The Friends of the Roc City Skate Park did a wonderful job putting on this huge “friend-raiser” for the largest skatepark in the United States. We had 4 professional skateboarders and one professional bmx rider, plus other amateur level riders from Krudco and dozens of kids who raised money to skate with the pros. Here is the Board of Directors (including me!)…

The weekend began for me on Friday evening at Krudco Skateboard Shop with an autograph signing by Zoo York skater, Ron Deily. Wow, what a friendly and laid back guy. Red Bull was on hand to show off their MXT vehicle and pass out a plethora of their drinks. Ron made the kids do all sorts of things to earn signed skateboard decks and other prizes! I was able to score an easy birthday present for my older brother who skates. Actually, some of the earliest photos I ever took were of him skating.

Saturday was a bit chaotic for me as I ran down to Max for the Friends of the Roc City Skatepark Board meeting, then ran home to finish packing my car and pick up my SUPER assistant, Dan Ross… a Groom from last year! Dan and I setup the outdoor McKay’s Photography booth just in time for it to pour down rain. So, we packed everything back up and re-setup inside Max. Phew! During all of this, I also was delegating the setup for my indoor McKay’s Photography booth with on-site photo printing. Thanks to Dan, I stayed on track and relatively sane. Note to self…. always bring an assistant that is tall… they come in handy! It was excellent to see Brittany and Mike (Dan’s brother) hanging out and having fun too!

Once the rain stopped, it was a great time. I feel like I didn’t get to photograph nearly as much as I had planned because the schedule was thrown out and I was constantly pulled in 4 different directions at once. Special thanks to Lori Coleman of Light and Ink and Angie Carter of Goatmouth Studio for helping to photograph the event. Also Terri Parthum for editing all day!

The VIP event was a blast though. We had a slideshow with the best images from the day (3 photographers!!) and there was a performance by Aerial Arts of Rochester, speeches by Jim Maddison (RCP President), Luis Burgos who is probable our biggest fan at City Hall (Commissioner for Recreation and Youth Services) and most important, a brief and touching speech by Sheila Foxx. There were tears on everyone’s faces as she talked about her son, Akeer, and his passion for skateboarding, which killed him….

Sheila Foxx’s 14 year old son Akeer T. Matthews was hit by a car on October 8th 2010 while riding his skateboard and passed away on October 9th. “I was devastated. Actually, that is an understatement. Words cannot describe how I felt. I didn’t know what to do. Akeer never had a place to ride his skateboard and skateboarding was his passion. Akeer and his friends would try to skateboard in empty parking lots or at playgrounds but at each location there was a sign, NO SKATEBOARDERS ALLOWED. But as I mentioned, it was his passion, he was determined to skate anywhere he could. Unfortunately, like most skaters that place has become our business parking lots and busy city streets. In the name of Akeer, please help Roc City SkatePark become a place for them to skate. ANY donations would be appreciated.”

The weekend ended with a ride around Rochester in the Red Bull MXT and skateboarding with pro-skater, Ron Deily, for the largest fundraiser for the Rally… Jesse Morland! I was on hand to be the Professional Photographer and provide a photo shoot for Jesse and Ron. We headed downtown to Manhattan Square Park and within 30 seconds we were kicked out by the security at the HSBC office building! Ah, if only there was a legal and safe place to skate in the city of Rochester…..

All of the Professional images from this event will be online for viewing and ordering. Most of the proceeds will go directly to the Roc City Skatepark! Click HERE to view the gallery and buy away.

Media Links:

http://rochester.ynn.com/content/all_news/rochester/545761/rally-to-raise-money-for-roc-city-skatepark/

http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/news/articles/2011/05/RECREATION-Big-boost-for-Roc-City-Skatepark/

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20110605/NEWS01/106050338/Youths-rally-skate-park-Rochester?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Marcus McBride – DGK Skateboard Video

Lenny Rivas – DGK Skateboard Video

Ron Deily – Zoo York Skateboard Video

Tony Hamlin – Kink BMX Video

Derrick Wilson – Skateboarding Video

When Meridith announced her engagement, every photographer’s first question was “Who is shooting your wedding??” To my humble luck and surprise, it was me! Meridith jokes that when Scott proposed, her response after she said “YES!” was “Heather will be our Photographer!” Pretty much the biggest honor in the world. I mean, we photographers HATE being in front of the camera and we see the world with our own slanted vision….so the pressure was huge!

So, these two crazy love birds had a pretty explosive rise to the altar. And the wedding was no different. The ceremony was downstairs from the historic German House in Rochester’s South Wedge neighborhood… downstairs in The Keg! I was amazed at how beautiful it looked once the tables were set up with linens and candles on them. The lighting was dramatic and red. There was a champagne toast right away and instead of a sand ceremony, they mixed wine. The wedding favors were custom shot glasses… Do you see a theme here??

Working for a Photographer is sometimes a daunting task. Meridith kept me on my toes all day… she was always highly aware of where the camera was. The only perk was that she let me do whatever I wanted and let me yell at her a bit. I’d go in for a shot and she’d move her pose… too aware of me. It was like cat and mouse all day long. Until she got drunk. Then it was like herding cats…. she is so full of energy normally and give this chick some chardonnay and look out! It was all I could do to get any sort of formal images of this beautiful bride. Between her constant laughing and overall lust for life, it was hard to get her still. Luckily, Scott was there to hold her down and he always looked great in every image… smiling from ear to ear. He looks at her with the perfect mix of awe and amusement. As do the rest of us. Though I’m ribbing on her here, I like her so much that I drove her drunk butt home, with her wedding dress in my trunk, and put her to bed at the end of the day. Actually, I think I did that more for Scott so he could stay and enjoy the party!

The sun was shining, laughter was flowing, no rapture to be found and just fun fun fun. After the rainiest Spring on record, we finally had a sunny day. I felt bad for the band.. downstairs with no one dancing. Sad too since they were really really good!

Everyone I met was full of smiles smiles smiles! It was also fun to be at a wedding with a bunch of children. They added a really great element to the day and the flower girls were too cute! Lisa is one of the most ripped Brides I’ve seen in a while and you can clearly see she is a swimmer by those ‘guns’ of hers! She and Phil were really playful together and he seems to really enjoy making her laugh. They are an inspiration in their light hearted approach to life and love. It was an honor to spend the day stalking them, I mean photographing them. Have a great time on your honeymoon! I’m SO wishing I could bike around Spain too!

The day got off to a decent start for most. I’m noticing a trend this year…. somehow it is always the Groomsmen that are late/delayed/detained/bleeding. Most of my pre-wedding portrait time was taken away, however thanks to super organized (and attentive) families, we were able to get all the formal portraits we wanted and more. I kept feeling like I didn’t have the time I needed, however Zack from the Plantation Party House said I was right on schedule. So long as he wasn’t waiting on me to finish, I feel good. I do have to say, it was refreshing to work at a location where the coordinator was present and helpful. I was able to do my job smoothly because he was doing a great job at his. I was also surprised that he kept checking with all of the vendors to be sure we were all on the same page and to see if we needed anything! That is so rare!

Anyway, everything went smoothly for me because of his professionalism. Everyone involved was a true professional. From the florist to the bartenders to the band. Hopefully Lisa and Phil feel the same way. Obviously I see a lot of behind the scenes stuff and meet a lot of the other vendors, so I have an interesting perspective. All I know is that the dance floor was packed all night long, the bar was full and the desserts were devoured.

Vendors:

Plantation Party House

Orient Express Band

Arjuna Florist

Roc City Photo Booths

Designed Elegance Pastry Shoppe

When Melissa & Jordan entered their decorated barn reception at Hurd Orchards Farm, Melissa kept saying “I can’t believe this is MY wedding!!”… I think that just about sums it up for everyone in attendance.

Jordan and Melissa have been a dream to work with and I am completely honored and amazed that this is my job… to photograph the wedding of such an amazing and inspiring couple! From their Fall engagement portraits to the very end of their vintage barn wedding, these two just ooze love and contentment. Their family and friends were no exception. Several people came up to me to just chat and tell me how fun the Engagement Guestbook was to look through. So flattering and so nice to feel appreciated and noticed.

Another thing people were raving about was the food! Comments like “my teenage son loved the food” and “why don’t my salads taste this good?” were heard all night long. I hope Sue and Amy from Hurd Orchards realize how much people appreciated their custom preparation, handmade, homemade approach to wedding dishes. Part of the joy in this food is that nearly every single piece was grown, prepared and cooked on location at Hurd Orchards! From the gorgeous floral arrangements to the dessert. There isn’t much more you can do to have a slow food, sustainable, locovore wedding than that!

So, I could just keep raving about all of the details, however I’ll let Melissa tell you about her dress, DJ Fine Wine and all the rest! Just too much to say!! So, without further ado, here are the teasers from the wedding… (How do I have 90 teaser images???? YIKES!)…

“We didn’t sit down and decide to make “green” choices, we simply tried to extend what is important to us in our everyday lives to the wedding; finding a combination of good people, good food and good music. We were lucky to find vendors who were already doing great things in Western New York, people who have similar tastes and a similar outlook.

It started with Jordan proposing with Melissa grandmother’s wedding ring, and then Jordan buying his band from a local estate jeweler. Our wedding invitations were designed by our mutual friend Andrea, printed by our hands with help from the Western New York Book Arts Collaborative using a letterpress from the 1920′s. Many guests stayed at bed and breakfasts in the area, notably the White Farm, an 1820′s Farm House immaculately maintained by Christine Hunt. The ceremony and reception was at Hurd Orchards, a beautiful gem run by Amy Machamer and Sue Hurd Machamer. It’s hard to find a place that will pick your wedding bouquet from their gardens an hour before the ceremony, just after baking homemade bread, while also preparing delicious local appetizers and entrees. The only culinary element that was possibly not from western New York was our cake topper, the same one used by Melissa’s parents in 1969.

The wine was from Heron Hill, a sustainable vineyard close-by on Keuka Lake and the beer was from Flying Bison, Buffalo’s first stand alone brewery since the 70′s. Our DJ, Mr. Finewine (from Jersey City’s WFMU), played soul music exclusively by way of 45 rpm throughout the night. A family friend (calligrapher) made the place settings. Another friend, Aileen (Aveen Designs) made the jewelry for the wedding party and the mothers’ of the bride and groom. Jordan wore antique mother of pearl cuff links from the Melissa’s grandfather on her mother’s side and a vintage 1910′s pocket watch from her grandfather on her father’s side.

The biggest “DIY” element, though, was certainly Melissa’s dress, which was completely designed and sewn by a dear family friend and topped off by a 1890′s Victorian locket, a wedding present from Jordan”

There were more tears than rain drops, that is for sure. Molly’s Father gave a very touching and entertaining toast, which showcased his view of the beginnings of their relationship. I love hearing all of the stories about how couples get started, as well as the proposal. After all, by the time I see these two, it is near the end of the movie when everyone lives happily ever after. Aside from the humidity, the day was beautiful. Everyone seemed to enjoy the weather outside better than inside and the cloudy, moody sky was worth grabbing the Bride and Groom for some more images…

Oh, and take some fun and funky photographs we did! *sigh* I love love love my couples. Molly and Eddie floated right to the top after they handed me some of the funniest and silliest images! What a way to use a romantic sunset, than to do the cabbage patch and to wrestle each other. My favorite part was getting Molly onto the ground. Damp ground, mind you. She is so hardcore that she really didn’t care about the dress at all. And it paid off. I love those images and her dress was perfectly fine when she got up! Sometimes not worrying so much, is indeed the key. Who needs a Trash the Dress session, when I get my Brides to do more on their real wedding day?

Super duper special Thank You to the excellent, Mr. Patrick Luke, Certified Professional Photographer for being my second Photographer for the day. He came in handy more than a few times and I am honored that he would spend his Saturday with me. His images were a classic and timeless addition to my fun and candid overly fish eye way of shooting. He also made an excellent lighting guru for the day.

An even bigger Thank You to Molly, Eddie and their families for opening up to my camera, showing me the love that you all have to offer. With clients like you, I am continually challenged, grateful, honored, amused and blessed. Good luck with your new home and have a blast on your honeymoon! The rest of the images (and there are MANY) will be ready in about a month….

Many of you may remember that in 2007, I placed two images in a WPJA contest! This was one of the happiest moments of my career and I hope to place in more of their contests this year. I am blessed with amazing couples to work with that truly understand my work and let me do my thing! Both weddings that placed in 2007, were unusally trusting of my ability to do good work and I believe that is why I was able to get into that contest. Producing great work has as much to do with the people in the images as it does with using my eye and gear.

If you would like to learn more about what to expect from a Photo-Journalist, please read the wealth of articles written for the Bride and Groom on the WPJA’s website, WedPix.

Another random weird fact about this trip was that a few months ago I just happened to look at my friend Sophia’s Facebook page and saw her Aunt had made a comment about loving my work. She joked to Sophia wondering if I ever visit Maryland. Well, little did she know, I was planning the trip! When I had the dates booked I emailed her via Facebook and the rest is history! Everything worked out so great. Her lovely family drove down from North Baltimore to meet with me and we had a blast running around the brand new National Harbour, as well as Old Town Alexandria (where Andrew and Elise used to hang out on dates!).

Yet another added bonus was that last week, Jerry and Mimi got engaged! So, while I was waiting for Elise and Andrew to arrive, I did a quick Engagement Session for the Morey and Meemers with Sparky as a Thank You for hosting me during the trip. These two were so generous and it was really great to see them. On Saturday evening, we had a little BBQ in the backyard and I invited Lana & Mark (wedding Oct. 2008) to bring over their dog and hang out with us for the evening. The dogs loved playing together and I was able to give Lana and Mark their parent albums, which had just arrived! Like I said… a perfect weekend!