Give Me the Simple Life

09.02.10 personal

Go do something crazy today.

Something spontaneous.

Drive into the sunset tonight with your windows down and music blaring. Just because you can.

Take your lunch to a park and eat outside.

Go bowling tonight.

Stay up really late, doing something really off the wall, even though you may have to work tomorrow.

Take the one you love out for a night of stargazing. Just because.

It’s all about the simple things in life.  Life is so much sweeter when you stop complicating it, and take it for what it is, and enjoy those little moments of bliss.  For example, Jes and I ran into ShutterBooth a couple of times this past month and always have a blasty-blast doing a quick shoot in the photo booth.  It’s a great way to renew our energy half way through the wedding reception. We get a little silly sometimes.  But it’s us.  We’re silly.  And we’re goofy.  And we enjoy the simple things in life.

Happy Labor Day Weekend.  Be still.  Be simple. Be spontaneous.

All images courtesy of ShutterYou.com

Chris the Comedian

08.31.10 portraits

So the other day I had the opportunity to do a head shot session with my new friend, Chris.  Not just any Chris.  Chris the Comedian.  The very hilarious comedian!  It wasn’t really like a photo shoot, but more like a personal comedy show just for me.  All he did was tell jokes in front of my camera and all I did was click away between laughs.

It was awesome.

Not only is he hilarious, but he’s an absolute brilliant mind.  Trust me.  And I know this doesn’t sound that “brilliant,” but I was amazed at how he understood me.  I told him that I kind of lose myself in people as I photograph them.  All my cares and worries go away, I forget what day it is, I forget what my phone number is.  But I am into them.  Connected with my brides and grooms.  And as Chris so keenly put it, “It’s like a drug.”

I knew what he meant instantly.

He’s right.  Why do people do drugs?  To go to another place. To forget their problems.  Me?  I do photography drugs. I know it sounds crazy, but you have to forget your stuff, or put it on the sidelines to fully engage with your clients and be ready for THEIR moments. What’s them.  What’s unique to them. And it is SUCH a high when you get it right.  When you look down at the back of the LCD and know without a doubt that you nailed it.  Without a doubt that you just captured CHRIS STIEBER. Or you just captured the way Joe looks at Alicia – the look that only Joe can make.  Or that sarcastic face that only Angela can give.  And in a SPLIT second those moments are gone.  And what a thrill it is to know that you’ve helped enable your clients to be themselves in front of you… that’s a big deal!  Man, to truly know your clients and know you GOT them and completely captured them… it’s the best feeling.

And Chris totally got it.  It’s the same sort of feelings that happens on stage as he captures an audience. Chris Stieber the roommate, the Whole Foods connoisseur, the college football lover is on hold for a minute while Chris Stieber, the comedian, comes out. And this shoot… I believe it’s a little bit of both.

Enjoy. :-)

These two are some of my favorites.  Chris always makes this face as he’s talking!

And this face too.

Chris has the most beautiful and bright blue eyes. These next three images are my favorite from the whole shoot. They are so him…

Sneak Peek: Angela & Nick

08.30.10 weddings

Hey hey hey! Happy Monday!  Apparently I’m really bad at taking days off.  Since I work Saturdays, I usually try to take a weekend on Sunday and Monday, but I just can never resist flipping through the weekend’s photos.  Angela and Nick’s wedding was SO cool!  They are some of the funnest people you’ll ever meet.  And I feel like you can tell a lot about a bride and groom by their family.  Ergo, their family portraits are a great way to preview their wedding.  Plus this is one portion of the wedding that rarely makes the blog.  This should be fun. :-)

Hudson Gardens Wedding: Alicia & Joe – Part II

08.25.10 weddings

Part II picks up just as Joe sees Alicia for the first time coming down the isle. Absolutely adorable! Look how he leans over to whisper something to the pastor about his gorgeous bride. :-)

Love this grandma!

Okay, so the rain let up for just a minute while we did a few bride and groom and wedding party portraits.

It was definitely cold and misty though!

Love you guys…  You two are so special to me. ;-)

René