I don’t even know if I had ever seen a bride wear Chuck Taylors, but Jeannie wore them well. It was something fun for them, and I wanted to have a few nice frames for them to remember those pretty, sparkly silver shoes. I also shot one of their ring pictures with the Chucks.

Congrats again to Michael and Jeannie.

This wasn’t the first dance, but I still think the couple will look back on it and enjoy the frame. They are dancers, so this is special. For all the women who are wondering what’s up with her wedding dress bustle – that’s actually a reception dress. Her wedding dress was beautiful, but it was very huge and thick. So she had a shorter dress for the reception.

This picture kind of reminded me that whenever you think you’re spent, and couldn’t possibly make another good picture, one creeps up on you. I had shot the dancing for 30 minutes or so, when it occurred to me the sun was in perfect position to use it for a frame like this. That’s what I love about photography, even though you have two people with cameras taking pictures at the same event, you’re going to have something different from each. It’s a creative outlet.

I had heard some of Zac Brown Band’s stuff, and liked what I had heard. When he played “Toes” I knew he was my kind of guy. Click here to see a strip of photos.

Pictures of rock stars are a dime a dozen. You have all the photographers standing there together, making the same picture. The artist is showing off, because they know the professional photos will only be taken during the first songs, before they are sweaty and losing themselves in the performance. At these big shows you’re only given three songs (and actually, two of the artists I shot were only two!). Like my friend Kyle said the other day, the smaller shows give you way more freedom to make good pictures.

That’s why once I got the boot from Sam Bush’s show, I didn’t mind because I was able to make some unique photos of the fans.

Jeanie was getting ready at Glassworks in one of the lofts, and it’s just a beautiful place to get ready. These windows are killer, and while some of you are probably thinking, “but I could take this photo,” I just point this out because all too often I see beautiful scenes like this in wedding pictures but the photographer doesn’t even attempt to take advantage of them (examples below). I take pride in telling a story on a wedding day, not just shooting 1,000 close ups of a beautiful bride.

Shooting wide to show the scene. This is one of the biggest things amateurs don’t do – walk around to find all the angles to tell the story.

Paying attention to color. A lot of amateurs can do this when planning a portrait, but don’t notice these things as they happen.

Not shooting the obvious frame. Looking at what makes a situation interesting.

Using space to show location. This photo wouldn’t be unique without the bathroom stalls.

Being creative, telling a story. One of the greatest benefits of hiring a professional is the story telling.

Paying attention to leading lines, because they can lead you through a picture and keep it interesting.

For any hardcore photojournalists who think I was too much a part of the event, check out Derek’s photo from the other end. That’s the same view most of the crowd had, too. In the end, I’m there to make nice pictures for Jeanie and Michael, and I did what I thought I needed to do to get my job done. I actually think this was less intrusive than shooting from the front row and moving around a lot. 

As always, the wedding was beautiful (and incredibly short!). I appreciate Michael and Jeanie trusting me to be there for their big day. Congratulations to each of them, and best of luck. I guess “best of luck” could just apply to their honeymoon, since they are going to Vegas! Have fun guys.

I’m shooting a wedding on top of Glassworks today. I hope we get these kind of clouds, but no rain. It’s kind of flirting with disaster to say that, but clouds make for a much more beautiful picture than plain sky. Check this picture out to see a nice one from my last trip to Glassworks. Here is another example of nice, fluffy clouds.

I was shooting a news conference that only 15-20 people were at, and after it was over I didn’t have much. This was my best one from the actually presser itself, and then I just needed something that at least was interesting. I actually figured they would run the one I linked to, but laughed a little to see the one to the left run 3 columns wide. I thought of you, Kyle. Haha.

Cutline: Otis Franklin, a Kentucky State alum of the 1961 class and an Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. member, picks up trash on Saturday morning while working with other fraternity alumni to cleanup Muhammad Ali Boulevard.

Maybe I’m a romantic, or an idealist, but I prefer to let things happen natural. That doesn’t mean I don’t do all of the cool portraits, or there aren’t moments when I’ll pull a bride and groom aside to pose up a portrait, but 75 percent of my take is going to be real love, and I think that’s cool.

Moments like this one are what make me really love shooting weddings. It’s really great knowing that the work I produce this couple is going to love and cherish for the rest of their lives, and that generations to come will look at these and be able to see a day of celebration. I’ve felt more excited and self-worth while shooting weddings than anything else since moving back to Louisville. My work is actually accomplishing something, which is nice.Not that newspapers can’t give you that great feeling of accomplishment, but I’m not working for one right now. Every now and then I’ll get a really meaty, good assignment. But I’ve found it’s really hard for a freelancer to invest their time and sink deep into stories like what I think matter. Projects, or long looks at problems within the city.