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While Twisted Oaks Studio is primarily a Philadelphia Wedding Photography studio, we do travel quite often for our clients. While we do have our share of New York City weddings, and love a good old city wedding, our style is more suited for the scenery found a little more north of the city. Upstate New York is simply breathtaking, very similarly to the scenery and views found in update Pennsylvania. This wedding that we shot at the Ham House, was a wedding that was a dream to shoot. From beginning to end, and this blog post does a pretty good job of showing you why we loved it so much.
In a small and intimate setting in upstate New York, Jamie Lynn and Charles tied the knot with their close family on hand. Overlooking the Catskill Mountains, the Ham House is an exquisite 1854 Italianate Victorian mansion, the perfect setting for two artists beginning a life together as husband and wife. Charles a talented Chef and Jamie a successful interior designer, they invited us to capture the day in our artistic way. We spent the entire day with them from beginning to end, feeling more like family than photographers, and we couldn’t be happier they chose us for the job.
Shot with the Leica M9, Nikon Df, and Pentax 645N with Fuji400H
It was last summer, while on a family vacation, that I took a call from Wellington. He explained to me that he really liked our work and wanted to see if we could design him a photography package. Rather than wait til I got home, we worked something out right then and there. We hit it off and I could tell his wedding would be one that I would be looking forward to for a while. Well, it didn’t disappoint.
The day started off with a beautiful first look, but that wasn’t all. It also included an acrobatic show that I accidentally put on. As I was snapping away, I backed up and tripped over my camera bag. Not just a small trip, but more of an epic fall that I’ll remember for a while. While I was worried I would be feeling the pain the rest of the day, it was quickly forgotten about as we set off to get to the ceremony. Wellington and Alyssa got married at the Ballroom At The Ben, on a beautiful sunny day, and we ended up catching a stunning sunset just before the reception kicked off.
The reception was an absolute blast, filled with tears, laughter, and one of the funniest speeches I’ve heard from a groom’s father. Hopefully, we came through with capturing the day just as Wellington and Alyssa had hoped we would, and we didn’t disappoint!
I just recently spent a week in a remote area of Utah, amongst some of the best photographers in the industry. Photographers that I’m also lucky enough to call my good friends. I simply can’t stress enough, the importance of getting involved with a group of like-minded individuals and spending time just creating and learning with them. We built on our relationships, made new ones, and did a whole lot of shooting. I absolutely love when I get a chance to switch things up and do some shooting outside of wedding photography, especially while it’s in the midst of wedding season. Shooting different things, using different techniques, and working with different kinds of subjects always helps strengthen my creativity when it comes to a wedding day or engagement shoot. While on this trip, I shot in the studio, used lighting gear I’ve only seen in high-end studios, and used reflectors the size of cars to enhance the natural light that I love working with.
I never want to stop learning, as there will always be more to learn. Photographers, please continue to master your craft, your art, and never let yourself be content. Go out and make connections, go to workshops to educate yourself, and surround yourself with friends that are positive role models and want to see you succeed. This, my friends, is one of the biggest investments you can make in yourself and your business.
GEAR:
Leica M240 + 50mm Summilux / 24mm Summilux
Kim and Eric’s was our first wedding of 2016, yet a wedding we had been looking forward to for well over a year. Kim was a bridesmaid in a wedding we shot last year, and the third bride out of a group of friends who’s wedding we shot. Being that this was the first wedding of the year, we were excited to see old friends and get the season started on a good note. After a couple hours of driving in the pouring rain to get to Kim’s parent’s house in New York, hoping the rain would ease up, it didn’t. Most of the shots that Kim wanted of her and Eric were outside at the beautiful Hollowbrook Golf Course. Most importantly, a few shots of them on a bridge that she had been planning in her head for months.
As Sandi and I walked in, umbrellas in hand, we could see the concern on Kim’s face about the weather. I immediately explained to her that rain or shine, we would make it out to that bridge. Fingers crossed, I was really hoping for the rain to stop and sun to come out. It just wasn’t looking good.
After meeting up with Eric and his groomsmen to head over to the ceremony, the rain eased up and the sky looked promising. As Kim’s father walked her down the isle to meet her soon to be husband, the sun was shining through the church windows. Kim and Eric were married and we were off to Hollowbrook to take advantage of this break in the weather. We immediately hopped in a golf cart and headed out to the bridge. Sandi and couldn’t help but notice how happy Kim was that we had caught a break in the weather. As Kim stepped out onto the bridge and smiled, a plain wooden bridge seemed to all of a sudden light up. Kim looked absolutely stunning, and as Eric took her by the hand and walked her out to middle, the bridge slowly disappeared.
It turned out to be a beautiful day, at just the perfect times. Once the party started and we had all the photos we needed, the storms rolled back harder then they had all day. No one cared how bad it was raining, the party inside was jumpin. Sandi and I had a blast, we laughed, danced, talked with friends, and couldn’t be more thankful that Kim and Eric asked us to be there for all of it.
Kim and Eric, congrats again guys! We wish you nothing but the best! Thanks again for letting us tag along and be part of your big day, hope you love the photos as much as we do!
