Vantage Pictures . Wedding Photojournalism . Pennsylvania . USA . Earth

While visiting family down here in Roanoke, I’ve been catching up with some of my former clients: Two years ago I agreed with my brother that if he let me shoot his wedding, that I wouldn’t have to be in the wedding party. He said okay. 

This evening, while my wife Sarah watched our two children, Matt, Jess, and I went to snap a few frames, just for old times sake. This is one of my favorites.

Sarah, Finlee, and I came down to my hometown of Roanoke, VA this past week. We’ve been spending time with family and friends, and enjoying some downtime (whilst editing weddings, working on websites, coordinating with clients (both old, current, and new), etc.). It’s nice being able to take your work with you!

Savannah is a first cousin of mine, and happened to be in town on a break. Her and Stephen have been enjoying a long distance relationship, with her going to school out west, and with Stephen living here in VA. They decided they wanted a few photos while together. Hopefully these make the miles seem a bit shorter.

CAITLIN + BRIAN  ::  Lancaster, PA  ::  04.11.09

This past Wednesday we took our 10 week old daughter Finlee to get her first round of vaccinations. I decided some time in advance that I wanted to photograph the “experience” just for memory’s sake. As the date came closer, I thought it would be fun to do a mini-story, making the whole process look as menacing, sad, and depressing as possible. (I know, it’s a bit odd…)

As a disclaimer, I personally don’t hold any negative feelings or opinions against infant vaccinations. Indeed, the fact that I was there at all suggests that I was supportive of the act. I received all my shots as a child, and there is no way my kid isn’t getting hers. 

As a second disclaimer, Lancaster General, the location where our pediatricians office is located, is a FANTASTIC place. The nurses and physicians are incredibly friendly and we very much like going there (as much as one can like going to the doctors…)

Anyway…

I’d been thinking recently how easy it is to manipulate the mood, look, or even the facts of an event through photographs. It’s easy to see in the media or ANYWHERE for that matter. One can readily support an idea, story, claim, or whatever with a photograph, and since a photo is worth 1000 words or so, it can go a long way to back things up. Anyway, that was my approach to this (as well as just wanting to shoot it for history’s sake and for FUN.) 

It was a quick affair. Finlee of course screamed bloody murder during the fact, but once Sarah picked her up, she immediately calmed down, and was smiling again before we left the office. She quickly fell asleep, and that was the last we heard of it. No fever, crankiness, or lost sleep! She’s a trooper, something that she very much gets from her Mom.

There’s no way I’m not wearing a cowboy hat when I’m 80…

Boy was she mad at me! I snapped this one quickly while walking by. I often don’t ask for permission when I first approach. Needless, to say, there wasn’t a follow-up photo! I still like how it turned out.

Sarah and I have been taking advantage of some Spring-ish weather and our last “sane” week to test out the wheels of our Britax Stroller. Finlee (our TWO month old daughter) is always happy to get out of the house, so we try to oblige her whenever possible. She usually rewards us by promptly going to sleep. It’s fun showing her new things, and even though her attention span only lasts 14 minutes (or 2 seconds), we get a kick out of it. 

Wedding Season is just around the bend. Our first of the official wedding of the Spring Season is next weekend, and I have to admit that I’m chomping at the bit to try out some new ideas. We’ve been busy with travel and commercial jobs during the Winter, but whenever nuptials become involved, life gets a little crazy. Despite the couple of forays into the wild with the Britax, we’ve actually been laid low this week with colds. It’s sucked (in all sincerity), but the end is near… just in time for taxes.