There are some weddings that just feel like a giant dinner party. Everyone hugs as though it's been years since they saw each other and the murmur of the dinner conversation buzzes with happiness. After getting to know Erika and Steve, it was no surprise to us that their wedding was such a classy, comfortable affair because they exude such an easy confidence both as a couple and as parents to their darling little girl. Erika and her ladies got ready in the bridal suite of the Willowdale Estate where sweet glances passed between them as the flower girls (Erika's daughter and niece) sort of stole the show with their sweetness. Once Erika was dressed and ready and we were taking some bridal portraits of her, she found a live ladybug in her flower bouquet which we all took as a sign of good luck. Steve and his guys hung around and shared some laughs and food together as they waited for the ladies. Once they were both ready we photographed their first look and couple portraits on the gorgeous grounds of the Willowdale Estate. Willowdale remains one of our favorite venues because even in the early spring where the color has not popped yet, the building serves as such a stunning backdrop for photos. After more photos with family and loved ones everyone prepared for their cozy ceremony inside where Erika's grandfather officiated their wedding. After the kiss, the evening continued with two of the sweetest toasts we've ever heard and lots more hugs from their family and friends. As you can see, the party did not slow down once the dance floor opened up. We loved the range of ages rocking out to 'Shout' and had to laugh when Steve's grandparents took center stage on more than one occasion. Erika and Steve, it's been absolute pleasure working with you both and we couldn't be happier for you as you continue your relationship as husband and wife. Congratulations!
Chuck
Oh man are we excited about this blog post. To be honest, the heart behind this post has been in the works for almost a year. When Matt and I started Summer Street Photography we truly had no idea how (or if) our business would grow. We were two optimistic photographers with a lot of energy and passion for capturing people on the happiest days of their lives. After a few years of working with amazing clients who allowed us into the private and beautiful spaces of one of the most important days of their lives, and more hard work than we ever thought was possible to make a business run - we found ourselves in the shoes of those we had admired for so long. We were operating a successful business. As we became more rooted in the business and dealt with the glorious blessing of growing pains, we realized that in order to continue moving forward, we couldn't remain where we already were. We needed to take a leap of faith to best serve Summer Street Photography. Leaps into the unknown are scary. What happens if this is the straw that breaks the camels back? What will we do if this doesn't work? How do we write a book if we don't know how it ends?
Today's story is one that started almost a year ago. Chuck was introduced to us by our own dear friends (and our wedding photographers) and we instantly clicked with him. Over many meals and swims in Walden Pond, Matt and I realized something at about the same moment. We needed Chuck on our team. Chuck had a full time wedding photography business before he moved to Boston to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, and was an amazing photographer. We worked with Chuck on and off last year to test how he would like dealing with the craziness of working with a married couple. Fortunately we didn't scare him off too much because after a few weddings we all realized we'd found a really great team.
We're thrilled to introduce Chuck to you today as our new Associate Photographer. In addition to working with Matt and I at weddings, Chuck is also available for his own wedding commissions through Summer Street Photography. Just like all the weddings we shoot, all of the administrational work (client communication, editing, blogging) that happens though Summer Street happens through me. In fact, many of the weddings we shoot aren't *just* shot by Matt or I. Chuck had his hand in many of last year's weddings as well, so anyone curious about how Chuck's involvement might change the look of our work can rest assured that the images you've seen over the last year have represented many different combinations of photographers. We are so excited about how Chuck's experience and artistry has already made us a better business and we can't wait to see how things will unfold with him on our team this year.
As a way to get to know Chuck better, we decided a mini Summer Street shoot was in order, along with a fun Q&A with Chuck. Something Matt and I didn't realize until this shoot was how bad we were at taking photos of *each other*. It took us a little while to get a shot that we approved of - but once Chuck stepped behind the lens we got what we needed pretty quickly. On to the interview!
So Chuck, tell us a bit about how you got into photography and why you were drawn to shoot weddings? Photography wasn't always in my life, but being artsy was. I grew up drawing, painting, playing music, and writing poetry, so I was always looking for ways of expressing myself. In college, I accidentally took a few aesthetically pleasing photographs, so I tried to figure out how to create beautiful images on purpose. However, my fatal flaw is that when I pick up a hobby, I get really really into it. This meant I quickly ran out of money to buy all the lenses and camera bodies that I wanted. Incidentally, I caught up with a college friend who was a wedding photographer and was creating some amazing pieces of work. I had never thought that weddings allowed for such creativity and beauty. I then started interning with a local wedding photographer, and I found that I not only loved the pace and excitement of weddings, but that the joy and love of the couple was really contagious. Ever since then, I've been hooked!
In addition to Photography, you're pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology. How do you feel the two topics inform each other? Would you say that your training in psychology helps you while your shooting weddings? Most definitely! Like I mentioned, weddings can be pretty hectic, but I want the couple to remember what they're ultimately there for... which is each other! Sometimes, it takes someone who has seen a lot of weddings to remind them to slow down, take a breath, and relax a bit. Sometimes it also takes someone to remind them that they need to eat lunch and drink fluids or else they risk passing out in the hot sun :). I haven't had to put on my therapist hat during a wedding (knock on wood), but I like to think that I'm a supportive presence during the day.
What was the last meal you ate? Vina (my wife) made pasta with some fresh pesto (yum). We topped it off with some almond pine-nut cookies, and I plan on having some homemade durian ice cream after I finish this interview!
Canon vs. Nikon? Canon all the way :). Really, it's a trivial thing... I honestly think they're both great cameras, but I learned to shoot on Canon so I've stuck with it. My mentor was a Nikon shooter, but he could never convince me that Nikon was better.
How would you describe your shooting style on the day of a wedding? Previous clients have told me that I'm a calming presence, which I certainly hope is true, but I see it more as being on my game yet relaxed at the same time. There's so much craziness going on during the day, the last thing I want to be is another source of stress. In fact, I actively try to stay behind the scenes as much as possible, and am somewhat of a ninja during the ceremony. However, when things need direction (especially with the family photos), trust me when I say that my game face is on and I'm all business. Ultimately, I'm a firm believer that my job is to capture the emotions of the day and the couple just as they are, and to stay out of the picture as much as I can.
Why are you excited to be a Summer Street Associate? Tons of reasons! First, Kendra and Matt are awesome, so being an associate means I get to see them more! Second, I really appreciate the work and heart that they've built into Summer Street, and how they manage to stay grounded and humble. Ultimately, the day is about the couple, so there's no need for photographer drama or ego. I really respect the values that the business is built on, as well as the beautiful work that comes out of it, and jumped on the opportunity to be a part of the team. Before being an official associate, I had lots of opportunities to shoot with them, and being out there felt like we had been doing this together for a really long time. Third, (let me be selfish for a moment here), I really love shooting and working with the couple, but I don't necessarily love the immense amount of editing and post-processing that comes after it. Being an associate means that I get to shoot more and edit less, which I'll gladly take any day!
Starbucks or Dunkin? I don't drink coffee, but I have a Dunkin next to my house, and love their pumpkin donut-holes in the fall. Mmmm.
What does an ideal day in the life of Chuck look like? That's a tough one. I could spend an entire day fishing or gardening, or spend it backpacking and camping, preferably with my wife. Ideally, there would be some really tasty food involved, whether it was the fish I caught, or veggies from the garden, or a meal cooked over hot coals. Then, after any of the aforementioned possibilities, there would be a professional massage. Mmmmmm.
I hear you had a very serious addiction collection of Transformers when you were younger. Do you still have some valuable items? Tell us about it. Guilty as charged. I had an enormous collection in middle and high school, and found some of my rare items featured in publications (uber-geek, I know). While I still have a huge amount of nostalgia for the old 80's transformers, I don't own anything that's worth very much anymore. Before selling my collection (which helped pay for a '79 Corvette and college), I kept my very first transformers I got as a kid, which are well loved but not worth very much if I were to sell them. Maybe one day, if I happen upon an unreasonably large sum of money, I might start collecting again...
You just got married in January 2013 (in Thailand no less). How has the experience of being a Groom changed your perspective of shooting weddings? You know, having done so many weddings, I knew that the day went by quickly. Even so, I was surprised at how fast it all happened. At the end of the day, when we look back on our pictures, I'm so grateful for the work of the photographer, but am also reminded that we didn't need to sweat the small stuff. We got a massage in the middle of the day (which I highly recommend!) and just tried to take things slow and enjoy the process. Now that I'm married, I think I'm going to be just a little more sentimental when I do weddings, knowing what it's like on the other side.
Thanks for tuning in! Here's to a year of amazing weddings!
Jennifer + Robert = Married
Jen and Rob had us from the beginning. Upon one of our first conversations about their wedding, it was then that Jen explained that she'd never seen a wedding album from the people in her family. Due to multiple situations, wedding photos in her family's history were simply non existant. Now that she was going to be marrying the love of her life, she couldn't imagine NOT having a beautiful wedding day to not only share with her friends and family, but to pass down in the threads of her family's history. And what a beautiful story they have to tell! They met when they were just teenagers and knew from the beginning that what they shared was more than just a highschool sweetheart. They faced many trials and tribulations together and always ended up stronger on the other side because of it. They were wed on a beautifully sunny St Patricks Day, which meant the world to them since Rob's family is Irish through and through, and while Jen has some Italian blood running through her veins, she might go as far to say she has a heart of Irish gold. They started their day with their friends and family gathered close as Jen got ready at Rob's grandmother's house (don't you love her vintage veil!?) and Rob got ready with his guys in the home he grew up in. Irish ballads on the bagpipe welcomed guests into the ceremony where Rob and Jen said 'I do' and the Irish festivities continued into the reception with plenty of sweet Irish Blessings and toasts for their happiness. I'm sure by now, if you didn't already know, that the flag they used as a blanket during their portraits is of course the Irish flag. Anyone want to guess where they went on their honeymoon? Jen and Rob, you have been such a pleasure. Congratulations on your marriage; may the road rise to meet you!
Erika + Steve = Engaged
Oh this session makes me so happy. It's the time of the year when everything is a little slow. The weather is grey and chilly and you might rather find yourself bundled up with a good book than out exploring outside. We're in 'off-season' mode here on Summer Street as we busy ourselves with lots of admin work that needs to be done (hello taxes!) and planning for all of the beautiful fetes that will happen later this year. I'll come right out and say it: it's not as much fun as shooting every week. That changed last week when we had the chance to photograph Erika and Steve's Engagement Session on Steve's mom's farm in Billerica. Erika and Steve are fun loving and sweet as can be. They will be getting married in a few short weeks at the Willowdale Estate and we're so excited about capturing their wedding. They have an adorable daughter, Lyla, who was an absolute peach during their session. Did we mention the horses? They acted like old curious farm dogs as they trotted over to us and stuck their muzzle in our lens. So fun. We insisted they take a few family photos in addition to their couple photos. Aren't they just the sweetest together? I love seeing our clients not only as amazing and supportive partners to one another - but also as parents. The love that beams from this family is just more than I can take today. As always, we're left feeling incredibly grateful having the privilege of capturing life's greatest joy: love.
Cara + Jesse = Engaged
It takes a brave couple to endure sub-zero wind chills (without coats - no less) for a January engagement session. As it turns out, Cara and Jesse are more than just brave. They are kind, insightful and full of love for life, one another and their dogs. When we started brainstorming for their Engagement Session they wanted something that would capture their laid back (yet stylish!) lifestyle. We started out at the Addison Gallery of American Art on the Phillips Academy and then braved the cold at their favorite park to hike and take their dogs to in North Andover. They braved the cold and fortunately had each other to keep warm. We've found that cuddling during winter Engagement sessions is both cute *and* necessary for great photos. Cara and Jesse had this one DOWN. We can't wait to shoot their Willowdale Estate wedding in March, it's going to be so cozy and sweet!
Stephanie + Peter = Engaged
I could talk allllll day about these two. You see, Stephanie and Peter are near and dear to our hearts. Once upon a time Matt and Peter went to high school together in St. Paul, MN. They were inseparable and remained close when they went to college together at the University of Minnesota. Stephanie and I were both dance majors and lived just down the hall from one another in Middlebrook Hall. We became fast friends and were soon spending more time together than apart. As many of you know, Matt and I met on the first day of college, so all the while we dated I would spend time with his group of friends and he with mine. Stephanie and Peter had met a few times through mutual gatherings, but never really had the chance to get to know one another. Fast forward four glorious years of late night studying, piled dishes in the sink and the formation of life-long friendships it was time for Matt and I to say goodbye to our beloved friends in Minnesota and head East. There was a little peek of interest that Peter showed towards Stephanie and Stephanie towards Peter, so of course Matt and I milked that for all it was worth and practically made them hold hands during a goodbye party we had in Minneapolis. They exchanged numbers, began hanging out and within a matter of weeks they were dating. We were over the moon but didn't want to jinx anything so we played it cool. As fate would have it, they feel madly in love with one another and are now planning to be wed this fall in their backyard. We jumped at the opportunity to take some Engagement Photos in the chill of a Minnesota January day a few weeks back when we were in Minnesota. They brought their adorable pup, Flika who kind of stole the show. We are SO excited for these two to tie the knot. Congratulations our dear Stephi and Pete!! We love you to pieces!!
Favorite Photos from 2012 - Wedding
What an amazing year it's been. Whenever we stop to count our blessings (which we try to make a daily habit of) we are floored by the opportunities we have to work in a medium we love for really good people. Yes, we take thousands of photos at every wedding and spend countless hours ensuring each image is taken care of and presented with the same joy we captured it with - but without you - our clients and supporters - our work is nothing. We'd have no beautiful flower arrangements to ooh and ah at, we'd have no sweet glances to capture when a couple sees one another for the first time on their wedding day, we'd never hear your loved ones toasting to eternal happiness and we'd certainly have a lot fewer friends. The truth is, weddings are filled with emotions and it's a complete honor to be able to bottle those up and give them back to you each and every wedding. After a wedding is over, when we're home and editing photos on a tuesday morning, we're still laughing about the way your Uncle Randy took center stage during 'Gangnam Style', we're still inspired by the hard work you've put into your wedding details and with each and every couple portrait that we edit and refine, our observations of your love reinforces why marriage is such a beautiful thing. We love capturing these moments and giving them back to you as a visual journal of one of the happiest days of your lives. We can't help but feel as though the joy and love of these special days rubs off on us too. It's contagious, and we can only hope 2013 will bring as much hard work, excitement and happiness as 2012. Happy New Year, Friends!
Favorite Photos from 2012 - Engagement
We're on to part II of our three part 2012 recap, Engagements! Time and time again, Engagement Sessions prove to be a fun and productive time before the big day. They are low pressure and extremely useful. Like we tell our clients, we're used to working with real couples (not models) so while we have little tips and games to play during sessions, it's still a great idea for you as a couple to get some experience under your belt being in front of the camera for eight or more hours on your wedding day. This way, you can get to know how we work and shoot, and we can get to know you better too. Most people wouldn't plan a wedding without attending a catering tasting, getting dress alterations, a makeup trail or doing a venue walk though - so why would you skip out on a test run with us before the wedding day? Plus, it's always great to have a nice photo of you and your fiancee for Save the Dates, Wedding Websites, mom's mantel or even a facebook profile photo to commemorate the exciting time in your life. Engagement sessions can be nerve racking, but every. single. couple. we've photographed left saying "that wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it would be, in fact it was pretty fun!" In addition to our own wedding clients, we also get the honor of photographing a few couples each year who live in Boston but are getting married in a different part of the country or world. These are a few of our favorite Engagement images from 2012. Tune in later for a HUGE post of some of our favorite wedding images!
Favorite Photos from 2012 - Lifestyle
Gathering photos for our end of the year recap is not an easy task. It involves searching through each and every shoot, wedding and personal folder to gather some of our favorite images. When I first started, I had gathered over 700 images. Narrowing down from there was not an easy task, so rather than relentlessly selecting *just the right photos* I decided to adopt the mantra "done is better than perfect." So, you'll be getting not one, not two but THREE separate blog posts today categorized into three types: Lifestyle (see above), Engagement and Wedding. We'll post all three today - so get ready for a lot of photos! It's been an incredible year filled with photography, so we hope you enjoy a small recap of the hundreds of thousands of times we clicked our shutter this year. The above photos include many personal projects (from Paris to Guatemala to the Badlands of South Dakota) and also a few snippets from the senior, family, baby and head shot clients we get the honor of photographing each year. The majority of these photos were taken on film, which is our preferred method of taking personal photos since it forces you to slow down and think carefully before you take the photo - something you don't always get the luxury of on a wedding day. We hope these photos make you as happy as they make us!
Neelum + Brian = Married
Neelum and Brian were married on a beautiful December day. The clouds built with moisture all day and just a few minutes before we stepped inside the downtown Boston Sheraton Hotel, giant snowflakes began to fall from the sky. There are occasions where we don't get to meet the bride and groom until the wedding day, and since Neelum and Brian were planning their wedding from a distance this was one of those times, but meeting Neelum and Brian for the first time on their wedding day was like meeting a long-standing pen pal. We'd been talking throughout their engagement so once we actually got to meet them it was totally comfortable and easy. I started with Neelum as she got ready for the ceremony in a room that had a stunning view of Boston. She was calm and excited as she dressed in her beautiful red gown and glittering jewels. Doesn't she look gorgous in her bridal portraits? Simultaneously, Matt was grabbing some photos of Brian and his guys. I love the outdoor snow series. Next we geared up for their ceremony where their family and friends greeted them with sweet smiles and lots of laughter. By the time the ceremony was over, the sun had set (thank you, December) but we still managed to capture Neelum and Brian's newlywed glow with the help of the holiday twinkle lights and some off camera lighting rigs. Neelum and Brian are troopers for heading outside in freezing temps and heavy wet snow for us to get photos of them. The evening concluded with a cozy dinner in the chandelier-draped ballroom followed by toasts and dancing. Neelum and Brian, we are honored to get to tell your story, and wish you nothing but the best. Congratulations!
Erika + Jeffrey = Engaged
If this isn't the sweetest thing you'll see today I will personally buy you a coffee. I mean seriously. Look at these two. Erika and Jeffrey are adorable *on ice skates*. That is talent, folks. Matt and I insisted that we better not join them on the ice because of the nature of camera equipment, a quarter of an inch blade holding us up on ice and dozens of other people who may run into us while shooting - but we all know that the real reason is because there is no way we could have photographed their adorableness on ice. We would have spent the entire time shifting our feet awkwardly on the ice and fallen down too many times to count. Not Erika and Jeffrey though. I swear they are secret hockey and figure skaters in their free time. They both laced up and whirled around the pond with such ease and grace. While stationed on the edge of the rink and watching them glide round and round together I even overheard a few onlooking girls talking about how watching Erika and Jeffrey "made them really happy." I couldn't agree more. We had a great time photographing them on the rink and off on the streets of Beacon Hill and can't wait for their Smith Barn Wedding this June. It's going to be a blast!
Rajween + Raj = Engaged
Let's get 2013 off on the right foot, shall we? We shot Rajween and Raj's Boston Engagement session just days before their wedding in Singapore. They both live in Boston and had been engaged for almost two years before their wedding day. They decided having Engagement Photos in Boston would be a perfect way to commemorate this time in their lives, and we couldn't agree more. Don't they look stunning amongst the deep, rich light of a December afternoon? I love that Rajween brought along cupcakes with their wedding date on them, and loved even more when she decided Raj needed some frosting on his face. These two are fun and light hearted, which pretty much guarantees that they'll succeed at anything marriage brings their way. Congratulations Rajween and Raj!
Six One Seven Dance Collective
There are some days that I feel the need to pinch myself. From as long as I can remember, my dream in life has been fill my days with good things: family, good food, beautiful friends and lots of art. These are the things that light me on fire and ignite the best parts of who I am. The fact that I get to make art for a living still blows my mind and there isn't a day that goes by that I feel incredibly grateful for this gift. As many of you know, dance is my first love. I've been dancing for over 20 years, have traveled around the country and world training and performing and have a BFA in dance. For any dance major, the ultimate goal is to be able to incorporate dance into your life post graduation in any way possible. We unfortunately live in a time and place where arts funding is limited making jobs very difficult or nearly impossible for many extremely talented dancers. I knew this going in (and out) of my college program, but somehow knew it was all going to be okay and that if I was pursuing something I loved more than anything that I would learn things along the way that would make it work. After moving to Boston from Minnesota I never once regretted my decision to study dance - even though the free lancing dance world can be exhausting and you live on close to poverty level salaries. When photography came into my life, I realized that it wasn't necessarily dance itself that has me in rapture - it was creating art. Now my days are filled with lots of weddings and beautiful love stories to document, but I still get to dance. It's a beautiful thing and I'm beyond grateful. Three years ago I started a small dance company here in Boston in hopes to have a deeper and more meaningful relationships with dancers and choreographers. When the company started, I had no idea that it would be where it is today. No, it's not an international success with dozens of funders or scholarship programs or national tours. In fact, I'm sure that many people in the Boston Dance Community don't even know we exist. Instead it's grown into a beautiful space for dancers to share bits of themselves and their lives and for us to create art together to address these snippets of our collective perspectives through performance. It's a beautiful group of women who are open and honest with each other and have hopes for making our world a better place simply by being better people. These women inspire me every week to live bigger and take risks. Once I year I convince them to allow me to photograph them - and once I year I feel the most exhilarating surge of excitement combining my two creative pursuits. Aren't they beautiful?
Pattie + Alix = Engaged
We had the greatest time shooting Pattie and Alix's Engagement Photos at the Crane Estate in Ipswich, Mass. Not only are these two gorgeous, smart and successful - they are truly grounded individuals who know themselves and have hearts of gold. Spend five minutes watching these two and its clear that they have a gift. We met up with them at one of our favorite estates on the north shore which provided a stunning backdrop for their session. Between the rolling hills, sunken gardens, ripe foliage and cozy ear muffs Pattie wore for part of the session - I can't pick a favorite photo. I've just decided to love them all for different reasons, and I think you may have to do the same. It's clear that they are naturals in front of the camera so we can't wait to capture them again on their wedding day next June!
Sarah + Ben = Married
Oh this wedding was just the sweetest thing. Sarah and Ben were married on a sunny day in November at the Boston Temple where a sea of loving family and friends waited for them as they exited the temple as husband and wife. We couldn't stop smiling as we photographed their joyful exit into the world as a married couple and loved watching them beam with excitement. After some photos at the Temple, we stole them away to photograph their newlywed glow on the grounds of their reception at the Whittemore Robbins House in Arlington. The house is stunning as-is, but also sits right beside the Arlington Town Hall which has a beautiful garden so we were sure to grab some photos of them there, both together and apart. Doesn't Sarah have the most lovely bridal glow? I'm loving the series of her in the gardens after the ceremony where the content look on her face says it all. So pretty. Later, the celebration continued at the Robbins House with more family and friends who came to celebrate their union with cheesecake and lots of hugs. Ben and Sarah remained on cloud nine as the evening progressed and shared a quiet moment at the end of the reception in the grand ballroom with a sweet first dance. They had a beautiful day that made me feel like I was in a historical romance novel (those of you who know me know how much I must have enjoyed that). Congratulations Sarah and Ben! We wish you all the happiness in the world.