Mat Crawford

Rachel and Ryan - Married!

2010-07-29

I am no landscape photographer - that is for sure.  It is not that I could not capture a beautiful scenic view - it would not be that difficult given my occupation.  The reason landscapes have little appeal to me compared to portraits of people is the lack of human connection.  I can enjoy a great landscape shot, but the photos that mean the world to me are pictures of the people I love.  It is so neat to think we wedding photographers have the ability to capture beautiful photos of so much emotion on one day.  Looking at Ryan and Rachel's wedding shots I was reminded of all the emotions that Kristin and I were there to capture and to witness.  There was plenty of laughter, silliness, crying, and just about every other true human emotion.    It is an amazing thing to no only see but preserve.  To be reminded of the emotional memories that slip away from us is one of the greatest gifts, and we are honored to be a part of Rachel and Ryan's remembrance.

The boy-band pose to the bottom left is good stuff.

I love this next series.  Rachel's laughter and faces make the shot - the location was not that bad though.

These next shots were not only my favorite of the day - they are up with my top for the year. 

I must tell this next story.  We were catching a few extra shots outside the reception near the golf course and Kristin and I suggested Ryan kiss Rachel's shoulder.  He proceeded to give her some gentle pecks.  Rachel then tells us that the pecks reminded her of her twin baby nieces because they are "nursing" (if you know what I mean - and I think you do).  I of course didn't let that opportunity to question her connection with here husband and a nursing baby - and on came some legit laughter.  It is cool to see the joy captured. 

The entrance were Lebron's jersey was stepped on and the most built groomsmen came in in his wife's dress (she wore his tux) has to win the prize for most entertaining bridal party entrance.

I usually don't put pictures of speeches in the blog, but Ryan's brother describing how he vomits so violently that he breaks the blood vessels in his pace if he drinks too much the night before had to be shared.

The next few family shots were so emotional.

I would like to title this next was "drawers".

Tags: wedding cleveland ohio east side cleveland wedding Willoughby Hills wedding photography philadelphia wedding photography Pine Ridge country club

Nelli Boone

Home sweet home: Erin and Cam's wedding...

2010-07-22

I have been very excited about this blog post... probably the most exciting post I've had.  Here is why: 
Every summer Jesse tries to get at least 1 wedding in Montana for us to shoot.  He will have a listing on google directed at brides in Montana, that way, when we do get hired for a wedding, we will plan a family trip around that date.  You see, both me and Jesse grew up in Montana.  In fact Jesse was born there, and I moved there when I was 6 months old.   We both lived in the same little towns our whole life, until we went to college, and then we moved to the town of Missoula, MT and then got married.  We lived there a few years after we got married, and moved to Ohio and started Finest Moments.  So getting a wedding in MT is a great way to get us home in the summer. 

Jesse got Erin's call in September of 2009.  She was living in Wyoming, so we never ended up meeting her.  She hired us, and then it was time to get all the details.  First Jesse asked where her wedding was.  A lot of the weddings we get in Montana are in the town of Missoula, or Butte.  Both are one of the biggest towns in MT.  But she said she was getting married in Stevensville.... 
"Stevensville?!  That is the town that Nelli grew up in," Jesse told Erin.  (This is a very small town about 30 miles outside of Missoula.)
"And what is the address of the ceremony and reception?" Jesse asked.
"It is just outside of Stevensville, kind of out in the country.  On a long dirt road called Tripp Lane, " Erin explained.

Ok... now let me stop this story here.  I grew up in Stevensville.  The long dirt road I lived on WAS also Tripp Lane! 
So it turns out that the ceremony and reception site was just 1/2 mile down the dirt road from the house that I grew up in.  In fact, my parents still live there, and when we go back to Montana to visit, we always stay there. It was to be in a field by a creek, the same creek that I would swim in as a kid!  And to make it even more ironic, the artistic photos were to be at the top of a hill where you can see the whole Bitteroot Valley and Rocky Mountains, all the way from Idaho clear into Missoula.  It is a piece of property that me and Jesse always ride the four-wheeler to, and gaze at the beauty of the mountains.
What a coincidence-  We would be shooting the wedding practically walking distance from my home! 

Now, the reason that I had never met Erin growing up, is because she didn't live there all year.  Her dad built a log cabin right on the creek about 30 years ago, so they actually lived in Eastern Montana and would only come to the cabin in the summer for a few weeks. 
I had been looking forward to shooting this wedding all year.  And when the day finally arrived, it was amazing.  So much planning and thoughtfulness went into this wedding.  They had cleared out a huge field in order to have the ceremony and reception there, right in front of the creek.  They built the dance floor out of tall logs and hung lights all above.  They had hay bails set out as seats and even a few handmade log benches.
We arrived in Stevensville about a week before the wedding.  Each day we would see more things being built(like the awesome dance floor) and saw as the big white tent was raised. 

Here is the Erin and Cam's wedding... I think one of the most special weddings I have ever shot.
 

I got pretty excited that we got to hang her dress outside in the tree!  We've never done that before.

Here is her detail shots on the carriage that took her from her house down to the ceremony site.  She wore the same pearl necklace that her mother and grandmother wore at their wedding.

Right as we got there, the cake had toppled over from the heat!  But fortunately, they were able to call the bakery and have another one made up.  As I was editing these, Josiah my 2 year old son was very interested in these pictures.  He kept saying, "uh-oh...  what happened!" And would want me to show him this picture over and over!

This is Erin and her sister and mom helping her get ready.  They all had such a strong love for eachother.

I should mention also that Jesse took most of these photo's.  I was only his assistant this day, Jesse was the main photographer, but we both did the editing.  I think this is a very dramatic shot of Cam.

And I must say that I think Jesse is getting pretty good at the tilt-shift lens!

Oh ya, I forgot to mention that she had a really awesome veil.

I love this shot Jesse took of Cam... wow.

I think that they picked the perfect spot to have the ceremony.  Under a tree so you don't have harsh sun, and the sun was low enough to get a sun flare.

My fav of the day...  She is so cute!

So here is Jesse pulling out his tilt-shift lens in the ceremony.  He is pretty daring, but it pays off!  What a great shot he got.

So after the ceremony I was super excited about the kiss shot I got.  I told Jesse, and he right away was telling me that he was super excited about his kiss shot.  Mine is the one on the left, his on the right. 

Even the horses are posing!

This is the cabin that her dad built!

After dinner, we took them up to the top of the hill to do some artistic shots.  The sun was painting the sky so pretty.  They drove in his dad's old jeep, and we took my dad's old truck to use as props. 

Jesse took all these night shots and processed them for me.  I really think they turned out pretty!

So romantic :)

Erin and Cam, you guys have such fun personalities! 

And I love this last shot.  They had one last dance.  I saw how Erin just grabbed hold of Cams waist and hugged on to him so tight.  They were truly in love.  I feel so blessed to be able to be a part of this wedding.  I really believe it was meant to be. 

 

Tags: Finest Moments Wedding Photography

Mat Crawford

Ross and Kristen - Married!

2010-07-22

We had the pleasure of shooting Ross and Kristen's engagement last summer and the time finally came for us to be a part of their wedding day.  The element of their wedding that was most memorable for me was an abiding sense of peacefulness.  Weddings are stressful events - even though most are full of fun as well.  However, Kristen and Ross  were able to enjoy their day fully while experiencing it in a calm way.  It was so nice for Kristin (my wife - who has an "in" as opposed to the bride's "en")  and I to go through our day shooting with the two of them (as well as the families and friends) without any added pressure.  I am certain this is do to Ross and Kristen's great personalities.

Love this next shot - I have seen a lot of feathers and flowers in bridal headpieces recently and they look great.  Kristin's creates an overall look that was perfectly fitting.

The small rings here were Kristen's grandmother's rings.

The church was insane - it was modeled after a church in France and it made us feel like we were in Europe.

Kristin (my wife) suggested I shoot through this lead-crossed window and I threw in a bit of flash around the corner on Ross and Kristen - and one neat shot was produced - of course this would all be for naught if the love was not there!

the girls did some silly peaking over their flowers...

and the guys must have been jealous and wanted a bit of flower action themselves.

One of my favorites - the photo is nice - but the emotion is very meaningful - I am humbled to be able to shoot things like this and provide a way of remembering such a special time.

the table centerpieces were terrific.

Good luck guys (especially while finishing up your doctorate Ross)!

Tags: wedding cleveland ohio east side cleveland wedding shaker wedding photography

David, Jim & Tiffany

Zach and Jessica Married!

2010-07-22

I shot Zach and Jessica's wedding with Jim a few weeks ago in Walnut Creek, OH. It was a little over a two hour drive for the both of us, but it was worth it for sure. I really enjoyed getting to know the couple throughout the day as I was able to see their love for one another behind the lens of my camera.  The details were elegant and well-coordinated.

We were able to capture some really neat shots during the day, especially at the arboretum we stopped on our way to the reception.

Love this detail shot by Jim

Later on, we decided to step outside of the reception hall just before sunset and took some of my favorite shots of the day!

It was such a fun wedding to say the least and I really enjoyed the opportunity to capture these moments for Zach and Jessica. I hope that these photos will always be a reminder of their love and faithfulness to one another. Congratulations Zach and Jessica.

Tags: Ohio wedding photographers

Mat Crawford

Nina and Ravi - Married!

2010-07-20

If there is one thing I love, yet do not get to experience enough, it is exposure to other cultures.  Having amazing, yet quite young children does not allow for one to travel the globe with ease.  Some day maybe - but for now Kristin and I must experience other ways of life within the confines of the North American continent.  Luck for us we live in one of the most culturally diverse places in the world, so there is plenty to see in out own backyard.   I have had the privilege of photographing well over 100 weddings as the lead photographer in the past 6 years, but almost all have been versions or variations of Protestant or Catholic ceremonies with the culturally appropriate events associated with an "American" wedding.  When Nina and Ravi approached us to shoot their wedding I was extremely excited, and when the days arrived (it is a three day event) I was not disappointed!  Witnessing other cultures allows me to assess my own from better vantage point, and I see what is lacking as well as what I am thankful for.

Day One:

The henna party is a celebration before the wedding.  Henna is a red dye that is placed upon the bride's hands (as well as any other female guest who want to join in) in amazing traditional Indian designs.  When the dye stains the skin it is removed and leaves red markings on the skin for weeks. Nina had hers done the day before (it took six hours!).  As a wedding photographer I have always envied other shooters who have a great shot of henna hands in their portfolio - I was so happy to capture a few shots during the party as well as the next day, partially because I was able to fulfill my longing for that addition to my portfolio - but primarily because I was able to capture and save for Nina all those hours that went into such beautiful decoration.

During the henna party people would perform for Ravi and Nina.  Her close friend from college gave a spirited dance which was a treat to experience.

Kristin helped me edit this picture below to the left and it is turning out to be one of my favorites.

Day Two:

The second day was the actually wedding day.  Nina began early in the morning with a ceremony which involved her relatives dipping her bracelets in milk and placing them upon her wrists in preparation for her wedding.

Kristin's pic below to the right is great!  The anklets Nina is wearing were passed down from her great grandparents.  Thinking about how important heritage is for each family during these days made me lament the fact that many of us modern westerners do not value our elders or our lineage.  More than ever I thought that some day - generations from now - Nina and Ravi's great grandchildren might look at their wedding photos and have a sense of honor for Ravi and Nina's love for each other.

As a Sikh, Ravi's preparation for the wedding was of great importance.  One of the "rights of passage" (as I understand it) for a Sikh is the ceremonial wrapping of the turban.  Ravi's father wrapped his turban which is a unique feature of Sikh religion and culture.  Sikh's only make up a small portion of India's population (or the world's for that matter) and the turban is a visible element that is important to their faith.  David - one of our studio photographers - captured these shots while we were with Nina.

There are numerous reference in western culture to the groom riding in on a white horse to "take" his bride - but in this case it was literally true.  With a processional of traditional drums mixed with bagpipes (Ravi is originally from the UK) and a crowd of his dancing male relatives in front, Ravi and his family approached the Temple to greet Nina's family outside.

The actual ceremony was in Punjabi (a language spoke in the Punjab region of India - the traditional home of the Sikh faith).  I only caught a few words in English, but the parts I did were very similar in content to other weddings I have been to.  One illustration was on the unity of a husband and wife.  The officiant describe Niagara Falls being owned by both Canada and the USA, but no one can distinguish down the river which water is Canadian or not.  In the same way, husband an wife must be one.  It was a great illustration and could have been read at almost any wedding I have ever attended.  The truly unique part though was the lack of vows.  In the Sikh religion the couple makes passes around their scripture instead of saying vows.  Though this is unique - it was very much like an Orthodox (Greek or the like) wedding.

Fort the outdoor shots after the ceremony we went to Whipp's Ledges in Hinckley Ohio.  I grew up not to far from here and have heard about these ledges for ages, but I have never gone.  I scouted out this area earlier in the week and was blown away.  It is amazing - but there is a little hike to get to the best part.  I was nervous that Nina would not want to hike a bit in her terrific but heavy garb.  Boy was I wrong.  When we arrived she literally ran up the trail (full dress and all) and beat all of us to the top.  She apparently loves the woods and showed us all up. 

This next shot might be my favorite - it is hard to tell there are so many.  Nina just climbed up on this rock and sat there - we were not even caught up to her yet - to enjoy the location and day.  I literally think my eyes bugged out of my head when I saw the potential for this shot and I could not have been more thankful for her just being herself.

These rocks are the craziest (in a good way of course) textures one could ask for in Ohio. 

These next to detail shots might be my favorite detail shots I have taken.

After our shooting in Hinckley - we went to Nina's home for a going away/goodbye ceremony.  It was a very emotional event to say the least.

Then we joined them at their new home with Ravi's family for a welcoming ceremony.

Day Three:

Day three is the reception.  The reception was the event that most mirrored a typical western wedding.  It was a beautiful time at the Intercontinental Hotel in Cleveland and the Indian food was amazing (not only this day but every day) - I could not get my fill.

There were special performances from a dance team from Toronto as well as plenty of general dancing.  I think I might be one of the few non-Indian wedding photographers who went home after three days and wanted to listen to more music in Punjabi - the rhythm was excellent and the dancing was so fun!

The drummer - Rocky - to the bottom right was quite a character.  He was posing a bit for the camera - but I am not complaining.

Blessings Ravi and Nina - It was an amazing experience.

Tags: sikh wedding Indian wedding cleveland wedding north east ohio northeast ohio Punjabi wedding Punjab wedding Henna party gudwara Milni Lavaan Phere Doli Phera