Wedding photography: nothing matters but …10.28.11

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The setting had it all: history, proximity and sheer beauty.

Everything was exquisitely planned and chosen: the vintage gown three generations old and meticulously restored, the dinner and wine perfectly matched, the song for the first dance that appropriately crooned, “And the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true.”

That’s what it seemed was about to happen that Saturday in May.

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Then, it started raining … 10 minutes before it was time to start.

And we’re not talking a mist or a sprinkle. This was a good ol’ fashioned mid-Atlantic spring gully washer that put an end to the possibility that this wedding was going to happen under God’s blue skies, or even gray, as had been meticulously planned. Plans were quickly changed. And you know what happened.

Two people madly in love still got married. They laughed and cried at the quickly arranged altar. They kissed and their friends and family cheered.

I was reminded of that afternoon reading Jonas Peterson’s Mason Jar Manifesto, recommended by Jamie at the Modern Tog, about wedding-planning excesses overwhelming the point of the event.

That May wedding was one of several I have been to this year in varying capacities.  Some were big, some were small. Some went perfectly, some had their bumps and detours. But at the end of every one was this: a deliriously happy couple tied the knot.

Jonas, who clearly has been intimately involved in many more weddings than I have, yet, makes the point that details are fine and fun, but “Weddings are about people, it’s about commitment and celebrating love. It’s about you. Build on that and everything else will follow.”

I think that’s also a good reminder for the wedding photographer – hi.

Wading into this biz, I have cruised inordinate numbers of websites, blogs and books studying styles, techniques, knock lists and trends. Wedding photographers today shoot every little thing. But images that stay with me, that make me stop and say “I wish I’d shot that” are invariably of the happy couple.

That’s where every wedding should focus because whether you’re staging the destination wedding of your dreams or being united by a justice of the peace in front of a couple friends, the point of the whole affair is two people’s dreams really coming true.

Want to book Rich Copley Photo for your wedding photos, engagement shoot or something else? Check out our rates and booking info, and Email me.

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Stage photography: Opera!10.24.11

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As a college student, I really wanted to be a rock concert photographer – I think I have mentioned here before sneaking a body and zoom lens into shows by Sting, R.E.M. and others. When I re-entered serious photography a few years ago, one of my first big thrills was shooting opera.

I hear you – Gettin’ old, Rich?

Well, yes, I had more years and many more pounds on me by then. But I really don’t think that was it because I loved opera in college and before. At that time, I just don’t think I thought about it as a prime subject to shoot.

But now, with my primary job as an arts journalist, the opportunity is right there, and it is such a great subject to shoot. The drama, the costumes, the sets, the drama – did I say that twice? For an expressive art form, I’d say opera is more reliable than rock ‘n’ roll, and I loves me some rock ‘n’ roll. I kind of envy Metropolitan Opera photographer Ken Howard his job.

Last week, I had another chance to shoot some opera with the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre‘s production of Roméo et Juliette - on that second link, you’ll see the work of UK Opera’s outstanding house photographer, Tim Collins, and a link to a gallery of my photos of the other Roméo et Juliette cast.

R&J and opera – oh, the drama.

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Church Photography: Looking Around10.21.11

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Last Sunday I got a nice treat: Usually if I shoot anything at our services, it’s from the perch of my other church gig, running the soundboard.

But since it was children’s Sabbath, I was specifically asked to shoot the service. So one of our other sound guys took over the board, giving me freedom to move around more. It was great to get different angles and more intimate shots of the service. Editing the card though, some of my favorite images turned out to be shots that weren’t of the formal service at all. They were unguarded moments, practice, worship, near mishaps (don’t worry, that was in rehearsal, and he caught the precariously perched candle), and the simple pure fun of preteens running the show.

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Want to book Rich Copley Photo for your event or something else? Check out our rates and booking info, and Email me.

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Real Estate Photography: New Angles10.19.11

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One morning last week I found myself wandering around a large industrial property with my camera mounted on a tripod shooting inanimate objects – sort of a different place for someone who is used to shooting people later in the day while bearing the weight of my camera in my hands.

It was a great challenge courtesy of James M. Schrader of Schrader Commercial Properties, LLC, who had previously hired me to photograph his staff for his website. This time around, he wanted photos of a warehouse and storefront space he representing at 1325 Baker Court near Georgetown Road as the exclusive leasing agent for WT Young Storage .

For me, it was a bit of a throwback to college photography class assignments to shoot architecture and forms and shapes. My wife also reminded me I enjoy shooting barns, equipment and nature when I visit my in-laws in Georgia. Around here, the people pictures are usually the most pressing concerns. But working for Schrader added that urgency to a different kind of photography, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting up early and playing the angles.

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Want to book Rich Copley Photo for your business or other photo needs? Check out our rates and booking info, and Email me.

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Church photography: baptisms10.10.11

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If you are the house photographer for a church, this is a pretty tantalizing phrase in the preview email for Sunday’s services: “I get to baptize twins this Sunday! Do you think I can hold them both at the same time?”

I don’t know. Can you?! Mwahahahahahahahahaha-ha. I’ll make sure to have a couple bodies and well-chosen lenses to document whatever happens.

Even with just one child, baptisms are loads of fun to shoot because they usually involve the human race’s most reliable wildcards: babies. I know this from experience. At my daughter’s baptism, she waved to the congregation like she had just been named Little Miss Covenant Presbyterian. My son, on the other hand, gave the preacher at our current church just enough time to say, “Christopher” and then he let a WAAAAAIIIIILLLLL that Rev. Gerdts followed with, “is not a happy customer right now.”

At our church, I’ve seen just about everything, including the older brother of a baptizee who took it upon himself to dip his hands in the water and start blessing a few people. Who needs seminary? It’s a short ceremony, but full of Kodak moments from the actual water to the pastor walking the child down the aisle to introduce him or her to their “aunts and uncles in the church.”

For the record, Rev. Berry – pro that he is – had no problem wielding both kids Sunday, but one did quickly turn into an unhappy customer. Those kids – they’re wildcards.

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Want to book Rich Copley Photo for your event or photo shoot? Check out our rates and booking info, and Email me.

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