Jay & Carissa’s Wedding

Tara Mauldin and I shot this wedding on a super hot August day. (I was Tara’s second shooter and assistant)  As it normally goes I start with shooting the groom and his guys at their hotel getting ready.

The service was held at a beautiful Catholic church with a bagpipe player who ended the ceremony.

We had quite a bit of time between the ceremony and the reception where Tara and I were able to get some lovely shots of the bride and groom at Freedom Park and uptown Charlotte. We then headed over to Bentley’s restaurant (I think its on the 27th floor) overlooking all of Charlotte. Its a gorgeous venue. The room has windows all the way around it, where the sun casts its golden light into the reception hall. I love the photos it creates.

Tara and I had such a fantastic time during this reception. One thing I can truly say is, I love photographing people when they don’t know I’m photographing them. I love that style and I love the expression and beauty I find in each person. Photo journalistic style is an absolute for me.

The grooms Aunt and Uncle pulled a slight prank in the middle of the reception and started handing out the craziest glasses that everyone was putting on! It was really great!

The picture below may be one of my favorites.

Both Dads…

Cheers!

Yep, that’s Tara and I in the middle photo.

Congrats Jay and Carissa! Thanks for letting me a part of your day!

Kyle & Christy Wedding

I’ve been second shooting with my friend, Tara Mauldin, quite a bit this year, and we still have a few weddings to go. As a learning photographer, I’m taking the time to get a a solid foundation by second shooting about eighteen or more weddings this year. I’ve already shot seven so far, and with each wedding I either feel like I’ve almost got it or I feel like I don’t know a thing. Since I have an intense justice side in me, I want to give people the justice they deserve in hiring me to do their wedding or portraits. I can’t charge people $3000 for a wedding when I haven’t taken the years to learn. And so that’s what this year is for me. Its my “years” of learning.

I’ve been extremely blessed to be mentored and loved by an excellent photographer based out of Minnesota. (Shelley Paulson) She tells me what’s trendy and what’s timeless. She tells me what’s right and what’s wrong. She tells me if my picture is too yellow, blue, red or green. She helps me see “right.”  It’s rough and tough at times, but it’s incredible love. I sometimes spend hours after I learn something from her trying to put it into practice and trying to get it right, and then I add my touch of “me” to it. I’m learning to find my style and be consistent in my work.  I’ll be talking about Shelley Paulson for probably the rest of my life. haha…

I’ve been getting quite a few emails from old friends and random people asking me photography questions the last few months. When I get asked what “they” should charge to do a wedding or a portrait session, I get extremely frustrated. I’ve been trying to grow in photography for the last three years or more… and even I am feeling like I do not have the “best” to give people for what their money is worth. As for someone who just picked up a point and shoot camera and has created their own photography fan page/business, my advice in the most gentle way is: “learn for a long time, and then you can ask people to give you money for the best work you have to offer.”

With all that being said, here is some of my journey with each wedding I shoot.

Kyle and Kristi are such beautiful people…very photogenic and extremely fun to shoot. Kristi was a bride that I had helped a time or two at the bridal salon I “used” to work at. We recognized each other, and it was a bit random that I would be helping shoot her wedding day.

Their reception took place on the 15th floor at the Bentley’s restaurant in Uptown Charlotte. It was quite a view overlooking the Queen City!

My struggle for this wedding was the dance floor. I’m learning how to use my flash. So with every wedding, I feel like I’m just experimenting with it throughout the dancing. Thank God for low white ceilings where I can bounce the flash!

The thing with second shooting (which can sometimes be frustrating) is that I can only capture so much of the story. So, here is my side of their day….

Enjoy….