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Under the Veil
Nikon 50mm, ISO 800, f/1.8, 1/160
Still in the pursuit of my goal of catching up with posting past work—before I get into current projects (provided I have time!)—just a month ago I was the main photographer for the wedding of Chelsea and Jonathan Durbin in Louisville, KY. With mostly the same equipment as I used in my previous wedding, and the addition of the Rokinon 16mm f/2, I had my ducks in a row as far as gear preparation goes. In stark contrast to the rustic, small-scale wedding I shot prior, this catholic wedding with a large bridal party forced me to change techniques and styles around to keep up with the proceedings. Thankfully, I enlisted the help of Lisa Britton—another freelancer in the Cincinnati area—to help as backup and lighting assistant (Nikon d7000 with Tamron 24-70mm). As a larger wedding with more events to cover, this post contains significantly more photographs than my previous photo story, so make sure you have the time to peruse through the following. With that, let’s get to some shots! Arriving at the groom’s family home a few minutes ahead of the bridesmaids, I had a bit of time to get gear dropped off and set up. When the bride showed up, she already had her veil on, ready to go for the day:
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Veil at the Ready
Tamron 38mm, ISO 200, f/2.8, 1/320
Of course, as is typical, much of the next hour saw the bride and bridesmaids working on getting makeup and hair finished up:
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Finishing Makeup
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 400, f/2, 1/40
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The Curls
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 200, f/2, 1/30
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Glossy
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 800, f/2, 1/60
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Lifted Up
Zeiss 32mm, ISO 100, f/1.8, 1/320
Eventually the groomsmen showed up to the getting-ready location for their part of preparation—putting their outfits on, and just hanging out:
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Tighten Up
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 800, f/2, 1/60
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Waiting Around
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 800, f/2, 1/60, off-camera umbrella
The groom took a while to show up due to traffic, so they preoccupied themselves with messing around on guitars and attempting to open some moonshine.
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Guitar Chill
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 400, f/2, 1/100, off-camera umbrella
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Sore Hands
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 400, f/2, 1/60
The groom made it in time for some quick posed portraits before everyone had to head out, however:
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Groom, Front and Center
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 400, f/2, 1/125, off-camera umbrella
Around the same time, the bridesmaids and bride finished up their dress preparation:
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Dress Train
Tamron 24mm, ISO 1250, f/2.8, 1/15
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Heel Check
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 800, f/2, 1/40
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The Zip-Up
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 800, f/2, 1/80
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Friends in the Mirror
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 800, f/2, 1/50
Finally, with dresses and tuxes set and ready, everyone headed over to the St. Agnes Catholic Church for final preparation and portraits.
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Plaza
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 100, f/2, 1/200
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Front Candle
Nikon 80mm, ISO 1600, f/2.8, 1/60
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Grand Apse
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 800, f/4, 1/80
Friends and family helped with simple decorations—wanting the beauty of the sanctuary to speak for itself—ranging from the older…
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Big Helper
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 800, f/2, 1/125
…to the younger…
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Little Helper
Tamron 24mm, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/50
Before starting the formal portraits, I had a small chance to get the ring bearer and flower girl together in one shot:
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Small Escort
Nikon 80mm, ISO 320, f/2.8, 1/800
In addition, the groomsmen fiddling around with their boutonnieres made for some more photographic opportunity:
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Boutonnière Help
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 800, f/2, 1/60
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Detail
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 800, f/2, 1/60
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Piano Pose
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 800, f/2, 1/60
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Bridal Party Formal
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 200, f/2, 1/250
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Wishing Luck
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 200, f/2, 1/250
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Scrunched
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 200, f/2, 1/250
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All In
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 200, f/2, 1/100
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The “Bridesmaids” Pose
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 200, f/2, 1/250
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Standing Tall
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 200, f/2, 1/250
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Casual on the Steps
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 200, f/2, 1/250
Of course, the bride wanting an individual shot with each of the little helpers in the wedding was well warranted:
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Bride and Ring Bearer
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 100, f/2, 1/200
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Bride and Flower Girl
Tamron 24mm, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/30
With most formal shots out of the way (thankfully before the sun set), it was due time for the ceremony to begin inside:
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Musicians
Nikon 80mm, ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/160
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Cross Bearer
Nikon 116mm, ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/100
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Bearer of the Book of Gospels
Nikon 200mm, ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/100
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Casual
Nikon 200mm, ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/80
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Little Helpers
Nikon 80mm, ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/100
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Wide Procession
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 800, f/2, 1/100
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From the Balcony
Tamron 24mm, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/20
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Arrival
Nikon 80mm, ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/125
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Handshake Send-Off
Nikon 80mm, ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/100
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Bridesmaids
Nikon 200mm, ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/125
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Cantor
Nikon 200mm, ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/250
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Looking Out
Nikon 86mm, ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/250
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Two Rows
Nikon 145mm, ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/100
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Lined-Up
Zeiss 32mm, ISO 800, f/1.8, 1/320
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The Vows
Nikon 200mm, ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/320
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Ring Exchange
Nikon 200mm, ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/125
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Decor
Zeiss 32mm, ISO 800, f/1.8, 1/160
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Architecture
Zeiss 32mm, ISO 800, f/1.8, 1/320
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The Kiss
Nikon 200mm, ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/320
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Newlywed
Zeiss 32mm, ISO 800, f/1.8, 1/125
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Escorts
Zeiss 32mm, ISO 800, f/1.8, 1/80
Once friends and family made it outside, everyone had a white balloon to release to celebrate the bride and groom exiting the church:
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Making an Exit
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 3200, f/2, 1/100
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Floating Away
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 3200, f/2, 1/100
My work was far from over at this point, as Lisa and I scrambled to set up some off-camera umbrellas back on stage to capture formal bridal party/family photographs. I gelled the flashes to give off a warmer color to help match the (still very mixed) stage lighting. As I mentioned earlier, these photographs took a long time with all the members present:
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Wedding Party
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 400, f/2, 1/80, 2 umbrellas at eighth power (CTO 1/4 orange)
With the audience well on their way to the reception area 15 miles away, and the bridal party heading out the door, I had a few minutes with just the bride and groom inside the sanctuary:
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In the Pews
Nikon 85mm, ISO 800, f/2, 1/80
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Walking Down
Nikon 85mm, ISO 800, f/2, 1/80
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Beneath the Apse
Nikon 50mm, ISO 400, f/1.8, 1/160
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Arms Around
Zeiss 32mm, ISO 800, f/1.8, 1/100
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Overlap
Zeiss 32mm, ISO 800, f/1.8, 1/100
While I packed up the myriad equipment I brought along, I sent Lisa with family to get some shots of the reception area:
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Plenty for All
Tamron 24mm, ISO 1600, f/2.8, 1/50
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Decorative
Tamron 44mm, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/50
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Layers
Tamron 44mm, ISO 800, f/3.2, 1/13
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Fascination
Tamron 24mm, ISO 1600, f/3.5, 1/50
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Improv Photobooth
Tamron 24mm, ISO 6400, f/3.2, 1/40
As I arrived, the largest bottle of wine I have ever seen (easily over 100 fl ounces) popped open in preparation for toasts:
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First Glasses
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 3200, f/2, 1/80
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Introductions
Nikon 80mm, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/40
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Maid of Honor Toast
Nikon 80mm, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/30
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Best Man Toast
Nikon 80mm, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/50
Then, of course, many moved outside for the dancing (at which point I am essentially shooting in near-darkness):
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Escort
Nikon 80mm, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/15
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Locked Stare
Nikon 80mm, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/20
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Under the Lights
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 3200, f/2, 1/50
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Warm Glow
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 3200, f/2, 1/30
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Tight Hold
Nikon 86mm, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/20
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Fast Dance
Nikon 80mm, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/20
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Backlit
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 3200, f/2, 1/50
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Smiles Around
Nikon 80mm, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/15
Later on, even well past their bedtime, the little dancers still hopped around:
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The Little Dancer
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 3200, f/2, 1/30
Moving back inside, after a small break, came the cake cutting along with other desserts:
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Slice on Slice
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 1600, f/2, 1/50
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Cake Smash
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 1600, f/2, 1/50
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Strawberry Man
Nikon 116mm, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/20
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Sweets
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 3200, f/2, 1/50
Soon after, a central space opened up for the bouquet and garter toss:
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Wind-Up
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 6400, f/2, 1/100
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Garter Hunting
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 3200, f/2, 1/50
Though the groom instead threw the garter to the best man instead of the group waiting for the toss for a good laugh:
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Fake-Out
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 6400, f/2, 1/80
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Best Man Reaction
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 6400, f/2, 1/80
At the end of the night, the father of the bride lit the first sparkler for a group send-off with his celebration cigar:
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Cigar Light
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 3200, f/2, 1/30
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Sparkler Send-Off
Rokinon 16mm, ISO 3200, f/2, 1/50
Not without its unique challenges, this wedding was still a blast to photograph, just as much as my first one. I have to say after the night the long drive home sure was filled with drowsiness! But if anything, exhaustion hopefully is a sign of a job well done.
For a special short note to Chelsea, words cannot fully express how happy I am for you starting your new life with Jonathan. I have known you since we were next-door neighbors in elementary school, and we shared so many good times as we grew up together. Thank you for choosing me to be your photographer, and I wish nothing but the best luck for your future.
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Two Friends
40mm, ISO 800, f/9, 1/200
That’s all for this post, guys and gals, thanks for sticking around! Be sure to hit that orange subscribe button at the top of the page to be notified of future posts. Soon I hope to finish catching up, with a full post on my first gig as a football photographer, as well as the final quarter of my 2014 Project 52!
Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
