Ashley & Jonathan Album

For those who are interested in seeing one of my albums online this page is for you.  Though the images look good online, they look much better in the big 12″ x 12″ album using the metallic paper. 

Beloit Country Club Reception

Jonathan Cruz and Ashley Houston were married April 25, 2009 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Beloit.  

It was a rainy day, but fortunately the rain stopped long enough for outdoor pictures.   The first two photographs were taken during Ashley’s getting ready time. 

I had the ladies together in a group with the hope of creating an artistic photograph.  While the bridesmaids are mostly in view, Ashley is prominent.  This photo shows that it is all about her today. 

Every church setting is different and the rules change from one church to another too.  As a photographer I requently face the tension between trying to get the best shots and remaining unobrusive.  In this case I was able to sneak around to the side for this photograph and captured several shots of Jonathan and Ashley during the ceremony.  This is one of my favorite, with Ashley’s eyes looking over at Jonathan. 

 

The pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran church was very helpful, flexible and a joy to work with.  I know that pastors struggle with photographers at times, but it is really great when we can have a meeting of minds and serve the couple together. 

This was one of those special magical moments.  It looks like Ashley was looking right at me, which from time to time during the ceremony, I really do appreciate. 

Then there were those great bubbles.  This is a cool magazine-quality photograph.  If you are going to have a receiving line, I think it is an excellent idea to have bubbles for everyone.  It gives the guests something to do while they are waiting and everyone has a great time.  It also provides an excellent backdrop for shooting video and photographs.

Once we got to the Beloit Country Club the weather was tricky.  It had been raining a fair amount, so the grass was quite wet.  As we were figuring out where we would shoot the majority of the outdoor shots, I lined everyone up to get this shot.  It makes the wedding party appear as mere filler or backdrop, but that is one of the things I like to do.  It is more creative and artistically pleasing rather than having the whole group in the shot and in focus.   I shoot plenty of those group poses, too, where everyone is in focus and has good light on them. 

This was one couple from the wedding party.  I really like the couple’s smiles and they were very pleasant.

Children are wonderful to photograph in a candid pose.  Too often though they give that plastic “cheese” smile.  I love this picture, as the boy was showing tons of confidence. 

Here is another photograph with the wedding party in the background.  This shot was, of course, staged, as you can see the the spacing was set up to fit just right.  But the result is gorgeous. 

Here is the classic dip pose.  Both Jonathan and Ashley did a very nice job.

This was a pose that I did not set up.  The girls thought of this.  Ashley is showing off her ring and Jonathan is looking like he is smitten, but by what?  Is it the ring or the girl?  It does not matter; the photograph is very cute in any case. 

I really don’t mind people coming up with their own ideas, as long as they are practical and creative. 

The videographer came up with the idea for this shot.  He had Ashley and Jonathan walk away and then casually walk back.  I love this classic shot.   The casual walk is a set up that I like to include in my other engagement and wedding shoots. 

This candid shot is with them in a private joke or comment.  Still, it is a classic image.

Inside the Country Club house was this beautiful mirror.  I loved the mirror, so I used it as a place to take a number of formal photographs of the wedding party and parents. 

The country club has a lot of full-length-beautiful windows.  It was great to have plenty of natural light and a pretty background for pictures of cutting the cake.