The Best of Black and White Photography: 2017

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Some moments that are so beautiful demand to be felt through a black and white portrait. This moment with Rene and her daughter, her flower girl, was one of those moments! I am sharing some of my favorite moments and portraits of this past wedding season that I felt demanded to be felt through black and white photography.

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Torie and Kevin’s daughter was looking out the window as their family and friends began to arrive and start to sit at the ceremony location in front of the steps of the Obici House. She was so sweet getting excited to watch their guests arrive, I had to photograph her in this moment.

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This moment below could tell you everything you need to know about Torie and Kevin’s wedding day. It encompasses their family becoming one. It encompasses love, determination and strength. You see, Torie’s Dad is one loving and determined man and he surprised us all by walking Torie down the aisle. This is his wife of many years, who he met at 18. Overcome with emotion watching the love of her life walk their baby girl down the aisle she turned to see her future son-in-law only to witness him overcome with emotion as well. Within these four corners of this single frame so much of their families’ love and story is unfolded. It was truly a joy to witness.

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Josh’s love for Mariecar was obvious since the day I met them. On their wedding day he was emotional as he saw her walk down the aisle, as they read their personal vows out loud to one another and throughout the night while they danced together! These moments with his best man, overjoyed for his friend, as Mariecar walked down the aisle to marry Josh are some of my favorite.

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I believe there is not much more beautiful than a Bride the moments before she walks down the aisle, tracing her fingers along her veil, looking down to soak in that she is in her wedding dress. Soaking in the fact that in just a few short moments, she will be holding hands with her soulmate. This moment of a wedding day became more impactful for me when on my wedding day in that same moment, my Matron of Honor turned to me & said, “When you turn the corner and see Cory, you will lock eyes with him and everything else will wash away. Everyone there will be a blur and you will only see him.” In this moment, Kelly was taking a few deep breaths and her bridesmaids were making every attempt to distract her, but I believe in feeling this moment. So, I got to tell Kelly what my Matron of Honor told me and as I told her, her eyes began to fill with a tear or two and she seemed to exhale out any of the nerves that were building. I believe in being the one in a room full of women to always bring you back to your love, your moment and your soulmate. I know that Stephen saw no one else as Kelly walked towards him with her veil lightly swaying in the breeze behind her.

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I asked Stephen and Kelly to walk out to the end of the dock, hand in hand, and spend a few minutes together before they headed back to their wedding reception. I let them know that I was staying back as well, this time would be just for the two of them to soak in this day. As Stephen took Kelly’s hand he turned back to me and said, “Do you remember telling us to imagine this day together during our engagement portraits?… Well it’s so much more than I ever could of imagined then!” Stephen smiled and began to walk down the dock with his wife, holding her hand.

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Monica’s mother-in-law took the beads from Monica’s Mother’s wedding dress and stitched them into her veil, delicately. Monica’s Mother got to see the beads the day of her wedding and it is safe to say that it was a beautiful moment to photograph.

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Before walking down the aisle to her ceremony, Monica wrote a letter to Josh that they planned to read later in the day together. This moment was quiet, no one else was in the room, and Monica got to focus on the words that she wanted to write to her soon-to-be Husband.

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That first walk out of your wedding ceremony, to go photograph your first portraits as Husband & Wife is one of the sweetest walks you will take together.

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The letters that Monica and Josh wrote to each other, they later read them as they stepped away from their reception for a moment.

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When your brothers’ are your groomsmen and your Dad is your best man it is hard not to laugh and have a good time during your portraits with them!

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Alyssa and Pete’s reception may have had to been moved inside because of rain but we went out in the drizzle later and they still got to slow dance together where their first dance was originally planned to be! I think the rain made it that much more romantic for them.

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Toasts are always full of laughter and happy tears but Peter’s Dad really hit his toast out of the park for his son and daughter-in-law.

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There is something that I want you to know before your wedding day…laugh, a lot! Marvel in the little moments. Hug your Mom, and Dad, a little tighter. Be fascinated with your wedding dress. Kick off those heels and go for sparkly flats if you want too! Daydream about your Groom as you get ready.

Take a deep breath when you are walking to your First Look. Hug your people like you never want to let go.

Love your people with everything that you have got! Love him and your life together more than you ever imagined that you could. Know that your wedding day is only the beginning and hold hands as you walk out to the rest of your life together.

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Marry your best friend. I do not say that lightly. Really, truly, find the strongest, happiest friendship in the person you fall in love with. Someone you can laugh with. The kind of laughs that make your belly ache, and your nose snort. The embarrassing, earnest, healing kind of laughs. Life is to short not too love someone who lets you be a fool with them. Marry your best friend.

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If you could have a look into your future my hope for you is that it would look like these black and white photographs below. Dancing and smiling on your first day as husband and wife and dancing and smiling on a much later day, decades later, as husband and wife. You will look back on your life together and know that it was not everyday that you slow danced and waltzed under string lights in a ballroom, but you will have those days to remember amongst the ordinary ones. Find the extraordinary in all of your ordinary days. Show love always and always think of your black and white photographs from your wedding day. These black and white photographs will remind you of the emotion and love that you were feeling in those very moments.

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