When Diana and Ed first told me of their plans for an intimate wedding at the Hotel ZaZa, I was excited about the prospect of photographing such a small, personal setup. Most of the weddings I've photographed have been larger and it's nice to see a bit of variety through the course of the wedding season.

They chose the Black Label Suite for their wedding ceremony and it was exquisite. The suite was very spacious and had a great view of the medical center. Their ceremony took place just as the sun set which added great mood and provided awesome light.

After the ceremony, they held a small gathering of close friends and family at the Sugar Creek Country Club. I'd like to shout out to Zoë and the rest of the staff for making things so easy for us.

Without further ado, here are some selected images:

Christiana and Olu were married at the Belin Chapel in HBU a little over a week ago. It was a huge celebration that featured well over 600 guests and a huge bridal party of 14 bridesmaids and 14 groomsmen (wow!).

As is always the case with Nigerian weddings, the rich color and culture was shining through and the day just seemed packed with action, keeping me and Eric very busy. The couple and I also share many mutual friends so it was a pleasure to see so many familiar faces throughout the day. It kept the vibe very personal as I was shooting; I think this helped keep people relaxed in front of the lens.

The bride points out the dress

Olu gets some help with his tie

I like this capture of Olu enjoying a solitary moment just before the ceremony

Christiana's father says a prayer before she walks down the aisle

The Belin Chapel had very striking architecture which made for some cool images

The mothers of the bride and groom embrace

The guests scramble to get photos of the bride and groom making their entrance into the reception area

Christiana and her dad dance...

...as well as Olu and his mother

And now for our bride and groom

Christiana's Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sisters sing to her

The groom is "sprayed" with cash

All the action must have tired this little guy out!

I just completed a great run where I photographed the weddings of 3 great couples who are all friends. Abimbola & Yomi, Nene & Emmanuel, and now Bola & Mohammed. This list actually includes 4 if Nkechi & Amaechi are included (their wedding was overseas but they are friends with the aforementioned couples also).

By the time Bola and Mohammed's wedding rolled around there was already a great sense of familiarity, trust and chemistry between me and the couple. I was able to get a great feel for all the major players of the day and focus on creating great shots of the moments on their special day.

Here are a few selects:

I loved the chance to photograph all of these weddings in the DFW area and we'll see if I can extend the streak going into the new year! ;)

I recently photographed Chiso & George's wedding in Atlanta and wanted to share some of the photos with you. Their wedding came in just the nick of time--I was just itching to leave Houston as we were still without power from the Hurricane and there was still debris lining the streets. It was the perfect opportunity to get away.

I was greeted with absolutely PERFECT weather in the ATL and almost didn't want to go back! It has been over 5 years since I've last been to Atlanta so I spent some time in the (totally revamped) Buckhead district and Lenox Square Mall. I was impressed; I definitely would like the chance to come visit again soon.

They are a very laid back couple but their wedding day had plenty of interesting and exciting moments. Here are just a few of them:

The ladies began to get ready for the ceremony in the Hilton (which is where the reception took place as well).

The makeup is applied...

The bride is veiled...

Chiso peeks out to make sure George and the guys have left the hotel

Chiso is helped into the limo

I think there's no question as to who he's looking at. :)

Nene has been a regular presence in my photos from my weddings in the DFW area for the past couple of years as she's been a participant in all but one! I also had the opportunity to meet her husband Emmanuel (then her fiance, of course) as well which is perfect--by the time their wedding rolled around they were more than familiar with how I work. :) I also became familiar with them--namely Nene's easy going nature and Emmanuel's great sense of humor.

Believe it or not, these two have known each other for 17 years and their love has survived all kinds of challenges including an ocean in between them at one point. ;) What a privilege to be a part of a day with almost two decades of buildup! :D

Things started off with the ladies getting ready at the Hilton and the guys prepared across the street at the Marriott Fairfield Inn:

Out of the limo and into the church prior to the ceremony

The bride and her father prepare to walk down the aisle

Here are a couple of shots of the newlyweds enjoying each other's company

This had to be among the most impressive first dances I've ever seen

Nene is an incredible dancer and was enjoying herself all night

One more wedding from the DFW area coming up soon!
(and Nene was there, too! ;) )

Thanks to Hurricane Ike, I've been without power for a little over a week! So this post is a little behind schedule. The day after their awesome wedding, the newlyweds and I went throughout the Big Apple and took even more photos.

Truth be told, we spent a few hours out and about and the scale of the city is so huge I still don't feel like we explored even 2% of our available options--wow!

I told Evelyn and Jojo in conversation that "you can't fake love"; well as you are about to see, these two are definitely in love and also affectionate as well. As a direct result of the fun I had with them, I'm already plotting for a return to New York--whether business or pleasure, it doesn't matter!

One of my favorites! It's like the heavens are smiling on their love. :)

We went to Evelyn's Alma Mater, Columbia, to get some great shots also. The campus is absolutely beautiful.

And next up--the Brooklyn Bridge. Evelyn putting on her fierce look.

Another of my favorites--I love the passion.

They were up for anything! It didn't matter what crazy directions I gave them, or crazy locations I stuck them in...

They got plenty of attention from onlookers

The lights of Times Square are like nothing else I've seen before.

Now that things are back to normal around here, I'll be posting some more images in the days to come.

Evelyn found me through the photos I took for my sister's sorority at Howard University last year. After talking with her and exchanging e-mails, I knew we would be a good fit. For that reason, and the fact i'd get a chance to check out New York, I was really looking forward to their wedding date.

Being from out of town, it was huge to have someone local to help me get around, so I want to send a huge thanks to Ayesha for assisting me. In addition to providing some transportation, she contributed some great photos as well. It also happens that she is in the same sorority as Evelyn (and my sister) and knew many of the guests! Small world. :)

The wedding was at the gorgeous Woodbury Country Club in Woodbury, NY. The night before the wedding, there were tornadoes (NY gets tornadoes?!?) but the day of the wedding, the weather couldn't have been more beautiful; there wasn't a cloud in the sky. After the elegant ceremony, the couple and their guests proceeded to participate in one of the most lively receptions I've ever been a part of. I had a great time working the party and getting shots that reflected the energy of the day.

Here are some of my favorites...

The bride's niece looks on as she gets her makeup done

Evelyn's bridesmaids help her into her wedding dress

on the way...

The grounds of Woodbury Country Club were just beautiful

Jojo just prior to the ceremony

The new couple makes their entrance

The bride's sister sheds a tear during her speech

Evelyn's side is from Ghana, and some African dancers provided entertainment during the reception as well

My 3rd Delta Sigma Theta bride of the year, and therefore, the 3rd "Sweetheart Song"

Jojo's frat brothers of Omega Psi Phi welcome Evelyn into the fold

One of the FUNNIEST moments ever; Jojo donned a sombrero just prior to removing the garter.

And as I mentioned, a very lively reception with lots of boogeying

I'll be posting some more great photos of this awesome couple--the day after we went on a tour of New York City for a "day after" session.

I was supposed to post this entry last Friday but again fell behind (going to have to work on that!). So without further ado, there is the wedding I photographed in Arlington (with a reception in Mansfield), the weekend of July 4. I'll be in the DFW area again at the end of the month and also in October so I'll be looking forward to bumping into a lot of familiar faces as all of these couples are friends with each other!

Try as I might, I still managed to fall behind in blogging, but that changes now! :) A few people have been wondering where the photos from the wedding in Nigeria were--the truth is I had to hold on to them as the couple were going to reveal them to the guests at their stateside reception this past weekend.

Now that they've been able to share them with their friends, I can share them with you.

Photographing Nkechi & Amaechi's wedding was a great experience. It was my first international destination wedding and as a Nigerian myself I appreciated the surroundings all the more. Despite all the travelling (and narrowly losing my Nokia E61) I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. These two were definitely worth it and I wish them a lifetime of happiness.

Here are some images from their day:

The ladies put on their face masks the night before

Riding through the streets of Lagos

Nkechi rushes into the church prior to the ceremony

Nkechi and her younger sister, Ngozi immediately after the ceremony

One of my favorite moments during the father-daughter dance

And Mom came to lend some assistance with the tears

Amaechi and his mom break it down

I tried a different angle during the bouquet toss

A marvelous view of the Lekki area of Lagos in Nigeria. The reception took place on a waterfront garden area.

I kidnapped the couple for a few "just them" photos

A great view part 2

I blogged out of order and have the wedding I photographed the week before Nkechi & Amaechi's to post as well (coincidentally, these two were guests at that wedding). I'll be posting those images tomorrow. Also coming are some engagement photos that are long overdue on the blog. :)

Here are some images from Miranda and Michael's wedding. Since I first met them at Chloe's birthday party last year I've been looking forward to their wedding day.

Here are a few of my favorites. A huge thanks once again to Owen for providing the assist.

As you may have read earlier on the blog, Owen and I photographed Angie & Zach's reception at the Alden Hotel on 6/7/08. Well we had a quick turnaround and early Sunday morning we flew to New York to photograph Candace & Terrance's wedding at the Inn at New Hyde Park in New York.

I actually got to know Candace through my friend Matt and I was very excited to head to some new surroundings for a change. Because of the tight timetable, I unfortunately didn't see much of New York besides their wedding venue and JFK airport, but I have another wedding in New York coming up and should be able to fit some tourism in during that time.

First we met the ladies and got some great shots of them preparing for the ceremony. A few of them...um...had to get used to us being so active (and getting close) to get those interesting angles but I think they got used to it after a while. ;)

Here's one of my favorites--Owen delivered a cool shot here.

The Inn at New Hyde Park was a gorgeous, elegant venue and I cannot say enough positive things about their staff. They went above and beyond for the couple (and for us!) numerous times throughout the day. A big thanks to Angel and his staff.

We seem to be catching a lot of the flashes going off from guests' digital cameras. It really makes for a cool effect.

You can see my friend Matt here getting his own shot during the ceremony.

The couple share their first dance

I loved the ambiance of the venue.

Minor miscue before the bouquet toss.

Candace's mother wrote a poem for the couple--definitely one of the more tender moments of the day

Candace's sorority sisters sing the Delta Sigma Theta sweetheart song.

I loved how the bride was having a wonderful time on her day and wasn't afraid to let it show.

Candace, Terrance--we had a great time spending the day with you and hope you enjoy your photos! Matt, thanks for hooking us up with such a lovely couple.

A couple of weekends ago, Owen and I had a busy weekend photographing two events back-to-back.  Angie & Zach's wedding reception on Saturday the 7th and a wedding in New York the following day (which I'll share a little later on).

Angie & Zach were married in Prague (how cool is that) so they wanted to host an event for their friends and family that couldn't join them as they became husband and wife. They chose the Alden Hotel for the event and I really enjoyed their choice! The hotel is very modern and stylish plus their staff was very friendly and accommodating.

I kidnapped the guys and girls for a quick series of posed photos and then we sat back and let them do their thing on a Saturday night.

Here are some of my favorites from the night...

I also bumped into Alex (who is Angie's cousin) and Nick who were obviously enjoying each other's company.

Angie, Zach: Thanks for inviting us to document the fun at your party and I appreciate the awesome hospitality.

Big ups to Owen for capturing some great frames as well.

Kelly and Kevin were married at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to post some images from their wedding day. I was excited about this wedding since it would be my first trip to this venue plus Kevin is a photography enthusiast himself. Prior to the wedding we talked and I quickly realized we'd be on the same page. I was more than happy to capture the memorable moments from their day. Before I present some of the photos, I wanted to give a quick shout to my friend and fellow photographer David who contributed some great shots as well, particularly of the guys. The event was coordinated by Jennifer Wright of the Woodlands Resort staff who helped everything run smoothly.

And now, the photos....

My friend and fellow photographer, Carolyn invited me to be the second photographer for Briana & Bobby's wedding last month at the Plaza Club downtown. The couple, their families and their friends made me feel comfortable and had a great time taking in the joy of the day. There were quite a few characters at this wedding which made for great candid captures of interactions and expressions. Here are a selected few:

Some of the guys—pre-ceremony...

A quick one of the ladies...

I really like the closeness and juxtaposition of father and daughter. I really enjoyed capturing their time together just prior to the ceremony.

Kids being kids always leads to interesting images...

Having some fun downtown with the newlyweds.

Briana & Bobby make their intro as husband and wife.

Great light from the windows streamed into the Plaza Club

The view from the 49th floor was outstanding

And now the reception...

These fireworks from another downtown event were visible from the Plaza Club above.

The couple make their exit...

Back in February, I was the second photographer for Stacy Reeves (yes, again--ha!) and helped her photograph Alex & Nick's wedding at the Hotel Derek. The ambiance was very impressive, featuring the work of Mike of Darryl Murchison's Darryl & Co. Here are some of my favorite moments and details.

I'll be photographing the wedding reception of Alex's cousin, Angie today at the Alden Hotel. Stay tuned to the blog for some of those images.

Last weekend, my friend Keisha (of Keisha's Kreations), asked me to come by her booth at the Weddings in Houston "Before You Say I Do" Bridal Soiree being held at the Houstonian and take a few photos of her setup. I was more than happy to help out.

While I was there I did get a handful of other images from other booths and such. You can see those below. I also ran into quite a few familiar faces including Ashley (who's wedding I photographed with Stacy of Mist), Mike & Cody of TriCoast (from Kyla & Wyatt's Wedding), and Pam, the wedding coordinator from Mofei & Stephen's Wedding.

Keisha's Kreations booth

The TriCoast team

Invitations by The Event House

Flowers by Floral Impression

Events in Bloom

More Than Cakes

For Your Memories (wedding consulting & coordinating)

Candy by Sweet Couture (their candy was awesome!)

Pam

Today I wanted to present some photos from Patricia & Uzo's wedding. It was really a great experience to photograph the wedding of people I've known for years! Several times while I was working, I caught myself smiling at the what was happening in front of me. Before I even get started, I just wanted to thank them for letting me take part in the joy of their wedding day (I love you guys!).

Ehis gave me a helping hand once again (as with Akin & Uju and with Yetty & Debo) by following the guys and getting other great angles. Jennifer also helped assist during the reception--thank you!

Keisha (Keisha's Kreations) handled the floral arrangements, and Mysti (Behind the Bash) coordinated things and kept things flowing in a smooth manner. The ceremony and reception were both held at The Parador.

Of course knowing these two from college, we knew many of the same people so I was happy to see many familiar faces including Elena & Otis.

And now, a sample of moments from 1/5/08:

You can see more of their photos here:
http://www.patriciaanduzo.com

I hope everyone is enjoying their 2008 so far! This past Saturday I had the privilege of photographing the wedding of my friends Patricia & Uzo. Images from the day are coming soon, but first I wanted to release some photos from Patricia's bridal session into the wild since it's now safe to do so!

The location was the Parador where they were also married. I like the distinct architecture and landscaping of the venue in addition to cool light streaming in from everywhere. Patricia's dress was provided by Parvani Vida

Patricia selected a portrait for her enlargement but liked her photos so much she decided to make an entire album of images from her session. Pretty good idea if you have trouble making a choice!

It was pretty easy photographing this gorgeous bride:

Keep your eyes peeled for photos from Patricia & Uzo's wedding day.

I've had wonderful opportunities to photograph some great weddings with others in the industry and now I've just closed out my 2007 wedding season commitments with a collaboration with Ed of New Horizon Wedding Imagery.

I actually met Ed at Ashley & Nick's wedding (where he was the videographer) and he invited me out to photograph Mofei & Stephen's wedding. The plan was for an Asian tea ceremony followed by an outdoor ceremony at Royal Oaks Country Club.

Here are a few from the tea ceremony:

And then the action moved to Royal Oaks:

We took a few images of the guys but unfortunately we had to head inside as the rain came!

As we waited for the Royal Oaks staff to move everything indoors, we took some photos of Mofei

The staff was able to bring everything inside and wipe down the chairs very quickly

Here are some from the ceremony: