Amani & Patrick's Wedding Slide Show!

Amani & Patrick's wedding was simply wonderful to photograph! There were many images that I enjoyed creating and seeing afterwards that were simply yummy! "Yummy" (or, sometimes I use "delicioso") is a word I typically use to describe an image I absolutely love! It can apply to the type of light present, or movement, or any particular element in an image I've created that inspires and excites me! I'm crazy for what I do, believe me!

It is no secret that I love creating images that have elements of blur in them. Blurring an image helps to add emotion, energy and dimension and helps to make a somewhat "typical" scene interesting. It also allows me to create special and artistic imagery from each wedding for my clients that really help to make their wedding stories special. You have to know when to use this artistic technique though because its interpretation can get lost on the viewer if not timed or used correctly.

A good example of my use of blur can be seen in the slide show where, while Amani was being helped into her dress by her sister and maid of honor, the movement of the taffeta that I captured at that time was one of those "yummy" images I love - it added excitement and anticipation to a scene that happens at every wedding! Another example is the image of Amani & Patrick recessing down the aisle once they were married - there is a TON of energy in this image and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

Well, I hope you enjoy the anticipation, romance, love and laughter you will see in the show - it was a delight to bring all this joy to everyone!

As promised, click on the photo to enjoy Amani and Patrick's Wedding Slide Show!

Best, Joanne

Amani & Patrick, March 24, 2007

Amani & Patrick had a lovely wedding this past Saturday! Their Ceremony was held at the Sewickley United Methodist Church and their reception was held at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott. This was my first wedding of the 2007 season and I enjoyed every minute of it! It was a perfectly warm Spring day that was made warmer by the love from their closest family and friends. Amani was stunningly beautiful in her gown and her bridesmaids dresses were some of the most stylish I've ever seen and one of my favorite colors: brown! Patrick, the groomsmen and Amani's father wore ties and vests of the same brown color - it was perfect for the season; not too overpowering or bright. I had a wonderful time with everyone and especially enjoyed my time photographing Amani and Patrick alone at the Robert Morris University Gardens. It was a perfect place for us to stop in between the ceremony and reception and happens to be one of my favorite places to photograph brides and grooms! This is a series of romantic images I captured of Amani and Patrick. Enjoy! Amani running to Patrick...Amani almost to Patrick for the kiss...I LOVE this image!!The kiss...More kissing...what else!! I'll be presenting a slide show of Amani and Patrick later in the week, so stay tuned! It was my pleasure to spend the day with you Amani and Patrick! I look forward to creating your beautiful wedding story! Best, Joanne

Save the Date for Mark & Charity: June 30, 2007

Click on the image of Mark & Charity to view their "Save the Date" Slide Show!

Enjoy, Joanne

New Service Offered!

The Save the Date e-Experience is now included in some of the services I offer! CLICK HERE to view it! Or see the previous BLOG entry above for Charity & Mark's Save the Date e-Experience Slide Show! The Save the Date e-Experience is similar to the Engagement Portrait Experience I offer, it's just that now after I've photographed you, I create a beautiful slide show from up to ten of your images that can be presented to family and friends via the listing at my blog and a personal e-mail! It is a great way to let family and friends know how excited you are about your engagement and how much you are looking forward to sharing your wedding day with them! And, it's another piece of my specialty services that help you celebrate your love and upcoming wedding! Enjoy, Joanne

Element of Love Seminar: Maria

As promised, here are more images of Maria from the first Element of Love Seminar...



















This image was made with the natural occurring tungsten lighting in the hallway outside of our seminar room. Notice the background...Maria's natural pose, unbeknown to her, mimicked the piece of art on the wall. I quickly observed this and wanted to incorporate that piece of art within my photograph.

It is important to observe/be aware of and incorporate environmental ELEMENTS that exist around and in the backgrounds of our subjects into the pieces of art we are creating for our clients!



















What an adventurous woman Maria is!! She responded with complete enthusiasm at our request to lie on the sidewalk so we could photograph her!

Some of our participants during a shooting exercise:
One of our main goals was to support, inspire and motivate all the photographers who attended EOL so that after the seminar they could take the information and inspiration they received and carry that energy with them to create some positive changes in the work they are doing. Here is a shot of Heather (on the right of the rail) encouraging and directing some of the participants in a shooting exercise with our model Maria.



And here is yet another shot of Maria from the shooting exercise that I created:




















It was a GREAT day and we are planning another day-long seminar in the near future just on shooting! Stay tuned for more information on the next Element of Love experience!

Best, Joanne

Element of Love; I'll call it a SUCCESS!

Today was the launch of the Element of Love experience! WOW! Did we have fun!

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for such a great day and I was so impressed with everyone's enthusiasm, support and participation. A BIG "thank you" goes out from Heather and myself to Joy Sato of the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts for use of the facility and grounds.

And, to our attendees...I was so impressed with your enthusiasm and all that you shared. It was an honor to spend the day with you and we look forward to continuing to assist you in your efforts to be successful and are excited about building our connections with each other.

Another BIG "thank you" goes out to Maria from everyone! WOW, AGAIN!!! Was she the best model EVER or what?! Maria, you were GREAT! Here is one of the hundreds of fabulous images of Maria I captured during our photo shoot. Maria is one of my brides from 2006; I'm thinking there is another career in the making for her...wink, wink!

I'll be posting more images of Maria in the next couple of days after editing/processing and will be presenting more of my thoughts on the seminar's success as well. And, oh yes...one other person...my good friend and close colleague, Heather Lahtinen. It is a gift to know you and share in this most marvelous journey together with you. But wait! Two more people...Daddy and Karen...we couldn't have done it without your support. WOW Heather, are we fortunate or what?!

More soon...

Pay the love forward!
Joanne