Got Harley?

After doing photos of the Sabias and their Harley's last Friday, I've been doing some research on Harley's and their owners, looking for the right words to describe the relationship between man and machine. What I've come across took me by surprise though. The relationship goes way beyond the machine. The relationship is between man and Harley Davidson the company. The company has built brand loyalty beyond compare, with each individual rider feeling as if Harley Davidson were a close personal friend.

I set out to capture that individual bond and instead came away with a real world lesson on how I want my own business to be. I want to surround myself with the Harley Davidson culture to learn more and soak it all in, even though I am partial to a four wheel drift and metal surrounding me. My goal is to photograph Harley owners and their rides with a unique, artistic perspective with the end result for each of them being a really cool coffee table album with a two tone black and orange leather cover. Inside would be a blend of rider portraits, detail shots of their bike and in motion riding shots on the open road. If you're a proud Harley owner and would like to be photographed with your bike, e-mail me at steve@cheslerphoto.com. We will have special pricing for the photo shoot and Harley album options exclusive to Harley owners.

When It Rains...

On Saturday I shot the wedding of Jimmy and Alyssa with Steve Sherwood. We started the day at the Inn on Broadway in Rochester just as a line of heavy thunderstorms was coming through. After the ceremony, which was at St. Michael's on Clinton, several trucks from the Rochester Fire Department paid a visit to congratulate the happy couple since Jimmy is a Fire Fighter himself. We had a few hours of sun for some photos on the canal in Pittsford and on the grounds at Belhurst. The night ended with a quick run through the sparklers as nature put on it's own fireworks display with lightning and a heavy downpour that sent everyone back inside.

Positive Thinking

"No matter how qualified or desrving we are, we will never reach a better life until we can imagine it for ourselves and allow ourselves to have it." ~Richard Bach "One"

I think my wife is imagining a clean garage harder than I am imagining a Miata in it.

Lisa and Seth

After getting home from last night's wedding at midnight, I was up at 3:30 a.m. to drive to Philadelphia for my cousin Lisa's wedding. The wedding took place at the Pen Ryn Mansion on the shore of the Delaware River just north of Philly. It reminded me of a southern plantation. The roadway leading in to the mansion is hidden in the trees with a lush, green carpet of vegetation covering the forest floor. It looked surreal as if we turned off the highway and drove in to a fairytale book. Lisa and Seth had a beautiful Jewish ceremony under the chupa on the back lawn of the mansion. I recently posted how after many weddings I feel like family, but this time I actually was. It was great to see my family, who is scattered all over the Northeast and South Florida. My grandparents made it up from Florida for the wedding. It was my grandmother's 94th birthday today as well. My grandparents celebrated their 73rd anniversary this past year. I also got to see my mom who is in the midst of a cross country RV journey.

Indepence Day

Happy July 4th. I spent the day with Erin and Wes at their wedding this holiday. They got married at Norton Chapel at Keuka College where they both are alumni. After the ceremony we went to Keuka Springs winery directly across the east branch of Keuka Lake in Penn Yan. We ended the day with a reception at Steamboat Landing on the north end of Canandaigua Lake, which was perfect for viewing the Canandaigua fireworks display. Erin is a teacher at the Canandaigua Primary School, so she has summers off. She is not only one of my wedding clients, she also watches my kids over the summer. They love her and can't wait for her to start this week. Congrats Erin and Wes.

Lora and Kylie

Lora and Kylie got married today in Massena. The ceremony was at a small church with beautiful window light coming in. After the ceremony we went over to a family farm and got some great shots with an old Farmall tractor that had been in the family for years. Then we headed to Kylie's parent's house to get a few shots on the St. Lawrence River. The reception was 30 miles up the river in Ogendensburg at a place called the Gran View Hotel. Rich and I are staying in a sister property if the Gran View tonight called the Wind Jammer. Both places are right on the river, which is more like a very long lake it's so big. The family property on the river in Massena used to be a farm before the river was dammed in the 1950s. What was once a field and an adjacent road is now a huge bay on the St. Lawrence. Tomorrow, we're going to head in to Lake Placid for the day. Have fun in Mexico Lora and Kylie.