Tuesday, August 26, 2008

liz + pepsi wedding at St. Clement's Castle Portland CT


Saturday brought part two of our wedding adventures with our clients turned friends Liz & Pepsi. We had the most beautiful day for the outdoor ceremony on the grounds of St. Clement's Castle.
We started the day back at the Inn at Middletown, where we were the night before shooting their traditional Laotian Ceremony. While the girls got their hair and make up done by the very talented and super nice Dana Bartone (who I finally met face to face!) Mike and I shot some details in the bridal suite.

The ring shot is very simple and clean, for sure! But. My first take gave me too many shadows, however subtle they were. So.... I busted out my reflector much to Mike's chagrin as he is CONSTANTLY ragging on me for bringing gear that I don't always break out. I say, come prepared! If you need it you have it, but if you don't? Well, Mike is a very strong guy and I hardly think him 'lugging' around a reflector is going to injure him! :) Especially because it was in MY bag...!


So I made Mike shoot me using my reflector, as proof that I DO in fact use it!

One of my shooting goals this year was to create more visual layers in my images.... the getting ready shots to me, seem like the perfect time to do this. I love how everything kind of came together in this shot of Liz's MOH getting ready with her Mom in the foreground.

Liz has THE bluest eyes and I just love how the light just hits her cheek at just the right spot

Her dress was GORGEOUS and she got it at? Where else? THE WHITE DRESS BY THE SHORE!!! They are fabulous!

Liz was just so calm and happy both days. I just loved being around her and her positive energy!

Those gold heels were fantastic!

Liz & Pepsi decided to do a first look and see each other before the ceremony. We shot in the upper lobby of the Inn, the light was soft and it was private (their families were all just right down the stairs below)

Now I had a MAJOR dose of some Carla Ten Eyck trash talking humble pie to eat on Saturday! I was not sold on exactly where I wanted to shoot the bridal party at the Inn since we couldn't hit up St. Clement's for like 2 hours... so Mike and I scoped out the area- and the first thing that appealed to me when I pulled up was the place we ended up shooting at. It was a law firm across the street and I was a fan of the colonial architecture, the fence, the light...

We had fun! Then for shooting Liz & Pepsi I found this parking lot behind the law firm that had a raised yard behind it that enabled me to shoot down on them, which I think is just so flattering and gives a nice change of perspective to the portraits!

Yes, I can barely reach over the top of this short fence, I see this! But. It was worth getting stabbed by a fence for the shots I got, I think!! ;)

Liz's eyes just pop here! I love how different these two shooting from above shots are

While I was up there I turned around and saw the white fence and thought...hey.... and asked Liz and Pepsi to come join me- laid on the ground and got this shot of them in the back yard of a funeral parlor!

Then we were able to go to St. Clement's and do some shooting...

Something that I have always been attracted to in photographs is their timelessness. I LOVE going to a tag sale and finding old tin types of people who I don't even know who they are (obviously!) and how classic and beautiful the images are... there is just something about that that just gets me right HERE! These two shots remind me of that feeling, and it is something that I have been trying to get at each wedding- a timeless, classic portrait that could have been taken in 1920 for all I know. Except they didn't have the D3 then. But you feel me.


The light was fabulous, rich and warm. I love how you can see the tower in the back that is so famous for the property, but shot in a less obvious way.

Love the ferns in the foreground

The ivy covered walls were spot on for a nice portrait of Liz and her beautiful dress

A little variation on a favorite shot of mine ;)

The guys were so great to work with

The best man's hand on Pepsi's shoulder is just great

Their ceremony location couldn't have been more beautiful

I carried the hand theme back into Saturday's ceremony a bit...



Umm.... it's starting to look like FALL!

They way they are snuggling for their first dance is so cute

Cheers to a happy marriage!!


Hope you are having fun in Hawaii guys! Make sure you check out Mike's shots HERE!!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh they are all so great and beautiful. I love the three dancing shots - the two from above and the one of the first dance. Love your work!!

Candace Jeffery Photography said...

Wow Carla, these image are amazing! All of the different perspectives and views are so interesting and beautiful. Great job!

Cathy and David Photography said...

These are great! I love the law firm shots the best. That is a great fence :)

Robin Dini Photography said...

i'm so glad the portrait situation worked out. i love how you used a funeral home for a location!

Robert J. Trenske said...

I started counting to my favorite ones and I really love 8,9 and 10 and then as I continued I found more and more like the formals from above and by the fence. There are too many to count, really nice job Carla.

Unknown said...

super-riffic! Love the tin-typey shot and the archway with the tower in back - bit an easy shot to get there!

Unknown said...

I love the choices you made in post on the 6th one from the bottom. I just love that processing and the light is divine. Way to impress as always Carla!

Never stop shooting,
Brody - PolarityPhoto

Mary Marantz said...

beautiful beautiful! what's that I hear? ah yes, it's you cranking it up to a whole new level! ms. carla ten eyck- raising the bar and closing a few down! oh yea!

xoxo
M:)

E. Broderick Photography said...

Beautiful series. I would be hard-pressed to pick a favorite but I think it might be the one of her shoes with the groomsmen in the background. Love the old-time feel in that one especially. Also love the way you are layering in your images, something I too am trying to do more of. Love these!

Eric Foley said...

What, no flare??? Beautiful work 10ike!

carla ten eyck said...

oh I've got flare my friend!!!!

not sure how I missed posting that image, but here you go Mr. Foley!

Val McCormick Photography said...

Ay Carlita que bonitas!!! Nuf Said ;-)

Erik Maziarz said...

these are off the hook! it's cool to see how you used the area around the Inn. I've used the law firm building for portraits, but never the funeral parlor or that shot from above. I need to start thinking "what would Carla do?"!!! awesome job.

Eric Foley said...

That's more like it!

Eric Foley said...

I think there are aliens in your flare! X-file flare???

Krista Photography said...

these are really beautiful, Carla! and that flare is totally insane, I love it!

MIKE said...

This wedding was soooo much fun.
Awesome job : )