Vendor Spotlight - Birch Blaze Photography

Connecting with a bride and groom is imperative to Kerry and Taylor of Birch Blaze Photography in order to capture all essential moments of a wedding. Check out Birch Blaze Photography in today's Vendor Spotlight!

Birch Blaze Photography
Phone: 603.539.4480
Website: www.nhweddingphotographer.com
Blog: www.birchblazephotography.com
myKPW State and Budget: MA, ME, VT - under $25k


Number of years in business: Taylor and I have about 10 years of professional photography experience between us. We began accepting wedding bookings in 2009, prior to that we were involved in commercial photography, primarily in the food/hospitality industry. I (Kerry) have a background in graphic design and for the past few years have also been the layout artist/photo editor for a globally distributed water sports photo journal which has helped hone my skills at photo retouching and album design. We both have always had a love for photography and people, so photographing people on one of the happiest days of their lives has become the perfect meeting place of our passions and creativity.

Preferred Wedding/Engagement Session Locations: We prefer natural, outdoor settings, but urban locations can also be great. With e-sessions, a location that means something to the couple will nicely complement the shoot and make them feel more comfortable. Of course, capturing the essence of two people--who they are, what they’re feeling and what they mean to one another--is the main goal of any wedding or engagement session. With that in mind, virtually any location can be “worked” to make the shoot a success.

Pricing Information: Our wedding packages currently start at $1875. E-sessions are $200.

What makes me stand out in the industry? There are so many great wedding photographers out there right now so standing out in the industry is a pretty tall order! Of course, we believe in our craft and are very proud of the images we produce, and our desire is to work with couples who feel a connection to the way we approach our photography. If we stand out in the industry to you, as a bride and groom, then it’s pretty likely we will be a great fit for you. Being a great fit for any couple that hires us is our ultimate goal.

What's the favorite part of my work?

Kerry: I really enjoy the editing process. Opening up those images you’ve amassed from the day’s shoot and seeing them onscreen is so exciting! Then there are so many creative choices you can make in taking them from camera to print. So fun. I also enjoy absorbing the plethora of blogs, tutorials and interviews available online. There’s no end to the generous stream of instruction from top pros in the industry and I can’t get enough. Of course, nothing beats the basic action of picking up a camera and taking a picture and obviously, the more you do it, the better you become.

Taylor: Artistically speaking, being able to spend my days doing something creative and fulfilling is wonderful. It’s hard to say one thing that I enjoy the most but I do love photographing people. Each shoot becomes unique because every individual is different and we have the incredible privilege of finding and capturing those qualities and characteristics.

What do I like to do in my spare time?

Kerry: The main reason I love my life is that I get to spend almost all day, every day with my best friend, soulmate and Wife, Taylor. So in addition to getting to work together, my favorite spare time activity is spending time with Taylor. I have 3 children that I love hanging out with and I’m also a musician, occasionally playing out with a band or as a soloist. (Love outdoor stuff too!)

Taylor: I would have to agree with Kerry on being able to spend so much of our time together. I so enjoy being with him and find myself perpetually joyful in his presence. So, that’s pretty fantastic. I also love hiking, kayaking, camping, etc… anything that affords me the opportunity to be outside. I love music and I’ve been taking cello lessons for a little over a year and that has been a challenging but great experience. Lastly, I must admit I also have an affinity for the Golden Girls.

What charity am I supporting and why? The American Cancer, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and the ASPCA. We’ve opted for all three because they’re all great causes and every family is affected by at least one of the issues that these charities address. (We had a hard time picking just one!)

my Kate Parker Wedding is a new online wedding resource guide launching in January 2010 geared toward directing brides to quality vendors based on their price range and state.

"Trash the Dress" Photographer Series: Studio 1923

A photographer's take on Trash the Dress may differ from one person to the next, but there is this consistent theme of being able to feel "unrestricted", as Jerome from Studio 1923 noted. See what the concept of Trash the Dress means to Jerome and check out some photos below!

How do you define the concept of Trash the Dress? We define the whole concept quite differently than the status quo. We leave the opportunity open for couples as well as just brides to get back in their wedding attire and have some fun retaking their wedding photos in locations and poses that wouldn't necessarily be available to them on wedding day. Whether it be because of time restrictions, seasonal restrictions, weather scenarios, or just for "unrestrictions" such as sexy poses, drastic approaches, alternate dresses, alternate hair styles, etc. We actually created a completely different website than our own to showcase just these shoots. We don't even call them "Trash the Dress" we call them "Wear it One More Time". The website is: www.wearitonemoretime.com

What does Trash the Dress mean to you? To us, it's a chance to flex some creative muscle and experiment. Play with aggressive lighting, alternate angles, maybe even break out a ladder for a high overhead shot, etc. To us it's completely fashion based and freedom of expression.

What do you think it means to your brides? To the bride, it means take photos completely unlike what their family and friends might expect to see in a wedding dress.

Why do you choose to do "Wear It One More Time" sessions? We do it specifically for the creative vision/expression and to keep things provocative and unique foot forward.

And the bride? To have something that nobody else has. Utterly unique photographs that represent the couple as they really are. And also to get the most out of their wedding dress before they pack it up for life/ or donate it.

How do you approach the session? We approach each session hoping to reflect the couple as best as possible and their wants. We have to ask the question, "What do you plan to do with the photos?" meaning, what do you want them for? Wall art? An album? A supplement to your wedding photos? Not everyone wants to lay down on the train tracks, nor does everyone want a gothic flair to their shoot. Some want simple fashion photos to replace/add to their bridal portraits.

Do you provide the ideas or does the bride present her own ideas or in other words, what is your vision compared to the bride's vision? Ultimately the vision and the creativity is always ours. That's what we do. The best we can do for ourselves and our clients is to stay true to our soul and vision. We LISTEN to what they want, and go from there.

What do you like to achieve during the session?
A look, pose, vibe, etc., that we haven't seen before nor have we created before.

(this photo was featured on The TODAY Show)

(Jerome capturing Jack and Michelle)

(the 3 images above are two sisters on the same day)

(yes, the 3 image above are of Lindsay from Sixpence For Your Shoe)

Studio 1923
Phone: 866.913.1923
Website: www.studio1923.com
myKPW State and Budget: CT, MA, NYC-Westchester County all $80k+

my Kate Parker Wedding is a new online wedding resource guide launching in January 2010 geared toward directing brides to quality vendors based on their price range and state.

A True Reflection - Donald & Trenholm Photographers

The other day we saw a photo on Facebook taken by the very talented duo, Heather and Austin, of Donald & Trenholm Photographers. The reflection in the floor couldn't have been more perfect and made for a very stunning shot. Check out their Connecticut wedding...

Donald & Trenholm Photographers
Phone: 603.548.7233
Website: www.donaldtrenholm.com
Email: donaldtrenholm@gmail.com
myKPW State and Budget:

- NH $25-50k
- MA <$25k

Donald & Trenholm Photographers is a member of my Kate Parker Wedding, a new online wedding resource guide launching in January 2010 geared toward directing brides to quality vendors based on their price range and state.

Bridal Boudoir - Claris Photography

Gaining popularity among brides, Boudoir Photography is thought to be an intimate yet a fun and playful experience - but what is it really about? Liesl from Claris Photography shares with brides (and grooms) her thoughts around the Boudoir concept and what it means to her. LS

The idea of Boudoir Photography is as old as it is new. It's been around for a long time but recently has received much attention. As it relates to Wedding Photography, it is usually meant to be a photography session the bride participates in prior to the wedding and in turn gives the groom on the wedding day in the form of an album or prints. This session can be scheduled before or after the wedding but most of the time it is completed several months prior to allow time to order products (i.e. albums and enlargements). Once in a while, it is scheduled during the "getting ready" phase of the wedding day but this time of the day can be chaotic and it is not always ideal.

I have found it to be one of the most profound and amazing gifts a man could ever receive from his soon-to-be wife based on the comments I heard after the fact. It has drawn the attention of women of all ages and even couples as a gift to each other. (I have even had a client who was inspired to do this as a 25th wedding anniversary gift for her husband)

Because of the intimate nature of this type of photography, it is imperative that the client feels a good connection with her photographer. As a female photographer, I feel this factor helps to ease the tension and allows a stronger trust and comfort level during the session. When I am first contacted about doing a Boudoir session with a bride, I want to know what style of imagery would she like to produce for this session, At this point I ask for several samples of what she has in mind either torn from a magazine or sent online in an email. From these examples I will learn what the client had in mind and use my own creativity from there. I usually recommend the client to have a stylist to do hair and makeup prior to the session and then to stay during the shoot to work closely with me during outfit changes to freshen up and/or change the look for variety's sake. I work inside and outside, weather permitting, based on the client's comfort level to produce a range of images in various lighting situations in about a 2 hour time frame. It can be done at the client's home, a hotel, my studio, or any location of her choosing depending on the style of the imagery.

This photography session can sometimes take bravery and courage on the part of the bride-to-be but it is truly appreciated on the receiving end. To give the gift of oneself is intimate and one-of-a-kind. There is no way to compare this to any other. I have never heard any complaints from any groom-to-be EVER! It is worth the effort and time in every way and with careful planning and communication with the photographer is a very fun and adventurous experience.


Check out some of Liesl's Boudoir work below:

Claris Photography
Phone: 1.800.207.8256
Website: www.clarisphotography.com
Email: liesl@clarisphotography.com
myKPW State and Budget:

- MA, $50-80k and $80k+
- ME, $50-80k
- NH, $50-80k

Barn Weddings - Donald & Trenholm Photographers

The rustic charm of a barn wedding is something that is becoming more and more popular among brides as the setting is conformable to many decorating styles or themes. Check out a barn wedding captured by Heather and Donald from Donald & Trenholm Photographers.

Donald & Trenholm Photographers
Photographer: Heather Donald and Austin Trenholm
Phone: 603.548.7233
Website: www.donaldtrenholm.com
myKPW State and Budget: Massachusetts <$25k, New Hampshire $25-50k

This particular setting was at the Laudholm Farm Reserve in Wells, Maine. The reception was held in the horse barn next to the main house. The bride and groom had lighting designers come in and install chandeliers just for their wedding. Austin said it was absolutely beautiful!