There is a first for everything and here is my first wedding photographed on film. Ever since I received my Contax 645 at end of February my goal was to use it to photograph my sister’s wedding. I only shot previously maybe four rolls and that was over the several months before her wedding. Not as much practice as I wanted; however each frame of each roll was carefully composed. I counted up how many rolls I thought I might shoot and placed an order through Adorama. I honestly wondered how it was all going to work with switching between digital and film; however two things motivated me. One, I love a challenge. And two I also really wanted to do this for my sister.
Film has enamored me. I am inspired by and it has captivated my heart. Part of it is the challenge to see if I can get the exposure accurate (I still want to get an external light meter). It takes me a little longer to adjust the aperture and shutter speed when the light changes to get the correct exposure. When I get the scans back and most of the images are exposed correctly, it makes me happy!! The other challenge to me is learning to manually focus each image for a crisp and clear photograph in the moment. I am use to auto focus and crisp images. Thankfully I feel that film is a little more forgiving with soft images. And another challenge is creating the composition within the frame as I hit the button for the shutter to be released. The color film captures, the waiting for the photographs to be developed, and seeing your images for the first time are all things that also contribute to being enamored with film. I hope film will always captive me.
After each shoot I write down what I learned and what I would want to do different next time. Specifically for shooting my sister’s wedding with film as well as being in the wedding I would do one thing different. I would have shot more film. I did shoot nine rolls (only 16 images per 120 film) one of them being black and white on top of the thousand digital ones. However, I love love love these images below. I realized that I also took chances as I usually only took one shot per detail or pose. I knew that film images were additional or better yet a bonus. If it was the only medium that I was shooting; it would be different. The exception that I know off hand was that I took four photographs of the flower girl; she was my daughter. There are only maybe four or five film images that were not included in this post. One other thing that I would have done was use the check list that I have to cross off shots that I had taken with my film camera. I do not know if it was the switching back and forth from film and digital that I could not remember what I shot on film, or if it was my pregnancy brain that has me forgetting things all the time. When editing the digital images I was looking for certain shots that I knew that I took; only to realize that it must have been on film.
I used Fuji Pro 400 120 and Ilford Delta 3200 (black and white) for the Contax 645. I used The FIND LAB for developing and scanning and always have been pleased with their service and feedback.
You can see my sister’s wedding here and here. Again, I thank Laura and Drew for allowing me to photograph their wedding. These film images are just the icing on the cake for me! ENJOY!!!
Again, the lovely calligraphy written by our mother.
Laura’s dress was full of layers of tulle topped with feathers! a perfect combination.All of these images were photographed in our barns barn that is over 150 years old.Love her smile!a few portraits before seeing her groom and I love how the wind was gently blowing her curls!!the groom heading out to to see his bride!love love love this one.
this was one of the ones that I was looking for in my digital images.
Their first look! I love how Drew is looking at Laura in her dress!The one above of the right is a favorite of Drew.
When I saw the one above download I about died! I love EVERYTHING about Laura and Drew in this image.
yep, caught Laura in mid smile.And I might have had the same reaction when I saw this image too! LOVE it!!Our family is now complete!My brother, sister in law, and their little ring bearer.I love my husband!Thank you Daylene for taking one of the whole wedding party!As soon as I was down the aisle I grabbed my camera and started shooting!!After the ceremony I had ten minutes with Laura and Drew before they too joined the cocktail hour.Yep, you two look so good together!The band and the food were both amazing and made the cocktail hour and reception memorable!Rusty Love rentals on display.A DIY project was creating the cake stand to its appearance…
finished in white by Lyndon, hand painted touch of gold, white glass plate for the surface.I loved the pink and gold combinations that filled each table.Laura hand stamped each favor that had homemade cookies made by Drew’s mother for everyone to enjoy.And after dinner the dancing started!As the sun went down I started using the Ilford 3200 film.
I remembered to change my film speed on the side of the camera and began capturing the rest of the reception. No flash.And then the finale…fireworks!
Invitations: Word Shop
Calligraphy: Diane Neumann (Bride’s Mother)
Ceremony: Misty Glen Farm, Fallston, MD
Reception: Misty Glen Farm, Fallston, MD
Dress: The Bridal Collection
Shoes: Seychelles
Rings: Engagement Ring and Wedding Band, Miro Jewelers
Earrings, Etsy Store: Not One Sparrow
Veil and Hair pieces: Veil, Wedzu
Hair Piece, Jessie Capstick (Friend of the Bride)
Hair Stylist: Kym Rodda (Friend of the Bride)
Makeup: Caylan Clifford (Friend of the Bride)
Bridesmaid’s dresse: Own choices: J. Crew, Nordstroms, Modcloth, Ruche, Anthropologie, BHLDN
Bridesmaid’s shoes: Their own choices.
Earrings, Etsy Store Not One Sparrow
Bracelets: Kith & Kin
Hair for Bridesmaids: Jamie Halcott of Baltimore Bridal Beauty
Groom attire: J.Crew Suit, Bedstu shoes
Groomsmen attire: Macy’s
Flowers: The Floral Studio
Cake: Kathy Deane (friend of the Bride)
Dessert table: friends of the Mother of the bride
The Favor: Homemade cookies made by the Groom’s mother
Music (ceremony/reception):Ceremony, Cocktail Hr, Dinner, The Mudpatch Family Band, DJ Andrew Walker (Friend of the Bride)
Catering: Laurrapin Grille
Rentals: Loane Bros, Tent, chairs, glass and silverware
Dance Floor: Rented from a Friend of bride
Lounge Area, Chandelier, Rusty Love Vintage Rentals
Wedding Day Coordinator: Angela Mangione
. . .
. . .
. . .
Wow — it’s late at night here, but I couldn’t stop looking through these! Thanks for sharing, Jamie! What an incredibly beautiful occasion, and you did an amazing job capturing the love, the details, and the hard work that everyone put into this day!
This Friday night we decided to go camping. We have both enjoyed camping growing up and want Myla to experience it too. The weather was beautiful and decided if we did not go it would not happen as I would be more uncomfortable and sleeping in a tent much less appealing. We packed up the sleeping bags and mats, our pillows, and the tent and headed out. We grabbed a Metro Pizza on our way for dinner. Not really roughing it for the night but we enjoyed making the memory together. And to me that is important. Once the tent was set up we enjoyed sitting around the fire telling other camping stories together and roasting marshmallows. Though Myla only ate the chocolate of her s’more and left the marshmallow and graham cracker! In the morning we packed up quickly as we had a wedding to attend as guest! Maybe next time we stay a little longer and cook a meal over the fire.
. . .. . .. . .As Laura and Drew exited hand in hand as husband and wife, the guest too followed the long winding path to the backyard. Laura and Drew wanted their guest to enjoy their time and one another. They have traveled from all over and were so thankful for each one that was able to come and celebrate with them. Lawn games, drinks, and delicious h’orderves awaited the guest as the cocktail hour began. As all the formal picture were taken before the ceremony Laura and Drew slipped away for ten minutes with me for a few more pictures together. One thing that I love being a photographer is that I get to be with the bride and groom most of the day. This was especially true for their wedding. As soon as we finished it was time for Laura and Drew to join and enjoy the cocktail hour with their families and friends! As we came across the yard Drew said this is just how I imagined it to be! The guest were mingling, games being played, and the band’s blue grass music filled the air! The band was beyond amazing!
There are so many details that go into a wedding to reflect who the couple are. And there were details, details, details everywhere you turned that reflected Laura and Drew. The ideas turned into reality by many hands who worked the weeks leading up to the wedding and even the day of the wedding. It could not have been done without all the family and friends who gave their time and energy to each details you will see below. I know many memories were made working together to create this simply beautiful rustic wedding with touches of gold! Laurel greens lined the wood tables, pink peonies, gold and mercy glass vases filled with candlelight, floral arrangements, and a chandelier that hung perfectly over the center of the wooden dance floor strung with white lights!
Growing up at my parents there was a field that we all called the “wedding field”. Of course, this was where the white tent for their reception was set up. After the cocktail hour it was time for the guest followed the brick sidewalk around the pool to be seated under the tent and the rain appeared again. The rain did not cloud the day at all. The reception started by a welcome by our dad was given followed by the toasts, well the best man’s toast because I could not find my paper in my camera bag! I confess that I did panic and I am not the type to just start talking into the microphone, it would have been a disaster. So my toast came later after dinner. The dinner entrees created by Larrapin Grille were rich in flavor and were outstanding. Once dinner was finished the dancing started and only stopped twice. Once for cutting of the cake and time to enjoy all the homemade desserts and for the final surprise. The guest stepped off the dance floor outside of the tent for what they thought was going to be a group picture. Then the dark sky was filled with bright and colorful fireworks!
The day was amazing from the beginning to the end as it was filled with family, friends, love, dancing, flower girls and ring bearers, tasty food, yard games, pink peonies, a blue grass band, delicious desserts, and most of all a couple who is committed to live their lives together before the Lord as husband and wife. It was only appropriate for Laura and Drew to exit on Laura’s father vintage Triumph motorcycle as the guest waved goodbye! Laura and Drew thank you so much for allowing me to capture you wedding day. I hope these photographs will bring you many memories of your wedding day and stories to tell in years to come of your celebration becoming husband and wife! I again must thank my parents for all the work and time they spent creating a place for all of us to enjoy and celebrate Laura and Drew. I also must thank all the vendors who help create this beautiful day and for Daylene to help capture it with me! Laura and Drew, I am so thankful that you so got married! Love you both! ENJOY!!!
Signs hand painted and hand written by my mother; floral arrange here done by mother of the bride’s talented friends!
The lounge area set up by Rusty Love Vintage Rentals.
The band not only played during the ceremony but was a highlight of the cocktail hour!
so thankful to sneak away with these two for a few more portraits after the ceremony!I LOVE these!!Then we headed into the barn. It was so dark, just a sliver of light was coming in through the cracks.Yes, another favorite.This game is called knock hockey. We grew up playing it.
This was the bride and groom’s h’orderve tray. However after I took a picture I ate a slider and told them it was ok because I was her sister!The old glass was found in the barn and was perfect for the seating as all the escort cards were already placed on the tables.Drew loves maps. All the guest were asked to sign it for their guest book and later to be framed.More flowers arrange by the mother of the bride’s friends!Under the tent!!!The chandelier and lights were my mother’s vision and creation!!!Each guest received this cotton bag stamped with their logo and filled with homemade cookies by the Groom’s mother.All the gold votives were painted gold by the bride’s family.Laurel wreaths hung from the bride and groom’s chair and were on each table setting continuing the theme in the details.This too was an antique hog trough that my mother’s vision turned into a bar for the evening!And the dancing began…with the first dance!Laura and her dad danced to the classic “American Pie”.Drew loves desserts and there was a table filled with amazing sweet homemade desserts by the mother of the bride’s friends!!
If you know one thing about my sister it is that she loves to dance…and the dancing did not stop!Then the grand finale…FIREWORKS!!!
Invitations: Word Shop
Calligraphy: Diane Neumann (Bride’s Mother)
Ceremony: Misty Glen Farm, Fallston, MD
Reception: Misty Glen Farm, Fallston, MD
Dress: The Bridal Collection
Shoes: Seychelles
Rings: Engagement Ring and Wedding Band, Miro Jewelers
Earrings, Etsy Store: Not One Sparrow
Veil and Hair pieces: Veil, Wedzu
Hair Piece, Jessie Capstick (Friend of the Bride)
Hair Stylist: Kym Rodda (Friend of the Bride)
Makeup: Caylan Clifford (Friend of the Bride)
Bridesmaid’s dresse: Own choices: J. Crew, Nordstroms, Modcloth, Ruche, Anthropologie, BHLDN
Bridesmaid’s shoes: Their own choices.
Earrings, Etsy Store Not One Sparrow
Bracelets: Kith & Kin
Hair for Bridesmaids: Jamie Halcott of Baltimore Bridal Beauty
Groom attire: J.Crew Suit, Bedstu shoes
Groomsmen attire: Macy’s
Flowers: The Floral Studio
Cake: Kathy Deane (friend of the Bride)
Dessert table: friends of the Mother of the bride
The Favor: Homemade cookies made by the Groom’s mother
Music (ceremony/reception):Ceremony, Cocktail Hr, Dinner, The Mudpatch Family Band, DJ Andrew Walker (Friend of the Bride)
Catering: Laurrapin Grille
Rentals: Loane Bros, Tent, chairs, glass and silverware
Dance Floor: Friend of bride
Lounge Area, Chandelier, Rusty Love Vintage Rentals
Wedding Day Coordinator: Angela Mangione
. . .. . .. . .Jamie, I loved looking through these pictures and all the details. So many gorgeous things, a few of my favorites: the barn pictures!! Your sister’s hair is so adorable. The lights under the tent. Your whole family is stunning…what a beautiful day!
WOW!!! What a gorgeous and fun wedding! So many beautiful details…the food looked amazingly delicious!…Laura, you are stunning. And, of course, beautiful pics, Jamie. You people know how to throw a party!!! Congrats Laura & Drew!
I honestly think this was the most beautiful wedding I’ve ever seen!!! Just breathtaking! 
And you truly can see how much fun you all had! YAY!
This is probably one of the prettiest weddings I’ve seen in a long time! All the details were exquisite! Great job Jamie!
It is hard for me to put into words my feelings about my sister’s wedding. I love her dearly and we both had prayed for this day to come. There are so many emotions that are wrapped up in the planning, dreaming and waiting. I watched her faith grow and be tested in the waiting for the man that God had chosen to be her husband. The excitement in my heart made me smile and soak in every minute the whole week leading up to their wedding as I believe that marriage is an amazing gift from God. I was thrilled it was Laura and Drew’s time to become husband and wife.
Laura described our parent’s farm as one of her most favorite places on earth. And what better then to get married there. My parents and many hands had the farm looking beyond amazing. All the ideas and details had turned into reality as the tent went up, lights were hung, signs in place, and the guest arrived traveling from all over. The feel for the wedding was a combination of elegance, rustic, and natural elements. This was perfect for Laura and Drew.
The day started with a family brunch sitting around our kitchen table together. The wedding day finally had arrived. One by one the bridesmaid arrived, hair done and makeup put on and then it was time for Laura to step into her wedding dress that made it from Colorado. As she stood there in the mirror looking at herself in her dress the tears came. For her and for me. The reality of waiting was over, she was so getting married.
Laura was stunning and ready to see Drew at their first look. However we stopped for a few minutes as the timeline allot for bridal portraits. I think Drew would say it took a little longer then a few minutes as he waiting by the tall beech tree to see his bride. Then Laura followed the path through the field down to where Drew stood. The best part of a first look is that you spend the rest of the day side by side with your best friend, enjoying every moment together. This is what Laura and Drew did.
Then it was time for me to put down my camera as the ceremony was about to begin. It was sprinkling and the umbrellas were up as guests were seated in the back field. The amazing part was the rain stopped as Laura and her father arm in arm started the long beautiful walk together down the tall green path cut just for this moment. We all watched this beautiful moment as a dad escorts his daughter down the aisle and gives her away to the man standing and waiting for his bride to arrive. It was emotional. Tears of joy and happiness were present.
Out in the field, surround by family and friends Laura and Drew made a commitment to the Lord to love, protect, and cherish one another as long as they both shall live. Their words spoke of a commitment to choose love and a vow to spend a lifetime together. Something they both had been waiting for and they were now officially husband and wife!
Well, I knew there were too many photographs to make it into one blog post; so there will be a part two of Laura and Drew’s wedding. I must thank everyone, starting my parents and Drew’s parents, friends and family who traveled, everyone who helped in the numerous details before, day of and after, Daylene for shooting with me, and most of all for Laura and Drew! Thank you! It was such a joy of mine to photograph your wedding and to be able to stand up beside you as you committed yourselves to one another. ENJOY!!! And part two is coming!
Yes, all the envelops were hand written in calligraphy by our mother.The laurel wreath became an identifying theme for their wedding.This might be my all time favorite dress photograph!A touch of feathers on her dress.The tradition started when my mother receive one of these handkerchiefs from her mother in law from her mother on her wedding day.
My mother carried on the tradition and it’s Laura’s great grandmother who added all the lace on the handkerchiefs.
Each bridesmaid received one with their names on it.
Getting ready!Love this moment!I loved having this time with only my sister to photograph her. Something I will always remember.I LOVE their reactions….Checking out his bride!Daylene’s angel above of the first look.Love this one that Daylene captured!One of the cute flower girls! She was ready to wear her dress at nine o’clock in the morning!The other cute flower girl!Hair done by Jamie Halcott of Baltimore Bridal BeautyAmazing color, I loved the flowers!Laura has the sweetest girlfriends who traveled to be there for her.
They truly the best faithful, and loving friends one could ask for!Signs in place, wreaths hung, flowers on display!A family friend, Elsa who is an artist hand drew a map of the farm!These amazing urns are from the Floral Studio and were gorgeous!Music played and the guest waited as the anticipation grew for the bride to walk down the aisle.Love these shots capturing the moments of Laura and our dad.Look at all the emotion in these two photographs.
Daylene did an amazing job covering the ceremony by herself!She was so happy to hold Laura’s bouquet.
The KISS!!!And then the confetti toss!
Invitations: Word Shop
Calligraphy: Diane Neumann (Bride’s Mother)
Ceremony: Misty Glen Farm, Fallston, MD
Reception: Misty Glen Farm, Fallston, MD
Dress: The Bridal Collection
Shoes: Seychelles
Rings: Engagement Ring and Wedding Band, Miro Jewelers
Earrings, Etsy Store: Not One Sparrow
Veil and Hair pieces: Veil, Wedzu
Hair Piece, Jessie Capstick (Friend of the Bride)
Hair Stylist: Kym Rodda (Friend of the Bride)
Makeup: Caylan Clifford (Friend of the Bride)
Bridesmaid’s dresse: Own choices: J. Crew, Nordstroms, Modcloth, Ruche, Anthropologie, BHLDN
Bridesmaid’s shoes: Their own choices.
Earrings, Etsy Store Not One Sparrow
Bracelets: Kith & Kin
Hair for Bridesmaids: Jamie Halcott of Baltimore Bridal Beauty
Groom attire: J.Crew Suit, Bedstu shoes
Groomsmen attire: Macy’s
Flowers: The Floral Studio
Cake: Kathy Deane (friend of the Bride)
Music (ceremony/reception):Ceremony, Cocktail Hr, Dinner, The Mudpatch Family Band, DJ Andrew Walker (Friend of the Bride)
Catering: Laurrapin Grille
Rentals: Loane Bros, Tent, chairs, glass and silverware
Lounge Area, Chandelier, Rusty Love Vintage Rentals
Wedding Day Coordinator: Angela Mangione
. . .. . .. . .What a privilege to be able to photograph such an wonderful day for your sister! It is so evident that you guys are close, such a treasure.
I teared up looking at the pictures of your brother in law’s reaction as Laura walked down the aisle!
Oh what joy. 2 beautiful young people in love, celebrating before God, family and friends. Everything was just perfect, sister you did a great job on everything, Jamie you captured the sweet bliss of the day, and Laura and Drew god has blessed you and you shown with his glory! Happy blessings to come.
Love,
Aunt Pat
Jamie, these photos are stunning! They capture the joy of the day perfectly!
O WHAT A DAY! I love and will treasure each of these amazing pictures !!! When pictures capture the unspeakable joy and delight one experiences when a daughter is married and family and friends gather to celebrate together, treasures are made.
This is Jessica’s mom and I met you last Sept.
I knew the moment I met you that you were the one to take her pictures.
These are beautiful and what more can I say?
You do wonderful work and I am so happy your a big part of this wedding. Just take pics of me from the head area.. lol lol
Love
Lorraine Romero