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.

OK - so when you think office, you think desk, computers, drudgery…well I’ve set mine up a bit differently! With the new addition to our family on the way, our home is no longer big enough to house my business and my family. Plus it’s pretty far for everyone east of 495 to drive to meet me (which is most of my clients). I was fortunate to find a space in Framingham, MA, that cuts the travel from the east in half, and ensures that Melanie and Luke don’t have to be banished to the top floor when clients come to visit. I hope to meet you there soon!

A special thanks to Mike Greene of Greene & Sons for getting the place move-in worthy with new paint and carpet. Here’s a little before and after video:

Before: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp56C7oaSA4
After: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3tiBy1E64A

You may have noticed, but the color scheme on my blog has changed slightly. (What, it’s the same for you? Hit the refresh key!). The new color coincides with the official release of my new website. Check it out at: www.jamisonwexler.com.

The new site is the first of many exciting changes happening this week, so be sure to visit again for the updates!

–JAMIE
www.jamisonwexler.com

I just signed a lease on a cozy gallery space in Framingham. Good news for all of you folks that have been driving from the Boston area to meet me! Stay tuned for more updates as I get the space ready for a grand opening!

–JAMIE
www.jamisonwexler.com