to dance - I WILL FIND YOU and document it.  So be on the lookout.  :)

Father and daughter dances are important to the bride and Dad alike.  I try to spotlight these parent dances just as I would the bride and groom on the dance floor....

The bride and groom twirl on the ballroom floor of The Patrician in the photo below.

Now, when it comes to the wedding party and the guests, I like to experimant with different angles, lighting and tones... 

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Here is one with an ultra wide angle lens for a really different perspective...

Depending upon the individual, the best man's speech can be eloquent or silly or a little bit of both.  Either way, it's a moment to not be missed....

As you plan your reception, I encourage you to go out there and have fun with it.  The venue is really secondary to the people and the emotion in the room.

Let's toast and sing to the party and the honeymoon to follow....

Introducing the Wedding Photographer Assistants for 2011

If you have been a client in the past, you know that I usually have a female assistant accompany me at all my wedding shoots and sometimes on engagement photo sessions as well. In addition to holding my lighting and other equipment related duties, they are also there to look after the brides. They will attend to your dress as well as the groom's crooked tie and help me gather up family members for group shots, etc.

Winter is still hanging on in Northwest Indiana so we all had our coats on for a recent training session. I met the girls at Deep River Country Park in Valparaiso to go over what their job will entail fror wedding and portrait sessions in 2011.

Let me introduce the girls one by one.

First up is Amy, who has assisted me on many wedding, engagement and high school senior sessions. She has always done a great job and I'm glad she is on board this year as well. My other assistant from 2010 - Brooke is busy with her own wedding taking place this summer. Congratulations Brooke!!

Our first newbie is Mya. She will be assisting me on the first Chicago Sessions Engagement shoot of the year. She is dressed for the cold, but her warm personality always shines...

Mya is also pictured in the first photo above with with Leslie, who will be on board for Angela and Mike's wedding in Valparaiso, Indiana in April. We intend to have a lot of fun while making some great wedding images this summer.

Next up is one of my favorite baristas - Kristine. She has a friend who is a photographer in Muncie, Indiana and has the distinction of being the only assistant to ever fold up one of my lighting reflectors on the first try!!

Due to a great amount of weddings booked (and more coming) for the year I will have 5 assistants on call for weddings in Northwest Indiana, Chicago and Michigan.

Our final assistant to spotlight is Melissa who is a friend of my family...

So look for us all this summer at various venues around Northwest Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. Chances are you will see a bride and groom or two as well. :) Hopefully no winter coats!!

Spotlight on Outdoor Weddings in Northwest Indiana

Spring is almost upon us here in Northwest Indiana and it's time to put a spotlight on outdoor weddings.  I will sprinkle this post with outdoor wedding ceremony photos that I've taken in the past year along with some venues to consider.

The above shot is from Marquette Park Pavillion in Gary, Indiana.  It's an old rustic building, but one that I highly recommend.  It's got a ton of opportunities for scenic wedding photographs and an area for outdoor wedding ceremonies and a large building for receptions.  You can even get ready in this facility with plenty of large mirrors in the basement area.

The benefit of outdoor wedding ceremonies is the dream like quality a gorgeous day can bring to the wedding photos.  The gazebo at Deep River Park is one of the most popular spots and I indeed have a couple of ceremonies to cover there this coming year.  However, Ogden Garden in Valparaiso is another gorgeous spot.  I also have an outdoor ceremony coming up at the gazebo behind Avalon Manor in Merrillville.  With the reception to follow right after, this is a great way to cut down on travel time on the wedding day.

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The area in front of the courthouse in downtown Crown Point is a little known venue for outdoor weddings.  If you don't mind the curious eyes of Northwest Indiana locals upon you, it can provide some nice, localized hometown type of wedding photos.  Click on the photo above for the viewpoint of the bride and groom during their ceremony.

Outdoor wedding ceremonies can also provide some very dramatic shots like this praying moment at Coffee Creek in Chesterton, Indiana.

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Our bride Molly asked for group shots of her entire wedding party and their guests.  The cascading water fountain and blue skies over Coffee Creek made for a perfect background for a group portrait.

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People tend to be a lot loser during outdoor ceremonies which can lead to some fun, candid wedding photos...

Another scenic area and a very affordable wedding venue is the Revelli Bandshell along Lake George in Hobart, Indiana.  It's an outdoor spot with a large cover and plenty of opportunities for scenic wedding photos before and after the ceremony.

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Of course, with an outdoor wedding ceremony there is always a chance you may have to scurry away from rain.  I understand that is a bad, four letter word when it comes to Northwest Indiana weddings, but we can always make it work with some artsy black and white wedding images.

Preparing for Wedding Photography Season 2011

Wedding photography season for 2011 kicks off for me in two weeks as I head to Chicago to photograph a Chicago Sessions Engagement Package.  The weather is finally starting to break a little here in Northwest Indiana and calls are coming in to schedule the local / Chicago engagement shoots as well as outdoor family portraits, kids and high school seniors too.

The first actual wedding of the year will be April 30th with Angela and Mike's Valparaiso wedding with a reception at The Raddison at Star Plaza Theater in Merrillville.

As a wedding photographer there is MUCH to do in these weeks leading up to the photo shoots.  Here is some of what has been on my agenda in recent weeks:

• Meetings with clients and potential clients.  Emails and calls have been coming in daily as it is booking season.  I do presentations here at the home studio and also a mobile presentation.  I bring sample wedding albums, prints, gallery wraps and more.  Most importantly, I answer all your wedding photography questions.  For already booked clients, we get out photographic timeline together along with locations, etc.
• New photography gear.  It's NOT about the gear you have. However, one of my camera bodies was getting long in the tooth.  So I bit the bullet and purchased a new professional body to add to my collection.  I'm always traveling with two to every wedding for shooting convenience and for back up as well.
• Classes and workshops.  To avoid getting stale, a good photographer is always going to be adding knowledge.  I've got a few tricks up my sleeve for 2011 weddings courtesy of some top of the line pros who unselfishly share their craft.
• Equipment maintenance: I love the look of magazine-esque commercial photography and I like to do this with my wedding clients.  This requires external lighting and other accessories to make this look happen.  I'm testing, cleaning and (unfortunately) even sending some things in for repairs.
• New computer. Digital wedding photography requires knowledge of the digital darkroom and a computer that can handle the tasks at hand.  With so many weddings booked for 2011 and many back to back, it was time to upgrade my already fast system with and an even faster one with greater storage.  All the better to get images back to my clients in a timely manner.