I am fortunate to be a Massachusetts wedding photographer.  People have been building mansions here for hundreds of years, and it seems like at least 60% of thos mansions are now being used to host amazing weddings.  Like the perfect wedding that Jessica and Phil pulled off this weekend at Highfield Hall in the Cape Cod town of Falmouth, MA.

My day started when Jessica arrived with her family.  We had a busy schedule ahead of us, so I quickly grabbed a few shots of her dress and shoes before she put them on.  Once dressed we were ready to head outside to take advantage of Highfield’s beautiful grounds for family photos.  After a round of family photos with Jessica and her family, we whisked them back away to the bridal suite so that I could grab some photos of Phil and his family.  The family photos kept us busy until it was time for the main event to begin. With the early summer sun casting warmth on the grounds of Highfield, Jessica and Phil proclaimed their eternal love for one another.  Walking with them as they exited the ceremony, the love never left their faces, as they realized that they were man and wife.  We met the family at the front porch for a few more photos, before heading off to explore the property.  We began our tour at the sunken gardens, then moved over the community theater next to the main house.  Leaving the theater, we headed down a little path through the woods, and found a cool old abandoned house.

Since we couldn’t top the coolness of that location, we headed back to the main house, where Jessica and Phil were able to join their family and friends for a bit of their cocktail hour, before waltzing into the reception and starting off the dance party that lasted into the night.

Click here to see a few more: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/jessicaphil

Last week I once again had the opportunity to hang out with Henry and his family at their home in Worcester, MA.  Bad weather has been a tradition on the prior photo sessions of Henry’s baby’s first year plan, and it looked like it was going to be the same on this shoot day. Just as I arrived, however, the sun came out.  So we seized the opportunity, and headed out into the yard.

We started out in a shady patch of clover, but quicly moved to the flower patch by the house, that Henry’s Mom and Dad planted the day before he was born. Continuing our tour of the yard, we played around in a vibrant, red, Japanese Maple, and on the front porch steps before gathering the family together on a couple of big rocks for some photos of them all together. By this time the clouds had rolled back in, and Henry was starting to get a little chilly, so we headed back inside where Henry was more than happy to jump into a basket for a few photos in the den A hand knitted blanket provided a great backdrop for the next setup. Finally, Henry broke out his team colors to root on the greatest team in baseball :).

This weekend I had the privilege of photographing the most colorful wedding of my career, as Vidya and Rahul tied the knot (literally - there was a part of the ceremony where they were tied together) at the Boston Marriott in Cambridge MA.

My day began in the bridal suite, where Vidya was beginning her transformation into a princess.  It began with makeup, then the amazing magic act of turning a 9 foot piece of fabric into an amazing wedding dress just by wrapping and tucking, then the addition of a pile of gold and jewels like I’ve never seen before.  The final component was Vidya’s beautiful smile, which was even brighter than her amazing bridal attire.

Once dressed, we headed downstairs to the roof garden of the Cambridge Marriott to grab a few outside photos.  The wind was whipping, so we headed inside and finished the portrait session around the stylish interior of the hotel.  Then we joined the rest of the family in the ballroom for the family photos in front of the lavishly appointed mandap.  Once we’d rotated through the groups, it was time for the festivity to begin.  I headed upstairs with Vidya, where we had the best seat in the house for the groom’s arrival to the ceremony - on a horse!  My good friend and awesome wedding photographer, Earl Christie was along to help, and he was able to capture the groom’s arrival from the ground level.  Before long, Vidya’s family came up to the room to escort her down to the ballroom, where the ceremony was  already in full swing.  As the colorfully clothed crowd witnessed from the ballroom, Vidya and Rahul made their lifelong commitment to one another.

Back upstairs for an outfit change to an equally stunning dress and dashing suit, and Vidya and Rahul were ready to dance!  From there it was a party with amazing food, great music, and rousing speeches - a celebration worthy of a prince and princess!

Click here to see a few more: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/vidyarahul

Vendors:
Ceremony/Reception: Boston Marriott, Cambridge MA
Hair/Makeup: Shreni Patel from Just Kiss ‘N Makeup
Mehendi/Henna Artist: Manisha Trivedi at Hennacafe
Flowers/Decor: Alankar Decors
DJ: DJ Yogz
Catering: Bollywood Grill
Day of Coordinator: Tanvi Rana of Pink Lotus Events

One of the best thing about my job is all of great new places I find when my clients choose the locations for their portraits.  This weekend I had the opportunity to photograph high school senior, Avery, on the Joppa Flats at Plum Island in Newbutyport, MA.

It was a cloudy, overcast day, which couldn’t have been more perfect for the vintage, dramatic feel that this budding actress and aspiring screenwriter wanted to achieve with her photo shoot. It didn’t hurt that the area offered so many interesting places to take photos.  We started out at an old lobster shack, but quickly moved across the street to a ramshackle boathouse, buried in a marsh, surrounded by tall reeds.  Our view from the boathouse included an abandoned old home just down the road, and that was our next stop.  The rabbits inhabiting the overgrowth that threatened to take over the property, skittered out of the way as we temporarily camped out in their territory, but the thickets they called their home provided an awesome background.  Continuing our tour, we drove down to the drawbridge, where we found out why the marsh is called a marsh as we got our shoes filled with mud to get a shot of the barren landscape.  We saved the best for last, however, as we jetted back up to the Plum Island Airport, where the hangar, the parked single-engine airplanes, and the old administrative building brought to mind an old Hitchcockian mystery - and Avery played the part of the leading lady perfectly!

This week I had the privelege of meeting the newest member of the Wallace family: two-week old Ellie.  You may remember Eille’s Mom and Dad cavorting in the tropical ocean of Aruba at their wedding a few years ago on my blog.  I think they must have brought some of that sunshine home with them, because Ellies beautiful little face was radient during her newborn photo session at their home in Charlestown, MA.

We began the session in Ellies bedroom, where she was super accomodating by promply falling asleep, alowing us to show off her cutness in her crib, on the dresser, and even on the elephant hamper.  Every once in a while she would wake up, but a quick rock in Mom or Dad’s arms put her right back into baby dreamland.  After our tour of her bedroom, we headed downstairs where she modeled a couple of new outfits provided by Grandma for the occasion.  There the awesome light plus her cuteness equalled a great set of photos!

It is always so much fun to visit a family throughout a babies’ first year of life.  It’s amazing to see them grow up before your eyes, and it’s always a treat to see the new things that they are able to do, and the new ways they interact every few months.  Now nine months old, Abigail is very interactive.  As soon as I arrived, she was super proud to show me her new belly scooting abilities, eating up the distance across the living room carpet to try to slime my camera with amazing speed and determination…and looking incredibly cute in the process.  With her new talents, I had to quite a bit of scooting myself to keep up!

Fortunately, we were able to slow her down a bit by letting her do things that she’s normally not allowed to do.  Like sit on the stairs, where she showed how delighted she was that the gates weren’t locking her out.  OK, the delight may have been because of the concert of her favorite songs that Mom and Dad put on in the background.  Between that, and our recitals of her favorite bedtime stories, we were did our best to keep her entertained.  From the stairs we moved to a window seat, where she was able to see how cold it was outside (and be happy to be warm in the house), then into the mud room, where the coat bench gave her the best seat in the house.  A quick trip up to her bedroom was next, where she showed off how well she was standing.  After all of that work, we decided to let her have a little playtime in her play room, before corraling her up again for a couple of family photos.

Only one session left in her Baby’s First Year package, and I’m already eager to see what surprises she has in store this summer!

And here’s a lesson that I should have learned long ago! As the shoot was winding down, I thought I’d get one more crawling sequence by taking her toy and having her crawl towards me to get it back. Baby photographer fail!

Real photographers and real engaged couples don’t let a little blast of artic air stop them in their mission to photograph love, and Marissa and Jeff proved their love and their heartiness at their engagement portrait session this weekend at Elm Bank Reservation in Wellesley, MA.

I met the brave couple at the top of the hill overlooking the soccer field, where the wind tried to let us know who was boss right away. After a few minutes taking advantage of the cool winter woods, it almost won, as we piled back into our cars to move to the next location. But thanks to the heaters, we arrived thawed and ready to tackle the gardens and the abandoned mansion that is located on the estate, taking advantage of the sparse winter foliage and the beautiful light of the setting sun. Back into our cars for another quick thaw, and we were ready to tackle our last location: the decrepit boathouse down by the river. Marissa and Jeff will have quite the story to tell their grandchildren about how cold it was during the photo session, but I’m not sure their grandchildren will believe them. The expressions on their faces as they gaze into each others eyes is anything but cold!

On a cloudy morning late last week I got a chance to hang out with Henry and his family again for his three month session in the Baby’s First Year project we are doing.  And despite missing his nap over his excitement at once again being able to model, he was the perfect little gentleman!

Our session began in Henry’s well lit living room, where he flashed his first (of many) smiles as I was chatting with his Dad.  From there he was quick to show me his favorite play mat, where all his favorite things to grab and chew were suspended within reach.  Once we had a little while to play with that, he agreed to let me put him on the breakfast menu for a few shots, then was so kind as to let us put him in two different baskets, and put a hat on his head that he had long grown out of.  A quick outfit change, and I got the tour of his room, with Henry taking a second to relax in his crib, under the wise owls that watch over him when he sleeps (and keep the mice away, I’m sure ).  One more outfit change, and Henry was showing his Patriot pride.  With the results of the Superbowl still undecided, he paused for a moment to look through the latest issues of Sports Illustrated while wearing a Patriots onesie and football sweatshirt.  He quickly tired of the dry commentary, however, and decided to end the session with a little tummy time.  I’m sure by now he’s heard the heartbreaking news about the Patriots, but fortunately, by the time his six month photo session rolls around, the Red Sox will be in full swing!

This weekends’ wedding featured cold hands, and warm hearts, and a bride who was willing to be chilled to the bone for great outdoor photos!

My day started at the beautiful and historic Mechanic’s Hall in Worcester, MA, where I met Deena in the green room where her family and friends were all gathered around in their custom pre-wedding robes touching up their makeup and taking the opportunity to grab a quick bite to eat before the day’s festivities began. After spending a few moments with them, I was drawn to the dressing room, where the custom made bridesmaid dresses and wedding dress were awaiting their occupants. When she’s not busy being a beautiful bride, Deena designs and sews beautiful custom dresses for a living, and the dresses for her own wedding were nothing short of stunning! And since they were custom fitted to each of her ladies, it took them no time to hop into them and be ready for photos. It was in the teens outside, but Mechanics Hall has no shortage of awesome indoor photo spots, and we hit them all!

And the personal touches didn’t end with the dresses. The music for the ceremony was provided by a close personal friend, who played some old standbys, and some pieces that he composed just for the event. The ceremony itself was full of laughter and tears of joy as Deena and James tied the knot. With their hearts sufficiently warmed, we all headed out into the frigid evening for a few night time photos in the city. Then they hopped into a horse drawn carriage for the short trot over to Union Station, where the guests were already busy celebrating. Despite her strapless gown, Deenas heart warmer hadn’t burned out and we spent a few more minutes taking photos outside of union station before heading in.  Once inside, the beautiful decorations and lighting of the great hall set the stage for an amazing evening of dancing and food and fun, as the assembled crowd celebrated Deena and James’ marriage with all of their hearts!

Click here to see a few more: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/deenajames

When I think of an engagement portrait session in January, I usually think about how my hands are going to be frozen in the shape of my camera by the end of the session, and how a stiff finger of scotch will be needed to restore color to my cheeks. What I got last weekend, however was an unexpectedly warm day, made even warmer by the time I got to spend with Vidya and Rahul as we wandered around Boston’s Back Bay, and the Esplanade area near the river.

I met the happy couple at their Back Bay apartment, where they were busily picking out their coordinating outfits. It didn’t take long before we were out on the street, capturing their love for each other as we wandered around the Christian Science Center, and traveled the running path that bisects their Back Bay neighborhood. Then it was back up to the apartment for a quick outfit change, before walking a few blocks to the Esplanade, where the setting sun created a glow on the buildings across the river. We wandered around for a bit, taking a little time for them to cuddle on the bench where Rahul made his proposal, and taking advantage of the really cool trees in the park, before heading back into the city. As dus was falling, we used now twinkling street lights to add a romantic background to the images. With all of the fun and laughter we shared, I can’t wait for their wedding in April!