Exchanging Vows Bayside

So my last post was about bridal portraits. I was "saved by the bell" when my friend told me another family member had hired a professional to take her daughter's wedding photos. But as soon as I got off the hook for that one, an additional opportunity presented itself: another friend asked us to take pictures at her wedding... and this was the real deal. The actual vow exchange. THE moment. Sure, I was nervous. But I had my talented friend with me, so I knew (rather, I hoped) between the two of us we could capture some good ones.

This was a casual (and quick) ceremony along the shore of Back Bay. Just the immediate family attended, and to be honest I felt a bit like an intruder on a very personal and intimate moment. But I have to admit I really, really enjoyed every minute of it. It's so moving to see two people so clearly in love commit to each other. The bride was simply radiating with happiness, and when someone has that pure and honest glow about them, it really makes it easy to capture.

As far as I know, she didn't have formal bridal portraits done. So here are a couple of my attempts to catch her by herself.

 This was immediately following the ceremony. She looks positively beautiful in this shot.

The family.

Mother and daughter.

Mother and son.

Family overlooking the bay.

My friend also took some gorgeous shots, and I hope the bride was happy with it all!

The Goddess Bride

Earlier this spring my co-worker asked me if I might be willing to take pictures at her daughter's wedding. YIKES! But of course I said yes... she is a good friend and her daughter's a beauty. As the time drew near I started asking questions about what type of photos they would like. Some people like very traditional/classic images, some people like a more modern twist... the avoidance of the "posed" and more of an "eavesdropping on a moment" type of approach. We discussed it off and on, and then come to find out another family member hired a professional photographer for the wedding. I was not at all offended. I asked if she was going to have bridal portraits done. She looked at me quizzically. What did I mean bridal portraits?

Is this only a southern thing? Where the bride has individual portraits taken prior to the wedding and displays them at the reception? I had a flashback to my bridal portrait scene... standing in a studio with a  gray, faded curtain as my background, holding some fake flowers in my hand, while the photographer literally positioned me like a mannequin in the traditional bridal stances. 

If I had a "do-over"... what would I do? I'd want to stand in a garden of flowers. Real ones.

So we decided to take my friend's daughter to the botanical gardens and let the scene play out.

She changed into her dress and I couldn't believe it. She looked like a petite Roman goddess... and it was perfect for our setting.

Here are some of my favorite shots:

It was a fun adventure. As a side note: always check with botanical gardens to see if they will charge you for taking bridal portraits on their premises. We found out the hard way that professional or not, they charge you. I put up a bit of a stink, but at the end of the day, the gardens got their money.

To view the entire collection, click here.