Sealed with a kiss--Julie and Ryan all playful following our shoot on the beach in Chequessett.

Julie and Ryan live in Chicago–Julie even works for the Oprah Show–but that didn’t stop them from finding the sweetest and most remote of Cape Cod  venues for their little beach wedding, the Chequessett Yacht and Country Club.  Complete with lobster and corn, the New England clambake, catered by Chef Joe of Outer Cape Clambake and his gang, was the perfect dinner complement to the gorgeously natural ceremony at the apex of low tide. The little boat house was sparsely decorated with some DIY flair to maintain that rustic Cape feel.  Beth O’Rourke of Cape Spin DJ provided the tunes that kept the party going well after the sun set and into the night.  In fact we had so much fun with these guys that we accompanied them to Winslow’s Tavern for our ceremonial after wedding Patron tequila nightcap which to my surprise, Julia and Ryan insisted on partaking in our tradition. Cheers to these guys and their incredible friends and family.

Many thanks to my very helpful and knowledgable second camera, Zac Wolf, and to Brynmore Williams for testing out his DSLR video production with us for this and future ventures.

Julie's dress by Saja in NYC blows in the afternoon breeze in their rented beach house.

What a great place to get ready!

The guys! Photo by Zac Wolf

Photo by Zac Wolf

Julie and her dad make the walk.

All eyes on the bride.

Now that is a hand shake that says, "You've got my blessing!"

Photo by Zac Wolf

A quite toast to each other.

Chef Joe's Clambake dinner. Photo by Zac Wolf

Amazing how good a 50-cent plastic lobster bib can look.

Showing the out-of-towners how its done.

Dancing with Dad.

The Chequessett Yacht and Country Club boat house--great venue!

Mom and son. Photo by Zac Wolf

The night's end at Winslow's Tavern in the town center - pre-tequila.

A little rain only adds to the drama as Chris and Alisa exit St. James Church in Watertown.

I photographed a stellar engagement session in the Arnold Arboretum with Alisa and Chris almost a year ago (see their fairytale of a session) and when we were ramping up for their wedding at the Willowdale Estate in Topsfield north of Boston, Chris had this to say, “We really have some incredible engagement shots and now you’ve set the bar very high so we gotta knock this one outta the park!” Well what Boston-based wedding photographer doesn’t like a challenge especially when its in a beautiful venue like the Willowdale and with an equally beautiful and fun couple.  I was psyched and certainly ready to swing for the fence–only problem was Mother Nature had other plans. The blue lights on the baby Hancock were flashing–rain delay or possible rain out.

I’ve got a rain dance I’ve learned from my Mayan shaman amigo in Guatemala mixed with the Chicken Dance. It involves the blood of a very spoiled beet, some pinole and one very sharp cactus needle–ouch!  It takes so much out of me that I very rarely call upon this timeless ritual but Chris’ call-to-action inspired me to twist and shout. It worked–save for one very intense, thunderous, electrical storm just at the end of the ceremony at St. James Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Grand salami, well, maybe just a nice solo home run to the deepest part of the stadium but we nailed it. All the thanks in the world go out to the staff at the Willowdale for their hospitality, Fino Fresh Design for their incredibly eye-popping table settngs, bouquets and more, my steady-as-a-rock second photographer, Chris Gagne and über assistant/intern, Meghan Taylor. This is how a wedding should go off!

The girls! From Alisa's backyard in Burlington.

Alisa pre-ceremony looking perfect in black and white.

A little like a Greek ceremony this was my second Armenian wedding and little St. James was so richly appointed.

Ooops! They spotted me shooting from the door behind the altar.

A little post ceremony respect being paid. Candle light, gotta love it.

An antique Oldsmobile, champaigne and love.

And more love.

Is was a great slow ride from Watertown to Topsfield and our heros had lots of time to chill and unwind.

The guests were awaiting their arrival with signature mojito cocktails in hand. Oh, and that rain--gone!

Some very necessary shots with the car, the estate and Alisa and Chris--easy.

This image screamed black and white to us.

Love her body language--just such a sweet moment among many that day.

Alisa and her sister posing for Chris' camera as I grabbed this side shot.

Taking advantage of that beautiful, after-storm, late-day, light.

Flower girl comes to see us on the lawn (notice cookie in hand).

Details: Flowers and table settings by Fino Fresh Designs and the gorgeous cake by Konditor Meister.

The entrance into the grand tent on the back lawn--notice the perfect weather out the open flaps.

Their first dance--so in love. Stay that way forever, guys!

She couldn't resist but who blames her?

A father's love--I hope I have the same shot of me some day when I dance with my girls, Dharma and Sarada.

A little late night portait session on the antique sofa in the estate (notice expert light from my super assistant, Meghan Taylor).

Perhaps it is better in color.

Gotta love a bride who says, "Whatever you want, Glen, we trust you."

What night isn't complete without a fine cigar...

...and your boyz.

The cars were just a lucky addition as we made our way to a spot along Gloucester's rocky shoreline.

Jillian and Michael are one of those couples with movie star looks and down-to-Earth personalities reminiscent of star quarterbacks and Brazilian supermodels. We had the perfect day starting with the girls getting ready at a rented beach house in Gloucester and then the ceremony and reception at the Elk’s at Bass Rocks.

When I first met them many months ago Jillian was on the cover of the Improper Bostonian as one of Boston’s elite bartenders. Our engagement session yielded some amazingly candid shots and I knew right away this was going to be a fun couple to photograph on their wedding day as they were willing to go the extra mile.

Getting ready takes a village at times.

The finished look is stunning.

Taking a big chance, Jillian has puppies swimming through her wedding gown before the ceremony.

A surprise ending capped our great day!

Ashley & Carlo from brynmore on Vimeo.

When I asked Brynmore to come down to Gautemala to shoot video for this wedding I knew I wanted a video product that fit with our wedding photojournalism style and if this short clip is any indication of what’s to come I’m sure Ashley and Carlo’s over-the-top, blowout of a fiesta will not disappoint.

As I mentioned in a previous post, we spent the day with these two shooting in these little known ruins right in La Antigua (thank you Jacobo). Even with the looming threat of rain and mosquitos Ashley and Carlo were always laughing–sometimes at me and most of the time with us all. We had a great time as witnessed in the video and Sade’s “By Your Side” just gels it all together.

We spent 12 hours at their wedding last night so I can only imagine how much footage Brynmore will have to pour over in the next few weeks.

Cero de la cruz overlooking La Antigua Guatemala and Agua Volcano in the background.

We’ve been working hard these last couple days and we have a day to ourselves before the rehearsal tonight at Casa Santo Domingo. I got up early and took a tuk-tuk to the Cero mirador for this view of Antigua. My driver reminded me of how dangerous this area can be at times but I didn’t see anyone. I set up for some HDR photography and waited as those clouds passed by volcano Agua in the background. I knew exactly the look I was going for, which certainly helps when setting out to do this. I wanted an old, antique look for the photo to go in Ashley and Carlo’s wedding album.

After shooting the overlook I hiked down and found the perfect, crumbling, faded, paint-splashed wall on the side of a shop that I wanted to layer into my shot.  From there is was Photomatix Pro, PS4 and NIK that gave me the exact look I was shooting for.

Let me know what you think and I’d be happy to share my process for those that want a tutorial.

Ashley and Carlo shine right through the unsettled Gautemalan "Winter" weather at La Reunion outside La Antigua.

When Carlo and Ashley asked me about photographing their wedding in Guatemala, a place that has captivated my spirit since I first journeyed there 5 years ago, I created a vision in my mind from the start. I have to say that our pre-wedding shoot-around surpassed even my wildest visions of “what-could-be”.  With my buddy, Brynmore Williams, shooting stellar video and my incredible friend, Jacobo Quan Hidalgo, sherpa-ing equipment and holding lights, we were able to capture some beautiful scenes.

Walking through La Reunion in the rain.

We started the day at Casa Santo Domingo where we will photograph their wedding this Saturday. From there we moved on to these little known and barely visited ruins just blocks away from all the tourista traps in the center of La Antigua.  This was Jacobo’s secret find. Once a beautiful church it was destroyed by an earthquake and subsequent flood in the 1600s. Now it is owned by the mayor of Antigua.

Jacobo with all of Brynmore's video equipment at Casa Santo Domingo before we headed out.

Guacamayas mate for life and these two kept us busy while we waited for Ashley and Carlo to primp.

Ashley rockin' it at the ruins of Dolores de la cruz in La Antigua.

Carlo helping his princess navigate the grounds around Dolores.

Racin' golf carts at La Reunion.

A perfect Bermuda afternoon for Dana and Janelle's ceremony right on the ocean at The Reefs Resort.

A weeklong cruise to Bermuda aboard the NCL Spirit out of Boston for an incredible wedding at The Reefs Resort with Janelle and Dana. When I met these these two we were discussing options about me flying down to Bermuda for the wedding ceremony when they said, “We’d like to have you along for the cruise.” When we were done with our conversation they invited all my girls on a 7-day odyssey across the mid-Atlantic. With clients like this I don’t even need to make time for family vacations.

The weather was fabulous in Bermuda for their ceremony right by the ocean and then we shot formals in the late evening sunlight right on the beach with a small reception and cake cutting at the resort. Afterward it was a bash of dancing and “Jager-bombs” back aboard the ship.

The dress hangs on the balcony of their shipboard suite.

Dana looking all RL on the main deck in his linen suite and shades.

Janelle gets her own time on deck after the boyz leave for the ceremony but we switched sides due to the wind.

Janelle looking fine in the theatre on board the NCL Spirit before heading out to the ceremony.

Janelle and her girls model in some ancient, box-like booth-thing that was once used to make telephone calls.

The Reefs Resort, about 20 minutes drive from the dockyard. What a place for a ceremony!

Dana had more than local scenery to mesmerize him as he watches Janelle and Dad walk down the aisle.

Late day sunshine and this gorgeous place makes life easy for me--just point and shoot.

Time for some fun for the wedding guests during the reception.

...and they danced and spun the night away back aboard the Spirit.

After knots were tied and receptions danced we still had 1 more day to play in the beautiful, turquoise blue waters surrounding this Island before our 2 day voyage back to Boston.
Anyone who knows us as a family knows that this is not the type of vacation we usually book. I think the all-you-can-eat buffets, pirate kids’ pool and constant fun and games aboard our floating hotel made my girls realize that there are other types of vacations besides the schlep we usually have them endure traipsing through 3rd world countries on a shoestring budget.  An incredible experience none-the-less and maybe this will delay the inevitable trip to Disney for a while.

This was our day off--pretty nice, huh.

Dharma being Dharma and The Doongs! being Sarada?

Magic shows, stand-up comics, dancers, aerial acrobats, gambling (if you are into that), food (did I mention the buffets) and more...

You want our photos on your scrumptious, colorful eye candy blog?  Oh, wait, one of our favorite couples of the year? The ones who were so cool, generous, and gorgeous to boot? I think we can manage that!

Ode to Iffy & Jason and their fabulous wedding at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston.

Ahhh, so fabulous to re-live this wedding- and thanks for noticing South Asian Bride Magazine!

Click here to see full feature!

photos by: Glen Cooper & Chris Gagne

A note from Asha ….

Many of you know that we run a monthly contest. Anyone can participate. Whether an amateur or professional photographer. We have different catagories, and the winners get a one hour business make over with me. I honestly LOVE doing this. Both Glen and I enjoy building community, and well, we are both coaches and educators at heart.

Everyone knows this about Glen since he heads the Visual Journalism department at New England School of Photography. Teaching is a passion for us, and also is a way of saying thank you to the Universe for blessing us with such a thriving Boston Wedding Photography business.

So, I had a meeting with the lovely Karla Rodas. Karla won the best wedding cake contest! Click here to check the contest out! (Like us, please!)

Well, it turns out her passions are children & landscapes…

photo by KARLA RODAS- winner of Best Cake Contest on DMPJ's FB page

Photo by KARLA RODAS- winner of Best Cake contest on FB

Karla is in a stage of redefining her career. She comes to Boston from Las Vegas where she used to do tons of Red Carpet events- yes, she has rubbed elbows with all the celebs. But, she is passionate about real people & nature ( a girl after my own heart). She is building a new website and blog that are in alignment with the new her. Can’t wait to see it!

This is what she said about why she loves photography:

I shot an engagement session for these two back in August and had a tremendous time bopping all over downtown Boston and Back Bay so I expected nothing short of fun and gorgeousness from them for their incredible wedding.  They chose an amazing location for the ceremony at the Our Lady of Victories Church in the South End and then had a glamorous reception back at the Boston Harbor Hotel.

This is why we show up early to shoot the getting ready shots at the salon.

Details can't be overlooked.

Another of Nate's finds--the flower girl just before walking down the aisle.

Our Lady of Victories in the South End.

Nice frame Nate.

Carrot cake from the caterers at the BHH, yum!

Dancing with Dad...

...as the emotions from Mom poured out.

Nate with a 200mm shot as we took advantage of the late day light.

The whole gang danced and danced - thank you DJ Erik Buford.

Stealing some of that incredibly delicious carrot cake.

Gotta love some air guitar.

How it all ends right were we began the reception--under the archway of the BHH.

Many thanks to the team at the BHH, who catered and planned the evening with meticulous detail, DJ Erik Buford of Event-Experience Music Services, for providing an awesome soundtrack that had them dancing all night, Fino Fresh Floral Designs, for the incredible table arrangements and for adding that touch of accent that complimented Rachel’s and the girls gowns perfectly, Jason at Boston Wedding Films for a stellar and cinematic production (shot almost exclusively on with Canon DSLR camera’s and finally, many great thanks to my second camera, Nathan, and can’t live without assistant, Ryan, for giving me the support to produce such amazing work.