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

The reason I love my job so much is the people I get to work with. Each couple becomes a friend and we are truly thankful for them. Working hard day in and day out can be tiring. It can really wear you down. However, my job feels more like a calling simply because of the people I see and meet each day. To each of you, thank you!

So, onto some of my favorites. I often focus on the more emotional portraits and candid photos. I think you will see much of that below.

Tacky backgrounds and Kentuckians with a killer sense of humor! It just goes together like, well, like Kentuckians and a killer sense of humor. We were laughing so hard I nearly doubled over.

Those eyes say it all. Bailey looked stunning in her dress and you could almost fall into the reflection in her eyes.

I almost took all of Ethan and Jamie’s wedding photos and added them to this best of post. The people and scenery were just amazing. Even the decorations at the wedding were stunning. Ethan and Jamie’s wedding was also our first ever published wedding! The last candid image is one of my all time favorites. Jamie’s happiness and Ethan’s strength says it all.

I just love the lines in this “candal” (I made that up – candid and formal put together) of Michael’s groomsmen. Captured by our amazing second photographer Michael Kalbo, this is my favorite masculine photo of 2010.

Rachael and Michael just exude happiness together. The sunset lighting for their bride and groom portraits could not have been better.

Dynamic lighting and great food made for some awesome detail photos at Cecilia and Roger’s downtown Cleveland wedding. By the way, if you need a good reception location in downtown Cleveland, I definitely recommend Sammy’s in the Flats.

Evening light for Matthew and Lindsey’s autumn wedding in Elyria. Simply…amazing.

Now, we are ending with some of my all time favorites. This was also our last wedding for 2010. Dusty and Jan’s roof top reveal was truly magical. There is a reason I recommend doing a reveal to all of the couples I work with. I think the photos say it all.

This last one happened quickly and was one of Dusty’s favorites. Sitting just behind Dusty is his brother and best man.

So those are my favorites from this year. Some are familiar and live in my portfolio, while others spoke to me from the day I first saw them. I hope you like them all. Now to end with a little humor – some painful lessons learned this year -

• If you hear a crack from behind, your photo assistant may have just broken the light stand.
• Like golf, shooting film is a frustrating pursuit that is ultimately worth every minute.
• Need a prop? An old polaroid camera works just grand.
• Be a strong leader and your clients will love you. Panic when no one is looking
• Your assistant and second shooter will eat you alive if you forget the Crunchy Peanut Clif Bars.
• And most importantly – if the plan is bad, change the plan.

P.S. – I got Brooke sessions with a personal trainer for Christmas (she asked for it). Today, we decided she now needs a rascal wheelchair because she can barely walk. Even the dog looks at her funny. Again, she asked for it.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

I finally finished editing all 569 of Rachael and Michael’s wedding photos. To this date, their wedding contains the most photos I have ever delivered. I tend to edit really tight so my clients receive only the best photographs. With Rachael and Michael’s wedding, I just couldn’t cut any more. It felt like I was choosing between my children (not that I have any, just saying).

Their wedding day at the Blair Center in Westfield, Ohio could not have been better. The sun was shining, the location was gorgeous and everyone was in a great mood. Talk about a fun group. Not only are Rachael and Michael gracious, their families are warm, welcoming and a blast to be around. Below are just a few of my favorite images -

The sunlit photos out on the green are some of my favorite from this wedding season. When I saw them after the wedding, I was in love instantly. I think one photo might even make my wedding portfolio. Also, I don’t typically publish dancing photos to often. With this wedding, everyone danced for hours and had a great time. It became easy to experiment and grab a bunch of party photos. Maybe next time I will have a little time to cut loose as well.

As for Annabelle (yes, I named my SX-70 Polaroid camera), she only made a brief appearance. The rest of the time Annabelle was just along for the ride.

That’s all for now, but before I go, let me know what you think about the new image layout. I think it looks sharp, but I would love your input.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Have you heard of Etsy?! Are you kidding me? Well then, let me fill you in. Etsy.com is a community of artists and designers. Each person sets up a shop within Etsy to market and sell their handcrafted goods. And you would be amazed at the quality. Etsy is certainly no flee market.

Here is where it gets better. Etsy has a wedding category! If you want good style, unique items, thrifty prices and handmade, have a look at the weddings category. After just a moment of browsing, here are some of my favorites -

• Silver Aspen Leaf Necklace – for the Colorado bride
• Wood Wedding Direction Sign
• Custom Silhouette Print handmade just for you

Etsy has a great selection in the wedding category and the prices are fair to amazing. You can also make your wedding green and support your community by shopping only for local artists. You would be amazed at how many artists are on Etsy. A ceramic artist neighboring my Cleveland photography studio is on Etsy.

Now for a little DIY inspiration. Check out the wooden table markers and planters I came across at Ethan and Jamie’s wedding. I am sure you could find something like this on Etsy, or make your own with a little inspiration (and a table saw) -

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Ethan and Jamie's engagement by Aubrey Trinnaman

I have said it before and I will say it again – my clients freakin’ rock. They are some of the nicest and most creative people. You have to check out what Ethan and Jamie created for their wedding announcement. They both work for a major technology company and have a serious creative streak. The video below is their wedding announcement.

Now that is how you get some wedding attention with style. As a wedding photographer, I absolutely love the stop-motion video. Not to mention the creative scrabble usage.

Take a moment to check out their engagement photos as well. The photos are by Aubrey Trinnaman, an amazing San Francisco fine art and wedding photographer. I love Aubrey’s California style.

Are you getting married and need ideas? Have a look around and come up with something creative. It seems certain formal aspects of traditional weddings are fading. Consider something a little outside the normal.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

If you are planning a wedding, you definitely should take some time to lurk these blogs. The blogs have some really good ideas that would work for any wedding. The list includes an assortment: a blog about the entire wedding, one about details, and some more targeted blogs too.

While I might be a guy, I still love weddings. A couple’s personality really shows in a well planned wedding, and it need not be expensive. Hopefully, this list of blogs helps you to find great inspiration for your wedding. Just try not to get carried away.

All About Design – chances are that you have already found StyleMePretty.com. The blog is dedicated to covering the design factors in a wedding. The team really puts some thought into presenting the various design aspects of a wedding. If you are looking for a theme (color, style, etc), StyleMePretty.com is a great place to start. However, don’t get too carried away.

All the Little Things – Becky and Jenny are the incredible team behind Weddingistas. They have a clear focus for their blog: they cover each piece in detail. Looking for a creative card? They have some great card finds. Looking for some fashionable necklaces? They have that covered too! Definitely take the time to review their blog if you need some ideas for the smaller stuff.

A Little Offbeat – Are you a little “different” than the average bride? Then checkout Ariel from the OffBeatBride.com. Ariel also wrote the book, which you can find on the blog as well. The site contains great ideas for couples who want something a little different. If you want a crazy fun wedding, definitely make it match your personality! By the way, “crazy fun” is a technical term

Make It So – A great way to introduce your personality to a wedding, and save some scratch, is to make your own stuff. The blog for TheHandcraftedWedding.com has some great design ideas for making your wedding your own. While the main site features a directory of designers that provide handcrafted wedding goods, the blog has some great ideas about how to roll your own. Definitely worth a read.

That about covers what I have found. when I am able, I will post more great resources for brides and grooms. I think I will even maintain a directory that can be easily accessed at any time.

If you have some sites that you love, pass them my way. Just use the contact form to reach out to us.

See y'all soon,
Hunter