INSCAPE

We are thrilled to be taking a studio there, moving from our credibly grotty space in outer Georgetown.
Inscape held an open house the weekend of the 16th and 17th, and we went and took some pictures. Here are a few. Bonus points for guessing in which space we’re relocating our studio!

There was a lot of art there, curated by the brilliant Christian French, in an all-building installation/performance called “Passages.” A lot of it relates to the ideas of home and confinement, and responds to the extant artifacts of the building’s history as not just a portal for immigrants, but as a detention and deportation center.

Have a look at more of the pictures you like, in this Flickr slideshow.

We expect to be moving in sometime in December. Careful or we’ll ask you to help.

I will break it down simple:

talented, genuine as all get out, huge-hearted, beautiful IN LOVE couple

20 piece marching band (pretty sure it was that big)

sake during the ceremony

delicious vegan noodles from a chef with his own documentary crew

aerialistas — the best I have ever seen

belly dancer— amazing

green tea creme brulee

an intimate ceremony of over 300 that didn’t leave a dry eye in the house accompanied by raucous cheering

So fun.

So fun to photograph too!

Oh, did I mention hot dogs with the works at midnight?

Hit the spot for many.

Recently, they decided to have their own commitment ceremony, just the two of them— well, and us, the lucky photographers two-timing as witnesses.  It was a self-directed ritual with words, gifts, intentions and love. It was so spontaneous, so thoughtful and from the heart. Needless to say, there were tears all around.

Both Helen and Barry  have a lot of friends and family— 118 years worth between the two of them. Everyone was invited! It was a fantastic party.

Helen getting ready with her friends from forever.

Helen had over 20 bridesmaids, 2 junior bridesmaids and a flower girl. So cute.

Down the aisle at Jack Block Park

The ceremony

So happy. They were so happy!

Now we are back and booking weddings for 2010 and 2011.

Our son, Hale True, was born last week. He was a couple months early, but both mom and boy are in great shape. 

Why not go and have a look at the little blog we set up to share pictures?

Amy and I are utterly thrilled to be parents.

Kimberly and John squeeze their friend and officiant.

 At the same time, the day is NOT about making pictures, the object of the day is to celebrate. This is why we make our portrait-taking part of the day as easy-going and well-paced as possible. The way we make portraits is pretty organic. We ask the brides and grooms beforehand what group pictures are important to them.  We let people arrange themselves— the way they feel most comfortable. We don’t pose, or move anyone’s chin here or there. We just make sure that each person is comfortable and ready — then we go ‘click’. It really works well. 

Portraits before or after the ceremony? Both times can work equally well with a little planning.

Peter with his siblings. They say this is the best picture they have ever had of the four of them together.

We don't very often tell brides and grooms to kiss. They just tend to do it and we go 'click'.

Scott took this one while Amanda and Ryan walked from the ceremony to the party.

But wait, there is more. There is something in between candid pictures and formal portraits — candid portraits. Scott is great at these. Candid portraits are when the photographer/camera and the subject have a brief interaction. There is not necessarily any conversation about it. The picture just happens. Not planned, no “One, Two, Three”, but still the result can be called a portrait. I love these. 

She wanted to dance so badly and finally did.

Mahnaz, the bride, watches the sunset.

Ellie waits for the limo driver under the viaduct.

Amanda had hot dogs arrive at midnight. Perfect timing for a perfect snack at a perfect wedding. Yum!

We didn't tell them to do this. They were just that adorable and the sky was that blue.

Scott and I both feel The More, The Merrier when it comes to folks getting their own shots. It is on a rare occasion that a guest-photographer interferes with what we are doing. Most people are very aware and super respectful of our job.

Also, the photos taken by friends and family are important in themselves. They tell different sides to the same story. The sister of the groom and the office-mate are going to have a different vantage points.We all have a different eye. Who knows what moments they might catch. We love to work others’ acts of documentation into our own. 

Documenting the preparations before the actual ceremony is a fairly new phenomenon in wedding photography. However, I predict these are going to be the images that are gone through the most by the next generations. The formal portraits may become the familiar photos, the pictures that are framed, hung on the wall to do the job of establishing ‘this is my great-grandmother and great-grandfather on their wedding day’.

I believe the shots of the bride or groom surrounded by their dearest friends in the moments building up to their nuptials—these will be the photos that answer the questions about WHO they were, HOW they felt, and WHAT happened on their wedding day. 

It is really happening!

I love the backstage pass!

Amanda has known her bridesmaids since she was a wee one. They have shared this ritual each time one of them has gotten married.

Mahnaz's bridesmaids were amazing problem solvers. They got the job done.

It doesn't matter if they happen in a crowded bathroom or in fancy hotel room with a view, the getting ready pictures are always fun for me.

I call this one 'anticipation'.

Shellie doesn't have her dress on yet, but she is ready.

James, Shellie's groom, is ready too.

What that means on the ground is that we observe. Our goal is to disappear. There is a flow; we go with it. When a couple sees their photos, we want them to say, “Oh my gosh, you got that? You were there? We didn’t even see you!”

Kate changes in the copy room

Take the picture above: A bride getting her dress on in a cluttered copy room. Faced with this situation, a traditional wedding photographer is going to think, ‘how can I get her into a nicer setting for this?’ And that’s a great way to get nice pictures. But if you’re doing that, you’re not doing documentary.

Here, I’m thinking, ‘Statuesque bride, gorgeous, distinctive dress–elegance walking, really–and in this kind of  jumbled, fluorescent-lit copy room. What a lovely, interesting juxtaposition!’

I am proud of this picture. I’d like to think that this image–both the photograph and the memory of that moment–is better for our not having asked Kate to move somewhere ‘more beautiful’ to shuck her civilian duds.

The simplest way  to put the distinction between “documentary wedding photography” and “traditional wedding photography” is thus: No bossing around. Apart from providing a little guidance during the portraits, we don’t do any directing at all.

We’re not trying to make a wedding look the way we want it to look; we are instead striving to capture beautiful, authentic pictures of the way it actually is. 

And we humbly submit that that’s going to make the experience–and the pictures–both more pleasant and more beautiful.