Brendan's Wedding Photography Blog

Alex & Kelly

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:37:00 +0000

I traveled up to Philadelphia a few weeks ago to photograph Alex and Kelly's wedding at the beautiful Bartram's Garden. It's a real oasis right in the middle of the city. The wedding itself was rich in symbolism and a fantastic example of open-mindedness. As a quasi-Jewish affair, small details like using the sky as the chuppah were lovely. In fact, one of my favorite parts of wedding photography may be the opportunity to learn so much about different wedding traditions from all cultures and religions. I've photographed Jewish weddings before, but I probably learned more about the meaning behind various conventions - as well as the opportunity for personalization - from Alex and Kelly than anyone else. Oh, and did I mention that they had a fire dancer?

Jessica & James

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:22:00 +0000

I photographed this wedding along side my good friend and talented photographer Stephen Voss. It was perhaps the most perfect day one could hope for weather-wise, which considering the ceremony was outdoors seems like a pretty good omen. James is British, so it was exciting to see the two trans-Atlantic families meet for the first time and immediately get along like they've known each other forever - in other words, like family. The happiness, relaxed attitude of everyone involved, and general lack of drama made for a very pleasant experience for everyone involved. Best of luck to the happy couple!

Tessa & Ed

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:39:00 +0000

Ed and Tessa are rather impressive folks. Ed is a graduate of Juilliard school of music, while Tessa is no slouch herself, playing in "the President's Own" United States Marine Band. What that meant in practice is that we all shared an appreciation for artistry, and they were insistent that I practice my own craft unhindered by convention. While I like to think I at least try to do that anyway, it's nice share that kind of understanding with my clients. As you'd expect from from a pair of musicians, they had a rockin' live band and friends who weren't afraid to cut loose on the dance floor. As the pictures demonstrate, they had a blast and so did I. Congrats guys!

Aaron & Dawn

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:21:00 +0000

Dawn and Aaron certainly had one of the most organized weddings I've ever photographed - both have professional event planning experience at some of the highest possible levels. With all the timelines and PowerPoint diagrams, it was more or less impossible for things to go astray. That is not, however, to say that it was in any way dull. In fact, the more weddings I see, the greater my belief that planning, organization, and delegation are key, so long as you can relax and trust things will work out. Thankfully Aaron and Dawn remembered the golden rule, which is to have fun. Of course, they also chose beautiful venues for the ceremony and reception, had them tastefully appointed, and looked impeccable themselves. Put all that together and voila, the pictures take care of themselves.

Amy & Bernie

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:42:00 +0000

Amy and Bernie had a very relaxed, fun, and funky wedding - pretty much exactly what you'd expect from a couple that has lived everywhere from DC to New York to Seattle and now San Francisco. The whole thing took place at the charming Intown Uptown Inn, which I like among other reasons because I can walk there from my house. With balmy weather, quirky decor, a teal wedding dress, and a ceremony officiated by their internet-ordained friend, everyone had a great time catching up with far-flung friends and family while rightly putting the emphasis on celebrating the happy occasion rather than following someone else's idea of what a wedding should be. Congrats!

David & Samina

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:12:00 +0000

I met Samina a few months ago at an event I photographed. I gave her my card and thankfully she held on to it, because she realized only a few weeks before her late-June wedding that she and David had not booked a photographer. I happened to be available and there was something about them that made me want to give them a deal. First, they are head over heels for each other - just look at the bliss in Samina's eyes in the bottom photo. Second, their story is interesting. Samina's family is from Pakistan, with many of her relatives still living in (and traveling from) Islamabad. She is Muslim, and David converted to Islam in order to marry her. They had an official wedding ceremony at the Islamic Center here in DC, and then a more traditional/Western ceremony and reception the following day, topped off with a raucus party at L'Enfant Cafe. It was the kind of wedding I felt privileged to be a part of because it was clearly the best day of both their lives.

Rachel & Shaun

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:06:00 +0000

Shaun and Rachel had their wedding at the wonderful Hotel Monaco here in downtown Washington, DC. It has great architecture with funky style, meaning everything from the guest rooms to the ballrooms are lots of fun to shoot in. Fun was pretty much the name of the game, and once the emotional bits were over, everyone cut loose. The live band, the Jangling Reinharts (out of Richmond), was among the best I've seen. It wasn't the youngest crowd but that didn't stop anyone, fueled by generous amounts of champagne, from acting like teenagers. As Rachel's grandmother said to me, "I may never do this again, so I'm going to enjoy the heck out of it!"

Marc & Lauren

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:54:00 +0000

Technically, I have known Marc since we were in kindergarten. We lived in the same neighborhood and rode the same bus to school. We lost touch soon after that, but a mutual family friend put us back in touch to talk about photographing his wedding, and I'm glad they did. Marc, Lauren, and their friends were ready to party, starting with champagne in the limo on the way to the reception. The day was filled with laughter and hijinks, and was once again one of those weddings where I wish I was a guest.

Nada & Mina

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Sun, 24 May 2009 22:14:00 +0000

I always enjoy photographing Orthodox ceremonies, because they seem so ritualized and intricate. I had the opportunity recently to tag along with my good friend Jay Premack to photograph Nada and Mina's Coptic (Egyptian) Orthodox wedding. The incense, the chanting, the wardrobe...beautiful. Unfortunately, there was a bit of rain, and even with all the planning ahead it the world (which they did), there's not much of a substitute for being able to take pictures outside. Still, they soldiered on and kept a positive attitude. The night was capped off with a great live band playing Middle Eastern music at the reception. Very classy.

Kristine & Chris

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Sun, 10 May 2009 15:13:00 +0000

From my perspective, the best couples to work with are ones that want great photos and are willing to do what it takes to get them. Sometimes, that's as simple as really being yourself and ignoring the photographer, and other times it means trusting the photographer if he asks you to do something silly like leap in the air in front of the Jefferson Memorial. Usually, it's just about understanding that good pictures take time, and that I want to spend as much time with you as possible on your wedding day so I don't miss any moments. Kristine and Chris were with it on all these points and still managed to have a fun and flawless wedding day, complete with a rockin' reception at the Mayflower Hotel in downtown DC. Congrats guys!

Carl & Stefanie

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:47:00 +0000

I photographed Carl and Stefanie's wedding yesterday, which was tons of fun. It was very romantic because they didn't bother with a lot of the traditions that weren't personally meaningful, and instead focused only on what mattered most to them. They didn't want photos of Stefanie getting ready, they didn't much care for dancing, and they didn't invite a lot of people they aren't close with. As a result, the wedding really suited them and they clearly enjoyed themselves. As I always say, if you have fun at your wedding, the pictures practically take care of themselves.

Dan & Kerry

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:48:00 +0000

I photographed Dan and Kerry's wedding the other day along side my friend Jay Premack. They were lucky to have him, because they had some gorgeous locations for photos. Before the ceremony, and despite pretty cold temperatures, they went to Meridian Hill Park for some pictures, while the ceremony itself took place at the Carnegie Institution. It's a historic building and the atmosphere was very elegant yet informal, which was perfectly fitting.

Monique & Jim & Audra & Aidan

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:24:00 +0000

After taking a bit of a break from my wedding photography to focus on covering a busy political season, I was really happy to get back in yesterday with one of the most unique weddings I have ever been to. As you can see in the title of this post, there were more than two people getting hitched. Monique and her sister Audra held a joint wedding, marrying their respective beaus Jim and Aidan. Let me tell you, that's a lot of work for a lone photographer, but it was also really fun. I'd rather be busy than bored! And their poor father, giving away both his daughters at the same time, was just so nervous. By the end, we were all great friends, and I really hope I get to photograph a double wedding again someday.

Ryan & Elizabeth

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:52:00 +0000

I photographed this wedding as a second shooter for my friend Abe Nowitz, a New York-based travel and fine art photographer, which is something I like to do now and again. Being a second shooter takes much of the pressure off, and while the main photographer is busy covering the bases, I can (while I'm not holding a reflector) attempt to be more loose and creative.

Elizabeth and Ryan are Mormon, so the ceremony took place at the incredible Mormon temple in Kensington, Maryland. If you live or have driven anywhere near DC, it's the one you've seen near the beltway. It was a pretty low-key affair, except for the bouquet toss. They had one of the more creative ideas I've heard lately, which was that instead of the bouquet being strictly for single women and the catcher winning a husband, all women were invited to participate and whoever caught it won a gift certificate to the spa. That's enough to guarantee chaos, but the throw was more of a line drive that hit the bride's sister square in the face - luckily she came out of it OK, and the groom proclaimed it the funniest thing he had seen in his life. Real moments produce great photos!

Hunter & Rita

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:35:00 +0000

This was another wedding with a slight ethnic twist - not only are they Jewish and were married in a synagogue, but Rita's family is actually Ukranian. The reception was peppered with cries of "Gorka!" which is the Ukranian prompt for the new couple to kiss, sort of like clinking your glass with a fork. There were also all the fun Jewish traditions like the Hora, or the chair dance with the couple and then their parents. Another one of those weddings where I wish I was a guest!

Beena & Leslie

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:23:00 +0000

This was perhaps one of the largest weddings I've photographed, with nearly 500 guests in attendance. With that many people coming and all the parts correspondingly more complex, there's quite a risk involved, but everything went perfectly smoothly. They were much more laid back than I would be! Though this was a south Indian wedding, the ceremony was Christian Orthodox, which was as beautiful and intricate as the church itself.

Paul & Shannon

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:47:00 +0000

After a bit of a break in August, I recently photographed the second wedding this summer of a former college teammate of mine. I've been friends with Paul for ten years, and probably met Shannon about a year ago. They complement each other so well, and on their wedding day, I don't think I've ever seen either of them happier. They had that giddy smile on their faces all day long, and were much more interested in just having fun with their family and friends than running around making pictures of themselves! Everything ran incredibly smoothly, was very relaxed, the weather was perfect, and it was an all-around great day for everybody. Congrats guys!

Elim & Eric

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:48:00 +0000

Elim and Eric had a gorgeous wedding day down in Hampton, Virginia. Not only were they loose and ready to have some fun, but so were the rest of the wedding party and other guests. At one point Eric's mother, in on the joke, brought me outside to witness several of his friends wrapping his car with an entire role of paper towels. My favorite moment, however, was when Eric's entire extended family (with something like 20 aunts and uncles) sang and danced to a polka in honor of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Frank & Janice

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:54:00 +0000

Frank and Janice were a very easy-going and fun couple. When the long-standing plan to spend a solid hour photographing the bridal party on the national mall quite simply wilted in the face of July weather in Washington, they were fine with it and enjoyed the round of applause they received on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. They provided a basket of flip-flops next to the dance floor at the reception so that guests could get their groove on more comfortably. Bridesmaids jumped into a working fountain to stand for a picture (without my even asking!). And one of my favorite moments was when the two of them rushed over to get a quick photo as a fire truck passed, soliciting a blow of the truck's horn as well. In short, they embraced the idea that weddings are supposed to be fun.

Adrian & Margaret

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:02:00 +0000

I've actually known Adrian for nearly 10 years - we were teammates in college. Many photographers I know don't shoot friends' weddings because it doesn't allow them to relax and enjoy the event, but this was not a concern for me for two reasons. First, I like taking pictures, so it's one of the best ways for me to enjoy any event. Second, this wedding was a four-day extravaganza outside Austin, Texas, so there was plenty of time for everyone who flew in from the coasts to party. There was a general consensus that this was one of the most fun weddings any of us had ever been to, which is in no small part due to Margaret's ability to embrace a pretty wild bunch (and put some of us to shame).

Indira & Fabio

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:39:00 +0000

Indira and Fabio were one of the most relaxed couples I've worked with recently. No trace of nerves, totally in control, and ready to enjoy the day. Unfortunately, events conspired to test those nerves. The ceremony was a very formal, traditional Catholic one, which went smoothly aside from the Maid of Honor fainting half-way through (she was fine). The reception was even bumpier: the power was out in the reception hall, and on a day with temperatures over 90 degrees, that meant no air conditioning. The power returned half-way through, immediately before a large thunderstorm knocked it out again. Still, everyone embraced the sweatiness and had a great time!

Emily & George

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:46:00 +0000

On the day Emily and George got married, the rain was unlike anything I have ever seen in my six years in Washington. Driving to Alexandria was like being under water. Needless to say, the outdoor ceremony was relocated to the Cherry Blossom, the old-school steamboat that cruised up and down the Potomac and was already booked for the reception. Emily is an event planner, so this was all thought out well ahead of time. Of course, the sun was out by the time the ceremony rolled around, but the park in which it was to take place was pure mud. Still, the setting was beautiful and everyone clearly had a great time.

Rufus & Felicia

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Sat, 24 May 2008 23:56:00 +0000

Rufus and Felicia were an extremely sweet couple. They were very relaxed during the ceremony but both shed a few tears during the reception as they danced with their parents. The thing that was unusual about this particular wedding was that the ceremony started at 11am, meaning the reception was over by 4:30. This gave us some time afterward to drive from Alexandria over to the Jefferson Memorial for some very Washington pictures of the couple with gorgeous afternoon light. This might be my new favorite spot for portraits.

Shelby & Daniel

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Mon, 12 May 2008 01:28:00 +0000

Shelby and Daniel had a busy weekend - graduating from college on the same day as their wedding! Normally I would not recommend this, but their logic was undeniable. Both are from the Midwest, and lumping graduation together with a wedding made it possible for both sides of the family as well as friends to all be present. It was also pretty heartwarming to see this bright young couple (an engineer and a future lawyer) so excited to start a whole new life together.

Erik & Vanessa

noreply@blogger.com (brendan) — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:24:00 +0000

Erik and Vanessa are one of those couples that are so obviously in love with each other that photographing them is easy. They clearly enjoyed themselves at their wedding, and while Vanessa was pretty nervous before the ceremony (as was Erik, for that matter), everything went smoothly and from there on out, fun and relaxation prevailed.