Making the Moment Photography

Quite honestly – I’m not entirely sure where to start. Dawn & Jason’s wedding in Toledo was one of the most fun & epic weddings I’ve photographed to date – and I’m incredibly excited about the outcome of their creative wedding photography. Let’s start here – a few of my favorites, and then a little retelling – sound good? Thought so

The above image – a spur of the moment idea! For your photog-types – shot at f22 – no photoshop here folks, scouts honor

Same with that one – a very fun quick idea – I love being creative and off the cuff with wedding photography – it’s so much more fun than going in to every wedding pre-planning every single photograph. Imagery like this just “happens” when you have an awesome couple and bridal party like this – people who embrace the risk & fun of true creative wedding photography.

I LOVE (love love love love love x infinity) urban / architectural wedding photos – they provide such a nice “pop” for people.   Although I’m a Cleveland wedding photographer, Dawn had asked me to travel out to Toledo for her wedding.  I’m a huge fan of shooting in new ground / locations, so I took some time prior to the wedding to do some reconnaissance via a certain street-mapping tool I use to find some promising spots, and everything I tracked down worked great!

Alrighty – enough photography shop talk – on to the photos & the story.  I spent the morning with the ladies (mostly dawn and her awesomely close friend Lyndsay) snapping some fun wedding detail shots, and capturing candid photo-journalistic wedding photographs while getting ready.

PS – I’m a huge fan of shoe shots.  I know that’s rare for a man… but I love ‘em.

After the ladies got ready – Dawn had chosen to do something I think is very fun – we had a “pre-ceremony reveal”   What is that?  That’s my fancy-schmancy way of saying that Jason and Dawn chose to see each-other prior to the wedding.   I always respect everyone’s traditions and choices in this matter, but because we didn’t want to loose the intimacy of Jason seeing Dawn for the first time (and she looked awesome!), we set up a nice private location where I could candidly stalk them from afar, giving them some privacy for their first meeting.  It was fun – and SOOOOO sweet!

Of course, what followed was a fun creative wedding photography time!  We spent our afternoon exploring some of the Toledo Metro-parks, digging all the fun & funky locale’s we found.  The bridal party rocked – so fun, and so easy to spend time with.

I so enjoy the look of mixed-media modern/vintage wedding photography.  I brought my good old Polaroid along for the creative wedding photography session, and we had some fun with it.  Don’t ask why I still have 600 film left… let’s just say my wife is waiting for space back in our fridge.

Dawn & Jason’s wedding ceremony & wedding reception was held at Brandywine Country Club in Maumee.  What a beautiful reception & wedding venue!  I loved seeing their set-up for Dawn’s outdoor wedding – held in the gardens outside of Brandywine Country Club.

And afterward? The party of the century. Seriously – Dawn had paid attention to every detail for her reception – and I LOVE wedding “detail” photos! When a couple invest so much of their heart, time & imagination into their wedding day, it’s so fun to capture all the little touches.

And yes – the reception & the reception photos at their Brandywine Country Club are out-of-sight – so much fun. The party was a blast – emceed and dj’s by one of the very finest (if not the best) Toledo wedding DJ himself – Rob from Decorative Sound. Awesomely deserved photo below. Not just kissing up – I’ve photographed quite a few his wedding receptions, Rob is gifted at making a party happen – this shindig went all night!

Dawn & Jason – many many many congratulations to you! Thank you SO much for the honor and trust. I had such a blast with you and your family and friends – and I’m so very proud of the creative, artistic wedding photos we created together on your wedding day!