This year, I can say for sure. Cannot be topped. Really? Where do we go from here. Insanely inspirational people all cooped up in one remote hotel in Sturbridge Village (with lots of indoor Gazebos), and this is what you get. Imagine if you took this crew to somewhere far away and inspirational on it’s own?! It would be an inspiration meltdown. This event, INSPIRE goes to show that if you take the right group of people, you can plop them anywhere and make magic. Eric and I are insanely grateful to have the opportunity to partake and share in this great, one of a kind group.
We have pictures in the works. But please watch the video, share, comment and register for 2014! It will be unstoppable.
For the past month or so Amber and I have been working on one of the most significant and far-reaching decisions we’ve ever made since starting this business. Throughout the whole process I’ve been trying to find an easy way to describe our partnership with Carla Ten Eyck Photography. Is it like a company merger? Is her company “buying us out”? Hmm… At 1am on my way home from one of our weddings this past weekend, the perfect representation popped into my head (which is how most of my ideas seem to happen).
We’re forming like VOLTRON baby! Yep, you heard right….we’re joining our individual strengths and forces together to form a super robot to defend the galaxy from evil
This is EXACTLY how it all went down at the C10 Studios headquarters!!
Ok well, we still have a long way to go before we’re able to maintain peace throughout the universe but this is a huge step in the right direction for Raw Photo Design. If you haven’t heard through the grapevine or seen on Facebook, numerous wedding forums, or twitter lately but we kind of suck at managing our business. The number of times I’ve heard the following sentence from a past client makes my stomach turn upside down and keeps me up at night trying to find a way to make things better: “Raw Photo was so awesome on the day of my wedding/boudoir/portrait/editorial/etc and I’m absolutely in love with all of my pictures…. but, it takes too long to get an email reply or phone call from them and it took a long time to get my pictures/album/disc/etc.”
Similar to most wedding photographers I started a photography business because I loved PHOTOGRAPHY. I loved working with people during their photo shoot or wedding day and capturing beautiful photographs of them. My single most favorite aspect of this job is witnessing the progression a person (or couple) goes through during a shoot… everyone always starts very nervous and insecure and somewhere in the middle of the process, they get comfortable… let their guard down, and the real them comes out…and that’s when I get to capture who they really are… You can almost see the exact moment it happens at every single session when you look at a series of photo thumbnails on your monitor. I can honestly work on anything photography related all night long without even noticing it’s 3am or that I haven’t left my desk in 6 hours. There’s no doubt it’s my passion and I can’t imagine doing anything else.
BUT, that has NOTHING to do with running a business. I’ll be the first to admit I am absolutely clueless when it comes to managing clients, employees, subcontractors, or anything else related to my business. It’s not because I haven’t done the work to learn how to properly do these things…trust me. I’ve read countless business books…some of them at least 5 times, attended numerous business workshops and seminars, downloaded every “management application” you can think of, etc. Conceptually I “know” what to do but just have no clue how to follow through with the processes and/or manage the people that I had implementing those processes.
Fast forward 5 years later to the beginning of October, 2012 and I had decided to shut Raw Photo Design down for good. I had been turning down new business for months explaining that I will no longer take new clients for the 2013 wedding season and focus all my attention on the weddings I had already booked for next year. I was stressed out beyond belief, hopeless, and defeated. Amber and I had done the best we could do with what we had and that was it. We were working like machines, day and night, and not a single client was happy. Being a typical man with too much pride, I hadn’t told anyone about our situation or my decision to dissolve the business; and being a typical woman who is way smarter than her typical man-husband, Amber had reached out to a number of close friends explaining our situation and asking for help.
Carla had been a close friend of ours for years and had seen us progress from our first wedding to our 100th wedding and has always been a huge help and inspiration since day one. She manages a well-oiled production MACHINE in Hartford. Sometimes I pull up to her driveway and I can hear the mechanical wheels turning, phones ringing off the hook, and production lines in full swing. Their customer service is incredible and a force to be reckoned with. It is pretty impressive to see and trust me…Amber and I did everything we could to implement the same system…in fact, Carla and I had first started meeting once a week a while back so that she could walk me through setting up the same system for Raw Photo. After 3 meetings or so it was pretty clear we were far beyond the point of no return and Carla presented me with a solution that her and Amber had been thought of and been working on….without me knowing!
It was an offer I could not refuse. Especially since the only other option was to throw in the towel. Starting today, the C10 Studio Management Team will be responsible for ALL of the client-related office tasks and back-end studio work for RAW Photo Design including all emails, phone calls, albums, production, and delivery of finished products. Now all RAW Photo Design clients will finally get what Amber and I had TRIED to provide and what they absolutely deserve more then anything: the same AMAZING customer service that C10 Studio Management Team of Dominique, Julie, Rebecca, Dave, Jazzy and Philitha have been providing for Carla and her associates for years!
Where does that leave Amber and myself? It leaves us focusing ALL of our attention, time, and resources on where they should be: the creative work. This is what we are good at, enjoy doing, and jump out of bed in the morning just thinking of it. It is why I started the business in the first place…THE PHOTOGRAPHY….NOT the business. I’m drooling just thinking about it, “You mean I get to do what I’ve always wanted to do and you will do the rest?” I swear it is Christmas a month early at the Langlois household and I just got the gift of photography for the first time in 4 years!
The finer details are being sent to existing clients as everyone is reading this but in a nutshell RAW Photo Design will still be OUR brand…same website, same look, same awesomeness. Zero portion of the photography, retouching, or awesome sauce that has defined the RAW Photo brand and style will change because Amber and myself will still be in charge of all of it. In fact, it will only improve and thrive now that we don’t have to spend so much time on what we suck at: business. We’ll finally get to spend all of our time and energy on the reason I started this business in the first place: photography.
“From days of long ago, from uncharted regions of the universe, comes a legend…
The legend of Voltron: Defender of the Universe…
A mighty robot, loved by good, feared by evil.”
“Activate interlock! Dynotherms connected! Infracells up! Mega thrusters are go! LET'S GO VOLTRON FORCE!”
"Form feet and legs!
Form arms and body!
And, I'll form the head!"
"Form Blazing Sword!"
"This is the story of the superforce of space explorers."
You guys are incredible!!! continued success to you both! yeah, the business part is relentless… but happy you have found an excellent solution! rock on and have the best holiday ever!! xo
Ugh, I know how awful that can feel when you’re behind and feeling hopeless. You guys have a lot of guts, I’m impressed. I’m so glad you didn’t stop doing what you love, you guys are really talented and stopping would have been a tragedy. So glad to hear the news. Good luck you two! I’m rooting for you both!
IT WOULD BE SUCH A SHAME IF YOU BOTH HUNG IT UP AND STOPPED DOING WHAT YOU ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT. ERIN AND I HAVE BEEN TO MANY WEDDINGS SINCE OURS AND NOBODY’S PHOTOGRAPHERS HAVE EVEN COME REMOTELY CLOSE TO THE PREPARATION AND EXECUTION THAT YOU DEMONSTRATED…LET ALONE THE QUALITY AND CREATIVITY OF YOUR WORK. WE SEND OUR WARM WISHES AND BEST OF LUCK FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. NOW HOPEFULLY YOU GET TO RELAX A LITTLE. HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND CONGRATS!!!
ha ha jae, sorry if my post wasn’t clear enough! Eric and amber I am beyond excited about this, and so happy to be even the smallest part involved in keeping you guys shooting!
looking forward to all of the amazing things we have coming up with you guys
xoxo
Congratulations! It’s a great thing to see that you two will be happy doing what you love to do with some back end help! ;) Doing what you guys did takes courage and it’s easy to see that you put your clients needs first. I’m glad you guys are staying in business, i absolutely love your work!
This is such an awesome solution. I am really happy for all involved! And very relieved that you two are not closing shop–too much incredible talent would be ‘wasted.’ Cheers!
I am sooooooo happy FOR YOU GUYS. I was slightly afraid that you were going away after reading Carla’s posting but this put me at ease. You are basically outsourcing except keeping it in murrica haha. I love the Voltron analogy. You guys are defending the galaxy and interwebs against evil posey posey pictures. I’m so glad you guys are staying in business.
First of all, I have to thank my husband. I am a total freak when there is a big deadline or presentation, I panic, I get emotional, sometimes that energy makes me knock whatever it is completely out of the park and then sometimes…I shut down. Completely blank, no ideas, and I can’t get all my thoughts organized…which just creates more stress. Eric is the best husband on the planet, he is always cool, calm, and collected. He knows exactly what to say to me so that I can bring it back. He reminds me that I know this material inside out, that this is something we volunteer our time to be a part of…because this is FUN.
Right.
Without him by my side to reassure my insecurities, I can get all worked up unnecessarily. And you know what? The last 4 days in Sturbridge, Mass. at The Inspire Photo Conference was exactly that…really freaking FUN.
We met lots of RAD new people, and reinforced relationships with some friends that are already so special to us. And the best part, connecting with so many attending photographers, all various experience levels seeking the same thing, Inspiration. We take the responsibility of teaching very seriously, there is so much gratification and fulfillment in our job of taking pictures and it is amazing to me how comprable the feeling is of sharing and teaching photographers in our community. We are so grateful for the experience, owe a huge thanks to the Inspire Dream Team for this opportunity and cannot wait to follow up and strengthen the new friendships we have made.
so true.
“IF YOU WANT TO LEARN SOMETHING. TEACH IT.”
I know that I could shoot boudoir in my sleep, I just know it. But really stepping outside the shooting mentality and constructing a presentation that hits all the big and little pieces of boudoir was a challenge that I learned a lot from preparing and presenting. Some candids shot by our assistant & editor, Brenden Farinha.
I am always amazed by how much we can learn by being open, sharing real stories and the mistakes we’ve survived. As a speaker, I go into the experience of Inspire with an open mind but carry the weight of our responsibility as leaders, mentors, and educators. My favorite part of Inspire Photo Conference is connecting in those smaller groups, at lunch, at the bar, or unexpectedly. Those are the times that we are not speakers and conference attendees, we are all just photographers. Every person that opened up and shared with me, taught me something valuable that I plan to absorb and evaluate as we get into this new season.
Leeann of Leeann Marie Photography taught us all of the ShootQ branding & customization possibilities that we can integrate | Jim, CEO of Pictage (not PICTIGE) rocked our world with his opening address and forced me to think about the following exercise, which I plan to modify and revisit often this year (it was really fun to do, and thank you Jim for giving me a reason to think about this).
Describe 10 characteristics of your favorite client: 1. Has an iPhone and an iPad, but uses a PC at work
2. Not crafty, DIY or wedding detail obsessed
3. Her wedding doesn’t have a theme that consists of more than color(s)
4. She has $1000 designer shoes for her wedding day, but dances barefoot at her reception
5. They make extra time for wedding day pictures and collaborate with us on the ideal timeline for their wedding day
6. She carries a handbag that costs close to as much we charge to photograph her wedding
7. Drives an Acura
8. She has long, healthy hair and great skin
9. They workout at the gym, but not obsessively
10.Watching the Jersey Shore is her guilty pleasure and she subscribes to at least 3 fashion magazines
(Jim is laughing during our talk below at bottom right, sitting with C10).
Huge shout out to Joel Meisels of Adorama for the eye opening (money saving) discussion of features on the new Canon 5D Mark3 vs. the new Canon 1DX | Jared Bauman of ShootDotEdit shared some tips to verify that we get what we pay for from our ISP, especially in terms of upload speed | Carla Ten Eyck shared solid tips for motivating our team, happy hours and baked potatoes are definitely on the Raw Photo Design team calendar agenda
And…with all that inspiration going on, a little letting go and letting loose is required.
Now before I get into our amazing Inspire Lighting Shoot, I want to thank our talented peeps.
Thank you to Beth and Rachel of The White Dress by the Shore in Clinton, CT for styling and accessorizing our models so beautifully | To our stunning models, Ashley wearing Nicole Miller and Mary Rae wearing Anne Barge, we cannot thank you enough for looking so hot, being so patient and putting up with the cold | The finished looks for this shoot were executed by the talents of Stacey Palancia, professional makeup artist of Blush Couture and hairstylist Meagan Raccio | Tom Morlock of Vantage Point Films completely saved the day with his video footage of me shooting a Boudoir session for our Boudoir presentation
I just love working with the best.
You gotta watch the amazing video produced by our dear friends, The Boka’s of The Light Mill and Photographer RE. Truly Inspiring. xo!
Because sometimes we all need to be brought back and remember what really matters.
…it’s love.
I have to share a moving, inspiring wedding photographed by a hugely successful, inspiring, innovative, husband and wife photography team, the one and only AltF. Eric and I have been fortunate to attend seminars and an epic Concept to Execution NYC workshop with John Michael Cooper, and all I can say is that if AltF continues to crank out this top notch inspiration, we will all be pushed to raise the game.
So please guys, keep it coming.
click here to see the full, stunning post, moments, words and portraiture on the altf blog.
And to kick your tears up a notch to a level like mine, watch this sweet video by Memory Lane.
Thank you for sharing this. The video made me cry, and even reading the blog post I was wiping my tears away. To see how many people were involved in making this dream wedding come true for this couple and hearing them talk about their love for eachother, it was beautiful. You’re right, it’s all about love. so thank you again for sharing this amazing story.
we are inspired.
thank you to enna and matt grazier of Grazier Photography for the opportunity to contribute to Inspire Boston 2011.
Eric and I spent the past 3 days in Boston at the Inspire Boston photography conference and we feel so inspired by the people we met, the people we already knew, and we are so fortunate that we were a part of the experience. We started the week off getting to model for the one and only, Carla Ten Eyck who is an amazing friend to us, and also a fantastic photographer. It was so fun, I love getting dressed up, and as a photographer it is a really good experience to be on the other side of the camera once in a while. I was very lucky to have a Modern Trousseau dress provided by the White Dress by the Shore, hair styled by the Ridgefield Salon, and makeup by Lindsey Gallagher of Like Flutter for Lashes. Cannot wait to see everyone’s images!
Eric and I also had a opportunity to teach some lighting – which you all know by now that we are completely obsessed. Our Inspire Boston lighting workshop was a very compressed version our monthly Flash Exposed lighting workshop that we teach in Danbury, CT at our studio. We were challenged to squeeze a day’s worth of information into 2 hours, while giving everyone the opportunity to shoot, luckily, it worked out great.
Our models, Stacey Palancia, Lisa Barker, Suzanna Lombardo, and Andrea Leahy were insanely hot, looked awesome, and were really fun to work with. I cannot wait to see all of our attendees images from the shoots. Shout out to Stacey of Blush Couture who not only modeled, but also did ridiculous hair and makeup!
So, the last night…teaching was done. Inspiration was in full swing – we get to wrap up with a great party at the LensProToGo studio in Concord, MA. The guys there are super cool and Eric was a kid in a candy shop, playing with ring lights, octobanks, and geeking out with some other “gear guys” in the business. Very good times…there was even some “jowling” involved.
Thank you everyone for a great few days, we learned so much, and are truly inspire by all of you. xo
“Times have changed. And so has journalism. But that available light {crutch} argument works so well at keeping us from learning to light when we are young.
But light is a tool. You have to know how to use it and how to make it when you need to. So do not fall for the “putting-yourself-on-the-available-light-pedestal” excuse. You can always choose to use available light when you know how to use flash. Heck, it is always available.
So drop the excuse and learn your craft.” -Strobist
Lots of goodies to discuss.
We have some very exciting updates to share and of course…some yummy images. If you did not already know this, we are obsessed with off-camera FLASH – we love using it almost as much as we love teaching and talking about it. Our monthly FLASH exposedworkshop is off to an awesome start for 2011, the most recent group was a dynamic one and our model, Renee Descoutures did a stunning job. Renee is our friend, a fellow CT photographer, completely beautiful and insanely sweet…to say the least, she was an absolute pleasure to photograph. She didn’t even make a fuss about the sequin hot shorts I picked for her to wear – I knew she could rock them like the hot mama that she is. Thank you to Stacey Palancia of Blush Couture design for providing the rockin’ hair styling and makeup for the shoot. Take my word and buy “Funny Face” the Nars lipstick that Stacey chose for Renee…it was amazing and I think the perfect color for Spring.
If you are interested in signing up for an upcoming workshop, click here for additional information. We believe small, intimate groups are the BEST way to learn this stuff, so we limit the group to 5 people…space is very limited.
Also coming up for us this month is Inspire Boston. We are super excited and honored to be teaching 2 workshops at this very intimate photography conference along with our friends who are also some of the most talented, inspiring people in the photography business. Unfortunately, the 2011 conference is already sold out, but if you are registered to attend, we look forward to seeing you there.
There have been a lot of lessons for us this past year, personally and professionally, most of which, we haven’t wrapped our heads around..yet. But, one thing I know for sure is that we were able to get through a recent personal tragedy because we belong to a network of diverse, outstanding photographers that believe in sharing and helping any way they can. More than ever before I clearly see the importance and value of belonging to our photography community, and I believe that we all have a responsibility to contribute, share, and show up to the monthly gatherings. Eric and I have made the commitment to do everything we can to attend the monthly meetings hosted by CT PUG and CLASS a priority, it is more than important it is critical. Thank you to those that volunteered their time, and went above and beyond to help us out, we are eternally grateful and cannot wait for our opportunity to return the favor to each of you. And to our friends, Rob and Kathleen Photographers that provided us with the opportunity to speak last night at the monthly CLASS meeting that they host. For us, there is nothing better than sharing our passion with other photographers.
If you are a local photographer and would like to know more about either group, click the links above for more information.
Amber, Eric & Stacey- THANK YOU for taking such great care of me! I had so much fun hanging out with all of you! You are crazy talented and just wonderful people all around! xox
At a certain point we have had to come to terms that we cannot do it all, we must delegate – or we will surely fail. But this person that I have been dreaming about, I found, was not an easy person to find. It had to be someone we could trust with this business (the 3rd child), someone that understands our personality quirks, someone that would jump in, take the reins, and run with them. We dreamt that this person would bring their own expertise to the table, and help us find a better way to do things – to help take this business to another level.
Well…I am happy to say that we found her, and that person is one of my very best friends, Jill (I call her “Jilly Bean” or “Bean”…but you can call her Jill).
I have always loved my Jilly Bean, from the first day we were introduced at Southern, she was someone that just got me (not an easy feat). My unpredictable behavior, my irrational outbursts, my table dancing, my giddy all nighters before exams, my Starbucks addiction, and my obsession with then boyfriend, Eric (and cat, Ralphie). I can really say she has been there through most of our major life events and us for hers (click here to see her wedding images), I love that she quietly came into our room at Yale and held Avery the day she was born, she flew to Vegas to be in our wedding, and was an accomplice to so many of our shenanigans.
The best thing? She thinks Eric is the funniest person ever, and laughs out loudly at both of us, often. Many of you know that we have been seeking some help on the business front, some organization, and I have been on a serious mission searching for our “Queen of all Things” for quite some time.
Please welcome Jill everyone, she has changed our lives so much already, and you will love her – she’s exactly what Raw Photo Design has been missing!
COMMENTS (3)
SHARE:
Jill
I’m super pumped! (Raw Lingo-it’s a job requirement)….There are no better people to work for than these two! :)
So, you probably already know that we have been traveling A LOT – for business (mostly), not just pleasure. However, squeezing in some family time with our kids and loved ones is more important to us than ever before! When you are traveling to awesome places for weddings and shoots, and you are also fortunate enough to bring your kids along, it feels like the most complete little life package ever. I like to pretend that we are Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (except we travel to Washington DC in our Honda Element, not to Nice, France in our private Learjet)…yet ;)
First stop on our recent family adventure is always a huge favorite of mine, Newport, Rhode Island. Just wait till you see the images from the wedding we photographed there with Joanne of Picture Perfect USA at the Rosecliff Mansion on Bellevue Aveune.
The day after the wedding, we were not sure what to do, my parents were in town with us (they watched the kids while we shot the wedding) so we wanted to do something extra fun together. Joanne used to live in Newport and highly recommended the Flyer Catamaran sailing tour, so off we went at sunset. And I have to say, it was incredible!
How cute are my parents?
Ave and Ry made a friend and he had an iPod touch, so needless to say, they were intrigued…sigh.
Off to Washington, DC, or “Washington CD” according to Ryder for Jen & AJ’s awesome engagement session! We went to see all the typical DC stuff since the kids had not been there before, including the Carousel on the National Mall. Between us, the Carousel was pretty ghetto, but the kids dug it, it’s the simple things.
So, it was steaming hot. Like 100 degrees, easily. We took some shots of the kids near the fountain at the Sculpture Garden….
…then Ryder took it upon himself to dive into the sprinklers watering the nearby gardens, it was way too impulsive and shocking to be mad. We just took his picture instead.
I guess we are those sucker parents that can’t resist spaceships at the museum gift shop.
I will just go ahead and assume that my kids are not alone – apparently there is NOTHING more fun than jumping on hotel room beds.
Well, other than jumping on hotel room beds.
Hello Cape Cod, Hello Taylor Family. While I was very busy and very stressed out in the indoor wave pool at The Cape Codder Resort (wink, wink), Nicole Taylor and Eric were off shooting an awesome wedding on the Cape in Mashpee, Massachusetts. The good news is that the day after the wedding, we had a chance to play at Craigville Beach with our kids.
Nicole’s little Carson, too cute. Our little blondie kids look like they could all be related!
So much fun, it is so hard to believe that school is starting in a few weeks, makes me even more grateful for this amazing family time!
COMMENTS (8)
SHARE:
LaRue James
GUYS!
i think we overlapped with you at craigville beach! we were there july 29th to august 2nd. sat on that beach all day for that friday–sunday…i bet we were sitting right next to you!! dang. loveeee the shots.
xoxo,
larue
We LOVE the other part of our family! ;-)
So glad we got to spend some time with you in the Cape and thanks so much for snapping those pics Amb. Pics of me with my boys are soooooo RARE!
Love the sailing pics and the bed jumping pics….. ROCK! Who DOESN’T LOVE jumping on someone elses bed.
xoxo
Diane
Such great family time together. These memories will be precious forever!
Love these shots, the billowing sails, the striped underoos! amber looking like a hot mom as always.. is that the american apparel 50/25/25 grey t-shirt? love that blend.
can’t wait to book you for our family shots in 5 years.. hopefully our kids will be as cute as your lil muchkins!! <3
keep up the great work, you have a dedicated following on this blog
Joanne
Yeay!!! So awesome! Thanks for not taking that camera out while in my pjs! The world thanks you too!
Eric Langlois (“lang-lou-ah”), my husband (the photographer guy), is Canadian…
French was even his first language…awwww (his mom loves to tell people that).
What does that mean? It means we get to take an annual trip to Sherbrooke, Quebec, so that our kids can see their
A-MAZING Great-Grandparents, we can eat Poutine, visit relatives and cousins to brush up on our French, and do as the Canadian’s do with lots of playtime, swimming, riding on quads, visiting local farms, drinking wine at lunch, Labatt Bleue at dinner, and eating lots of yummy Canadian food. Our kids are so happy there, we disconnected (I am sure you noticed), because family has gotta be what it is all about for this boat to float.
This trip, especially with Eric’s mom was really special for us, the weather was gorgeous, we shot a cousin’s Trash the Dress in Montreal (killer), we had quality time with the most important people in our lives.
And I must say how much we really appreciate the patience of all of our “out of this world” clients that allowed us to reset.
Below are some favorite images from our trip, the kids totally nailed their rockstar faces (take notes)! And tough question, which one do you think gets the vote for this year’s Christmas card? I really cannot pick a favorite!
So, we visited the COOLEST zoo on the planet, the Granby Zoo, in Granby, Quebec. This place would never legally fly in the US. First of all, it is a Waterpark/Zoo (genius) and they have very few (if any) rules about the animals…so they pretty much stroll right along with you. Ryder was riding a pig at one point, and I felt like I was on another planet, but, anyway, this moment below was precious! Avery put her hand up to the glass and this furry little guy came right over and put his hand up to match. Priceless.
Here’s Ryder showing Ma Tante Lucille the magic of Silly Bandz, don’t worry, before we left the kids made sure the relatives all had one to show off at the senior center.
Avery & Ryder’s adorable little cousin Sara….hearing her speak French was possibly the cutest thing I have ever heard.
Grammie and Pop-Pop! Someday they are going to build a statue of this lady, she runs circles around me – that is for sure. And whenever we stay with her, she does not allow the kids to wake us up in the morning, she loves children, and enjoys every minute with them, so this is her rule. I suggest if you do not have a lady like this in your life – go get one, she is such an inspiration and totally responsible for us getting so much rest!
What do you do when you go to a cheese farm?
You eat Out of This World cheese.
What do you do after that?
You take a rockstar picture with the cows…
Fromagerie La Station in Compton, Quebec is a little nugget of serious goodness. If you like cheese, go there.
And…take pictures with the cows.
and the corn.
The wave pool was a huge hit with these 3, I could barely get them out!
Good times! We are back, and ready to rock and roll!
COMMENTS (17)
SHARE:
Mom
OMG! These are the best. I know I saw these from your camera, but seeing them on your site, they bring tears to my eyes. I love you all so much and it was such a pleasure spending this week with you. Grammie says these are really cool and it was a very special time for her too. She says you need to book this trip every year!
Steph Shore
The cornfield shots are SO cool! The poutine and out-of-this-world cheese sound incredible, too. Welcome back!
These are SO fun. I bet you didn’t want to leave. I cannot believe how adorable your kids are. So glad you had a chance to unplug, rest and have some fun!
Get ready for pictures with cows on September 5th – there are two across the street for maybe so B&G shots or just the groomsmen – gotta represent Matt’s heritage. Can I adopt you guys into my family and take you on all our family vacations so we can have amazing awesome photos to keep the memories!! I love the one of Amber with the kids at the waterpark – you guys just look so happy.
I am thinking this, so I have to ask…did Rover accompany you for the rock star photos cuz that lighting is killer! Looks like a great time and i bet MUCH needed! I need to get me one of Eric’s mom…I’d never, ever leave. Welcome back…and Im voting for the corn field pix for Christmas!
amazing amazing amazing. You guys never fail to amaze me .. I am dying to take another lighting course I now have more questions.. and about 3 other people who want to do it too.
Adorable The first family pic is definitely my fav. 2 kool 4 skool.
Amy Johnson
The zoo where you can actually pet the animals, hanging out with all that family, a water park AND great cheese??? Where can I sign up for such a magnificent wonderland? My grandmother was French-Canadian and all I learned was how to properly sing fara jaqua! :) You have a beautiful family. Good for you guys for keeping it real!! -Amy
So, it is Summer. My time to be a full time mommy and a full time photographer. Tricky? Sometimes. Definitely explains the late night hours…when the children are sleeping I am able to get more done than I can all day. We figure this is one of the last summers before camps and friends and activities take over, they are still little enough that they like hanging out with me…so I am going to savor every second (even when my patience is hanging on by a thread).
The other day we went for a drive through Litchfield, cooler packed, bathing suits on, and stumbled across a Pick Your Own berry farm. I couldn’t resist. So we stopped, we picked, we ate, Ryder ate A LOT. Then we came home and went to work on a Strawberry Pie. I am not a baker, but it was fun to pretend.
***THIS IS A PINNED POST…SCROLL DOWN BELOW FOR REGULAR BLOG UPDATES***
You know the drill as photographers, we get a willing subject(s), cool location, and then there is that whole vision thing.
We dive in, get a rocking pose…WE SNAP… and we get this:
So, that’s a pretty HOT shot Eric grabbed. Even picked it as one of our favorites for the blog. He exposed for his subjects faces like we are “supposed to”, but in doing that, what happened to the sky?
Oh yeah, there it is in all it’s white-ness, completely blown out.
Hmm…But, if we exposed for the sky then our cutie pie couple would be in darkness beyond repair…Fail.
I am going to venture to guess that maybe some of you have experienced this while shooting at the beach. You know, when your client actually wants that pretty blue sky, those fluffy white clouds, AND the water in the shot.
I think we have a dilemma. Well you do, if you don’t know how to fix it with a little bit (sometimes a lot bit) of flash. Here is what happens when we bring in some flash:
WIN! We actually CAN be greedy photographers and have BOTH, our subjects and background properly exposed in the same frame. No magic tricks…just EPIC light.
Come learn how Amber & Eric Bring That SKY Back into our shots, in addition to other more dramatic, multi light set-ups with off camera flash.
Important! You do not need to buy any new equipment to attend this workshop! We have managed in the past by sharing our extra Pocket Wizards (if you do not currently own them)…we bring the LIGHT! Questions? Bring it on! We can’t wait.
ONE COMMENT
SHARE:
Amy
Yes, I stalk your site. But seriously, it’s so great to work with people who are SOO into what they do and simultanously SOOO GREAT at it! It ads a whole new facet to the experience. Thank you!!
-Amy
Grab a cocktail, sit back and enjoy. This is a biggie. We have video, we have words, we have announcements, and we have some super sexy, hot NEW images posted below.
Tom Morlock of Vantage Point Films shot video at our last Boudoir Workshop, the goal was to help everyone understand a little more about us, and what is behind our process} The RAW approach to the art of boudoir photography.
Thank you to Sue of Naomi’s Studio for hair and makeup styling. Gummy Bear Tom, you are a keeper! Slammin’ work on this video! HUGE thanks to the amazing Josie of Beneath the Gown for providing the lingerie for this shoot. If you have not checked out her custom pieces and bridal lingerie it is a MUST.
Try to resist the temptation to go flying past my “monologue” down to the images (tough I know). I may be biased, but I think this explanation will make you appreciate our boudoir images just a little bit more…
A year ago we shot a boudoir session together. To me, the client was ideal (meaning that she was fun, had great shoes, good lingerie, and she was also beautiful). From my perspective (as second shooter that day), I thought the session rocked! So, we get in the car to leave, and I can see that Eric is really disappointed and frustrated. I automatically assumed that I must have done something to piss him off, but it turns out the reason that he was so bummed out was because he didn’t get the shots that he wanted. I was so confused, it seemed it would have been hard to take a bad picture. But when we pulled up the images and he showed me exactly what he meant, it was crystal clear that there is so much more to a really good image than pretty people in pretty clothes. My ah ha moment!
To this day, we are not satisfied until our client has connected with our camera. As photographers there are many different things that we do to facilitate that connection, and we are so fortunate to shoot real people. Nothing is more rewarding than that moment working with someone, when the switch flips, and they are transformed – instantly real, uninhibited and natural.
We encourage our boudoir clients, brides, actually anyone that we photograph to practice their facial expressions. A pose is virtually dead without that “look”, if you can close your eyes, imagine a thought, then open your eyes and sell that thought – you are on your way. The most expressive feature on a person’s face is their eyes, and they are seen as the “window to the soul” because they can give clues as to what another person is thinking. We all know that when people just smile with their mouths, the smile is probably fake, but when the smile includes the eyes, it is always genuine. Credit for makeup and styling of all the ladies below goes to Stacey Palancia of Blush Couture and Lindsey Gallagher of Like Flutter for Lashes.
Here is how our a few of our sophisticated, stunning, glamourous, clients get it DONE:
Our exciting announcement is that we {aka Amber & Eric} are going to start shooting boudoir sessions separately, which means we can shoot more. Depending on our availability {and your preference for a male or female photographer} you will be working with Amber or Eric, and will have the option. We wish that we could be in two places at once, but this time of year with weddings and engagements full throttle we have had to turn down quite a bit of boudoirs. This will allow us both to focus on what we really love doing, and provide better service to our clients. Yay! Huge thank you to everyone that participated in the workshop, the professionals that made everyone look so beautiful, and to our RAW clients…thank you is not enough for letting us post your gorgeous images! xoxo
[...] Makeup by Stacey Palancia of Blush Couture. For more information on our Boudoir Photography, click here and watch our promo video by clicking here:Vantage Point [...]
AWesome video! You guys deserve all the success that has been and is still coming your way! You both have worked so hard for it and I’m so proud of you ( I know… I just got soooooo freaking cheesy didn’t I? ) lol
Congratulations Amber on going SOLO! :-)
First – I would just like to brag about the fact that we’re related. Second – I would like to give you HUGE PROPS to a FANTASTIC video! What a STUNNING job well-done! And Third – Did I mention we’re related?
We don’t make a habit of preaching on this blog and try our best to keep our opinions on most matters quiet, but on this issue – since wedding season has officially started – something has to be said about the factor of TIME on a wedding day.
The amount of time that we have on a wedding day is THE ONLY FACTOR that will dramatically impact the images that we are able to provide. Not the rain, not the cold, not the light or lack of, not the spot on a bridesmaids dress, not the droopy flowers…I could go on and on, you get it.
BUT…if we have 10 minutes to shoot bridal portraits they cannot be comparable to the portraits we had 2 hours to capture, pretty simple, right?
Will they be good? Yes.
But, will they be great?
This is not a blatant promotion for the “First Look”, I understand that it is a personal decision, and we want your wedding to be yours. If it is important to you that your groom sees you for the first time coming down the aisle, do you know where this custom originated? catholicbrides.com
The Groom Not Seeing The Bride Before The Wedding – (Superstition)
“Many of our current wedding “customs” originate from century old superstitions that would avoid incurring bad luck. In ancient times, marriages were considered a business arrangement made between family members, rather than a celebration of love. Marriages cemented alliances between families and insured transfer of land and wealth between them.
Often the groom had not met or even seen his future wife before the ceremony. The bride was kept hidden to eliminate any disapproval of her from the groom. It was feared that once seeing her he may have refused to proceed with the ceremony. This of course would have bought bad luck, by putting the family’s financial arrangements in jeopardy.
Today this custom has lost its relevance. Arranged marriages are not very common in our modern North American society nor will the Catholic Church condone a marriage between people who have never met. A Catholic wedding ceremony is a sacrament that couples administer to each other, so it must be a ceremony of mutual consent. Many couples are abandoning this custom of hiding from one another, choosing instead to have private time together for prayer and reflection before the ceremony. They then as a couple greet their guests upon their arrival.”
***What it comes down to is this, how important are pictures to you on your wedding day?***
We like the “First Look” because it is an obvious way to maximize the time available on a wedding day, without sacrificing the moment of seeing each other for the first time. With that said, IT IS POSSIBLE to have a well planned wedding day timeline allowing for EPIC, ROCKSTAR pictures even without doing a “First Look”.
I know that our opinion on the timing topic can seem biased, so I asked our past brides (some that did the “First Look” and some that did not) about it, here’s what they said (I will continue to update as I receive testimonials, oh and don’t miss Audrey’s promo video – SHE ROCKS):
Christine: “I think the “First Looks” idea definitely has it’s pluses. The ‘moment’ may be easier to capture since both photogs can be in perfect places to get the reactions of both the bride and groom. It can also be more intimate since the eyes of the world aren’t on them. It can be a special moment in and of itself. I was more traditional and wanted the “First Look” to be walking down the aisle. I don’t know if you remember, but our Priest was not the nicest guy in the world and asked both you and Eric to stay in the back of the church!!!!! Kind of makes capturing that moment much more challenging. I think every bride needs to be told, and have driven home, the idea that however much time you think you need to get ready for your wedding, DOUBLE IT. It’s a good idea to plan the timeline out at least a couple of weeks before the wedding. I’m a teacher, and I always over plan my time…and it really, really pays off. People make fun of me b/c I am so scheduled, but ya know what?? It works!!! The day of my wedding, the last thing I wanted to do was rush…I cannot stand that feeling of being 2 steps behind!! I gave myself 2 hours to do hair, an hour to do make-up, and made sure there was time built-in to eat lunch, relax a bit with my girls, and ‘just in case’ time. It’s funny, because all we did all day was wait!! The flowers were late, the trolley was late, etc…but we didn’t have to rush through anything at my parents house or during the portrait stuff at Longshore. We also made sure there would be close to 2 hrs before Cocktail Hour started to get ALL of the pics done when we got there. Since most (usually!!) girls haven’t been through the wedding day timeline as a bride before, it’s a pretty overwhelming task to accomplish. It’s the whole ‘unknown’ factor that is SO hard to tweak once the day starts. Breaking the day down into pieces and considering travel time, getting ready time, bathroom time, etc, etc can give a good picture of how it could work, too.”
Jill: “I am so happy that we chose to do our first look photos. It was such an amazing experience to see my husband to be before all the madness of a wedding can separate you and stress you out. I loved seeing the reaction on his face when he saw me for the first time, it was such a great moment. It wasn’t rushed at all, we had plenty of time to appreciate each other as well as what we were about to do! I think it really gave me the time I needed with him in order to calm my nerves before our ceremony. I also had the peace of mind that once our ceremony was over, we would be able to go enjoy our guests and our reception!”
Shannon: “It was never an option for Anthony and I to NOT have a first look on our wedding. Since neither of us are superstitious we thought this first look moment would be an intimate and relaxing way to see each other before the craziness began. It turns out that our first look was the most precious, intimate and special part of our day because it was the only moment where we felt it was just the two of us. It started to feel like our wedding day the moment we saw each other. I don’t think we would have felt the same “spark” if this were to happen as I walked down the aisle as I was so nervous I don’t even really remember much of the ceremony. At least I have my moment with Anthony that I replay in my mind every single day. Apart from the memorable part of the first look, it was practical for us. Let’s be honest, we spent a lot of money on the wedding and we wanted to enjoy every last moment of it. We didn’t want to miss the cocktail hour or any part of our party. As it was, we were 45 minutes late getting to the Waterview because of hair and makeup and if we didn’t plan for the first look, we would have had no time to take pictures. Also, we got even more pictures from our wedding because we had the first look, cocktail hour and family portraits. I have convinced numerous couples that I am friends with who are getting married to do a first look photo shoot because of the reasons mentioned above and they have all agreed because it makes both the bride and groom breath easier! Just imagine if Big and Carrie from Sex and the City would have seen each other before the wedding ceremony…it would have actually taken place!! The first look is a must in my opinion.”
Kate: “If Dave and I agreed on one thing about the wedding – it was that after all was said and done and the wedding was over, the pictures were the one thing we would get to keep forever. We wanted to be sure we LOVED our photographer (which we did!), and that we had plenty of time for pictures. We have been to way too many weddings where the bride and groom spend the entire reception getting pulled away for pictures, and we did not want to be that bride and groom. We had a ton of time in between our ceremony and our reception, so we did not choose to do the First Look. The gap wasn’t ideal for our guests but it was our only option for a timeline, and we were siked because we had plenty of time to get our pictures done and get to the wedding in time to attend our entire Cocktail Hour! Obviously, not every wedding will play out that way. Even though time was not an issue for us in between, I wanted to be sure that the morning schedule was well planned and not rushed. When I met with Eric and Amber, they gave me the best advice – they suggested that when I was selecting my vendors for hair and make-up, to use PROFESSIONALS and to MAKE A SCHEDULE. Boy, were they right. Professionals will be on time, come prepared and get the job done! I hired Susan Houde from Naomi’s Studio and Salon for make-up and Paula Lopes Abrantes from Adam Broderick for hair. Susan did my make-up along with 3 other ladies in about 2 hours. Paula did the hair of myself, 7 bridesmaids, 2 mothers and 3 children in enough time to leave for church by 1:45 p.m.! I may have been a little over-organized with my hair and makeup schedules and the timing of breakfast and lunch, etc. but because it was all orchestrated in advance, I was so relaxed on the morning of my wedding I actually took a nap! By the time the photographers and videographers showed up I was well rested, well fed and ready to put on my gown and go get married! If my morning had run over, everything else would have backed up and we would have lost that time throughout the day. In short…hire good people and plan your day in advance! Good Luck!!”
Stefanie: “We originally planned to be ‘traditionalists’ when we booked Raw. Slowly, over time my both logical and romantic side started thinking. I had to really think about the day and how it would go. I am SO glad we chose to do the First Look. Here’s why….I was really nervous- it’s my wedding day. I was so glad to see my ‘rock’ before the ceremony to help me chill out! It was an amazing moment to see the look on each other’s faces and be able to share some private time and a little conversation that day- there is not much private time on your wedding day! It was an extremely intimate experience to share seeing each other for the first time- alone. Coming down the aisle with my veil on and all the onlookers was a completely different experience. One did not take away from the other. Walking down the aisle is a moment that is ingrained in my brain and will always be! It was so great to be able to get right to the party after the ceremony. After all we paid all this dough for it- we wanted to enjoy it too! It was really nice to use the cocktail hour as time to mingle and greet all of our guests. That way there was no time taken out of dinner to visit tables. We actually got to sit and enjoy our meals! And everyone said we wouldn’t have time to eat…ha! I would have never thought about doing a First Look so I credit Raw for that fabulous idea. Not only did it make sense logistically but it made the day very romantic in a way I never imagined. I LOVE LOVE LOVE our First Look pictures and seeing the expressions on our faces brings me right back to that moment. We took a traditional wedding and added a little twist and I am so glad we did.”
The takeaway? Weddings are unpredictable!
What makes us love our job is that no two weddings are alike, and we have learned to make the absolute most of every minute we are given. This discussion is really about managing expectations, giving couples the foresight to plan their wedding timeline the best they possibly can, and prevent anyone from being disappointed, or having regrets.
If you have questions, email amber@rawphotodesign.com.
COMMENTS (21)
SHARE:
Jen Dougan
We did all of our pics (and I mean ALL of bride&groom, bridal party & family) with the amazing Raw team before our ceremony and we were able to enjoy all of our cocktail hour ;) Best decision ever!
[...] Super cool, super chic. We had to have a heart to heart with Katie…you see, she saw this blog postabout the timing on a wedding day and even though we do not want to make a habit of [...]
Brilliant. Awesome discussion and so great to hear from actual brides + grooms about their own experiences. Like you–I don’t want to “force” people to do a First Look but encourage them to see it as it’s own special moment that does not take away from the “walk down the aisle” moment. And if they’re not up for it, building in extra time after the ceremony is key. Great post, guys!
I think you covered it Amy. And we are not adverse to the shot list, my only other tip…hire a good photographer {wink}{wink}
Amy Johnson
So make time the priority for the photographers, strongly consider a first look, no shot lists and what else? Any other tips/pet peeves that could help brides/grooms get the best photos on their wedding day?
So true!! So glad you guys put this out there! A wedding day flies by way too fast, scheduling it out is the best way to make the most of every minute – and leave with no regrets.
Haha! Robert…I was actually having passing thoughts of that. Holla! We are photographer’s sometimes mistaken as magicians! ;o) And if they don’t meet first, then at least provide a gap of time in between so our creative juices can flow as they should!
robert norman
do you mind if I reference this posting on MY blog? I’m serious.
I’m gonna go ahead and say a big huge AMEN on this one great post guys!!
sally
Agreed! Chris and I would never have changed a thing. Meeting before the ceremoney ws by FAR the best thing we did. We were able to share that special moment together and have it captured. I recommend all my friends to do the same.
This is the most true and probably the best wedding advice on the net right now. Hoo-ra!
Amy Johnson
I appreciate the feedback from people who have done both. For us, I really think it’s makes the most sense to do the first look. Thank you for the tips and info!
While we were away last week our little Avery learned how to tie her shoes! She was so excited to show us…I had to shoot it. Here is her take on it (in her own words and typing): Hi, I’m Avery! and I’m here to tell you how I learned to tie my shoes (my Sissy) Thelma taught me how. First she said to make a bunny ear. Then she said wrap the other string around the bunny ear. Next she said put a little bit of the tail in where your pointer finger is, and then she said pull the string! Ta-Daa!
ONE COMMENT
SHARE:
Memere
… and now she’s tying everybody’s shoes! Congratulations, Avery.
Well, most of you know…he’s not really ours. But kinda.
My only sister, Stacey and her husband, Tom just had their first baby (our first nephew) and let me tell you…he is perfection. I can’t get enough of this little munchkin, here’s why:
COMMENTS (6)
SHARE:
Fav Client Ever
What a precious little pea in a pod.. Beautiful and sweet, and so photogenic :)
Congratulations to your WHOLE family!! Stacey, you’re a beautiful new mom!
They are going to be some happy cousins growing up together :)
What a sweet little boy!! Congrats all around! I gotta say, my favorite is Ryder looking at him – such a cute moment.
Jessica
Oh, he is just too cute for words! Congrats Stacey and Tom! And judging by the way Ryder is looking at him, I think he may start asking for a baby brother soon. :-)
Meredith
He is so precious! Contrats to Tom & Stacey. Great pictures! I can’t wait to meet him.
The demand for our 1/22 Lighting Workshop was so high that we are announcing an additional date! For those of you that wanted to sign up but we were booked….now is the time!!! We are taking a maximum of 5 people so please contact us as soon as possible to book your seat.
Here are the details-
When: January 31, 2010
Where: the STUDIO, 7 Old Sherman Tpke, Danbury, CT
Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Cost: $425 (lunch and snacks provided)
For those that don’t know about The Studio, let me share. It is the home away from home for Raw Photo Design, Tom of Vantage Point Films, and Candice of Jubilee Events. To quote Candice “Our planning and design studio is where our couples come to be inspired!” and we think partnering in a joint meeting space was one of the best decisions that we have made yet!
A party was definitely in order to thank our friends who are some of the most amazing partners to have in the wedding industry. We had not hosted an event in our space previously, and during our brainstorm meeting it became pretty clear that we were all in the mood to throw a party where everyone could just relax, have a blast, and let their hair down after a very busy wedding season. Nothing fancy, mostly just quirky, silly, and even a little random. To set the stage for our debut event, a portrait was needed for the invitation. We wanted to be authentic and JC Penney’s portrait studio seemed to be the guy for the job…but Eric loves a challenge, and he knew that tackling the JC Penney’s portrait would be a valuable skill to have. And with those big shoes to fill, I must say…I think we may have pulled it off.
The decorations were in place, the response from everyone was awesome, and we were completely pumped to feature one of Connecticut’s best caterers: Jordan’s Caterers! Jeffrey from Jordan’s Caterers has been an amazing partner this year, and he was thrilled with the opportunity to be involved in our event. To say the very least, the food did not disappoint and was absolutely incredible. The menu included mini fondues, coney island pigs in blankets, ants on a log, and baby twice-stuffed potatoes with truffle oil. For dessert – white chocolate covered popcorn and individually wrapped red velvet whoopie pies! AMAZING!!! We were so fortunate to have Jeffrey and his wife, Debbie collaborate with us and we cannot wait to work with them again in 2010. They are the very definition of excellence in the industry.
By default the wedding business puts you in the company of some extremely talented, creative people. We are so fortunate to have industry partners that inspire us, constantly innovate, and raise the bar for their craft. As photographers, the make up, bridal attire, florals, event decor, and catering all have a dramatic impact on the photography that we capture. We want to thank all of the vendors that make our job of shooting weddings better than ever.
And another huge thanks to Tony of Datura for bringing a centerpiece:
We WERE going to take our Christmas card photo at Sears this year BUT, naaaah. Grabbed this on the docks of the Saybrook Point Inn this past weekend after our 2-day wedding extravaganza at the Inn.
Our Shmoop, our first baby, Avery is turning 6 years old today. I can say for sure that this little girl has effected us, and so many people that we love in so many positive ways. If it were not for her, I do not think Eric would have found his love of photographing people. After she was born, he would dress her up and take her to the park every weekend to take pictures while I worked…let’s just say that we have thousands…
Happy Birthday sweetie, we love you so, so much!
But of course….what’s a family post without a little Ryder action!!
COMMENTS (22)
SHARE:
Sissy
Happy Birthday my little sweetie pie! We loved spending your birthday with you and making pizza at the cooking class with you. Love you lots….Sissy and Grandpa.
Happy belated birthday little miss!!! You are incredibly beautiful!! & Eric, amazing shots! Avery you are so blessed to have such amazing parents :) I hope you never lose sight of that. Sorry I missed your birthday. Love you all lots! xoxoxo
Thank you so much . I loved the 11 Birthday Comments. From a lot of people.
And you made my day.Thank you all so so much.
Love Avery.
Jessica
Happy Birthday Avery!!
Laura
Gorgeous family! Happy Birthday Avery, hope the tooth fairy brought you something special for that missing chomper of yours! :)
LaRue
luvvvvvvvvv it!
Auntie Linda
Wow!!!!! I can’t believe the time has gone by so fast. How did you do it Avery? 6 years old already?
I love the pictures on the blog and hope you do to. They will be a great gift if ever you get into geneology. (Geneology is the study of your grandparents and their parents and their parents over many, many years before you were born.) Love you – Auntie Linda
Happy Birthday Avery!! Congrats to you two for having two beautiful kids! :) How lucky are they to have such amazing pictures of their childhood already.
Lisa and Dan
Happy Birthday!! She is very beautiful! Hope she has a fun day…
Elizabeth Schenker
I’m about to start sobbing. These pictures are amazing. I especially love the one with Eric and Ave–she’s a little photog already. Can Eric move in when I have a baby because I can’t take a picture to save my life. Happy happy birthday.
Aunt Jan
My goodness !!! Avery is 6 already, she is just beautiful. Happy Birthday Avery.
Kisses…Loves..and Hugs fo’ sho’!!!! Have a great birthday Aves! (I too remember the 3:30 AM lemonade) It doesn’t get much more awesome’er (yes I know that’s not a word) than this little fam!
So this week we will be taking it to the West Coast for a shooting adventure, with packing to do, the last thing I should be doing is a post of the kids…but – I can’t resist. Eric and I have never been to San Francisco, so we are siked, we have an awesome wedding today and then 4 days away…so the blog will be slightly neglected. I think it is the perfect opportunity to post some images of the kids from last weekend in Newport, RI. Leave Comments and Enjoy!
I love showing the kids something they have never seen before, and usually the simplest things are the biggest hit. They had a ball with the “whirly birds” that we found outside of the Marble House mansion in Newport, RI.
Avery is an overachiever, and she had to see how many she could fit on her nose at once.
I love days like this with the kids, nowhere to be, no rush, and we had a ball trying hats on Ryder in one of the boutiques at Bowen’s Wharf in Newport.
This is one kid that has obviously had a camera in her face since birth…
We could be at the most exciting place, and Ryder will always find a puddle to play in. Obviously the Chinese Tea House at the Marble House was not nearly as exciting as the dirt and rocks surrounding it.
Here is a shot that Ave grabbed with the 5D, she is pretty good…I think the chipped nail polish adds a nice touch…
Avery is very passionate about food (like Mommy & Daddy), all the people sitting around us were staring as she devoured her salad and clam chowder. Ryder on the other hand, more of a PB & J kinda guy.
Well…..first off, we LOVE you all so much, and we know it is wedding season — but our rugrats are going back to school in 2 weeks! So we managed to somehow steal a few free days from our calendar after photographing a gorgeous wedding at the Barns at Wesleyan Hills and another fantastical wedding at Stratton Resort in Vermont to visit our family in Canada. We’ve actually been here since Monday but finally found a few free minutes (and stable cable connection!) to do a quick post. We’ll be back in town for Benjamin & Yasmin’s wedding on Sunday and the studio will reopen on Monday, August 17.
And since we refuse to blog without any photos….here are a few summer faves….
Had to make this one black & white so you wouldn’t see the epic farmer tan :)
HAve a great time!! I love the first one of Amber giving your lil man the squishy face… Jealous everyone seems to be going on vaca but me!! have a drink for me would ya’ll!
Your little ones are so precious. :) I love these images! Hope you guys enjoyed your time away. It’s well deserved.
Robin
Eric your family is beautiful and the photos amazing. Seeing these only makes us more excited to see the results from our NYC shoot with Noah. Speak to you soon and enjoy the time off! – Robin and Andrew
Once upon a time there was the coolest couple on Earth….and their names were Rebecca & David.
Big shouts to Nicole for 2nd shooting this one with me.
Victoria (our guest music blogger extraordinaire) had this to say about her song selection for their slideshow:
Obvious as it may be, “And I Love Her” is standing out to me for some reason for a slideshow this round – it’s nothing you haven’t heard before, and as a result really doesn’t need much introduction. But I do have a sweet little recall about a friend getting married to a guy in a band (I know, it happens sometimes!) and how the rest of the band decided to do this song a cappella as part of the ceremony, as a wedding present to them – my goodness. Have you ever heard an acoustic cover of a Beatles song like this echoing out into the beams and ballasts of a church? I hadn’t. And it for sure did not disappoint one iota – it was nothing short of amazing. Two guitars, hand-held bongos, and those gorgeous, flawless harmonies carrying through the whole place – I think everyone in the church just about came close to crying. And as if that’s not enough, those two people who got married that day (Dave and Rinell, for the record) are to this date still one of the happiest couples I know! Let the good Beatles mojo abound.
While Eric is shooting away on Father’s Day, I thought it a more fitting time than ever to hijack the blog. Becoming parents at the ripe old age of 22 has been an awesome whirlwind of joy, laughter and at times pure chaos. One thing you don’t know in life is the type of parent you are going to be, likewise, you have NO clue what type of parent the person you marry will be. Needless to say, Eric has FAR exceed my expectations. I aspire to be more like him everyday. Patient, understanding, relaxed, safe…and oh yeah, REALLY friggin’ funny.
disclaimer: photos obviously not taken by Eric :)
Happy Father’s Day to all of the amazing dads out there!
Perfect example…out to breakfast, Eric has the idea to pour sugar in the trucks. No lie, there are times that I have three children. Lucky me :)
As many of you know, I love music…almost as much as I love photography. I always listen to music while editing and if I didn’t have to talk to anyone while I was working with clients I would love nothing more than to throw in a pair of headphones while shooting! There’s nothing better than pairing my images to an amazing track and presenting them together on the blog. Out of the 6 or so weddings we covered this year we’ve already had 4 couples use their engagement slideshow song that we chose as their first dance song at their wedding. With that said…I’m running out of material. So, I introduce to you the lovely and equally brilliant Victoria as our new guest music blogger and Lyrical Sage.
Victoria and I go back….way back….to the days of playing twister on the streets of gun wavin’, money makin’, New Haven. We parted ways many moons ago when I moved ALL the way to New Milford and she moved down the street to Seattle. Fast forward a billion years and here we are today, reconnected thanks to this crazy thing everyone calls social networking and dah internets :) Victoria is a bit of a music fanatic and has become quite the expert reviewer of all things large and small in the Pacific Northwest. I love anything and everything she ever recommends ALTHOUGH I do need to take some credit because I made her the raddest mix tape she owns way back in the day…….consisting of what she refers to as “cool emo before everyone else started listening to emo.” Anyways…..it’s my blog so I had to take some credit for her musical sageness!
Please help me in welcoming her and stay tuned for some awesome slideshow selections!
[applause]
In comes Victoria from behind the red curtain….
“I have to start this first entry by saying it’s an absolute honor to be contributing to Eric’s blog, as I firmly believe him to be one of the greatest wedding (and all-around) photographers I’ve ever had the pleasure to know. Wielding a camera myself from time to time, this is not a statement I make lightly! Without exaggeration, I truly am grateful to be here. Hi.
Having moved to Seattle about ten months ago, and having covered the music scene here for almost as long for the incredibly twee-licious three imaginary girls, I’ve got a huge catalog of both off-beat and mainstream bands that have found their way both into my hands, and onto many a mixtape. And there’s nothing I like to do more than geek about (and share) good music. With all that under my belt, you can imagine how excited I was when Eric suggested tying in some of my favorite songs for his slideshows!”
[applause]
Ok…well…so there’s her introduction. And until I get my arse out to Seattle or vice versa we’re going to have to settle for this pic (she’s going to kill me… :) )
Love this!! You’ve gotta do this more often. I’m always into new music and have always let music set the tone for productivity… really gets the creativity flowin’. Most definitely checking out Victoria’s blog!!
You guys are incredible!!! continued success to you both! yeah, the business part is relentless… but happy you have found an excellent solution! rock on and have the best holiday ever!! xo
Ugh, I know how awful that can feel when you’re behind and feeling hopeless. You guys have a lot of guts, I’m impressed. I’m so glad you didn’t stop doing what you love, you guys are really talented and stopping would have been a tragedy. So glad to hear the news. Good luck you two! I’m rooting for you both!
IT WOULD BE SUCH A SHAME IF YOU BOTH HUNG IT UP AND STOPPED DOING WHAT YOU ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT. ERIN AND I HAVE BEEN TO MANY WEDDINGS SINCE OURS AND NOBODY’S PHOTOGRAPHERS HAVE EVEN COME REMOTELY CLOSE TO THE PREPARATION AND EXECUTION THAT YOU DEMONSTRATED…LET ALONE THE QUALITY AND CREATIVITY OF YOUR WORK. WE SEND OUR WARM WISHES AND BEST OF LUCK FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. NOW HOPEFULLY YOU GET TO RELAX A LITTLE. HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND CONGRATS!!!
ha ha jae, sorry if my post wasn’t clear enough! Eric and amber I am beyond excited about this, and so happy to be even the smallest part involved in keeping you guys shooting!
looking forward to all of the amazing things we have coming up with you guys
xoxo
Congratulations! It’s a great thing to see that you two will be happy doing what you love to do with some back end help! ;) Doing what you guys did takes courage and it’s easy to see that you put your clients needs first. I’m glad you guys are staying in business, i absolutely love your work!
This is such an awesome solution. I am really happy for all involved! And very relieved that you two are not closing shop–too much incredible talent would be ‘wasted.’ Cheers!
Such awesome news! I am so happy for the two of you and can’t wait to see what 2013 has to bring. Best of luck to the “Raw Team”.
I am sooooooo happy FOR YOU GUYS. I was slightly afraid that you were going away after reading Carla’s posting but this put me at ease. You are basically outsourcing except keeping it in murrica haha. I love the Voltron analogy. You guys are defending the galaxy and interwebs against evil posey posey pictures. I’m so glad you guys are staying in business.
Very exciting! Congrats guys!