Photo Romanticist

We've finally moved

2010-01-30T20:29:00Z

No photographs for this entry but I really needed to get something new on this blog. I am feeling guilty about being so remiss in adding information.

I was just helping my wife grade the Blogs her students are writing and it made me realize how this one has been neglected for some time.

We have finally made our move to California, sort of. Casey is still spending most of her time in North Carolina until the end of UNC’s semester. But we have taken up residence in Coronado. What a beautiful place to spend your life. In fact, on my website and in this blog any photos you see of the San Diego skyline were shot from the deck on the back of our home.

Never thought we have to contend with so much rain out here, though. I seem to recall something about it never raining in southern California. That song is out of date with these recent events. I’ll give it this, though, it has made for some beautiful scenes of the SD skyline.

I have started booking weddings for the 2010 season and am looking forward to working at the Hotel Del Coronado and well as some of the wineries in the Temecula area.

I guess I just cannot do this without a picture or two so here are just a couple from Coronado and Point Loma.

San Diego or North Carolina? It's a tough choice!

2009-07-24T18:46:00Z

With a few open weeks on our hands, Casey and I trekked out to paradise (aka the San Diego area) for another visit. Just like Mark Sanford gets lured back to Argentina, I head to San Diego whenever I can. But my love affair is different: Ah! The beaches, the vineyards, the Hotel Del Coronado, the Del beach, the Coronado Landing with the San Diego bay and skyline as a backdrop, La Jolla, the beaches, Balboa Park, Temecula, Chuao Chocolatier, Karen Krasne’s perfect wedding cakes. Did I mention the beaches? Resistance is futile, so we have decided to move the entire S Dill Photographic Design operation out to California in the fall. San Diego and its surrounding areas provide so many venues for spectacular weddings that it is just too much to pass up. Truly one of the destination wedding capitals of the world, Southern California is a photographer’s paradise. We will start booking weddings, engagement sessions, portraits, commercial shoots, and more in the fall for the spring season and beyond. I’m looking forward to some great new opportunities opening up there and I expect my tan to improve too. Just a few recent images with more to come.

Charlee and Riley

2009-06-01T20:36:00Z

When you live in Hawaii, what do you do for a honeymoon?

That was the question on the minds of many at Charlee and Riley’s wedding this

last weekend. They are both stationed at Hickum Field on the islands, but with

many friends and family here in North Carolina, they decided to have a

destination ceremony instead – leaving Hawaii and coming to the Triangle Area.

Both the wedding and reception were held at the Wagner

House, a pretty little turn-of-the-century historic home in Cary. With lots of

nooks and crannies, the house had beautifully decorated rooms for guests to

explore and to mix and mingle within. The Wagner House has a huge wrap-around

porch and the guests took advantage of it to enjoy the gorgeous North Carolina

day. A wonderful blue sky with great big white puffy clouds floating by, a nice

breeze, and not even a hint of rain for a change made the day close to perfect

for the outdoor ceremony. Just a few degrees cooler would have been nice, but

it was a day no one could complain about.

Charlee choose her sisters and her closest friends as

attendants and Riley brought Air Force buddies to represent him. All together,

they made a great group supporting the bride and groom, who were surrounded by

many more happy throngs to cheer them on.

So, where does one go to honeymoon when you are from

paradise already? Why, Maggie Valley, of course. After the nuptials, Charlee

and Riley were off to explore the mountains of North Carolina, to do a little

white water rafting, and to enjoy some hiking and relaxing in another paradise

before heading back home.

Here are just a few images from their day:

Katie and Charlie

2009-05-25T18:34:00Z

North Carolina – the perfect destination for a wedding, even when it is raining.

Katie and Charlie wanted an outdoor ceremony on the lake. The weather gods seemed to want otherwise, but as is usually the case the belle in the white dress won out. The rains put in a brief appearance prior to the ceremony, but the clouds broke and the sun beamed out, painting a beautiful backdrop for the lakefront nuptials.

Then it was time to party down! Great friends helped the couple celebrate their first day of married bliss at the Five Oaks Club in Durham. Friends and family alike got a kick out of seeing Katie and Charlie pre-adulthood during the slideshow. The bride and groom were thankful the naked behind photos were left out of the mix. Eventually the “Blues Brothers” put in an appearance, to the delight of all. Some wise sage once said, “Fabulous food, fantastic friends, funky music, and a beer or two; who could ask for anything more?” Truer words could not have been spoken when Katie and Charlie brought it all together May 16, 2009.

Tabitha and Jonathan

2009-05-13T19:37:00Z

Rain and outdoor weddings do not mix well and, boy, has it been raining a lot here in North Carolina this spring. With all the rain and the stormy forecast for May 8^th, Tabitha was expecting rain on her wedding day. As a matter of fact, so was I. But our fears were for naught. The skies cleared, the sun peeked out, the birds started singing – just like in Disney’s Cinderella -- and the day grew beautiful as it moved toward evening.

Tree-lined gardens, ponds surrounded by wrought iron hangings, and spring flowers galore make for the perfect outdoor ceremony and reception. And the house at Barclay Manor is like the Asheville Biltmore Estate in miniature. Everything was being done at Barclay just outside of Angier, NC, -- and, believe me, the staff goes out of its way to foresee the couple’s every need.

I had not met Jonathan prior to the wedding day, but he was easy to spot. He was the one practicing his first-dance moves in the middle of the dance floor. He wanted to have his every move just right for his bride.

A beautiful bride and groom, perfect location, great weather, and close friends and family all came together on May 8^, 2009, to create some great photos and give Tabitha and Jonathon a day they will treasure forever. Here are just a few shots of the day:

Kendra and Terri's adventure

2008-11-01T22:53:00Z

October 25th and the rains finally went away and left us with a sunny afternoon for an outdoor wedding. We were at Spruce Pine Lodge, a part of the Durham park system, with Kendra and Terri. And they had a memorable ceremony filled with lots of symbolisms tied to Terri’s Native American heritage. All the guests were invited to come forward and place some small token of their choosing on the alter as a remembrance. Kendra was a stunning bride and together with her groom, Terri, they are quite the pair. They have worked together at Duke for some time and now they have committed to a life together as well.

With the ceremony over we all kicked back for an evening of dance, dinner, good cheer and a photo booth. Everyone had the chance to get instant photos that they could take with them or cut and paste into a book of remembrance for the happy couple.

Finally, Kendra and Terri left on Harleys for a wedding trip to Salem, Massachusetts for a Halloween honeymoon.

Mauricia and Daniel

2008-10-14T20:10:00Z

Mauricia and Daniel a couple of nice down home young people. We were invited to work with them for their special day on the 4th of October. And the day was special in so many ways. What a wonderful breeze that kept the heat down for an outdoor ceremony out in the farmland around Mcleansville, NC. Maricia commented to me today that there never seems to be enough time on a wedding day for all that has to get done. But we made the best of it and got some great photos of their wedding at the Hayloft. It is a converted dairy farm just out of town and was a neat setting for this event. Surrounded by all of their friends and family the day fairly flew by before they had to leave for their honeymoon in the Bahamas. Take a look at these to get the flavor of the day.

Angela and Chris in Raleigh

2008-10-13T20:36:00Z

I finally got back to Raleigh to shoot this last week-end. It has been a while and I have been seeing a lot of beautiful North Carolina this summer. But Raleigh is one of my favorite places to take wedding photographs; that and St. Louis.

This week we were working at Sacred Heart church, which is a small but very pretty Catholic church downtown and then we just walked down Hillsborough street to the Second Empire restaurant which is second to none as a venue. Angela could not have asked for a better day. As we walked a number of passers-by honked at us and shouted out "you go girl" to congratulate the couple. The temperature was perfect with a slight breeze that kept the fall leaves moving just enough. She choose a soft garnet color for her bridesmaids and each had the style that flattered them. As everything wound down I stepped back for a moment and the beauty of the day mixed with the rich aroma of steak was a great send-off. I look forward to the chance to get back there to enjoy a regular menu meal at Second Empire. Tracy, the manager even let us in to the wine cellar for some great shots of Angela and Chris.

Angela and Chris are from Chicago but came back here for their wedding. Since we all have ties to the Midwest, St. Louis and Chicago, I found the day very enjoyable. Not to leave out the fact that this was a great couple to work with and it ends up reflected in their images. Here are just a few.

Britney and Brian

2008-09-29T20:53:00Z

Britney and Brian got married this last weekend in Zebulon NC.
Following the wedding we moved on to the Marriott in Raleigh for the rest of the evening.
It was quite a task to concentrate on wedding day activities with the East Carolina Pirates were playing football on Saturday and this group were all fans.
But they kept their school spirit in check for the afternoon and made room for the wedding.
I know they were all happy they did.
A gorgeous bride, outstanding looking groom, and 11 attendants and escorts all in black made for a striking wedding entourage.
Here are a few images from a lovely afternoon and evening in North Carolina.

Shana and Darryl at the Jefferson Hotel

2008-09-01T16:56:00Z

The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond VA is a gorgeous site for a wedding and reception. Last weekend Shana and Darryl were united there and they and their guests enjoyed a fun filled evening. The Jefferson was built and has been in continuous operation since 1895. That is longer than the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego. And they are on a par with each other when to comes to décor and beauty.

Shana and Darryl are from the Fort Lauderdale area but with family in Richmond chose to get married there. Here are a few images from their wedding day.

Gina and Matt's wedding to remember

2008-07-14T01:12:00Z

This week’s wedding was very special to me. Though we had talked on the phone previously, I met Matt and Gina for the first time on Saturday and came away with two new friends. We had a ball doing some very unusual photos. We got an early start at the spa for hair and make-up. Moved on to the Bryon Park Golf Center for the wedding and reception. I always enjoy weddings but this one was a real joy. This couple, as well as all the principles, were as nice as I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Have you heard of trashing the dress? I mean the wedding dress. Documenting via photos the demise of the treasured dress which little girls dream of for years and big girls will spend thousands of dollars on to wear just once. It’s the newest trend in upscale wedding photography – destroy the dress. Now mind you, I am more than happy to accommodate the event but I don’t actively push the idea. Having the bride dive off the diving board into the Olympic-size pool! Or find yourself a nice sprinkler system on a steamy hot wedding day.

The sprinkler system came on while we were doing a final series of pictures and that’s when the idea came to Gina. Matt and Gina trashed the dress and the tux and I made a record of it. Fifteen minutes later we all packed it in refreshed and excited to see the results of our adventure.

Here are a few of the images.

A note to Christine: Thanks for the vote of confidence. The part you played in this was excellent. I look forward to one day meeting in person.

Steve

Jennifer and Randy

2008-07-07T02:19:00Z

Let me tell you about the wettest wedding ever. Randy and Jennifer planned a beautiful event for their first day together. The weather had other plans. A wedding on the putting green, surrounded by all of their friends with a late afternoon sun to create gorgeous light. Enter a North Carolina summer afternoon. The showers appeared just after the bride did. But no matter; nothing was going to dampen the spirits of this couple. The rain went away, but not for long. For the rest of the afternoon/evening the rains came and went but there was nothing that would drown out these festivities. Years from now Randy and Jennifer will look back at the unique opportunity they were afforded and will cherish the silver lining they enjoyed on July 5, 2008. I hope you enjoy sharing their day as well.

Photojournalism

2008-06-30T20:36:00Z

PHOTOJOURNALISM

A number of years back the phrase “photojournalism” was coined by a well known wedding photographer. The term caught on and subsequently brides have sought out a photojournalistic style for their weddings.

So, what does that term really imply? And how is it done? In really simplistic terms we are talking about candid photos. To shoot“photojournalism" means the photographer is capturing the event, the moment,without interjecting himself into that moment. Candid photos. Now, mind you, done by a professional who looks at a scene and the light in that scene, chooses his/her perspective carefully and is aware of the background, the candid photo often becomes art. But it is still a candid. To quote the bard, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

Understanding this helps one to recognize that a purely photojournalistic wedding is going to please very few brides. In fact, as a couple goes through their wedding day, they find that they have no idea how to carry out many of the normal wedding rituals that occur. Without a wedding coordinator or experienced photographer to give some guidance, many end up feeling rather lost. But, as soon as I interject myself into the scene, by suggesting how to accomplish some action (such as cutting the cake) then it is no longer photojournalism.

Or what parent of the wedding couple will be happy when getting to see their record of the day and finding no family pictures? As a photographer it would be unconscionable to leave those out. But that is not photojournalism.

With that in mind, as you search out the person you want to record your day look for the person who can provide those “must have” family and group photos in a timely fashion and step back and let the event transpire and record it in a way that can and will be cherished for years to come.

Over the weekend I spent some time with Leonore and Lester at the Washington Duke Inn in Durham. Following are a few examples of what a beautiful affair they had as well as how photojournalism and classic photography techniques combine for the perfect record.

Steve, Jane and Taylor

2008-06-30T00:48:00Z

The beach is a beautiful location for portraits. We chose to take an afternoon drive and spend our evening taking photos. It's especially nice when your clients are also your friends. We finished our shoot and went to Wilmington for dinner. Continued shooting after dinner and made it a really special session. Here are just a few of the images.

Xterra Games Richmond VA

2008-06-17T21:26:47Z

Richmond VA was host to the Xterra games. Tri-athletes from all over the world gathered to test their skills in the humid south. It was worth battling the heat to get to record these people competing.

Julianne and Steven

2008-06-17T21:05:00Z

This last weekend I had the opportunity to shoot two events.There was a beautiful wedding at the Valentine Museum in Richmond VA. which Iwas invited to photograph.

Julianne and Steven had a very pretty, but hot, day fortheir outdoor wedding. The groom’s family is Irish and so all the men were inkilts which turned out to be hotter than a wedding dress. But they wore them instyle and a good time was had by all. There are so many great images they will get to enjoy in a couple of weeks but here are just a few to get the feel of the day.

Angie and Spencer

2008-06-01T20:06:00Z

I love weddings. People are so happy on that day. Spending time recording happiness makes my job the best job in the world. On Saturday Angie and Spencer were married. Here is just a small sampling of their day.

What more can be said!

Next time.

Laura and Andrew

2008-05-29T02:07:00Z

I had the distinct pleasure of working with Laura and Andrew over the week-end. The wedding was in the Winston-Salem area and the day was beautiful. It was a pleasure to get to work with all the participants. Just a few examples here of the day.

Wedding couples are very concerned with the amount of time spent between the wedding and reception for photographs. Over the years I have heard a lot of horror stories about photographers taking two hours or more for “formal” pictures. This really does not have to be the case. Typically, I can get all the participants in posed photos in 30 minutes or less which then leaves time to stop for a “photo walk” either at the reception site or along the way to the reception. Even at that, any competent photographer is going to be willing and able to make whatever adjustments the bridal couple may wish to make.

Red Bull and beyond

2008-05-28T20:28:00Z

My son and I attended the Red Bull Air Races in San Diego a couple of weeks ago. One hundred and ninety plus MPH at 12 to 15 feetoff the waters of San Diego bay would be a major adrenaline rush. Even as a spectator it keeps your attention. We stayed in a beautiful home on the bay with good friends and family, enjoying the races, good food and excellent wines.

From there I flew into St Louis to spend a little time with my father and my grandson, Conner. Just snapshots but I cannot pass up the chance to show off Conner.

Often, bridal magazines will include lists of questions to pose to potential photographers and most of those questions are legitimate inquiries when it comes to choosing the person you will use to record that most special day. One, though, I just don’t get: What kind of equipment do you use?

The last time you went to a fine restaurant and enjoyed anexcellent meal as you were leaving did you inquire as to the brand of stove the chef was using? Not likely. Equipment is a very important aspect of wedding photography but whether the photographer is using Canon or Nikon or Fuji is not really the important thing. First, does he/she have sufficient back-up equipment in case something breaks? Second, and most important, what can the photographer do with that equipment? The only way to determine that is to take the time to look at the work that is produced. It has been said that “the proof is in the pudding” and really, it makes no difference what stove was used to cook that pudding. Just as a great chef has a great palate so a great photographer has a great eye. What kind of eye does the person you are considering have? Take a close look at the style, detail, ability to capture the emotion and “feel” of the day.

What is photojournalism? Next time.