I was bored today, because I decided to be sane and not go shopping – but I didn’t want to do any actual photo work. So, for one more day, I’m ignoring album and announcement design, and instead poking around the internet for yummy recipes and playing Bejewelled   However, because I *am* a photographer, and I *do* feel guilty about not doing anything photography-related, I decided to show you a TTD (except I call it Time After Time) session I did last fall with Naomi and Kyle at Letchworth State Park. Just a few images for your enjoyment, and no hard work involved on my part

Love the fall colors at Letchworth, and the painterly feel of this shot

My favorite shot of the day, taken on the steps at Woolf Creek

I was extremely proud of Naomi for going into freezing cold water (hello autumn in upstate New York!)

Nate was a crazy theater major. This is exactly how I remember him from college.

My fave

There was nowhere to hide from the sun – so we embraced it.

I guess I shouldn’t have worn a skirt. It was pretty funny.

Love it! This shot was taken by my lovely assistant Samantha, and edited by me.

I just fell in love with the mountains and all the greenery.

Later, all Cara needed to do was wash the dress on a gentle cycle in the washer, and voila, clean as a whistle.

Oh, and did I tell you about the time when I was shooting in the lake? I was in rapid fire mode, focusing on the two lovebirds wading around in the water, when I slipped on treacherous rocks and dunked myself AND MY CAMERA in the water! Luckily, my instincts took over, and I managed to yank on the camera strap with one hand while hitting the rocks with my other, so only the grip of my precious 5D got dunked. I banged up my wrist pretty bad, but who cares about that? We took the grip off, dismantled all the batteries, put the CF card on the car hood, and in 10 minutes the sun had dried everything off. Eventually, I got bandaged up, we put the camera back together, and it was working! The second shutter on the grip obviously got water in it, because it kept firing and firingandfiringandfiring until I turned it off – but the main shutter and everything else worked just fine. No images were lost, either. Yay for happy endings!

Mary and Nick found me online. They came all the way from Syracuse to have this shoot with me, which is such a great honor! They wanted to trash the dress around Ontario beach, because, really, it’s a gorgeous beach if you don’t mind the algae and stuff But before we could do the beach, I had a few different ideas for them. Luckily for me, they accepted and after a brief warmup shoot in the park off we went to Rochester’s abandoned subway.

The subway features an awesome graffiti wall

One of my faves of the day

It was super dusty and probably a bit dangerous, but we had a lot of fun.

We got to the beach a few minutes before the golden hour, so we took some “normal” pictures before getting all wet.

This is where I should mention that Mary’s petticoats were blue. VERY blue. And very awesome! And not just for the shoot – that’s how she got married.

I don’t know why, but I really like this image for its artistic quality.

Into the water we go!

Nick joined in the fun. Reluctantly at first.

When you get to make out with your hot wife, it doesn’t matter where you are.

Another of my faves

There was a wedding going on next door, and the guests kept coming out to have a look at the “crazy bride gettin all nasty” on the beach. People couldn’t believe that she’d trash that gorgeous gown. Mary told me that she had had the gown professionally cleaned and pressed and stored for a few months before they decided to do this shoot. I hope it gets as squeeky clean this time around, too.

Mary and Nick were such good sports to indulge me in my crazy ideas, and I want to thank them for driving to Rochester all the way from Syracuse to do this with me. It was an amazing experience, as always!

We shot quite a few images at the site

Later, we went walking around town. Samantha had a big list of locations to use, and I’m very glad I chose her because I don’t know the city at all.

Her fiance joined us for a few pictures. Unfortunately he felt sick and had to leave later. This is one of my favorite images of them together.

I love the light in this one

For this one, I had to lay flat on the ground so that I could see the hole in the statue. Yes, people were staring.

A tender moment between the lovebirds

Later we found a paper mache-looking statue, which had great shooting opportunities

Tony had a great idea at a nearby skating park. The kid got a dollar, and we got an awesome shot

I just love how the flash lit up the cones

And of course the trashing wouldn’t be complete without getting wet! We went to Battery Park and EVERYONE was staring. We had quite an audience

Samantha’s SHOWCASE has more pictures for you to look at. Enjoy!

While Photoshop is slaving away, let me share the awesome weekend I had. Matt organized a mega trash the dress bash in New York City on September 1st. We had four brides, eleven photographers, and two German camera crews covering the day. I’ll post Samantha’s gorgeous images later, but first – behind the scenes!

4 brides with camera crews

Punam is busy posing

Amos is such a helper

Tony shoots up

Tony shoots laying down

Amos gets the big gunz

Anna gets some action

Torturing the bride

Acrobatic maneuvers

And I’m hiding on Tony‘s blog

Benny and Antoinette are my photographer slash make up artist slash model friends from Model Mayhem (artsy social rival to MySpace) They are NOT professional/paid models, but they do have more experience in getting “the look” without actually having to make out in front of me So no, this wasn’t an actual BRIDAL dress trashing. Although you probably already gathered that from the $24.46 price tag brag above.

Will I EVER get to the actual pictures?

Sheesh. Here goes.

Suits first.

Fenced in

Got the blues

New horizons

Wet dancing

And… roll!

Up to the elbows

The HAWT one. This one’s going POSTER size. My absolute favorite.

Sweet and tender

Gushing waters

I was changing cards in the camera and they had a moment to rest. I turned around to see him tenderly pushing a wet lock of hair out of her beautiful face.

One of my favorite  B/Ws

Up close

For fun, I had them pose the same way in the beginning and the end of the shoot. THIS is why I tell my brides to give plenty of time for pictures. Just look at the difference that time makes – how you ease into the shoot and look so much more comfortable at the end of it than the beginning. You have to give yourself enough time to warm up!

Benny really wanted to trash his suit, so we went deep for this one. I’m glad I was wearing a bikini and had a change of clothes!

Well, there you have it. I wish I could show them all off as POSTERS. But then I’d have to have a big big studio and lots of big big wall space… and I just don’t want to be confined in one space. Oh well. Meet me for coffee and I’ll bring that poster one!

Oh. My. Gosh. I finally did it! I had my first TTD session! If you have no clue what I’m talking about, check out this website, where a bunch of fabulous photographers submit their best images of dress trashing.

Anyway. Today’s TTD was made possible by Megan and Rachel, who were my partners in crime and a bit of trespassing Megan did makeup, I did hair, and Rachel endured the torture like the great model she is.

We went to an old barn out in the country and got hundreds of awesome shots!

There was even a fake bouquet or two!

Strike up the pose

From the inside

Up and away

The point here is that you don’t care that it gets dirty.

Sitting on the floor

In the hay

Wheeeee! Hayyyyy!

Change of accessories

My favorite headshot of the day

My favorite inside-the-barn picture, ala Alice In Wonderland

Happy to be outside, and accessory change

And some more hay