A friend of mine (also the best wedding consultant in the Central NY area) Tara Reimer from Terra Rosa referred Scott and Amanda to me (thanks Tara). It was kind of late in the season when they booked so we didn’t have a chance to do an engagement session. I basically showed up at the rehearsal dinner, met everyone for the first time and spent the next day and a half photographing the wedding. This is not something that is easy to do, especially considering that my work is mainly about capturing emotions and fleeting moments. Anyone that has followed my blog for the last few years or that looks back at previous posts can easily tell that it is important to me, and I enjoy connecting with my couples and their families. It really is an essential part of what I do, and why I do what I do. So yes, I was a little bit concerned but Tara assured me that they were a wonderful couple and I felt that I got to know them a little through our emails and phone conversations. Any apprehension I had was immediately put to rest the moment I looked into Scott and Amanda’s eyes. I could tell that they appreciated having me there, and I was instantly scooped up and welcomed into the family. It is kind of strange to be put into a large group of people and create the images you see here without knowing anyone and having just met everyone. I don’t think a lot of people would actually be able to do it. There are a lot of technical things, and compositional things involved in what I do but there isn’t anything more important than the socializing skills that are required. Then consider that most of my time is spent alone working behind a computer for hours on end and the extrovert thing gets even more complex. I think photographers in general love and embrace that interaction with people. I know I do, and it gives me the spark to keep going, forever looking forward to the next wedding, and the incredible people that I will meet and do this for. Oh, in case you haven’t noticed, photographers can also talk about anything or nothing for long periods of time. It gets even worse when we talk to each other. A friend may call and we will talk for hours. Both of us working the whole time, editing or post processing images while we gab away about what ever. It is even worse as a photo student because you have professors, other students, or someone you want to photograph that you talk to and talk to and talk to. One of my favorite assignments I ever had was for an independent credit course I took with Owen Butler at R.I.T.. He told us that we were not allowed to speak one word to anyone for an entire week. My roommate was in the class with me so we couldn’t even answer the telephone at our apartment. Plus the school for the deaf is in Rochester so everyone we met just assumed we were deaf. It was a very interesting and eye opening experience to say the least, and I recommend that everyone should try it. The rush of the world seems to slow down around you, and you can actually smell the flowers as you are forced to take time along the way.
Back to the wedding…okay so another thing that increased the comfort factor was that it was at Cornell University. After working there for ten years and also photographing numerous weddings there it is kind of like home for me. There are not many photographers that know the ins and outs of the place better than I do, and the people that work there are all very friendly and accommodating. A big shout out goes to Melissa Hill and her crew at the Statler Hotel for always doing such an amazing job. Add Tara to the mix and there is nothing to worry about. Tara dots every i and crosses every t in a totally non-stressful and very friendly way. She is detail oriented and well organized, and makes it easier for everyone to do a great job for the couple. After all, that is the most important thing.
The whole wedding party and I climbed to the top of the McGraw Tower for a special Chimes concert, and the rain held off long enough to give us some wonderful opportunities. The Cornell Chimes are the university’s oldest musical tradition, and one of the most frequently played set of bells on any American college campus. Housed in historic McGraw Tower, the 21-bells are played primarily by student chimes masters. All concerts are open to the public—you simply have to climb the tower’s 161 steps (it feels like a whole lot more than that though). The door to the tower opens five to ten minutes before a scheduled concert and closes before concert’s end. Your stair-climbing efforts will be rewarded with a spectacular view of Cornell and the surrounding community, and a musical performance like you’ve never seen before. One of the guys in the wedding party helped carry my bag for me and I can’t thank him enough.
Thank you Scott, Amanda, your families, and friends for everything. I wish you much love and happiness on your new journey together.
Wedding Planner: Terra Rosa Tara Reimer
Ceremony Reception: Statler Hotel Melissa Hill, event planning manager
Hair & Makeup: Makeup on Demand Kris Kellogg
Florist: Michaleen’s Michaleen
Cake: Bluewave Pastries Joanna Sacucci-Bryan
Band: Jay Sweeny
Ceremony Music: Myra Kovary
Cocktail Music: OXtet Jazz Trio Josh Oxford
Transportation: Finger Lakes Winery Tours Carol & Fitzlimo Mike Fitzgerald
Officiant: Rabbi Scott Glass
Ceremony Sound: Calf Audio Barny
Cornell Chimes Chimesmasters Ryan Fan
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