"Trash the Dress" Photographer Series: Richard Esposito

Just as many photographers have different takes on wedding day photography they also have differing views on the concept of "Trash the Dress". See what the concept of Trash the Dress means to Richard and check out some photos below! KM

How do you define the concept of Trash the Dress? What does it mean to you? What does it mean to the bride?
On the wedding day the bride is always so careful not to get her dress dirty. I find most of my clients don't know what to do with their dress after the wedding. They can preserve it, but I don't know many that do. Some of my clients put their dress on ebay or craigslist! But wait! Why not be photographed in the dress some more and have some fun with it? To me it means more "cool" photos that's thinking outside the box. To my clients, it means more "cool" photos that's thinking outside the box. We even do some non trash the dress photos just so they have more photos for their album.

How about the actual "trashing"? Is this getting down and dirty with paint or mud or is it just getting more into the moment, something you wouldn't attempt the day of your wedding?
It's a little of both. I've only had 1 client say to me "let's trash it". And we did with dirt and mud. Most people are opting for a "Mess the Dress" session where they want the cool photos, but still want to preserve the dress.

Why do you do it? Why do you think the bride does it?
I do it to take my mind out of the box. Some of the poses and ideas we come up with can translate to new ideas on the wedding day. Anytime you can take yourself out of the normal way of doing things, it helps fuel the creativity.

How do you approach the session? 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?
What do you like to achieve during the session?
So far my brides have give me some ideas of what they want, then they ask me what ideas I have. We usually do both. My brides leave the vision up to me. I want to achieve creating an image that doesn't just say "you got your dress dirty." I want it to be a piece of art.

And we have the same questions for Boudoir...


How do you define the concept of Boudoir photos? What does it mean to you? What does it mean to the bride?
Some photographers go for sexy, steamy, or sensuous photos. You have to know where the line is and how far you can go before it's considered too much. I find most brides do them as a gift to their fiancé.

Why do you do it? Why do you think the bride does it?
We don't do them because we feel it doesn't fit our type of client. We don't want a prospective bride to be offended by images on our website, or have the idea that it's what we think about when we photograph them. I feel I have to think that because I am a male shooter. One of my clients asked if I did them and I told her I would be more than happy to, but that they would probably feel more comfortable having a female photographer do the shoot. They agreed and I referred them.

Richard Esposito
Phone: 203.676.3527
Website: www.photographer-re.com
Blog: www.photographer-re.info
Email: re@photographer-re.com
myKPW State and Budget: CT $80k+

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.

Engagement Session by Val McCormick Photography

Check out Val McCormick's new blog post on an engagement session at Lyman Orchards in Connecticut. What a beautiful day! KM

Val McCormick Photography
Phone: 203.589.7099
Website: www.valmccormick.com
Email: val@valmccormick.com
myKPW State and Budget: CT $25k-$50k

Val McCormick Photography 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.

Introducing New Members to myKPW!

We are always excited to announce new myKPW members as we have four vendors joining us and they are:


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

Beyond the Lens Photography
Website: www.beyondthelensphotography.com
Blog: www.beyondthelensphotographyblog.com
myKPW State and Budget: CT $25-50k

Cuzin Richard Entertainment
Website: www.cuzinrichard.com
myKPW State and Budget: ME and NH, $25-50k (Reception Music)

Lasso'd Moon Designs
Website: www.lassodmoondesigns.com
Blog: www.lassodmoon.blogspot.com
myKPW State and Budget: CT, MA, MA, NH, RI, VT, NYC-Westchester County, each $25-50k

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.

My KPW Family Member Speaking at Partner Con 2009

Pictage Partner Con is a 2 ½ day conference of engaging speaker sessions, knowledge sharing, hands-on shooting workshops, and leading exhibitor demonstrations for professional photographers.

We wanted to recognize one of our wonderful my KPW family members, Justin and Mary Marantz for not only attending this event but speaking there as well! Click here to learn more about the conference and what Justin and Mary had to say about "How to be a Rainmaker". KM

Justin and Mary 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.