Photo 365 Project

I’m not trying to say that I’m “allll that” because I’m certainly not.  Far from it.  But I think one thing that makes me adept at shooting weddings and never missing a moment is that I shoot sports almost every weeknight.  This has helped me in so many ways to “get the shot” quickly in all genres of photography.  When you shoot sports this much, you learn to wait…camera pressed up against your face…shallow breaths…intense focus…and then go ballistic on the shutter for two seconds…then repeat.

Sports has helped me further master what I call (in my head) the ‘whip-around’…when the bride is coming up the aisle and you whip around and catch the groom’s reaction, then whip back and catch the brides reaction to his reaction! This unfolds in about 3 seconds but I’ve never missed one! Some people question why I love shooting sports so much (because I never watch sports) but I truly love shooting it.  It gives an A.D.D’er like me some nonstop action for two hours!

There was so much warmth.  From everyone.  Cutting through the crisp January air was the support and love from dozens of close friends and family.  Lisa and Christian were beaming…it was a given.  She knew she and Christian would be standing up at that altar from the first time she laid eyes on him.  As their destiny was sealed, Mother Nature certainly wished them well.  Bright sunshine and an unusually warm afternoon greeted guests to a beautiful church in rural Connecticut.  I hung out with this amazing couple in Philadelphia for their engagement session, and I must say, I fell in love.  These two are the sweetest, most giving couple you’d ever want to work with. They’re a ton of fun too!

To their families who welcomed us with open arms, thank you from the whole of my heart.  It was an amazing day and I am so honored I got to capture it!

This is my favorite sequence.  As soon as Christian saw Lisa… he lit up… I couldn’t help but keep going back and forth from one to another as I watched it unfold.  It was breathtaking.

Up on the balcony, we hid an arsenal of lenses.  Everything from my 20mm lens to my 300mm was in use! (Yes, my 300mm that I only shoot football with…love these close ups it captured!)

I know you’re thinking it, so I’ll just come right out and say it.  Yes, these two are stunning.  Like, should-be-in-a-magazine-modeling gorgeous.  Ok, glad we’re on the same page.

This is what I’m talking about with the modeling…these two are a force to be reckoned with, world!

A perfect day for a beautiful couple.  Thank you so much to Christian and Lisa for being amazing, and thanks to Linda, Bob and the rest of the families for making the day spectacular!

Adore you all-

xoxo

Vendors make the day run smoothly and awesomely! All of these folks did a fine job with the details of the day!

My website for all things Lisa and Christian: www.lisaandchristian.erincoveycreative.com

Church: First Church of Christ

Reception: Mill on The River

Hair: Alta Moda Salon, Rocky Hill

Florist: Kelly Bradley

DJ: Allison Kinney

Bride’s dress: Maggie Sottero

Bridesmaid’s dresses: David’s Bridal

Groomsmen’s tuxes:  Men’s Wearhouse

Hey people of the Interwebs! Just a quick hello to fulfill my daily shuttering post and I’m out.  Today was a 16 hour day (killer…especially when I didn’t have caffeine and got a  headache for the last 2/3rds of my day…and felt like my brain was on fire.) I know, I’m being dramatic, but luckily it propelled me to get tasks finished and not completely shut down (shockingly enough).  So tomorrow, I promise, a suh-weet blog post! For now, what I shot today…wrestling! Always enthusiastic about shooting something different, and I know NOTHING about this sport.  Tried to figure it out along the way…

With all of the things I am constantly pestered to join on the Internet, there are actually a few gems out here on the Web’s Wild West.

Notably, is Pinterest.com where I can lift images from the ‘net and place them onto online lists for inspiration.  In other words, we know we’ll never actually have the money to redecorate our house from scratch or afford to get a new wardrobe…but why not dream anyway? Come find me on there!

Another, which I have gotten a ton of stuff for my business (props, camera straps, my padded mailer envelopes, etc…) is Etsy.com.  If you love all things handmade, hit it up!

And I’ll end with a belly laugher website, which is kind of the anti-Etsy.  It’s called Regretsy.com and I’ll just say that some of it is toilet humor…but some of it is pretty epic!

And since all photo blog posts are better with an actual photo, here’s what I shot tonight:

Also, as long as I’m suggesting stuff…go pick up the new Black Keys album!

I used to be a competitive swimmer.  Used to be.  I used to gauge my success against others and be judged by an arbitrary time.  During my formative years I would calculate “The Time.”  That is, The Time of my events I would need to feel like I was of worth and successful.  “The Time” of any one race that was coveted by others, even if it meant nothing in the grand scheme of life.

This continued through high school and college, measuring my success against others.  Quite often, my worth was announced on an 8×11 nondescript white sheet of paper.  All of us would line up to see the other swimmers’ collegiate times.

I haven’t done laps in a pool in years.  I don’t even know who that person is anymore, but a recent assignment to cover competitive swimming brought me back.

Who I was, is far from who I became.  In photography, it’s easy to compare yourself to others and measure their success with yours.  How much do they charge for a wedding? How many blog hits do they get? I realized quickly, this an unwinnable race.  Every time.  The rules for a competitive athlete are clearly defined, success is black and white.  Now, over a decade later, the guidelines I employ on myself are anything but.  While my own measure of success is often drifting about in gray territory, it is overwhelmingly more important.

It is not how much money I make, but how much integrity or kindness I show.  It is not how many people see my work, but if said work consistently gets stronger.

I now define my worth by my own standards and I’m not lining up anywhere to see how others are competing.

How amazing is this little girl? Let me count the ways…

1.) Little Brianna was happy through 7 outfit changes!

2.) She looked up and smiled at me for just about every outfit, which is pretty much unheard of for newborn shoots!

3.) Her precious little eyes were wide eyed and sparkly…heartbreaker!

She’s an angel! Thanks so much to her parents who cleared out a huge room for us to work in and kept the cuteness coming with all of these amazing bows and props!

There aren’t too many days I wish for new gear.  I’m pretty satisfied with what I have.  But today’s announcement of the new Nikon D4 made my heart long for such equipment.  I feel like with a camera like that, you never have to buy another camera again! (How many times have photographers said that over the years?) My D700 chugs along ok I guess, but it’s days when I’m shooting sports that I wish for more… for faster autofocus, for video with my camera, for high ISO…for now I’ll keep dreaming (unless you have an extra $6,000 I can have).  Can’t help but wonder what that camera would do for my sports shooting…

Erin glides into the room as if on air.  She’s stunning and kind, laughs easily and is up for anything.  Was thrilled to work with her to update some headshots and, as you can see, she really has a range of beautiful looking emotions! We really tried to go for some variety, and Erin brought the skills!

A huge thank you to talented makeup artist Jack Zbuska who took time off in between film work to help us achieve some looks! Some of my favorites during our time together…

These two get more adorable BY THE DAY.  You may remember the dynamos from when I photographed them at their newborn shoot or their 6 month mark.  Now, at one year….it’s hard to believe how time flies…or how beautiful they are.  I love their different expressions.  I could watch them interact for hours.  Alas, work had to be done and photographs had to be taken! Here are some of my favorites during our time together…

Anthony busts out with the cutest laugh regularly, and Grace has the most inquisitive facial expressions.  OMG too precious!

We organized a cake smash and I was eager to see what the kids would do…every child is different and it’s all equally hilarious to see how they approach the cake…

So much love and appreciation to their parents, whom I adore with all of my heart and make me forget I’m working! They fill the room with laughter and love and I am so grateful for their friendship.