Catherine + Ryan, Philadelphia

I don't care what Miss Manners says, it's never too late, even in our instant-gratification world, to say thank you. So, it's on bended, arthritic knee that I offer my humble gratitude to a great friend and wonderful photographer, Ryan Donnell, and his wife, Catherine, for asking me to photograph their wedding in Philadelphia.
As if that weren't enough, I managed to trick best friend and former protégé, Chip Somodevilla, a talented photographer for Getty Images, to leave D.C. to join me and triple the talent level. I must tell you, Chip, the padawan is now the master.
The icing on the cake (or the frothy head on the pint of Guiness, as it were), was the abundance of dear, old friends galore and whole lot of genuine Irish folk whose endearing talent for a good time was on full display.



The Brothers Donnell (some fine genes there)


Chip. If news, or love, breaks out, he's armed and creatively dangerous.




Ryan was the greatest groom ever, loving and attentive to his bride and, best for me, laidback. The entire ceremony, whether he was looking out at friends and family or gazing at Catherine, his Cheshire Cat grin never diminished. It's the sign of a man who knows he hit the jackpot of love.




Mild-mannered Matt Rourke, a photographer for the Associated Press, doing what he should have done when he was recently treated to a night in jail while covering the Republican convention in St. Paul.




BFF and lovely photographer Allison V. Smith with artist and major player Guillermo Munro (he's twice as dangerous as he looks).




Dear Lord, how did this get here? That's me actually dancing with my beautiful wife, Kelly. I only do this when clients cramp my style with too many formal group pictures or, in this case, allow me to drink on the job. God bless the Irish!