Fine Art Wedding Photography by DWP

Jon + Joey | a Los Angeles engagement session

Jon and Joey are celebrating their wedding in Miami in just 2 weeks. As Joey currently lives in NYC, and Jon in LA we weren't sure we would be able to coordinate all our schedules to make this happen, but at the last minute it did. As we discussed locations for the shoot, Joey sent us images he loved from an editorial shoot Steven Klein had done for W with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie a few years ago. I was thrilled because I had clipped those same images out the magazine as I was struck by its beautiful and powerful execution. So we worked to refine the concept, and everything started to come together. Jon's grandfather had a house in the Hollywood Hills that was an almost perfect time-capsule of 60's Americana and would be an ideal place for the shoot. Their friend, and ridiculously talented stylist, Francesca Vannucci assembled a remarkable collection of stylish outfits from that era, and even compiled playlists to properly set the tone. We decided to abandon our typical documentary style and instead take on a highly stylized editorial approach. [For those not versed in photographic lingo, this means each shot was planned, styled, and posed rather than "captured" as it happened. Ultimately, both approaches tell a story, but through different means - in much the same way that theater and cinema differ yet both powerfully convey a narrative.] We also processed the photos to mimic the tonality of photographic dyes from that era.

We decided to do a little revisionist history, and portray them as the classic American couple living in the 60's. Inasmuch as we were jointly imagining a different past, I think the images also propose a new future. One in which they can share the same legal and social privileges that men and women have. A future that Jon and Joey have not only imagined but are creating, despite the State of California's (and many others) refusal to acknowledge it. I admire them for this, and am honored we get to document part of that process. 

A lot went into this shoot, and we'll be blogging about the behind the scenes work with more details later, but for now, here are just a few of our favorite images.

      

Thousand Islands | an Engagement Session | Catherine + Chris

Until quite recently, I didn't know that the Thousand Islands was actually a place. I always thought it was just a funny name for a salad dressing. Little did I know that nestled in upstate New York along the St. Lawrence River there are thousands of tiny little islands making up up this very real, and stunningly beautiful place. Growing up, Chris and his family went there every summer, and now, as an adult, it is still something he looks forward to every year. It wasn't hard to see why Catherine has grown quite fond of it too. Thus they decided that Chris's childhood summer home along the St. Lawrence River would be the perfect location for their engagmeent session. 

The session involved two days of shooting on speed boats, incredibly designed antique boats, and walking around Chris' family's three islands. We loved experiencing this beautiful part of the country and came away with some incredible images. Below are just a few of our favorites from those days.

A big thanks to Trey Vars from the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, NY for facilitaing this shoot and driving the antique boat, and to Gray who expertly drove the chase-boat allowing us to get many of these photos.

(Scroll down to read Catherine and Chris's proposal story). 

 

The proposal:

Chris targeted Friday, January 28th, for proposal-day. The timing was a function of the jeweler’s availability (she wasn’t going to have the ring ready until after the Christmas/New Year’s “rush”) and our planned trip to Africa. Although we hadn’t discussed getting married, Chris knew that people were probably putting odds on the fact that we’d get engaged while in Africa. Partially because of not wanting to be predictable, not wanting to copy William and Kate (who got engaged in Africa in January) and, not wanting to travel with a ring in his pocket, Chris decided to propose the week prior to the trip. 
He chose the Elysian Hotel as the venue since he knew it was Catherine’s favorite in the city. He got a reservation at Ria and booked a suite upstairs. The only instruction that he gave to Catherine was to show up for a “date night”. Unfortunately, not everything went as planned. The ring was in New York and was scheduled to arrive in Chicago on Wednesday, January 26th. However, on the evening of January 25th, New York received a record breaking snow storm. Nothing was getting out of the city – including the ring. It didn’t come on Thursday either. Chris was able to track it down around noon on Thursday and it was on a truck, somewhere in the middle of Indiana. Friday morning came and the tracking results showed that the ring was due to arrive at FedEx’s O’Hare distribution facility at 8am, which was after the day’s cut-off for distribution. As a result, Chris contemplated delaying the proposal. However, he received some advice that he didn’t technically need a ring to propose. He quickly ran over to Sweet ‘n’ Sassy and bought the closest thing that he could find that resembled a diamond ring. The plans were back on track. 
After a fantastic dinner, including a lot of wine, Catherine questioned Chris’s ability to drive home. To which, Chris replied: “let’s just stay here.” At first Catherine thought that Chris was kidding and expected that we’d just leave the car at the hotel for the night. However when it was time to go, Chris directed Catherine away from the elevator that went down to the lobby, and over to the bank that headed to the rooms. At this point, Catherine still had no clue that a proposal was pending. 
Once we entered the room, we were greeted by rose pedals showering the floor and a chilled bottle of champagne. Chris quickly got to a knee for the proposal. Without hesitation, Catherine said “Yes!”. 

 

 

Jill + Brian | An E-Session at Cornell

There are some places that are just unfairly beautiful. Upstate NY is one of those places, and among university campuses, I've seen few that even compare with the beauty of Cornell's. Though we were all ready booked for their wedding date, Jill and Brian flew me out to Ithaca, NY to photograph their engagement session. They are both students there in different graduate programs, and once I arrived and scouted the campus I immediately understood why they wanted their session done there. We spent a fantastic afternoon shooting around campus. After the pictures you can read their rather humurous engagement story.

Enjoy! 

 

The pair became an ‘item’ in December 2007 and two years later he asked for her hand. It was a clever engagement. All of his friends at the Cornell Johnson School and both of their families knew about it to the extent that Jill’s nine-year-old nephew boasted his secret to anyone who would listen! Alas, Jill remained in the dark. 

Prior to Christmas, the pair traveled to California to celebrate the season with Brian’s family. On the winter solstice – December 21st, 2009 – he made arrangements for them to revisit the site of their first date for some Korean BBQ, followed by a long walk around Orange County’s Christmas light Mecca: Balboa Island. It was there that they enjoyed the sight of thousands of Christmas lights, the sound of their favorite Nina Simone song, and their mutual sense that the other person felt like home. 

Due to a hectic semester at Cornell, both of them seemed to get winded easily from having done a little less cardio then they would have liked! After noting Brian's breathlessness, quickened heart rate, and request to 'stop for a minute' while walking around Balboa, Jill became a bit concerned. Upon stopping at the tip of the island, Brian started descending down on one knee, and in response, Jill quickly followed him down thinking that he might be experiencing cardiac arrest (a genetic predisposition for overreacting)! He shook her arms frantically and shouted “No, no, no! Stand up!” Neither of them can recall exactly what was said after that, until Jill came back into consciousness and Brian realized he still hadn’t gotten an answer. His next line is the one they both remember: “So, are you going to marry me, or what?!” 

Making the transition from fearing Brian's cardiovascular failure to comprehending his proposal of marriage, Jill started jumping up and down with an exuberant, “Yes, yes, yes!” and a massive bear hug for her new fiancé. A mother-daughter duo saw the scene from afar and quickly rushed up to congratulate the couple. Jill started hugging them both with gusto, while Brian’s heart rate returned to normal. And the rest, as they say, is history…

Amanda + Colin | Engaged in New York City

Two fantastic people in love, 75 degrees and a sunny March day in NYC, what more can you ask for?

Amanda is beautiful - stunningly so. Her quiet and poised demeanor melts away the minute her lips curl up as she begins to laugh and before long everyone around you is smiling too. Colin is spontaneous - the kind of guy who would stop traffic on a busy New York city street to kiss his fiancee (in fact, we have photographic proof). The kind of person who turns an improptu hot dog break into an opportunity to learn a few words in a new language and become close enough friends with the vendor that he gets a hug from him - and remember this is New York. Above all else you can tell they are happy to be together. The closer they get the bigger their smiles become. Dave and I enjoyed our evening in New York with them immensely; and we have a few pictures to show for it. 

We're very excited for their upcoming wedding at the Modern Wing of the Art Institute, which we are certain will be exquisitly designed by the amazing Marina Birch of Birch Design Studio!

Camille + Wilson's destination Rome e-session featured on Style Me Pretty

We're honored to once again have our photos featured on one of the industry's leading blogs: Style Me Pretty. They just published a great article titled "Romantic Engagement Session ~ Where Else But Rome?" about Wilson and Camille's destination engagement-session I shot in Rome a few months back. Be sure to check it out.

Thalia + Alex | E-Session | New York City

Thalia and Alex, two writers from NYC, recently moved to Chicago. We couldn't imagine shooting their engagement session anywhere else, and neither could they, so we flew out to NYC to do their e-session properly. We spent the afternoon and some of the evening with them at their old haunts in various parts of Manhattan. We stopped at their favorite neighborhood pizza joint, Pier 54 where Alex proposed, the very cool High Line Park, and other favorite New York haunts. We had a wonderful time getting to know the parts of the city that they loved.

Their wedding is coming up soon in Maine, and we're looking forward to shooting them again in very different context. For now, here are a few of our favorites from that delightful afternoon in New York City.

 

Thalia and Alex dressed up for the evening portion of our shoot, and I just have to comment about how fabulous Thalia's vintage dress is!! I think it's at least a few decades old, and it looks incredible :)

Camille + Wilson | Slideshow | Engagement in Rome

You might remember hearing about Dave's whirlwind trip to Rome back in November.  We don't typically do engagement session sideshows, but Camille and Wilson's engagement session in Rome, Italy was so unique that we just couldn't resist sharing a few more images with you! 

Camille and Wilson | destination engagement session | Rome, Italy

We met Camille and Wilson back in May at Jessica and Michael's wedding. It was a great surprise to receive an email from Wilson stating that they had just gotten engaged, were in Rome, and and he wanted to surprise Camille with a photo session there. A few days later I was crossing the Atlantic for what would be the shortest transatlantic trip I've ever taken (due to some previously scheduled shoots in Austin I could only spend 26 hours in Rome). We had perfect weather, and spent the whole day shooting literally all over the city. In selecting our locations I tried to avoid a lot of the tourist cliches, and sought to depict the Rome I've known and experienced: an active, vibrant, and a ridiculously romantic city. 

But Rome is Rome - what made this trip unique for me was Camille and Wilson's warmth. I felt like they were old friends and it didn't seem the least bit strange to be spending a whole day with them in Rome, 5000 miles away from where we live. I think they also have very cool chemistry, about which the photos can speak better than my words. 

          

Katy + Mike | e-session | Indiana

Katy and Mike are getting married at the Harold Washington Library this winter. For their engagement session they took me out to their summer home in Indiana where Mike spent many of his summers growing up. Though we were initially thwarted by heavy rains, the storms quickly passed and we were left with the amazing light you see captured below.  Mike and Katy have a warm energy about them and are very fun to be around. We're very excited to be working with them again in November!

Melanie + Emiliano's destination E-session | Buenos Aires, Argentina

I had the privilege of photographing Melanie and Emiliano's e-session in Buenos Aires, my hometown, and one of my favorite cities in the world. Though we did it just 2 days before their wedding and thus didn't have much time, we had so much fun running around doing these shots. Here are some of my favorites:

We were lucky to find a Ford Falcon (the most classic Argentine car) in pristine condition to use in our shoot.

I'll post images from their destination wedding soon!

-Dave