Category Archives: Clients

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Jamie & Michael: A Sneak Peak

I met Jamie and Michael for the first time on Sunday. Jamie and I had kind of met when we became Facebook “friends.”

Jamie and Michael are getting married on August 21, 2010. I was first introduced to Jamie’s mother when I received an email from her. That email arrived early December as she had located me via WeddingWire.com. It was around 10PM. A quick glance at my watch and I noticed it was only 7PM in Washington State. I decided to follow-up my email with a quick phone call. We made quick introductions and the rest, as they say is history.

Jamie was finishing her English degree in Washington State and would not be traveling to the Western New York area until July 5th. Michael works full-time and resides in a small town of less than 2000-people just South of Erie, PA.

We discussed venues for the couple’s engagement session and everyone agreed om Niagara Falls. The couple had only visited the Falls on one occasion and had never been on Goat Island thus missing the Horseshoe Falls and Three Sister’s Island. Despite the heat and humidity (you don’t have to shevel it) we all had a great time.

We arrived in the Falls to a packed parking lot, high temperatures and high humidity. Jasmie and Michael were a couple of real troupers. We walked around the island trying to locate as much shade as we could along the way.

Click here for a slideshow of the couple’s engagement photos.

Chris

Laura & Tim: A Sneak Peak

Normally I’ll do a sneak peak post right after I’ve photographed an event. In this case the couple’s wedding came two days after their engagement session.

Laura had contacted me last July and inquired about the date she had in mind for her wedding. I recall opening her email and thinking, “Is this some kind of joke?” Laura lived in New Jersey. We had never met. We had never spoken and we had no mutual acquaintances. Laura explained she had Googled Western New York wedding photographers and “really liked my photos.” I sent Laura a contract and the process began. Laura came into town within a few months to meet with her vendors and solidify the plans which had been made to date. I fell in love with Laura’s sense of humor right from the start. Laura fell in love with Tim Horton’s coffee. I mean who wouldn’t.

Laura and Tim were to be married in Lockport and their reception would be at the home of Laura’s grandmother in Burt, NY. Laura and I spoke the week before her wedding and we decided I would pick up her and Tim and we would travel to a few different locations in Niagara County to complete their engagement session. I arrived at her grandmother’s home and needed help picking my lower jaw up from the ground. The grounds and her home were beautiful. I met Laura and Tim and said, “I think we can complete the entire session right her on your grandmother’s property.” That we did.

Laura was a natural in front of the camera. It took Tim  few frames to warm up to the idea of having his photograph taken so many times, but once he did…Tim commented once he thought there “was a lot of kissing” during the engagement shoot.

The view from the deck in the backyard was breathtaking. Lake Ontario is a beautiful lake. The sky cleared as the shoot progressed and soon we could see across the lake to Toronto, Ontario.

What a beautiful couple.

Laura has the most incredible smile. I pointed the camera in her direction and her face simply lit up.

We briefly ventured away from Burt, NY and took a little side trip to Olcott, NY. Before hitting the little shops next to the park we stopped by Byes Popcorn for a bag of some of the best popcorn around. Unfortunately the stand was not yet open. I love doing engagement shoots and rarely want them to end. This couple made their shoot sooo much fun.

To see more of the couple’s engagement shoot, click here.

Thanks for reading and keep coming back.

Chris

Michelle & Bryan: A sneak peak.

Michelle and Bryan were married Saturday June 5, 2010 in St Mary of the Catarct Church in Niagara Falls, NY. St. Mary’s has the distinction of being the “oldest church in the Buffalo, NY diocese.” It also has a recently built steeple which is as high as the Niagara gorge is deep. How cool are those facts?

Anyway, I met Michelle and her bridal party at -”All That Jazz” Salon on Military Road in Niagara Falls. Michelle said she wasn’t feeling nervous and judging by her facial expressions I would have to agree. Michelle smiles easily. It’s a neat smile where she wrinkles up her nose and squints through eyes which have been transformed to mere slits. It’s a great smile really one that you know is genuine and followed by a deep laugh.

Nice salon. Beautiful job. Not that the girls needed any help…I’m just sayin’. Michelle had her hair done and we were off to the the couple’s home where Michelle did her makeup and slipped into her beautiful dress. I met with Suzanne who was hired as the videographer. My first opportunity to meet Suzanne when I nervously photographed my first wedding three years earlier. Suzanne was just what I had remembered; easy going, professional and results oriented.

After the girls got dressed at the couple’s home we headed to the church where the couple exchanged their vows. We then traveled to Niagara University where the couple had attended classes and Bryan works in the admissions office.

Photos were completed and we traveled to the Niagara Falls Conference Center which is one of my favorite venues in which to shoot. I love the great big windows that open floor to ceiling onto a pedestrian walk way and flood the room with natural light. The couple had their favorite band, Widowmaker play their wedding. I was happy I remembered to bring my earplugs as my ears just don’t tolerate such exceedingly loud sounds. The band wrapped up and guests began to leave. I grabbed the couple and we went for a quick walk outside and were able to capture photographs to cap off the evening.

Thanks so much for reading. Stay tuned for more.

Chris

Link a post with more pics to this post.

Audrey & Michael

Audrey and Michael were married on Saturday May 1, 2010. The day had come for a couple who had planned their wedding in Ohio while family members in Buffalo assisted. The morning arrived. Rays of sunshine penetrated the few clouds which speckled the sky. The threat of rain loomed but we were hopeful good weather would remain.

After Audrey and her brides maids had their hair and makeup completed, they headed back to the hotel where Audrey began to get dressed. The groom and his groomsman headed to the church. I followed close behind. Raindrops began to speckle the windshield and hope the good weather would remain began to sneak away. The sky grew darker as I approached the church. Shortly after arriving at the church we were forced inside as the rain arrived with great intensity. The limo bus arrived and the girls disembarked. the leas to leave the limo and enter the church was Audrey. She did so under the protective covering of a large umbrella. Thoughts quickly turned to the marriage of Audrey and Michael.

Audrey looked beautiful. Her face shined with happiness as she was escorted toward the alter and her future husband by her father. Vows were exchanged.  Two individuals were pronounced as one. Welcome Audrey and Michael Paveljack. During the mass the rain had come and gone. It was if God had said, “Don’t worry. I’ll ensure your day remains beautiful.” It did indeed.

Once the nervousness of the day began wear away, Audrey allowed her beauty and confidence to shine through.

Audrey and Michael wrote very beautiful letters to each other. I always love to see the emotional reactions on the faces of the bride and groom as they read each others words. Remember and cherish these words always and remember the rock on which you built this strong love for each other.

The rain wasn’t going to dampen anyone’s spirits, especially Audrey’s.

The flower girl and ring bearer were a hoot throughout the day. The young “couple” thought they were going to get married that day.

Mike was stylin’ the GQ pose. Nice!

We navigated the busy streets of Niagara Falls, NY thinking of the Maid of the Mist. The couple had been engaged at the same location and it was only fitting to have their first photographs as a couple at the same location.

On Saturday night as dinner was about to begin, the groom’s best man stood, raised his glass and proposed a toast to the couple. He spoke of the couple’s love for each other and of their willingness to share this love with each other.

My toast to you, Audrey and Michael, is that great love and happiness finds you always.

Witnessing the couple from behind the lens provided me with a unique opportunity to see what others might not have seen. As a wedding photographer I spend a great deal of time watching and observing; looking for that moment to capture in time. The moment which the couple and the guests did not recall but which was captured to be viewed later as a reminder of a very special night. For me it is capturing the details; a tear in the corner of the bride’s eye, the smile as she has her first dance with her husband and her dance with her father. Even writing this brings tears of joy to my eyes.

A wedding, the union of two people is a beautiful thing. It represents much for the couple as they become one and join each other’s family’s and embark on an adventure;  forming their own uniqe bond.

A slideshow of the couple’s photos can be viewed by clicking here.

Contact me by clicking here. I’d love to discus your wedding plans with you. You can see a slideshow of photos from the couple’s wedding by clicking here. Click here to see all of the photos.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

2010 Make-A-Wish Gala

This is the second year I have been affiliated with the Buffalo, New York chapter of Make-A-Wish. My only issue is I wish I had the time to be more involved. I have an idea for additional involvement that I will share at the end of this post.

I’ve added some of my favorite photos from this years gala. The gala is difficult for me to explain. It’s something which really needs to be seen. It is a “creative black tie.” The theme every year is “Reach for the Stars.” The idea behind the theme is we are all stars. We all have the power to make change in our own lives and the lives of others. Most of us are lucky individuals and have no idea how lucky we are. We live in the wealthiest country in the world where opportunities are at every turn. It is up to us to identify them and to take them. I am one of those lucky individuals. I have a beautiful wife who supports me as well as two great kids. I have super family and friends who also are supportive of me and push me to be better. Of course I can’s forget the fantastic brides and grooms who trust me with their memories. I am privileged to have such a wonderful job. To all of you, I say “Thank you.”

This has to be my favorite photo from all of the portraits which I took. 1-minute with Sarah and you realized why you were at the gala. If Rob looks familiar it’s because I photographed Meagan and Rob’s wedding on January 9, 2010. You can see photos from the couple’s engagement and wedding here.


Ken and his team starred in “Revenge of the Nerds.” Ken is the COO of the Accessium Group and Secretary of the Western New York Chapter of Make-A-Wish. Ken is also the individual who has helped me to become involved with Make-A-Wish.

Grrrrr! This is the fun booth and the spirit of the annual gala. Have fun and support a great organization.

Dallas Pace and her friends. Dallas was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma. A rare form of bone cancer that affects 3-4 children in the US every year. You can go here to see a video interview with Dallas.

Dallas recorded a 3-song CD titled “Right Now.” Dallas recorded the CD in the same studio in Buffalo, NY where the Goo Goo Dolls had recorded their most recent studio album. I had been asked to photograph Dallas for her CD but was forced to cancel due to an appointment conflict.

Sarah and Ken.

I just had to have my photo taken with Sarah. Thanks Ken for snapping this shot. Sarah is a true inspiration. She smiles all the time and her smiles just make you want to smile.

As per usual the event was awesomely powerful. It makes me feel so good to be able to give something back to others who are less fortunate than I. When I have an opportunity to use my photography to capture smiling faces…well that’s just the icing on the cake.

So…in my last post I had said I was going to share an idea I had to become more involved with Make-A-Wish. As I have also said before more time is not an option. I’ve taken a page from Yvonne Chouinard’s company, Patagonia. I will donate a minimum of 1% from every wedding I book back to Make-A-Wish.

As always, thanks to my readers for your constant support. Please think about making a donation to you local Make-A-Wish chapter.

Chris