Melanie

We had a great senior session with Melanie from Fairport this week. Don't forget to check out our new blog exclusively for high school senior portraits at

CheslerSeniors.Blogspot.com.

Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday To You,

Happy Birthday To You,

Happy Birthday Dear Mommy,

Happy Birthday To You!!!!!

"I Love You Forever,

I Like You For Always,

As Long As I'm Living,

My Mommy You'll Be."

John and Stacey

Amanda and I had the pleasure of shooting John and Stacey's wedding today at the Inn on the Lake in Canandaigua. The weather was picture perfect for the outdoor wedding on Canandaigua Lake. We also ventured over to the boat houses on the pier for some color.

Congrats Stacey and John!

The wedding featured a little excitement as well when Extreme Makeover Home Edition's Ty Pennington showed up at the bar at the Inn. He is staying there while they film an episode of the show in Geneva this week.

As usual, Amanda did a fantastic job shooting today.

Home Sweet Home

We returned home today from a fun, albeit busy vacation. We started out last Monday in the Amish Country of Cattaraugus County and happened upon the Cattaraugus County Stage Coach Run. There was a vintage stage coach and about 20 chuck wagons in a wagon train. They were making a week long, 180 mile tour of the county.
On Tuesday we went to Darien Lake Theme Park and on Wednesday we went to the Erie County Fair. The kids certainly had their fill of rides and junk food. The Erie County Fair was HUGE! It rivaled, if not surpassed the State Fair in Syracuse.
Thursday was a bit of a recuperation day, although Cade and I found time to go fly fishing in a new creek. Friday we visited the quaint ski village of Ellicottville and then to Little Rock City north of Salamanca. On Saturday we took a steam train ride on the Arcade & Attica Railroad, followed by an evening at Holland Speedway to see some NASCAR short track racing. Yesterday was going to be another relaxation day, but we were invited on short notice to attend the Buffalo Bison's game in a sky box. That was a lot of fun and relaxing too. Unfortunately they lost to the Pawtucket Red Sox 8-3. Thank you Terry and Bill for the invite.

Sarah made a new friend at an Amish toy shop.



Cade at Little Rock City.






I would have taken more photos, but I left my cameras behind in favor of a small yet frustrating digital point and shoot. I felt like trying to run a NASCAR race with a bicycle.

There's a first time for everything.

I am on vacation this week with my family, doing some local things from the campground in Cattaraugus County. Yesterday morning, before we left for Darien Lake Theme Park, Cade was eating a breakfast sandwich and lost his first tooth in it. Sarah has been working on his tooth for days. I wish I had a picture of him laying on the floor of the camper as if he were in surgery with Sarah hunched over him with a plastic bag on her hands, pulling and tugging on the microscopic baby tooth wiggling in his mouth. It took a frozen breakfast sandwich to get the job done.

Another first happened yesterday with Sarah riding her first upside down roller coaster. Not only did she ride her first, but she rode every one in the theme park including the Ride of Steel which has a 205 foot, 75 mph initial drop. I had to pay her $10 to do that one with me. Unfortunately, the photo booths at the Viper were closed, so I couldn't get her first ride photo.

I'll type more next time I have internet access.

The studio is still open and in good hands with Amanda and Jess, so don't hesitate to call if you need anything.

Keri and Mike

Love. It's what we all hope to have in our lives. It's what drives tens of thousands of couples to get married each year. We witness it weekly during the wedding season and strive to capture the essence of it between the bride and groom with our cameras. Occasionally, we get treated with a bride and groom that are not only in love, but so excited to be in love that they can't contain themselves. Today was such a day with Keri and Mike in Rochester. We spent much of the afternoon at various historic locations throughout the downtown area before the ceremony at Chapel Hill. When the officiant pronounced them husband and wife, Keri was literally bouncing with excitement, anticipating the permission to "kiss the bride". The emotion was bursting between the two of them with sobs of joy as they embraced so tight I thought they would pop. Congratulations Keri and Mike. As John said during his best man speech, the two of you define perfection as a couple. I wish you a lifetime of bouncing with excitement.

I am very proud of my amazing group of photographers that work with me and on our second team. I shot with Karen today, who has been shooting a lot with Ellen on our second team. I was very impressed with the way her vision has evolved over the last few months. Here are some of her images from today. Nice job Karen!

Just to keep the record intact, on the way home the sky was alive with a brilliant lightning show. There was also a huge rainbow over downtown but our windows were facing the wrong direction to see it. I saw it on the news when I got home. We were looking at the sunset through the rain, so I knew it was behind us somewhere.

Mamma Mia!!!!

I just got back from seeing Mamma Mia in the theaters for the second time. If you haven't seen it, go. Go now and don't stop until you get there. Bring tissues because you'll laugh until you cry. I would give my left arm and more to shoot that wedding, or any wedding in Greece for that matter.

Sam I Am

I did Sam's senior portraits yesterday, and I must say it was one of the best sessions we've done this season. Sam was very comfortable in front of the camera and was a lot of fun to work with. Look for some new photos of Sam on our Senior Portrait Blog at CheslerSeniors.Blogspot.com.

It may appear frivolous to some to maintain two blogs, but I wanted to do something where the seniors could get excited about seeing their photos online and be able to send their friends to the site.

Here are some of the images from the session with more to come.

Happy Birthday Sue!

Today is Sue's birthday. Yup, she's catching up to me for a few months. I was a little worried with this being her first birthday since Sandi died, but it turned out to be a very nice, quiet, low key day for us to be together and reflect. Happy Birthday Sue. I love you. Happy Birthday Sandi, we miss you.

Rainbow Connection

I think someone is trying to tell me something up there. We are batting around 90% this season on weddings with thunderstorms and rainbows. Today's wedding of R.J. and Jennifer was at Belhurst. There were storms popping up all around us most of the day, but for the most part, we stayed dry and comfortable. A passing storm arrived for sunset, setting the stage for a beautiful rainbow over the castle. R.J. and Jen were great, as was their flower girl and ring bearer, Abby and Sterling. The kids wouldn't let the bride and groom have all the fun. See the dock shot below of the bridal party.