What a blast we had with these two! I knew the ever-effusive Mr. and Mrs. Wade were my kind of folk when I did their engagement shoot back in August. It was pouring rain when we were supposed to start the shoot in Great Falls State Park. Were they bummed? Hardly, we just shifted the venue to the Museum of Natural History to get some face (fossil, really) time with one of Pam's passions: dinosaurs.
The wedding was no different. They were relaxed and oh-so-fun. Both of them are seasoned performers -- they met in the a capella scene in college -- so camera shyness was never a threat.
Some of their extremely talented friends performed during ceremony at the gorgeous St. Aloysius church, and the reception at the Meridian House was stunning. Very classy.
It's hard picking favorites from such a beautiful wedding, but here's a quick take of a few that struck my fancy.
Congratulations guys! - Dan
Yep, that's Pam's mom and dad in the background there.
The Meridian House had this snazzy courtyard area. Couldn't resist it.
That mirror is a family heirloom.
Nerves of steel on this fella.
Funny thing is, the baby Jesus in that stained glass at the top looks like he has a beard.
I didn't catch this guy's last name, but I'm pretty sure his first name is Stud.
I nailed some killer photographs on the parade route. I had all the turf between 20th and Market and Philadelphia City Hall. I often became part of the show during the 3 hours prior to the start of the parade as I helped toss beach volleyballs and tennis balls, back into the crowd. I also got cheers, boos and a couple cat calls as people were trying to get me to shoot some shots of them. I ended up shooting 14 gbs of cards and about 900 shots. I still haven't gone through all of my wide angles, but here a some of my favorites:
I love this one with the Comcast Center in the background:
As a lifelong Phillies lover, and baseball fan (MLB), it was an opportunity I would never have passed up. I felt like I was part of history, and I so proud of my team. In one fell swoop, they turned Philadelphians into winners. Thanks Phillies! We're behind you forever!
Take a beach, a bar and tons of fun people, and you get a party. That's what Jenn and Jimmy lined up last month in Delaware, and I was able to shoot some killer Delaware wedding photographs. These two have had a heck of a time between Jimmy being a big-time video production guy for NBC sports. He was sent to China for the Olympics one month before the wedding. Talk about long-distant planning. And Jenn had duel responsibilities between her great job working for kids, and putting the finishing touches on the day.
While they could have chosen a day in the summer for this beach, bar wedding, they chose September, and I have to say, killer decision. Beautiful weather. Absolutely stunning sunset. Great location at the North Beach Restaurant, too, right on the water. But hey, if you don't believe me, see below:
We had such a great time you two! Congrats. We were thrilled to be there. Love the surfboards!
I laughed so loud when I saw this tonight that I woke Rebecca up. She's in bed, trying to get some Zzzz before her 5:30 a.m. alarm.
I know it's wrong to laugh at this, but I had to call her down the stairs. She hated me, until she saw it, and started laughing, too.
But this got us thinking, what should the groom have done? Jump in, of course. We agreed.
So our conversation went like this:
Rebecca: "I hope that bride was cool about the whole thing." Joe: "I do, too, but from the looks of that wedding, I picked up a traditional bride vibe. I bet she saw it as the worst moment in her life, instead of the funniest." Rebecca: "If I fell, you should jump in after me." Joe: "I know. That would be fun." Rebecca: "They should have done their vows from down there." Joe: "Absolutely. But instead of a first kiss, they should ad lib a dunk kiss and play some Marco Polo."
And here comes our tip:
One of my own quotes is this, I'll die happy if I never shoot another cookie-cutter wedding for the rest of my life."
For the record, I'm NOT wishing horrible moments on my brides. On the contrary. But I warn them that something bad may happen, and to role with it when it does.
Here is an example from last month. Elizabeth and Scott, two great people had quite honestly the second worst rain I've had in my four years with JPG Photography. They could have sulked, but they didn't. They went with it. They even took shots in the rain. They were great.
Look at the size of that rain off that umbrella!
As Bride and Groom, your guests and family members take their cues on how to behave from you both. If you are stressed or angry, so are they. Only, during the day of the wedding, there is usually little to nothing they can do. So things get worse because they're trying to fix something, only they're helpless. So keep cool the day of the wedding. Have fun, and don't let anything (including getting tripped by the best man) get in the way of it.
Best, Joe G
P.S. A special thanks to my buddy, Ron Solimon, at Litrato Photography, for sending this to me.
The other photojournalist in the JPG Photography household felt inspired today to take pet portraits of our growing boy, Gus. Many of you remember our favorite dog/son/boy when we adopted him last November. Well, he's healthy and growing and oh so cute! I'm quite certain these are some of the best pictures Bec has ever taken of him, but then again, I'm a proud dad who's full of bias!
We love the yawn and stretch!
Gus striking a pose. He turns his head just when we need him to...umm, right?!? We think he looks scholarly in this one...
He's too sexy for this shot...
And now he's spent, done, fin. He walked off set and shouted, "Mooommm. I'm outta here." Best, Bec & Joe & the Gusman...
What a perfect portrait photography weekend! (Couldn't ignore the alliteration.) So much going on. October is certainly the month everyone wants pictures, but that's good for me. I'm a fall guy. I love mid 60s weather. It just so happened that Sunday, it stayed in the 70s...it was like May or June. No matter, it was a great day for pictures and having a blast. Just so nice to be out of the office, right!
I've been blessed with some great families this weekend. One was the Ginter's (see post coming Tuesday) and the other are the Shaffer's. Lori, Mike and their adorable son Drew. This 3-year-old loved the camera, but not in a hamm or obnoxious way. He's just so darn cute! Come on, look at these pictures. Don't you just want to take him home, too!
We had a brilliant pumpkin picking at Johnson's Corner Farm in Medford, New Jersey just outside Philadelphia, PA, and not far from where I work in Cherry Hill at the Courier Post. (Also had the lead art and a lead story Sunday.)
Lori and Mike were perfect. They had fun. They laughed. They were patient, too...(Drew only liked the dirty pumpkins...lol)
This is just a sample of the great moments I'm proud to share with the Shaffer's. I hope to be around more to watch Drew grow up! Thanks again! Such a pleasure.
Come on...look at this face. Pretty darn cute!
Caught the rainbow!I'm digging this shadow! No, it's not heaven. It's not Iowa either... Loving the golden light in this spot!
Loving the fade away! Thanks so much guys. Had a great time!
Joseph Paul Gidjunis and Dan Shuman share insight on photojournalism and wedding photography. We're award-winning newspaper reporters and photographers who work up and down the East Coast.
