October 3, 2009 Wedding: Mallory & Jameson

Last Saturday I photographed the wedding of Mallory and Jameson, the young couple whose engagement session is featured below in my blog. I photographed their wedding for Robert Burge Photography.

The wedding and reception took place at The Grand in New Albany, Ind. A large venue that was formerly a movie theater.  Their names were placed on the marquee above the main entrance and our engagement pictures were displayed in the windows up front, made to look like Mallory and Jameson were the feature attraction.

This wedding was a blast to cover! Not only was the location full of possibilities, but the couple, Jameson and Mallory, were really willing to do whatever it takes to get some cool and fun pictures.  Fortunately, after their ceremony guests could start with the buffet and did not have to wait on me to finish with the photography. That was definitely a plus for me.  Usually, guest don’t get to eat until the photographer has finished with the couple.  That always puts pressure on me.

So we were free to do whatever they were willing to do…..

Here are just a few of my favorites, I had more, believe me.

We found the turquoise couch and the typewriter in the alley and used them as props.

From an earlier scout of the location with Robert Burge I noticed a small fair nearby.  After the ceremony we went to the fair and took some fun pictures!!! They rode the carousel and walked around a bit. But when Mallory saw the giant, yellow slide, it was HER idea to go down it in her gown and all!!  I was thrilled!!

This was on a MOVING carousel

This is one of my favorites! They were trying to bustle her dress.

I think Mallory pinched Jameson here.

Another favorite of mine!

One more quick portrait before returning to the reception.

Father-Daughter dance.

Their names are etched in the glass.

Leaving for their honeymoon in a red convertible Thunderbird.

One last wave...

It was a fantastic wedding! With an even more fantastic couple. Congratulations Mallory and Jameson. I wish you the best.

Sept 14, 2009 Engagement: Mallory & Jameson

It’s been quite a while since I last shot an engagement session, so I was happy when it came time to photograph engaged couple Mallory and Jameson on Monday.  I’ll be shooting their wedding for Robert Burge Photography in October as well.

We walked around downtown Louisville and were lucky to have a beautiful, bright sunset.  I have many favorites, here are some:

The mirror at the Science Center.

A Louisville Landmark - Slugger Museum

Main Street outside of Kentucky Center of the Arts

Mallory reacts as someone shouts "Run!!!"

Outside of the Kentucky Center for the Arts

Belvedere

Mallory wanted to stand on the pillar

 

Standing in front of another Louisville landmark: The Belle of Louisville.

 

 

See you guys soon!

Sept 5, 2009 Wedding: Jessica & Jason

Last weekend I photographed the wedding of Jessica and Jason, two highschool sweethearts.  The beautiful wedding was at Jessica’s parents house in Eastwood, Ky.  Fortunately, the weather played along. Below are just a few of my favorite pictures:

Something blue....a gift from Jason to Jessica.

Jason and his brother Daniel.

Congratulations guys! It was a fun party! 

 

Louisville Chef in USA TODAY

I recently photographed a story for USA TODAY on Timothy Tucker, a local chef at the Salvation Army homeless shelter.  Tucker has previously worked at fine dining restaurants before coming to the Salvation Army and has made a huge impact on the shelter’s menu options.

He’s planted an organic garden, which provides vegetables and fruits for daily meals. And also teaches cooking classes for the homeless, which helps them to get a job in the restaurant industry.

Tucker is posing for the camera in the organic garden with a selection of peppers and eggplant that he plans to use for the next days meal.

It was interesting to watch him work and interact with the homeless and kitchen volunteers. He really cares about the food, how it looks and tastes and moreover that it’s healthy and locally produced.  

A plate for the homeless with Spaghetti, home-grown broccoli and tomatoes for the sauce, meatballs from local beef farms and garlic bread

The homeless respect him.  One man stepped up to shake Tucker’s hand.

Thomas Turpak shakes the hand of Chef Timothy Tucker, 33, at Salvation Army's lunch line in Louisville, Ky. "He's a nice man, we really appreciate him," Turpak later comments.

…. and Tucker feels his job is “incredibly rewarding.”

Tucker stands back as the homeless enjoy his cooking. Often they come up to him and thank him.

 Again the online link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-08-26-homeless-chefs_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

Emily and Chris

Recently, I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of  Emily and Chris.  While every wedding is an honor for me to photograph, I was especially enjoying theirs.  

The ceremony took place at St. James Church off Bardstown Road with the reception following at the beautiful Seelbach Hilton in downtown Louisville.

I was shooting the wedding for Todd Nichols Photography.

Emily was wearing her mother's veil.

It was an absolutely stunning wedding. I wish you both the very best!

Indian Wedding

Back in mid June I was able to assist wedding photographer Ian Lozada with a large Indian wedding in Lexington, Ky.

The wedding of Arjun and Neema took place at the Embassy Suites in Lexington, it was an all day affair. I started shooting at 9 am, although Ian started much earlier.  I was finished about 9 pm, again, Ian shot much longer.

But I never felt like it was a long day. I really enjoyed witnessing the very elaborate wedding traditions of an Indian wedding. It was a Hindu ceremony rich in tradition! 

It all started with Arjun, the groom, arriving in horse drawn carriage starting at the entrance of the hotel’s driveway. A procession of friends and family danced enthusiastically to Bollywood type music that was blaring from large speakers on the back of a pick-up truck.  On this warm day, everyone was dressed in long garments, but no one seemed to be affected by the heat – they just danced and cheered until they reached the hotel front door. 

As they reached the front the traditions continued.  Arjun was dabbed on the forehead with red paste on which they placed some rice seeds. Then he was wrapped in string. There were so many ceremonial procedures at that stage that it took the groom a while to finally enter the hotel.

Meanwhile Neema and her bridesmaids were getting ready inside.

Arjun was seated under the mandap where he waited for his bride. His line of sight was covered with a cloth, he was not allowed to see Neema until well after she had been seated across from him.  

I wasn’t exactly sure what the traditions meant, but saw one where the couple was bound by a rope to symbolize their connection.  I guess that is where the term “to tie the knot” came from.

After the ceremony friends and family lined up to wish the couple well.  An hour later Arjun and Neema were through seeing all of them.

When it finally came time to get some portraits I felt guilty taking up their time.  But this time only 3 people, Ian, me and the videographer, were around them.  They seemed very happy, but surely must have been exhausted!  

Just before everyone left the hotel for a 4-hour break until the reception, Neema had to say good-bye to her family. Indian wedding tradition, as with many traditions, dictates that the bride leaves her family to be with the groom – spiritually and physically.  Since Neema and Arjun are both medical doctors they will be moving to Chicago and therefore leaving Lexington.  This ceremony of Neema leaving her father ( and the rest of her family ) was very emotional.  It began with prayer, and ended with hugs and tears….. many tears. 

The emotions ran high, many cried, and some of the women sang. Everyone followed Neema and Arjun out to the car to wave farewell.  

But, suddenly, a fun moment lightened the somber mood. Some of the girls were able to steal the groom’s shoes as he was getting into the car. Stealing the groom’s shoes is just one of the fun traditions of an Indian wedding. Many times throughout the day I witnessed wedding guests, mostly younger men, scrambling to steal his shoes.  

Outside the hotel the girls stole his shoes as he was getting into the car and started negotiating a price with the uncle. 

After the ceremony the hotel staff transformed the ballroom  for the reception.  Rows of chairs and couches (couches for comfort during the long wedding ceremony ) were replaced by dining tables for the reception.

Father – daughter dance:

It was simply a beautiful wedding and I wish Neema and Arjun all the best!

Sonja

In between working on getting several wedding pictures out to my clients I took a little break today to photograph my sister’s friend, Sonja from Germany.

Sonja, my siblings and I attended the same highschool in my hometown of Bochum, Germany. She remained in contact with my sister throughout the years and has come to visit several times already. 

Last week she surprised my sister when she appeared, unexpectedly, at my sister’s birthday party. You can imagine my sister’s surprise!  

Sonja asked me to make a few pictures of her and I looked forward to shooting, being creative and just having fun with an old friend.  Here are just some of my favorites:

Childhood friends get married

The wedding of Tesha and Darryl last Saturday was simply beautiful! It was a very emotional day that included an intimate, outdoor ceremony at Wildwood Country Club, close friends and family and handwritten vows. The reception followed inside with  DJ Glenn Davis providing the entertainment. 

The wedding party was thankfully small enough to have some fun with pictures. They were up to just about anything.  Unfortunately, the little ones weren’t always cooperative, still, they were very cute wearing their formal outfits.

I had many favorites of their day, so I posted them in a slideshow…

Congratulations to Tesha and Darryl

A wedding of familiar faces

I always love shooting weddings of friends and family! This past Saturday  I was honored to photograph the wedding of a family friend, Matthew and his fiance Cheryl.

I’ve known Matthew and his family since the mid 80s, we were neighbors. Now, every year, our large families celebrate Christmas together.

Matthew also has an identical twin brother, Larry. All these years I’ve NEVER been able to tell them apart.  But on their wedding day a little white hankerchief in the breast pocket let me know, this is Matthew, the groom.  Still, during the reception I approached his brother to ask a question thinking he was Matthew.  Cheryl quickly pointed out my mixup and I just laughed!  

But I wasn’t the only one who mixed them up.  During the ceremony the Pastor pointed out that he did as well:

The pastor points to Larry, the Best Man, admitting he mixed the twins up earlier that day.

The ceremony was at St.Margaret and Mary and the reception at The Elks Club on Ormsby.  Here are some of my favorite pictures:

Cheryl's mom is steam ironing her dress.

Matthew

Cheryl looked so beautiful

This is my favorite picture of the day, when her dad walked her down the aisle.

Both families

Limo ride to the reception

First Dance

Me and the twins! So, can YOU tell them apart?

Congratulations Cheryl and Matthew!!

Identical Triplets

Today I received a nice surprise phone call from a Florida family I photographed over a 6-month period back in 2005! 

Back when I was working for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune I photographed a young family, who lived in North Port, Fla. for a story in the newspaper.  They were very special – they were expecting triplets!

They already had a three-year-old girl and a one-year-old boy and were expecting triplets – all girls!!!  Not until much later in the pregnancy, or maybe not until birth, did they realize the triplets were actually identical!!  From what I heard they had a better chance at winning the lottery than conceiving IDENTICAL TRIPLETS, but I believe in their eyes they already won the lottery in life: a beautiful and healthy family.

I remember when Fred, the father, called me (Oct 2005) I was shooting a high school football game in Port Charlotte, Fla., which back then was still in the paper’s coverage area (it is no longer, but that’s a different story).  The family lived in North Port, which was north of Port Charlotte and about 30-45 mins south of Sarasota Memorial Hospital. When Theresa started having contractions Fred called the fire department first, then me!  You had never seen me drive the 45 miles north faster before, I could have gotten a speeding ticket…but didn’t (care)!

The triplets were delivered quickly, so quickly that an epidural was not possible. I did not arrive in time to photograph their birth.  But everything went fine, they were healthy, but still had to stay in NICU for a little while.

The story continued with the hospital stay, release from hospital, daily life at home and ended with their baptism.

Soon after the story was published and I left the family to continue work on other projects and assignments I lost touch with them.  I tried contacting them with the email addresses I had, but no luck. Today, I found out they are well and living in NY. I hope to stay in contact with them and have already been promised family pictures.  

To read the story go to this link: http://tinyurl.com/p3afyu

For pictures with captions go here: http://www.nppa6.org/clips/2006/march/march.html#  

- go to FEATURE/ MULTIPLE PICTURES and click on THREE OF A KIND.

Enjoy!

Love, LAUGHTER and happiness ever after

Last Saturday I photographed the wedding of Carrie and Mark at Caldwell Chapel. It was such a fun celebration with lots of laughter throughout the day.                                            

Carrie just couldn’t stop laughing, turns out I got tons of pictures of her hearty laughs.  It was so nice to see her having so much fun!

And here are some of my favorites:

Congratulations Carrie and Mark!!

“When I am 64″ – Beatles

Last Saturday I photographed a “quickie” wedding at the beautiful Old Louisville’s Inn at the Park. Lyn, the bride, actually booked me only 5 days before the wedding. Her son was home from the Navy and everything was planned last minute.  Fortunately, I was available.  I photographed them for only 3 hours.  It was a small ceremony with only 11 people attending, that is including the grand-baby, the harp player and the staff.

Lyn and Larry had known each other for 23 years when he finally proposed!  Lyn’s son walked her down the victorian staircase to the Beatles song “When I am 64.”  The ceremony was in one of the Inn’s rooms.

After the ceremony a small reception with cake and champagne followed.  Here are some favorites:

Lyn, the beautiful bride.

Larry and his very blue eyes.

Taking them for a stroll in Central Park. Fortunately, it finally stopped raining.

Lyn and her son.

Congratulations !!!

Three generations graduate

Yesterday I took on a Courier-Journal assignment that at first sounded like a regular graduation ceremony assignment, but it had a nice surprise to it.

The reporter Harold Adams pointed out to me that three women of one family would be graduating together: a grandmother, mother and daughter.  From what they say this has never happened in the history of Indiana University Southeast.

Here is the story:

Courier-Journal 

Kentucky Derby 135

Without much introduction I will post some of my pictures from this years’ Kentucky Derby. I photographed clients in the Finish Line Suites and Turf Club for Churchill Downs. 

Below is a funny scene:

Paddock area

The Derby race

Mine That Bird about to finish first!

Winning jockey Calvin Borel throws roses in the air, paying respects to his deceased mother.

Winners Circle

Here are some celebrities:

Marylou Whitney, a socialite and philanthropist.

Larry Birkhead, daddy of Nicole Smith's baby

Valerie Bertinelli, who was very friendly.

Tiki Barber, is a sports broadcaster, author, and former American football running back for the New York Giants.

Brooke Shields and her daughter. Looks like she was hoping for a winning bid.

Isn't she beautiful?

Paris Hilton, attended the Derby wearing a bright yellow outfit.

Black Jockey History

On Thursday I was asked by the Palm Beach Post to shoot a portrait of a very interesting woman: Shirley Mae Beard, who owns a cafe/restaurant/bar in the Smoketown district of Louisville, Ky. and has an extensive collection of Black Jockey memorabilia.  Did you know that the first jockey to win the Kentucky Derby was black? Oliver Lewis was the first jockey to win the Derby on the colt Aristides.

Shirley Mae Beard, 70, of Louisville, Ky., poses with a T-Shirt commemorating black jockeys of the Kentucky Derby and a picture of herself and Whoopie Goldberg from 1990 at her cafe in Louisville, Ky. For years Beard and her family have been celebrating black jockeys on Oaks and Derby Day outside her restaurant - Shirley Mae Cafe. Celebrities, such as Whoopie Goldberg in 1990, have participated in the festival. Beard says she now celebrates black jockeys in a "low key" fashion, because she says she has no more funds. She started the festival because she saw black jockeys as role models with a good reputation. "I just wanted to see kids be proud and enthused about black jockeys and encourage them to follow," she says.

When I first walked into her place I had to readjust my eyes to the dark environment.  Her place was a long bar, at one end was the open kitchen and at the other was the bar counter, where one gentleman was sitting enjoying a drink.

Life-long Smoketown resident William Lewis, born in 1928, is a regular at Shirley Mae's Cafe in the Smoketown district of Louisville, Ky.

Shirley Mae was frying up some chicken and cornbread, a customer was waiting for his food. She stood by the stove and the hot frying pan wearing a sweater, or a long sleeved shirt.  While I was wearing a polo shirt and could not stand the heat. She said the heat didn’t bother her anymore, she was used to it.

Shirley Mae is making some of her famous fried chicken.

Later, she showed me some of her memorabilia, such as the “Isaac Murphy Award,” a miniature statue given by Churchill Downs to the most valuable jockey.

Isaac Murphy Award

and playing cards of black jockeys that were sold to make money for the Jockey’s Guild.Shirley Mae’s daughter Theresa was also very helpful in giving me some more information. Theresa said that somewhere in the city Shirley Mae’s Cafe has been designated as official Black Jockey Museum. So one day, she says, a busload of black shriners showed up wanting to see the “museum.”  I suggested she should start charging admission if that’s the case!

I enjoyed the assignment, it was quite eye opening. I actually learned something new about my own city and the request came from an out-of-state newspaper! 

Here is how the story ran:

To be 13 again!

Last Saturday I photographed the birthday of LaRosa, she turned 13!  It was a nice little gathering of her best friends, just getting together to dance to some hip music, eat cupcakes and goldfish crackers. I’m sure boys were a topic of conversation there somewhere.

But best of all the girls got to ride a bright pink stretch limo to St. James Court in Old Louisville for a little photoshoot. Here are some photos:

Laying on the floor was their idea!

Riding in style with a pink limo to St. James Court.

She was very fun and easy to photograph!

Clown Convention

Yes, indeed, you read it right!

All of last week clowns inhabited the Holiday Inn Lakeside in Clarksville, Ind. I stopped in on Wednesday to shoot a few pictures for the Courier-Journal, which are below.

The 24th annual Clowns of America International Convention had about 165 registered members from all over the country. Each day they had something else going on, whether it were classes, competition or presentations. 

Pat, a good friend of mine, and her husband Tom, came all the way from Englewood, Fla., to attend the convention.  She, herself, is a clown and also does some fabulous face painting. You can see some of her work here:   http://www.pitterpatfacepainting.com/ 

Back in 2007 she painted my face:

 While shooting for the paper that day I’ve discovered that although clowning seems like a silly activity, they are serious when it comes to competing.  But all in all they were a fun bunch.

Although she will not reveal her true age clown Laurel Grandstaff says she is at the age "when you start living your life," at over 80 years. She is a hospital clown from Houston, Tex.

A clown uses the Holiday Inn's hotel lobby computer.

Taking a lunch break in the hotel's restaurant are, from left, Vi Stafford ("Loll-E-Pop"), her brother Ron Poindexter ("Spangle") and his wife Gloria Grimsley ("Daisy Mae"). All are of Springfield, Mo.

Clown noses available at the vendors room.

Items for sale in the vendor room.

Summer Shiratori of New York ties her clown shoes before her competition.

COAI vendor John Spears, of Spear Specialty Shoe Company, displays his selection of clown shoes during the convention. He also made the shoes for The Grinch movie as well as the Grinch show on broadway.

Individual skit competitions take place in the Royal Ballroom.

Girls just wanna have fun!

The 80’s decade is probably my favorite decade to flash back to.

At the beginning of the 80s I started first grade, and at the end I partied when the Wall in Berlin came down.  And somewhere in between were memories of Nena, Pet Shop Boys, Culture Club as well as neon colors, bright plastic bracelets/ necklaces, and MTV coming on air.  

Last night I got my fix of some 80’s flashbacks.  I photographed Crystal’s 30th birthday party at the Wildwood Country Club here in Louisville.  We started with a fun “Walk Like An Egyptian” on the site’s golf course.

To purchase images from this gallery please go to this link. The password is the hosts last name.

The birthday girl, Crystal, is the one with the skirt

Later, inside, Steve Nalley of Tunes 4 U dj & karaoke services played not only the music but also the videos of popular 80’s dance tunes.  What a great party idea!

 

Ok, this is a random picture. I shot this by accident, but I kinda like it.

Live Music

The other weekend I saw my favorite band again – Johnny Berry and The Outliers at Longshot Tavern. Their music is a mix between classic country and a little honky tonk – and is always really great dancing music!

This time I decided to bring my camera and in between dancing I made some photographs. Actually, I did a little dancing with camera around my shoulder as well.

It was a bit dark there to be shooting without a flash. But I just didn’t want to disrupt the atmosphere with a bright flash.  

I had fun combining my two passions: photography and dancing, it was a great creative outlet.

Johnny Berry and Steve Cooley play at Longshot Tavern in Louisville, Ky.

Johnny Berry's music is some of the best dancing music around!

Well-known musician Steve Cooley plays with JB at Longshot Tavern in Louisville, Ky.

Lightpainting

I’ve been meaning to do some photography by using the light painting technique.  All I needed was a steady tripod, a small flashlight and a patient and ever so still-standing subject.  

Cassie was willing to pose for some portraits and we must have shot only about 45 pictures.  It doesn’t sound a lot, but if you consider each frame is an exposure of 10-20 seconds.  And each time I am using a flashlight to “paint” the picture.  It takes quite a while to get it just right.  Below are some examples.  I would love to do some more sometime soon….