5.25.08 Ross + Alexandra

Alex & Ross stopped by the house Saturday.

We pulled together images from our engagement shoot last summer for an album they'll use as a guest sign-in book at their wedding in May. I think it turned out great.

Working with these summer images in the dead of winter felt really good. So I'm posting them here & maybe they'll make you feel good, too.

A public service brought to you by Douglas Benedict Photography ;)

Best,
Douglas

Hooper & Me

I shot a dog in my basement.

Well, I photographed him, I should say.

Hooper is one of the hundreds of homeless dogs who live at The Center for Animal Health & Welfare, the shelter where my wife Wendy spends a lot of time volunteering. Our circle of friends includes a lot of gifted photographers & it was Wendy's genius idea to create a gallery of portraits to put in a show and raise money for The Center.

Our friends really stepped up and created some wonderful images including fellow wedding photographer - and uber talented - Alison Conklin. So did my buddy Joe Craig and a bunch of other great Lehigh Valley photographers.

The show will run the entire month of February at PopMart, 38 West Broad Street in downtown Bethlehem.

Here's a snap Wendy shot of me shooting Hooper, a big, loveable pit that I hope gets adopted soon.

Best,
Douglas

11.24.07 Jesse + Basha

Philly.
Love it.

Basha & Jesse & Philly.
Awesome.

I loved these two the moment I met in them in a coffee shop near Rittenhouse Square last spring. They were excited and in love and super enthusiastic about photography.

Their wedding and reception were at The Westin, a killer downtown hotel, and it was still (barely) warm enough to get out into the city for pictures.

The ceremony and reception had the most amazing light ever. See for yourself.

I also got to work again with my friend and wedding planner Jenn Poletti of Perfect Planners who, as usual, made the whole day run smoothly.

Thanks, Basha and Jesse, it was a real thrill.

Douglas

11.03.07 Scott + Laura

I wrote a really long ramble about shooting pictures I've never shot before, even at venues I've worked dozens of times.

I deleted it. Too many words.

Here's the picture, though. I like it a lot.



Scott and Laura were just awesome. These are more I really like. I hope they do, too.

Best,
Douglas

More Gifts

I just wrote about this kind of image in my last blog.

But I never tire of them and hope to have hundreds more to put here. I don't know this couple. They were strangers to me, two people dancing at a wedding. But I know someting about them, everything I probably need to know, because of this image they gave me.

More, please.

Best,
Douglas

10.20.07 Jason + Erica

My job, sometimes, is impossibly easy. I show up, people share amazing moments and I snap the picture. Click. Done.

It's as simple as that: The best pictures are gifts.

This gift was given to me by Jason and Erica and Jason's dad Paul:


I sent this photo to my buddy and said: "This is why I do what I do." It's authentic and powerful. It speaks to me about the people who are in it. It moves me.

I'll trade a bucket full of pretty silhouette's for just one of these. The good ones - the really great ones - have to be given to you.

Jason and Erica felt like old friends by the time their wedding rolled around. You may remember them from an earlier blog about their engagement photo last year outside the movie theater. We put their names on the marquee and shot them in the street at night. It was awesome.

And so was their wedding. It was warm & fun & loving.

Thanks for the photos,
Douglas

10.13.07 Ryan + Kristin

There have been many more great weddings than I've had time to post here.

Please meet Ryan & Kristin. I finished working on these images today and I can't wait for them to see them.

Best,
Douglas