Chesler Photography

2 Day Canvas Sale

2012-01-31T12:31:00.000-05:00

In conjunction with our labs winter sale, we are offering 30% Off our canvas gallery wraps for two days only. The sale ends at 10 a.m. Thursday morning. Canvas Gallery Wraps are images printed on stretched canvas with the image wrapping around the edge so no framing is necessary. We have many samples of these in the studio so feel free to stop by with any questions or to see some of them. If you do stop by, please call first to make sure we are in since our hours vary during the winter. 585-393-9242

Old Man and the Sea

2012-01-16T22:44:00.000-05:00

Growing up on Long Island, I spent many weekends on our boat on Long Island Sound. We would fish for Blue Fish, Fluke, Flounder and other salt water critters. Closing up the boat after a day out on the water always seemed to be such a monumental task, hosing the salt water off of everything. I always hated the gritty feeling between my fingers of salt water, but that feeling now brings back fond memories of countless hours on the water with my Dad.

I just returned from a trip to Florida to participate in a bridal show at the Hollywood Beach Marriott. We've always offered our services in South Florida having a home base in Boca Raton. With the kids getting older and my tolerance for long, cold winters shrinking, it's time to ramp up our presence in Florida to fill in our winter schedule.

While I was down there, I spent a few days with my buddy Daryn who is a wedding photographer down at Disney World. He spends a lot of his free time on the coast of Florida in Titusville, running his flats boat up and down the Indian River on the prowl for Red Fish. He's been trying to get me down their to fish since he moved down there two years ago, so this was my chance. We spent almost ten hours on the water in search of the elusive Red Fish with no luck. We did see one patrolling the flats in search of bait fish but had no luck catching it. I did however manage to catch a Sea Trout. I didn't do much casting with my arm still in a sling. We did however get pulled over by the Florida Wildlife Commission for going a little too fast in a Manatee zone.

I didn't see a Manatee but we were treated to Osprey diving for bait fish, an Alligator roaming the flats, more Dolphins than I could count a ton of Horse Show Crabs crawling on the sea floor. We pulled back in the marina at sunset, putting a perfect exclamation point to the end of a great day. I even enjoyed the gritty salt water feel between my fingers.

Paradise

2012-01-03T22:42:00.000-05:00

I finished a fun slideshow in preparation for the Hollywood Beach Marriott Bridal Show I am a vendor at this Sunday in Florida. It will be nice to get a little break from winter, even though it has been completely mild until today's four degree temperature.

Shoot Your Own Session

2011-12-31T15:15:00.000-05:00

As a child, my dream was to become a fighter pilot in the Air Force. That dream died in tenth grade when I got my first pair of glasses. As a photographer, I'd give my right arm, wait, make that my left arm, to go up in a fighter jet and photograph the ride. I'd also love to practice in goal with an NHL team just to see if I could do it, with both arms of course. If I could do someone else's job for day, the list would be long - driving a freight train or 18-wheeler, a stock car, a writer for a car magazine, a fly fishing guide...

A few weeks ago I was brain storming to try and find ways to bring in some income during the slower winter months. One of the ideas was to offer my expertise to those who ever wanted to have my job for an hour. With all the new cameras people receive as Christmas gifts, I thought this was the perfect time to offer a "Shoot Your Own Session" promotion. Here's how it will work. For $75, you get to bring your family/friends to the studio for an hour and use my backgrounds, strobes, props, etc... under my guidance to create your own portrait. I will then walk you through some Photoshop skills where we will print an 8x10 for you to take with you. All the images you create are yours to keep.

We will be offering this for a limited time before the studio starts filling with senior portraits. You can book this for yourself or buy it for someone as a great gift. Call the studio at 585-393-9242 or e-mail info@cheslerphoto.com for more details or to book your session.

Photography Classes

2011-12-30T12:17:00.001-05:00

For years I have been toying with the idea of offering photography classes at the studio and now is the time to get it going. I will be doing a wide range of classes, some more basic than others, covering a wide range of topics. I've decided to offer classes on the things people ask me about most from simple camera settings to sports action to Trash the Dress portraits. Below is a list of classes along with the dates, times and price for each class. Contact me directly to reserve your spot at steve@cheslerphoto.com or by calling the studio at 585-393-9242. Class size is limited so call early to get your spot.

Camera Basics - Learn what each button does and how it fits in to real world situations to get the most out of your camera.
Tuesday 1/17 7-9 p.m. $25

Sports Photography - Geared toward those wanting to get the best shots from soccer field to the ice rink. We'll go over camera settings, equipment selection and shooting techniques as well as some after the shoot computer tricks and products.
Tuesday 1/24 7-9 p.m. $25

The Art of Lighting - This is for the photographer wanting to take their photography skills to the next level. Knowing the camera is one thing, being able to see light differently to turn snap shots in to art is another. We will explore natural light, on and off camera flash as well as alternative light sources.
Tuesday 2/7 7-10 p.m. $40

Winter Trash the Dress - Have you ever wanted to shoot a Trash the Dress session but could never find a bride willing to do it. Here is a great opportunity to photograph one of the hottest trends in photography and at the same time getting some spectacular winter scenery. We will start at the studio and then travel to several locations. We will have model brides and touch and several different lighting techniques to create truly dramatic images. We will finish back at the studio sharing some of the images using Photoshop and Lightroom. This class if not for the faint of heart as we will do the class regardless of the weather.
Wednesday 2/15 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. $75

We will also be offering one-on-one classes with topics and dates at your convenience. Classes will be based on an hourly rate of $25 per hour. Call for availability.

Gift Certificate Sale

2011-12-13T23:05:00.001-05:00

Back by popular demand, we are once again offering our gift certificate sale for Christmas. Beginning now and continuing through Christmas Day, we will be offering "Buy One, Get One Free" Gift Certificates or "Double Value" on one certificate. The gift certificates are for new sessions only and will be valid from January 1st, 2012 through April 30, 2012. The certificates are good toward sessions and product orders. After April 30, 2012 the certificates are still good, they are just at face value. Call the studio at 585-393-9242 to purchase a certificate which comes tastefully wrapped for immediate giving.

New Blog

2011-12-12T01:40:00.000-05:00

I've started a new blog separate from this one devoted specifically to my journey through shoulder surgery. I didn't want to bore everyone here with it, but if you're one of the tens of thousands of people with shoulder surgery in your future, the blog may help, or scare the crap out of you depending on how this journey turns out for me.

http://shoulderjourney.blogspot.com/

Crazy 11x14 Sale is Back

2011-12-07T06:31:00.000-05:00

Ten Years

2011-12-05T00:35:00.000-05:00

I finished my photo shoot in Rockland County last night just before midnight. I was an hour north of my sister Caren's apartment in Manhattan, so I didn't want to head south for an hour to drive five and a half hours north in the morning. I figured I would head north up Route 17 and see how far I could go before I needed to pull in to a rest area and get some sleep. Surprisingly, I made it as far as a rest area on Interstate 81 25 miles south of Syracuse. After an hour of tossing and turning in the drivers seat using Mushy, my plush bear that I bought Freshman year of college, as a pillow, I decided to get back on the highway. I don't normally travel with a teddy bear but he was accompanying Sarah who took the trip downstate with me to spend time with my little nephew Eddie, who is named after my father. We pulled in to the driveway at 5:52 a.m., so I texted my wife telling her we were home so she didn't freak and smash me over the head with a shovel when I came inside. I climbed in to bed and slept until 1:00.

I woke up, had a great breakfast of stuffed french toast that Sue made and then watched the Jets game. It wasn't until my sister Ellen called to see if I spoke to Mom yet that it dawned on me that today was the tenth anniversary of my Dad's death. How could I forget such a huge date? For the first 31 years of my life, my existence seemed to revolve around my Father. He was the center of the world. He was as powerful and vital as gravity and air, never faltering, just taking for granted that he would always be there. And then he wasn't. He lost a heartfelt but inevitable battle with esophageal cancer.

It is now ten years later and his gravitational pull is still as strong as ever, binding our family together. We all still feel the loss as if it were yesterday while at peace enough with it I suppose to be able to sleep half the day away before remembering it was December 4th. With the grief of my Grandmother's passing so fresh, it kind of puts some distance back to my Dad's passing. I see him everyday though looking back at me in the mirror. Sometimes the resemblance is so real I just chuckle and say, "Hi Dad."

Small Business Saturday Sale

2011-11-26T11:05:00.000-05:00

In honor of Small Business Saturday, we are having a sale on our wicked cool custom holiday cards. Today only, all of our card orders will be discounted 25%. The studio is closed today so send your card orders to Steve@Cheslerphoto.com to receive your discount. We have both folded and flat cards as well as boutique cards with die cut edges. We have an entire PDF of card designs. E-mail Amanda@Cheslerphoto.com to see the PDF.

Check back Monday for a cool Cyber Monday Sale!

Bess the Great

2011-11-23T12:08:00.001-05:00

For all of my four decades of existence my Grandparents have always been on top of the family pyramid. Even when their parents were alive when I was just a wee grasshopper, my grandparents were still at the top, caring for their aging parents. When my Grandfather passed away back in January, we knew it was only a matter of time before Grandma would follow, dying from a broken heart. Last Friday, my Grandma Bess was reunited with my Grandpa after a 10 month hiatus in their 74+ year marriage.

Their marriage was one for the record books. They were frequently asked the secret to their longevity and healthy marriage and Grandpa would always reply with a sly grin, "Lots of oral sex." It's hard to grieve for the loss of my Grandmother when it coincides with the reuniting of such an amazing legacy of marriage. It's like peanut butter existing without jelly or macaroni existing without cheese. Sure it can happen, but it's just not complete. When Tom Cruise uttered the words, "You complete me," to Rene Zelweigger in Jerry McGuire, he must have been inspired by my Grandparents, because there was never a more complete couple in human history.

Here is a news story that ran in 2009 on their 73rd Anniversary.

One of the big questions that came up the past few days was where to go from here? Who is at the top of the pyramid now. We realized that we are all at the top of our own pyramids now and that's how it's been throughout civilization. When the top of the pyramid falls off, ten new pyramids are created. Our family is different though. Our Grandparents instilled such strong values of family in to each one of us that even though the top came off the pyramid, we're all throwing ropes to each other to keep the base together.

Grandma, you will be missed terribly. Your chicken soup and apple cake will forever warm my heart.

Project 9-11 Slideshow

2011-10-26T14:39:00.003-05:00

On September 11, PPSNYS member photographers captured what they were doing that day to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9-11-2001. Here is the slideshow that PPSNYS put together as a tribute. My embedded videos have not being showing up when viewed on Facebook, so here is the direct link to the blog.
Cheslerphotography.blogspot.com

Trash the Dress, In Diapers?

2011-10-21T11:00:00.001-05:00

I was interviewed yesterday for an article on Trash the Dress that ran online today on TheStreet.com. The article was on 5 New and Unusual Wedding Traditions, Trash the Dress being one of them. Here is a direct link:

TheStreet.com

One of the new and more unusual trends in weddings appearing is the use of bridal diapers for brides wearing dresses that are too difficult to go to the bathroom in. I guess forgoing the diaper would bring new meaning to trashing the dress.

My brides don't wear diapers, they just wash their dresses on the cold cycle while they're still wearing them.

Santa!!!!

2011-10-18T14:59:00.000-05:00

I couldn't have said it better myself, Santa's coming and we're just as excited. November 19 and 20 we are once again offering our awesome photos with Santa with a 15 minute session 1-8x10, 2-5x7s and 25 Holiday Cards for $75. Book your appointment today because we sell out quick by calling 585-393-9242.

Remembering Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T13:29:00.001-05:00

Steve Jobs

1955-2011

When I saw the headlines come across the news last night about the passing of Steve Jobs, I was shocked, not only about the news itself, but also my reaction to it. I knew he had pancreatic cancer and stepped down as CEO of Apple in August, but I never would have guessed he would go downhill so fast. Although I didn't know him personally, I really feel a personal sense of loss, greater than just hearing of the passing of a celebrity or sports star. His innovation of products as well as the marketing of those products has been such an intrinsic part of my life, I couldn't help but be affected personally. My iPhone and iPad are such indispensable tools in my life now. We are in the process of transitioning the studio from PC based to Mac based as well. It's a slow process as finances become available, but it is a direct result of the influence Steve Jobs has had on my life. Weekly I would browse the Mac-Life app on my iPad to see what new products Apple was introducing, as well as the way they were introducing them. Jobs was a marketing genius that I would love to emulate on even the smallest level. Rest in peace Mr. Jobs. I'm sure you will be missed by millions.

Life Lesson

2011-10-02T22:51:00.000-05:00

I have my cameras with me all the time, so much so that I'm sore from carrying them on my shoulders. I woke up this morning to the sound of torrential rain on the roof and my wife getting my son ready for his football game. I shoot as many of his games as I can, but today I made the decision to abort and keep my equipment dry and give my body a day off. Instead, I set my attention on dressing appropriately for two hours in a 48 degree monsoon.

It's been raining for days, so the ground is completely saturated. Cade came home from football practice yesterday in tears he was so cold and wet. At today's game we were armed with rain gear from head to toe and enough hand warmers to cook a turkey. I knew the game would be a soggy one, but I never anticipated the four inch deep puddles on the field. With every tackle, tsunamis of water would hurl up in to the air. My mind began snapping photos, still shots of water dripping off the ends of noses, the agony of cold fingers slamming in to helmets and the never ending spray of water shooting up, showering the pint sized athletes. Unfortunately, my camera lay peacefully tucked in it's warm dry bag in my house. From now on, it will come with me whether I plan on using it or not.

Mini Sessions

2011-09-28T20:53:00.001-05:00

Believe it or not, we're gearing up for Christmas already with a collection of Mini Sessions that make great Christmas gifts. Each half hour session will cost $75 and include 1-8x10, 2-5x7s and 25 Christmas Cards. Some of the themes will be ongoing with studio appointments while others will be limited dates with limited appointments available.

Here is a list of some of the themes we will be doing:

-School Photos - October (This is the perfect alternative to the single pose school photos each year)

-Dog Days of Autumn Pet Portraits - October and November

-Pumpkin Patch Children's Photos - October

-Fall Foliage Family Portraits - As long as the leaves last

-Couch in a Field Family Portraits - October 22-23

-Rustic Barn Photos - October and November

-Santa Photos - Mid November 2 days only Dates TBD (If you've seen our Santa, you'll believe!)

-Christmas in the Studio - November and December

We will start immediately with our School Portraits. Call the studio at 585-393-9242 to book your after school session. Why settle for rapid fire fake smiles when you can get a half hour session with multiple outfit changes?

Bring the pets out before the snow flies with our Dog Days of Autumn sessions. This is the perfect gift to surprise your dog lover this holiday season. We can do lakeside photos, in a park, urban alleys, etc... Please bring a bag to take out what your dog leaves behind.

We are still searching for the "perfect" couch to bring out in a field for family photos. If you know if a couch that would look really cool for this situation let me know.

Our Pumpkin Patch Children's Photos and Fall Foliage Family Portraits are weather dependent, so book early before the seasons first wind storm takes all the leaves down.

Stay tuned for details on our Santa photos.

Kudos Budweiser

2011-09-11T23:20:00.005-05:00

Great 9/11 tribute from Budweiser.

Project 9.11

2011-09-11T23:09:00.000-05:00

As a member of the Professional Photographers Society of New York State, I was invited to participate in a book project commemorating the ten year anniversary of the attack on the United States by terrorists. Project 9.11 will be a collection of images from member photographers across the state, documenting life ten years later.

I had the opportunity to photograph this years Thunder Over Niagara Air Show in Niagara Falls. It was an honor to participate in something so powerful with members of the military who have so valiantly given of themselves to protect our freedom. Words can't fully express the pride I feel being an American but hopefully the images can.

9/11 Remembered

2011-09-11T22:51:00.000-05:00

I remember the day vividly. Our morning consisted of watching The Wiggles on TV as Sarah prepared for her first day of preschool. I was going to fly down to NYC that morning but I put it off until the afternoon so I could be with Sarah for this milestone.

My father was staying at my aunts house in Lynbrook, Long Island while he commuted to Sloan Kettering in Manhattan for his cancer treatment. He was in a clinical trial for Esophageal Cancer after surgery unsuccessfully contained it from spreading.

Sue and I dropped Sarah off at the YMCA preschool program and then headed down to the Post Office in Canandaigua with a quick stop at Burger King for breakfast. We heard a few people murmuring about a plane crash but didn't think much of it. At the post office the employees were talking more about it and we heard a plane had hit one of the twin towers.

It was hard to believe, so we rushed back to the car and turned on the radio only to find out this was no accident with the second plane hitting the South Tower.

I had an appointment at the studio which I half heartedly completed before rushing home. Back in the car I listened in shock as the North Tower fell. The next 36 hours were a blur as we sat glued to the TV. My trip to NYC was obviously cancelled.

While all this was going on in the uncertain safety of Canandaigua, my mother and father were on their way in to Manhattan for one of his treatments and to find out the results of his most recent Cat Scan. On the train in, they could see the smoke from the towers looming over head. They arrived in Penn Station and switched from the Long Island Rail Road to the subway, only to have that shut down after one stop. They had to walk the rest of the way to Sloan Kettering on the streets. As they walked, people began gasping in horror and as they turned around, they could see the North Tower come down.

When they finally made it to Sloan Kettering, they were seen and dealt the news that would forever change their world. The treatment was not working and he was out of the program.

September 11, 2001 was not only one of the darkest days in our country's history, it was also the day my father was given his death sentence.

Now, ten years later, the wounds have healed as a country and as a family, but the scars are deep. It doesn't take much to bring the emotion flooding back. Seeing the country come together today both locally and nationally lets me know that I'm not alone. I spent the morning with my family watching the news coverage of the events of today and ten years ago. My kids were either too young or not even born yet when our world changed, so they sat riveted to the TV trying to grasp the magnitude of what took place. For ten years they have heard about it and learned about it with each passing anniversary. I don't know if it's a sign of them maturing or the increased awareness with such a big anniversary, but I think it sunk in today. My daughter posted on her Facebook page today, "It has been 10 years. And although I was very young, I will never stop praying for the people who risked their lives and the families who lost loved ones that day. It was a hard day on my family and many others. We will remember you always♥"

Pride

2011-08-31T16:40:00.002-05:00

My Freshman year of high school I was the only rookie on my high school hockey team. I had never played in a check league before so I was deathly afraid of my first shift. It wasn't until the last minute of my first game that I actually got to touch the ice. I skated in to the corner after a loose puck and immediately got sandwiched to the boards like a panini. I wobbled back to the bench as manly as I could, climbed over the boards gasping for the breath that had been knocked out of me and said to my line mates, "That didn't hurt."

A few weeks later, I had been promoted to the second line. All the stars aligned one game and as I was standing in front of the net I got knocked to my knees as the puck landed in front of me. I hacked at it with my stick and got just enough of it to send it gracelessly bouncing on the ice. It was like slow motion as the goalie bent down to pick up the puck that was barely moving and in true Bill Buckner fashion, he missed. It trickled in to the net for the most technically inefficient goal ever scored, but it was my goal. At the end of the game as I stepped off the ice, I saw the twinkle in my Dad's eye he was so filled with pride. I will never forget that moment as he put his arms around me and said, "You're not a virgin anymore!" He always had a way with words.

For several years now, I have been taking my son fly fishing. He has caught a few chubs and blue gills on the fly rod, but never a trout. It was becoming an obsession of his to catch that first one. Earlier this summer I brought him down the Springwater Creek south of Hemlock Lake. The creek is not known as one of the areas best streams, but it was perfect for him with lots of small rainbow trout. Rainbows tend to be a little more aggressive and the young ones aren't as wise as their elders. Right off the bat Cade began to have a few tugs on the line but his inexperience got the best of him as he couldn't set the hook quickly enough. Cast after cast he slowly noticed and corrected his mistakes until it finally happened. A beautiful six inch rainbow hit the line and didn't let go. Cade was so excited he wasn't sure what to do beside dragging the little gem out of the creek on it's side.

I was so excited for him I almost forgot to take pictures, but I was determined to document this moment three years in the making. The pride I felt inside was intense at my little guys accomplishment. The excitement of his first trout didn't last long though because the second one came shortly after, and a third and fourth and fifth...for a total of nine trout that day. He was so excited we went back the next day and he caught six more.

Teach a man to fish and he'll eat for life. Teach your son to fish and you'll smile for life.

Auto Art

2011-08-30T23:28:00.000-05:00

With a career as a wedding photographer, inevitably I miss a lot of the fun summer events that happen on Saturdays. I go to the stock car races every chance I can, even after getting smashed in the shin with a hundred mile per hour pyramid shaped rock that left an inch long gash in my leg through my jeans. Luckily it was my shin and not my head.

On Father's Day, my family took me to Chemung Speedrome near Elmira. I should say the indulged me since I drove and paid. Given the choice, I would much rather go to an asphalt speedway than a dirt one. In July I had the opportunity to shoot at Canandaigua Speedway with track photographer Jeffrey Stalker.

I finally had a chance to edit some of the images just in time for summer and the racing season to wind down.

New England Romance

2011-08-28T23:29:00.000-05:00

I'm way behind on blogging. I have to admit though, I did enjoy the short vacation from it. I put so much stress on myself to keep up with it even though I have no real reason to stress about it. It's like when we go on vacation and set a fictitious deadline as to when we want to get on the road. The stress of not meeting that deadline is very real even though the deadline isn't. I do the same thing watching the number of blog posts each month as if I need to meet a certain quota to have a "real" blog. If I had a shrink I could imagine spending an entire session on this.

Now let's get to the reason we're really here and that's to see some cool images. On July 9 I was out in Massachusetts to shoot Ali and Joe's wedding in Cambridge with Rich. The wedding reception was at the Charles Hotel on the banks of the Charles River, also known as the "Chals Riva". We drove through the heart of Harvard Square to get there. What a cool place. I wish I had time to explore the area more.

We had so much fun with Ali and Joe and their bridal party. So much so that we closed out the party with them. Here are some of the images from an awesome day the Charles.

Beautiful Finger Lakes

2011-08-28T23:02:00.001-05:00

As a child, I spent many summers at the Bonnie View in Bolton Landing on Lake George. It was a beautiful lakeside retreat surrounded by towering mountains. Growing up on Long Island, Lake George was as close to the wilderness as it gets.

Last week, I took my wife and kids back to Lake George for a short vacation. We didn't stay at the Bonnie View, but we did visit it bringing back a flood of memories. Where we did stay was a cute place called Capri Village. Any other time of the summer it may have been great however this week we felt like we were vacationing with the cast from Jersey Shore, complete with grotesquely tan muscle heads having a push up competition on the beach. There is nothing more relaxing than listening to a dozen or so drunk people yelling with thick Long Island accents at 3:00 a.m. every night we were there. I even thought I caught a glimpse of Snookie, or maybe it was a pit bull.

Looking out at the lake, it looked surprisingly similar to the south end Canandaigua Lake. I began to wonder why I would travel several hundred miles away to go on vacation when perfection is in my backyard. It certainly was not for my subconscious desire to be immersed in the Jersey Shore lifestyle.

The Finger Lakes are perfect with the right blend of nature, tourism and year round residents. It's home. My sister Ellen, another Long Island transplant who quickly fell in love with the area, used her web design talents to create a new website devoted to the splendor of the Finger Lakes. BeautifulFingerLakes.com is a destination for both tourists and locals alike, with a nice mixture of articles, events and attractions to satisfy every taste. Bookmark it and check back often for the latest happenings in and around the Finger Lakes.

See the Difference

2011-08-26T13:27:00.001-05:00

Fair Game

2011-08-11T23:37:00.000-05:00

For weeks, all my daughter talked about was going to the Erie County Fair to see the Big Time Rush concert. Nothing could excite me more than standing knee deep among 5,000 screaming girls reminiscent of scenes of the Beatles or Elvis. My wife lucked out and she got the call to chaperon Sarah and two of her friends in to the concert. I on the other hand spent some quality guy time with Cade, who wasted no time in getting as much use out of his unlimited midway ride wrist band as possible. I lost count after 21 rides. Fortunately I only had to go on two of them with him. The rest of the time was spent playing with the Nikon P7000, taking some cool fair photos. It took me while to get acclimated to the capable little camera's controls, but nevertheless, I came away with more than a few keepers.

Watching Cade go on the rides alone brought back memories of when I was young and went on a few rides myself. I always felt self conscious, as if enjoying myself too much while I was alone on a ride was a bad thing. Fortunately, Cade has no issues with it and enjoyed himself thoroughly, even making a few acquaintances along the way that he shared a ride with.

When we rejoined Sue, Sarah and her partners in crime, they were floating a few feet off the ground as if they had just experienced their first kiss.

Crossing the Borders

2011-07-22T10:37:00.000-05:00

Ever since Chase Pitkin hardware store closed it's doors and pulled out of Canandaigua, I've been hoping and praying that a book store, such as Borders or Barnes and Noble, would come in to the new plaza redesigned to accommodate box stores. We did get a Michael's and Bed, Bath and Beyond, but no book store. The closest book store is the Borders up in Victor 15 miles away. Canandaigua does have it's small mom and pop book stores downtown, and they do a great job catering to the avid fiction novel reader with a great trade-in program. However, as more of a reader of business, inspiration and photography books, my needs surpass those of the local book shop.

I received a sad e-mail last night. It was a goodbye letter from Borders. They are reluctantly closing their doors after years of struggling through a changing economy. Both e-readers and iBooks, as well as internet giant Amazon.com have put the nail in the Borders' coffin. I admit, I have dabbled with iBooks on my iPad and I have ordered dozens of books and other products from Amazon on a regular basis. However there is something so satisfying about going in to a huge book store filled with tens of thousands of books where you can touch them, smell them, feel the thickness of the pages and just plain bond with them.

In 1998, while I was working at the Daily Messenger in Canandaigua, a sales rep from Canon came in to the dark room to show me a new digital camera they just came out with. It was relatively inexpensive at only a few thousand dollars for a full one megapixel camera. Compared to the new digital SLRs from Kodak that cost $10,000 this was cheap. I had no interest though. How could this puny little camera compete with the quality of film, and in fact, it couldn't. However times changed rapidly and by 2003 I was full digital at the studio and sold my Bronica medium format equipment that year for $2,500. I could buy it all back now for about $25. I had a choice back then, adapt or be left behind. Not only did I adapt, the switch launched my business faster than I ever could have imagined.

The book industry is now seeing a similar revolution as the photography industry did 10 years ago. As much as I like the tactile experience of a book before I buy it, I understand the evolution. I also liked the feel of film and the magic of seeing an image appear in the tray of developer in the dark room, but there would have been nothing I could do to stop the digital revolution, so I traded in the dark room for Photoshop and hung on for the ride. Unfortunately, Borders didn't fair so well assuming there would be enough people like me who want the feel of the book.

What's on the horizon for the book industry? Will there be resurgence of the Main Street America book store who is less effected by the national economy? Borders and the other big box stores where the fire breathing dragons that burned down Main Street. The dragon is dying. As sad as I am to see it go, if it will breathe life in to more mom and pop book stores it will have been a blessing in disguise.

Rosanna and Hugh

2011-07-13T00:04:00.000-05:00

Preparing for the Nationals

2011-06-30T10:35:00.000-05:00

For years I've been searching for ways to make Chesler Photography a year round business. Let's face it, coaxing people out of their igloos in the dead of winter for photos is a daunting task. Yes, we do our fair share of winter weddings, but not enough to avoid eating the acorns we've stored throughout the summer. We are finally making some ground with our weddings in South Florida during the winter months, which will help supplement those winter weddings and give us some much needed sunshine that time of year. It's amazing what a little sun will do to lift the spirit during our 6 months of grey.

In a few weeks, we will be heading out to Syracuse where we will have a vendor booth at the Syracuse Nationals Car Show, which is one of the largest shows in the north east with over 7,000 cars. We will be displaying our metal prints, blankets, backlit images and more, with the hope of booking many car shoots across the state. If this goes well, I may hit the road during the winter and look for more shows down south and spend a few weeks in each location doing car photography. I always say someone has to play for a living and I can think of no better way than to play with cars and cameras.

This week, I did photos of my buddy Brian and his decked out motorcycle. I wanted to create a dramatic photo to use for a back lit image at the Nationals. I love Nikon's wireless flash system to create photos with drama and depth. Check out the results below. Also, check out some of Amherst medias books on using wireless flashes and multiple flash set ups. They have a whole new crop of books coming out on the subject. If you're interested in some of these books, please click on the link below. It helps us support our craft and doesn't cost you any more to use our link.

Vogue

2011-06-29T23:41:00.000-05:00

Over the winter I did a photo shoot of two little girls in the studio. One of their mom's was a fashion stylist from North Carolina. As luck would have it, she moved back to the area this Spring. We sat down and discussed ideas of how we can incorporate her services in to some of our shoots for those clients who want that extra pizazz to their photos. The best way to introduce Courtnei and her sense of fashion was to do a photo shoot of her. More used to being behind the scenes than in front of the camera, Courtnei warmed up to opportunity very quickly. Here are some of the images from our shoot in Canandaigua.

To inquire more about hiring Courtnei for your photo shoot, call the studio at 585-393-9242.

All in the Family

2011-06-23T23:26:00.000-05:00

Several weeks ago I photographed the wedding of Jeff and Lindsey, who is the brother of past wedding clients Stuart and Jackie. A mere two weeks later I had the honor of shooting the wedding of Erin and Harrison. This time it was the other side of Jackie and Stuart's family with Erin being Jackie's cousin. It's really cool seeing some of the same people several weddings in a row.

Erin and Harrison were married at the George Eastman House in Rochester followed by a reception at Cobblestone Creek in Victor. It's kind of ironic to photograph at the Eastman House with a digital camera which essentially put Kodak in it's current state of financial difficulty. If George Eastman could knew that the technology his company invented would eventually lead to it's downfall he would roll over in his grave. The Eastman House is a beautiful place to shoot, split between the historic mansion and the addition which houses the International Museum of Photography.

I used to live at the Eastman House. Well actually I lived in an apartment above what used to be the carriage house for the Eastman House. It was in a beautiful section of the city and the rent was reasonable, however I was just out of college and starving to death. My attempt at independence lasted six months before I moved back home to Long Island with my tail between my legs and my ribs showing. Six months of Ramen Noodles takes a toll on the body.

I met with Erin and Harrison at the Lodge at Woodcliff. I had never been in the bridal suite before. It's a really cool two floor room with amazing views and cool orange walls. Both Erin and Harrison got ready in the same room at separate times. We got some great shots of both of them there.

Don't Judge a Book by it's Cover

2011-06-23T22:48:00.001-05:00

Have you ever walked down a street that was a little off the beaten path and come across a character that looked a little too shady for comfort? Did you look him in the eye or keep your glance down and walk away a little quicker? I too am guilty of making a snap judgement as to someones character based on the way they're dressed, or the way they groom. Unfortunately too many stories on the news and too many episodes of Criminal Minds have conditioned us to assume the worst.

Several weeks ago I had the privilege of photographing a personal trainer before he entered a fitness competition later that week. Had I not known Henry, his appearance would have been very intimidating coming across him alone on the street. His bearded chin, shaved head, tattoos and muscles that could crush my skull would have sealed my fate. Nothing could be further from the truth. Henry is a laid back, soft spoken guy who kept throwing a smile in to every pose to keep his wife happy, smart man.

With outfits destined for a biker bar and even some heavy chains, we made Henry look like an episode of America's Most Wanted. The photos came out really cool.

Facebook Link

2011-06-13T21:30:00.002-05:00

After several weeks of my blog not transferring to Facebook, we're back in business with it. Let's face it, my blog gets way more hits and comments on Facebook than on the blog site itself. It's very frustrating when the link goes down. Now I can get back on track posting.

We left off Memorial Weekend with the first half of our back-to-back weddings in Geneva. On Sunday, Rich and I were back in action, this time at Ventosa Vineyards for Lindsay and Jeff's wedding. I photographed Jeff's brother Stuart's wedding several years ago, so it was nice being back with the family. In fact, I photographed Stuart and Jackie's maternity photos a few weeks before the wedding, which I will post this week. Jackie is due today so hopefully everything is going smoothly.

Lindsay and Jeff had an awesome day. We photographed along Seneca Lake, in downtown Geneva and then over at Ventosa. The weather held out until we were on our way back to Canandaigua. We raced a line of storms head on to see if we would beat it home. The sky was lit up with non-stop lightning. Streaks were hitting the ground with alarming frequency as we pulled in to the driveway. We ran from the car as the first fat drops of rain pounded the asphalt. What a storm it was!

Lindsay and Jeff were married on the balcony at Ventosa. It's like being transported to Tuscany. Ventosa is one of the most beautiful vineyard's in the Finger Lakes. I'll let the photos speak for the beauty of the area.

Before and After

2011-06-01T23:07:00.001-05:00

Much as a chef can envision the final result while staring a pile of raw ingredients, as a visual artist, I can see the finished work of art while looking at the raw ingredients in front of me. One such moment was while I was in Detroit at the abandoned Detroit Train Station. All the ingredients were there, the location under the rail over pass, the light spilling in through the holes above, and a bride and groom willing to indulge in my vision. The image that came out of the camera was cool and with a little enhancement made the slide show we played at the reception, however it was not my complete vision. With a little Photoshop magic, the end result is what I would imagine if Kincaid were lost in Detroit. Here are the images before and after the magic.

Click on the image to view a larger version. If you're viewing this on Facebook, visit our blog at http://cheslerphotography.blogspot.com to see the larger version.

Danielle and Steve

2011-06-01T22:14:00.000-05:00

Mother Nature seems to know when Memorial Weekend and Labor Day Weekend are. They weather always seems to change right on cue, ushering in the following season. This year was no different with the first of this years hot, humid weather.

Rich and I set up camp this weekend in Geneva for back-to-back weddings, the first of which was at the Geneva Ramada. Danielle and Steve traveled to the Finger Lakes to tie the knot on the north end of Seneca Lake. The ceremony included a Ketubah signing, an old Jewish marriage contract, traditionally signed before the wedding ceremony. They also did the Hora and the chair dance during the reception.

Danielle and Steve set aside time between the ceremony and reception to do photos in downtown Geneva. We took them to a few of the murals that decorate some of the buildings in town for an artistic, urban feel to some of the photos.

Max's Bar Mitzvah

2011-05-29T00:25:00.001-05:00

Interesting Article

2011-05-18T10:45:00.000-05:00

Here is a great article posted by a colleague of mine. When I say great, I don't necessarily mean happy and fun, but it does get the gears turning. I am a firm believer that adversity is the mother of invention. When times are tough, you can have a pity party or really get creative and get out of the hole you're in.

The Photography Business and the American Dream

Huh, Go Figure. It Rained.

2011-05-17T20:41:00.000-05:00

Back in April, I did an e-session for Amanda and Jason, and as has been the case almost every day for the last two months, it was raining. I keep trying to remind myself of the days not too long ago when my backyard was dry and crunchy. I would watch the radar every day, praying for a mere sprinkle.

Now those days are an ancient memory, with my backyard under water and my usual fly fishing haunts raging torrents of chocolate milk. Even my boat, which is supposed to be right at home in a million gallons of water, can't be used because there is so much debris floating in the lake from the run off that I'm scared to use it. As my mom always says, "...and this too shall pass."

In the spirit of the never ending rain, here are some photos from their session in the rain.

Eat 'Em Up Tigers!

2011-05-16T18:57:00.001-05:00

Rich and I drove to Detroit this past weekend for the wedding of Drago and Sarah. Poor Rich drove from Marlborough, Massachusetts to Canandaigua and then hoped in my car for another five hour drive to Michigan. We went through Canada which is an adventure itself. I don't know why, but I always get fidgety going through customs. One year, Sue and I went over to Fort Erie, across the border from Buffalo, to go to a hockey store specifically for goalies. I bought a goalie glove and had them ship it back to me to save on taxes. Approaching the border, Sue kept coaching me, "You live in the United States and you didn't buy anything." When I approached the agent, I obediently answered United States when he asked my citizenship. Then came that all important question. My heart pounded and my fingers trembled. "Did you buy anything?", he asked. I quickly replied, "No, it's being shipped." The look on Sue's face said it all. Oh great, we're going to jail!

We arrived in Michigan to a great light show from approaching thunderstorms. For the second week in a row, rain would be the theme, but once again several timely lulls in the action allowed us to get our planned photos in on Saturday.

Drago is Serbian, so there were a lot of traditions that were very similar to the Macedonian Orthodox wedding I photographed a few years ago. They were married in an ornate Serbian Orthodox church in Detroit. The ceremony was fascinating with crowns, incense, even the bride holding up a baby as she left the church. The reception featured a Serbian band and traditional Serbian dances.

After the ceremony, we traveled throughout metro Detroit to photograph Sarah and Drago with some of areas landmarks. Our first stop was to the Fox Theater and then across the street to Comerica Park as people were filing in for a Tigers game against the Royals. We borrowed some tickets from a scalper for a few photos and even took a photo with Detroit icon James Van Horne, the "Eat 'Em Up Tigers" guy.

Detroit has seen some rough times in recent years which is painfully evident in the amount of vacant and damaged houses and buildings. One of those places is the abandoned Detroit Train Station which was shut down in 1986. It is in rough shape but makes an awesome backdrop for some cool urban photos.

The weekend ended with breakfast in the hotel with Sarah and Drago and a few members of the wedding party. One was even still wearing his tux pants, but they were inside out with the pockets hanging down like a lop eared bunny. Some times it's best not to ask.

New Family Member

2011-05-16T17:25:00.001-05:00

When we went down to the Jersey shore over Spring Break, we ended up bringing home a new friend from Point Pleasant Beach. He may not be the cutest thing around, but with his Sponge Bob shell, he stole my son's heart.

After doing some further reading on hermit crabs, we discovered that they are social creatures and like to live in small groups. So the next day, off we went to Petco to buy a more suitable home than the wire cage we got on the boardwalk, as well as a few more friends for "Gary".

Now that it's three weeks later, it turns out that I have a new pet from the Jersey shore. The novelty has worn off. The little creatures are nocturnal, spending most of the day buried in the peat moss bed. It's not all bad, if we get hungry we can have crab legs for dinner. What, it's better than hamster fillets.

And They're Off...

2011-05-16T16:40:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, the Kentucky Derby was held, kicking off the first race of the Triple Crown. We also kicked off our summer wedding season last weekend, only our first steps out of the starting gate were right in to a puddle.

Ellen, Missy and I photographed the wedding of Kevin and Jennifer at Bristol Harbour last Saturday. I started the day on a beautiful sunlit morning photographing the groomsmen as they played a round of golf at Bristol Harbour. By the time we headed back there to meet the bride at 1:00, the sky turned black and began pelting us with a monsoon.

The day wasn't a wash out though. We were able to get all of our photos in between rain showers, even if we did get stuck in the elevator shaft waiting one of the showers out at Bristol Harbour condos. Kevin and Jennifer also got their ceremony in after the sun came back out. No one let the rain dampen their spirits. It was a great way to come out of the starting block for a great wedding season.

First Steps

2011-05-10T22:13:00.000-05:00

To walk to China, you first have to step out your front door. Sometimes, while taking that first step, you may not even know you're own your way to China. However one thing is for sure, with out that first step, you're not going anywhere.

Earlier today, I picked up the mail at the studio and looked at the cover of the new Professional Photographer magazine from PPA. The issue is devoted to the art of the family portrait and on the cover is an image of a family on a couch in a field of wild flowers. Every Spring, our little corner of the world is either blessed or cursed with an amazing amount of dandelions. In an open field, one million dandelions looks like a golden fairy tale landscape, however, in my back yard just 100 of them ruins my weekend and causes back spasms.

I posted on Facebook "Wanted: Cool couch, field of dandelions, and a family to photograph on the cool couch in the field of dandelions." Who knew I would get such a response? I had offers for families, couches, suggestions on cool fields to use and even suggestions on cool fields at other times of year with different flowers. It was then that the thought occurred to me to do a series of photos of different couches, different fields and different families. What started out as a small trip down to the mailbox, turned in to an explosion of inspiration and the start of a long term project.

That first step of posting a single idea on Facebook may have started me on a journey way bigger than I could have imagined.

Next stop, Beijing.

Car Show and Art Gallery

2011-05-05T22:22:00.000-05:00

This summer we will be having an art gallery of automotive art printed on metal on display at the AutoWash on 332 in Canandaigua. This is a unique, water proof gallery will be on display in the bays of the car wash. We will be kicking off the gallery on June 5th with a Car Show including the cars that will be in the gallery. There will be food, vendors, car wash discounts and more, so mark your calendars and help us kick off this one-of-a-kind gallery exhibit.

Mother's Day Sale

2011-05-03T20:53:00.002-05:00

Buy any style SnapTote custom photo handbag and receive a free session with Mom. Call the studio at

585-393-9242.

Click on image for a larger version.

Not Your Mother's Point and Shoot

2011-04-29T23:39:00.000-05:00

I love my camera toys. I like to have the perfect camera and the perfect lens for the job at hand. A lot of times though, the perfect camera and the perfect lens may combine to be several hefty pounds to lug around. When I'm on a job that's fine, but when I'm casually out and about or on vacation, it's just too cumbersome. For years I have been looking for a camera that would be both compact and portable, as well as customizable and have great image quality. I was tempted by the Canon G Series, but before I took the plunge, Nikon came out with the P7000. Being a Nikon guy it immediately grabbed my attention. Housed in a rugged body and covered with buttons and dials galore, the P7000 might just be the little engine that could.

After months of researching the camera, I got one for my birthday last month. I played with it a bunch of times to get to learn the controls and menus, but I didn't give it a good work out until I went to Ocean Grove last week. I'm not going to go in to a long, technical review. I'll just give my impressions of the camera in human terms that anyone can understand.

My first impression was that it had a beautiful feel in my hands, not too light, not too heavy. It has a feeling of quality. It's not your average point and shoot being too big to comfortable fit in your shirt pocket. If you're looking for small and feather light this is not the camera for you. However, if your looking for something that you can control as much as a DSLR with out the size and weight and with out sacrificing image quality then keep reading.

After shooting with the camera for a few days, I learned that the menu system is not quite as intuitive as my Nikon DSLRs. In fact, there were a few times I got very frustrated that I couldn't get the camera to do what I wanted it to do. However as time went on, and I learned the menus and dials better, I was easily able to obtain quality images that rivaled the P7000's big brothers. Yes, the autofocus is slower and less precise, but this is in fact a point and shoot. As you'll see from the images below, I was able to capture quite a few keepers on a short outing on the beach and in town. You can also see some more images in the post "Sunrise with the Eddies." The lens has a great zoom range with nice quality throughout. There is also a digital telephoto which zooms in even further, however image quality suffers. Even in bright day light, the camera had focusing issues often with the digital zoom. Stick with the optical zoom range and you'll be very happy.

I will post more as I get more familiar with the camera, but for now, I am very satisfied with it. I even had a chance to play with my high-end flashes which are compatible with the P7000. I was going to post images of the photos straight out of the camera, but I decided to show images I played with in Photoshop since that's what I will be doing most of the time anyway. I wanted to show you the final image the way I would be doing for my own enjoyment. That's not to say I had to Photoshop them to make them look good. The camera is of high image quality, to the point where it doesn't get in the way of creatiing the art.

For $359, it was money well spent. To read more about it, click on the link below to Amazon.com.

Fit To Be Queen

2011-04-29T21:32:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to photograph Amanda's sister-in-law, Jessica, a day after her fitness competition. Jessica is a personal trainer up in Fulton, NY and entered her first competition after weeks of training. As you'll see from the photos, it was not beginners luck that she took first place in her division and second place overall.

This was a fun photo shoot. I got to light more for contrast and definition than for a smooth looking portrait. Since Jessica was done training for the time being, we finished the photo shoot with her first donut in months. Eating that donut was almost a spiritual experience for her.

App Update

2011-04-27T21:20:00.001-05:00

After weeks of waiting for App Store approval, version 3.0 of the Chesler Photo app is live and ready to be downloaded. You can download it by clicking on the icon located to the left. The new app is much more extensive and user friendly, with all new galleries, photo tips, news, and more. You can even request an appointment right from the app. The app will also link you directly to our website, blog, Facebook page, map to the studio and it will even text, e-mail or call the studio directly from the app.

I'm sure not many of you need such direct and intimate access to the studio, so to make the app more enticing, we will be offering app only specials that will be presented as news events in the app. As always, the app if free and now that is updated in the App Store, we will be releasing more galleries and news events in the coming days.

James and Leigh E-session

2011-04-26T21:52:00.001-05:00

April 1st, which is opening day of trout season, is very exciting for any fisherman in the Finger Lakes. It's when all of the streams that feed the southern end of the lakes get runs of Rainbow Trout. The season kicks off with the Naples Trout Derby on the south end of Canandaigua Lake. I fished opening day there once but I wasn't crazy about the elbow to elbow combat fishing. This year I skipped opening day since I was heading down to Ithaca on April 3rd to photograph James and Leigh's e-session, so I figured I would hit Falls Creek that empties in to Cayuga Lake.

I finally met up with James and Leigh after trying to connect with them several times down in NYC between Thanksgiving and April. We were cancelled several times due to medical emergencies, blizzards and even an early baby. We decided to meet in Ithaca instead and the weather was perfect. We did photos at Buttermilk Falls and in Robert Treman State Park with the help of my son Cade. Cade was not only my human light stand, holding the wireless flash when I needed him to, he was also the certified dog watcher for their little pug. At least I think it was a pug. Nevertheless, we had a great time and the photos came out cool against the backdrop of one of the most spectacular water falls in the area.

Sunrise with the Eddies

2011-04-25T15:41:00.000-05:00

This past week, while the kids were on Spring Break, we drove down to New Jersey to visit my cousins near Philadelphia and then north to my sister's place in Ocean Grove. We stayed at the Shawmont B&B right on the beach. My sister just had her baby a few months ago so we didn't want to overwhelm her with too many people in the house.

My little nephew is named Edwin Joseph, named after my father. My son, Edwin Cade, is also named after my father. April 23 would have been my dad's 72 birthday. It's hard to believe. I can't picture him that age.

Thursday morning, Cade and I woke up at dawn to go out on the beach and watch the sun rise. Right outside the hotel, on the boardwalk, there is a bench with a plaque in memory of my dad. Cade and I went out, sat on the bench and watched the sun rise with my dad. It was so comforting to be with my son and spiritually with my dad, the three of us together in such a calm, peaceful moment. It was as if all three of us were really there, even though that never actually happened in this physical reality with my dad passing a month before Cade was born.

I really felt like there were three of us there. Who knows, with my dad passing before Cade was born, maybe Cade is my dad.

James and Shannon E-session

2011-04-24T23:38:00.000-05:00

When I went out to Buffalo for Cade's hockey tournament a few weeks ago, I met up with James and Shannon, whose wedding I'm shooting in June at Belhurst Castle. I met up with them in East Aurora outside of Buffalo to do photos in their home and in front of several of East Aurora's landmarks. If you ever find yourself there, definitely stop in to Vidler's 5 & 10. It's like stepping back in time when every town had a general store complete with an old fashioned candy section. My daughter Sarah was with me on the shoot and made out well in the candy section of the store. Here are some photos from the shoot.

Kris and Christiane E-session

2011-04-08T08:02:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I drove down to Watkins Glen to photograph the e-session of Kris and Christiane. They came up from Florida so the biting winds and snow flurries on the south end of Seneca Lake were a bit raw for them. It was a dull, gloomy day which helped set the stage for some cool Hollywood Glamour looking photos. Even though I left them in color and even over saturated some of the photos, the feel is still of a 1940s Film Noir movie. Stay tuned to the blog as we announce some new studio sessions, including Hollywood Glamour portraits.

Found Cat

2011-03-24T21:45:00.000-05:00

Project Healing Waters

2011-03-22T21:11:00.001-05:00

A few months ago I heard about a program called Project Healing Waters, a program that helps injured and disabled veterans heal both physically and mentally through fly fishing. As an avid fly fisherman myself, I wanted to find how I could participate, to help honor those who have given so much for my freedom. I recently discovered that the Canandaigua Lake Chapter of Trout Unlimited, which I belong to, joined Project Healing Waters and is offering programs at the VA. I immediately signed up to volunteer in any way possible.

I went to my first meeting this evening and helped a handful of vets learn how to tie flies. Saying that, visions of house flies bound a gagged, spinning in circles upside down on a table pop in to my head. To be honest, although I've been fly fishing for a decade now, I am a rookie when it comes to tying flies. I've tired it a few times, but the end result usually looks more like a cat turd after a hair ball episode. Nevertheless, I was able to copy the instructor well enough to help one of the veterans tie a nice looking Wooly Booger fly. I then tried my own and made another cat turd with a hook. The next time I go fly fishing I'll try it and if it works I'll just sift through the litter box for bait.

All kidding aside, I'm proud and honored to be a part of this program to help and give back to those who have given so much. The caption below is from the Project Healing Waters website which can be found at www.projecthealingwaters.org.

Since its inception, PHWFF has been helping disabled active duty personnel and veterans to overcome the obstacles associated with their military service-related disabilities. The relearning of the fine motor skills required in fly fishing and fly tying has proven to be particularly effective in the overall rehabilitation of the disabled.
While PHWFF emphasizes the skills of fly fishing and fly tying to help the patients regain the use of their damaged bodies, perhaps the greatest benefit is in their realization that a more normal life is possible. Fly fishing can be a lifelong re-creation, both physically and emotionally.

What Would You Do If......?

2011-03-14T23:15:00.000-05:00

Imagine if you will, you're lying on the operating table, and just as the Doctor is saying, "Now count backwards from ten...", you discover that he was actually a recently laid off school teacher who bought a doctor's kit on eBay. What would you do? Nothing obviously because by now the medication has kicked in and you're out cold.

Imagine if you will, your going down the runway on a flight to Florida and as the nose lifts off the asphalt, the pilot comes on to the PA system, "Good Afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to flight 93 with non-stop service to Ft. Lauderdale. It is an honor to have you on this flight since it's my first one after just getting my pilots license. Don't worry though, I was a truck driver before this so I know how to drive big things." What would you do? Nothing without a parachute I'm sure.

Imagine if you will, you hand the usher four tickets that you spent $300 to go to a Buffalo Sabres game. You get to your seats and the Sabres enter the ice. The crowd goes wild. Something's odd though. You don't recognize any of the names and they're not skating very well. The announcer comes on and says, "Due to budget cuts, the Sabres have been replaced by the local beer league team, but don't worry fans, it's dollar hot dog night." What would you do? Would you feel like you got your money's worth? I doubt it.

None of these scenarios are likely to happen at all. But there is one that's happening every day. Imagine if you will, you're a bride on the most important day of your life. You're walking down the aisle in the dress you've spent a few thousand dollars on during the wedding you've spent tens of thousands on. You smile at Aunt Betty who you haven't seen since you spilled grape juice on her white carpet in third grade. You catch a glimpse of your soon-to-be husband as a tear slides down his left cheek. Everything is perfect. If only someone where there to capture the images. The photographer you hired is in the back of the church, rummaging through his bag looking for another battery because his ran out shooting all the attractive bridesmaids. Experience should have told him to keep extras on him, but he doesn't have any because last month he was sales person at a car dealership before getting laid off. He had an entry level digital SLR camera, so he decided to call himself a "Professional Photographer." Even though you liked another photographer much better, you couldn't pass up the savings of going with this one.

What would you do? Even though the price was cheaper, you still paid good money for countless missed moments, poorly exposed images and an inexpensive wedding album to cherish all those out of focus memories. The old saying is never more apparent on the most important day of your life, "You get what you pay for."

You wouldn't trust an unqualified doctor or pilot, or settle for less with your favorite sports team. You certainly wouldn't settle for the same qualities on your wedding day. Or would you?

Match Maker

2011-03-08T17:05:00.000-05:00

I've decided to be proactive with my wedding business by helping singles find their soul mates. We are now offering a fun, artistic alternative to uploading photos to your favorite dating site instead of using the blurry photo you're friend shot with their cell phone. Come to the studio for a one hour session and go home with a CD of artistically edited images to upload to your profile. Already found that perfect partner? We can also do these sessions to spice up your Facebook profile. Each session is just $75 and includes as many outfit and background changes as we can fit in an hour. Call the studio at 585-393-9242 to set up your appointment.

Secret Millionaire

2011-03-07T22:02:00.002-05:00

I just got finished watching "Secret Millionaire" on ABC. What an amazing show. It was totally inspirational. I want to live my life by that example, even if I don't have the means to give financially. I want to give in other ways. There are so many families in need in this area. I've decided to give what I can by giving of what I do best and that is through photography. I know there are plenty of families who can't afford senior portraits or the wedding of their dreams, so I'm going to give away five senior portrait sessions and the prints that go with it, as well as do wedding photos for a couple in need at no charge.

If you know a family that is in such a situation, have them write a letter to me by either mail or e-mail and tell us their story. Sue and I will go over the letters and choose the ones we could be of most benefit to. I only wish I could help everyone.

Snow White

2011-03-04T14:44:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday, snuggled tightly between two snow storms, was the wedding of Jerry and Shannon in Rochester. I was at a hockey tournament in Jamestown for Sarah's team when the first snow storm hit on Friday. We were nice and comfortable in the hotel while the rest of her team battled through snowy conditions to get there in time for the game. The Thruway was closed near Hamburg due to numerous accidents, so many of them had to take the longer route down Route 86.

I woke up early Saturday morning to make the trip back to Rochester. By then the roads were acceptable. The wedding went flawlessly. We had a great time shooting at Durand Eastman Park on one of the frozen ponds and then we went down to High Falls before heading east to Shadow Lake.

During the reception the next snow storm began making the perfect setting for the winter wonderland photos Shannon was hoping for.

Right after the reception, I got back in the car and headed straight back to Jamestown for the rest of the tournament. That was not a fun drive. Traveling 119 miles at night in a snow storm is not recommended for the faint of heart.

I arrived in Jamestown at 2:00 a.m. only to be up again at 6:30 for an 8:00 a.m. game. My body is still recovering from the lack of sleep.

End of Winter DVD Sale

2011-03-03T20:10:00.001-05:00

The other day I walked outside as the snow was thawing and to my surprise I saw the tops of the Daffodils emerging from the ground. I don't care what the groundhog says, Daffodils are a sure sign that Spring is rapidly approaching. I like winter. I'm an ice fisherman and a hockey player, so winter has it's allure for me. Nevertheless, seeing life emerging from winter's grip brings with it the excitement of warmer days and the end of the annual slow season at the studio.

With some exciting connections developing in South Florida, my goal is to have the slow season disappear with some winter weddings in much warmer locales. Until that happens though, we will continue to offer a sale or two on some of our items to make the slow season a little less, well, slow.

With that in mind, we are starting our winter DVD sale for weddings. Through the end of March, our two options for hi-res wedding images with reproduction rights will be discounted by $200 for the full set or discounted by $100 for the set of 200 images. Call the studio at 585-393-9242 to take advantage of this limited time offer.

50% Off Sale Extended

2011-03-01T11:49:00.000-05:00

When I offered the 50% Off Sale, I forgot to take in to account that it coincided with the week the kids were off from school, so we were not in the studio very much to answer questions. In light of that, I am extending the sale by another week to allow people who may have been away on vacation to take advantage of it.

50% Off

Print Sale

Extended Through 3/10

*Sale is for regular priced prints only and does not apply to specialty products

or special promotion pricing.

50% Off Sale Begins Sunday

2011-02-19T23:17:00.000-05:00

Beginning this Sunday through February 28, we will be having our annual Winter Print Sale. The sale is for 50% Off our regular reprint prices. Check back through March for different sales on some of our specialty products.

Call the studio at 585-393-9242 to receive your discount. Our online proofing service will not discount the order and will charge your card the full amount.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

2011-02-19T23:02:00.000-05:00

When I met with Ron and Jennifer last month to go over details of their February 19 wedding at Belhurst Castle, what she wanted most were the scenic snow photos that make winter weddings so magical. With this past weeks thaw it seemed like we would have been better off planning a bachelor party with mud wrestling. Jennifer must have slept with her pajamas on inside out and a wooden spoon under her pillow like a kid wishing for a snow day from school. She got her wish.

I woke to a fresh coating of snow along with 50 mph wind gusts. This was hardly the fairy tale winter weather I was hoping for, but snow is better than mud. It took over an hour to make the 25 minute drive to Belhurst. It was snowing harder than it had all season with whiteout conditions making driving treacherous. Nevertheless, we arrived in one piece and believe it or not, a few minutes early.

Things ran a little behind with the weather to allow for guests who may have been held up. The ceremony was held at the Zion Church across the road from Belhurst. After the emotional and humorous ceremony, we were treated to a herd of about 10 deer walking by right outside the church windows.

Once back at Belhurst, we did some outdoor snow photos, although the wind was a factor in limiting the amount of time we had out there. We still ended up with some really cool shots.

In total we probably ended up with about six inches of snow and now we are under a Winter Storm Warning for tomorrow with another half a foot or more expected. Jennifer certainly got her wish and than some.

Priceless

2011-02-13T23:44:00.003-05:00

Sarah had a hockey game yesterday in Amherst just outside of Buffalo. Since the Islanders were playing the Sabres in an afternoon game the next day, we decided to stay in Buffalo for the weekend and get tickets. I tried out Stub Hub for the first time and it was awesome. I was able to get four tickets relatively cheaply for an NHL game. They were nose bleed seats 1 row from the top. The view was great if you don't mind looking down at the game with the feeling that your perched on a window ledge of a 10 story building. I cheered from my seat because if I stood up to cheer I may have ended up 30 rows further down in a heap with my legs dangling over my head.

I've been an Islander fan my whole life. We used to watch the Islanders from my home in Jericho on Long Island on WHT. Our neighborhood had underground wires so for years we couldn't get cable tv. WHT was our saviour with premium tv delivered over the airwaves via a special antenna on the roof. There was a special box on top of our tv that would receive the signal. It also had it's own speaker since the sound would not transmit to the tv. We used to record the games and movies with our original VCR which was the size of a Volkswagon. We would have to plug in a microphone to the VCR and place it next to the WHT box to record the sound. We would have to put a sign on the door leading to the basement where the box was that we were recording a movie so no one would make noise coming down stairs. Inevitably, every movie we had included whispering voices and commentary like Mystery Science Theater. The recorded Islander games came complete with cheers from home. I have reorded Stanley Cup games from 1980-1983 when the Islanders won four cups in a row. It was a great time to be an Islander fan watching greats like Billy Smith, Mike Bossy, Brian Trottier, Bobby Nystrom and more. It was the dream team of the 80s.

We got to the game early so we could watch the teams warm up. Cade, wanting to be like his dad, is also an Islander fan. He has several Islander jerseys and watches them on tv with me. We root for the Sabres as well unless they are playing the Islanders. Today was different though. Cade became a true Islander fan today on his own. We went down to the tunnel where the players enter the ice and he reached his hand over to high five the team as they came out on to the ice. Every player high fived him, "even the goalies" he grinned from ear to ear. We watched the warm ups and as each player left the ice, he got another high five. As Islander defenseman Andrew MacDonald left the ice, he picked up a puck and handed it to Cade and gave him knuckles. Cade turned to me with the biggest smile I've ever seen. I don't think his feet were touching the ground. As we made the trek back up to our seats in the clouds, the smile never disappeared. "I can't stop tingling," he said. He's an Islander fan for life.

Islander/Sabre tickets, $167.

Islander jersey, $59

Parking $8

Seeing my kids smile so hard it hurts their cheeks, priceless.

Fleece Fundraiser

2011-02-11T00:11:00.000-05:00

We're doing a fundraiser for the Canandaigua Knights youth hockey organization with our custom designed fleece blankets. We're donating 10% back to the Knights for every blanket session we do. We started out with player blankets and have now branched out to team blankets. Now parents can cheer on their player or team in style while keeping warm. Here are some of the designs we've done so far.

Sound Bites

2011-02-09T23:56:00.001-05:00

Early in January, before my shoulder decided to dislocate itself, I was playing goal in a hockey game with a group of guys I don't normally play with. It was a casual game so someone decided to put on music over the rinks speaker system. The music was not my taste at all, but the worse part was the volume. It was so loud I couldn't communicate with my teammates effectively. I didn't realize until then how much I relied on sound when I play goal, not just to communicate, but to react to the development of the play. I realized that I used sound much like a fish uses vibration to find prey, by listening to sound of the skates and sticks on the ice or the sound of their movement in my blind spot. With the volume of the music, I felt I was at a tremendous disadvantage.

The Rochester area has a large population of hearing impaired individuals. Even though the music was loud and I could hear more than I wanted to, it almost had the same effect of being hearing impaired by removing my ability to use that sense during the game. Even though it was only for a short period of time, I found myself adapting to make up for that loss.

I started thinking about other areas of my life that relied more on sound then I realized. The first thing that came to mind, which was no surprise, was how much I used sound while I am driving. Listening for other things in my surroundings while driving, such as other cars or emergency vehicles is a given. I'm referring more to the things you don't notice you're listening to like changes in road conditions by the sound of the tires or my shift points based on engine noise. Last summer, I accelerated from a light next to a truck with my windows open. My shift points were way off because I couldn't hear my engine.

Photography is no doubt seen as a visual medium. I began to wonder how much of a role sound played while I'm photographing. Much like playing goal, photographing in a fast paced environment such as sporting events makes use of all your senses, especially sound. But what about something a little less intense like a wedding? I'm going to be more aware of it now to see how much I use it other than to avoid being trampled on the dance floor by a long lost aunt who had one too many cocktails at the open bar.

Well Wed

2011-02-09T23:03:00.000-05:00

The latest issue of WellWed New York magazine is out. It is one the best magazines out for weddings across Upstate New York and is also the nicest out of any wedding magazine across the country. As an advertiser, they are always checking in with me to see how things are going. They just sent me a box of the latest issue so if you want one stop by the studio.

Serena and Jeremy

2011-02-07T11:22:00.003-05:00

Little Cherubs

2011-01-20T16:34:00.001-05:00

The Wedding Affair

2011-01-20T11:55:00.001-05:00

This Saturday, Well Wed Magazine will be putting on an awesome bridal show at the Memorial Art Gallery. I have two free tickets for anyone interested in going. Here is some more information on the event.

Unveiling the Finger Lakes' Finest

{Come one, Come all} The carnival-themed New York Wedding Affair invites you to step right up, take a chance, and plan the wedding of your dreams.

Planning a New York State wedding soirée? Join us for the New York Wedding Affair! At this year’s event, vintage carnival games will set the tone for a fun and inspiring showcase of inventive décor and complimentary, fair-worthy fare — including candied apples, cupcakes, and, of course, cotton candy. Even better, a silent auction of fabulous wedding-related gift certificates and other items will benefit the Make a Wish Foundation, and each lucky bride-to-be will receive a luxury gift bag containing over $100 worth of goodies.

Attendees will have the chance to mingle with the some of the best wedding professionals in the region before heading into the spa room to enjoy luxurious hand and foot treatments, hair and makeup consultations, and chair massages. There will be educational seminars on everything from wine and menu pairing to modern wedding etiquette, and the evening will conclude with an amazing fashion show of stunning bridal couture!

Seeking wedding inspiration? Attend the 2011 New York Wedding Affair to meet with the region’s best industry professionals, attend great seminars, and more. Register early, as tickets do sell out!

For more information visit their website at
http://www.aweddingaffair.com/

98

2011-01-09T23:35:00.000-05:00

Every year, my kids and I sit around the Hanukkah candles on the eighth night and watch the candles on four menorahs burn down. At first the room is glowing from the light of 36 candles. Before too long, one by one the candles flicker and go out, leaving a plume of smoke that rises in to the air. There is always one candle that just seems to hang on though, even after all the wax is gone and the wick is nothing but ash. The faint glow of the blue flame hangs on for sometimes five or ten minutes. Inevitably though, the holiday ends with one last plume of smoke rising in to the air.

Last October, I flew down to Florida to visit my Grandfather and Grandmother. I knew it was possibly the last time I would see him since his 98 year old body was showing the signs of it's age. At 2:05 this morning, my Grandfather's faint glow went out sending his soul up to heaven. His life was very much like that last candle. Living to 98 years old, he has seen all of his friends flicker and go out, leaving him as the lone candle. But this story has a different ending, for what looked like a lone candle was actually two intertwined, the other being my Grandmother. Together, they had the strength to burn longer and brighter. They would have celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary this year.

At 95 years old, my Grandmother will be on her own for the first time in her life. She is very strong though and has the love and support of literally dozens of family members. There are no regrets. My Grandfather left this world with the tank empty and the tires smoking. He lived life completely.

My Grandfather was a tinkerer. He loved to take things apart. He made a career of it with his own vacuum repair shop. I remember when I was nine or ten years old, I was riding as a passenger on a banana seat bicycle. It's usually a scenario to end up on America's Funniest Home Videos. I ended up somehow with my ankle wedged between the frame of the bike and the kick stand. Within minutes, my Grandfather was on the scene with a tool box dismantling the bike to set me free. I almost imagine the story with him wearing a cape to come to my rescue. Staying true to form during his last few days in the hospital, he had the nurses in a fit when he dismantled his heart monitor. I guess he literally wanted to see what made it tick.

Ellen and I will fly down to Florida tomorrow. Bringing family together is what he liked to do best and even in death he is still doing it. I'm sure he is looking down from heaven and smiling at the legacy he left behind.

Resolutions

2011-01-02T00:32:00.002-05:00

Is it just me or does every year seem to pick up more speed? I feel like I just blogged about resolutions and here it is again. My past resolutions have usually been based on the more emotional and spiritual side of my life. I feel I finally have a good grasp on those areas and I would like to keep things the way they are.

As I approach my 41st birthday, I'm discovering that one of my resolutions is the typical cliche of getting in to shape and losing weight. Coaching hockey four times a week and playing once a week apparently isn't enough to defy gravity. I bought a neat doorway gym consisting of some clamps and those stretchy resistance bands. I'm determined to not let them hang from the door and grow mold from lack of us. I do have a fear though that the clamps will one day soon either come loose or snap causing the resistance band to take an eye out.

So now that I've convinced myself that it's too dangerous to work out, I'll move on to my business goals for the year. I want to push the envelope on my creativity. I want to think out of the box with lighting, posing, backgrounds and session ideas. I also want to explore areas of photography that I don't do much of like nature, wildlife and fine art photography. I want to focus more on the art that inspires me. So often I photograph for what I think everyone else would like instead of doing what touches my soul.

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I hope the new year is filled with peace and happiness in your life, along with the appreciation for the gifts you already have.

We closed out 2010 and rung in the new year with a family game of Nerf Dart Capture the Flag. As we were crawling around the house in the dark, I felt like a kid. Glow-in-the dark tracer darts were whizzed by my head. My heart was pounding from the action. I couldn't help but smile. Life is good.

Mission Aborted....Again

2010-12-28T15:11:00.000-05:00

During Christmas break of 2008 we went to Virginia to spend Christmas with Sue's sister and her family. We intended to go from Virginia to Philadelphia to visit my cousins and then on to Ocean Grove to visit my sister Caren. On Christmas Day Cade started to fade and by the next day he looked like he had the plague, so we cancelled the rest of the trip and went home.

This year our plans were to go to Virginia and then to Ocean Grove. Cade felt great. It was Mother Nature who was tossing her cookies all over the northeast. The hardest hit area of the blizzard was of course Ocean Grove. We're used to a bit of snow up here in Western New York, but 30" in 15 hours will bring anyone to their knees. The storm ended Monday morning, but we didn't dare venture north in to the "combat zone" with winds still whipping up to 60 mph, blowing the snow on to the highways.

With the major roads virtually impassable, I can only imagine that it will be a week or more before the side roads are accessible. Caren sent me some photos, including some of the residents taking upon themselves to start shoveling the streets.

I have to say I'm a bit jealous. We haven't had a good snow storm in Canandaigua since March of 1999. Don't get me wrong, we get plenty of snow, but an inch a day for 90 days doesn't get the heart pumping like a kid hoping for a snow day.

Canandaigua is just too far east of Lake Erie for the heavy Lake Effect snow and the wrong angle off Lake Ontario for the heavy snows. Rochester broke a record for December snow with 46.5" for the month so far. If I had to guess I would say Canandaigua has only about 8" total for the month.

I may as well just move to Florida.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-26T20:30:00.000-05:00

Crazy 11x14 Session Sale

2010-12-12T23:38:00.000-05:00

2011 Mustang Calendar

2010-12-12T22:49:00.001-05:00

Our 2011 Mustangs of the Finger Lakes calendar is hot off the press and ready for Christmas delivery for your Mustang enthusiast. At just $20 these are the perfect gift for the car nut in your family. Here are some images of the cars from the calendar along with an order that you can click and print, or simply call the studio at 585-393-9242 to order yours.

Gift Certificate BOGO

2010-12-10T15:11:00.000-05:00

Little Cherub

2010-12-10T08:51:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week I did a photo shoot of the cutest little baby. Nora was adopted 6 weeks ago. She certainly was an early Christmas gift. With her irresistible cheeks and smooth as silk complexion, she'll be gracing the home page of our website as the Image of the Month.
To see more of Nora's photos, visit Patty's Place on Main Street in Canandaigua where her images will soon be gracing the walls.
Enjoy the photos below. See if you can do it without smiling. I don't think it's possible, like sneezing with your eyes open.

Big Red

2010-12-07T23:57:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago we had a visit from the big guy in the red suit. We've been doing photos with our Santa for about 10 years now and he never fails to amaze me how he connects with the kids. He is the real deal.

I've been so swamped with photo shoots and editing that I have neglected the blog for a while. It's strange, I actually feel guilty when I don't blog. After the holidays I have some new ideas I want to blog about and I'll have more free time to do it.

For now, here are some of the photos from our shoots with Santa.

Emma's Bat Mitzvah

2010-11-24T00:01:00.003-05:00

Last weekend Rich and I photographed Emma's Bat Mitzvah in New Rochelle, just outside of NYC. I drove down on Friday and photographed Emma with her family, almost like I would with a high school senior. Most of the drive down, the scenery was the bland browns of winter with the leaves well past peak. As I got to within about 15 miles of the coast, it was like traveling back in time several weeks with the foliage in full color. I did photos at their house before we headed down to Glen Island Park on Long Island Sound, where the party was to be held the next day. The scenery was spectacular with the different inlets and islands in the harbor. For a brief moment, I missed the growing up on Long Island and boating in Oyster Bay on Long Island Sound with my Dad.

Mustang Calendar

2010-11-23T23:07:00.005-05:00

After many hours of shooting over the summer and many more editing, our 2011 Mustangs of the Finger Lakes calendar is back from the printer. This would make the perfect gift for any car enthusiast, especially the local one's who can see the cars in this calendar up close and personal at area cruise nights.

The calendars are on sale for $20 each and can be purchased by calling the studio at 585-393-9242 or by printing the order form image below and mailing it in. There are a limited number of calendars available to be guaranteed for Christmas delivery. If they sell out we will have more printed, however I can not guarantee the time frame.

Here are a few sample pages.

Three Years

2010-11-07T23:19:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe it's been three years since Sandi's death. So much has changed since she was killed, yet her presence is still so tangible it feels like she hasn't missed a thing.

Three years. It seems like an eternity when you're waiting for something you want, like getting your drivers license or graduating high school. When you don't want the time to pass though, that same amount of time disappears in a flash, like turning 40.

Thinking of all the things that have happened since November 7, 2007, it seems like a long time ago. Thoughts of that day itself though are still fresh, like it happened just days ago. Thankfully, 99% of my thoughts are from the awesome memories we had together.

I was going through some old photos at my Mom's house down in Florida when I came across a photo of Sandi from the Dansville Balloon Festival in September of 2007. My stomach flipped when I realized it was just weeks before she was killed. If we had known then that there was such a short time left, what would we have done differently? The real question though is if we knew how she was going to be taken from us, what would we have done differently to stop it?
There are some people who don't reach their true potential until after their death when the legacy they leave behind profoundly effects people. Sandi, however, was one of those rare people who had that profound effect on people in life. Her presence in our lives was a gift and she is missed immeasurably.

Here Comes Santa Clause

2010-11-04T13:22:00.000-05:00

I wanted to send out another reminder that Santa will be at the studio November 20-21 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. For those of you who have joined us before, we'd love to see you again. For those of you who haven't, check out the photos below to see the best Santa ever. He is the real deal. No "Santa's Helper" here with the fake beard and hair. We will be doing 15 minute sessions by appointment with 4 different studio sets available. The session is $75 and includes 1-8x10, 2-5x7s and 25 4x5.5 custom designed Holidays Cards. We are about 50% full and expect the rest to fill up quickly. If you want to book your session, call the studio at 585-393-9242.

If Santa isn't your thing, we will also be doing Winter themed barn photos on December 4th or 5th with the same pricing structure as the Santa photos.

Book Ends

2010-11-03T13:12:00.000-05:00

Whenever I travel with my sister Ellen, we inevitably start talking about the book ends of the travel. The book ends happen on the flight home, when the time between the flight to the destination and the return flight gets compressed in the blink of an eye. It always amazes us how fast the time in between goes, like a grape being squashed between two fingers.

I went down to Florida last week to visit my aging Grandparents. They are 95 and 98 years old and poised to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary this coming Spring. When you look back at their lives, what comes to mind is the legacy they have built as the heads of the family. Family is everything to them. You should see the pride in their eyes when they talk about their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and even great great grandchildren. What doesn't come to mind is how much money they made, how big their house was, what kind of car they drove, etc... It's all insignificant at that age. When the book ends of life slam together and compress everything in between, what will the summary on the back of the book say? What it all boils down to is how much they were loved and how much love they gave. We come in to this world as helpless infants and for many of us, we'll leave the same way. The important thing is how much love did we fit in the middle.

Key Largo

2010-10-26T23:21:00.001-05:00

Since Saturday, I've been down in Boca Raton, Florida, visiting my Mom. The purpose of my trip was to see my grandparents, which I will blog about soon. However, while I was down here, I spent some time on Sunday with my cousin Jared and his wife Colleen. They were married a year ago at the Marriott Key Largo Bay Resort.

Sunday was their one year anniversary, so what better way to celebrate then to go back to the Keys and do a Trash the Dress shoot at the Marriott where it all began.
Ellen and Rich shot the actual wedding. I was so jealous. I couldn't go having my own wedding to shoot in the Finger Lakes. They did a great job. So good in fact that we were added to the Key Largo Marriott's preferred vendor list.

I was very excited for this shoot, not only to see the tropical venue first hand, but to add to the portfolio of images they could show to potential wedding couples.

Colleen and Jared were awesome, putting up with my crazy ideas, even swimming with some interesting sea creatures, like star fish and jelly fish.

We should probably call this a Drown the Gown session instead of a Trash the Dress. Yes, the dress did get wet and sandy, but it is no worse for the wear. In fact, Colleen is having it cleaned and is donating it to charity for some one less fortunate to have a beautiful gown.

Happy Anniversary Colleen and Jared. Same time and place next year? :)

With All Due Respect

2010-10-26T21:56:00.000-05:00

When I posted about the Canandaigua Lady, I failed to mention that I'm not the only one who took an awesome photo of her. My sister Ellen beat me to it a year or two ago as the Lady made a night pass by her house overlooking the lake. Out of respect for her photographic talent, I want to share her photo with you as well.

Dancing with a Lady

2010-10-26T11:18:00.000-05:00

I have a few memories from childhood that evoke a calming feeling, like a warm hug. The memories are from when I was 3 or 4 years old and have to do with glowing colors. The first one was when I was sitting around the kitchen table in my old house in East Meadow, Long Island. It was night time and the lights were off. We were playing my new board game of Casper the Friendly Ghost. I don't remember the game, but the game piece was a glow in the dark Casper that at some point in the game would light up when you pressed on it. I remember seeing my siblings faces glowing and laughing as we played. The memory is one of those surreal moments in life that seem like a slow motion movie.

I also remember a TV show from when I was little called Villa Alegre on PBS. I don't remember the TV show at all except for the ending image and theme song. The image was a sunset view of a carnival that evoked that same feeling of a calming glow.

A few weeks I did a photo shoot down by Steamboat Landing and then stayed there for dinner. After dinner, I came outside to an amazing sunset as people were boarding the Canandaigua Lady for an evening cruise. I had time for a few hand held photos before the light faded. The resulting image brought me back to that warm feeling of my child hood. The moment was so surreal and calm I just had to sit and enjoy it. It was also one of those life affirming moments where I just sit back and say, "I live here."

Nor' Easter

2010-10-26T10:11:00.002-05:00

I wrapped up my stay in Massachusetts with a wedding in Spencer, MA during a Nor' Easter. Despite the adverse conditions, we got some nice fall photos. Julie and Jon took it all in stride and had a ton of fun. The wedding and reception were at Zukas Hilltop Barn, located in the hills of Central Massachusetts. The setting was spectacular, I just wish we had more of an opportunity to be outside. The bride was holding a huge umbrella for a few quick photos outside and at one point it took all the bridesmaids to hold on to it so the bride wouldn't get air born from the wind. I was picturing a scene from The Wizard of Oz only with the bride spinning inside the tornado with the Wicked Witch zooming by.

Lucky in Love

2010-10-20T22:35:00.000-05:00

Whenever I hear the song "Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Callait, I can't help but smile. The lyrics, "Lucky I'm in love with my best friend," tell the story of last Sunday's wedding couple, Tina and Lucas, in Hudson, Massachusetts. When you look at them, you can't help but smile.

Their emotional ceremony brought tears to everyone's eyes, followed by Lucas's fist pump at the end like he just won the lottery. His lucky numbers 10-10-10, were the winning numbers worth more than any money could buy.

Tina bought Lucas a flat panel TV for a wedding gift. I told him I would come watch the Super Bowl with him since the Jets will be in it. As a Patriots fan, he didn't share my enthusiasm.

Congrats Tina and Lucas, you guys are awesome.

Witch Hunt

2010-10-19T23:26:00.003-05:00

I'm not sure if I've ever actually come face to face with a real witch, however last Saturday's wedding in Salem, Massachusetts was surrounded by a very interesting crowd. The village of Salem turns in to a festival of witch's and warlocks for the month of October, creating among other things, massive gridlock. The wedding of Ryan and Erin had to be delayed for a while since so many guests were stuck in traffic.

The environment felt like a movie set with the streets and alleys overflowing with crowds of people dressed in all sorts of creepy attire. Despite the entertainment factor of what was going on, the village itself was dripping with history. Many of the buildings and the entire layout of the town date back to pre-Revolutionary War times. We even did a few photos at the harbour which is home to the three-masted Friendship, a 171 foot replica of the original ship from 1797 at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site. It wasn't until after we were done photographing that not only did we not know we where on a National Historic Site, but we needed a permit to be there. The nice man in his green park ranger outfit equipped with a large side-arm made us aware of that. I'm still waiting for my ticket in the mail. Live and learn I suppose.

Erin and Ryan were awesome though, taking all the "trials" of the day in stride. Their ceremony was at the Salem Old Town Hall. Old Town Hall is the earliest surviving municipal structure in Salem, Massachusetts (dating from 1816-17) and an outstanding Federal Style building. The ceremony was held on the second floor of the building in the Great Hall, which has always been used as a public hall, and contained Town offices until 1837.

The reception was held at the beautiful Salem Waterfront Hotel.

Callie and Chris

2010-10-19T22:29:00.000-05:00

Going away to Massachusetts for a week, I thought I would have some down time to catch up on my blogging. I was wrong. October 8th was the beginning of a marathon weekend, photographing Callie and Chris's wedding on Friday, then waking up early Saturday to drive to Massachusetts for a wedding Saturday afternoon in Salem and then a wedding Sunday in Hudson, followed by a wedding the following Friday in Spencer, MA.

I started the day on the 8th with Chris and his 2005 WRX STI before meeting up with the girls. For two car guys, I can't think of a better way to start a wedding with cool car photos and lots of turbo, within the speed limit of course.

I then shifted gears (pun intended) to photographing the girls in Bloomfield. In order for Chris not to have all the fun, the girls had their photos taken on a trampoline. They got some serious air time.

Chris and Callie chose to see each other before the ceremony which allowed us to get some great fall foliage shots. We were able to use their neighbors garden which was beautifully manicured with flowers and a pond. We finished the day with a reception at Mendon Country Club.

Not Your Mother's Wedding Album

2010-10-07T23:15:00.000-05:00

For years we have shifted away from the standard wedding album, offering couples Coffee Table albums with a magazine style layout. We have now taken things a step further designing a new package, called the iPackage, which replaces your album with an iPad. The iPad comes packaged in a unique custom made box with your choice of several accompaniments. You can choose from 10 matted prints, a disc of images or a 5x5 hard cover book to go with your iPad. Preloaded on to the iPad will be your album layout as if it we created it for print, along with a multimedia slideshow set to music.

We recently purchased on iPad to show as a sample with this package and have fallen in love with it. We can watch Netflix movies on demand, use it to read iBooks, play awesome games and more. I have to convince my wife to let me pry it from her hands whenever I have a wedding consult. Along with my iPhone, it's quite possibly the best "toy" ever.

Fall Foliage Portraits

2010-10-07T22:48:00.000-05:00

Ho Ho Ho!

2010-10-05T10:48:00.001-05:00

Sweet Briar

2010-09-27T00:10:00.000-05:00

I love when my GPS says with such authority, "You have reached your destination." No, I have reached a corn field, possibly a few cows and an excellent view, but I certainly have not reached my destination. My destination was the Sweet Briar B&B in Geneseo for Kristin and Brian's wedding and this certainly was not it. A quick phone call and several rights and lefts brought us there.

Kristin and Brian's wedding was held on the grounds of the B&B, overlooking a broad valley toward Letchworth State Park. It was a magnificent setting for an early Autumn wedding.

Pewter Photo Ornament Sale

2010-09-15T22:36:00.000-05:00

We are carrying a line of pewter photographic Christmas ornaments, so to get a head start on this years holiday orders, we are offering these keepsakes at $28 each through the end of October. After that they will be available at our regular price of $38 through Christmas. We also have a full line of photo jewelry that would make a great gift. I know it's only September, but these one of a kind items take time to create, so planning ahead is advised.