Talk about being lucky! These cool posters were just outside the hotel.

Rob, the lucky groom, received the hand-off at St Dominic’s in Northeast Philly.

Then it was off to Knowlton just in time to catch some beautiful light.

Knowlton has the coolest wine cellar.

As usual, I have to thank both Mark Deniken …
 

… and Nick Gould who’s gonna have a lot of ‘splainin’ to do when his wife sees this. )

Their sites have tons of features and are priced very reasonable without any kinds of hosting fees or anything like that. Go check ‘em out!

We already started discussing our plans for the wedding day and I’m getting charged up for this one!

Dan cut quite a dashing figure.

Limo windows can usually be counted on for really great light.

I’m kind of glad that St Thomas of Villanova kicked us out after the ceremony to make way for another wedding because I got to shoot formals in a much better spot than the altar. The slight haze made this look like a backdrop!

Then it was off to the Paxon Hollow Country Club. Stinking hot but good light!

I have to give a special thanks to my second shooter, Lauren Libor as well as my trusty assistant, Mark Deniken and the awesome guys at Schaffer Sound.

The awesome people at the Vesper Boat Club allowed us to do a few shots on and around their dock.

Booathouse Row is always buzzing with activity but if you pay attention, you can make it look like you’re the only ones there.

Wow, you can just tell that Valerie really loves Charlie!

Great light and big, red doors. What more could you ask?

The rowers were still out on this hot day. Ugh!

I’m so glad when I get to do engagement sessions with my couples. It’s sort of like a practice session for the big day in November. Their photos are gonna be hot!

What awesome, storybook light! Rebecca and Dan will be getting hitched at the Greenville Country Club next June.

They’re both so playful and it’s not hard for Rob to make Kristin laugh so shooting them was a breeze.

Beautiful light and settings everywhere.

Just had to get one more shot of the Phillies red shoes!

Stay tuned for their August wedding at Knowlton Mansion!

And I have to give an super-big thanks to Krista Valla who was an incredible help all day and was extremely patient with my artistic vision ).

The whole idea was how to simplify shooting by playing the hand you are dealt. Sometimes we don’t shoot at the Hotel DuPont with our brides dressing in rooms with floor to ceiling windows on two sides. And sometimes we just don’t have Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue sunlight. But by looking for reflected, diffused and directional light, you can nail it in-camera, walk away looking like the pro that you are and make your post-processing life easier, too.

And just to prove the point that it can be done, we did the whole workshop in and around my house. I purposely didn’t pick some cool location with lots of distracting scenery because in real life, you sometimes don’t get it. F’rinstance, this one was shot in front of my house with light reflected off the siding. I tilted Alyssa’s chin down a bit so she didn’t get sunlight hitting her nose from the noon sun.

On my front porch.

Under my deck.

A “family shot” under the deck.

Light peeking in the studio window.

In my driveway.

In front of my chimney flue. See? It ain’t no big deal!

Special thanks to Alyssa, Steve, Rachel and Joe.