I got a call a few weeks ago from Ryan & Julie, who were looking to have some photos taken for a Save The Date card for their upcoming wedding in Austin, Texas. I was absolutely swamped with photo shoots and a backlog of editing, but Ryan seemed like a pretty energetic guy who was motivated to run around with his fiance near a lighthouse in Maine for an hour or so and get the best images possible.
When they arrived in Maine from Manhattan for vacation last week, the weather simply refused to cooperate. Weather forecasts predicted rain throughout most of the week, and so with only a few hours of notice, we rallied to catch the last moments of sunshine, before the storms rolled in.
I’d say the extra hustle was well worth the effort! Ryan and Julie were absolutely wonderful to work with, and we literally ran all over Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, making the most of our time there. I think we were all huffing and puffing at one point or another during the shoot, but laughing and having a blast doing it.
In this shot, the sun had already dropped very low in the sky. I was setting up a silhouette shot, but then saw how the light reflected in Julie’s eye with the lens flare. You might just be able to see it in these smaller images… but it’s a beautiful moment… or I thought so anyway!
So this was the original inspiration for having an engagement photo shoot. Can you imagine receiving an awesome “Save The Date” like this? Hilarious. That’s their puppy in the center! Nice job Cooper!!!
I’m a pretty high energy guy, and as a result I’m cautious not to push my clients into doing anything that’s too uncomfortable for them. Great images are great in large part because people are natural, having fun and showing real emotion. Great shoots on the other hand, occur when the collective energy is so positive, creative and enjoyable that spontaneous ideas are followed without hesitation. These shots of them IN the breakers was NOT my idea… but it worked, and is a reflection of a great connection between photographer and client. Photographers have to be able to “roll with it” as much as the clients/models do!
Julie & Ryan were wonderful, energetic and willing to try new things. This shoot reveals the simple truth of who they are: vibrant, athletic, fun, beautiful, adventurous and in love. Who knew that so much could be achieved in about an hour?
If you’ve ever been to a lighthouse, you know that there are dozens of people milling around at all times. A man with a bright yellow jacket was in the background of this image, so I moved to hide him behind Ryan & Julie. Looked like it worked!
Julie’s boys: Cooper & Ryan.
That was a great time! I hope you both enjoy your images! (Don’t worry… there’s LOTS more).
******************************************
To view the complete images, just click here or go to: www.brianwedge.com
******************************************
Katrina - Wow, can I redo my own save the dates, wedding photos, and have shots like that to keep forever? It makes me want to visit wherever they are (looks magical), go to their fun original wedding withe their pooch, and I am so excited to see these beautiful people on their wedding day.
Brian, these are unreal photos. They really should be on the cover of every wedding magazine that is not cheesy!
Creative, personal, and fun.
Sara B. - These are gorgeous- I’m SO JEALOUS!!!!
They’re an adorable couple. It totally makes me wish we’d thought to do this after our engagement…(and I wish we’d had you as our wedding photographer! Sadly, our pictures look nothing like this….)
brianwedge - Thanks you guys… I think they’re pretty happy with them as well!
b
Daniel Lawrence - Brian,
I am just in awe of your work. You talk about “just” trying this and “just” trying that… but to be honest (as a photographer, who is honestly not in your league), you have a true gift that should be celebrated. I don’t know of another photographer who can jump from photographing mountaineering expeditions, to sea turtles in Mexico, to fancy weddings… and then running around on rocks to capture something like this!
Thanks for taking the time to share your art with us. It’s REALLY inspiring.
-dan
Rebecca Sullivan - These photos are absolutely INCREDIBLE, but I can’t say I’m surprised. You’re one of the most gifted photographers in America Brian. I should know: as an Art Director and as your “favorite” client ever, you worked wonders with us!!!
Dan: In answer to your question… we searched high and low for a photographer for our destination wedding in Antigua last year. We were lucky to have Brian, but the best part is that “yes” it’s really that effortless. I mean, we kind of just hung out, snuggled and Brian ran around telling jokes, telling me I looked beautiful, giving me helpful hints and BAM: we had these insane images. Brian can scale a cliff or LITERALLY run a boat while carrying like 50 pounds of cameras.
I know this will embarass you Bri, but honestly… more people should hear it. You’re like a photo savant (is that such a thing) and we were lucky to have you at our wedding and now, as our friend.
Good work Bri!!
Becca and Steve
Maggie B. - These images brought tears to my eyes. The intimacy is really beautiful. There’s an emotion and a truth about these images that is really wonderful. Good for them, I’m sure they’re psyched. Lord know I would be.
Are you shooting their wedding in Austin? Go check in on your boys Lance and Doug again? Teach them how to ride?
Technical question (I was in one of your San Francisco workshops last year): How do you photograph that sunset without ruining the shot. I mean, dumb it down for me: If I tried to shoot that, the image would be all sun… or all black because my light meter would go crazy. Thanks as always for your advice.
Say Hi to Lance for me (and tell him to stop wearing black socks).
Ryan & Julie: Pemaquid Lighthouse Engagement Shoot | Brian Wedge … | Home - lighthouses - […] here: Ryan & Julie: Pemaquid Lighthouse Engagement Shoot | Brian Wedge … Posted in Lighthouse. Tags: brian, brian-wedge, extraordinary, stories, the-extraordinary. RSS. […]
Erin - Bri… you are amazing once again. How happy are these people? Are they freaking out? I would be!! This looks like a movie set. Wow, wow, wow. You never cease to impress me.
Like those that wrote before, you were the best photographer we could find after months of searching. You did an incredible incredible job and it was the best investment we made. Just wish we booked an engagement shoot like this one!!! Geez!
Congrats to them and you. Really beautiful.
brianwedge - Thanks everyone… the credit really goes to Ryan & Julie. They’re great people. We had lots of fun.
To Dan Lawrence: thanks for the compliments. It’s always nice coming from another photographer. I think the “just” comments are coming from “just” being in the moment and letting my intuition take over. I see some photogs belaboring a scene to the point of ruining it. Sometimes it’s best to prepare, plan & think beforehand… then go by instinct during the shoot with the groundwork already laid.
To Becca: Ha! You guys are great. Wish we were back in antigua!! When you use the word “savant” all I think about is that I should be 7 years old playing some complex piano piece while being interviewed y Barbara Walters.
To Maggie: Thanks for coming to that workshop… In answer to your question, the secret is really just shooting in manual mode and capturing the ambient light. I know, it’s dumb and simple, but if you did it for ten + years often enough, you will get the hang of it. Go outside and practice… play with your shutter speed until you get the effect that YOU like.
To Erin: Who says that you can never have a shoot again? We will be in LA lots this fall and winter for commercial shoots. Let’s go!! (and thanks for the love).
Sydnie in Austin - wow this is a really great post, i just bookmarked your site. Thank you