Film is sticking around...

Love all the couples this wedding season that also want some film on their wedding days. So beautiful for documentation and artistry of the wedding day; along with the final wedding album. Many of the images on my wedding photography website were photographed using film:
www.megangreenlee.com

The Spring Thing

So, it is Spring again. Trees a blooming, birds a chirping, and New Yorkers are finally out of their bi-polarizing epic winter state. Ahhhh, no more snow! T'is that time of year again that couples start tying the knot and I remember what it is like to get a bit choked-up about the lovely ones in love. Just wanted to share a few images from one of my favorite weddings last Spring that makes marrying in NYC meritable...

(C)Megan Greenlee Photography

(Wedding details featured in Style Me Pretty: http://www.stylemepretty.com/2011/02/21/new-york-city-wedding-by-megan-greenlee-photography/)

A steady hand.

(c)Megan Greenlee Photography
Wedding featured on Style Me Pretty cover
http://www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/gallery/2952

Perhaps, today was a day in which many of us received flowers, chocolates, cards, candlelit dinners, or inspiration from a store window's Valentine dressing. Often, though, we forget one of the most important touches that treads deeper than a wedding day or bling gift; and that is a steady hand. At the end of the day, it is nice to know you have someone that is "there" for you--whether it is a spouse, lover, partner, parent, roommate, or just a dear friend. This poem by the artist, Patti Smith, was dedicated to her lifelong friend and one of life's gifted photographers, Robert Mapplethorpe, for his 1989 Memorial. Her words speak of unconditional love's steady tender layers:

As there is strength
in blackness
a deep control
a calla flare
trumpets
grace corporeal
there is a steady hand
adjusting child lace
and bravery's face
in veil inviolate
there is a steady hand
adept in heavens skin
spending into black
where pure hearts
are kin. 
(c) Patti Smith, Memorial Poem, Just Kids

Trick or Tricky?

Well, it has been a bit since a blog posting and thought it was best not to fall down Alice's Rabbit Hole as many of us might this upcoming Halloween weekend. Time to get on the "enough about me what do you think about me" wedding path again. And, why not add some Halloween idea inspiration for those that might be Trick or Treating down a tricky aisle this weekend. This bride was one of the most kind hearted women I have met photographing. One of those less is more and everything souls in life--the kind of person throwing a wedding in which she sees the good in the world around her and genuine friends celebrate her true inner and outer beauty. She is, though, hiding behind another veil--a cleverly planned additional masquerade mask for herself, husband, and wedding party. It is a very simple idea that added a pleasant darkness to a generally light celebration in our lives. And, apropos with the dreamy and stormy weather along the cliff across the way of New York City's Staten Island Bridge. A wonderful excuse for a photographer to involve a high speed grainy film to exaggerate the mood of the day along with a soft-focus vignette camera. This image was taken with a square medium format film Holga camera with BW 3200 Ilford film. Yummy!

Friendship and Weddings

My dear friend and photographer colleague asked me to photograph his wedding at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, New York. These contact sheets are just some of the special moments from the lovely day with his wife, family, and friends. It was an honor to photograph them and capture their celebration day as a friend and fellow photographer. Sometimes the pressure is on more at these times, yet it always brings me back to the heart of how I got involved in this profession. Many moons ago, I was a bridesmaid at my best friend's wedding with a camera on hand. I was given an opportunity to begin as a wedding photographer from this day and feel truly blessed to be a part of all the lovely couples that come my way. Since then, I always like to treat each wedding as if each couple were my best friend...

Marriage is when there are two bodies, but only one soul.

Today's tea tag on my lap.

Photography and truth

"Ultimately photography is about who you are. It's the seeking of truth in relation to yourself. And seeking truth becomes a habit." Leonard Freed - born 1929, died Nov. 30, 2006.