Lisa and Cory had a sun-soaked ceremony right before the day made its way into night. With just a hint of a breeze and perfect sky, it was too perfect. From the games on the beach to the setting sun at cocktail hour, it was exactly what you’d hope to see on a wedding day. A day all about heart, smiles, fun, and sun that was simply picture perfect.

Event Planning by Exquisite Affairs

When you think of all the things that happen during a wedding day, and you remember yourself eating, it’s something a little unusual. But so it was. In the middle of the day, right before we were going to take a few more portraits, Liz and her maid of honor insisted I have a bite. Not only insist, in fact. They assembled the very meal, left the room, and gave me a moment. And that’s really something. Because when you’re in the middle of the day, whizzing by at a million miles an hour with all the hustle and all the bustle, and you’re getting ready to take some shots then hit the reception, the last thing I’d expect anyone to think about is me. But she did.

He had a palpable presence. She was beautiful.

Everything, except a few drops rain, was exactly as it was supposed to be. But underneath that perfect exterior was a wedding full of heart. A wedding full of people who cared. Who not just remembered me, but who remembered everyone. I think the two of them took a moment to dance with every person they came across when they hit the floor. And that’s what it really comes down to. The time they spent together and with everyone else. And that’s what I really remember. Not, of course, just a bite to eat. But the heart and kindness. Two people who were fully present and engaged on the day they were married. Just like it should be.

The thing of it is the uncertainty. The uncertainty of two lives colliding and two people coming together. The uncertainty of a moment, a day, a life. An uncertainty we all know must exist, that must be there, but one our hearts fully forget. Because when it feels right, it just feels right. That’s the beauty of love.

And so it was, watching Juliette and Dave.

Weddings unspool in as many ways as days can be spun. But as you see one and another, there’s a rhythm to it you start to recognize. Fragments that show up time and time again. Never quite the same, twisting and turning from second to second, but vital indicators, nonetheless – clues that let you in on it all, telling you about pulse of the day and the character of the couple.

Juliette said to me “I don’t know if the serious Brooklyn hipster face works with us.” But what stands out when I think back to their portraits wasn’t the thought of any face or one expression at all, so much as an effortlessness between two of them. They simply dissolved into their own world in the way people do when they really know each other. They were plain happy together.

Dave’s smile constantly veers on the type of compulsive grin you experience when you’re weightless and free – a little like the way a child experiences joy, but with the comprehension of an adult. Juliette’s smile was possessed of the type of sincerity that instantly sets a person at ease. And while it may be that in this stochastic system where life boils down to random probability where we’ll never know what the truth of it all really is, having seen these two smiles together on this most wonderful day in May, I say it with certainty when I say the two of them were meant to be.

It’s time, and we are ready to go with a new round of 5 West Workshops! And, yes, you read it right. They’re free, so don’t miss out. Sign-up for our newsletter, if you want to stay on top of the workshop schedule.

All workshops will be held at the 5 West Studios office in DUMBO at 10 Jay Street #203A. Capacity is limited, and seats are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, so hold your spot now! Workshops open 2 weeks in advance of the workshop day itself. To sign-up, just send an email to workshops@5weststudios.com, and we’ll get back to you to confirm your spot.

If you want to attend Kickass Composition on May 8, we’re filling spots now. Looking forward to hearing from you!

May 8: KICKASS COMPOSITION
1 hour at 6:30 p.m.

Whether it’s your Facebook photos or you’re gearing up for your professional debut, great framing can turn the mundane into the masterful. Find out how you can compose your images to impress your friends, confound your enemies, and just look all around awesome.

While geared towards beginner and intermediate photographers, we’ll cover topics for all. Get the inside scoop on both basic and advanced compositional strategies by signing up now!

May 23: BRILLIANT NATURAL LIGHT
1.5 hours at 6:30
No light, no pictures, right? But seeing it like it is is anything but easy. We’ll do our famous DUMBO walk and talk, as we look at the world the way the camera sees it. If you’ve ever wanted to create pictures with a silky, soft look that blows people away, then come on out. This is great for beginner and intermediate photographers.

June 12: GET STARTED WITH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
1.5 hours+ at 6:30
Making your way into the industry and trying to figure out where to go with your craft and your business? We’ll spend 1 hour talking about anything and everything, from what it’s all about to where you want to go and what it takes to get there. You name the subject, I’ll answer it. Come with questions.

June 25: EYEBALL POPPING TONING
1 hour at 6:30 p.m.
You can’t walk down the street without some high drama toning work poking you in the eye. What you want is something striking and resonant. What you don’t want is punch drunk eye candy that will fade in a year.

Find out what’s involved behind the scenes, so you can take control of your effects. Whether you’re using your phone or you’re post-processing your images in Lightroom with your DSLR, this is the perfect way to learn how to turn the plain and simple into the picture you imagined.