Come on, get happy!: Elara + Mike

When I interviewed with Elara and her lovely mother last year, she seemed like such a happy person. Maybe it was the stress of having a wedding day with great weather, a beautiful location and the constant attention of Mike, her doting, loving groom, but I couldn't seem to get a smile out of her. Have a look, it's sad that such a winsome bride couldn't have a better time on her biggest day.

Mom gets some help securing the back of Elara's dress.

Sure it's a cliche but if it's fun, then I say to heck with worrying about that. Besides, even an old chestnut like can reveal something about the subjects.

Elara's father didn't say much on Saturday but his non-stop smile spoke volumes.


I don't know what this device is called that Elara is jumping for joy upon, but it's a series of plates that sounds musical tones when pressed. I think this would have been a good time for video.




I have no idea what the exact placement of the garter was here but I believe Elara wished it was positioned in a spot easier for Mike to find.


I'm more than a decade away from watching my son get married but I can already sympathize with Mike's mother holding on tight during their dance.

I don't think this little one has been to nearly as many weddings as me but even once might be too much for some to witness otherwise dignified people move to a terribly loud version of the "Electric Slide."


Thank you, Elara + Mike. You and your friends and family were warm and gracious subjects. Elara, you were beaming, beautiful and organized, the perfectly-balanced bride.

Bigger + Better: The new website

While I loved my now-former website, the host of the site seemed incapable of handling the responsibility of making sure the face of my business was up and running consistently. Last year, they even deleted the site "accidentally" and claimed there was no backup. Since my mother (Happy Mother's Day!) might someday discover the internet and read this, I won't share the colorful language I used to suggest they never lose my site again. Well, they didn't lose it but it's been down occasionally and even once is too much. So, I found a new host, bought a new site and it's up and running.
The upside of going thru all this I have a way to display much larger images. I'm still filling in some blanks on the site but check it out, let me know what you think. It's right here.

But seriously, folks: Erin + Zach

To say the groom's family at Saturday's shindig has a serious problem taking anything seriously (except having fun), might imply they ever have a somber moment. I can't say I wasn't warned. I photo'd the groom's sister's wedding last year and knew what I signed up for. Witness the siblings below, mocking the groom (left) and he, in turn, mocking himself (if that's possible). I should add that the bride's family was quietly charming (could have been fear though).

Fun dress shot of the week. This is what happens during quiet times when my mind is allowed to wander and/or wonder.


Zach, with a dramatic turn by his brother and best man, Josh, decided it would be funny to photograph what it would look like if he changed his mind about marriage. Even his running has comic effect.

Can't make this stuff up. A new one for me: ring instructions for the bride...

...and her reaction when she discovered it. She's laughing, really.

I can't tell here if Josh, the next in line to get married, is supervising his little brother or looking for ideas for his wedding. Josh said his wedding will either be in Florida or Argentina. I'm voting for Argentina.

Zach reached his breaking point and decided it was time to go before he got another grandmother kiss. So, like any modern man, he grabbed his bride and gently dropped her in the getaway car. But not before she stole one last kiss from her mom.

Size 17, need I say more? Zach endured dress shoes a couple sizes too small all day so when we escaped to a park for fun photos, he changed into his shiny new Pumas. Dogs that big really suffer in bad shoes.

No, not Pam from The Office (top 10 TV), just Erin in a quiet moment.




Thanks to both families for fun and funny day. See you in Argentina.

Mini-Me, but better

My little man, Evan, decided last week that he needed a tie. Heaven only knows where he got that idea, not from me and my wife claims ignorance as well. We're not stupid parents though. You gotta positively reinforce any idea that doesn't involve another Spiderman t-shirt or McDonalds. Kelly wasted no time in getting him to a store before he changed his mind. Here he is, in his Sunday best.
(It's not a clip-on, it's a zip-on. The small side of the tie has a zipper and it pulls thru the knot. First, plastic corks and now this.)