come and meet us in person! (at some bridal shows)

OK, it’s not like we’re celebrities or anything, but you are invited to come and meet us (me and mindy) at The Bridal Experience at The Fez on Sunday January 10 and on Sunday and at the Times Bridal Fair, January 31 at Seven Oaks Country Club.

We’ll have candy, our newest album which is really cool, gallery wraps, prints, Save The Dates and all the good stuff! We may even have a surprise or two – we’re still working on that in the back room, all very hush-hush at this time.

We’ll have some special deals for those that come out in the January weather to make the trip worthwhile!

Here’s a recent shot Mindy took at Nicki and Skip’s wedding last month.

Can you drink at work?

I have to ask about this because it’s pissing me off. Perhaps I’m in the minority, I don’t know. I think it comes down to this – Can you drink (alcohol) at work? While working?

I’ve never had a boss or job that allowed that. I never tried, but I’m guess if I pulled out a beer I’d end up in the boss’s office in about 2 seconds flat. I’ve had some jobs where that conversation would be very shot – “get out, you’re fired”.

I suppose the main reason you can’t drink at work is well, you’d f-up your job. I know many of you may think that’s not going to happen, but I tend to think it would based on my experiences this year.

This has been the year of bad wedding DJs. Guys that can’t play music successfully, don’t have all the basic gear (like a microphone), leave the building to smoke and the music stops, cutting off songs in the middle or starting them in the middle, and more such incompetence. Yeah, I’m calling it that…or could be that every time there’s a bad DJ there’s alcohol in his hand. I counted what one DJ had, and I’m assuming I missed a drink or two as I’m working too, but he had 6 drinks – some wine (or champagne maybe), beer and a mixed drink. At another wedding the DJ was complaining to the bartender that they ran out of Captain Morgan.

Now don’t get me wrong – I drink. I drink at weddings – IF I’m a guest. But the couple of dozen times a year I attend weddings it’s to work there as their photographer. I don’t drink at work. I don’t know anyone else that drinks at work either.

So if your boss won’t let you drink at work, and your the boss when you hire a DJ for your wedding, why would you let him drink? I’m curious because I just don’t get it.
I work with a lot of good, no, great DJs, some don’t charge enough IMO, and they’re not drinking for 4 or 5 hours at work. And it shows in the way they sound.

OK, that’s the end of my rant. I’m going to go have a beer now.

A Halloween Wedding – Congrats to Alysia and Bobby!

This was a very fun wedding and once again, the weather was very cooperative just when we needed it to be!

Alysia and Bobby had big wedding – nearly 400 guests! That filled the Grand Ballroom at the Fez. And they had a couple of nice touches at the reception too – a photo booth, a DJ and a band! The band was great too – The Earthquakers, a kind of amish hard rock quartet – yeah, I know what that sounds like but they were fun and good too!

While the wedding was on October 31 it wasn’t a halloween themed wedding, but well, it was halloween afterall.

Mandi and Matt, 10.10.09

Mandi and Matt tied the know last Saturday in a well attended ceremony in Mars, PA.

They were surprised with a ride in firetruck.

Mindy made-up Mandi magnificently.

And then they danced the night away.

Old, New, Borrowed and Blue. I get it. But the socks? Reminds of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz for some reason.

Jessica and Sean

Jessica and Sean got married in a small intimate ceremony on a Friday with a picnic reception for their friends in Sewickley on Saturday.

They were a lot of fun to photograph and the picnic was a blast!

Heather and Chris Get Married

Chris and Heather tied the knot on September 5th at Rolling Acres. I’ve golfed and had dinner there several times, but this was the first time I’d been there for a wedding and was excited at all the possibilities to make beautiful pictures – and I wasn’t disappointed!

Everything is ready for the party!

Chris and Heather share a quiet moment after the ceremony.

It was the perfect day for an outdoor ceremony.

Ahh, their first dance!

What’s a fall wedding without fall color? No, the trees at Rolling Acres haven’t turned and it’s not Photoshop. It’s knowing how to use the light God provides.

Congratulations to Bridgit and Mike

Mike and Bridgit were married August 29th is a lovely ceremony at Our Lady of Peace in Conway. Mike’s brother Paul was the best man. I worked with Mike and Paul at World of Cycles for some 10 years back in the 90s. Paul now owns All Pro Motorsports in Weirton and Mike works part time as a police officer and owns an excavating company.

Their reception was at Harmony Ridge, the former Ambridge Country Club and we went out on the course for some photos.

One of the flower girls was Sienna, their daughter.

it’s a bet they both won

Is marriage a gamble? I won’t voice an opinion on that, but Ian and Brittanie are betting it’s a good idea.

They got hitched at Mountaineer Casino with a reception that followed and it was a lot of fun to be a part of their special day!

Kim, John and Savannah

Kim and John came in this week for their engagement session and brought Savannah, their puppy. It was a lot of fun for all of us!

We did a few shots in the studio and then went outside where Savannah was having the most fun of us all – she flushed a bird and wanted to chase some rabbits.

Here are some high lights from their visit.

I’m looking forward to a fun wedding in December!

Kelli and Dave got hitched!

This was a wedding I’ll remember for along time! Kelli and Dave are a great couple to work with and that shows in the photos.

The ceremony was in a small church in a cornfield, St Johns, built in 1829.  Kelli wanted a church with a short aisle so it would be easy for her dad to walk her to the front.

There are several advantages to small churches. Most are bright inside, the pews are full with your guests, and I can be close for pictures without being in the way. This is the ring exchange as shot from the back of the church, not an easy shot to get in a cathedral.

And here’s one showing the entire church. I like this shot!

Did I mention the cornfield? It made  for a nice setting for some romantic shots.

They held their reception at the Conway Sportsman’s Club where they are members and met. Kelli likes to shoot skeet and Dave says she’s really good at it. So of course we had to do something like this, right?

And they requested this shot, which I must admit is a first for me – and I enjoyed every minute of it!

The lake is at the sportsman’s club and made a wonderful backdrop for a few more romantic shots.

Cake smashing isn’t as popular as it once was at weddings, but it’s still as much fun as always!

And I’ll end with a dance shot.