Photography has filled me with purpose and joy, and taken me places I never thought I'd go. I have covered three U.S. presidents, been blessed by the Pope, and been stared down by Muhammad Ali. I've shared a laugh with Smokey Robinson, and had a picture I took of him used when he received a lifetime achievement award. I've photographed a 110-year-old woman as she told me what it was like to climb onto the torch of the Statue of Liberty. I was chosen as the only independent photographer allowed near Obama and McCain in their last meeting before the 2008 election. I'm the only photographer in the world to have been officially represented by the three largest photographic retailers in the Western hemipshere. Heck, I've even had a photographic technique named after me (which is crazy).
But I have never felt so blessed by photography as when I am photographing a wedding. At weddings, we are most visibly ourselves -- the walls we walk around with come tumbling down under the forces of joy, anxiety (and sometimes a bit of alcohol). To document that experience, the relationship of friends, families, and a couple launching a new stage in their life, is an incredible feeling. When a client says "This is the first picture I've seen of my parents that actually looks like them!" I feel like I've done something with lasting value. After years of shooting and more than 225 weddings under my belt, I still find each one to be more exciting than the last, and try to make each one the best one that I've ever photographed.
In addition to a staff of photo assistants, I am so happy to have my partner Wendy as a full-time studio manager to make sure that our clients' needs are met at every stage from the first inquiry until years after the wedding. Wendy is the hardest worker I have ever known, and she makes my clients' experience as stress-free as possible.
Jamie Guigno - The looks on their faces is so real. Almost as if it were at a very tender moment. I love this.
Dustin Finn - You say “Shaft of Light” I say ” Sledgehammer ” !!!
From above ?
Sorry I missed out – glad to hear from some new friends and old that the day was another huge hit!!
Connormcc - I’m going to say a light, low behind them, and a reflector just above their heads?
Rishi Shah - I gotta say Ryan… watching you do your craft takes NOTHING away from the impact of the final work.
Omi - I think you’ve bounced a light off a white background and used a reflector for top (and possibly front) fill.
Robert Kilmer - I also vote the “Sledgemamer of Light” low behind them; one off the ceiling/high reflector (?). And they’re in a corner of two light colored (?) walls. That’s my best stab in the dark. Hey, I made a pun!
Lance Ingle - I think it was indoors somewhere tight (close whiteish ceiling and walls) with a single sb low and bare..set on wide angle.. hitting the ceiling and walls. The bounce gave you the nice wrap.
My clues
All this was guessed from his button catching light from left. Her earring and the back of his ear catching from right. Tops of head with that nice soft ceiling light. Also under his arm is lit from below.
I’m probably wrong though.
As always great work.
André P. - I’m guessing some kind of translucent diffusers on the background (2 sheets of thick paper) set side by side with an opening on the middle and speedlight behind that out of camera sight. The light on the subjects it’s just available light.
Dennis Pike - I’m going with a speedlight on the floor, behind them, bounced at a the white wall behind them