Trash the Dress Session with Lisa, Nisr and Tex.

We had the distinct honor and privilege of shooting a "Trash the Dress" session with Lisa and her 2 horses Nisr and Tex.  It was a wonderfully exciting shoot because it was our first foray into capturing horses and their riders/ owners professionally. It was quite a challenge because the lighting and horses were entirely unpredictable; something in part we hadn't really anticipated, but adapted very quickly.
Below you will see a great collection of images we have chosen that we feel really define these amazing moments between animal and human.

"Trash the dress" sessions have been always a niche obsession for brides in our area, but certainly are a main stream obsession for us, as we love doing them! So if you are a Bride looking to "trash" your wedding gown for the sake of an incredible experience and amazing imagery. Give us a call, Lets create a story and a list of images that you would want to show off for a lifetime.

If you are a rancher, farmer, horse owner or rider and would like us to capture your day with your Filly, Mare, Stallion or Colt. :-) I am certain we can create an experience you will remember with images to match.

Smart Phone Etiquette for Weddings... Part 1

I've had wedding couples come to me at the very end of our first consult and ask me, "Will our guests with smart phones and iphone's make our images look bad?"
I thought to myself "Now that's a loaded question."
And here is what some photographers might believe...
Professionally speaking (if I was a control freak), I'd say... "Anyone with an iphone, smartphone, camera phone, camcorder, regular camera can throw off the aesthetic and appeal and over all quality of the image (particularly if the flash and LED's go popping off."
Luckily for all my amazing couples I am not a control freak and.... I couldn't disagree with this above statement more.
Here is why I disagree...

Out of the nearly hundreds of thousands of images I've taken with a person holding a camera phone, you may or may not get 1 or 2 "distracting" images between 2 different weddings captured and nearly 3000 images shot. That rather low ratio of distracting images (with a camera phone), is so meager in quantity... that it is hardly bother.. let alone a distracting quality.

So here is another question. Why even create a Blog about it, if its such a measly little problem?
 Because I was recently approached by a photographer who ranted to me (seeking to find me in agreement) about all these guests who jump in their way and spoil a wonderful shot or moment captured.
Simply put, I had politely disagreed with them, and told them that "on the contrary, Smartphones and people using them can enhance the ambiance and composition of an image."

The ranting Photographer balked and gave me a look as though he was wrong.
Well.... he was, in my opinion.

When I compose my wedding images I look to the audience and guests of the wedding for any kind of participation I can find. After all, my couples getting married are Rock Stars (at least for the day) and deserve to be showered in praise, love, respect, admiration and lights; lot's and lots of lights!
Take a look at the picture below.
A wonderful image of a couple just recently married. Its a nice image... its sweet and tender.

Now look at this image below...
Its the same image, but now we have a story being told. We have a moment that can not be replicated or artificially created. Now the couple in this image are truly Rock Stars for a day.

The image shown above provides an additional layered  secondary subject that amplifies the moment. The same could be said for the image posted below...

Without that excitement (a.k.a: young women with the Camera Phone) displayed in this image... the image would show another beautiful bride walking down the aisle.  Its so much more than that.
Weddings are more than a spiritual and religious ceremony. It is a celebratory moment in time where family friends and even the occasional Wedding Crasher can unite and in their own way to show the Bride and Groom how much they appreciate witnessing this day.
So the next time a Wedding Professional discredits or discount the fact that camera phones can distract from the overall image. You all can show them this blog and prove them wrong.
Wedding couples, camera phone junkies and fanatics rejoice! You've heard it here first. :-)

Part 2 of this series coming soon...

Congratulations to Katie and Robert...

I had the pleasure of meeting Katie at a Bridal Show. Of course during those brief periods of time it feels more like a sales pitch than someone getting to know you better or vice versa.
but I still felt that connection to this couple.
My business is built on solid connections with perfect strangers... and well... this was a perfect situation.
Below you will find a small sneak peak of Katie and Roberts Wedding at the Mohawk River Country Club, a venue I frequently photograph for weddings more than any other.
Lots of love to you Katie and Robert.... and I promise more great stuff is here to come! Soon!.

Wedding Season is in Full Force for the Summer of 2013

Although weddings are typically sought or found in the fall now days, we still see brave bridal couples book their wedding dates for the summertime. This means high possibilities of rain, lots of sun, humidity and high heat.
I wish I could go into greater detail about each couple and how amazing our time was together, but jumping into this wedding season with both feet has me busier than expected (thank heavens for that). Here is a small sneak peak of 3 Weddings we've had over these past 2 months or so... enjoy the visual feast.... we LOVED every single one of our couples seen here!

The Big Easy...

Yes we usually post images of our business and our clients here... but today here are a few images of New Orleans (The Big Easy)... where everything isn't quite what it seems and everything is exactly what they tell you!  Enjoy everyone!

Who Says Lightning Can't Strike Twice!

Ok Everybody, I am getting personal here. WARNING! :-)

As much as we'd all like to believe (perhaps even hope) that our first marriage will be our long lasting and our best; thats not always what happens.
Case and Point....
Meet Cherie and Dennis.
I had the opportunity to meet them through a referral from Diane's Floral Design's my mother's floral business.
First off, in my business you can never know what to expect from anyone just by meeting them the first time. But my initial feeling was (even before the wedding), These guys are forever.
This was their second marriage and in my humbled opinion... the best marriage between 2 people and 2 families. They are so meant for each other, and I love to see that in all weddings that I have the honor of Photographing.
To you Cherie and Dennis, your entire family and friends, your wedding images are nearly complete... look for a link to your photo gallery over the weekend in your email. All of you were so wonderful to work with.
In the end, first marriage or second marriage.... it doesn't matter, because Its long lasting. Its enduring, Its Love. From my family to yours....

God Bless!
Tom Bryant and all of the Photo Phrame Photography staff and family!

If you'd like to know more about Photo Phrame Photograhy and how we can provide a Beautiful Fun Experience at your next wedding and event.... check us out on www.ph3pix.com  or even like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Photo-Phrame-Photography/108854445848214

Photography isn't JUST about the Photographer

Ok ok... I am wrong. Photography isn't about the photographer at all. But... good. No... great photography and great images are always about a few specific things. First off, the subject or "content" of the image. The subject of the image must participate in one form or another. Particularly when referring to Weddings, its the individuals attitude and amount of participation (your connection with the photographer) which can help to make or break the image.
  Thirdly... Its the Photographer who you are working with which can make the world of difference. Especially with event or wedding photography, the photographer must plan ahead for each image. It requires knowing where to be, when to be there and what shot will make the difference between looking like a "snapshot" from a camera phone, and look like a moment frozen in time to be remembered. No automatic settings, or corner cutting. The photographer has to know how to shape a frame and shape the light to make you look your best.
 Oh wait...
I missed my second point?
 No.... that one I wanted to wait on actually.
 You see, even though it sits firmly in "2nd" place on my checklist, it is probably the most important part of a photo. Light. Good quality light.
 Good light usually surrounds us, even on the darkest nights when the full moon has arisen from its slumber. but.... what happens when there is no quality light to take your images, or the room is just too dark? Your opportunity for consistently great images has dropped dramatically.

 You see.... the image above is a behind the scenes shot I've not shown anyone (especially my father until now, if he's reading this).
 It is a photo that shows the 3 basics (I described earlier) my father and I live by as professional photographers.
 We were at a wedding with beautiful sunshine during the day, until a tropical storm blasted through this small town and campground and wiped out all our electric. You know what that meant...
 Thats right no electric.
No lights.
The only lights available were small bulbs powered by a generator, kerosene lanterns and flashlights. In the image above you see a lovely willing "subject", a wonderful family ready to get their picture taken. A professional photographer (my father, Richard) preparing the shot a moment before and beautiful lighting we setup before the shot. All of that light glowing was from our own lighting system. At 10:30 pm, and not a single sliver of moonlight (cloud cover) we created light for every image to finish off what was for us one of the most technically challenging and fun weddings ever created.
 So remember if your a bride or groom or individual looking for a Professional Photographer for your day. Its about your connection with your photographer, the photographer's range of skill when adapting to many different situations.... and of course.... great lighting no matter what!!.