But I should begin at the beginning: They both started their day at 5:30am …

One of my favorites with Anitra and her dad:

At Justin’s family’s home, Kelli caught their very curious dog, Junebug …

These high-school sweethearts got hitched bright and early in the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at the Como Zoo in St. Paul, before it opened to the public for the day. They wanted to see each other before the ceremony, so they had a private moment in the central Palm Dome:

What a beautiful location! They had a decidedly small ceremony, with about 20 guests and hundreds of eye-popping flowers in attendance.

Justin and the guys had a Reservoir Dogs moment outside the grounds …

Afterward, they had a cozy lunch reception at the Palomino restaurant in downtown Minneapolis (food = mmm, dessert = wow).

But I’m saving the best for last.  See Part 2 … tomorrow!

For those uninitiated to a Holga, it’s essentially a toy camera that has gathered a following among a certain set of photographers both amateur and professional — those that enjoy unexpected results! Holgas are actual film cameras — “Wassat? Film?” –  known for their plastic elements and light leaks. To focus the lens is to choose a point somewhere between three settings: “one person,” “three people,” and “five people.” It’s photography guesswork, and the results rock!

Lomography is an unorthodox and freestyle way of making photos with an inexpensive camera such as a Holga. It’s  very hipster idea, and the cameras fill a table at any Urban Outfitters. To switch gears after wrangling a massive camera takes some getting used to, but is ultimately very freeing.

I used “redscale” film for these Lomo photos from their engagement session:

Nothing like a creamy, apocalyptic engagement session!

I’ll be experimenting some more with the Holga at their wedding … stay tuned.

I want to share with you more photos from a fantastic,  stylish, marvelous couple I was honored to photograph in early October in New York City & New Jersey. René + Ed, both lawyers and world-travelers extraordinaire, met at a Halloween party in Louisiana. These two fit together like puzzle pieces, and they look good in front of a camera too.

True to their worldly ways, their two-part wedding spread over two states. Their official civil ceremony was in NYC …

after which we trolled the city for some photos.

My favorite shot took thirty seconds from start to finish, in which we borrowed a magazine stand from its grumpy-but-patient owner. My awesome assistant, NYC-local photographer Alejandro Duran, held a flash out of frame behind René on the right side. The natural light streaming into the plywood box from behind me, along with a fluorescent tube above Ed, did the rest of the work. Ha ha, I can find Buttman magazine — can you?

Afterwards, they had a small party at Café Asean in the West Village.

Then on Saturday, the girls (René, Catherine, and Zoey) got all dolled up in NYC, then hopped a limo two hours to Skillman, NJ.

René + Ed had their white wedding in his parents’ gorgeous backyard. The clouds, which had been threatening moisture, broke mid-day to become my favorite light, that lovely post-rain drama.

And then my favorite moment of the evening …after cutting (smearing?) the cake, Ed needed to clean his glasses! Inventive solution, if I say so myself.

Congratulations, René + Ed! May your many years be happy!