My, time flies.  Seems like just a couple of days ago that I was meeting Kaitlyn for the first time for her newborn portrait session.  This weekend we continued our first year series, celebrating three months!

We began by playing on Mom and Dad’s bed, where the lovely natural light in the bedroom brought out the blue in Kaitlyn’s eyes.  Modeling is hard work, so we gave Kaitlyn a swing break, then moved into the bathroom to let her swim with the fishes.  Then it was downstairs to the living room for a little TV time, before heading out to the back yard where she showed us how much of a movie star she really is!

…Or at least a dress rehearsal for Anime Boston!

I met Laura while she was interning for Celtic Dragon Dress designs.  She’d designed a couple of the dresses for two of the Shootstyle shoots last year, and we became Facebook friends.  There I discovered that she combines her mad design and seamstress skills with her love for anime, creating some of the coolest cosplay outfits I’d ever seen.  So when I got the chance to photograph her in her latest creations - two outfits from student-by-day-fashion-model-by-night Yukari from Paradise Kiss, I jumped at the chance!

For a location, I contacted the American French Geneologial Society in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.  I’d photographed a wedding there in 2007, and was really taken with the vintage feel of the old church that the AFGS now calls home.  It was built in the mid 20’s, and feels like it was frozen in time.  I felt the vintage feel of the old church (complete with a cool old gym/auditorium) would make a great background to the vintage feel of Laura’s outfits.  They were so kind to open the building up on a Sunday afternoon just for the shoot!

When we were all set up and ready to shoot, I made another discovery.  Not only is Laura a super talented designer and seamstress, she is also a fantastic model…becoming Yukari and exhibiting completely different personalities to go with each outfit!  And what would Yukari be without the clever, blue-haired cad, George.  Laura’s fiance, Henry, underwent the blue hair treatment and donned the white pants before Memorial Day to take on the role.  Some of the most fun I’ve had shooting in a long time!  Best of luck to Laura and Henry as they premier their costumes at Anime Boston next week!

Somebody call 911
Chardy fire burning on the dance floor
Whoa

From the time Chardonnay (Chardy) met me at the door with her freshly manicured nails, and newly coiffed hairdo, I knew she was destined to be a model.  So when Kaitlyn needed a break from her photo session, and the family asked me for a few photos of Chardy, I was happy to oblige.  She was a natural model!  And she had me singing Sean Kingston for the rest of the day!

As you may recall from previous posts, I am a founding member of a group of local photographers called ShootStyle.  Several times a year, we get together to shoot together, learn from each other, and have fun.  A couple of months ago, we hooked up with Julia from Juliana Couture who custom designed a couple of dresses for our last shoot.  It was so successful, that she immediately began work on dresses for the next shoot.  The concept for this shoot was COLOR!  We all shoot white dresses every week…we wanted to see “wedding” dresses with color!  Juliana Couture delivered!

We all met up on Wednesday morning at my office in Framingham.  Since Juliana Couture is also in my building, we used her space for the models preparations.  Jenny DiMucci and Jane Sincere drove all the way up from Providence to do the Model’s makeup, and Christine Squier Salon provided a hair stylist.  It was a dream team, and the models looked gorgeous!

Once everyone was ready, we all loaded up and headed over to Elm Bank Reservation in Wellesley to begin the shoot.  Joining me were Stacey Doyle, Earl Chrisite, Michelle Turner, Alicia Williams, Zofia Waig, and Kristin Cioffi.  It was a blast!

Summer came a little early this year - just in time for Cheryl and Mark’s wedding at the Gibbett Hill Barn in Groton, MA.

We started the day at Cheryl and Mark’s beautiful home in Westford, MA.  As soon as I walked in to the house, I knew that it would be the perfect backdrop for awesome portraits.  Cheryl and Mark have quite the knack for decorating, and bright natural light flooded in to windows in every room.  When I arrived at the home, Cheryl’s hair and makeup was perfect, and she was ready to get dressed.  As soon as she was dressed we did a tour of the house, using the variety of wall colors throughout the house as backdrops for bridal portraits.  Then we headed outside for some family portraits.  While outside, I noticed the beautiful light in the patch of woods next to the house, and Cheryl was adventurous enough give it a go.

Soon it was time to head over to the Gibbett Hill Barn in Groton, MA for the ceremony and reception.  The ceremony was on the lawn outside the barn, just as the sun was starting to set.  As Cheryl and Mark professed their love, the golden sunset light bathed the ceremony, and the cows mooed their approval from the field above.  After the ceremony we did a lap around the property, giving Chery and Mark a little break from the day, and capturing their first portraits as a married couple in the process.

Then we headed inside the barn for the party.  Led by DJ Jon Mansfield, Cheryl and Mark’s family and friends toasted their new marriage, then danced and celebrated.  Before the night was through, Cheryl was in a pair of cowboy boots, and the crowd was doing their best country line dance!

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

Ceremony/Reception: Gibbett Hill Barn, Groton, MA
Hair/Makeup: Escape Spa, Billerica, MA
Flowers: A Belvidere Florist, Lowell, MA
Entertainment: DJ  Jon Mansfield

So you saw a few of the photos I posted on Monday, now it’s time for the rest of the story (does that age me?)

I landed in Aruba on Thursday afternoon, and arrived at the Hyatt Regency Aruba with enough time to stroll the beach for a little while before meeting up with the family and walking over to the Aqua Grill for the rehearsal dinner. I was immediately treated like one of the family with various folks bringing me Amstel Brights (the local beer of choice…super refreshing). Then I was treated to the largest, and most delicious chunk of Chilean Sea Bass that I have ever encountered…at least until the reception, where another amazing piece of sea bass found its way onto my plate (but I’m getting ahead of myself).

The next morning was Kelli and Chris’ wedding day. In the morning we met in the lobby, and took a taxi caravan to the government building downtown for the civil ceremony that is required under Aruba law. It was a beautiful little ceremony with only Kelli and Chris’ immediate family all tearing up throughout. After the ceremony, we sent the family back to the hotel while we stayed in the colorful and historic downtown area for some photos.

Then I had a little break, before meeting with Kelli and her bridesmaids in her suite for her makeup and dressing. The suite was abuzz with the girls all getting ready for the main event. As soon as Kelli was dressed, we headed downstairs to meet with Chris (after all, they were already married!), and used the beautiful grounds of the resort for a portrait session, followed by family photos. Then we all headed town to the beach for their sunset ceremony with all of the guests. As the sun was setting, we took a few more minutes for beach portraits, then we headed right up to the outdoor deck for the cocktail hour. The reception followed with dancing, acrobatics, the aforementioned sea bass, and a great wedding singer with the voice of Anonio Banderas.

After an evening like that, you’d think that we would all want to sleep in the next day. Instead we were up early the next morning, with Kelli and Chris dressed in thier wedding attire once again. This time we headed for the beach…and got a little wet :).

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

A little taste of summer visited us this weekend, just in time for Laurie and Josh’s Engagement Portrait session!

We met at one of my favorite spots, Elm Bank Reservation in Wellesley, MA. Elm Bank features an expansive property that was formerly an estate. The old mansion that was the centerpiece of the estate, is still intact, and the beautiful gardens are maintained by the MA Horticultural society. Our starting spot, however, was a great old tree which is a memorial to hundreds of couples who have carved their initials in the trunk over the years. Laurie and Josh showed their sense of adventure, by climbing right up the tree to snuggle on one of the branches. From there, we were off, exploring the grounds, disturbing the insects, and generally being sexy (them, not me :)) wherever we went!

Not sure if you’ve noticed or not (you’re supposed to notice these things), but there’s a new link on the right side of the page. Click the link and you will be directed to my Facebook page.

I want you all as friends!

So click the link and friend me! And if being my friend isn’t reward enough, I’ll provide free Facebook-optimized digital files to all of my clients who are also my friends. So you can easily share your photos with your friends!

I’ve recently signed up with a website that allows brides to review their wedding day vendors and help future brides pick the good ones…and I try really hard to be one of the good ones!

The website is www.weddingwire.com.

In addition to doing a public service for future brides, they will also give you stuff if you review 5 or more of your vendors. Gift certificates and stuff.

So if you’re a past bride of mine, and are reading this, I’d really appreciate it if you’d take a second to write a little note about your experiences with me as your photographer. Thanks so much!

Review Jamison Wexler - Photographer at WeddingWire

(and a special thanks to those of you that already have!)

–Jamie Wexler
www.jamisonwexler.com

I would love to be able to host a gala open house event in the new office, with champagne, caviar, and a rock band, but it is a bit cozy for that.  So I am hosting a virtual open house for the month of March.  Anyone who meets with me in the new office and books their wedding with me by March 31 will receive a complimentary 10-page album upgrade.  That means the album you receive with your package will have 10 more pages than is standard with the package.

For example, “The Classic” package inclues a 20 page album.  Meet with me in the new office and book your wedding by March 31 and you will get 10 more pages in the album, for a total of 30 pages.  This deal applies to all packages that include 8 or more hours of coverge.

Contact me at info@jamisonwexler.com to schedule your meeting.