Terrific Tile Wedding Favors!

If you're looking for something unique for your wedding guests to take home and would like to support local artisans, then check out these personalized handcrafted tiles by Starbuck Goldner Tile in Bethlehem, PA.  Yes, they can send your tiles wherever you plan on getting married.

These are just two of the commemorative wedding keepsakes they've created.  Choose from dozens of designs or have one created especially for you! (click on the photo to see it in greater detail)

Renae Mendall & Company at Bridals by Sandra

Renae Mendall & Company will be creating complimentary "updos" for customers of Bridals by Sandra in Nazareth beginning at 11:30AM this Saturday.  It will give brides-to-be a preview of the "total look" with hair and headpieces too!

Here are some photos I took from a wedding day 'Hair and Makeup' session at the salon for all the bridesmaids and a very cute and curious flower girl.

Arshille Gorky Retrospective in Philadelphia

I was lucky enough to see the Arshille Gorky retrospective exhibit on its last day at the Philadelphia Art Museum.  Gorky holds a place in art history as the last of the great surrealist painters and a pivotal precursor to American Abstract Expressionism.  As a teenager he witnessed the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire and the subsequent death of his mother.  His iconic self-portrait with his mother is shown in the museum's pamphlet for the exhibit, displayed above.  After coming to the United States in 1920, he studied art, worked and befriended the artists Max Ernst, Andre Breton,Wifredo Lam and Yves Tanguy.  He was a prolific painter and, following a series of personal tragedies, took his own life at the age of 46.

The process itself of creating art is fascinating to me and so it was with great interest that I heard about his artistic influences and his "self-imposed" apprenticeships to masters like Paul Cezanne, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro and De Chirico. I really liked seeing his preliminary sketches displayed right next to his finished paintings, which made the artistic process much more transparent.

I usually resent being funneled into the gift shop, but this time I noticed an album by Hasmik Harutyunyan and the Shoghaken Ensemble which performed at Lafayette College's Williams Art Center. They also were playing my favorite Armenian flute music, performed by Djivan Gasparian.  I thought I heard it playing in the background of the self-guided audio tour of the exhibit.  So mournful, so beautiful...

Learning to be Creative

Monty Python's John Cleese thinks Ken Robinson's book Out of Our Minds is "Brilliant" and you will want to take a few minutes to watch the author himself talk about education and creativity.   It is both thought-provoking and will make you laugh out loud.

Custom Handmade Wedding Album Covers!

I'm always looking for new and elegant products for my brides and wanted to share my latest discovery!

 Wisconsin-based designer Kelley Grace Quakkelaar custom made these for me.

This traditional  black and cream paisley design has a contrasting cream pattern inside.

I found Kelley, owner of Gracie Designs, on the Etsy website and had her make these specifically to fit my album dimensions.  She's delightful and so easy to work with.  If you're a textile junkie like me, you'll enjoy just looking at all the beautiful fabric designs online.

If you already have an album, it's not too late...she can make one for you!  Click on the photo below for a close-up detail view.

I also like modern geometric designs and the one below reminded me of so many strings of pearls.

I'm glad I received them in time for the upcoming Bridal Show this weekend at Woodstone Country Club.  (January 30 & 31st from 12-4PM)

Stolen Kisses in a Timeless Place

What a magical place to photograph a wedding and to start the New Year!  Tucked away in Easton's Historic District, The Bank Street Annex is a place that, apparently, time has forgotten.  The building was once The Easton National Bank and was rebuilt in 1929 with an art deco design.  The 40-foot ceiling and balconies on either side of the main floor make this a dramatic space.  The bride's dress looked like it was from another era and the DJ, Robert Hallinan, played some 'vintage' tunes to enhance the effect.

I was delighted to see my friend, Audrey Simons, performing with the other members of the talented ensemble called Mes Amis Strings.

I'm really looking forward to photographing here again this summer.

Cake by The Village Bake Shoppe

The Year-end Highlights

Taking a break from wedding album design and production provides a good time to look back on some of the year's highlights.  The folks at Technicolor Salon in Bethlehem invited me to hang some work in their gallery space  which they generously devote to local artists.

Easton's Cosmic Cup on College Hill makes the best cup of coffee in the Lehigh Valley and also encourages local talent by inviting them to use wall space to display their work.  Cosmic's owner, Troy Reynard, is actively involved in the community- locally and globally-and encourages musicians, poets and writers into his cafe.

Being at Bear Creek Mountain Resort felt more like Colorado than Pennsylvania.

I'm not sure how event planner, Laura Fleischer, charmed the limo driver into letting the bridal party

shower the bride and groom with rice but the pouring rain outside didn't dampen their spirits for some merry mischief!

A 50th wedding anniversary was the occasion of a family gathering at the Weyhill Guest House at the Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem. Here's a photo of just a few of the grandchildren.

The magnificent Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge Pennsylvania, was the backdrop for this wedding.

The wedding was followed by a reception at the Waynesborough Country Club in Paoli, Pennsylvania.

The talented crew at Renae Mendall and Company Hair Salon came over for another fun-filled studio session. (Think synchronized swimming without the water).

 Flower girls and ring bearers are unpredictable and totally authentic which is why I love them!

The Club at Morgan Hill (above)

 The views of the vineyard and mountains were spectacular at this lovely outdoor wedding in Bangor, Pennsylvania.

The late afternoon sun provided dramatic lighting of this bride and groom in Philadelphia's Fairmont Park.

Stolen moments at a 20's themed wedding at Bridgewater Manor New Jersey, which had a 30-piece big band orchestra with a lead singer who sounded just like Frank Sinatra!

Two lovely brides instead of  just one at the commitment ceremony in Easton, Pennsylvania.

A beautiful outdoor Bucks County wedding with the best man successfully delivering the rings!

The Inn at Pocono Manor was the setting for this sweet couple's elegant "Tuxedos & Tatoos" wedding.

An autumn engagement session with an adorable couple whose wedding I'll be photographing next May.

The Cantor at Temple Beth El in Allentown Pennsylvania, played a critical role in this young man's Bar Mitzvah preparation.

An outdoor summer family photo session.

Why do I love kids climbing trees...'cause I used to and still do...just ask my startled neighbor who was putting out trash one afternoon and caught me 15 feet off the ground pruning my Saphora Japonica.

It was so much fun photographing the hardworking and talented children, teachers and principals who won math achievement awards in Philadelphia.

The creator of the First in Math Online Program (Robert Sun) congratulates one of the winners at the achievement awards ceremony in Philadelphia.

I loved photographing this event because the excitement and pride in achievement was palpable!

Children came up to meet the 'rock star' of the 24 math game world.

  (Children and trees . . . a recurring theme).

Easton's Silk Mill Project:

Outdoor film night at Easton's Silk Mill Project was an exciting look into the future of the City.  Construction on the sculpture path linking downtown Easton with the Silk Mill site begins in the Spring of 2010!

   Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

(for some more 2009 highlights, check out my previous months posts)