WASHINGTON DC WEDDING: NIKKI AND DAVE

I did not know it was possible to get married on the National Mall. But Nikki did. I’m not sure how much planning and paperwork is involved with scheduling an event on public property like that but Nikki and Dave pulled it off. And even with careful planning it doesn’t always go the way you want. The original plan was to have the ceremony at the DC War Memorial, close to Lincoln’s reflecting pool. A few days before the ceremony was to take place, the National Park Service informed the bride and groom that they would have to move to the Jefferson Memorial. Not a bad backup plan!

So right before sunset Dave and Nikki were married, with the Tidal Basin behind them and their friends, family, and Jefferson in front of them.  After the ceremony the bridal party gathered for some photos on the Memorial and the happy couple stuck around to see the sun go down from the big, white, marble steps.

After the ceremony, the party got started at the McLean Gardens Ballroom in DC. Foreign relations were maintained (Dave and his family are English!) through dinner, drinks, and some impressive dance moves. Truly, love knows no boundaries.

SECOND SHOOTING

For wedding photography I always recommend to couples that they consider investing in a wedding collection that includes a second photographer. Part of the reason is selfish. It’s much easier to document a wedding when there are two people. Everything happens so fast and it’s difficult to be in the right place at the right time, every time. But there are lots of other reasons that make sense for couples that can afford it. The second photographer can get important photos that I can’t. For example, I can’t photograph the bride with her father before she walks down the aisle AND the look on the groom’s face when he sees his bride for the first time. Or, photos of the bride & groom alone AND the guests mingling at a cocktail hour. He or she also cuts down the time it takes to wrangle people and set up the family / formal photos, provides additional angles for important moments, lends some extra creativity, and helps me carry heavy stuff. All of this makes me happy. And I take better photos when I’m happy.

Assisting a photographer for a wedding is not always an easy job. I did it a few times when I was young, for an aunt that shot weddings. It’s important to find someone that is dependable, professional, friendly, creative, flexible and hard working. How they interact with your clients and guests at a wedding is very important because they affect your brand and how people view your business.

One of my favorite photographers to work with is Beki. She brings a positive attitude and a creative eye and makes sure that my clients are enjoying their experience being photographed. Beki just about has her website up, but until then, you can see some of her really cool photography work here.

We took some of these portraits in my office—just for fun!

WASHINGTON CAPITALS FOR ON TAP MAGAZINE

This month’s issue of On Tap magazine features the Washington Capitals and several of my photos from a shoot earlier in the month. This, like some of the other sports shoots I have done, was put together quickly and I had no idea what the location looked like or how much time I would have with the players. So once I arrived at the Kettler Center, where the team practices, I had to make some quick decisions and do some creative problem solving with the equipment I had brought.

I only had a few minutes with each of the four players being profiled—Mike Green, Karl Alzner, Mike Knuble, and Troy Brouwer. They were all friendly and easy to work with, no huge egos to contend with, just regular guys who are really good at hockey.

Of course, there are million things I would have done differently with more time to plan, with more time with the players, or several assistants helping me with the gear. But the important thing is that I got the shots I needed and the client is happy.

Also, it turns out that the public can drop in and watch the Caps practice any time! While waiting around between shots I jumped in the press box in between benches (no protective glass from the rink… yikes!) and got a few photos of the practice session.

Don’t forget to pick up a copy of the magazine at your favorite restaurant or bar in DC, Maryland or Virginia.