Mid August I was sitting in my office. It was about 8:00 PM. I received a call from a young lady who asked me if I had October 7th available. I did. we spoke a little about her plans and scheduled a day and time to meet to discuss all of the particulars and sign a contract. Before we completed the call, Brenda asked, “This is going to be a gay wedding. Are you OK with that?” I was at first glance a little puzzled by the question, but quickly responded, “Absolutely!” The rest as they say is history and you can see that history in the words and photos which follow. Once again, I hope you enjoy reading and seeing the photos as much as I enjoyed making them.

Brenda and Linda have been together for 20-years. That’s a lifetime in the married world. If you’re lucky enough to see 20-years in today’s married world, you know you have achieved a mile marker of greatness. To be together for 20-years and then to get married means so much more. I think it’s a travesty the couple had to wait to get married and still have trouble wrapping my mind around the fact until very recently, marriage was only legal to members of the opposite sex.

I won’t get into the politics here because that’s not what this site is about. This site is about the couple’s who share their love enough to want to enter into an agreement until “death do us part.”

I met with Brenda and Linda at the Westwood Country Club. The couple said their vows and partied the night away at an absolute jewel in Western New York.

One of my favorite things to photograph on a wedding day are the details. There are so many ways to shoot a table, etc. I also think it’s one of the more important photos to get. Too many times we miss those details and I usually hear the couple say, “We never got to see “that” because we were so busy with everything else.

The couple completed a wince and chocolate ceremony often called “Bittersweet love.” This was my favorite part of the couple’s ceremony. A little bit more about this in the next post.

True love and happiness. Promises fulfilled after 20-years of waiting.

One of the most beautiful cakes I have seen.

I’m going to add another post specifically detailing the couple’s ceremony. I thought with all of the photos it needed its own post.

I hope you enjoyed.

Namaste.

Chris

My parents taught me a very long time ago the importance of saying “thank you” and recognizing the individual for their kindness.

I make sure I keep a box of fine stationary in my office. I collect antique fountain pens (yeah, I know) and keep several inked all the time. Email is impersonal, text messaging is too easy but the feeling of a fine fountain pen nib gliding effortlessly across a fine piece of stationary; well that is something special. Thank you’s deserve something as special.

Think of someone who has done something nice for you, go to the store, choose a card and write a personal note to that person letting them know how much you appreciate them and/or what they have done for you.

What can you say other than…beautiful!

Katie called me on Monday a full-week before her wedding and expressed concern about the weather we have been having so far this year. I have a feeling this is going to be one of those seasonal changes which traverse directly from Winter to Summer with the only division being the lack of snow.

Katie and I discussed the weather and my eternal optimism that the weather was going to be nice for her wedding. Katie was concerned about her post-ceremony photos while I was more concerned about the actual ceremony as it was an outdoor wedding.

We discussed alternate locations for post-ceremony photos. Katie chose the Barton Hill Inn and Spa. The hotel  was very generous allowing us the use of an unbooked room, small ballroom, accompanying terrace and foyer. Within the hotel we found many props to which Paul instantly gravitated like a child finding themselves locked in a room with an endless supply of candy.

We prayed to the rain gods and they responded by holding the foul weather at bay

On the way to the Grand Island Holiday Inn for the ceremony, Katie stopped at the Mt. Olivet cemetery where Katie’s dad was laid to rest. Katie and I walked to his headstone, she knelt and wiped the top of the stone clean and laid a wreath in his honor on top of the stone. Katie talked of her love for her father and her wishes he could have been present to see her and walk her down the aisle on one of the most important days of her life. We spoke and agreed he was watching her from above. At that moment I felt a drip of water on my face. It was a tear of happiness as well as sorrow.

The guitar was her father’s bass guitar. Her father was an accomplished musician who played in a band during the seventies called “Stillwater.” Katie’s mother talked of her husband’s musical prowess and broke into tears. She said, “Chris, you would have loved his music.” As Katie’s father grew older and the prospect of remaining an active member of a band faded like a dream which we can no longer recall after we wake, he began spending more and more time playing guitar in his church’s folk group. Katie’s mother stated, “That made him so happy.”

Katie looked beautiful.

Namaste.

Chris

Enjoy! I did!

I met Jenny with her bridal party at Sass Salon in Orchard Park, NY. We were joined by the mother’s of both the bride and groom. The shop was warm and welcoming. I love meeting with the bride and her bridal party as they get their hair and makeup done. Meeting at the salon gives me an opportunity to meet the girls in a really relaxed atmosphere. I also have an opportunity to spend time with my camera’s best friend…hair spray.

When we finished with hair, we traveled back to Jenny’s house where Jenny and the rest of her wedding party had their makeup done by a local Mary Kay rep.

After hair and makeup it was time for Jenny to get dressed. Jenny’s young sister was dying to help out and finally convinced her mother to trust her to handle the crochet hook to button the back of Jenny’s beautiful dress. (Don’t worry Jason. We packed the crochet hook in the bride’s bag.) Hopefully Jason required no assistance using the crochet hook!

After pictures in the family’s back yard, we traveled to the Avanti Mansion in Hamburg, NY where the ceremony would later be held. The Avanti is a beautiful old mansion with photo opportunities around every corner. Ceremony and reception locations, when they are in the same location are a huge bonus. There’s no additional travel and the ability to get that many more reception detail shots is a plus.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this post and looking at the photos as much as I enjoyed making them.

We are booking up fast for 2012 and are freezing our 2011 prices, so call now.

Chris

I know, I know…you’re not used to hearing from me in the middle of the week, but I’ve got some news that I’ve just got to share.

I was just voted a Wedding Wire Bride’s Choice Award winner for 2011.

I could not have achieved such an amazing award without the wonderful couples who have trusted me with their wedding day.

North Tonawanda, NY – January 25, 2011 – WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Christopher Kijowski Photography has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for wedding photography!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Christopher Kijowski Photography stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Christopher Kijowski Photography for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Christopher Kijowski Photography is among the very best wedding photography within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

Thanks to all of the wonderful couples who chose me as your 2010 wedding and portrait photographer.

Namaste.

Chris

I wanted to update you with some recent updates. For all of you who have been following my blog, you know I capped off the 2010 wedding season by photographing Carrie and Jim’s wedding. This is just a quick sneak peak at this wonderful couple’s beautiful day.

Please enjoy!

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed this post.

Namaste.

Chris

This past weekend I had the opportunity to combine two of my favorite things: photography and hiking.

As many of you know I continue to work as a social worker as I build my wedding, portrait and senior portrait photography business. A quick shout out to those of you who have read my posts, visited my FaceBook Fan page, my main website and also hired me to work together with you to make the photographic memories which will alow you to look back and smile throughout the years.

I work with Diana. She is a nurse in our OB/GYN department. For months I had to “endure” lol her conversations about her “fantastic” boyfriend. Tommy proposed and the conversations turned to her “fantastic” fiance. No doubt after the couple marries in 2011 the conversation will turn to “my fantastic husband.”

Tommy had decided on a career path which included joining the army. Tommy’s love for his country and the importance of defensing the right to free speech made this an easy decision to make. Tommy recently graduated from basic training. throughout Tommy’s absence, Diana did an awesome job planning her wedding. Tommy returned to Buffalo for the holidays and we decided this would be the best time to complete the couple’s engagement session. Tommy leaves Buffalo to return to his home base and complete additional training. Tommy will be one of the soldier s responsible for locating, identifying and disarming IED’s. For those of you who don’t know, those are Improvised Explosive Devices otherwise known as “roadside bombs.”

As we drove to various locations (to keep warm) I thanked Tommy for his decision to enlist and to help the thousands of other men and women who have decided to protect our bill of Rights and our Constitution. A HUGE ‘Thank you” goes out to all of the enlisted men and women and those who have served in the past. Another HUGE “Thank you” also goes out to those men and women who have given the ultimate price. Thank you for allowing me to do what I do and the freedom to enjoy it.

Diana and Tommy had their first date at Niawanda Park in Tonawanda, NY. Now anyone who know this park it has a lengthy (several mile) bike/walking path which follows the contour of the Niagara River. Tommy told me he and Diana had begun at one end and found they had walked several miles before realizing just how far they had walked. The couple enjoyed each other’s company to the point of not paying attention to how far they had walked.

Several locations, a stop for additional warm weather gear and we completed a very fun shoot. I love winter shoot especially in places such as Niagara Falls. The softly falling snow combined with the lack of overzealous tourists makes for a great photography environment.

Namaste and thank you all for reading.

Chris

I completed 2010 by photographing Carrie and Jim’s New Years Eve wedding.

Happy New Year everyone!

I look forward to spending more time with my readers during 2011.

Namaste.

Chris

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to photograph the wedding of Priscilla and Kevin. I love all of the couples I have an opportunity to photograph but there is something special for me about the couple’s who I photograph who I don’t even have a chance to meet until the wedding.

At first Priscilla did not want any detail shots. So as she was getting dressed I snapped some quick photos of her shoes. I showed Priscilla the shots which changed her mind.

We took this photo in the backyard of her parent’s home in Tonawanda, NY. The landscaping was amazing and provided an awesome backdrop. Priscilla looked absolutely gorgeous in her dress and the smile on her face simply lit up the entire area.

Like I said earlier…the landscaping in the backyard was awesome. Priscilla was radiant and the background complimented her.

I wasn’t kissing when I told you she had one of the most beautiful smiles I had seen in a long time.

St. Mary’s Church in Swormville, NY. This is the old church which they will keep open for weddings and other events. I didn’t have an opportunity to visit the new church. I love the size of this church. The lighting was beautiful and enhanced by the stained glass windows.The cloth draping hanging from the ceiling was absolutely beautiful.

Same photo from a slightly different persepctive.

The couple’s first kiss after they exchanged vows and rings. Beautiful!

The love that was visible between Priscilla and Kevin was obvious from the first moment I met them. Priscilla’s smile was infectious. One look at her smile and it is easy to tell she enjoys her life and enjoys having fun.

Thanks everyone for reading and keep coming back. I’ll have additional photos to post from the couple’s wedding next week.

Chris

Here it is as promised…Part II of Priscilla and Kevin’s engagement shoot.

We met at the Albright Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo. It was our first meeting. I sat on the steps of the art gallery and occasionally looked up. Approaching me was the future bride wearing a smile which stretched from ear to ear. She asked, “Chris is that you?” I responded with a smile, “It’s me.” We discussed the couple’s trip home from North Carolina and expressed our excitement at the opportunity to met each other for the first time and to begin the engagement shoot.

The couple walked hand in hand along the lake. Love was evident. Kevin laughed and Priscilla apologized for his sense of humor. There was an immediate rapport.

It had rained quite a bit in the days leading up to the couple’s engagement shoot. When we have  a lot of rain in Western New York, the colors of the leaves tend to be muted. Their brilliance literally washed away with the rain. We walked through the park along a gravel path; laughing and joking. My eyes searched for the next photo and fell upon this tree. It was purely coincidence a park bench was also present.

At 6′ 5″ Kevin had a little bit of a height advantage over Priscilla. Thanks to the steps we found we were able to even out that advantage.

I think it is safe to say “We had sooo much fun doing this engagement shoot.

Thanks Priscilla and Kevin. Next week…photos from the couple’s wedding. Stay tuned…

Chris

Last October I received an email from Priscilla. In the email she said, “My name is Priscilla and I just took a look at your website.  The pictures are beautiful!” We exchanged a couple of emails and the rest as they say is history.

The couple was originally from the Buffalo, NY area and had moved to Charlotte, NC. Priscilla took a job managing a Target while her fiance Kevin accepted a teaching position. As a result of the distance between Charlotte and Buffalo, I had not had an opportunity to meet the couple. I arrived at the art gallery early and took up residence on the steps behind the art gallery. The weather was beautiful and there were a number of people walking by the lake and I caught myself frequently looking up and around as I waited for the couple. Minutes later I glanced upward from my perch again. This time I saw Priscilla and Kevin walking toward me. The smile she wore tole me this would be a fun shoot.

As we met and introduced each other, Kevin’s sense of humor immediately began to shine. Her smile and his sense of humor combined to make this an awesome shoot.

What an awesome smile!

The last year saw us exchange over 30-emails. The couple was forced to cancel one engagement session and we rescheduled for Wednesday night, Wednesday night the week of the couple’s wedding.

I am not a fan of slide-shows embedded in blogs so I’ve added just a few of my favorites from Priscilla and Kevin’s engagement shoot. There are many more favorites which means there are enough for another post, so keep watching.

I love the couple’s I get to photograph. I have been so lucky to meet such wonderful individuals who end up becoming wonderful friends.

Priscilla and Kevin, I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed spending the time to make them with you.

Chris

I met Carrie and Jim a couple of months ago after they were referred to me by my niece Ashley. Carrie and Ashley had gone to college together and remain close friends.

The couple arrived for their initial consultation with Jim’s parents. This can be a daunting experience but it was quickly clear Jim’s parents were pretty easy going. That easy going attitude appeared to have rubbed off on Jim as well.  The couple discussed their plans for a new Year’s Eve wedding.

We made plans for the couple’s engagement shoot and got lucky with the weather. Western New York during the Fall months can be one of the most beautiful times of the year but the weather can also be unpredictable and unrelenting. Dampness, cold, rain and grey skies often dominate the landscape for weeks at a time before we experience the luxury of seeing the sun. Rates of seasonal depression attest to this.

Carrie and Jim stopped by my office and we all climbed into the “toaster” which is my affectionate term for my wonderful Honda Element. We drove to nearby Pinewoods Park where we negan the session with the couple wearing more formal clothing.

Pine Woods Park in North Tonawanda is a wonderful place to shoot locally.

Once we completed shots at this location, we drove back to my office where the couple changed clothing before we left to make a quick trip to Blackman Farms in Lockport, NY. Now I had never been to Blackman Farms and was quite impressed. U-pick apples plus ust about anything which can be made of apples for sale. Unfortunately when we arrived the trees had been picked clean of all apples save for a row of trees from which we were forbidden to pick fruit.

We took a few quick shots of the turkeys as you can also purchase a turkey here. I later found out that for $2.75/lb you can purchase a turkey and the farm will tag your turkey while fattening it and then slaughtering your turket two-days before Thanksgiving. Farm fresh organic turkey…sounds good to me.

We ended up at Bond’s lake in Niagara County where we found beautiful light.

Thanks so much for reading everyone.

Chris

Laura had contacted me during July 2009 and asked me about photographing her wedding during June 2010. this in and of itself is not unusual but the fact Laura hails from New Jersey, had never met me, didn’t know anyone whose wedding I had photographed and lastly looked at no other photographer, was unusual. After I confirmed Laura was for real and she was serious about me photographing her wedding I asked why. I was still not ready to believe she wanted to hire me sight unseen and without even a telephone conversation. Laura responded, “I love your style. It’s fresh and fun.” I finally had the opportunity to meet Laura on the July 4th weekend 2009 when she came into Buffalo and met with and confirmed her remaining vendors.

Fast forward to today…one year later. We are just days from Laura’s wedding. Laura and I spoke  a week ago and confirmed her wedding day itinerary and discussed a location for her engagement shoot. Laura’s grandmother lives in Burt, NY and her grandmother’s home will be ground zero for all of the wedding prep. I suggested I pick up the couple and we drive to multiple Western New York locations and take her engagement photos in those varied locations. I’m not sure who was excited more, Laura or myself.

I didn’t and don’t ever want to be presumptuous but as a social worker I’m a fairly good judge of people and their personalities. I told Laura during this phone call how excited I was to shoot her engagement session and her wedding…I was not to be disappointed.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

It was a hot drive down to the salon in Northeast Pennsylvania. The smell of hairspray was strong in the air and on my tongue. Jamie looked beautiful as she had her hair done. She chatted easily with family and friends and didn’t appear anxious.

I’ll stop talking now and allow the photographs to speak for themselves.

Jamie’s ruby slippers.

I love when I can find a suitable location to do an outdoor dress shot.

I loved the detail on Jamie’s dress.

Jamie did her own makeup and did a wonderful job.

That’s all for now. I’ll post more from this couple’s ceremony later.

Thank you Jamie and Michael for placing your trust in me and allowing me to be a part of a very special day in your life. Congratulations!

Thanks for reading.

Chris

I raced home and we drove to the 2.5 hours Alfred, NY. As I drove the Thruway munching on a Wegmans sub listening to NPR I attempted to contemplate the magnitude of the plans I had scheduled into the next two days. We arrived on campus at 8:00 PM and caught the last quarter and a half of Kujo’s pre-season game. He played well breaking up a pass play and four tackles. It was great to see him and know, first-hand he is doing well. His classes began earlier in the week. We make another trip South when he plays his first season contest Saturday September 4, 2010.

We drove the 2.5 hour drive back home and arrived home in the early morning hours. Both of us collapsed and immediately fell asleep. The next morning I packed the care and made the two-hour drive to Westfield/Barcelona, NY. I met with Ronda and Mike (the couple whose wedding I photographed last week) and photographed their Trash the Dress shoot. Once we completed the shoot I took a leisurely drive back to North Tonawanda in time to shower and change to head off again this time for dinner with friends for my birthday. Thanks Christine and Bobbi for a wonderful dinner and a wonderfully relaxing time.

Sunday was no less busy. Nancy and I spent the afternoon at the Music is Art Festival in Downtown Buffalo. It’s all good and the weekend, despite being very busy was a lot of fun.

We stopped at the cemetery yesterday and found they had installed Paul’s headstone.

I love to take Jack for a walk by the Niagara River. As you already know my camera is never left behind. I grabbed several of an awesome sunset with my trusty point and shoot.

Here’s a sneak peak from Ronda and Mike’s Trash the Dress shoot. I love showing these photos locally and discussing Trash the Dress in Western New York. I get the strangest looks and people say things like, “What? Are they crazy?” I love the concept. I think there are far too many things we hold on to and never use or see again. Send me an email with your thoughts and opinions. maybe I’ll include them in a blog post about Trash the Dress shoots and their place in wedding and portrait photography.

This one was from the beginning of the shoot.

Well, that’s it for today. Come back later in the week for more photographic fun.

Chris

I arrived at the salon for the hair and makeup photos and Ronda pulled me aside and said, “I need to tell you what the plan is. You’re the only person other than Mike who knows this but when he goes to get the garter he’s going come out with a derringer pistol in his teeth.” I asked where the pistol will be and Ronda responds, “tucked into my garter.” Of course, why didn’t I think of that. So this is where I tell you, faithful reader that Ronda and Mike are police officers. Henceforth the interest in firearms.

We completed the shoot at the salon which by the way was a pretty awesome place. It was Marcel’s in Jamestown, NY. I arrived at the church located in a town called Stillwater just outside Jamestown. Now if Stillwater sounds like an old western name keep reading. So I see the groom and the groomsman all dressed in tuxedos that are reminiscent of what Doc Holiday might have worn, complete with cowboy hats, cowboy boots with spurs and bollo ties. The guys in the bridal party also wore badges which denoted the groom as the “Marshall” and the groomsmen as “Deputies.” Now, before I forget every groomsmen also wore a holster containing a sidearm, a six-shooter to be exact. I would find out at the conclusion of the ceremony the guns were real as the bridal party fired blanks into the air to celebrate the couple’s union. There was also one member of the bridal party who sported a shotgun, and yes he fired it as well. Now Ronda had mentioned this to me but I’m not quite sure what I was thinking because when the guns were fired it took me by total surprise.

I hope everyone enjoyed the post and the photos. Thanks for reading. There are many more photos to come. You can also click here for a slide-show.

Chris

Beth spent the morning at the wonderful Belezza Salon located in Williamsville, NY. Beth and her Maids of Honor spent the night in the beautiful Avant Hotel in Downtown Buffalo. This was my first time in this beautiful hotel. The designers saw the need for a mixed use building. In addition to the hotel rooms there are also 26-luxury condos and five-floors of office space. Beautiful.

The couple exchanged their vows in the Unitarian-Universalist Church in Buffalo, NY. Once the ceremony was completed we drove to the Coast Guard Base on Furhman Blvd. and with granted permission were allowed to take photos at the base of the lighthouse.

After post-ceremony photographs, the couple celebrated with family and friends at the celebrated Saturn Club in Buffalo, NY. Music was provided by Whirlin’ Disc Sound.

Thanks for reading. Next week I’ll some additional photos from this and some other recent weddings.

Chris

This past weekend I had the opportunity to photograph an amazing couple. I had met Jason a year earlier when I accepted another social work position. I don’t make a point of discussing my photography at my job but I do display some of my work in my office. One thing lead to another and the conversation of wedding photography was broached. During the past year Jason became engaged to Kristina and he discussed with me my willingness to photograph the couple’s engagement and wedding. Naturally as I build my business I did not want to say “No” but I also didn’t want Jason to choose me because of our work relationship. Kristina and Jason were married on Friday July 16, 2010. We began the day at a really cool hair salon in Herkimer, NY. The salon, HotSpotSalonandSpa is a full service salon with very nice professionals. If you find yourself in Herkimer, NY and need a haircut, color, tan, etc. check them out.

Most of my favorite shots are the ones I’ve waited some time to get. These are the shots where people have forgotten about my presence and begin to assume their true selves. I fall in love with the expressions on their faces at that time as well as those expressions when they see those photos and don’t recall me taking the photos. Those are also

Hoping the rain stops. It did and then the humidity took over.

Kristina looked beautiful in her dress.

I have recently been consulting with Marc Fuller. Marc is an SEO designer extraordinaire. All I’m going to say is there are going to be some changes in my blog-site in the coming months. We’re going to share some fresh new colors and bold new images. I have not yet decided on a new avatar because I’m just not that comfortable in front of a camera. truth be told its simply more that I’m just not that photogenic. this past year i have had an opportunity to work with some amazing couples and they have inspired me to make these changes. I’m excited and I’m even more excited to share these changes with you.

Thanks for reading and keep coming back.

Christopher