Erica, Dan, and I met up in Syracuse and spent a wonderful afternoon getting to know each other while shooting their engagement session. Their offices are located in a neat building that used to be a firehouse. When Erica did the interior design (quite beautifully too if anyone is in need of an interior designer) www.jgbproperties.com she decided to leave the original pole that the fireman used to slide down on. Well, it isn’t everyday that I have access to one of these so it seemed like the perfect place to start. I have to tip my hat to these two for doing such a great job too because I usually start with something a little further away and gradually work in closer. As I have said before, it can be a little strange to take direction from someone you just met, especially when that person is putting all of this sophisticated camera gear in your face. People always ask me what they are supposed to do. Should we do this, or should we do that? Should we smile, should we look at you? I always say that I will put them in a place that I like and make suggestions. What they need to do is be comfortable, do what feels natural, and just have fun and respond to each other. It can be frustrating for all of us at first because it is such a strange/different experience (any of my past couples reading this and want to comment please do) to be photographed on this level. It is amazingly rewarding for me when we turn that corner and they start to reveal their true inner selves. That is when the magic happens. I think these two hit the magic point big time, and by the end of the day they were experienced models.
Next we spent a little time in Franklin Square with a few thousand carpenter bees. Okay, so that was a little rough for everyone. We finally gave in and decided to head over to one of my favorite parts of Syracuse, Armory Square. We shot in an alleyway there that I had been in before for an engagement session with Nicole and Marcus. I absolutely love the textures and light in this area. I don’t know what it is exactly but something just seems to feel right about this place. It is always interesting for me to revisit an area (especially one I really like) and see how different the images come out.
Erica and her friends are huge fans of the movie Dirty Dancing and love the line when Baby says, “I carried a watermelon”. So she wanted to do a shot with a watermelon, and it worked for me so that is why the watermelon is in the sunset image (incase you were wondering). Bugs covered the three of us as we were literally attacked while shooting these images by the water at sunset. Bravo to Erica and Dan for hanging in there! It took a lot of retouching to get rid of all of them and I’m not sure what was worse, actually standing in them or reliving the experience again in front of my computer. I swear I can still feel them on me after working on these images.
Afterwards they treated me to an incredible sushi meal at Ocean Sushi (another great sushi place in Liverpool/Baldwinsville that I just found out about). The next day they were a big hit with my kids too because Erica and Dan gave me the balloons and watermelon to bring home. I thank you both for everything, and it is much appreciated. I am really looking forward to your wedding and making some spectacular images together.
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