Happy New Years people! I hope you all rang in the new year in style and I hope you are all sticking to your resolutions and being good. As for me, I didn’t really do much on New Years Eve, I just chilled on the couch. Thats because the very next morning we had to gear up and shoot our very first wedding of the 2010 season. I’m sure you all remember that popular 2009 engagement session featuring that couple that started dating in the 11th grade? Well they tied the knot on the first day of 2010. Pretty cool way to set off the year huh? I’ll tell you what are some other cool ways to set off the year and wedding season. First its working with your fiance and her awesome flower shop Fleurtacious Designs. Next would be shooting along side your good friend videographer Al Woodard. Also shooting at Saratoga National is always great especially when hanging with DJ Paul Malo (518.383.3978) while he rocks the house all night. I could work with these peeps all the time! I can’t say enough good things about Kristen, Dan & their families, they are just totally enjoyable people all around. I wish these high school  sweethearts the best in their new chapter of life. We also thank you guys for having us, we know you interviewed quite a few people and appreciate your choosing us!

Enjoy, leave love,
JP

Before I get to the images I just wanted to remind all the future brides & grooms out there that we’ll be at The 2010 Glen Sanders Bridal Show @ the mansion. Its hands down one of the best bridal shows around with some real quality vendors. So please stop by and say hi!

We’ll set it off in a purple room with some great details.

I’m digging this ring shot a lot.

This one is really special. Kristen’s leaving her empty room behind to start out her life with Dan. Look, I’m not trying to sound sappy but thats the reason I took this shot.

I’m loving the bouquet Kris Ann did for Kristen.

I’m also loving the color of these dresses.

The guys we’re just hanging in this building when we arrived at the church. I liked this space for the guys shot.

Do you remember their engagement shoot?

Back when I shot that image above I had in mind that we’d do their first look in the same spot.

This was my favorite first look yet this year ;)

A little snuggle..

Isn’t this church sweet?

If you’re friends with me on FB you’ve already saw this image on Sunday.

This is just fun.

It wasn’t too cold while the ladies walked in church for the wedding..

This is probably one of my favorites from the whole day.

Same thing from the other side.

When we got to SGNC there was still some bits of daylight left.. It was actually a lot darker than these images appear. Thank God for fast lenses.

I love the background.. the little bit of moisture in the air makes this image look like a painting.

The ballroom was all decked out winter style… the lighting and gobo’s were done by Total Events (thanks megan).

I assume they had the cocktail hour downstairs since Prime was closed for the holiday.

And I’ll leave you with this little animated image… if you want to see the video Al shot head over here.

Ah yes folks with the year ending and a new ones beginning that means it’s time for some of that “best of” and behind the scenes stuff. Since last years behind the scenes post was so popular I thought I must do one from the 2009 season. This is a long post and has lots of images. I couldn’t narrow them down, so why not share all my favs? There is 54 images below this test. It’s crazy right? So what? They’re all fun images. I’d love to thank all my 2009 blog stalkers and would love to hear more from you all in the comment box below. Don’t be shy, I don’t bite. But back to all the followers… Thanks sooo much for coming back often, looking, sharing with others and I know we’ll be giving you all some awesome stuff for the 2010 season. In fact, I promise! Happy New Year ya’ll. See ya next year!

Enjoy, leave love,
JP

I’ll try to do these in chronological order beginning back in April when the season kicked into full speed…..

This is a typical reaction I might do if the last thing I shot really was awesome.

Throughout this post you’ll see a lot of these “the making of” images.. Me and Al Woodard shooting some awesome shots of the famous Jaimee & Sean’s wedding.

This one’s special to me since it was the first bride & groom I’ve ever asked to sit on the ground without any sheets, blankets tarps etc… I just said “trust me Jess…” and their images rocked. Shortly after this bride sitting on the bridge shot you might have noticed a trend popping up throughout the local wedding scene of brides and grooms sitting on bridge / ground / field. I know for certain it’s become a staple in my arsenal of images….. And YES brides, you can tell me no.

The result..

This is just funny.

I just love the look on the brides face when my lovely and talented fiance Kris Ann was showing her bouquet for the first time. More than that though, look at the joy in Kris Ann’s face knowing she’s sending a satisfied bride down the aisle.

Remember that shoot at Saratoga Race Track? Anthony might try and front but that guard was making him nervous. Jivon would back me up.

Remember that shoot I did in Fenway Park? Did I mention I was scuffing my Frye’s all over this dugout? Hope John Henry doesn’t read my blog.

Just after I took this shot they took their hats off…

And look where they put them! I thought it was totally fitting seeing how their season ended with PapleBUM! I’m sorry but as a Yankee fan I needed to get my dig in.. 27 baby!

Me & Pops taking a break…

A little directing going on here… I just like this shot..

“The making of” a ring shot in a hotel room.

Another “the making of” shot..

Pop’s and I will often meet up at the reception location before a wedding. At this one I was elected to drive and I title this one “Where’s the brides house?”.

I bet I could have got them to sit on these yellow lines if not for the 55mph motorists on the road. This “the making of” is pretty neat.

“The making of” one of many images of Kristin on her wedding day.

“The making of” a standard shoe/dress shot. Jivon’s bedroom had easily the best light ever.

In Jivon’s fathers museum I mean garage. Big Joe was in love with all the Corvettes in there.

I like this shot because I know I just shot some of my favorite images from the 2009 season. It’s just has a cool look to it. Big Joe’s always been awesome with those super wide angle shots and I think this is one is a standard “Big Joe shot”.

This is me saying to myself… “I wonder what size Kris Ann is?” I was caught in the act jacking some flip flops.

When I shot this image of my pops I told him all that was missing was a big “E” off to the left.

Music Man Mike Garrasi chilling with Big Joe who is clearly snacking on a roll or crackers or something yummy from Angelo’s pantry.

Typical, we’re ready, they’re not.

Big Joe looking all cool like he’s part of the wedding party or something.

“The making of” the get a little closer shot.

In Congress Park during wedding season on a Saturday you’d be amazed how many wedding partys come thru and sometimes you run into other photogs.. My buddy Alisha Clark clearly taking a break with cola in hand.

Sometimes I just can’t find him when we’re working.

“The making of” the guys shot in front of the greatest looking church in all of Saratoga.

“The making of” an in your face bride portrait.

Who say’s I can’t do a bling shot? This awesome “bling” was a napkin ring holder or something I found.. haha cool right?

The Franklin Plaza mirror. I know every photographer who’s shot there has at some point in time done this… I especially like the hat on the tall guy. Something looks funny there.

Another mirror shot….

“The making of” one of my favorite images from Sarah & Ben’s awesome October wedding..

Photo by Mayor Jennings.. You can count on him jacking one of our cameras at any given event. He must only shoot Canon Pops.

Having a serious chat with wedding planner Katie O‘… probably sounded like this. JP: “So we’re running behind?” Katie O’: “Yeah but only 15 mins.” In Katies defense I’m certain it was not her doing for a slightly delayed start. Here’s a news flash folks… nothing ever runs on time, not weddings.

So the girls were not ready and I went to the guys room and got this awesome ring shot.

Then Al & I waited for the guys and goofed off..

Another “the making of” the guys shot..

One of my fav’s of Big Joe in action… the light is just sweet.

Stop! Mirror time! This woman’s clearly watching herself walk. Everyone does at the Hall of Springs.

Another “the making of” a really awesome ring shot.

When you both work in the wedding biz this is how you spend your quality time together..

“The making of “my favorite shoe shot this season.

Me & the famous Alayne of Make Me Fabulous.

Just for the record… I’ve been meaning to address this. Its Al Woodard, not Al WoodWard! One “W” in the last name. Everyone gets that wrong and it drives me crazy. Al on the other hand just laughs.

Classic HOS mirror shot.

“The making of” the “squat shot” or to sound better the crouching shot. This was coined by a popular west coast shooter [b]ecker I give props to the originator.

“The making of” I just love the light in this image. Thanks to our assistant Kat for bumping it back at em’

Kat likes pumpkins lol! They were actually sticky haha.

On day three of a three wedding weekend I might make this face. This is my “are we ready?” look.

Lexie likes to blog too! Seriously this is the messiest you’ll ever see my office. The fall kicked my butt.

Diane of Video Craft and myself mirroring it up in the casino.

And with this image I think we’re up to date! See ya next year!

Well with this wedding post the 2009 wedding season has officially come to an end! Thats 39 weddings for the 2009 season. All 39 weddings were so different! They were fun, challenging, interesting, unique, beautiful, simple, hot, cold, rainy, sunny, colorful, long and some were stressful. That being said Big Joe and myself wouldn’t change a thing! We loved our class of 2009 newlyweds and we’re stoked to have given you all some seriously awesome memories in the form of photos!

So that brings us to wedding #39, Melinda & Ken. This was seriously an awesome event to exit 2009 with. They did it up nice. I believe it was 24 people and of that 24 it was their closest family and friends. They had Saratoga National, they had my wife to be Kris Ann of Fluertacious Desings, they had Al Woodard shooting the motion and they had their favorite band Bulletproof Messenger rock out one of the loudest cocktail hours we’ve ever worked. It was a great day with the bluest of sky’s I’ve seen all of December. Melinda & Ken we thank you both for trusting us with your big day! You both were a pleasure to work with. Congrats!

Enjoy, leave love,
JP

I like this shot of Melinda fixing her shoe.

I’m digging the rare peonies flowers in December. Fleurtacious is awesome!

Stunning..

Seriously, thats a blue sky…

Ceremony time.. This might be one of the most difficult ceremonies we shot all year in terms of lighting.. The backlight was serious.

This image captures almost all their wedding guests including myself and Al W.

I love this stuff…

Might be my fav all day…

It was chilly but a beautiful day!

Some nice details for you..

And I’ll leave you with a few favs from the reception.

Hi all! I hope Santa was good to everyone. Isn’t the holiday season fun? It’s pretty great shooting weddings this time of year too. Everyones in such a great mood and looking to party. That was the deal for sure at Ryan & Stephen’s wedding. The Historic Canfield Casino is just the greatest place in the world folks. We just love shooting there! I’ll let the images tell the story here. We thank Ryan & Stephen for having us capture their big day! Congrats guys!

Enjoy, leave love,
JP

Ryan’s got some killer blue eyes huh?

Stephen and his boys…

Their first look series was just sweet. I love the contrast between my fathers images and mine here. Just awesome stuff.

The floor is so cool.

Go on Ryan, do the spin around..

Congress Park covered in snow… don’t get much better than this.

It was absolutely freezing. Ryan held it down and never said she was cold. Proves my theory that most brides are numb on wedding day.

Whatever, I know people.

Classic bench/snow shot.

This was just one of those true candid moments that happened and I happened to be shooting them. Probably my fav all day.

The date: December 19.

Remember  where ya saw it first ;)

I’ve never used the phone booth in the Casino so why not?

Some details of an awesome location.

The next time I step into this space wearing a tux it will be our wedding day. I just kept thinking about that throughout their ceremony.

I just love reaction shots of parents during the ceremony.

Lilly & Rose catered this one.

This is a must have image for all Casino weddings.

And because Christmas was 6 days later….