Trials and Tribulations of a Wedding Photographer

Last year, I began photographing weddings for a wedding planner, Connie Mills, owner of "All In One Weddings", based in Brunswick, Maine. It is ideal for me, and I appreciate the work. It is not as lucrative as contracting with my own clients, but it is definitely less stressful. Our weddings are usually "destination" weddings, for folks that come to Maine to get married. So far this year, I have shot two small weddings, and am booked for three more in the coming weeks. Hopefully, it will develop into 8 or 9 before the season is over. This leaves room for my Portrait work and my part time job at L.L.Bean.

The first of this year was a very nice ceremony in Cape Elizabeth at the Inn By The Sea on May 21. It had been stormy and raining all week. Fingers were crossed for a break in the weather, or at least a good back up plan.

As luck would have it, the rain gods were listening to our pleas. The clouds parted, the rain ceased, and the son presented itself in all its glory. A beautiful day ensued, with just enough breeze to keep things mild, but not too much to make a nuisance of itself. This was a delightful couple who had come to Maine from Vermont, bringing the entire wedding party with them for a few days.

This was a great way to start the wedding season. The day after the wedding, the storms and rain returned for several more days.

I am sure you have heard the old adage of bring two of everything, you never know when you will need a backup. My next wedding on 26 June proved this to be no exaggeration. The day started out as a normal rainy day to shoot a wedding. I was to meet Connie Mills, and the wedding couple in East Boothbay, Maine at the Wilson Memorial Chapel. That is a great venue for a small wedding. It is a small stone chapel, with an open beamed wood ceiling. The chapel sits looking out over the North Atlantic ocean and several islands and lighthouses.

Ashley and Thomas were a very personable, and might I add, photogenic, couple that came to Boothbay, Maine from Connecticut to get married. They were accompanied by Ashley's son, Conner and their two dogs. Once again, it has been raining and storming for a couple of days, and I was again appealing to the rain gods for mercy. 30 minutes before the ceremony was to begin the rain stopped. I will not go so far as to say the sun came out, but the rain did stop. Unfortunately, the dogs had to miss the ceremony, and the photo ops. Muddy paws and wedding attire do not mix, so Ashley and Thomas left the dogs at the motel.

Here is where the "Trials and Tribulations" come into play. While photographing the ceremony, I was looking through the shutter, and not where I was stepping. My foot became entangled in an Oak chair that just had no give to it, and I went down hard. Bounced off the chair and landed with my camera and lens smashing to the stone floor. Oh well, I guess the old guy has some bounce left in him, as I did not break any bones, just bruised some tissue, as well as my ego. The camera was just fine, but the lens is now in several pieces. I was so embarrassed for interrupting their ceremony, but they were extremely gracious, as was Connie, while I regrouped. I ran to the car, fitted my spare lens to the camera, and tested it out. All was in working order as I returned to the chapel to finish recording the ceremony, limping as little as I could.

The afternoon proceeded with photographs along the coast road with stops at several locations. I was so glad that my fall had not put a damper on the couples spirits and attitude. They were great to spend time with, and hope they feel my photos do them justice.

The moral of the story is to always be prepared for the unexpected. In all the years I have been photographing, this is the first fall I have taken. Of course it could have been worse. I could have broken a bone, or there could have been a chapel full of people to witness my down fall. But, always be prepared to bounce back as fast, and good as you possibly can.

My thanks to Connie Mills for her patience, and faith in my photographic skills.

Photos of these two weddings can be seen at the following links:

 West and Bresett Wedding at Inn By The Sea in Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Cusson and White wedding at the Wilson Memorial Chapel in East Boothbay, Maine

Thank you and Keep Shooting!!!

The 1st Annual Emerge Film Festival

Arising from the ashes of the former Lewiston/Auburn Film Festival (LAFF) was the new Emerge Film Festival. Limited to two evenings and one full day of films, it was a rousing success. Film Makers, Directors and Actors came from far and wide to show off their creations.

I was asked by some of the organizers if I could be on hand to photograph the event. Of course, I said I would love to. There is just something about event photography that always entices me. It could be the excitement of the event, or rubbing shoulders with the other artists, or maybe, just maybe, I love photographing people at their best, and sometimes their worst.

The Festival began at the Baxter Brewing Company in Lewiston, Maine with a Beer and Fear theme. That evening happened to be Friday the 13th, and a Full Moon. Following the "Meet and Greet" at Baxter Brewing, the first two films were shown at the Franco American Heritage Center. Appropriately enough, they were Horror films to complete the Beer and Fear Theme of the evening.

Films were shown throughout the day Saturday at six venues. There were short films, documentary films, and feature films. I spent the day photographing the artists during their question and answer sessions after their films, as well as the folks attending the shows at the Free Grace Presbyterian Church venue in Lewiston. The quality of films at this years festival were outstanding, and it was a privilege to talk with so many artists. 

Kristin Wheeler, Producer/Director of "The Beginning and The End"
during Question and Answer session

The Emerge Film Festival culminated with the World Premier of "Richard3" (Pronounced Richard Cubed), a comedy based on the William Shakespeare play, Richard III. There was a sold out crowd, many of which had participated in the film as extras.

Molly McGill was the Master of Ceremonies at the Award Presentations, with an after party immediately following.

Molly McGill

And, the winners are....

All in all, a great weekend of films and fun. I hope to be asked to photograph the Festival next year, at the 2nd Annual Emerge Film Festival. Thank you to all the volunteers and Board of Directors that made this great event happen. It was fun being even a small part of it.



Celebration Of The Arts

It has been far too long since I have entered a new blog. But what to write about? A wedding? A Senior Photo Session? Oh wait, what about the "Celebration Of The Arts" that was held at KittyHawk Studio in Lewiston, Maine. The event was organized, and hosted by Professional Photographer Harold Strout.

Harold gathered together 12 Professional Photographers, 3 Painters and Graphic Artists, 1 person working in Pottery, and 4 working in Metal and Wood Sculpture, along with a very talented Silversmith. The evening would not have been complete without a couple of guitarists, a young lady on the Ukulele, and a piper playing the Bag Pipes during the festivities.

It was a great opportunity to meet and greet many of the folks we had been talking to on-line and on FaceBook. There was a great diversity of talent from Landscape Photographers to those specializing in Fine Art Photography. A couple of models, Ivy Ferrelli and Ivet Toth were in attendance which resulted in a couple of impromptu Photo Shoots. It was a true pleasure being able to create Art on a night featuring Art.

 





 

The Model Shoot will be a topic for the next Blog. Needless to say, it was a great gathering. Harold says that he would like to do this twice a year. So, maybe we will have a Celebration Of The Arts, Version 2 sometime this fall. Hopefully after the Wedding and Portrait season slows down. Thanks to all that participated, and all that dropped by to browse and visit.

 

Please Remember To Support Your Local Artists