My goal in creating wedding photos is to give the viewer a since of what it felt like to be present in that wedding.  There is always a lot of energy and excitement going on and one technique I occasionally use to capture that is motion blur. Motion blur is the intentional use of blur to imply movement. There are a variety of ways to use but I especially love motion blur on the dance floor. We’re used to seeing those moments frozen, but sometimes it’s nice to see the movement.

There are some tricks to pulling this off and it doesn’t always work, but when it does, it can be a nice and unique way to preserve a moment.

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So another technique I like to incorporate is the use of flare in my portraits.  Flare is the circles of light you get when you shoot towards the sun (or any light source). It’s caused when light bounces around inside the lens and hits the film or digital sensor. If it’s too much light or at the wrong angle it can ruin a photo. Done correctly it can really add a beautiful element. Here are a few examples.

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I love incorporating reflective surfaces into portraits. Mirrors are the most common but any shiny surface like glass, polished stone or even water will do. I generally have to see the image in my mind before I can place the subjects and frame the shot. Check out a few of my favorite photos which incorporate reflections.

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Last week I attended Lunch and Lounge at the Loft at Castleberry Hill, an event and wedding facility just east of downtown. This is a nice space for any bride looking for a chic, urban setting and has great views of downtown. I especially love the canvas paintings on the ceiling. Here are just a few photos of the event.

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Last night was the sneak preview of this annual charitable gown sale. The turn out was great with lots of brides leaving with wedding dresses. I brought 15 gift bags to give to brides who bought gowns and ran out of all of them before the end of the evening. The sale officially starts today so if you haven’t found your wedding dress you don’t want to miss this sale. There are over a thousand dressing including designer styles and the prices are great. Every year this charitable gown sale raises thousands of dollars for Making Memories Foundation, a non-profit that grants last wishes for terminal breast cancer patients.

Look for me or my display when you enter the sale. Tomorrow I’ll be there to volunteer and I hope to have the opportunity to dry on a dress or two.

For more information please visit http://www.atlantabridal.com/gownsale/

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