Douglas Benedict Photography

New Blog Site!

2011-10-19T05:19:00.000-07:00

The new blog site is can be found here.

Please come visit!

Lauren + Corey

2011-08-05T10:24:00.000-07:00

So my buddy Joe Craig was helping me shoot Lauren & Corey's wedding in Philadelphia & he had a great idea about Lauren riding down an escalator to see Corey for the first time.

It looked like she was descending from the heavens.

We shot in Old City then at the Philadelphia Free Library where they were married. There were so many beautiful places in that old library to shoot pictures and cocktail hour was on the library roof with a view of the whole downtown at dusk. It was an all-around awesome Center City Philadelphia wedding.

Thanks, Lauren & Corey, for having us along.

d

Zoey

2011-07-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

This is Zoey.

I will be photographing her parents' wedding in a few weeks. I did their engagement session last fall when Zoey's mommy was about 8 months pregnant with her.

But yesterday was pretty much all about Zoey.

d

Right Now

2011-07-10T14:13:00.000-07:00

I'm back from a family vacation & just now getting my first look at Elizabeth & Kurt's wedding @ Penn State two Saturdays ago.

We went to The Creamery and these had me laughing out loud. Such a fun couple. Can't wait to share more.

d

Right Now

2011-06-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

Oh my.

Nothing better than photographing a couple for the first time & discovering they absolutely sparkle together.

Such a good time tonight shooting Courtney & Ed's engagement session at Albright College in Reading.

Can't wait till October!

d

Joy

2011-06-28T09:08:00.001-07:00

Sometimes the reaction to the action is the best part.

This joy was at Lauren & Corey's wedding last Saturday.

There's nothing better!

d

Right Now

2011-06-25T23:19:00.000-07:00

Amazing day today with Lauren & Corey at the Philadelphia Free Library.

We had fun playing with the library carts.

I promised them a couple of images tonight. Lots more to come!

Thanks for being so awesome.

d

Jessica + Sean

2011-06-21T10:58:00.001-07:00

Jessica and Sean married a few weeks ago in Jessica's hometown of Scranton.

They live in New York but Jessica wanted it all to be about home.

She got ready at her parents' home. We took pictures at a stone wall in her neighborhood she loved as a child. Her wedding and reception were held at her family temple.

The stunning reception space you'll see in these pictures was the work of Lindsay Landman of Lindsay Landman Events. Lindsay's ability to completely transform a space is amazing.

Thanks, Jessica and Sean, for having me along. It was a pleasure being with you.

d

Right Now

2011-06-18T22:01:00.000-07:00

Wow! What fun.

Carl & Shannon, these are just the ones I went looking for.

There is nothing I want more than to go through the whole lot.

Thanks, so much, for throwing such a great wedding. You are such a lovely couple.

d

Right Now

2011-06-12T08:22:00.000-07:00

Amazing day yesterday in Reading with Megan & Bobby.

We dodged the rain & the day was pretty much perfect.

Enjoy Hawaii!

d

Right Now

2011-05-30T07:48:00.000-07:00

I'm working on Jessica & Sean's wedding I shot last weekend in Scranton.

Everything was lush & beautiful & green.

Love this.

d

4.30.11 Marcella + Stephen

2011-05-16T12:47:00.000-07:00

Marcella & Stephen married two weeks ago & I have already posted a few favorite images.

There are more.

They were married at Packer Chapel (awesomeness) in Bethlehem and their reception was at Lehigh Country Club (equally awesome) in Allentown.

Marcella & Stephen: You were a joy to work with & I could not be more pleased with your images.

All the best,
douglas

Right Now

2011-05-14T20:18:00.001-07:00

We were all afraid it would rain today in New Jersey.

It didn't.

It was lush & beautiful & green.

It is a very intense love between these two. You sense it just being near them.

Christina & Julio: thank you. It was my pleasure. I wish you the very best.

d

Right Now

2011-05-09T09:35:00.000-07:00

Another from Marcella & Stephen's wedding.

You can sit and play with these things forever, trying to find just the right composition.

Other times they're just perfect the way you find them.

d

Right Now

2011-04-30T21:31:00.000-07:00

I promised Marcella & Stephen I would post a few favorites before their early morning flight to Hawaii tomorrow.

What a great day!
d

Leah + Doug

2011-04-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

In 2005 I was a staff photographer at The Morning Call newspaper and a very young Leah Craver walked into the office looking for work.

Leah was a wedding photographer, fresh out of school, and her entire portfolio was wedding photography.

Really, really good wedding photography.

Photojournalism-style wedding photography was just coming into vogue and it had gotten my attention. I asked Leah to let me tag along on one of her weddings.

So Leah was the first of many to help me find my way & it was nothing short of thrilling to photograph Leah's wedding to Doug a few weeks ago in North Carolina.

This is not hyperbole: I have never seen as much joy and love as I did at Leah & Doug's wedding. Not even close. Love between Leah and Doug, Leah and her dad, her mom, her sister, Doug and his brothers and parents.

Leah & Doug: You amazed and moved me. Thank you. It was a complete thrill to see this thing come full circle.

d

Marissa + Sean

2011-04-18T13:02:00.001-07:00

It just seems impossible to go wrong in Brooklyn.

Twice I've worked weddings there & both trips were killer.

Marissa and Sean were no exception. They were a joy to photograph. We worked beneath the Manhattan Bridge in DUMBO before their wedding and reception at Studio 6 near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. All visually delicious spots.

Props to Joe for throwing some of that Joe Craig magic on this.

Please, please: Someone ask me back to Brooklyn!

d

Jean + Dan

2011-03-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

If you get a chance to attend a Greek Orthodox wedding, go. In fact, if you can't get an invite, you might consider crashing one.

They are the most beautiful & ornate churches anywhere.

And that was only a small part of what made Dan and Jean's wedding so ridiculously beautiful.

Jean's mother is highly sensitive to allergens - including flowers - so Jean turned to Dale from Elysian Fields to make the most amazing bouquet ever out of brooches Jean had collected.

It was awesome. Go see.

d

Claire

2011-03-01T06:43:00.000-08:00

I photographed Randy & Michelle's wedding in September 2008. They're the nicest couple you would ever want to meet.

And then Claire arrived a few weeks ago. She is lovely and perfect.
d

Right Now

2011-02-24T15:03:00.000-08:00

Working on Jean & Dan's Sunday wedding. Crazy good everything.

d

To Hire A Wedding Photographer

2011-02-24T10:19:00.000-08:00

You don't know what you don't know.

That's what's hard about hiring a wedding photographer. The magazines have it all wrong, by the way. The kinds of cameras I use and whether or not I've worked in your venue are completely irrelevant.

The advice I give couples goes like this:

1. You need to find a photographer who shoots in a style that you can imagine your wedding being shot in. We are all different. Don't hire me and ask me to shoot like someone else.

2. Find a photographer you can stand being around. I'm serious. Brides will spend more time on their wedding day with the photographer than they will the groom. I'm not saying you have to be drinking buddies later but make sure you like being around your photographer.

3. Don't judge a photographer's ability based solely on the website. Those are the best pictures that photographer has ever taken. Those weddings were shot at the most amazing venues with the most perfect weather. It gives you very little idea how that photographer performs every weekend.

The answer? You have to choose what you see of the photographer's work. Are you getting married May 30, 2011? Ask to see the wedding he (or she) shot closest to May 30 in 2010. Put yourself in the drivers seat. You choose!

It will give you a much better idea of what that photographer is really like.

4. Finally, you should know that vendors pay to be on the “preferred vendor” lists offered by some venues. Being on there has nothing to do with how good they are. They would strongly prefer you not know about the arrangement but I don’t think it’s in the bride & groom’s best interest to keep it a secret.

douglas

2011-01-19T13:30:00.001-08:00

Mariya + Michael

2011-01-18T06:56:00.000-08:00

Loved this one!

Michael & Mariya’s Monday night wedding in Manhattan, vintage-themed, no less, was just about the best thing ever.

Also outstanding: Having Joe Craig along to second shoot for me.

Even better: An after-party that ends with a burlesque show.

Thanks, Michael & Mariya. What a night!

Douglas

Kari + Ryan

2010-12-21T06:49:00.000-08:00

Kari and Ryan made it clear from the beginning that photography was a priority in their wedding. Ryan is an accomplished photographer himself and he knew what he wanted.

We had a planning meeting a few weeks before their wedding and I was asking about what they might be interested in shooting on their wedding day. I'll never forget what Ryan said: "We hired you for a reason. You just do what you do."

Music to my ears. They gave me the time I needed & went everywhere I asked.

There was no way this wasn't going to be great.

Douglas

Right Now

2010-11-23T08:05:00.000-08:00

Working on Nick & Brandy's maternity shoot. Completely digging this.

Right Now

2010-11-13T08:26:00.000-08:00

Finishing up Michael & Mariya's NYC wedding a couple of weeks ago. This is one of my faves.

d

Right Now

2010-11-11T04:49:00.000-08:00

Working on John & Katherine's wedding shot two weeks ago. Fall was exploding over the place.

d

Wendy + Douglas

2010-11-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

If you've known me less than five years, you probably won't recognize me in the photo above.

Today is my anniversary.

It was one of the happiest days of my life & I am thankful to have these pictures to remember it. I see these images and I'm instantly there: Our family & friends, some no longer living, all celebrating along with us.

They are moments in time kept forever.

It makes me feel like my job is important, doing this for other people. Something I tell second shooters when they first start working for me: The images you make today will be important for 100 years. We have one shot at this. Don't screw it up.

My photographers certainly didn't.

Happy anniversary, babe.

Douglas

p.s. The photographers: Chien-Chi Chang, Robb Hill, Thomas Broening, Tom Volk, Dan Delong, Laura Lakeway, Steve Pestrock & Craig Walker.

Daniel + Grace + Barbados

2010-11-02T15:13:00.000-07:00

I'm going to let the pictures do the talking for this one.

But let me say that Grace and Daniel are as beautiful as Barbados. And wonderful people with loving families.

We started Friday night with rehearsal dinner on catamarans for 100 guests. Saturday ceremony & Sunday we got together for photos on the beach. This is one I'll never forget.

Thanks, you two.

Douglas

Right Now

2010-11-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

I know I've already posted from Marian & Brian's wedding - and I'll be posting all the highlights soon - but I'm going to put this here now.

We shot this inside the Fine Arts Library at the University of Pennsylvania. I love it & keep coming back to it. It's like a song I can't get out of my head.

d

Right Now

2010-10-29T07:34:00.001-07:00

Working on Megan & Bobby's engagement shoot in West Chester on Sunday.

All good.
Douglas

p.s. Okay one more.

Megan + Jason

2010-10-28T04:38:00.000-07:00

Megan and Jason married at Mountain Springs Lake Resort and I had been looking forward to their wedding since their engagement shoot last fall.

I expected it to be lot of fun.

It was.

It was a good time not only for Megan and Jason and their guests but for me and second shooter Dan Moyer as well.

You'll see Dan in these images. He's the one making sure Megan's dress doesn't fall from the tree. Dan's my Dress Ninja.

Thanks for the good times, you two.

Douglas

Jim + Lara

2010-10-26T16:00:00.000-07:00

Jim & Lara married at St. Bernard's Roman Catholic Church and had their reception at The Bank Street Annex, both in Easton, both new venues for me.

Both great.

Easton turned out to be a really nice place to shoot. Outside the Bank Street Annex is an awesome alley with great color and texture. And a fire escape which was handy for the aerials.

I was happy to have Joe Craig along with me on this wedding, one of the few we've been able to do together this year. The picture below of Lara looking into the church is his.

Thanks, Lara & Jim. It was a pleasure.
Douglas

Right Now

2010-10-26T08:07:00.000-07:00

I have fallen pretty far behind in my blog posts but can't resist sharing this here now: Marian & Brian at the University of Pennsylvania a few weeks ago.

Lots more to come.

Douglas

Right Now

2010-09-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with this for several reasons but it's mainly because Terence reminds me of me on my own wedding day.

Giddy.

There's no other way to describe it. I know the feeling, man.

Congrats to Terence & Patricia. More good things to come.

Douglas

Right Now

2010-09-16T07:26:00.000-07:00

I am all about pretty pictures but sometimes it's the moment that carries an image.

I'm finishing up Shino & Ashok's wedding in Maryland two weeks ago & love this.

Douglas

Jessica + John 06.25.10

2010-09-10T11:43:00.000-07:00

Jessica and John married beneath two trees, outside, surrounded by their family and dogs.

Yep. Their dogs. Jessica is studying to be a vet and their dogs are such an integral part of their lives that the wedding wasn't going to happen without them. And they were great guests: When Jessica and John were pronounced man & wife the audience clapped and the dogs howled. It was the greatest thing.

I had always wanted to work a wedding at Fonthill Museum in Doylestown for reasons you can see in the image above. It's a beautiful space.

Thanks Jessica and John, it was a real pleasure.

And thanks, Cesar Laure, for your help second shooting.

Douglas

Angela + Eric 06.19.10

2010-09-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

The cab picture above was my closer. I never start the blog with a closer but it's one of my favorite images. It's cute and classic and quintessential Philly.

Earlier in the day, Angela and Eric married in St. Mary's Church in the Society Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia.

It's my favorite part of Philadelphia, beautiful and historic. We walked through Washington Square on our way to their reception at The Curtis Center.

And it was Eric's birthday. What a great gift.

Props to Daniel Moyer for helping me out on this one.

Douglas

Right Now

2010-09-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

I got an email last night from Kari asking for a sneak peek at her wedding.

She & Ryan were interested in some non-traditional images.

I think we succeeded.

d

Back to School

2010-09-01T05:03:00.001-07:00

This is probably the craziest time of year for me: Weddings are in full swing & students return to Lehigh University, one of my biggest commercial clients.

Add to that craziness the opening of Lehigh's newest building, STEPS, an $85 million research facility on campus. It's gorgeous.

Joe Craig and I spent a good portion of Sunday night making this image & I'm pretty thrilled with it.

Douglas

Right Now

2010-08-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

I'm finishing up Megan & Jason's wedding & hoping to have it finished before they get back from Hawaii this weekend.

There are a lot of images I love but I'm really fond of this & wanted to share it here.

It's a different kind of image for me & I think it turned out well.

Douglas

Scott + Claire Catherine 061210

2010-07-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

You will remember Claire Catherine: She's the bride with the lovely bracelet a few blogs ago.

There was much more to that day.

Scott and Claire Catherine married at the Glasbern, a pretty country inn near Allentown. I shot one of my first weddings there & I was happy to go back.

I got an email from Claire Catherine this morning & she was thrilled with the pictures.

Me too.

But then again photographing a loving couple in a beautiful wedding is not such a tough job.

Douglas

Carolyn + Greg 06.05.10

2010-07-05T13:33:00.001-07:00

The morning of Greg and Carolyn’s wedding I updated my Facebook status.

“Today’s wedding: there has been laughter, joy and tears. And we’re still at the salon.”

That was pretty much the way the day went. Big families. Many children. Much love.

Weddings just don’t get any better.

Props to second shooter Mustafah Abdulaziz who threw down a little of his magic on this one.

Best,
Douglas

Right Now

2010-06-23T16:10:00.000-07:00

I'm looking at Daniel & Grace's images from our engagement session Sunday in Central Park.

This one is super.

I'll be shooting their wedding in Barbados in August. If Sunday's shoot is any indication, that will be a very good day.

d

Right Now

2010-06-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

There's a tradition of couples exchanging gifts the morning of their wedding.

I'm working with Scott & Claire Catherine's wedding now & found these pictures of Claire Catherine getting hers.

She was nearly breathless. Poor girl.

It was quite a lovely bracelet.

d

Char + Richard 05.30.10

2010-06-18T12:13:00.001-07:00

The most important thing to know about Richard & Char: They don’t do anything halfway.

Richard rented a billboard on I-95 in Philadelphia to announce their engagement to the world. When their honeymoon flight got bumped up, keeping them from attending a planned family brunch the day after the wedding, Richard bought life-sized cardboard cut-out photos of him & Char to attend in their absence.

There’s more.

Richard is Jewish and Char is Asian. So they had two ceremonies in one day. They had elaborate attire for each. There was an intimate Chinese ceremony in the morning and then a large Western wedding in the afternoon. Realizing most of their guests hadn’t seen them in their Chinese wedding clothing, Richard & Char changed back into those clothes for the cocktail hour. And then back into their Western clothing for the reception.

You get the idea. These are true wedding over-achievers. Which is the best kind of all.

You’ll see that I had a lot to work with.

It was great to work at the Ritz Carlton in Philadelphia & I'm always happy to have the help of Joe Craig second shooting. Special props to Kate Duffy: car-driving, strobe-holding, stand-hauling, photo-boothing extraordinaire.

Richard & Char: You feel like old friends. I like you both a lot. Thanks for your encouragement & Philadelphia foodie advice.

And if I ever need help getting from point A to point B in Philly, I know who to call. ;)

Douglas

Alicia + Remberto 05.29.10

2010-06-10T13:18:00.000-07:00

Note to self: When you’re in charge of driving the bride to her wedding, don’t lose your car keys.

I learn new things all the time.

The amazing thing was how calm Alicia was about it. She was the Queen of Cool. Her groom, family and friends were all waiting for her and her ride – me – couldn’t find his car keys.

Mustafah Abdulaziz helped me photograph Alicia & Remberto’s wedding and it was a great chance to return to Alicia’s family home in Bucks County. I had taken their engagement photos there in March. You may recognize the barn wall.

Remberto’s cousin from Mexico made Alicia’s dress by hand for her. I’ve never seen one finer.

Thanks to you both.

Douglas

p.s. The Mariachi band was an excellent touch.

Debbie + Frank 05.15.10

2010-06-10T13:03:00.000-07:00

Debbie and Frank wanted their wedding to be about their family and friends as much anything else.

They surrounded themselves with the people most important to them, including Frank’s children. The entire day was warm and loving and fun and I was happy to be there.

Props to Joe Craig for his help second shooting.

Douglas

more gifts

2010-05-31T19:31:00.000-07:00

Chauheung.

She and Richard were married Sunday.

I love them both but this image of Char is more than I could have hoped for.

Many, many more to come. But this is a good start.

Douglas

Right Now

2010-05-23T16:54:00.000-07:00

I'm finishing up Kate & Eric's wedding tonight. I came across this image and wanted to share it here now.

It's a picture of Kate and her mom near the end of the reception. It's a wonderful moment. It sums up everything I want to accomplish in photography: keeping moments like this forever.

I think it's about as close as we can get to keeping life from slipping away from us.

Mrs. Weber's house is filled with pictures of her family, pictures going back to when Kate was little and right up to a few months ago when her sister got married in Florida. It's all there on the walls of her house.

I would really like to go back there some day and see this one hanging along with the others.

Kate & Eric: I'm a little bit late with these. I'm sorry. Soon! I promise it will be worth the wait.

Douglas

Bicycling Magazine

2010-05-23T06:07:00.001-07:00

Well this is pretty cool.

Yesterday's mail brought the newest issue of Bicycling. They assigned me to shoot a local criterium for an article about racing.

I'm a huge cycling fan. I ride bike & love following the sport.

So cycling + photography was a good gig for me.

Here's the image they used & a picture of me shooting it from the back of a motorcycle, riding backwards. It wasn't terribly different than backpedaling down a church aisle.

The photo of me on the back of the motorcycle by Daniel Moyer. Thanks Dano.

Douglas

Kathleen & Tom's Engagement

2010-05-16T09:08:00.001-07:00

When you meet Kathleen you can tell she’s a dancer. She’s beautiful and graceful just standing still.

Tom is no slouch either;)

So it was a great experience to photograph the two of them in Old City Philadelphia. I would position Tom and Kathleen could just drape herself across him.

And there was Lucy, their adorable Boxer who was drooling and slobbering all over Tom.

And there was the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts where Kathleen is taking classes.

We shot all that and it was good.

Thanks, you two, I’ll see you in October!

Douglas

Kate + Eric 05.08.10

2010-05-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

Kate and Eric are getting on a plane for Hawaii tomorrow morning & I promised them a few photos before they left. Honestly, it was nearly impossible to choose. I loved too many to put on here.

And that was all their fault.

Kate was stunning. Eric was having the time of his life. And their families were welcoming and warm. They totally made me feel like I was one of them.

It was an awesome wedding. I look through the images and see nothing but smiles all day long. Much joy.

You two have a wonderful honeymoon. I'll get to work on the rest and have them ready when you get home!

Best,
Douglas

Definitely Not A Wedding

2010-05-07T07:16:00.001-07:00

Unless it was the marriage of mud and suffering.

Pardon the wedding interruption to share some of the images I shot last weekend at the North American debut of the Tough Mudder.

My good friend and awesome wedding photographer Joe Craig suggested I run this with him. I suggested I shoot it instead. Just for me. Just for fun.

I did & it was.

The Tough Mudder was held last Sunday at Bear Creek Resort in Eastern Pennsylvania. It was a seven-mile course with 17 obstacles including steep climbs, mud pits, tunnel crawls and various other activities no sane person would want anything to do with.

But it was sure fun to photograph. Thanks for indulging me.

Douglas

Gwen+ Bill's Engagement

2010-04-07T05:08:00.000-07:00

Sometimes my biggest job on a shoot is to raise the energy level. Not with Gwen and Bill.

I was just trying to keep up.

Gwen is a pistol and Bill was game. They brought a lot of energy & fun & we had a great time of it.

We worked South Street in Philly last Saturday afternoon. It was a beautiful day and the sidewalks were brimming with people. We found some awesome nooks and crannies with nice texture and color.

I had made stilts for the shoot knowing Gwen would be up for anything. She was.

Bill: Outstanding work. You did great. Gwen, thanks for the energy. It was everything I had hoped.

You are such a great couple.

See you in October!
Douglas

Sara + Scott 03.13.10

2010-04-05T07:24:00.000-07:00

Scott and Sara married two weeks ago in New York City. Outside, the day was dark and rainy and cold.

Inside, it was delightful.

Scott started his day with a shave and had to endure the elements a bit. Sara spent the day, prep to reception, inside Cipriani, a glorious old bank-turned-venue on the Lower East Side.

It was one of the most beautiful weddings I’ve ever seen, thanks largely to Lindsay Landman who helped Sara realize her vision.

Scott and Sara: You are an amazing couple and wonderful, genuine people with great family and friends. Your wedding was spectacular and everything you wanted it to be. Thank you for letting me be part of it.

Big thanks to second shooter Mustafah Abdulaziz who seems never to miss a single moment.

Best,
Douglas

Alicia + Remberto's Engagement

2010-03-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

I am really loving winter engagement sessions. Today there was sun & snow & warmth.

Alicia & Remberto live in Chicago but came back to Alicia's parent's home in Bucks County this weekend. They'll have their wedding reception there this May.

It was an awesome place to shoot. They are fun couple & I cannot wait to work there with them again on their wedding day.

Best,
Douglas

Winter Love: Richard + Char

2010-02-16T05:48:00.000-08:00

Center City Philadelphia, days after a record snowfall, traffic gridlock & frigid temperatures.

Sounds like an AWESOME time to shoot an engagement session, doesn't it?

It was.

Please meet Richard & Char who will marry in May at the Ritz Carlton in Philadelphia. We hit the Art Museum, Rittenhouse Square, the restaurant where they got engaged, the oldest alley in America, City Hall and the Ritz. Richard & Char were spontaneous & fun & I could not be happier with the pictures.

We had a great time of it. See for yourself.

See you two in May!

Douglas

Moments

2010-01-31T20:25:00.000-08:00

I couldn't wait until tomorrow to start on Gina and Andrew's wedding. It was yesterday and all day today I've been thinking about the images I had seen and shot and loved.

I went looking for this one.

It was the first moment Mrs. Carmier got to congratulate her new daughter-in-law during the Sign of Peace near the end of the ceremony.

She was pretty happy. I think everyone was. More from Gina and Andrew soon.

Douglas

humbled

2010-01-22T15:58:00.000-08:00

I was barely even aware there was a competition, let alone know my brides were voting in it. Then last month I got an email from The Knot saying I had been chosen as one of the "Best of the Knot."

Thanks all,
Douglas

Laura + Matthew 09.26.09

2010-01-22T15:26:00.000-08:00

Laura and Matthew married at Hotel Bethlehem on September 26, 2009. I wish you could have been there.

We first met at my house to discuss their wedding and I think everyone knew it was a good match: Matthew and Laura really appreciated my work and they were so excited about the wedding that I really wanted to be a part of it.

I loved their day. This couple, obviously in love, getting married for all the right reasons. Both of them, before the ceremony, just could not wait to be married. That was the focus of the day.

But the other stuff was pretty great, too. Laura's dress was killer. The flowers, thanks to Dale at Elysian Fields Florals, were amazing. The Ballroom has never looked more elegant thanks largely to the lighting by Steve Mittman.

I'm not sure why I'm describing all this. The pictures will do a better job than I ever could.

Thank you, Laura and Matthew.

Douglas

Winter Light

2010-01-13T14:05:00.000-08:00

There are still several weddings from the summer I want to post here but, right now, I want to post this.

Winter is a wonderful time to shoot. In the middle of the afternoon the light starts getting nice. Two weeks ago Lynn & Josh were married and inside Hotel Bethlehem we found this nice little spot. A shaft of afternoon sun filled a dining room just off their cocktail reception.

We played in the light for a while and I'm just toning them now. I think they're super awesome.

Just like Lynn and Josh. I hope you two are still off having fun in a place much warmer than here.

Best,
Douglas

Right Now

2009-11-22T11:09:00.000-08:00

Apologies to friends who have already seen this image.

I've posted it on Facebook & shown it to anyone I can get to look at it.

But I wanted to share here as well.

I shot this image last week at Lehigh University's bonfire rally for Saturday's football game against Lafayette.

Lehigh is one of my biggest non-wedding clients. I love shooting there because of images like this.

Douglas

Michelle + David 09.25.09

2009-11-22T10:33:00.000-08:00

I am not the best blogger.

Current weddings, albums & other photography projects are always on the front burner. And I get hopelessly behind in updating the blog.

Not today. Please meet David & Michelle who married in Ocean City, New Jersey.

They married at a church in town & held their reception at The Flander's Hotel, a vintage & beautiful hotel right on the boardwalk. David and Michelle got ready there, too, and it was fun working on the boardwalk.

Mustafah Abdulaziz helped out as a second & he shot his normal awesomeness. Thanks, man.

We had a great time.

And the pictures were pretty great, too.

Douglas

My new friend Anna

2009-11-09T13:29:00.001-08:00

I met Anna at her cousin's wedding last summer in New York.

She contacted me this summer to talk about portraiture and last week we got together. We met in Chelsea because she loves the cobblestone streets & then worked a bit in Central Park.

Anna was wonderful and there are several images I love. Here are a couple of them.

Best,
Douglas

Autumn

2009-10-26T12:31:00.000-07:00

Autumn exploded in my part of Pennsylvania. It seemed like an instant.

It's super beautiful & moved me to post this.

These are my new friends Megan & Jason who will be getting married in July next year.

Best,
Douglas

2009-10-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

I just finished up & delivered Michelle's wedding pictures this morning. Can't wait for her to see this one.

Douglas

2009-10-01T13:00:00.001-07:00

I shot this Friday at David & Michelle's wedding in Ocean City, New Jersey.

I'm posting it here just because I like it.

Pictures of David & Michelle themselves coming soon!

Thanks for indulging me.

Douglas

Love at First Sight

2009-09-30T12:00:00.001-07:00

I love these.

It’s the first time Laura saw her reception room at Hotel Bethlehem on Saturday. She snuck a peek before her guests arrived.

Credit where credit is due: The room, which looked amazing, was a result of the combined efforts of Dale Schaffer of Elysian Fields, coordinator extraordinaire Kori Muntean of Wedding Daze Boutique and Steve Mittman of Steve Mittman Entertainment.

Douglas

Scott + Sara's Engagement

2009-09-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

Scott and Sara will be married next March in New York City & I am looking forward to being with them.

No matter what the weather will be in March, it was warm and sunny when we shot their engagement session in the Hamptons on Long Island last week.

It was lovely.

They were both really comfortable in front of the camera. I don't know if I have ever given so little direction in a session. It was really just a matter of getting them together and taking pictures of what happened. I would start to ask Scott to kiss her and realize he already was.

It led to a set of images I really love. It's natural and loving.

I'll see you both in March!

Douglas

Chris + Dana 08.08.09

2009-09-28T08:48:00.000-07:00

And now for something completely different.

Welcome to Chris and Dana’s awesome adventure, nothing less than the reinvention of the wedding itself.

And it was quite a lot of fun.

There was a re-enactment of a scene from My Fair Lady. Their officiant read vows from a binder with a picture of Chuck Norris holding an Uzi. As they left the ceremony, Chris and Dana threw rice at their guests.

Later that night, at the reception, there was cake and tricycle racing.

Chris and Dana were married on a stage at Musikfest, a music festival held in Bethlehem every August.

I really appreciate their willingness to make their wedding their very own. It might not be for everyone, but it was certainly Chris & Dana.

Douglas

Kimberly + Cody 07.18.09

2009-09-04T08:58:00.000-07:00

Kimberly & Cody married at Packer Chapel on the campus of Lehigh University in Bethlehem.

I love it.

I have written about Packer here before but it bears repeating: there is no church more beautiful for a wedding than Packer. You sense its history & reverence the moment you walk in the door. It's a very dark chapel - its beautiful detail almost hiding - but it's all there and photographs well.

But this wedding was about Kimberly and Cody. They made me feel like family and gave me everything I need for great pictures: A loving couple having a great time at their wedding.

Thank you,
Douglas

Maya + Tarkan 07.12.09

2009-07-28T08:54:00.000-07:00

Maya was a bridesmaid in the very first wedding I ever photographed.

It was the marriage of Abigail & Doug Woodward on September 25, 2004 and Maya, to say the least, made an impression on me.

Nothing could please me more than to photograph Maya’s own marriage to her amazing groom Tarkan beneath the Brooklyn Bridge a few weeks ago.

Tarkan is awesome. I dare anyone to spend five minutes with the man and not like him. Tarkan is as fun and spontaneous as his bride.

All this to say I felt very close to this couple. I was moved – tears literally coming to my eyes – while photographing Maya in her veil and dress just before she walked down the aisle. She was beautiful – absolutely gorgeous – but it had more to do with how strongly I felt about Maya and Tarkan and the bond they share and the commitment they were about to make.

I was thrilled for them.

And there’s more: This wedding for me was so much about life coming full circle. Doug and Abigail were there, of course, and they brought with them their beautiful young son Leo. Five years seemed like a blink of an eye since this couple was on the alter and then suddenly, here in front of me, was Leo. And I took a family photo of the three of them the day of Maya’s wedding.

I love it when it all goes ‘round.

Best,
Douglas

p.s. I was very happy to have my friend Joe Craig shooting with me on this one. He has been so busy with his own wedding work that it doesn't happen as often as I would like. Thanks, Joe.

06.27.09 Ed + Hannah

2009-07-21T16:37:00.000-07:00

On her wedding day, Hannah was the embodiment of happiness.

She was bliss.

I have never seen a happier bride. The girl just smiled and laughed and giggled all day.

And for good reason: She was marrying Ed and beginning a new wonderful life with him and his two darling kids, Justine & Eddy.

Hannah and Ed were married at Muhlenberg Chapel in Allentown with a tented reception in the backyard of their home. There were kids everywhere. All the neighbors came. Ed & Hannah & Justine & Eddy were one big happy family.

It was all great fun. See for yourself.

Douglas

06.21.09 Clayton + John

2009-07-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

This was a first for me.

And, it turns out, that was okay: It was a first for them, too.

I was thrilled Clayton and John chose me to photograph their wedding. I walked into that meeting without a single picture of a same-sex wedding. But they picked me anyway and I appreciate that.

I have never been to - or photographed - a more moving, beautiful or loving wedding than theirs. Their supportive families and tight-knit friends made for the perfect wedding.

Thanks, Clayton and John. It was an absolute joy.

Best,
Douglas

p.s. Oops! Forgot to thank Cesar Laure who second shot for me. Cesar, as usual, really came through for me.

06.06.09 Sarah + Dennis

2009-07-07T14:31:00.000-07:00

I have written before about how I love tented summer wedding receptions.

If you walk away, after dark, and turn around to look they glow in the night sky.

It’s warm and intimate and beautiful, just as a wedding should be.

Sarah & Dennis were married during an outdoor ceremony with a tented reception at the Weyhill Guest House in Saucon Valley, one of the most beautiful places in the Lehigh Valley.

It’s really wonderful when clients create these unbelievably beautiful weddings for me to photograph. Thanks, Sarah & Dennis.

Best,
Douglas

05.30.09 Erika + Matthew

2009-06-30T04:54:00.000-07:00

Erika & Matthew were married last month at Packer Chapel on the campus of Lehigh University where they met as students. Packer is old & beautiful and one of my favorite churches in Bethlehem.

Their reception was at Saucon Valley Country Club which was beyond gorgeous thanks to the effort and planning by Erika and her wedding planner Meredith Tomasulo of Elegant Engagements.

I have been working a lot this summer with Mustafah Abdulaziz as my second and his work has been outstanding. Some of the images here are his and I greatly appreciate his efforts.

I'm sure Erika and Matthew do as well.

Best,
Douglas

05.24.09 Nina + Ken

2009-06-11T06:25:00.000-07:00

You get to know people pretty quickly as a wedding photographer.

You begin the day and barely know your couple. Up until then you’ve had a couple of phone calls and maybe a meeting or two. It’s all very cordial & professional.

But the emotion of a wedding day changes all that. You get a peek into someone’s life and you feel close to them.

That's how I felt about Ken and Nina. They were wonderful.

Ken was truly moved. His emotion reminded me of me at my own wedding. Nina is warm and beautiful. She was the picture of grace all day long.

And she has great taste in shoes. Love those shoes.

Best,
Douglas

05.23.09 Erica + Bob

2009-06-05T03:36:00.000-07:00

Bob and Erica married two weeks ago at Newberry Estates, a beautiful little country spot near Dallas, Pennsylvania.

They have a great story: Bob & Erica have been together since high school but spent the last five years apart. Bob works as a television producer on the West Coast. Erica was going to med school in Hershey.

On their wedding day it was like they had never been apart.

Thanks to my friend Amber Breiner who really rocked the house as my second shooter. She helped me pull together a batch of images I love.

Keep in touch, you two. I am very, very happy you can be together now.

Best,
Douglas

05.09.09 Amy + Joel

2009-05-19T06:07:00.000-07:00

I had been waiting for this one a long time.

Wedding & Reception at Hotel Bethlehem: Beautiful.

Amy: Stunning.

Amy & Joel just belong together - they're an amazing couple - and I was excited to work with them. Saturday's wedding was everything I had hoped.

Thank you!
Douglas

Carolyn + Greg

2009-05-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

I called Carolyn Monday to try and talk her out of our scheduled engagement session that night.

The forecast was not great - it was supposed to rain - and I thought we should postpone. Carolyn thought otherwise.

She was, of course, right. It was a beautiful evening.

They didn't have a particular place in mind so I got to try out a couple of spots I had found on bike rides. They were pretty, out of the way places in the woods.

It was fun. Thanks!

Best,
Douglas

p.s. Getting this edit down was brutal! I had to get Wendy help me choose from the 30 I had picked.

05.02.09 Daniel + Lauren

2009-05-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to write much here except to say Daniel & Lauren are awesome. I love you both. Thanks for having me.

Lauren was a bridesmaid in a previous wedding & being with her was a great reunion. She looked amazing.

And major props to Mustafah Abdulaziz, my second, who just rocked the day.

Douglas

03.21.09 Brian + Mary

2009-03-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

Oh my.

Brian and Mary, thank you. Thank you for kicking this year off with such a killer wedding.

I got home and spent most of the night looking at your images because I just couldn't wait. Here are a few before the honeymoon. You go have a great time and the rest will be ready when you get back.

Best,
Douglas

I don't photograph babies

2009-01-06T10:22:00.000-08:00

Well, sometimes I do.

This is Benjamin, born to my friend Dina just a couple of weeks ago. I drove down to meet him this morning. Loved this picture and wanted to share.

Best,
Douglas

the wedding photo movie

2009-01-05T15:07:00.000-08:00

Lisa Toff, one of my favorite brides from 2008, stopped by the house today and I was really looking forward to her visit.

I had a surprise for her.

It was a project I've had in mind for a while and decided her wedding would be great for it.

I took a bunch of still images from her wedding & synched them to one song. It's 1,452 images in about 4 minutes.

I like the effect.

I'm not crazy about the low quality I'm getting from the YouTube link here, but you get the idea.

Douglas

p.s. It's a slower load but you can see a better quality version here.

2009!

2009-01-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

We fired up 2009 with Jenn & Kevin's engagement session at Rockefeller Center last night & it was great. We kind of did this backwards: their wedding was December 6, they honeymooned & then we shot their engagement photos - with them in wedding attire - last night.

No matter. Jenn looked as awesome in her dress as she did on her wedding day. You would never know looking at the photos it was FREEZING COLD outside. Wendy - my wife - helped me on the shoot and we were both cold in winter coats.

Thanks, Jenn & Kevin, for helping me kick off the New Year so nicely.

Douglas

Hap-Hap-Happy

2008-12-24T14:21:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays everyone!

I've been working on albums & I'm looking forward to working with my buddy Joe Craig next week at his New Years Eve wedding. Expecting greatness.

News: I built a Facebook page if anyone is interested in hooking up with me there.

Peace!
Douglas

Dream Flight

2008-12-16T12:03:00.000-08:00

I'm going to interrupt the wedding blog to include a bit from my other photography life.

One of my favorite corporate clients is the Lehigh Valley International Airport. It's a cool place to make pictures.

Every year the airport staff volunteer to host the Dream Come True "North Pole Express Flight," an opportunity for sick kids to ride in a plane to the North Pole, visit Santa, get gifts and forget about their troubles for a little while.

This is the second time I've photographed the event. It's always thrilling and inspiring. Little kids from all walks of life, kids that have already suffered more hardship than the rest of us ever will, all lost in the bliss of Christmas.

I was working on the pictures this morning and thought I would share a few here.

Best,
Douglas

Sarah + Dennis

2008-11-11T12:57:00.001-08:00

I wrote last about how I loved shooting in the fall.

And I do. But I learned last week - after working with Sarah and Dennis in Central Park - how much I love those fall images in black & white.

The trees were at their peak, the color was stunning, but every image I toned in black and white was thrilling.

Maybe it has more to do with the park. It's a classic setting for so many great old films. Maybe that's what I'm responding to.

So, Sarah and Dennis, you have two engagement sessions: one in blazing color and the other in black and white.

Very Wizard of Oz.

I have to share one thing about this couple: they did great work at 8:00 a.m.

For reasons I've forgotten, we scheduled our session for first thing in the morning. I think it was so the park wouldn't be so crowded. Regardless, I was driving into the City long before dawn and worried about a couple being able to strike a romantic mood at such an early hour.

I shouldn't have worried at all. Turns out this couple is in love 24/7.

Thanks and I'll see you in June!

Douglas

Mary + Brian

2008-10-31T11:15:00.000-07:00

Shooting in the fall is great and I try to get in as many engagement sessions as I can when the color is nice.

Last weekend I hooked up with Brian & Mary in a park near Mary's parents' home in Bucks County. We worked in the late afternoon when the light was soft and warm. It was beautiful.

They are a gorgeous couple and they did just great. Can't wait to shoot their wedding in March next year. Maybe we'll be doing it all over again in the snow!

Douglas

10.18.08 Will + Jen

2008-10-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

I love this moment.

I'm getting my first look at Jen & Will's wedding last weekend in Hershey. There are lots of good images but this is my favorite so far.

This is the moment they were pronounced man & wife and their reaction says more than I ever could.

Thanks for giving me this one!

Best,
Douglas

09.06.08 Randy + Michelle

2008-10-20T05:31:00.000-07:00

I'm going back again to pull pictures from a wedding that should have been on here weeks ago: Randy & Michelle's excellent wedding in Lancaster.

They could not have been a more fun and loving couple. They looked pretty damn good, too.

All this against the backdrop of Hurricane Hanna ripping up the East Coast that day. It could not have rained harder. It was the kind of day that would send most brides into a tailspin.

Not Michelle. Being with her all day you would think everything was perfect.

And it was.

Best,
Douglas

10.11.08 Brett + Eliza

2008-10-13T16:12:00.001-07:00

This image really made my day.

Brett and Eliza were married Saturday at Settler's Inn up in the Poconos. It was a beautiful fall day & the leaves were starting to turn.

They are just an awesome, awesome couple & I really wanted to do a good job for them. I bet Eliza will think this one is just fine.

Douglas

9.20.08 David + Erin

2008-10-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

I am getting all out of order here but there's no way I'm skipping David and Erin.

They were married a few weeks ago at Skytop Lodge in the Poconos, one of the prettiest venues in Pennsylvania. Erin put a lot of thought into her day and it came off beautifully. Erin looked just stunning as you'll see in the pictures below.

I didn't meet David until rehearsal the night before the wedding and I liked him right away. I knew that night I had a great couple and we were going to have a great wedding day.

We did.

Best,
Douglas

10.04.08 Andrea + David

2008-10-06T13:12:00.000-07:00

I'm getting my first look today at David & Andrea's wedding pictures from Saturday. This is Andrea waiting to walk down the aisle at Stroudsmoor's Terraview.

I think it's lovely.

Douglas

Jillyan + Jared's Engagement

2008-10-01T07:34:00.001-07:00

This morning I'm finishing up the images from Jillyan and Jared's engagement session last week at Little Buffalo State Park. They are a great couple and we had a good time. I love this image.

Best,
Douglas

p.s. Just finished these pictures & I just have to add a few more. Yes, there are too many silhouettes. Sometimes a guy can't help himself.

08.23.08 Jennifer + Sebastian

2008-09-05T06:15:00.000-07:00

This one really blew me away.

Jennifer & Sebastian married two weeks ago at the Lake House Inn, a beautiful venue on Lake Nockamixon in Upper Bucks County.

I've known Jennifer for three years & she has been a bridesmaid in two of my weddings. She is a stunningly gorgeous girl and super sweet. I met Sebastian at their engagement shoot in Avalon a few weeks ago. Great guy.

I had my buddy Joe Craig with me to shoot the groom prep and he, as always, did an amazing job.

Enough talk! Pictures!

Douglas

07.06.08 Adam + Lisa

2008-08-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

The blog has been a little heavy on engagement shoots lately & I wanted to slip a wedding in here.

It was pretty fantastic.

Adam and Lisa were married at the Tribeca Rooftop in Manhattan. I love working in the City, especially in venues that are new to me.

Adam and Lisa are just a great couple & I completely enjoyed sharing their day with them.

At the end of the day we went out to shoot on the subway which, it turns out, isn't really allowed. Not sure why it's illegal to take photos on the subway but it is. We dodged a transit cop for a while but it ended up getting what we wanted.

Douglas

first look

2008-08-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

This morning I got my first look at Erin and David's wedding from Saturday & found this early on.

Can't wait to see the rest.

Douglas