Best of 2018: Taylor and Justin with Poppyseed Photography

Kelly Taylor, of Poppyseed Photography, is a friend and colleague from RIT who makes wonderful work, all while having a great time; so I was enthralled when I was invited to second-shoot Taylor and Justin’s wedding. I never know what to expect when I show up to photograph the groomsmen getting ready. And while I did arrive to the sometimes typical manly dialogue, I was impressed with Justin’s gratitude for his groomsmen, and the care that went into the custom caricature flasks he made for all of them. Similarly, I was drawn to Taylor’s bond with her brother, who stood with her and the bridesmaids, in addition to her appreciation for the craft of photography and videography. The weather could not have been better; clear skies morphed into a colorful clouded sunset over the Cobblestone Creek Country Club. Taylor and Justin had a wedding a beautiful that most couples dream of. Lastly, a quick shout-out to H&H Entertainment, as I don’t think I’ve ever danced so much with a camera in-hand.

Best of 2018: Heather and Jacob with Tim West

2018 has been a year of much transition and change. After leaving full time desk work in DC, I returned to my hometown of Rochester, NY to be with family and do some soul searching. I have been graced and blessed to work alongside wonderful photographers, and make portraits of many lovely clients. Over the next week, I will be sharing some of my favorite collections from the year.

The first collection is of Heather and Jacob’s wedding; which I second-shot for Tim West. For those unfamiliar with the term “second-shooting”, it refers to an additional photographer being hired on to document the day and assist the primary photographer. I always encourage couples to hire a team of 2 for their wedding to a) have coverage in two places at once, b) get two different artistic perspectives of the day, and lastly, c) for added insurance of getting all of the shots on the “wish list”. The primary photographer does all of the heavy lifting, so I am always gracious when a photographer invites me to second-shoot under them.  

The ceremony and reception were at a homey venue, Kings Catering, in a quiet part of Canandaigua, NY. The bartender even delivered drinks to the wedding party while we were doing portraits in the hot summer sun. Jacob was a groom that I could immediately connect to; with his deep sentiment and willingness to express his emotions. The bride, Heather, was laid-back yet adventurous, and a ton of fun to work with. I have worked with Tim West a few times this year and it is always a joy; Tim is incredibly talented and patient; and provides the candid, honest feedback that I miss dearly from art course critiques at RIT. Please check out Tim’s work on his web page.