Working with Alli and Dan could not have been better. Normally working with an out-of-town couple can have some challenges. However, Alli’s family was a huge help. Working with her mother before the wedding made all the difference in the world. Plus, I felt a personal connection to Alli and Dan. They were referred to me by friends and live in my old home town – Chicago.

The wedding was entirely hosted by the Renaissance, with the ceremony and reception in different rooms. The design created by Kim Singerman of Noteworthy Events was stylish, opulent and understated all at the same time. Various tones of white were used throughout and it looked amazing. The reception was lit beautifully to really show off the hotel. To compliment the great design, the team at Stephen Tokar Floral & Designs brought in some amazing floral arrangements. They draped a custom-made chuppah in white orchids and used complimentary flowers to decorate the tables.

So what really kept the guests going late into the night? None other than the Jerry Bruno Orchestra. They were so much fun and created an high-energy atmosphere. Below are just a few of my favorite photographs from the day -

Alli’s sisters and mother helped her to slip into her gorgeous wedding dress. The full veil was perfect for Alli. We then headed out into downtown Cleveland for a first look.

Coordinating a first look in an open space can always be tough. Thankfully, it was a little easier this time because we had a great team to help out.

Oooh – so exciting! The anticipation always kills me.

I love Dan’s reaction to seeing Alli for the first time. That reaction is why I always recommend a first look if my clients are willing.

One of the best times during a Jewish wedding ceremony is signing the Ketubah (marriage contract). The families gather around as the rabbi reads the document and the bridal party signs it. I really like the wide-angle photojournalistic shot above.

As I noted above, Alli and Dan’s wedding chuppah was gorgeous. It was draped top to bottom in white orchids, candles and beaded crystal threads.

All happiness and cheers on their wedding day!

The reception design created by Noteworthy Events and Stephen Tokar was lavish and classic! Simple white flowers throughout to match each place setting. Even more so, the lighting design really lit up the room (pun completely intended).

Alli’s sisters gave the most heart-felt and hysterical toast. They know Alli and Dan so well, and clearly love them to death.

Alli and Dan’s first dance backed by the Jerry Bruno Orchestra was great. All of the wedding guests stood and cheered the happy couple.

 The photo above is definitely my favorite. I have a real soft spot for emotional father-daughter dances. Plus, you can just see Alli’s sister in the background snapping a pic of her own.

Of course it wouldn’t be a wedding without the traditional Hora dance. Alli’s mother later commented that it was one of the longest and largest she has seen. I believer her! I was exhausted by the end.

I think you can see the real excitement above. Everyone, including your’s truly, was so excited for Alli and Dan. You gotta love weddings full of love.

To end, the Jerry Bruno Orchestra doing their thing. One of Alli’s bride’s maids jumped in on the singing action. So, that’s all for today. Definitely stop back soon as I have more coming to the website. Also, give us a “like” on Facebook where you can keep up with our current work.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Meeting families ahead of the wedding is always so nice. Getting to know each person is important to me, so the surprise presence of the entire family was very welcome. Even better for their session, a late autumn sun was beaming across Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio.

By far the best part – better than all the above – was simply Katie and Jonah together. They are a truly magical couple. Their love for each other, in ever aspect, is evident all the time. On that particular day, they were relaxed and wonderful to be with. Even better, they brought their dog along, which always makes me smile.

Katie always seemed so happy when Jonah held her hand, gave her a deep hug, or simply kissed her forehead. She would become completely radiant.

After the session, I came home and immediately started working on their photos. When I saw the photo at above-right, I nearly melted. I couldn’t resist posting an early preview.

I love the autumn colors and bright light through all of their photos, especially above.

When a couple selects a photo for printing, it’s always a good sign. Katie ordered the above in the largest size possible!

The peaceful expressions in the above-left is one of my favorites. I think the magic is in Katie’s smile.

On another note – our weird weather this year really brought out things I haven’t seen in ages. I cannot remember the last time a saw a woolly-bear. This year it seemed like I saw them all the time. Snakes too, but that’s another story.

At the end of the day, Katie and Jonah sat down on a nearby bench. I melted into the background and caught the photo above. The beaming sun reflected off of Katie’s shirt bathed Jonah’s face in golden light. I just love it!

That’s all for today. Definitely check us out on Facebook for our latest work, and stop back soon. We have lot’s more coming since I am in catch-up mode today.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Jessica and Justin really deserved a special day, especially Jessica. As it turned out, everything went smoothly and seemingly perfectly. The Abbey was a gorgeous place to hold their ceremony. Normally only the domain of monks, the Abbey opened their doors just for this lovely couple. The weather cast a bright light over the Cleveland Cultural gardens. Lastly, La Malfa put on a real show for their returning guests. You see, Justin’s family has held their weddings with La Malfa for years. As I said, familiarity is good.

Below are just a few highlights from a good day, one that I felt was filled with friendship -

A new iPad for the wedding? Yes please! Something I saw a lot this year was grooms recording heart-felt videos for their bride to watch on the wedding day. I love the personal touch.

There may have been a little dancing before the wedding ceremony.

This was my first time to St. Andrew’s Abbey at the Benedictine School and I love it for two simple reasons – giant double-doors and a hoop of lights over the alter.

Jessica and Justin are truly blessed – they had four priests to oversee their wedding and received a personal blessing from the Pope (see below)! Remember I mentioned the value of familiarity? Father Michael recognized me and took a moment to make sure I got the shot below. It was welcome and quite embarrassing at the same time (I like to blend in).

I about died when I saw the photo above. This is truly one of my favorites from the whole year. Such a simple thing – a hoop of lights.

I love proud parents, and bless the Jakab’s – two weddings in one year!

Some of my favorite formal photos are actually the less formal ones. Loose groups of friends just seem so much more natural than people standing in straight lines.

Even though it was late October, you couldn’t tell in Cleveland. The sun beaming through the still-green trees was amazing.

The above photo says so much to me. Jessica and Justin seem ready to march into the bright and beautiful future they have ahead.

Jessica and Justin put on a real show at the wedding reception for their first dance. They had practiced a gorgeous dance and executed it to perfection.

Now this is a sight to see – the dance floor slammed packed with people for the very first song. The DJ did an amazing job getting everyone on the dance floor. It was like nothing I have seen before!

Jessica and Justin definitely have a bright and beautiful future ahead. They are an extraordinary couple with wonderful family to support them, and I’m sure they will have very accomplished lives together. That’s all for the moment. More is definitely coming soon. In the meantime, Facebook is a great way to keep up with what we are working on currently.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

As I always do, I promptly fetched the mail from our mailbox. Stuffed inside was about 25 pounds of late holiday cards, Christmas catalogs, and other detritus. However, hiding among the treasured cards and other trash was a curious little package. In a Christmas habit, I gave the package a squeeze and a shake. Then it hit me! I tore into the package and was greeted by long awaited, but temporarily forgotten news. The new Knot Magazine had arrived.

I am pleased as punch to announce that a Hunter Photographic wedding has been featured in The Knot Magazine for the second time in a row. For the Spring /Summer 2012 issue, the editors of the Knot reached out to me and requested a fresh wedding right off my site. They chose Holly and Brian’s amazing wedding at Lantern Court and Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio. I was not surprised at all when the Knot requested the wedding. Holly and Brian’s wedding is definitely one of my favorites from this year. It was so special in so many ways.

I was just there to capture the moment. Holly and Brian deserve all the credit for planning such a unique wedding. Also, special thanks to Carri-An at Holden Arboretum for presenting such an amazing venue and for being a gracious help. Also, kudos to JMS Originals for putting together such amazing flowers. The flowers were truly unique. Lastly, Cakes by Maria & Joe put together a fabulous cake. I hear it was very tasty!

As I noted above, this is the second Knot Magazine feature in a row for us. Jamie and Ethan’s wedding was featured in the last issue. Looking forward, I will have a lot of good news to share over the next few weeks. More publications, blog posts, and new ideas are coming soon. To say the least, 2012 is going to be a truly special year. I hope everyone has a bright and beautiful 2012!

See y'all soon,
Hunter

They may have been lucky to have had great weather in mid-October, but the fun they created was no luck. Surrounded by a great group of friends and loving family, the day featured one of the most passionate wedding ceremonies I have ever seen. The time we took for formal photos was fun and filled with laughter. Later that night, the reception at Cleveland’s Union Club was magical. The whole day could not have gone any better.

Below are just a few of my favorite moments, with little notes to match -

When I walked in, Jesi rushed to show me here new shoes. I think she was almost more proud of her shoes than the dress.

As a wedding gift, Alex gave Jesi a video recorder for the honeymoon, complete with a heart felt video pre-recorded for her to watch. To say the video was moving would be an understatement.

I think Jesi would have brought her dog do the wedding if she could. Such a cute dog too!

I love all of the mothers of brides. They work so hard to help their daughters plan fabulous weddings in exchange for a simple hug on the wedding day.

Given the a day full of love, I expected tears at the wedding ceremony. However, they came from an unexpected source. This was a first for me, and oh so perfect!

Through the whole ceremony, Jesi and Alex were simply beaming. Below is one of my favorite shots. I love it when couples pause for a kiss during the recessional.

With such a great group of friends, the formal photos were filled with laughter and great candid moments. Jesi and Alex had some big plans for their formal photos and they came out better than I anticipated.

Above is such a simple photo, and I love the sense of space and the little details that provide clues to the downtown Cleveland location. Below are two of my favorites. A private, candid moment and a deep passionate wedding day kiss.

The Union Club really shined for Jesi & Alex’s wedding. The flowers, colors, cake and details looked perfect together, and they really set the tone for a magical evening.

I happened to be with Jesi when she selected the gold-sequined table cloths. She was absolutely right – they sparkled wonderfully in the light.

Alex’s best man gave the funniest toast of the year. The whole room, including yours truly, was roaring with laughter. Jesi’s sister and maid of honor then had the whole room crying with joy.

One thing that really set Jesi and Alex’s wedding apart was the copious use of light. The Union Club features a star-lit dance floor. Added in was additional dance floor and room lighting. It really made the couple, and the room, shine!

Let’s not forget mothers of the grooms. Below is a tight embrace from Alex to his mother at the end of their dance. The photo below demonstrates what I look for most – photos with real, honest emotion.

Party time! And what a party it was. The band had the dance floor rocking all night long. I have never seen a crowd dance so much!

If your looking for one thing to set your wedding apart, love will do just fine. It seems like such a simple thing, but it depends on everyone at the wedding. Jesi and Alex’ family filled the room with love and it made a huge difference. The locations they chose were also magical. To be a small part of their wedding was a joy.

Look for more weddings and engagements from this year coming soon. Also, don’t forget to look us up on Facebook to see what we are working on at the moment.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Now enter the new software package from Visual Supply Company - VSCO Film. Photographers on Twitter were abuzz yesterday as VSCO released their new software, and unleashed a mighty marketing blitz. Frankly, I missed the boat yesterday. I didn’t see anything about the new software until this morning. However, over my morning cup of coffee, I became quickly impressed with what I was reading and seeing. Visual Supply’s approach to is completely new and different.

Not long ago I shot a high school senior session in Cleveland with Elise, and I will be using these images for some comparisons. Below are samples from the session, first processed as I normally do in Lightroom, and then reprocessed in Lightroom using VSCO. I’ll include my initial impressions as we go -

As I noted above, when I shoot digitally I do so in a way that can replicate some facets of film. In the samples above and below, you can see how this can cause problems when re-processed with VSCO Film. The image on the right is a bit too washed out, especially in the skin tones. However, the overall image is closer to the core of my visual voice. There are definitely some aspects here that I love. In short – VSCO will likely require properly exposed images and would not work well on anything over-exposed.

Below is a much more normal exposure. With VSCO Film applied, the results really shine. The skin tones are boosted and some of the colors really come out. It is more contrasty, but I like it. The pink skin color is reduced while the yellows come alive. With VSCO, you can also see a distinct green tone to the concrete.

Above is an example of one B&W option – Tri-X 400. It looks good, but it is not as impressive as some of the color “film” options. I did have to pull the exposure back down a bit due to the source image being a little hot. The standard grain on Tri-X 400 is a bit much for me. However, VSCO Film does include a preset to turn grain down, or off. Also, I believe the brown tone is actually from my personal preset and it didn’t get removed, or VSCO uses more brown than I do.

The sample below completely sold me on VSCO Film. I love the the new outcome on the right. The colors are a complete home run for me. Again, this image is much more of a normal exposure, which explains why the highlights are kept under control.

No before and after on the last frame. I simply love how this looks with the VSCO Film Tri-X preset.

I think VSCO Film is able to find success with this preset package because of how they accomplished their goal. Instead of just creating a standard Lightroom preset that changes the normal settings, VSCO created custom camera profiles. VSCO Film does get closer to the “film” look, but of course there are some limitations. If I want the film look, then I will continue to shoot film. However, VSCO allows me to better align my digital photographs with my core visual voice. I have always believed in pure images and have never purchased a preset package before – evar! I choose to present a very clean, natural and organic vision. Even though VSCO Film is a group of presets, it definitely has a home in my workflow. Like my vision, Visual Supply strives towards very natural imagery, and accomplishes it very well.

It is certainly not a one-click solution, no matter what Jonas says, this will not significantly speed up your workflow. For example, VSCO does nothing with white balance. Nor will VSCO turn you into an amazing photographer. You still need a subject. You still need good framing. You must get it right in the camera. VSCO Film can only help you take a great exposure and move it closer to your visual voice.

Your clients will not care if you use digital, VSCO, or film. They care about your vision and their photographs, among many other things. Seek to create your own personal style. If VSCO can help with that, then more power to you.

P.S. – These are just my initial impressions. Over the coming months, I will continue to use VSCO as I feel needed. Stop back often to see if you can spot when I am using straight digital, digital and VSCO film, or just plain old film.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Katie grew up spending her summers at the Chautauqua Institution with her family. She has many fond memories of the area, so she decided to host the wedding around the Chautauqua area. It’s important to use pieces from your life to design your wedding. The wedding will take on an amazing personal feel, something everyone seeks to accomplish. Because Katie and Mischa had planned such a personal wedding, everyone had an amazing time the entire weekend. Chautauqua is a Victorian-style community, so the wedding was designed to echo the local design. Not just another “vintage wedding”, Katie’s design drew heavily on her actual memories of the area.

Katie and Mischa’s personal touch spread beyond the wedding design. You could see it manifested in their love for each other, love for their friends and for family. Their friends gave amazing, personal readings during the ceremony. The Maid of Honor gave the most heartfelt toast and had everyone in tears. The love that surrounded the entire wedding party made capturing their wedding photos easy – all I needed to do was stand back and not get in the way. The effort they put into the wedding and the love that surrounded the day really comes out in the photographs. I hope you enjoy the highlights below as much as Katie, Mischa and I did.

The wedding rehearsal could not have been more fun. People were rushing to hug old friends they had not seen in years. Even the ring bearer got a standing ovation when he successfully made it down the aisle without getting distracted.

The rehearsal dinner was held on the Chautauqua Belle, an old paddle ship that cruised along Lake Chautauqua during sunset. The scenery was just amazing. However, I think the food was better. Hello lobster!

Katie’s dress was one of the best I’ve seen all year (or all time really). It matched her figure and wedding design perfectly. I personally loved the two-tone style and the detailed embroidery.

First look photos are always my favorite, and they are even better with the family dog. Did I mention we love dogs! We used the porch of the Athenaeum Hotel due to a little rain passing through the area.

Even the horse came dressed for the occasion. Metal hearts and lucky horseshoes covered the carriage and tack.

Following the ceremony, the wedding party simply to the reception – held at the Bell Tower in a gorgeous tent. The flowers and little details were amazing. I hear the food and drinks were even better.

After a sunset cocktail hour on the edge of Lake Chautauqua, it was time for toasts, dinner and dancing. The band played late into the night as nearly everyone was on the dance floor. I think even the grandparents got into the energy.

Katie and Mischa’s wedding ended up being one of my most enjoyable this year. The weather was a little worrying, but it held off until my late-night drive home. If you’re still considering your wedding plans, think about how to make the wedding personal. Buck the “industry” trends and do something important to you. In the end, considering a personalized wedding will make for a better, more loving experience.

P.S. – In hindsight, I should have stayed in Chautauqua through Sunday. It would have given me a chance to produce some nice personal work. The scenery is just so beautiful.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Their wedding ceremony was held in the open air, right on top of the viaduct. From that vantage point, the wedding ceremony featured an amazing city skyline backdrop. Following the ceremony, a gorgeous reception commenced inside Ponte Vecchio, which was just a few feet away. Since that time, I have revisited the viaduct many times, using the location for a couple great engagement sessions.

Katie and Rob are also a great example of how a well-planned wedding can be both amazingly gorgeous and sensibly affordable. They brought together great vendors, locations, decorations, friends and family to make a truly memorable event. Everything was beautifully modest and clean, creating a well integrated setting. Heck, I almost felt like setting down the camera, grabbing a drink and joining the obvious fun.

Below are just a few of my favorites from their city skyline wedding. Further below are some additional details about their wonderful wedding -

“Butters” the dog. I didn’t get the rabbits name.

While waiting for her family, Katie stood peacefully in her living room. The above-right shot is my favorite, because it is natural.

Katie and Rob chose to do a First Look before the ceremony. It worked wonderfully and further convinced me a First Look is the way to go.

Downtown Cleveland is one of my favorite places for formal photos. It offers great backgrounds and unique locations all within walking distance.

Above is a scene from the Superior Viaduct. I just love the cool tones of the building in the background, and the wonderful shadow it creates.

The wedding design inside Ponte Vecchio was to my liking perfectly – simple, clean and beautiful.

One thing I really liked about the wedding was a great opportunity to shoot the food during prep, and the service as well.

Towards the end of the night, when the light was just perfect, we headed outside for a few more portraits. I like to do this whenever possible. The light at sun-down just makes for the most amazing photos.

Why YES, that is too men locked arm-in-arm while drinking Appletini’s! Why do you ask?

Clearly from the above, a good location and some great planning can make for a wonderful wedding. Katie and Rob definitely found a great team. Speaking of which, big thanks to Amy Hissa from At Last Event Planning for amazing wedding plan, design and for being a wonderful host. Off Broadway Flowers provide some really gorgeous arrangements and A Cookie & A Cupcake delivered some amazing treats. Last, the team from Something New Entertainment really got the crowd rocking after dinner. Thank you all for such a wonderful time!

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Their wedding was in Fairflied, Ohio, which is a bit of suburbia near Cincinnati. Suburbia can be good and bad for photos. The good – nice open spaces. The bad – it can look a little like, well, suburbia. We were discussing possible location ideas weeks before the wedding. Fairfield is on the other side of the state, so I couldn’t scout locations and provide advice as I normally do. We had kicked around some good ideas, but trouble was, they were just “good.” Katie and Jerry really deserved GREAT! With a little trust, they let me run with some location ideas.

I contacted a horse farm not far the other wedding locations. After just a couple emails, the farm was happy to let us use their property. I recommended the horse farm as a wedding location for a few reasons. It offered open spaces and great structure. As well, Jerry had rented a vintage Ford Model-A sedan for transportation. I thought the mix of horses and horsepower would work well. In the end, Jerry and Katie loved the location, and the photographs even more so. The farm ended up really fitting well with the flow of the entire wedding.

My clients usually give me a little trust from the start. I think this is because most of them find me through personal recommendations from friends and family. After that, I work hard to build trust and am thankful for every ounce. Hopefully, you can see below why trust works and a little influence can make a big difference -

The note above was written by Katie’s grandmother and the necklace is “Something Old”. I hear from the family that Katie’s grandmother teared up a little when she saw this picture. She loved the photo so much because she was unable to attend the wedding in person.

Katie was kind enough to get prepared in her sister’s old bedroom. The white walls really made for a nice, clean background.

Above you can see why I love the idea of sharing love letters before the wedding. Certainly, Katie’s were tears of joy.

Above, Jerry reading a note from Katie while awaiting her arrival for the first look.

I love the curious nature of horses. When we arrived, they were all back in their stalls eating oats. Within just minutes, they were checking out the new visitors.

Above are just a couple of Katie and Jerry’s first look photos. More are available in a post specifically about the first look.

Jerry chose the perfect tuxedo. It was not a rental, but a custom tailored suit.

Vintage car for the get-away – yes please!

The emotion above is priceless for the grand entrance. The little bit of motion blur really helps to convey the energy.

A funny Best Man’s toast is easy. Jerry’s best man gave the most amazing toast I have ever heard. It was funny and sincerely heart felt. I’m still amazed.

I think Jerry was amazed by the toast as well. His brother left no doubt that he loves Jerry very much.

Yes, that is an auto racing themed cake topper. There’s nothing wrong with that. Oh, time for some dancing!

Shout, Shout, Shout Shout!

Believe it or not, the above dancing shots all took place in just 20 minutes. Katie and Jerry really got the room hopping from the start!

There was one other thing really unique about this wedding for me. I normally work with the same great second photographer all the time. However, Michael needed a substitute for this wedding. Lisa of Brightside was kind enough to step in. She really was amazing the entire weekend. I will be forever thankful for her amazing help.  Also big thanks to the wonderful people at Walnut Creek Stables. They were amazingly generous with their time and so courteous.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Simply put, Katie and Jerry are like family. They were referred to me by close friends and former clients. We share much in common and hit it off right from the start. They had requested to do a First Look before the wedding ceremony, which is one of my favorite things. To make the First Look special, I spent a couple weeks building the perfect plan. I don’t live near Fairfield, so I had to do all the planning over the internet. Using Google Maps, I scoured the area for someplace suitable. I finally settled on Walnut Creek Stables. Walnut Creek is a horse farm and I knew the mix of stables, barns, and open pastures would be the perfect setting. Of course the location was made more perfect by the antique Ford Model-A that Jerry had hired. This most amazing conveyance is from the time when horsepower replaced horses.

There is really nothing more needed to setup the photos below. We simply stood back and waited for Katie to arrive. The rest unfolded perfectly on it’s own. To put a great finish on the First Look photos, we also captured their bridal portraits at the same time. Below are just a few of my favorites from a very large set -

I love the curious horses. As soon as we arrived, they all stuck their heads out to see what was happening.

The above is one of my favorites not because it’s a stunning photo, but because of the emotion of the moment.

Jerry was very wise to select a tailor-made tuxedo for the wedding day. It fit him perfectly and was so much better than a rental.

That’s all for today. Definitely keep an eye out for the second part, which should be posted in just a couple days. If you are considering a First Look for your wedding day, I say go for it. They are simply amazing for more reasons than just the photography. However, the photos always turn out great as well!

See y'all soon,
Hunter