Two Down…
May 14th, 2007As is becoming common, I could start this post with, “Well, it’s been awhile since my last post….”
It’s been busy here – family, school, continued work on The Project out back, a senior portrait shoot for my first Class of 2008 client, a First Communion shoot, and my first two weddings, all in the past two weeks.
School is winding down with just 17 class days left (but who’s counting). I’m ready for the end, more for the advent of summer than anything else. I love my job, but this will be my first wholly un-planned summer in twelve years – no camp to go back to in the mountains of northern New Hampshire. It’s bittersweet, but I’m thrilled for the opportunity to spend our first full summer in New York!
The senior shoot two weeks back was a great way to get back into senior shoots after the winter hiatus. Emily is a good friend of the family and will be a musical theater major in the near future… an easy shoot, and she & her family were pleased with the photos. One down, 54 to go to my goal for the summer.
The First Communion shoot at St. Vincent’s on the north side of town was fun – I love working with kids and their parents. Twenty-four kids, dressed to the nines, with parents arrayed behind me as I worked the lineup. I had a student of mine, Josiah, join me for the shoot as an assistant. He’s a talented kid with a real passion for the post-production side of the art, and I’m lucky to have him and my two other recent assistants in class. Ryan and Jordan each joined me for a wedding, and I expect to keep working with all three of them and many of my other students in the near future on ‘real world’ shoots.
Our wedding “life” has begun here in the studio – I’ve now shot two, and I’m very pleased with the results. I have a blast doing it, and working with the brides & grooms – and their families – and I’m hopeful that my clients’ reactions to the photographs will be as positive as my own! First up was a former student, Jared, and his new wife, Liz. Their ceremony took place in the small hamlet of Reading Center, NY, just northwest of Watkins Glen; we were able to get down to the Glen state park for some shots just after the ceremony. We spent the entire day with Liz and Jared, as I anticipate doing for a majority of our clients — from the girls primping and getting dolled up through the last few dances of the reception. The photos here are just a few of the many we took; I hope you enjoy them!
The second wedding was just this past weekend – Linda & Rob, married at the ‘church on the hill’ in Coopers Plains, NY, just down the road from West. Rob is the older brother of our band’s majorette captain, and it was nice to see a bunch of WHS folks amongst the guests. Seeing as Rob is an Assistant Chief with the VFD and Linda is one of his firefighters (though I suspect she might have me reverse that statement), we had to pull out Engine 79 for a few moments before the reception – I loved it! And speaking of love, I came to a significant realization watching Linda and Rob dance on Saturday… They were swaying to the music, swept up in the celebration of the day and the beginning of their new life together…. I saw all of the possibilities, the hopes, and the dreams of the coming years alight in Linda’s eyes as she gazed up at Rob – there was no question for me, seeing the two of them in that moment, that they have found love together. I realized then just how powerful an experience it will be for me to continue participating in clients’ weddings – friends and strangers alike – and being exposed regularly to such powerfully moving emotions and times in peoples’ lives.
I’m a lucky guy.
-M.
David let us in on all aspects of his workflow, thought & creative processes, equipment choice, shooting technique, and interpersonal skills with the bride & groom. In brief, he’d set up a shot at the church, talking us through his approach and mindset, and then he’d fire off a few. We’d see the results (wi-fi’ed from his Canon to a laptop and projector) and critique/ask questions/stand in awe as he did his thing. There were a few opportunities for us to move in after he’d taken his shots (think Discovery Channel: the vultures moving in for pickins after the lion’s had his share), and I was able to take plenty of time to network with other photogs, including Karen Pike, who’s (fairly) close to us, over in Vermont. 
Laurelyn’s high school friend, Reena, and her fiance Jeff on their wedding weekend. It was a fantastic experience for us - our first time away from home resembling a ‘vacation’ in a long time, and the event - drawing participants from India, Canada, the UK, Hong Kong, California, Louisiana, and New York, among other places - was an all-weekend affair. I was able to shoot a ton of photos, and I’m working up a little present for Reena & Jeff that should be here in a few weeks. Anyone who goes to Austin should check out 
I had the privilege of shooting a majorette/twirling competition here at West two weekends ago as part of my relationship with the WHS marching band’s Majorettes. It was great to support our students and see them in full competition, with the side benefit of getting to bring my studio down to the Cafeteria for the day and shoot formals of twirlers from 4-18 years old. The biggest challenge of the day was the 6-member team of 4-6 year-olds; I needed help from a few of the moms to keep their names straight as I tried to cue the shot seen here. Along with my students Ryan and Brandi, who helped on the shoot, I had a great time on the 21st - we’ll followup with Round 2 on May 19th, when even more teams come to town to compete.
Once we got shooting, things flowed easily - had to work out some lighting, what with the massive pane glass window at the north end of the shop, but it proved wholly useful, providing a nice, diffuse side light. Like I said, Heather’s easy to work with (I think she’ll be a natural on the stage and likely won’t have a hard time finding a gig in The City, but what do I know? I just push the button…) and we ripped through 150 frames in about an hour or so. My keep-to-cut ratio isn’t where I want it yet, but I nailed shots that I wanted to, and have plenty for Heather to make use of (as well as a few for my portfolio, which is always in the back of my mind). 
Granted, 
We brought little man G down for a visit (as we are prone to do — what an ice-breaker a 16-month old can be!) and I just fired away. It was very casual, very organic, and I watched for opportunities to catch the most natural and unassuming interactions between Misty & John. If he looked at her a certain way, or if they let their hands rest “just so” on Baby Bean (as I came to call the wee one in utero), I’d stop them — “Hold that! That’s great! No, look back into her eyes!” — and fire off a few more…. One of my favorites is at right — we shot Misty solo for about twenty minutes, and I asked John to join her, at which point, about five minutes into the two of them as a couple in that series, he ‘peeked’ over her shoulder, and I hit this shot. The anticipation, the intimacy — it was a private moment (albeit with an appreciative audience) and helped us close out the studio session on a real high. I welcome your thoughts on it! 
Then, this past week marked West’s spring musical, “Grease!” What a fantastic show from our kids - I loved it! Affiliated as I am with the school, I brought my rigs to Tuesday’s dress rehearsal and to Saturday night’s performance. I shoot for the theater group’s archive, and parents pick up prints, too - works out very well for all of us! Tuesday’s session was a real treat, as I had unlimited stage access. As the director - a good (and talented!) friend of mine, Don Many - said, “If the kids get distracted by you on stage, then you on stage is the least of our problems!” Fair point. Well, 3 hours, 1 (minor) collision, and 1,500 shots later, I went home. 
Went back to shoot Saturday’s (excellent) performance, and bagged another 500 shots from wide right of the theater, with a 2nd shooter (Go, Jordan, go!) up in the tech booth, shooting stage-wide. All-told, 2,706 pics up for your viewing pleasure at 
