What a year! I got to travel to Utah and Connecticut, I got featured on National Blogs, and I got to work with amazing clients and vendors! It is with the utmost gratitude that I share some of my favorite 2019 Weddings images from this past year!
I am deeply grateful for all the wonderful opportunities I was able to experience this past year–whether near or far. Documenting life events is my vocation–my reason for being here. It is such a cliche, but I was always the kid looking at the family photos. When I was young, we also used to go to museums frequently. I was always intrigued by the portraits and how lovingly they had been preserved over the years. In today’s culture where everything seems to be disposable, I feel it is even more important to capture fleeting lifetime memories.
I have photographed Katie and her sister since they were very small.I have known this young woman from the day she was born! Yikes!
Some of the most touching moments for me was being able to cover weddings for people I have watched grow up and have photographed all their lives. This is truly a blessing that I do not ever take for granted.
Beautiful details like these make my job easy.
I also want to give a shout out to all the amazing wedding vendors I have worked with this past year. We have some top notch wedding vendors in our area that always produce a consistently high level of work–and they make my job so much easier. I am always in awe of all they do.
Likewise, a Fall wedding in New England can be stunning.
OK, so for those of you who live around here, it has been pretty stormy this summer.
That can be a bummer under normal circumstances. When you are doing wedding photography, it can be really challenging–but only if you let it. When I first started doing wedding photography, there was a summer where it rained every single weekend. It forced me to get good at finding good light and locations in less than idea situations. It also made me learn to work quickly and efficiently outdoors in a limited amount of time. Recently I got to use those skills at a rainy wedding in Lake George NY. Gary and Therese got married at the lovely Sagamore Resort. It poured buckets on their wedding day! Understanding how to find good light and knowing my camera equipment made getting good wedding photos for them easy and fun!
This is right before a huge thunderstorm rolled in over Lake George. No problem.
Before the wedding, I usually get to shoot some detail and preparation images. Below is my favorite of the dress and shoes. The glass door was providing lots of natural light.
The glass door in the hotel suite was like a giant softbox for this detail image of the wedding dress and the shoes.
Luckily we were able to create a few of the formal wedding photos outdoors before the deluge. One of the best things was that Gary and Therese had planned on seeing each other before the ceremony. It started to cloud over when we got outside. When we were photographing formal wedding portraits on the docks at the Sagamore, the Coordinator was telling me the weather app on her phone gave us five minutes to get indoors and under cover. LOL.
In under five minutes we did bride and groom wedding portraits plus bridal party.Can you tell how dark the sky was getting in the background? Ironically great light.Always grab details when you can.
So after we did some basic outdoor photos, we pretty much ran inside to beat the rain and the storm. Living on the edge, always. LOL.
Luckily the Sagamore has a really beautiful lobby. We used this area because there was a wall of windows behind me that provided beautiful light even with the storm going on outdoors.
The original plan for an outdoor ceremony was abandoned in favor of staying safe and dry. No problem.
The indoor space for the wedding ceremony was charming.Birdseye view from the balcony of the ceremony.Wedding Officiant Victoria Milne in action. Great window light to camera right.Can I tell you how excited I get when I see rim light like the light outlining Gary’s face?Unfortunately needed to use strobe for this just because of the way they were positioned in relation to the windows. I really like the expressions.How handsome is this guy? And perfect portrait lighting on a rainy day!There was a perfect spot on the porch outside the Bayview where the light was perfect. It was pouring, but you can’t tell. Everything just looks lush and green.
Just a little closer.There was a little cocktail table on the porch, so I just used that to do a detail of the rings with the bride’s bouquet.Seaside theme with the shells and lanterns. This was simple available light.I decided to use off camera strobe here just because it would look cool.I used off camera flash here to give dimension and to freeze the action.Gary and Therese took dance lessons for their first dance.I love it when the guests have a good time!Congratulations Gary and Therese!
Wedding Vendors for Gary and Therese’s Sagamore Resort Wedding:
Did you enjoy reading this article on a Lake George wedding at the Sagamore? You might enjoy this Wedding Blog Post as well.
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I meet with a lot of couples planning weddings. One of my first questions to them when they say they are planning an outdoor wedding is, “What is your backup plan?” Sometimes this is the first time they have thought about their wedding in the context of the weather. So how do you plan for the chance that your event might become a Rainy Day Wedding? Well, as a Wedding Photographer for a few years, I have some tips that might help you, so read on:
Summer is peak season for a Lake George Wedding. We can also see a lot of rain during the summer. I actually really love that the pavement in this image is wet and shiny.
Acceptance: While you can control some things about your wedding, one thing your really cannot control is the weather. So stop checking the weather app on your phone every five minutes–it will not change anything. If it is going to rain, it will rain. Don’t let the weather make you lose sight of the bigger picture–you are marrying–hopefully–someone you love and want to spend the rest of your life with.
This is right before a huge thunderstorm rolled in over Lake George. No problemFirst we went into the beautiful lobby at the Sagamore.Then we found this great covered porch at the Bayview where the reception was held. It was actually pouring behind them, but you really can’t tell.
Have a Backup Plan: Always have a backup plan. Always. If you are planning an outdoor ceremony, make sure the venue has an area that is indoors or at least under cover in case it rains. Same with an outdoor reception. Some venues offer the option of having a tent available for an outdoor event–take it. Having a backup plan lets you relax if it looks like the weather might be questionable.
On the way to the ceremony–how perfect are these umbrellas?
Accessories Can Be Practical: Why not really embrace the fact that it might rain and purchase a beautiful umbrella and rain boots just in case? And provide them for your attendants as well.
Both Dayle and Jordan love the water, so photos on the dock at the Otesaga were a must. Good thing we did a First Look, because it rained a lot that day!
Plan on a First Look: While I never force my clients to have a First Look, I do like them because it helps cut down on stress for my couples. For a Rainy Day Wedding, you will at least then have several opportunities already built in to do wedding photos outdoors.
Luckily, the rocks at the park were dry when we got out to do these photos–otherwise the Groom would not have been able to sit down.
Bring Towels: If you have towels on hand, it will give you the option of sitting on benches that are dry, etc.
Before this wedding photo in South Beach, Miami was taken, it had poured. And doesn’t that cathedral length veil look fantastic blowing in the wind?
Relax and Smile: If you relax and smile, your wedding photos will look great! And after a rainstorm, we always get amazing skies!
Did you enjoy this post on Rainy Day Weddings? You might also enjoy this Wedding Planning Post.
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The barn at Somewhere In Time is great for photos.
This past Fall, I photographed a wonderful wedding on Lake George at Somewhere In Time. Chelsea and Gavin had a beautiful day–weather was perfect, the venue was amazing, and a great time was had by all! I knew when I first met Chelsea that I would love photographing her and that the event would be really special–she is just a warm, sweet person. Both Gavin and Chelsea’s families were fun and were totally enjoying themselves. A bonus for me was that I got to see so many familiar faces from previous weddings I have photographed.
There were tons of great details at this wedding. The venue itself had some charming details, and Chelsea and her mom did a fabulous job with styling the wedding.
The outside of the Inn is very charming and the Fall flowers were in full bloom.Invitations are great scene setters.I really enjoyed the Fall Color Palette Chelsea chose. Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers too.Badgley Mischka shoes and a fabulous dress!
Hands can say so much.The getting ready portion of the day can give you some really great images. Loved this mirror.
Chelsea and her mom have such a special relationship.
Chelsea had a special moment with her Dad before the ceremony.Those eyelashes!Flawless!Mirrors can be so fun to use.
My second shooter Jim was covering the guys while I was photographing the women. I always feel like this is an important part of wedding coverage because many times, the men get overlooked.
It is important to get pictures of the guys getting ready too.
I loved the details Gavin had, especially the tie.
So fun.
How cute is he?
I love capturing the excitement right before the ceremony.Right before the ceremony.Gavin was emotional before the ceremony.Always one of my favorite moments of the day.The way Chelsea grabbed her Mom’s hand was very touching.Love this shot by Jim.
Love when my couples are spontaneous!And I love this as well–it is just fun!A quick toast right after the wedding ceremony.
I particularly love these photos of Chelsea with her grandfather.
Great looking bridal party!Some beautiful details from the reception are great scene setters.Food is important to capture. Mazzone Catering always does a lovely job.
Sometimes you can get amazing images if you just take a step back (or up).Right before Introductions.
First DanceI love the Adirondack style of the pavilion here, so it kind of fit to do a sepia tone on this back lit photo.
Bobby Dick is a friend of the family–and he was a fabulous musical host.
I just love this.
We snuck out for some formal portraits.
This was just by the side of the road.I love a good party!
How cute!
Love the sunflowers, so I needed to incorporate them into the ring shots.Loved the porch for formals–so home like.
Wedding Vendors for Chelsea and Gavin’s Lake George Wedding:
Did you enjoy this post about this fabulous Lake George Wedding? You might also like to view our Wedding Photography Portfolio. Are you looking for a Wedding Photographer in the Lake George Area? Be sure to fill in our Contact Form or call 518.584.4237 to schedule your consultation today.
Susan Blackburn is a Saratoga Wedding Photographer serving Saratoga Springs, Lake George, the Adirondacks and destinations worldwide. She would love to photograph your wedding.
I like to photograph weddings with a combination of posed, “asked for” images as well as more candid, photojournalistic style photographs.
Wedding Photojournalism has kind of been my personal jam since I started as a Professional Wedding Photographer
I like using both to tell the story of a wedding day. The percentage of posed vs. photojournalistic images really depends upon the couple and which style speaks more to them. Some people prefer a more traditional approach, while others like a candid feel to the storytelling. I don’t feel that there is a “right” or a “wrong.” It all boils down to individual taste. The images today are from Britta and Nate’s wedding day at the Inn at Erlowest on Lake George. Britta had expressed to me before the wedding how important family was to both her and Nate. She also let me know that casual, more candid images were really more their preference. While of course we did formal images of the Bride, Groom and their families and friends, I made sure we also did a lot of candid or photojournalistic style images.
Britta and her grandfather
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The series of black and white images above are from the family formal portrait session. Britta has only one surviving grandparent left–her grandfather.
His wife had died only a few months prior and he was still very emotional. It was very important to capture this moment and I am glad I did. I can only imagine how he felt. Although he was of course very happy for Britta, I am sure he was thinking of his own wedding day many years ago and the wife he had recently lost. Feel free to browse our Wedding Galleries.
Susan Blackburn of Blackburn Portrait Design is a Wedding and Portrait Photographer offering Photography services in Saratoga Springs, Lake George, the Adirondack Region and destinations worldwide.
OK, a little confession here. I really like vintage cars–always have. At one time, my husband and I owned a red 1962 Mustang. It was a very cool car and just a lot of fun to ride around in. Of course with children, it was really not very practical–but I digress. I just find vintage cars to be romantic and a little bit quaint. Maybe they just evoke a simpler time in my head. And let’s not forget that they are really great props in photographs. The good thing about this is that there has been a wedding trend over the last several years in Saratoga and the Adirondack area in general of incorporating vintage/antique cars into the wedding. And I really, really love that.
I really love this picture of Yulia as she was arriving at the ceremony in Glens Falls. The car was provided by Tom of The State Room in Albany, NY.
The car featured above is a vintage Buick that was provided by The State Room in Albany. I toned the image as sepia because I felt it enhanced the vintage feeling–it looks very 1930s to me.
Same car, different day. I left the photo in color because the blue of the sky was so very vivid and the red of the car really pops.I really like the black Ray Bans–they really match the yellow Camaro.
If you enjoyed viewing this selections of Wedding Photographs, please be sure to look at some of the images in our Wedding Photography Portfolio. Interested in becoming a client? Please fill out a contact form or call 518.584.4237 to schedule a complimentary consultation.
As a Saratoga Wedding Photographer, I am always looking for ways to photograph my clients differently. The last thing I want is to create the same cookie cutter pictures in the exact same way for all my clients. I feel like every wedding or portrait session is unique, so I am continually looking for something to make the photos a little different. They need to fit with the personality of the client. I am so excited about the wedding I photographed last evening down in Albany at the State Room. Immediately following the ceremony, we did formal photos during the day in Glens Falls, both at the church and in Crandall Park. But I was really excited because the reception was in Albany so we got to do some really cool night photos of the the bridal couple, Yulia and Dan. I will be blogging the entire wedding later on, but I wanted to get some of these up to share. I am really enjoying using off camera flash in some of my photographs. I think it can make the photos more dramatic and enhance the feeling of the images.
In the two images below, I noticed this building and wanted to create a dramatic, contemporary set of photos for the couple. I wanted to have a slightly higher angle on the light to emphasize the great bone structure of Yulia’s face. The light made the images feel really modern. I also really like the expression on Yulia’s face in the first shot–almost wistful.
I liked the simplicity of the stone building combined with dramatic lighting. Yulia looks like a movie star here. The photos have an editorial feel.
In the next image, the location is more Victorian because of the period clock and the street lamps. It also helps that the Dan is wearing a kilt and Yulia is in a ball gown.
I like this location because the clock tells what time we made the photo. Too bad it was not midnight.
I really like it when I can capture different moods in the same session as I did on this event. I think both sets of images are romantic, but in completely different ways.
