Kenny and Layla

On Wednesday, January 27, I photographed the wedding of Kenny and Layla at Belhurst Castle. Weekday weddings seem to be increasing in popularity. Kenny and Layla also created a beautiful new family with their three children. They are now in Malaysia to celebrate their marriage with Kenny's side of the family who were not able to make the trip to the United States.

Past Brides Wanted

We are seeking some of our past brides that we've photographed to set up a network of bridal evangelists across the country. We need a team of brides to occasionally meet with prospective brides in their area of the country to share their experience with Chesler Photography. We will pay for the consult time as well as a commission on any wedding that books us.

If you are one of our past brides and would be interested in meeting with future brides, e-mail me at steve@cheslerphoto.com. You don't need to know any technical details. We will be on a conference call with you to answer any questions with the bride. All you have to do is share your experience.

Camillus Tournament

Cade had a tournament this weekend in Camillus, NY, just outside of Syracuse. The team was matched up against much stronger travel teams, so they were 1-3 on the weekend. Nevertheless, they had fun playing and even more so swimming at the hotel all weekend. One of the games was held in the old rink in Skeneateles, NY. It's a covered rink with covered fence walls allowing the outside temperature in, which happened to be 3 degrees at game time. We lost several kids to the cold throughout the game. Cade had a lot of shots on him in goal, which kept in somewhat warm, with the exception of his toes. The coaches spent much of the game warming the hands and ears of the players. It will be a game they'll remember for a long time.

Aquinas Cheerleaders

Last Saturday, Sarah and I went to Aquinas High School to photograph the cheer leading squad, coached by my good buddies Stacy and Stephanie. They are the twins whose weddings I photographed, participated in the Twins Book, did a Trash the Dress session, etc... They're awesome! We did the shoot in several areas of the high school, including the boxing ring in the gym. I had never been to Aquinas before. It is a first class facility. Here are some of the images from the day.

Perfect Winter Wedding

I went out to Albany this weekend with Brody to photograph the wedding of Mike and Sarah. What an awesome day! Sarah and Mike were two of the nicest people you could ever meet. Their families were fantastic. The bridal party was a blast. The venue, The Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia, was exquisite. The band, New York Players, was also amazing.
An unexpected snow storm with huge wet flakes set the stage for a winter wonderland on the Mohawk River.
Congrats Mike and Sarah. You guys are the best.

Just For Him

We are once again running our Just For Him sessions for Valentine's Day. Watch his jaw drop as you present him with a DVD slideshow of your tastefully done session. We can also do prints, mini albums, calendars and more from the session. For those of you who are not comfortable with me shooting a boudoir session, Amanda is available to photograph it. See details in the ad below.

Casting Call for TLC

While I was at the Wedding Salon Bridal Show in NYC, a representative from TLC approached me looking for brides for a new TV show they're doing. They have extended their schedule through April, so if you're getting married between now and then, here is the contact information.

Click on image for a larger version.

More Misty and Jeff

We had so much fun photographing Misty and Jeff during their engagement session, we just had to come back for more. This time we photographed them down in Hoboken, NJ along the river overlooking Manhattan. What a fantastic location! I think my finger tips are just now beginning to thaw out. Their wedding is going to be awesome.

New Years Sluggishness

Normally I start the year with my new resolutions, but I've been a little slow this year. It's partly because I'm happy with last years resolutions of being a better father and husband, along with actually following through with it. I'm not saying I was bad at it to begin with, I just always want to aim higher in that regard. Is there ever a time to say yeah I'm good enough at being a father, I don't need to be better? As for being a better husband, there is always room for improvement. I'm a guy.

I do have a few new resolutions I want to make a part of my life. I have a habit of going through life by the minute. I leave enough time to get a task done with no room for error. When little things impede my progress, like catching a red light, or all of them for that matter, my blood pressure starts to rise. I don't want to live like that anymore. I need to add an extra hour to each day just as a cushion to allow things to run more smoothly.

One of the other resolutions I have is to lead by example. I can't expect people, like my kids or employees to act a certain way if I don't hold myself to the same standards. It's so easy to tell my kids to put away their clothes, meanwhile I typically pick my clothes from the folded pile waiting to be put away in my room.

Last, I want to continue my philosophy of living with gratitude. Recognizing the blessings I have in my life is a very powerful tool in choosing my path for the future.

Foot Ta Bing

As I sit here waiting for the ball to drop, I can't help but reflect on the year 2009 ended up being. I reread my post from January 1st, 2009 to see how close the year came for the hope I had come in to it with. There were ups and downs this year, but overall I'm pretty happy with the way things turned out. We cleared the hump on the recession in good shape. We planted a lot of seeds to make the future flourish both economically and personally. We've made new friends this year and reconnected with old ones. I've developed a spiritual awareness this year that I've never had before. The inner comfort that has resulted I hope makes me a better person to those around me, especially as a father and husband.

On a way more superficial level, in 2009 I discovered the iPhone, quite possibly the greatest toy I've ever owned. I even have a new word in my vocabulary because of it. "Foot Ta Bing". This is the noise my phone makes when I receive a text message. It's one of those noises that must be followed by everyone in my family saying "Foot Ta Bing."

It is on that note that I wish you all a great new year. I hope you live your life with a lot of friends, a loving family, and a smile. May you be carefree enough to say "Foot Ta Bing" out loud in a crowded elevator.