It’s that time of year again!  I have had the privilege to give back a little to the community by giving away a free wedding every year since I’ve been in business. Along the way I have met some really extraordinary people with some really cool stories to tell, and photographed in some really cool venues that I otherwise would have missed out on (like a firehouse!).

So I’m excited to begin looking for the next extraordinary couple for my 2010 wedding photography giveaway. If you are getting married between February 1 and May 15, 2010, shoot me an email, and let’s talk. You could be the winner of a free photography package valued at $2750.

Last year’s contest was really successful, so I think we’ll try again.  I’m looking for your story. I want to hear about your life…your love, your losses, your ups and downs. I want to hear about your wedding, who you are marrying, what he/she means to you. I want to be invested in your life before I even meet you. In a nutshell, I am looking for someone who can’t really afford a wedding, but is not letting that stop them from making a lifelong commitment to his/her soulmate. The person with the story that moves me the most wins the package.

Here’s what the winner will get:
- Up to 6 continuous hours of photographic coverage by me.
- Up to 200 print-ready large-resolution digital images on disc.

To Qualify:
- The wedding must take place between February 1 and May 15, 2010 and is subject to my availability
- The wedding must take place within 60 miles of my home in Grafton, MA
- You must send me an email with your love story to info@jamisonwexler.com

You can read all about last year’s contest winners here: http://jamisonwexler.com/blog/jamisonwexler.com/blog/susan-mike-2009-free-wedding-photography-contest-winners-february-28-2009/

This weekend I had the opportunity to drive up to Newburyport MA to meet precious 2 week old Kaitlyn.  I’ve spent quite a bit of time with Alyssa and Ken at Ryder family weddings over the past couple of years, and it was a great privilege to be invited to capture the first Ryder grandchild!

When I arrived, little Kaitlyn was sleeping peacefully in her super swing.  I took a quick trip around the house to scout out the perfect locations to complement her cuteness, then we set out to see how many locations it would take to wake a sleeping baby (if you’ve ever wondered, it’s 3…just like a tootsie pop).  We started out in the nursery, using all of the details of her room as the backdrop.  Then we headed down to the living room, where the beautiful natural light, and my portable background, brought my professional studio right into their home.  By this time, Kaitlyn was a little hungry, so while she took a snack break, the grand-dog, Chardonnay, got a taste of what models have to go through (look for Chardy’s blog post later in the week).  Once her baby belly was full, Kaitlyn was ready to go again, and we finished out the session with cuddles in Mom and Dad’s bedroom.  This session is part one of a 5 part “Year in the Life” package, so check back in three months to see how Kaitlyn has grown!

Last weekend’s wedding in PA provided the perfect opportunity to catch up with the Quinlan family.  Those of you who have been to my gallery space, may recognize Melissa and Conor from the large gallery wrap on the wall (they’re the ones with the big lighthouse in the background).  Fast forward a few years later, and the Quinlan family has multiplied!

We started out at their beautiful home in Lewisburg, PA.  I was immediately welcomed by Melissa and Conor who escorted me to the playroom where Noah and Dylan were busy drawing pictures.  After a few minutes in the playroom, Noah wanted to show me some of his dance moves, so we moved into the kitchen where he had room to get down!  Then we moved into the piano room where the kids played me a sonata.  After all of that culture, we decided to head outside to the kids’ favorite duck feeding location.  So we piled in the car, and took a short drive to the farm down the road.  All of that duck chasing tired the kids out, so after a quick walk around the property we called it a morning.

My first wedding of 2010 found me in charming Lancaster County PA, on a crisp, bright, almost warm, winter morning.

We began the day as Mona Lu and Kerry were getting ready in different wings of Petra Christian Fellowship in New Holland, PA.  Since they were getting ready so close to one another, I had the rare chance to pop back and forth between them and capture them each before the ceremony.  Pretty soon, however, the guests began to arrive, and it was time for Kerry and Mona Lu to hide out for a little while.  It wasn’t long, however, before it was time for the ceremony to begin.  Surrounded by an intimate gathering of their friends and family, Mona Lu and Kerry’s ceremony began with a band leading the congregation in a couple of songs.  After a short message by their minister, the couple ascended the steps to the stage and professed their lifelong commitment.

After they greeted their guests at the end of each row, we captured all of their family photos at the front of the church, with the purple lights of the stage providing a really cool background.  Then the three of us headed off to Pool Forge Park in nearby Narvon, PA.   With its old stone house, matching stone outbuildings, and covered bridge crossing a beautiful little creek, it provided a perfect backdrop for a romantic portrait session.

Then it was off to Shady Maple Banquet Center, where Mona Lu & Kerry’s guests were waiting to welcome them to dinner.  After introductions, everyone settled in to the delicious buffet.

Click here to see a few more: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/monalukerry

This week I had a welcome blast from the past when I met Cory, Kim, and their new baby daughter Hazel at MIT for a family portrait session.  I met Kim and Cory almost 6 years ago, when I took their engagement portraits.  Fast forward to 2010, and they are married with a beautiful baby girl.

Since it’s winter, Cory suggested we meet at MIT, where they both worked years ago.  I met them inside 77 Comm Ave, and they proceeded to give me the insiders tour of MIT, regaling me with stories about the campus as we moved from location to location.  We started at the very cool chapel, where hanging metal pieces provided a really cool backdrop.  Then it was across to a well lit lobby, and a quick trip outside to brave the chill.  We looked in on the library that is under the famous dome, but decided we would have to be too quiet, and ducked quickly out. Next we headed over to the Stata Center.  Designed by Frank Gehry, the surreal lines, reflective surfaces, and colorful facades made a perfect background as we finished our session.

When Sandy contacted me to do a family portrait session, she told me, “I’m not interested in having a formal portrait done, or one of those popular “beach” pictures, or “pile of leaves” pictures.”  That was music to my ears!

We met on a blustery morning at the Steven’s Estate in North Andover, MA.  Though I’ve photographed a wedding there a couple of years ago, there was something spooky about the place in the morning, when no one else was around.  It was the perfect location to get a little creative with the family portraits.  We began in front of the carriage house, taking advantage of a cool overgrown fence, then we moved on to a neat old bench in a wooded clearing.  With a couple of the normal settings out of the way, we went behind one of the main buildings to find a graveyard of old benches, followed by a cool jungle of high sticks, and a picnic table behind the old garage, with its bright green paint and broken out windows.  After putting the kids through all of that hard work, it was fitting to end the session with a big leaf fight!

This weekend found me up in Rockport reuniting with Jennifer and Devon, whose wedding I photographed last year, and meeting the newest members of their family - identical twins Amélie and Lucia!

It was an unseasonably warm fall day when I arrived at the family home in Rockport, MA. The twins were enjoying a last few moments of sleep so we crept up the stairs for a few photos of the sleeping angels. With all of us in the room, it didn’t take long for them to awake with smiles for all. Then we got them dressed, and wandered around inside and outside the house, Amélie and Lucia already showing their natural modeling abilities! After all of that hard work they enjoyed a bottle and a cuddle with Mom and Dad.

It’s always a privilege when a couple selects me to photograph their wedding, but it’s doubly so when one of the folks getting married is also a professional wedding photographer!  In this case, the groom, Brian, is the co-owner of Reflections Photography in New York.  And what a perfect day for a wedding! It was sunny and clear without a cloud in the sky when I arrived at Danielle’s childhood home in Nashua NH.  After getting dressed, Danielle grabbed a quick bite to eat, then we headed out into the backyard for a few portraits.  Soon the bridesmaids arrived, followed by the limousine, and it was time to head to the church.

The New Apostolic Church in Nashua NH was standing room only when we arrived, as all of Danielle and Brian’s friends and family gathered to share in their marriage service.  And what an emotional service it was, with tears flowing freely.  At the end of the service we actually escaped into a little side room to sign the marriage certificate, then Danielle and Brian headed down the aisle as man and wife to greet all of their guests.

With all of the guests properly greeted, we all headed downtown for a few fun portraits.  The bridal party joined us for the first few, posing in front of an old warehouse, before capturing a few photos of the girls in front of the Sausage King.  Then the bridal party headed to the reception while Brian, Danielle, and I walked around downtown finding lots of cool little nooks and crannies for their romantic portrait session.

Before long, it was time to head to the Skymeadow Country Club in Nashua NH, where all of Danielle’s friends and family were waiting for their entrance.  That’s when the celebration really began with the dance floor staying alive the entire evening!  But that’s enough talking - you want to see pictures.  Please forgive my excess this wedding - it’s the last wedding of the season, so I got a little carried away!

Click here to see a few more: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/daniellebrian

Due to a special request, I’ve been sitting on these photos for a couple of weeks, and I am so excited to finally get to share them!

Hilary and Joe’s wedding day was an elegant urban affair from start to finish.  We began the day as Hilary, her family, and her bridesmaids were getting ready in a suite upstairs at the Havard Club in Boston.  There the ladies were being pampered with massages, makeup and mimosas.  After being sufficiently pampered, they all dressed in some of the coolest bridesmaids dresses I have ever seen.  They all had the same dress, but it was designed to be worn in a million different ways.  So they all put their unique spin on it, and they were all beautiful!  Not to be outdone, however, Hilary’s gorgeous beaded gown with spaghetti straps was elegance personified.

Once the ladies were ready, we headed downstairs, where Joe was waiting to see his bride-to-be for the first time.   After an emotional meeting at the bottom of the grand staircase, we took some time to take their family photos, and walked around a bit with Hilary and Joe for some portraits of the two of them.  When we returned, the family was gathered with the Rabbi for the signing of the Ketubah.   Almost before the ink was dry, it was time for the candlelit ceremony in the elegant, old world styled Harvard Club ballroom.  In a small break from tradition, Hilary and Joe both crushed a “glass” at the end of the ceremony to the applause and cheers of all assembled.

The “I Do’s” being said, we snuck out for a few nighttime portraits on Comm Ave, and the alley behind the Harvard Club, then we were back inside to join the guests for the cocktail hour.  And that’s when the celebration kicked into high gear, with the cocktail hour quickly melting into the reception with laughter and dancing well into the night.

Click here to see a few more: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/hilaryjoe

Ceremony/Reception: Harvard Club
Wedding Coordinators: Pink Orchid Weddings
Makeup: Kimberly Fosher
Flowers: The Tangled Web
Band: Flipside

And a special thanks to my good friend Earl Christie for helping me out.

Gloucester is a sleepy little seaside town… At least is was before Candace and Greg brought the party into town!

We began the day at the Peabody Marriott where Candace and her girlfriends were rocking the suite and preparing for the big day.  After a few shots of the dress, shoes, and other details, Candace slipped into the other room to put it all on.  Then we headed downstairs to the awesome little courtyard the the Marriott had set up next to the bar.  It set the perfect backdrop for Candace and her bridesmaids to let loose their inner supermodels!

After a quck stop at the bar for a couple more photos, we all headed over to Stage Fort Park, where the frigid ocean breeze didn’t stop Candace and Greg from enjoyimg a moment alone as they saw each other for the first time.  We even got the bridal party in on the fun, and they were all great actresses as not a one of them looked cold in the photos.  Candace and Greg weren’t done, however, and we spent a few more minutes walking around the park, even wandering into a neighbor’s yard, where a display of birdhouses provided in interesting backdrop for the photos.

Boy were the cars warm as we headed back to Gloucester.  One quick detour put us in front of the famous Gloucester fisherman’s memorial statue for a couple of photos, then back on the bus and to St Ann’s Parish in Gloucester.  The low lighting in St Ann’s created a romantic atmosphere as Candace and Greg said “I do”, and exited to the waiting Rolls to take them to the reception at the Cruiseport.

We arrived at the Criuseport in plenty of time to capture all of the family photos, before Candace and Greg joined their guests in the cocktail hour.  Then it was toasts, food, drink and fun, pausing only for a few moments when we took a quick break outside for a few photos at the Gorden’s fish factory across the street.

Click here to see a few more: http://www.pbase.com/jamisonwexlerphoto/candacegreg

 And a special thanks to Johnny Arguedas for helping me out with Candace and Greg’s wedding!