I went into 2016 with a big goal: to book between 10 and 15 weddings. Today, I'm happy to announce that I hit the high end of my goal and will shoot at least 15 weddings this season! I am beyond thrilled and blessed to be doing what I love every day. Specializing in weddings was one of the best business decisions I ever made, as it allows me to perfect my technique in a specific area and devote my time to focus in the wedding genre of photography.

Not only will I be photographing 15 weddings this year, but I'll also be working under some of the best wedding photographers in Maine as a second shooter. Second shooting is a job I absolutely love because it allows me to take a very creative approach to capturing the day. My goal is to create images that tell a story from a completely different perspective of the lead photographer. As much as I love being a lead photographer, I think it's important that I challenge myself beyond the "safe" shots and that's exactly what I do when I'm second shooting.

Photographing weddings takes me all over the Seacoast. Not only do I travel throughout Maine, but I also travel to New Hampshire and Massachusetts to photograph weddings. I love traveling New England. There are so many amazing sites to see and beautiful wedding locations. It truly is one of the best places on Earth to get married. Not only do I enjoy traveling, but I love meeting couples who are in love. It is an amazing time in your life to decide to commit to one another and dedicate one day to bring about all of your closest friends and family to celebrate with you. I also feel honored. These future brides and grooms have entrusted me to photograph one of the most important days of their entire lives. That is truly something that cannot even be described in words. It surely means so much to me.

Below is photo I took last month while working for Kim Chapman. This elegant wedding took place at Grace Restaurant in Portland, Maine.

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More than a year ago, I found a group on Facebook of all descendants of my great-grandparents. Many of these relatives I had never met. Nevertheless, many of them were friendly and introduced themselves to me online. One of those people was Connie, Amanda's mother. She told me that Amanda was to be married on May 28th, 2016 and that she had seen my photography and recommended I reach out to Amanda, who was looking for a wedding photographer.

I'm so glad to have had the opportunity not only to capture Amanda and Ryan's special day, but I also got to meet some of the relatives that had been long lost in our family.

I arrived to the Governor's Inn and photographed the girls getting ready. Alicia Sites, the Maid of Honor did Amanda's hair and make-up. The couple had a beautiful ceremony out at the gazebo that was tucked into a spot in the woods at the Inn. It couldn't have been more perfect.

After doing all of the portraits, Amanda and Ryan got announced in to their wedding reception. There were several toasts made which were followed by dancing and dinner. After dinner, the couple did the cake cutting as well as a garter and bouquet toss. Friends and family enjoyed the open dance floor and Amanda and Ryan even had a special song performed by Devin Schafer, who had also been their wedding officiant.

At the end of the evening, everyone lit sparklers outside. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day and I couldn't be more happy for Amanda and Ryan. Congratulations!

Here's a short interview I did with Amanda:

• How did you two meet?

Work. I was Ryan's boss briefly. He asked me to go to a concert with him because "his friend bailed" (we had the same musical taste).

• When did you get engaged? Please describe the proposal.

February of 2015. In our kitchen, the second I came home from work. He had champagne and roses on the counter. I didn't see it coming. I was so sick, tired. Definitely wasn't how I wanted to be/look like when it came haha but he couldn't wait. He is awful at keeping secrets/saving gifts.

• What was your “perfect wedding” vision?

Romantic/pretty with a hint of rock and roll. Exactly how it turned out!

• What is your most memorable moment from your wedding?

Having all of our family from near and far/all our great friends with us. Our friends are just like family to us. Having everyone together was amazing. Everyone had a great time.

• What song did you do your first dance to?

City and Colour "Northern Wind"

• What – if anything – did you DIY?

All decor/center pieces. All the planning. I wanted it just so, so I planned every little detail myself.

• What's in your future? Do you have anything fun or special planned?

Hopefully start a family in the near future.

Amanda and Ryan's Wedding Vendors:

Officiant: Devin Schafer

Photography: Trina Dinnar Photography

Florist: Studley's Flower Shop

Catering: Governor's Inn

DJ: Ron Reid from Sounds Spectrum DJs

Live Music: Devin Schafer

Cake: Jacques Fine European Pastries

Hair/Makeup: Alicia Sites

Videographer: Devin Schafer and Tim Jones

Dress /Shoes: David's Bridal

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Saturday, May 21st, 2016 was a remarkable day. Danielle and Scott had a small, intimate wedding ceremony overlooking the rocky seacoast along the Marginal Way walking trail in Ogunquit, Maine. The two were surrounded by twenty five of their closest family and friends. I had the fortunate opportunity to meet Julie Draper, a wedding officiant from York, Maine. She officiated a lovely ceremony and the ocean waves were the only sound in the background as the couple exchanged vows.

Named by the Abenaki Native American Indian tribe as "beautiful place by the sea," Ogunquit's coast is a picturesque location graced with beautiful beaches and rocky coastline. It embodies the essence of Coastal Maine. It is no surprise why the couple chose this location, as they traveled all the way from Massachusetts to get married here. The couple had previously visited the Marginal Way, where Scott had proposed to Danielle and so their history and memories live here.

For those reading this that aren't familiar with the Marginal Way and its story, this now-paved mile and a half long footpath was given to Ogunquit village as a gift by Josiah Chase in 1923. The path begins at Perkin's Cove near the harbor and for decades was called "the margin" because of how it developed along the edge of the cliff. For more than 100 years, people have walked and admired this natural paradise. Though the trail is gentle, with easy bends and inclines, people often stop to admire the beauty of the landscape at one of the path's thirty strategically placed memorial benches. These benches each hold small plaques which are dedicated to people who have shown great appreciation for this beautiful location. More than 100,000 people walk the Marginal Way each year, enjoying a stroll along Maine's rocky coastline.

If you are eloping or having a small coastal Maine wedding ceremony, I would love to hear from you! These intimate gatherings are perfect for couples to share their commitment with one another. Photographing these events is an honor and I am happy to talk to you about what you have envisioned for your special day.

NOTE: Clicking the images with enlarge them.

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Note: I originally wrote about this topic in my blog post about Wedding Trends in September of 2015.

I remember the first time I saw a "wedding hashtag" used during a 2015 wedding I photographed. I found myself wondering how trends of this nature would stand the test of time. After all, social media isn't what it was five years ago, and it likely won't be the same five years from now. Just like social media trends, wedding trends are ever-evolving. What's "in" this year might be considered outdated in a couple of years. So, which trends will stand the test of time? With my experience photographing more than a dozen weddings each year, I'm going to share the current wedding trends that may not always be "in" but will nevertheless remain timeless.

1. First Look

Nowadays, couples are seeing each other before the ceremony with a new tradition called a "first look." Typically, the bride and groom will get ready separately but will meet before the ceremony to share a private moment together. Many times this intimate moment is photographed. A great benefit of having a first look is that many of the formal wedding portraits can be taken before the ceremony. This allows the couple and their wedding party to spend more time enjoying the reception.

I don't see this trend becoming outdated any time soon. In fact, I see it becoming increasingly popular. I've never once heard of a couple who regretted having a first look and every couple that I have worked with was really glad they had that extra time to relax on the big day.

2. Signature Drink

Everyone seems to gather around the bar at weddings, so it's no wonder that modern couples are giving their guests a memorable experience by creating a signature drink to be served at their receptions. A signature drink is usually a unique alcoholic beverage because it takes a known drink and puts a twist on it. The twist can be in the ingredients, garnish, or both. The drink is typically given a name that has personal meaning to the couple. At one of the weddings I photographed, the couple combined their last names to create the name of their signature drink. The possibilities to get creative are endless and guests seem to really enjoy the personalized touch.

3. Love Letters

One of the lesser-known wedding trends I've seen is when the bride and groom each write a letter or love note to one another. The letters are usually sealed in an envelope, only to be opened just prior to the ceremony. I think it's a great time to sit and take a quiet moment to read the other person's thoughts. Often times, the moment just before the ceremony is the most nerve-racking time of the day and simply getting those last-minute words of affection can be the perfect thing to ease those nerves. It can even be fun to photograph these moments so that the bride and groom can look back on them together.

4. Photo Displays

Brides and grooms are personalizing their weddings now more than ever. I've seen framed photos hanging off ceremony chairs. I've also seen many wedding receptions where couples create photo collages, or display framed photos of themselves throughout their relationship. Tables dedicated to showing off these photo displays are becoming increasingly popular and I don't see this trend getting old anytime soon. It adds a personalized touch that wedding guests seem to really enjoy.

5. The Shoe Game

I'm seeing less garter and bouquet tosses and more fun, interactive games at wedding receptions. Particularly popular over the last few years is the Shoe Game — a game in which the bride and groom sit back to back, holding one shoe of their own and one shoe of their spouse's. An announcer will make a statement or question such as "who is the worst driver?" Then, the bride and groom each hold up the shoe of the person they think fits the statement given. It's a great game that gets everyone laughing! The shoe game is particularly popular during outdoor weddings, or weddings with rustic themes.

6. The Anniversary Dance

The anniversary dance is a special dance honoring married couples at wedding receptions. All married couples are called to the dance floor. The DJ announces that all couples who have been married less than a certain number of years must leave the dance floor. Years are continued to be called throughout the song until the couple who has been married the longest is the last couple dancing. Sometimes, the couple who has been married the longest is asked to give the newlyweds marriage advice.

No matter how many weddings I photograph, the anniversary dance is always one of my favorite modern traditions. It's amazing to see all of the couples who have been married twenty, forty or even sixty years!

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Times may be changing, but couples can make informed decisions about aspects of their weddings and how they will be seen five, ten or even fifty years from now. Regardless of how trendy or timeless the details of a wedding may be, a memorable, fun experience that everyone can enjoy is something that will always stand the test of time.

If you or someone you know is looking for a wedding photographer, visit our Maine wedding photography site to learn more!

Unlike other genre's of photography, like family or Senior portraits, wedding photography involves capturing moments that can never be recreated. It is for that reason that wedding photographers should ensure that they not only have the right gear to do the job, but that they also have backup gear. While some photography gear may be optional, there are many widely agreed upon items that wedding photographers should use to ensure the best results on this once in a lifetime occasion.

1. Two Cameras

Every wedding photographer should have a full frame camera and a back-up camera that is preferably full frame. Full frame cameras differ from crop sensor cameras in that they are notable sharper, render color better, and they actually capture more of any given scene. The term "crop sensor" means that the sensor of the camera crops out some of the image. These cameras tend to be entry-level and while they are okay for a backup camera, I highly recommend any photographer shooting weddings uses at least one full frame camera.

2. Fast Lenses that Cover Various Focal Lengths

Let's face it. There's not one lens that can do everything. From wide angle to telephoto to macro, lenses cover focal lengths in various ranges. Wedding photographers should have lenses that cover wide angle, such as 24mm or 35mm (or even wider). They should also be able to cover mid-range focal lengths, like 50mm. Another focal length that should be covered is the portrait focal length. I consider that range to be 70-200mm. Another type of lens to consider is a quality macro lens.

Aside from focal lengths, there's another thing to consider: fast lenses. What is a fast lens? A fast lens is one that can handle shooting in low-light conditions and is capable of shooting at a wide aperture, such as 2.8 or less. Prime lenses are a great example of fast lenses because many of them open up to 1.8, 1.4 or even 1.2. Prime lenses are excellent for low light situations, especially ones in which flash is not allowed (such as some churches). Not all zooms are created equal. Some zooms only open up to f/4, while the fastest zooms open up to f/2.8. While a zoom with a widest aperture of f/4 may perform well in optimal lighting conditions, wedding photographers will want to invest in fast zooms so that they are prepared for any lighting situation.

Wedding photographers should also be prepared by having back-up lenses. No piece of equipment will last forever and photographers need to be prepared in case of breakage or a malfunction during a wedding.

3. Multiple Flashes

I'm a big fan of using natural light whenever possible. However, there are certain times where flash is a must! A wedding photographer should not only have flashes but know how to use them. You never know when a lighting situation will be less than ideal and by having flashes ready to go, wedding photographers can create beautiful images in any lighting scenario.

4. Accessories

There are lots of accessories wedding photographers should have on hand but the most important accessories are memory cards and charged batteries. Not only do memory cards fill up, there is also a small chance that they can become corrupt. This is a wedding photographer's worst scenario. I highly recommend carrying several empty, formatted memory cards during a wedding.

As for batteries, wedding photographers should have at least one backup camera battery per camera. The batteries should be fully charged. Wedding photographers also need to carry lots of charged batteries for flashes and other accessories.

Of course there are many other accessories wedding photographers use at weddings including flash modifier, flash gels, light stands, tripods, etc. These types of accessories can vary, depending on the photographer's shooting style.

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What's in my bag?

·         (2)  Nikon D700 full frame cameras

·         Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 with VC

·         Nikon 85mm f/1.8

·         Nikon 50mm f/1.8

·         Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 with VC

·         Sigma 35mm f/1.4

·         (2) Nikon SB700 flashes

·         Flash triggers

·         (15+) Charged flash batteries

·         (6) Charged Camera Batteries

·         (5) 32GB Memory Cards (Empty and Formatted)

·         Flash Modifiers: gels, diffusers, etc.

My most used wedding photography gear.

Wedding Photographers: What's in your bag? Please share below!