jeremy vanandel photography • indiana wedding photographer • at jeremyvanandelphoto.com

Lynn+Dave Married!

2012-01-20T11:00:00.000-05:00

Working with Lynn+Dave on their wedding was a bit like working with old friends. I met them both at Ashley+Bryden's wedding in 2010 (look for the two of them in one or two photos) and was so excited to work with the same great group of people again.

Want to see? Ok, let's do:

Full disclosure: This photo was 42% posed.

We had trouble with the "Okay, now let's make this a serious pose" pose.

It was, like, a brazillion degrees outside, so we made the photos quick.

Guys don't really do much "getting ready," these days; it's much more just... watching YouTube on smartphones.

...and get routine medical exams.

I like bubbles, bubbles are my favorite.

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Erin+Adam Wedding

2012-01-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

I don't think I could ever put my finger on a favorite wedding... but if I were ever held at gunpoint and forced to make some kind of list of the Tops of the Tops, this wedding would be a part of it. Mostly because I've never had a lower-pressure couple with lower-pressure families; they remained cool through every little thing (and there are always little things) and it completely shows in their photos.

You can see the radness that is their wedding album right over here on the JVP Facebook page (which is something I encourage you to check out anyway), and a small sampling of their wedding photos... right now:

Everyone's a photographer. =o)

Adam's face when he opened his gifts from Erin were pretty darn sweet.

The Man Cave at The Mavris is a sight to behold, btw. If I were getting married again, it's where I'd host my shindig.

Brides (and guys): Make sure you leave some room in your schedule for photos together. The more time you give, the more photos we get of you and the better the photos turn out to be. It's an easy formula to follow — time+space=radness.

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Emma+Nick Married

2012-01-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

I'm sure that you — having paid attention to my blog for the last thirty seconds or so — happily remember the sweetest couple you've ever met in blog fashion: Emma and Nick. Well, it happens that about six or so months ago, they got married in a very sweet (surprise!), very intimate backyard ceremony. The only reason I've waited so long to post this to the blog is... well, I don't like to give away "industry secrets" but, photographers like to post summer weddings in the winter when they have nothing else to post.

Also, I'm a giant procrastinator.

However! my delay is your gain because you get to dig some of this sweet eye candy when it's all grey and nasty outside. (Really, go look out the window. Isn't that disgusting? Okay, now, back to ME, I'm on a ~~horse~~ blog.)

I'd be remiss if I didn't kick things off with the coolest dog in the history of photo props.

So, right before the wedding, we all got a little nervous. Nobody got cold feet, but the air got a little heavy and the breeze a little blowy and the sky a little dark. Like this:

It wasn't the best sign in terms of signs. But this photographer is a lucky rabbit's foot: I've never had it rain on a wedding day... during the wedding. Here's proof:

(See? No rain.)

In all my years of photogging weddings, this was the FIRST where the bride actually attacked the groom with cake. (I had two others after this in the same year. E+N must have started a trend.)

Nick surprised Emma (and everyone else) by singing her a song after the formal dances had ended. It was probably one of the sweetest (surprise!) things I've witnessed at a wedding.

And that's all she wrote. Or I wrote. (I'm a he.)
(Despite all the purple.)
(Promise.)

More next time!

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Hello, New Year.

2012-01-03T17:14:00.003-05:00

2011 was alright. 2011 was fun. 2011 was a good year to feel good about feeling good.

2012, though. It’s gonna be killer. And to start things off right — and I mean really, really, right — I’ve got a lineup of blog posts coming in the next couple weeks from… well, pretty much everything I didn’t blog in 2011, including:

Good year, great clients. Hello, 2012.

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Kelly+Ryan Wedding | Indianapolis, Indiana Wedding Photographer

2011-09-06T18:50:00.003-05:00

Well, hello there.

Is it me you're looking for?

...Okay, seriously. Blogging. Who does it anymore? (Everyone.) Who has TIME for it anymore? (Everyone.) Who even WANTS to read blogs anymore?? (Everyone.)

Okay, "Everyone," here's my pledge to finally get off my keister and get around to some sweet, sweet blog action. Are you ready for several days of rocking your blogsocks off?

Let's start with Kelly+Ryan (whose raaaaaad engagement session you may remember from about a billion years ago):

**

I love the look that parents get on wedding days.

(Brides usually have some looks of their own.) =o)

So, while we were all hanging out at the hotel while the girls were getting ready... the fire alarm goes off. (Hotel fire alarms go off for nothing and everything, by the way.) We were told — respectfully — that we had to get the fudge out of the hotel and get away from the building. As we were walking downstairs, we saw the fire truck pulling up outside AND I happen to know from experience that the Carmel F.D. are just about the nicest people in the world. So we got our photo on.

And that, folks, is what a blog post usually looks like. Sorry for the months of silence but there's some really great stuff I've been hoarding that really needs some showin' off. =o) Stay tuned!

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News!

2011-04-25T07:31:00.003-05:00

So, I went ahead and made this awesome little announcement on teh Facebooks! last week, buuuut it's pretty cool, and I'm pretty excited about it, so here it is again: My happy little photography business is listed on So You're EnGAYged!

(You can also see their rad little stamp on the right side of the screen... No, right side, over THERE --->)

If you haven't heard of So You're EnGAYged, or if you have and haven't been to their website, I strongly recommend you check them out! SYE is an awesome resource for GLBT and allied couples and vendors, and has some really great ideas, tips, and projects for every wedding -- totally worth a visit! And it's a great spot to check out for some vendors you may not find on sites like The Knot or Wedding Wire.

So dig So You're EnGAYged, and then go over and dig JVP on Facebook if you haven't already! (And then look for more blog lovin' this week, because it's really, actually gonna happen!)

=o)
-Jeremy

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Emma+Nick Engaged!

2011-03-08T08:51:00.003-05:00

Hi, there, blog. How ya doin'? Listen, things have been busy, you know? And, it's just been a while. I'm sorry, but here's something to cheer you up:

Waaaaaaaaaay back when there was still sunshine and happiness here in central Indiana, Emma+Nick and this guy with a camera showed up in a (mostly) empty field to take some engagement pictures. What came of it was one of my most favorite sessions from last year; I hope you like it as much as I do.

Random walls in random places are random fun.

The ultimate photo prop. =o)

You guys are so awesome together.

Then we drove around for a bit. =o)

Holding hands is one of the simplest little things that people do to show they're in love. It's so cool.

Good dog.

The wedding is coming up SOON! And I just can't wait for it.

Cheers,
Jeremy

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Ashley+Bryden Married • Bloomington, Indiana Wedding Photographer

2010-12-12T16:02:00.004-05:00

A while back — like, Octoberish time — Ashley+Bryden threw a little party in Bloomington where they just happened to get married. An even weirder coincidence* is that there was a wedding photographer around to creatively document the day.

This is what happened:

We started at the Biddle Hotel on the IU campus, with the girls getting ready.

Ashley did all her own programs, invitations, even centerpieces (more on those later).

The Tie A Tie app is a life saver.

When we got to the church, Bryden and the guys were ready for their shining moment in front of the camera.

I really liked this dress. (It had pockets!)

Big show in 3, 2, 1...

One of those churches where I couldn't run up and down the aisles shooting, so I hid behind the sanctuary doors.

I got shots immediately before and immediately after someone pegged Bryden in the chest with a bag of rose petals. It looked like it hurt more than you'd think it would.

BIG WEDDING PARTY.

So, yeah, centerpieces. Done by the bride. This wedding was full of win.

The Tudor Room at IU's Memorial Union is a gorgeous room, and a BEAST to light. But that led to some pretty sweet photos.

You may have had to be there to really understand this photo, but it involved some pretty heavy choreography and Jessica Simpson.

And so ended one of the best receptions I've been to all year. It was a great party start to finish, and IU is such a photo-friendly playground. Congratulations to A+B and their families!

*Okay, so it wasn't really a coincidence. I mean, I knew they were getting married, because they told me they were, and then they paid me and signed a contract saying that everything was going to happen. Looking back, it was probably more planned out than I make it sound.

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Kate+Ben Married | Indianapolis, Indiana Wedding Photographer

2010-11-29T09:12:00.006-05:00

I'd like you all to take a trip with me. Not just across the partially frozen pasturelands of central Indiana, but through time. Back to a bright, sunny day in June. It's 90-some degrees and roughly the same humidity as a dishwasher; there's a slight breeze from the south, and Minnetrista's Nature Gardens are in full bloom. It's a pretty great day for a wedding, and that's exactly what this post is all about.

(For added realism, imagine you're also a photographer carrying roughly 30 pounds of camera gear in a heavy, canvas bag, dressed in black, mostly, running around the gardens in dress shoes with a huge bottle of water in tow. You're starting to sweat like mad and you have a constant fear that you're going to start wilting flowers with your B.O.)

(You don't, of course, because you're a professional, and your sweat smells like warm chocolate cookies.)

Now that your mind is all set, let's take a stroll through one of my favorite weddings of the year:

I had no idea what Kate's dress was going to look like, but I think all of us were just blown away by how perfect it was. A+ work!

For time and sanity's sake Kate+Ben chose to see each other before the ceremony (which, as a dagnabin' professional, I think is always a good idea), and I just could not get Ben to stop smiling. One of the happiest grooms ever.

I think you'd call this a shed.

Kate had some of the best attendants ever.

BIG WEDDING PARTY.

WEDDING PARTY FUN.

Someone that someone knows had this gorgeous Buick to lend as the getaway car. As a verified Nut For All Things Old And Motorized, I had to take a gazillion pictures.

(Iced tea station not included with purchase of car.)

I was also a huge fan of the all-baby's-breath bouquet. It was so perfect for this wedding.

I posted this photo on Facebook about 2 seconds after I saw it on my computer screen for the first time, because I just loved how that light came through.

The white/ivory/gold/baby's breath carried over to... well, pretty much everything at the reception. Which was also gorgeous and required me to take about a gazillion photos.

Kate had a special groom's cake ordered for Ben... who was not expecting anything and looked like a kid on Christmas when the cake came out.

I don't usually post family formals on the blog. We take them, obviously, but they're usually just not altogether interesting. And then there's Kate's family, who may have taken the World's Greatest Family Formal Photo.

If you haven't already (in the four-ish months its been since these photos were first posted) you can check out their full photo gallery on the proofing site; the passcode for the gallery is Ben's (and now Kate's) last name, all lower-case. And look for more blog-catch-up-goodness during Blog Catch-Up Goodness week.

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We've Gone A Long Way, Baby.

2010-10-01T19:55:00.002-05:00

October always seems to be a month of milestones with me. Fall in general always seems to be a time of change, but October seems to be when it all comes to a head. Some recentish examples:

The first car I ever actually bought — like, went to the dealership and signed papers for — was bought...ed in October of 2001. It was a green, 2-door 1997 Ford Aspire. And it was terrible.

Jenny and I had our first good date on October 18, 2003. (Our first date was September 24, 2003, but it was pretty miserable). Our dating anniversary was October 24 (also 2003). Our first pet was born sometime in October of 2005, and I'm pretty sure the first time Jenny got drunk around me was in October, too.

Before my grandpa died, when I was still in high school, he came to see me and I got to show him around my podunk hometown (Goshen) and the podunkish college I was applying to (Manchester), and that was pretty much the last memory I have of seeing him. Also in October.

The first portrait photos I ever took hit their proof galleries in October. The first "real" job I ever had I started to dislike in October. The first camera I ever loved I broke in October (cracked the rear LCD).

The only other month that even ranks in the list of "Month Where Interesting Things Happen" would be May — which is where my wedding anniversary falls. (Take note; I expect gifts.)

This year, though... besides Jenny and I celebrating our seventh year together (THAT'S A LONG TIME!), and me hitting 5,000 tweets, my worn-out old car is going to hit 150,000 miles.

Now, it's not the Aspire I mentioned before. THAT car hit the bricks with me in January of 2004. I'm talking about the only car that I've owned (out of 5) that I haven't come to loathe. My Civic.

The Civic was, at the time, both the most- and least-sensible car I could've bought. I was in college, I was working three jobs, taking 16 credit hours, and needed something economical and reliable. So I bought the Honda that got 30+ mpg and never broke down. I bought the sedan, because I thought the extra space would come in handy. I bought the automatic so I could — moment of weakness here, guys — hold hands with Jenny while I was driving. (The Aspire was a stick shift.) Insurance was cheap, maintenance was cheap, and nobody even thought to try to steal anything from it because it looked like a car that an English professor would drive.

It was entirely practical.

That said, it's also entirely boring. While most of my friends were buying Mustangs, Camaros, Jeeps, and Explorers, decked to the gills with speakers and amps, burning out at every stop light, the stock stereo in my car couldn't even get loud enough to be heard outside the car with the windows down. It was not, in any way, the kind of car an 18-year-old male should buy.

But I bought it, anyway, hopelessly focused on practicality and something magical called "resale value." I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

The next year, after I had left Manchester, Jenny and I took our first road trip together and the first real road trip in the Civic. 1,100 miles from magical Bristol to Denver, Colorado, we sputtered across the Great Midwest in a plume of efficiency. I was dorky enough to track mileage and we were making over 40 miles to the gallon. I actually OVER BUDGETED for gas, when gas was hitting record prices. I felt like a champ.

Then I got overtaken on a little hill outside Morrison (elevation: 5,467 feet) and felt like a total dweeb again.

Not even a year later, Jenny and I took an international road trip and drove to Toronto... in January... which, if you've never made the trip, is a lot like driving through a snowglobe. Where even the main national highway looks like a country road and gas stations and civilization can be hours apart. I pushed the gas gauge down so low at one point I was sure it was just going to fall off. In a car where the trip odometer had never read more than 350 miles (and I had had some close calls before, sputtering into gas stations on the last bits of vapor), the Magic Honda stretched itself for over 430 miles on a single tank. And after that, I pulled up into a hotel parking lot and slept.

Another 1,000 or so miles down.

In 2006, I landed a sweet internship with the Keystone Lodge & Spa in Colorado. I could've flown out, had my dad (who lives outside Denver) drive me up to my apartment, and saved several thousand miles of driving, but that would've been silly. So I loaded down my car with what must have been a metric ton of clothes, computer equipment, cameras, stereo, guitar, books, magazines, and whatever else I could fit in, and made another drive — technically, a commute — to Colorado. I spent more time on I-70 between Keystone and Denver that summer than I did actually enjoying the mountains. I drove all over; drove other interns around, took my dad places, went exploring, got lost, and spent most of the summer listening to Jimmy Eat World on that crappy stereo. If I wasn't working, sleeping, or spilling beer all over the floor at the bar, I was in my car, going somewhere.

I remember getting an oil change a day or so before I left Indiana, and pulling into a Midas somewhere in suburban Denver — a few days before I left for home again — I figured out I'd put 5,000 miles on my car. I all but lived in that thing.

There were times along the way where I really did feel like I was living in my car. When I first moved to Indianapolis, I moved down for a job and even though I lived at the place I was working — like, literally — Jenny was still in Fort Wayne, and I was still finishing up my Bachelor's degree, so I got to know that stretch of highway between Indy and Fort Wayne really, really well. I spent so much time sleeping in my car that I kept a pillow and blanket in there. (The lingering effect of that is that I STILL keep food, toothbrush, and floss in the car, just in case.)

The last trip the Magic Honda went on was our honeymoon. We drove straight out from our reception to Somewhere, Ohio, and then on to the easternmost part of Virginia, right on the Chesapeake. And then we went sightseeing, around the Chesapeake. And then we went to Washington, then another pit-stop in Ohio, then home. It was probably the least-eventful, but most memorable trip the car has ever seen us through.

And now, as I speed along to my daily heres and theres, racking up more and more miles and more and more time in that driver's seat, the battle scars are starting to add up. A dent above the rear passenger door from a camping trip in 2004. A scratched-up front bumper from where I slid off the road and into a fence during a snow storm one winter. Countless dings and dents from living in apartments, loading and unloading the car as I moved from place to place — college to college, apartment to apartment, apartment to our home. The Honda emblem on the hood froze and sheered off so many times that it literally couldn't hold on anymore, even with super glue. I've climbed on top of it for an over-the-crowd shot at more than one wedding. Sat on the trunk lid to watch the sun set. Once I was knocking ice out of the wheel wells and accidentally bent the body panel so the door couldn't open.

On the inside, I can see the gouges from the time we brought home random bits of furniture: Tables, chairs, three or four desks now, all kinds of appliances, and a treadmill. The rear windows don't quite roll up like they used to, and the passenger's side rear window doesn't actually close without some manual assistance. The A/C is temperamental. The fans inside the blower are on their last legs. When it's cold, the springs in the driver's seat squeak as I inhale and exhale. I'm pretty sure the rear windscreen is coming loose. The windshield washer jets have completely stopped working. The driver's-side rear door doesn't open anymore (unrelated to the ice incident).

That car has been places. Of those 150,000 miles, 120,000 of them are mine. If I averaged 60 MPH over those miles — which, let's face it, I haven't because I drive like an old woman — that's almost 2,000 hours of staring through that windshield. Change the average 45 miles an hour, and I've logged 3,000 hours of wheel time. That's 125 days! And it doesn't include the time I've spent SLEEPING in the damn thing.

It's far from being the perfect car, and it's far from being my last car, but I think it's the first one I ever felt at home with. Felt comfortable in. Would've taken to meet my friends and not expected to show me up with class or embarrass me with a lame joke. I've loved all my cars — the 1986 Civic DX hatchback, the 1998 Exploder, the Aspire, and that achingly beautiful 1968 Mustang coupe — but this one was more than a relationship of convenience, of necessity, or lust.

I'm not just in love with the Magic Honda. I do love it. And it loves me back.

And that's the way a car should be.

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The Sound of Fall

2010-09-19T11:39:00.002-05:00

Every year, I get really, really excited about fall. It's by far my favorite season — winter's cold and gloomy, spring is mostly wet and... either cold or hot, the summer is mostly hot and oppressive, but fall is just perfect. Cool, dry, and I actually have permission to wear sweater vests in public.

Yesssssssssssssssssssss.

Along with fall comes a handful of albums that I can only seem to listen to, or listen to enthusiastically, this time of year. And since I think I have the best taste in music EVER, I'd share my impressions with you.

Ben Folds Live

There really is just something about this guy and this album that makes me think of some quiet stretch of a damp road lined with half-naked trees. I'll never quite be able to place it, but this time of year always brings me to listen to stuff that's a bit quieter (though Ben Folds can still rock) and more minor keyed... which is like 90% of the stuff on this album. And compared to Songs for Goldfish where Ben's voice is all over the place, here he really nails it for the most part; it ALMOST sounds like a studio album. And songs like Silver Street and Emmaline are great, great driving tunes.

For trips down that quiet stretch of damp road.

Some Devil

I'll be honest — after listening to pretty much nothing but Dave Matthews Band in high school and my first couple of years in college, there's not a whole lot of DMB stuff I can really listen to anymore. Often. Before These Crowded Streets is still one of my favorite albums ever, and Busted Stuff is loaded with brilliance, but even those I routinely delete and re-add to my iTunes library as I ebb and flow with how much DMB I can tolerate.

Except for this album. For about 3 months each year.

There's just something quietly magical about the first half of this album. It's a great mix of that older Dave Matthews introspection and singing (but, like, the falsettos don't suck) and new Dave Matthews musical arrangements. I admit, the second half of the album isn't the greatest, but the first half more than makes up for it. Even "Gravedigger," which now, after nine or so years of listening to it and never really thinking it was all THAT great of a song, is still better than most of what's around. (I'm looking at you, Katy Perry.)

And that's what it's all about.

The Crane Wife

The Decemberists are one of those bands I could just never get into. They aren't too brainy or introspective — I do love Death Cab, after all — or too dark — I do love Damien Rice, after all — there was just something there that I couldn't quite like or something that was missing that I couldn't quite get past. Until I heard The Crane Wife, and whatever it was that was present or absent was all of a sudden not there/there and was brilliant. I really love how this album flows between the acoustic kick-in-your-grandma's-teeth noise of "The Island" to the creeptastic quietness of "Shankill Butchers" without much of a thought; and no instrument ever really, really takes center stage over another. (I'm looking at you, John Mayer.)

Though none of this stuff makes it to my Sunday-morning-couldn't-make-it-to-worship "Electric Church" playlist (that never really goes out of rotation, like Flogging Molly or Stevie Ray Vaughan will), I really do nearly wear out these three albums during the fall. Metaphorically, of course. Nobody actually owns albums anymore.

MORE ACTUAL PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Cheers!
Jeremy

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Jayne+Caleb Wedding • Goshen, Indiana, Wedding Photography

2010-09-12T11:43:00.002-05:00

It's a BLOG PARTY DAY!

Next up, Jayne+Caleb, whose June wedding (yeah, I know...) was all done up back on my home turf: Goshen and Elkhart, Indiana. Which is more or less in the middle of nowhere but still one of the nicest little places on earth. (And, once upon a time, the only town of its size to have TWO Walmarts, and one of which was the first to have a buggy hitching post. True story.)

Anyway, Jayne+Caleb do not have a buggy (that I know of) and are not Walmartians, but they do know how to throw a simple, sweet little ceremony. Let's show them what we've got.

Get the hairs did.

THAT'S A LOT OF HAIRS.

Julia at Salon J is, by all useful measurements, a total rock star.

Jayne's sister (and MOH) Jill also got her hairs did.

SCARY.

Jayne and Jill and I have known each other for a long while now. We all went to high school together (Jill graduated a year ahead of me; Jayne, a year after), had other mutual friends, blah blah blah. Jill and I even worked on the Goshen High School student newspaper together, because we were that kind of awesome. So it really was great to be in such great company all day.

Not that they wouldn't have been great, anyway, because this is seriously one of the friendliest bunch of people I've ever met. BACK TO THE ACTION!

Flowers done by that multitasking maid-of-honor Jill. =o)

Guys gotta get ready, too.

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeere we go.

Someone got glitter on the groom.

Someone got married. =o)

Hey, Caleb: You got something there.

Jayne got a little hungry while we were doing formal photos.

Protection is key.

One of my favorite photos from the day.

We're all just excited to be here!

So fun.

See Jayne+Caleb's full wedding gallery (if you haven't already... since this post is a wee bit overdue) at their proofing site; the passcode is the groom's last name.

BLOG CATCH-UP WEEK CONTINUES TOMORROW!

Cheers!
-Jeremy

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Aubrey+Jonas Reception • Indianapolis, Indiana Wedding Photography

2010-09-12T11:18:00.003-05:00

OMG A WEDDING!*

It occurred to me this morning as I was flipping though my mental notes that I wasn't sure if I'd actually blogged a set of wedding photos from 2010. I kinda stopped in my tracks and ran to check the blog and... WHAT THE HECK IT'S SEPTEMBER AND I HAVEN'T BLOGGED A SINGLE WEDDING PHOTO.

Full disclosure: I'm not a huge fan of my blog. It's kinda dull and generic and I'm working on a new one, but I'm getting a bit perfectionistish on it and it's taking a while. So I've been relying on my Facebook albums to put out all the new material. It's not that I haven't been SHOOTING weddings, just that they haven't found their way to the blog.**

That changes today.

Meet Aubrey+Jonas, who actually got married somewhere in the Caribbean and didn't want to take me with them. (I offered to go for free if they'd cover the cost of my checked bags, and then someone told them I usually take two or three suitcases for just an overnight trip. And then they politely declined.***) BUT when they came back, they threw down their party skills at the Mavris here in Indianapolis for a sorta reception, and THAT one they didn't mind inviting me to. =o)

And we made awesome photos. First, some details:

MMMM, photos with frosting!

Then we went outside (in the chilly April... yeah, April... air) for a quick formal session.

This one goes on the Rad Wall.

Then, we went back inside to thaw and have a party. =o)

I thoroughly enjoy this photo.

To me, there's something very 1960s/backstage/small club/something musical about this photo. Or maybe I need to stop looking at Jim Marshall's stuff for a bit.

A short day, but WHAT a fun little party with such a great couple! (I suppose I could've just put this one on ice for a bit longer and made it an anniversary gift, but then what would you be reading right now?)

MORE TO COME SOON!

Cheers,
Jeremy

*(Yes, I used the blink tag. Don't hate.)
**More disclosure: The images you see here have been sitting in my photo-storage-thingie just waiting to be blogged since early June. Don't hate.
***This story is made up. Mostly. I do pack a lot when I go places. (It's the shoes. Don't hate.)

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This is Not a Photography Post. (But for SEO's sake: Indianapolis, Indiana, Wedding Photographer, Engagement Photos, David Tutera)

2010-09-06T07:38:00.005-05:00

Even though I have a backlog of wedding and engagement photos dating back TO APRIL to blog about, I thought that this nice holiday morning would be a great time to not talk about photos. I've spent... well, pretty much the entire morning so far (as I work my way through Pot #1 of coffee) on different art, media, design, and branding blogs that I read, and have come across a bunch of ideas for wedding invites and programs that totally blow those silly pre-printed things from Michael's out of the water.

It's worth noting that I'm a bit of a sucker for most things letterpress, and -- if Jenny would let me -- would have an army of stamps saying things like "THANKS!" and "I ENJOY CAP'N CRUNCH!", so this style of design is right up my street.

(Both of the pieces I'm rambling about here are from For Print Only, and the photos are not mine.)

First are these crazy save-the-dates, with more typefaces and icons and frills than my little design brain can handle, but still brilliantly coordinated. And -- if you have saintly patience and some time -- you can design something similar with Microsoft Word or Publisher... without the letterpressing. And it'll still look great.

Looking back on MY wedding and how we did our announcements, invitations, and programs, I really, REALLY wish I had spent more time thinking about the design and look when I created our ho-hum pieces. (Which you'll never, ever see.) Because these invitations are pretty simply perfect for our modernish-classic, black-and-white shindig.

(Except in black, not lavender, and with peach-pink as the accent color, because that's how we rolled.)

Honestly, though, like a company is branded through its logo and business cards and commercials, your wedding is branded through your invitations, programs, and details. There is simply no better way to communicate a theme or feeling for your day than by getting the design right on your printed materials.

Looking through this blog and the others this morning has given me a seriously huge kick in the creative side and makes me want to spend all day doing nothing but tinkering with InDesign.

But I can't. Because now I have to get back to work on your photos.

Cheers,
-J

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Jenny's Conquest of Asia

2010-07-23T20:16:00.003-05:00

Today, Jenny started off on something pretty amazing. For the next 22 days, she'll be jetting around southeast Asia and Australia — something I'd pretty much give the entire left side of my body to do. (And that's saying a lot, since I'm freakin' left handed!)

Starting in Singapore, and trekking around Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok, she's basically going to have the time of her life, and what's really killer is that she's basically going to do it on her own. I mean, there's other people WITH her (there's an elaborate Buddy System in place) but nobody she knows. No friends, no family... and no me.

And while I'm already having wife withdrawals (we don't spend much time away from each other), I absolutely, totally, completely could not be any more proud of her for doing this — or more excited for her to have the experience.

Jenny, even though you're currently either taxiing down a runway in New York or floating somewhere over the Atlantic on freakin' Singapore Airlines (free booze!), and I'm not entirely sure of how to run this place without you, I'm so happy that you have this opportunity. I really hope you get to make the most of it, that you make some great new friends, and have the kind of experience most people only talk about. I ( totally freakin') love you.

-JFace

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Sara+Marc Engaged!

2010-07-22T16:49:00.002-05:00

Last month (yeah, that long ago) Sara+Marc+This Guy went to the IMA... and we DIDN'T TAKE PICTURES WITH THE LOVE STATUE! It was great; here, let me show you:

I went a little B&W crazy.

GET ALL CUDDLY FOR ME.

Yes, that's Sara sticking out her tongue at me. No, she didn't think I'd catch it.

This was a pose they usually reserve for family photos, but wanted to recreate it here. BRIDES: Take note; have FUN with your pictures!

SEE WHAT I MEAN!?

Boom.

Check out the couple's full engagement gallery by clicking here and entering the passcode for the gallery, which is Sara's last name, all lower-case.

Thanks for stopping by, Planet Earth. You stay classy.

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Ashley+Bryden Engaged! • Indiana Wedding Photographer

2010-07-03T12:18:00.003-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I have some serious, serious blogging to catch up on. You know how you get busy and kinda forget that you took engagement photos TWO MONTHS AGO and hadn't blogged them yet?

That's just a darn shame. Especially when it's an awesome couple like Ashley+Bryden, who completely dominated Bloomington and the IU campus for their session. These are definitely ready to come out of the oven:

Being a Purdue fan, I was just a bit tense walking around campus. Being a Purdue fan with an IU degree, I just constantly question my own identity. This photo, though, just makes me smile every time I see it.

Yeah, that's hand-held at 1". What about it?

=oD

IT WAS A VERY BRIGHT DAY!

But also tons and tons of fun, and I definitely can NOT wait for the October wedding!! Check out the full engagement gallery at http://jvphoto.nexproof.com; the passcode is Ashley's maiden name, all lower-case.

Stay tuned for LOADS more blogging this weekend; I'm getting myself caught up!

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Kelly+Ryan Engaged | Muncie, Indiana, Wedding & Engagement Photography

2010-05-23T06:55:00.002-05:00

One sunny day after finals week, Kelly+Ryan+Me dropped some photo goodness at Ball State University. I seriously cannot wait for their wedding in June 2011.

I'm breaking your web browser today with all the portrait orientations.

WIN.

The belltower is kinda one of those must-haves when you shoot at Ball State, but let's not do any more photos of people standing in front of it, mmkay?

DOUBLE WIN.

Again, let's not just sit in front of Frog Baby, mmkay?

And then we went to downtown Muncie (Sunday population: 4) for a few more.

Empty lots are fun.

See the full gallery HERE and you should definitely be on pins and needles for their next set of photos in about a year or so.

Cheers!
-J

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New Albums for 2010 and 2011 Weddings

2010-05-01T09:00:00.003-05:00

I am so, so excited to FINALLY announce the new luxury album for 2010 and standard album for 2011 clients. This is almost as exciting as the time I got to jump out of an airplane.

10x10, 15-spread (30 page) album, with an embossed, ivory-and-gold, animal-friendly leather cover. (Say that five times fast.)

Premium book binding, artisan handcrafted, and available with up to three cover insets.

I also love the new options a full-spread layout lets me work with. These designs are much cleaner, much simpler, and will still look grrrrrreat when your grandkids' grandkids look back on your images.

With nearly five dozen cover choices, six standard sizes, and up to 40 spreads, these albums put the bop in the bop shoo bop shoo bop. CONTACT ME for current pricing, offers, and specials!

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Kate+Ben Engaged! | Indianapolis, Indiana, Wedding Photographer

2010-04-29T11:23:00.002-05:00

Counted blue cars, dirtied up a blue shirt, and got blown away by blue eyes all over the place. Ready for it? First engagement session of the season — go.

Couldn't get over Kate's eyes.

Empty parking garage? Best idea ever.

f/22 at 1/8th of a second with billion-mile-an-hour winds? The sun flare is your reward.

Kate is the wind beneath Ben's wings. (Yep. Went there.)

This would look great above your kitchen table in a 30" canvas. Just sayin.

I really, really had a ton of fun hanging out with Kate and Ben for this session. They were totally down for anything, and were so expressive with each other. CLICK HERE for the full engagement gallery!

And up next: Ashley+Bryden's rad Bloomington engagement!

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The Dogs Are Barkin'

2010-04-23T10:06:00.003-05:00

It's been a while since I've had a chance (or the time!) to really sit down for a blog entry, and even though the next few weeks should be chock-full of new photos and stories showing up here, I wanted to post a couple of Zoe and Libby, who I haven't really taken many pictures of lately.

Zoe is getting on up there now — she'll be (we think) eight freakin' years old this year, and it's starting to show. The endless, overflowing energy that made her a nearly uncontrollable puppy has slowed to short bursts of exuberance. She spends a lot of time now just cuddling up to us (when we're actually home) or laying in the sun. Yesterday I took her for a walk to the "park" in our subdivision and a few years ago she would have been tearing through the pond, rolling in the muck, and scaring everyone else... Yesterday, she just plopped down next to where I was sitting and put her head on my chest. She is still riiiiiiidiculously cute, though, and that new cuddly nature has really made us appreciate her a lot more than we did a few years ago.

Libby, though, is still pretty boundless with energy, even though we're prrrreeeettttyyy sure she's older than Zoe. Nothing makes her happier than fetch, and she'll go for hooooooooours, only stopping when she needs to catch her breath. Also unlike Zoe, she's still a brick of solid muscle, where Zoe is slowly becoming a bit more like Jell-O.

(Can you tell that Zoe is my dog? I think it shows.)

We're really trying to spend more and more time with these two 1) while we can and 2) while they're still here. They really do mean the world to us, and it's been great taking them on more frequent and longer walks in the evenings, letting them soak up the fresh air and sunshine when they can.

And while we can, too.

Much more to come in the next few weeks. Cheers!

-J

(Also worth noting that the images above were taken with my new 60mm Macro lens, which I am really, really excited to start working with... Bye bye, zoom lenses!)

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A High Tea with E-vents Botique | Indianapolis Wedding Photographer

2010-03-27T15:11:00.004-05:00

I waited a while to post these photos 1) to be sure that the client had a chance to look things over before I went plastering her images all over the place, and 2) to make sure I had something to put on the blog during the slow un-wedding season. =o)

But here they are! Some detail shots from a High Tea event, planned and organized by Erika Gregory of e-vents: a wedding and event planning boutique at the always-classy Canterbury Hotel in downtown Indianapolis, with help from some fantastic vendors! Have a look!

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New Vendor in the World!

2010-03-13T18:09:00.002-05:00

Well, hello, there! I just wanted to drop off a quick post on here to give some huge props to a good friend and a fresh upstart in the wedding industry in Central Indiana: Jen Hallberg and her little biz, Jennifer Hallberg Cakes for All Occasions, who are both now booking for 2010 and 2011 clients! Weddings, parties, whatever — you need the goods and Jen's got you covered.

Here's a few shots from a recent shoot we did together for her online gallery:

Unfortunately, she didn't have some of her cooler designs there to work with (they've since been devoured) but you can see snapshots on her website!

Cheers, everyone — and more blogging coming real soon!

Full exposure. On Twitter, @jrvanandel.

New Faces at the Humane Society of Indianapolis

2010-01-21T22:15:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I spent some time at the Humane Society of Indianapolis to work on some fresh stock photos for them and spend some time with all the fun and loving pets in need of good homes. The day I stopped by was also the day all the cats that had been quarantined were finally ready to be adopted, so it was a big day for visitors and for the awwwwwwwwwwwwww-inducing kittens you'll see below. =o)

Check it out!

First, though: Some dogs.

Bella (and the one I wanted to take home!).

Miso.

Dorothy — who is currently travel-sized.

King.

I'll be honest: It's a little tricky to open the cat cages AND be able to get decent photos. So even though they all look like they're trapped behind bars, every last one of these cats was ready to come out and play.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.

I really wish I could have spent more time hanging out, and really hope to be able to head back again soon! Such a great organization, and such a great cause to volunteer with (if you're interested). Thanks again to the Indy Humane Society for having me out again, and mark your calendars now for the 2010 Mutt Strut on April 25th! (I'll be there!)

Full exposure. On Twitter, @jrvanandel.

Arthur Hatton - Live in Lexington, KY

2010-01-11T10:03:00.004-05:00

Last week, my good buddy Arthur — whose rad wedding I shot up last March — came out of self-imposed exile and played as the opening act at Lance Whalen's CD release party in Lexington.

And, being the rad guy I am, went to see the show and take some photos. And now I'll share them with you.

I started messing around with the multiple exposure settings on my camera, and caught a few cool images along the way.

For those who understand these sorta things, these shots were all taken at f/2 or f/2.8, between 1/60 and 1/150th, at 3200 ISO, and hand-held. I see a little grain creeping in.

(Except this one, shot at f/22 for 5 seconds.)

It really was a great show, and great to see Arthur shake off the dust and have an excellent performance. Lance's new CD has a lot of great tunes on it, too — you can find him on MySpace (if anyone actually still uses MySpace) or on his website, which is linked above.

Full exposure. On Twitter, @jrvanandel.

Holly+Adam+Baby Ethan • Indianapolis, Indiana, Portrait Photography

2010-01-02T15:28:00.003-05:00

A few days before Christmas last year (it IS a new year, after all) I finally got to meet four-week-old Ethan, after months of emails and Facebook messages sent back and forth between Holly and I in excited anticipation. Holly+Adam are two of my absolute favorite clients, and I was so, so happy to hear they were expecting, and I'm not at all kidding when I say that these pictures *almost* made me want to get on the baby train.

The pictures DID make Jenny want to have a baby, but I knew that was going to happen before I even set the date for the session.

You there, meet Ethan:

Yeah. Lots and lots of black and whites here, folks.

One of about a billion favorites from this session.

Favorite #1,244,894!

Admit it. You want to have kids now, too. CONGRATULATIONS, Holly+Adam!! Ethan is such a cute little guy — now you just have to have me come back for his senior photos. Class of 2028!

Full exposure. On Twitter, @jrvanandel.

Shanna+Jordan Engaged • Goshen, Indiana Wedding Photography

2010-01-02T15:10:00.003-05:00

Hi, my name is Jeremy, and I'm way behind on blogging. And I've given myself until 5:00 today to get caught up, or I'm taking away all the gummi bears. From myself. It's that serious.

To start things off, here's Shanna+Jordan, the super-cute couple whose wedding I posted a couple weeks ago. I'm pretty sure that by the end of this weekend (these were shot the day BEFORE the wedding) they were sick of seeing me aiming a camera at them, but they were troopers about the whole thing and we had a great time.

Well, at least I did. And now, you can, too. Here we go!

I think they were laughing at ME, but that's okay. They were laughing.

My favorite.

Shanna's favorite.

My wife's favorite. So many great images!

We got the heat involved.

We closed the session with some hot shots outside of the Olympia Candy Kitchen — one of the Five Interesting Things in Goshen, Indiana. (The other four all involve Amish buggies.)

Shanna+Jordan are such a sweet couple, totally in love, and both have great families behind them. Congratulations to you both again!

Full exposure. On Twitter, @jrvanandel.

Shanna+Jordan Married • Goshen, IN Wedding Photography

2009-12-12T22:51:00.003-05:00

I'm a little behind on getting these up and out the door, but I'm thinking it's worth the wait! Shanna and I actually met in high school — she graduated a year ahead of me, but we worked on the high school newspaper staff together (yeah, I was that kid) and I can't tell you how great it was to walk through the door on wedding day and work with someone I had been friends with for so long. Oh, and we took some pretty good pictures, too. Wanna see?

I love it when brides have lots of facial expressions. My job = easier, photos = better.

I love this one.

I also love it when brides don't wear white shoes. Tradition schmadition.

Let's not forget about the groom! Here's the first sight. =o)

The guys took laughing very seriously...

...however my "attitude" pose with the girls kinda fell apart. (By the way, the first four from the left are all sisters... This is one good looking family, right?)

I love it. Directions for the cake. =o)

=o)

There are exactly two ways to make an entrance: This is the preferred method.

However, this is also absolutely acceptable.

Welcome to the family, Jordan!

The gorgeous Spohn Ballroom.

First dance.

Sometimes it's not so much a bouquet "toss" as a "pitch".

Other times, it's a "chuck".

And to wrap it up, we partied in the USA.

Such big thanks to Shanna and Jordan for having me along for their big wedding weekend!! I had a blast, and it's been so much fun going through these pictures and living it again. =o)

Slideshow, gallery, and (yeah, kinda backwards) the engagement session coming soon! Stay tuned.

Full exposure. On Twitter, @jrvanandel.

Dave+Kate = MARRIED • Avon, IN Wedding Photography

2009-11-05T18:13:00.005-05:00

There are three things you should know about this wedding:

1) Kate and Dave are some really good looking people. Kate and Dave know a BUNCH of people who are also all really good looking. Kate and Dave are related to a whole lotta people who are, in keeping with everyone else, really good looking. If you're not prepared to see just an impressively good looking people, just stop here. This is not the place for you.

2) Kate and Dave bought me gummi bears. After that point, they could've drop-kicked my camera down the stairs and I would have forgiven them in an instant.

3) I took a lot of pictures at Kate and Dave's wedding, and I had a really, really hard time limiting myself on pictures for the blog. All these good looking, sugar-filled-gift-giving people around made for some really good looking pictures, folks.

Here we go!

This is what I was doing for most of my wedding day, too.

Wedding brain food.

Hellooo!

I was going to do the watermark in the mirror, and reverse it, but then I didn't.*

I'd like to pause this show for just a moment and tell you a quick little story. Kate is, by far, the most expressive bride I've ever, ever met. If there were only five emotions humans could have, Kate would have fifty expressions for each of them, and they would all be adorable in a photo. To commemorate her very well developed ability to show the world precisely what's going on in her head at any given moment, I present you with Expressions by Kate, a one-time exhibition.

Matt got his hair did with the ladies.

*But I did it here.

#1 Doctor-Recommended way to reduce wedding-day stress: Dance.

So much fun. =o)

Guys!

They broke out the Backstreet Boys pose.

Dolls!

Kate's got this one under control. Don't worry, folks.

Canvas. Your living room. This is not your decision.

My flash didn't like Matt's hair.

One of my favorite things about this wedding was the details. Everything looked so, so well thought out and so well planned. Each time i looked at another place setting or another part of the room I saw some other little personal touch that made me do a double-take. (And then take a photo.)

Kate's dad wears a Lighthat.

The Master of Receptions, here.

And that, folks, was a WEDDING. Kate and Dave, thank you so much for having me along for such a fun day. Full album and slideshow coming soon!!

Full exposure. On Twitter, @jrvanandel.

Kori+Kevin Engaged!

2009-10-30T19:43:00.003-05:00

One sunny, chilly, October morning, three people and the most adorable dog (that isn't one of my own) met up for an engagement session in Westfield, Indiana, and we made some epically cute pictures. Shall we? Let's.

When Kevin smiles, he smiles pure sunshine.

Too sweet.

=o)

I didn't have any retinas left after this session.

Nyxi, the adooooorable dog mentioned above, came out for a couple pictures with us, and broke the camera's Cutemeter.

Don't lie. You'd melt, too.

Only 340 days to go!! =o)

Full exposure. On Twitter, @jrvanandel.

Madman in the Dark

2009-10-30T08:04:00.006-05:00

Last night as Photoshop was busy batch processing a few thousand files (and therefore controlling my computer for about an hour or so) I went outside to play around with some lights and my new cable release. I'm – someday – hoping to incorporate a little bit of this into the wedding and portrait side of things, but for now it's just a side project until I actually figure out what I'm doing.

Enjoy the weirdness! (And click for larger images!)

Full exposure. On Twitter, @jrvanandel.

Dana+Ryan Married! • Indianapolis, IN Wedding Photography

2009-10-29T15:53:00.004-05:00

What do you get when you mix a classic, black and white fall wedding with waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay below average temperatures and a charming little rainshower? You get an awesome couple like Dana+Ryan with their rockin' wedding pictures.

She was staying inside where it was warm (and away from the photographer).

New favorite. Just because.

Taking a break.

And getting away.

It's official! =o)

Okay, so just a quick break here to rave a little bit about this venue. Laurel Hall in Indianapolis is one of the most gorgeous venues I've worked in. Gorgeous details inside and out, plenty of cool little places to shoot, and spaces for small ceremonies on the grounds or in the building. Very cool.

Alright. Now on with the show!

Thanks, Dad, for standing under that light for me. =o)

He's also a great speech writer.

This one is just too awesome.

=o)

Ryan showing us how it's done!

Bam.

CONGRATULATIONS Dana and Ryan!! It was so much fun hanging out with you guys; thank you so much for inviting me along for the day. Slideshow (ooh!) and proofs coming VERY soon!

Full exposure. On Twitter, @jrvanandel.

One Shot.

2009-09-12T21:30:00.002-05:00

Full exposure. On Twitter, @jrvanandel.

Dana+Ryan Engaged!

2009-09-05T07:57:00.003-05:00

We're just gonna dive into this one. Pics first, yapping later!

Who doesn't love them a little symmetry in the morning?

=o)

And the ivy wall! How can you resist?

Then we popped over to the War Memorial to change and snag some more pics... and I saw this next to the bathroom.

RAWR!

It's out of focus, but I love it anyway.

I LOVE this shot. It's got some serious attitude, but it's so natural, too. My favorite, for sure.

So much my favorite that I had to play with it a few different ways!

Indianapolis, IN»» Dana+Ryan were such a blast to hang out with, the Canal downtown makes a great backdrop, and the weather *almost* totally cooperated with us while we were out running around. And their style is SO classic, it made my little heart melt when I found out I would be shooting this wedding (oh, and who wouldn't LOVE to shoot at the fabulous Laurel Hall??). The wedding is in just a few short weeks... I can't wait!!

BOOM!

Full exposure. On Twitter, @jrvanandel.

Feelin' Crafty...

2009-09-05T07:35:00.003-05:00

So a while ago, Jenny and I ordered some coasters from Etsy. They took about a bajillion years to get in, and they weren't at all sealed (the first time I put my coffee cup down on one, it bubbled and warped and wasn't a pretty sight). They looked nice, but were pretty crappy overall, and I've wanted new ones ever since.

Then one of our good buddies made some coasters of her own and made the mistake of telling me how she did it. And you know what that meant.

Step One: Use a template, or yourself screwed you will find.

Step Two: Draw little lines on the cork that you're using for the back of the tile that you bought.

Cut out the cork squares, and arrange them in a decorative fashion on your living room floor.

Step Three: Purchase some funky scrapbooking paper from your favorite local store (we chose Walmart because we went shopping at 10pm).

Use your template, draw lines on the paper, and cut. Make sure you watch out for fingers, hair, and dog tails, because at least two of those things do not grow back.

Repeat Step Three until you have enough squares for each of your tiles. (I should probably mention that you will also need a cork square for each tile... DUH.)

Jenny makes a great hand model.

Step Four: Spray a little bit of adhesive on the cork and stick it to the underside of the tile. (You don't need much, because you're going to be smart and buy the cork that already has adhesive on the back of it.) Step on the tile to make sure you've got good contact between the tile and the cork, then clean the top (shiny) side of the tile with rubbing alcohol to make sure it's clean. Spray the adhesive on the back of the paper you cut out (or on the top of the tile; it really doesn't matter) and stick your paper on the tile. Use a putty knife or the edge of a plastic ruler or something to get it stickin' good.

Step Five: Spray the bejesus out of the tiles with spray gloss (pic above). I mean really, really go at it. Sixteen coats? You're probably getting close. The paper absorbs the first half-dozen coats of spray, so if you let it set that way then put a drink on it, the paper will still get ruined. The clear spray seals the deal and makes it all purty lookin'.

Step Six: Let the coasters set and the spray stuff cure for at least a day... or five if you have the patience (I don't). Bring them inside, apply them to your coffee table, and enjoy!

It's Craftastic!

Full exposure. On Twitter, @jrvanandel.

Katie + Dave ENGAGED!

2009-08-22T11:03:00.005-05:00

Alright, so here's the scoop: Katie and Dave are this awesome, ridiculously cute couple that I am awesomely, ridiculously lucky to work with. I was really interested to see how this one would work out because it's the first couple that I met through Twitter. How cool is that!

For the rockin' engagement session, we met up at the Holcomb Gardens at Butler U — where the awesome, ridiculously cute couple got engaged. (This will be a long post, too... lots of favorites! BRING IT!)

I knew that this couple would be a great fit for me, because when we met for the first time they told me that they loved the black and white images... HEY! SO DO I!

Note of Sweetness: They got engaged almost in this exact spot.

=oD

THE LIGHT! OMG THE LIGHT!!

Katie, you're adorable.

This is the awesome, ridiculous cuteness I was talking about... I didn't come up with this pose, it just happened.

WHOA! Way to make the magic happen, guys. I can NOT wait for the wedding in October!

Sherri+Micah MARRIED!! • Indianapolis, IN Wedding Photography

2009-08-11T19:10:00.004-05:00

Okay, so I've been putting up little sneak peeks at this wedding over on teh Facebooks and every day I worked on it I was more and more excited to get it done and out the door... Because they're JUST THAT AMAZING!

Gettin' it did!

The aprons at Ciao Bella Salon!

The first sight... I always love this moment.

New pearls.

Ceremonies get a little long for the adults, too, guys.

Here they come!!

Then it was over to The Garrison at The Fort for the reception. Dig this view — and that sunset!

Awwww.

The last dance... and the last photo! Click any of the images to go to the full album, or go HERE and view them in Facebook's full glory.

Thank you Sherri+Micah for having me a part of your big day!! Check with the happy couple for the their online storefront and password to see the full set of images!

Happy Anniversary Summer+Chris!

2009-06-21T07:19:00.003-05:00

Today is the one year anniversary for one of my coolest clients so far, Summer+Chris who got married last summer in Bluffton. Jenny came along with me for their engagement session (her first and last time; I think she got a little bored...) and we both drove away saying how we thought we'd just spent the afternoon with old friends.

And, what's even better, they were plain NATURALS in front of the camera — which just makes my job a bajillion times easier.

Happy anniversary, guys!!

Dig those tiny pictures and that ugly watermark!

My first jumping picture. I should do more of these!

Total side note: I was fortunate enough to have my buddy Brad Potterbaum along for their wedding, too. It made me really look forward to the next time our lives aren't so insane and we get to work together — we rocked it!

And we make the ladies swoon.

Whitney + Jon Wedding... Part II!

2009-06-18T21:18:00.004-05:00

So I was looking through some of my files from Whitney+Jon's wedding and I just couldn't believe that I didn't blog these bad boys earlier. Look at that! MORE AWESOME!

This pic blows my mind.

More of the little guy.

PEEK!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannndd another personal favorite! WOW!

How awesome is that! TWO killer blog posts from one wedding! Whitney+Jon, you guys were so much fun — enjoy the pictures!

Whitney + Jon = Married! • Avon, IN Wedding Photography

2009-06-14T15:24:00.004-05:00

Whitney and Jon are one of my favorite couples ever. You can just see the love boiling over between these two! I'm excited to send in their full gallery, too — I'm uploading now!

Here's a quick peek!

Whitney's jacket. How cool!

Hey, there are guys here, too!

It was *almost* an Abbey Road shot.

Saw this as I was hunting around for places to shoot the rings; pretty great for a wedding day!

Last-minute practice before the first dance.

Not the first dance, but one of the last.

Thank you guys so much for having me along for such an awesome day! CONGRATULATIONS!

Whitney+Jon — Sneek Peak!

2009-05-26T21:42:00.003-05:00

So, this last weekend was the Big Show for Whitney+Jon, the awesomely adorable couple whose engagement session was just posted a couple weeks ago. As the big CF cards were downloading, I played around with a few of the images I had taken with my old camera and my Lensbaby selective-focus lens.

I just started going through the full set of images, and I'm hoping to be done in a week or so, but I wanted to go ahead and put up these. It's just too awesome!!

Getting ready.

My favorite, favorite image. There is NOTHING I don't like about it.

I'm digging this one, too.

I'm so excited to get through the full set of pictures! And Whitney+Jon — Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your wedding... It was a great time!!

Tim + Ashley = Married!! • Indianapolis, IN Wedding Photography

2009-05-25T08:51:00.005-05:00

This is seriously one of my favorite weddings so far, and I hope it's a start of a very long series of awesome weddings with this group: Tim is best friends with Adam, who married Holly last year, who was among the very first people to contact me about wedding photography. And since they share so many friends, this wedding was sorta like a big reunion for me — I saw so many familiar faces and EVERYBODY was super friendly.

So are we ready for pictures? I think so. Here we go:

Introducing...

Hello, Adam!

I love some symmetry.

Ushers.

It really didn't take much to get the guys on the swings.

The flower girl, before the flowers were added. She was absolutely adorable.

Girls getting ready...

Organization is key.

The big entrance...

And on to the reception! I'm still blown away when I see engagement pictures that I took being used at the wedding... It's such a huge honor to be a part of something so special!

Holly, you're my favorite.

=o)

Thanks, Holly!

The first dance.

Yes, I do love black & white images for these sorts of intimate moments. Colors just seem to get in the way.

Once the dance floor opened up, it wasn't empty for the rest of the night. These people knew how to have fun!

Thunderclap!

If adorable came in bottles, these two would be the #1 supplier. They were so sweet together.

Everybody wants to be in a JVP picture!

=oD

One thing you'll learn: Not everyone will approve of your moves, but you should keep dancing, anyway.

Another incredibly entertaining couple — this group was so much fun.

Indianapolis»» Tim+Ashley are such a cool couple, and everything from the ceremony to the reception was so well-thought-out and beautiful. And the reception was too fun! Like I said, I'm really, really hoping for another wedding from this group!

Congraulations, guys!!

Everybody say, "Awww."

Whitney+Jon Engaged!!

2009-05-09T06:05:00.004-05:00

Okay, seriously... I know I say this about every shoot I do: But THIS is my favorite, favorite session yet. Whitney+Jon are so in love with each other it just oooooozes out of every photo and makes you go "Awwww." We shot these together last weekend, and their wedding is in just TWO WEEKS, so I had to get a few photos edited and sent over for them to order prints before the wedding. (Because I'm a nice guy like that to my clients.)

Here are a few of my favorites, but I gotta tell you... there isn't an idea they weren't up for or a pose they didn't ROCK — I've got about 100 other favorites in this session, too... no lie!

So. Sweet.

ZOMG!!

Like I said, they rocked EVERYTHING.

...and were up for anything.

FAVORITE, FAVORITE, FAVORITE. Suuuuuper sweet!

I had so much fun shooting these -- I can't wait for the wedding!

Sherri+Micah Engaged!

2009-04-16T07:12:00.003-05:00

So, I have to tell you how excited I was to finally work with Sherri+Micah. I met with them way back in November for their consultation, and I could tell right away that they were going to do SO well in front of the camera... And they definitely didn't disappoint. There were so many good shots I could barely narrow it down, and there's at least a dozen more favorites from this session! It's gonna be a long post.

Here we go!

We started out next to the Indiana State Museum. Such a cool backdrop for BIG pictures!

They never thought this empty, ugly tunnel would look good.

On the COLDEST BRIDGE IN THE UNIVERSE... but not too far from where Micah proposed! So cool.

A little twist on the OFP shot...

JUST after they switched from their formal clothes into casual, Micah asked me, overall, which pictures do people like more? Their formals, or their casuals? I said it could go either way... Not this time. Guys, you rocked the formals, but the casual shots MADE MY YEAR.

Just LOOK AT THIS:

Get ready for some B&W overload:

I'm so excited about this one... BAM!

Okay, seriously... This is probably my favorite shot I've taken. Alright, it's definitely my favorite; you HAVE to get this one as big as you can order it:

I'm SO excited about this wedding! I can't wait for July!

Allie+Art Wedding! • Lexington - Louisville, KY Wedding Photography

2009-03-22T20:15:00.004-05:00

Louisville/Lexington, KY » A couple weeks ago, Jenny and I headed down to Kentucky for Allie+Art's big day. I've known Art in a roundabout way since I was a freshman in high school. (It's really a funny story, and it starts with, "We met on the Internet.")

The ceremony was at the LDS temple in Louisville; here are some of my favorites from the just-after shots:

They did a kissing pose and ran out of air.

I love, love these shots.

Dig that light!

After the ceremony, Jenny and I tore off down the rolling Kentucky highway toward Lexington for the ring ceremony and reception. On the way, we nearly got run over three times, cut off twice, and had a few bags of trash thrown at us. Really. Kentucky drivers apparently weren't looking to be our friends.

But look who we saw near the church!

I'm really proud of this one (and the others in the series). Sun flares are my new favorite.

A really cool family moment before the ring ceremony.

They didn't even know I was there.

Allie's parents had a moment of their own, too.

Everybody was digging these shoes!

F a v o r i t e.

I'm gonna start doing this with all my clients. Cheers!

A Little Chicago Love

2009-03-17T18:08:00.003-05:00

Last weekend Jenny and I headed up to Chicago with Emily+Brad for a few days away. We had been planning the trip for a while when we finally figured out that it was the weekend of the St. Patrick's Day parade and the day that they turned the river green.

We got excited. Here's the fun:

Emily's drinking socks.

Brad, snapping some pics on the empty El train

She doesn't seem thrilled about this.

My super-hot wife.

The super-lame river being dyed. Seriously - a speedboat with some oil behind it. It was over and done in ten seconds. (That's what she said.)

This dude was awesome; he ran around the block a few times and creeped people out. Most people didn't even notice he was there. Except for this chick.

We were fascinated with the LepriCANs outside Harry Caray's.

Heading back down to the train.

Me, being TOTALLY not creepy.

Gotta say: I'm really happy with this image (obviously). I couldn't decide how I wanted to edit it in post so I just ran it a bunch of different ways. Click on the image to see them in full-er size.

Los Tres Amigos

Summer+Chris WEDDING ALBUM!

2009-01-26T20:32:00.003-05:00

So, after months and months of tediously agonizing over every last stinkin pixel in this thing, I FINALLY finished off Summer+Chris's wedding album a couple weeks ago. And here it is for you to enjoy right along with me.

And for Summer+Chris: You're the only couple I've violated copyright laws for — don't tell! =o)

Tim+Ashley Engaged!

2008-11-28T16:30:00.004-05:00

Monument Circle » I met up with Tim and Ashley about a week or so ago downtown and got to try out some great new places I'd never been before. They are buddies with Holly+Adam, whose E-session was the kickoff for my 2008 season – a really awesome way to "officially" close '08 and start '09.

This was also a chance for me to test out some new things I've been working on in my post-processing... Using a little less of what I'd been using and getting a little more creative with things (more of that at the end). Here's one that's something new:

They are GREAT with these shots.

This turned out to be a very, very dangerous location. Note to self: Let's not walk that way ever again. =o)

Federal Building.

SEE WHAT I MEAN?

CONGRATULATIONS, Tim+Ashley! I can't wait for the wedding (and seeing Holly+Adam again) in May!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T07:12:00.001-05:00

That is all!

Baby, it's COLD outside!

2008-11-23T12:29:00.004-05:00

33˚ wind chill, and I'm meeting up with Tim+Ashley at Monument Circle in just a couple hours. I hope they're going to be okay with me whining about the cold all afternoon.

It's the semi-official kickoff for the 2009 wedding season (Tim+Ashley are my first 09 clients!) and I couldn't be more excited. 2008 ROCKED, and even though I don't think I'll ever top the people I met along the way in 08, I'm SO pumped about the weddings we have lined up so far!

And because no photoblog is right without an actual photo... here are two for your random enjoyment:

This one is me with my beautiful wife Jenny (hi, Jenny!), who keeps my brain together through everything. This was taken on our honeymoon, back when we were tan and I was about a dozen pounds lighter – I've gotta say, too, our wedding and honeymoon were probably the greatest time in my entire life. (Just wait for the one-year blog.)

And this one (MUCH less exciting) is the new photo for my JVP Facebook Page.

Mmm... Free smells!

2008-11-17T17:56:00.003-05:00

Well, you get to look at the pictures... I get to smell the smells.

Behold, the colors!

The weapons!

The beginnings!

The beautiful bean photos!

Where it all started... A little place called Goya.

And the best thing to top it all off with.

I'M GETTING HUNGRY!

Dogs! Humans!

2008-10-23T20:13:00.002-05:00

In pictures!

West Lafayette» Show dogs, cute kids, and an awesome family made for a great photo shoot at Purdue earlier in October. Shooting animals is a whole new world, but SO much fun. Check it out!

Libby + Zoe

2008-10-04T19:38:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow, I'm heading up to West Lafayette for a photo shoot at Purdue, my somewhat alma mater. The bigger job at hand is the family session, a wonderful family of four who I've been trying to arrange a time to get to shoot with SINCE APRIL.

The other part of the shoot is capturing her and her sister's dogs, at once performers and family pets. To do some warming up and to get a better grip on how to do these shoots, I took my dogs outside today for a quick session in the back yard. Here's how it turned out:

Latasha + Matt = Married!

2008-09-21T10:49:00.003-05:00

This post may be a little overdue. Actually, the wedding was OVER A MONTH AGO, so the post is really, really overdue. BUT, there's some really great moments in here, provided mostly by Latasha's incredible and dynamic bridesmaids, her amazing expressions, and the full album is graced by the dozens of great attendees (not to mention the adorable flower girl). It was a great night at the Mansion in Carmel!

Summer+Chris Wedding!

2008-08-04T23:57:00.002-05:00

Well, it's definitely been long enough... and there have been enough really, really ridiculous problems, but hey – it's FINALLY done!! It's Summer and Chris's wedding album!!

One of the coolest things about this wedding was the opportunity to shoot with my bud Brad Potterbaum, who is a budding (and very talented) photographer, too. We seemed to make a pretty good team, and we both got some great stuff to run with. Hey, why don't I show off some?

Sisters – look at that expression.

Mr. Six-Pack gets ready for the big show.

Gotta tell you.. I LOVE shooting first sight couples.

One of my favorites... It makes me think of Mike from bobbi+mike. (Not that I'm anywhere close, but it makes me feel talented.)

Hey I took that picture! There's nothing cooler than knowing your clients like what you've done for them; it's a HUGE honor to be a part of something so big and so important.

Jumping, take one.

I love it.

Just a little old-style KPD.

Victory lap.

Dig that sexiness.

Latasha+Matt Engaged!

2008-07-29T09:15:00.003-05:00

I guess it's been a while since I've done one of these, but it's been a pretty crazy summer! After the last wedding I shot, I got married, went on my honeymoon, came back to a swamped hotel and house projects everywhere... How is it almost August already?!?

Well, making up for some lost time, I ran the final batch process on Latasha and Matt's engagement session. For your viewing pleasure...

And then I may have had just a *little* too much fun with the bridge at Potter's Bridge Park. Maybe.

Stay tuned for the (REALLY BIG) upload from Summer and Chris's wedding!

Erin+Kevin Married!

2008-05-01T17:03:00.004-05:00

A cute little chapel, a rad couple, and a gorgeous spring afternoon all came along for a rocking wedding in Terre Haute.

Enter the Kev:

LOVE that white space.

Getting down at the reception. A little Indian food will make you want to do that.

I may have gone a little far with the B&W... but how awesome is this pose!?

Terre Haute » Wow! Last Saturday was such an awesome day with Erin, Kevin, and their families. I was a *little* nervous to see how the day would unfold – outdoor wedding, college campus, likeliness of gorilla costumes, etc. – but it was SO much fun. White Chapel on the RHIT campus is a beautiful place, and the perfect spot to watch the rafts float up to cheer on the ceremony. =o)

As the nerves settled down, Erin and Kevin slipped back into their comfort zones and you could really, really see the love these two have for each other. The smiles, looks, and little moments were gushing with complete adoration – and we got a few great pictures out of it!

Thanks for letting me be a part of your big day!

GET DOWN!

Erin+Kevin Wedding SNEEK!

2008-04-26T17:23:00.003-05:00

Terre Haute» So, I know it's pretty much the day-of here, but I had a little downtime and as I was unloading my memory cards, I took a look at the shots of one of my favorite things to photograph:

I love my clients. CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS!!

Summer+Chris Album Demo!

2008-04-21T19:54:00.002-05:00

So I put this little album together from Summer and Chris's engagement session a couple weeks ago... and I think I'm going to use it as my demo! I'm excited to see this one come in the mail, and it'll be great to have one of these around to show off - especially with such great clients inside!

Oh, and thanks to Photobucket for picking up the pieces that Slide Show Pro left behind.

Erin+Kevin=Engaged!

2008-04-21T19:30:00.003-05:00

See? Told you it'd be done in a week.

Terre Haute» Last Monday was a beautiful spring day on the Rose-Hulman campus, and these guys were great sports as I pushed them into poses they never wanted to see on the Internet. (It looks goofy and weird in person - but awesome in the camera.)

FIVE MORE DAYS!! Get excited, guys!

(And, hey! Dig that bigger picture size!)

Summer+Chris Engaged!

2008-04-09T09:37:00.004-05:00

...and we're off.

Bluffton» Jenny and I drove up to Bluffton the other day to finally get to meet and shoot Summer and Chris. We've been struggling to get a day that actually worked for the better of two months, and suddenly one opened up.

Maybe this is something I should be getting used to, but we got comments from old men, chatted up a couple power walkers, and debated the ethics of trespassing – which we didn't end up doing. Count it as an opportunity lost.

I'm so excited to see these guys again in June - and guess what, their pictures are ahead of schedule! (It's just hard to pick favorites, or these would've been up yesterday.)

The Big Show

2008-03-31T16:47:00.003-05:00

So, two Fridays ago my Mac decided it wasn't going to wake up. Two days later, I was standing in the Apple Store, being told that my hard drive may or may not be coming back to life, and even if it did come out of the coma it probably wouldn't remember anything before the crash.

(See? It's all more interesting when I put a really good story up behind it.)

Thank goodness when Jenny and I bought our computers, we bought (nearly) matching ones. The white MacBook isn't quite as cool, but it still has CS3 - and that's all I need:

Waiting in the wings...

The lineup.

And the pass...

Pressure's off, Adam!

Oh, and in case anyone is interested: Adobe Camera RAW is my new favorite anything.

As the Nerves Build...

2008-03-20T07:52:00.003-05:00

So, normally, I probably wouldn't blog this much. I'd just pick a few from each part of the wedding and show off the ones I liked the most. But, to be honest, I'm WAY behind in getting these things done, so I'm posting pretty much everything that I've done in hopes that seeing the pictures (even in mini-form) will help my clients forgive me someday.

Here we go:

Some last-minute dress surgery. Who needs buttons, really?

First sight.

Goodfellas in Indianapolis.

HAAAAAAIIRRRRR!

2008-03-18T09:34:00.003-05:00

Just a teaser... From Holly + Adam's wedding. It's been CRAZY lately, but I promise to get the full scoop up here soon, and maybe even some fuller-sized pics.

You know, if you're into that sort of thing...

Stay tuned... way, way more to come!