Trashthedress.com

We have a nice layout posted today to http://www.trashthedress.com/. The Trash the Dress website has been the focus the past few weeks in stories in the NY Times, Good Morning America and Entertainment Tonight. It has been a blast to be part of this exploding international trend, and to put my own twist to it. We recently did a session with Shelly and Jonathan on Seneca Lake. I posted the photos in a previous post, but I also received an e-mail from Shelly with her thoughts on the experience. Here is what she had to say:

Trash the Dress…Lake Style
Shelly C. Lall
Photographer: Steve Chesler

I was intrigued right from the start - it looked fun and crazy. Being a star again with my wedding dress on and a photographer’s full attention was inviting. In all honestly, I was nervous as well. What exactly did trash the dress mean - dirt, mud, water, rips, tears? I knew the only way to truly enjoy the experience was to approach it with a carefree attitude, but secretly I hoped the dress would wash up just like new…maybe so I could do another trash the dress session later!
With all of this in mind, we headed to the shores of Seneca Lake. My husband was an excellent sport, agreeing to be involved in the photos as much as I wanted him to be and providing moral support. Wearing gym shorts, a tank top, and water shoes I walked along the water’s edge. We carried my dress – to keep it clean until it was time to get it dirty. Once at the site, I changed into my dress, which was amazingly comfortable without the petticoat, tiara, veil, and big hair updo.
I stood barefoot at the water’s edge surrounded by tall brown and green grass. I think Steve was giving me time to get used to my new surroundings. Nearby was a piece of driftwood, which my husband and I sat down on. Not once did I worry about my dress, I just kept thinking about the amazing pictures we would get from today’s adventure.
The next step was into the water! Strangely, I didn’t feel much of the cool water as I entered the lake and my dress fanned out behind me. My only thought was how beautiful my train was atop the water. We tried several different ideas in the water, on the sand bar, and on the driftwood. It started to rain, which only added to the fun. With increasing rain and a fear of being in the water when lightening strikes, we retreated to the car.
Afterwards, my husband and I remarked on how clean the dress looked despite dragging it through lake water across rocks and sand, and sitting on wet soggy driftwood. The top of the dress looked spotless, other than the rain drops. We rinsed the bottom edge and train in the bathtub, easily removing all of the dirt. It looked just like it did when I put it on at the lake earlier in the day!
It was a fantastic experience, intensified by having my husband with me, taking a step into the unthinkable for many brides. It was us enjoying each other, having fun, and breaking some of those old traditions!

jill-e designs

Ladies, this ones for you. A friend of mine has launched a line of camera bags geared specifically for women. Their website goes live tomorrow. Here is a snippet from their press release:

For Every Female Photographer
Who’s Had to Put Up With
The Male-Oriented Look and Feel
Of Pro Camera Bags & Accessories

Say Hello to …

A unique line of “extraordinary” high-fashion accessories
for the professional and advanced amateur female photographer.

The style and sass women want.
The rugged functionality the serious female photographer requires.
● Now you can have accessories in colorful leather and suede,
with the flare of the most stylish purses and carry bags.
● Accessories from jill-e designs incorporate features important to women –
like extra pockets for additional storage, a matching detachable personal pouch, and more.
● Visit our web site to see the world’s only portfolio of professional camera bags,
lens cloths and other quality photo accessories designed specifically for the female photographer.
● And be sure to register for a jill-e designs camera bag at an appealing introductory price!
Say good-bye to male-oriented nylon and canvas. Say good-bye to utilitarian blacks and browns.
Say Hello to jill-e designs.
Find out more at http://www.jill-e.com/. Or call us at 1-888-HI-JILLE.

Ballet Recital

The Finger Lakes Ballet Academy held their annual recital this weekend. Amanda and I photographed the event on Thusday and Friday. We are creating a book of the dancers from both the studio photos we did and the recital photos. Last year we created two seperate books for each set but this year we are creating one 30 page edition. There were quite a few comments at the recital that some of the students could not be at the dance studio the day we did the individual photos. If anyone needs to make up the photos, feel free to contact the photography studio at 393-9242 to set up a photo session. The sessions will be done as if they were at the academy with no additional session fee necessary.
I would like to congratulate the dancers on a great performance. I had the pleasure of seeing each group practicing at the dance studio and to see how it all came together at the recital. Cathy does an amazing job with them and it shows not only in their dedication and drive, but in the photos as well. Enjoy.

Me Session

This past week we shot a great "Me Session" with Lindy Zulick as part of her senior portrait session. The "Me Session" is one of our modules that can be added on to a studio session. Typically they are done at the seniors home, but in this case we went to the stables where her horse is boarding. You can view our senior modules at www.cheslerphoto.com/seniorprice.htm

DeWandler Wedding

This past weekends wedding was at Bristol Harbour overlooking Canandaigua Lake. I'm always amazed that such world class beauty is right in my backyard. I had the opportunity to shoot with Erin Schuster, who just purchased her own studio in LeRoy, and Michal-Kathryn Morgan, our studio's newest edition. The wedding was of Maura Farrell and Evan DeWandler. They were a great couple and a lot of fun too photograph. Shooting at Bristol Habour is great since we also get to work with Sara Goff, the event coordinator and one of my former wedding photographers. It's really unfortunate that I get to have so much fun working. Work is supposed to be boring, but hey, someone has to have all the fun right?

Masseth Wedding

So Steve is making me try out this "blog thing". I love to look at his, and am constantly asking him when he will update the next time. And I'm also a HUGE fan when he mentions my name. It's always nice to get some praise and recognition.

Thanks Steve!

So down to business...

Sandi, Ellen and I had a fantastic start to our busy wedding season this weekend. Jen and Cory are one of the most in love couples I've ever come across. The way they look at each other is amazing.

Here are a few of my favorites from the day.

I hope everyone enjoys the photos, and hey-maybe I'll do this again sometime! Hopefully with less babbling.

View the slideshow at http://www.cheslerphoto.net/Masseth/

See you next time!
Amanda Lee

Class of 2020

My little man Cade graduated from preschool this morning. I can't believe he is on his way to Kindergarten already. It goes by so fast. Before you know it, I'll be posting his high school graduation photo. I'm so glad I was able to be there. I had a wedding today as well(More on that in the next post), but the graduation was just early enough that I was able to be there. I still remember my preschool graduation from Big Chief Nursery School on Long Island. I can't quite say I remember it like it was yesterday, but I do remember it.

Destinations, Dress Trashings and Babies

The new web pages on my site are coming together beautifully thanks to Ellen of Lake Effects Web Design. www.lake-effects.net

You can view the new pages for Destination Weddings at www.cheslerphoto.com/destination.htm,

Trash the Dress Sessions at

www.cheslerphoto.com/wedtrash.htm,

and our new Maternity page can be viewed at www.cheslerphoto.com/babygallery.htm.

Any feedback is welcome.

Trash the Dress

Amanda and I did a great Trash the Dress session for Johnathan and Shelly down on Seneca Lake. They are a great couple to work with. We did their winter wedding at Belhurst Castle in February which is also on the blog. This shoot was in Dresden, about 10 miles south of Geneva. There is a spot where a river empties into the lake that has sand bars sticking out into the lake with large pieces of drift wood. The lighting wasn't perfect, but we used the overcast skies to our advantage until the shoot ended with a down pour. To see more Trash the Dress sessions visit our website at http://www.cheslerphoto.com/wedtrash.htm.

Finger Lakes Ballet Academy

For the past week or so we have been shooting photos at the Finger Lakes Ballet Academy. We are creating a book for them consisting of photos from the studio and their performance which will be on June 15th and 16th. The amount of talent at the academy is unbelieveable. Having been there so often lately, I'm beginning to learn the difference between an Arabesque, Chassé and Sauté. Here are some images from the shoot so far.