creative philadelphia documentary wedding photographers » Cindy

Lauren + Adam {Wedding} *Cindy Guessford

Cindy — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:27:01 +0000

She brought them to me wrapped in their soft Prada cloth bag and when her hands reached in they slowly unveiled the most exquisite of shoes… The heels an intricate carving in blue so perfectly simple yet intricate at the same time suited Lauren and her taste. From the first moment that I met Lauren and Adam I could picture them existing in a time many years ago. A time where values and tenderness and old fashioned courtship and romance blossomed. A vintage like appearance and the kind of respectful, kind and genuinely lovely interaction could be witnessed. Today was no different than those first few interactions that I had with them. Lauren has planned every detail from the exquisite shoes, amazing dress, breathtaking bouquet, antique jewelry – and all because two kids fell in love =) The details could be seen throughout the day. So, with the smell of gardenia’s in the air I proceeded to document their day and to say that I was moved on several occasions would be an understatement. The weather could have been a hindrance to some but we were prepared come what may. Storm clouds invaded and loomed over us for most of the day but no worries, they just wanted to add a little drama =) I wanted to share a sampling of the images made that day because I just love them! Do you want to see more images from Lauren and Adam’s Wedding ?

Lauren’s grandfather was unable to attend the wedding so we paid him a little visit beforehand. The reaction he has to seeing his grand daughter is so touching. I know it was bittersweet for him but through his tears I could see the smile and glimmer of pride that he had for her. Not just his grand daughter anymore. Today a beautiful bride to be. Just one more evolution of life…

Megan + Kevin {Wedding} *Cindy Guessford

Cindy — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:05:29 +0000

There are certainly some things that inspire me more than others. Usually before a wedding I will prep in my own mind the little details about my clients and their personalities that I surmise through their e-session and correspondence. From there I pretty much show up and let inspiration come through the elements of the day. Well, for Megan and Kevin’s wedding, inspiration floated through the air like tiny unseen particles and landed everywhere! Megan’s details were so beautiful and artistic and she had a hand in putting together a lot of them. The flowers were exotically adorned with feathers and Megan herself radiated this timeless yet super cool vision. The girls were not only chic and glamorous but also can I say FUN! They all totally rocked out their portraits and mom got to jump in and partake in some city fun as well. Don’t worry, the guys had their fair share of owning the camera =) It’s always a pleasure for me when I suggest locations or ideas and the response is let’s do it! We are all yours! I can not say enough nice things about the way that both Megan and Kevin and their family and friends made Val and I feel, so welcome and artistically free and excited to document the events of the day. So, suffice it to say that despite the utter chill in the air the warmth of love, family and friends surely won tonight! Congrats to you both and thank you, thank you, thank you for hanging with us today and for the bottles of wine! Yes, Kevin, the Merlot was a very yummy choice =)

Megan + Kevin {Engagement} *Cindy Guessford

Cindy — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:05:43 +0000

Megan will say the Jimmy Dean, their pug, stole the show and Kevin will say that Jimmy only listened to the commands accidentally =) Regardless, I say that I love when I’m able to just wander the streets getting to know my clients and seeing the “before photo session anxiousness” melt away into a fun experience of enjoying the moments. Megan pretty much left it in my hands for locations and both her and Kevin were up for anything. I can’t stress enough how important trust is when photographing or being photographed. This session really set the stage for the images to be captured on their wedding day. I’m thankful to have clients like Megan and Kevin and I’m excited to share these images as well as the ones from their amazing wedding!

The Chestnut Club Philadelphia

Cindy — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:09:53 +0000

The air is very crisp outside so the warmth indoors at The Chestnut Club is not only welcoming but soothing. It is always a blessing when you can shoot inside and know that as a photographer what awaits you is a an aesthetic dream filled with beautiful light, rich textures, amazing detail and a canvas worthy of artistic creation.

Karen and Healy looked ever so posh as they were found lounging and chatting on the corner sofa as we arrived! Their welcoming smiles and generosity exceeded any expectations that we had. Sometimes when dealing with venues and/or owners it can be a crazy kind of dance- ha, ha more like a battle with some fist pumps thrown in for good measure. Not all venues are appeasing to the thought process behind what we as photographers go through in creating visually stunning or provocative imagery. This is not the case with Karen and Healy. Working at The Chestnut Club was truly a delight. Not only did we have full access to the furniture, lighting and such, we also had such beautiful elements to work with that are inherent of the design of the venue. Gorgeous brick walls, interesting chandeliers and super cool furniture to name a few. All of these things provided for the perfect artistic backdrop for our photo shoot. We wanted to do a shoot that showcased a variety of lighting techniques that would be viable for when you are on the go, much like on a wedding day. As a group we find that we are our best resources when it comes to learning and sharing and growing our skill sets. We set out to challenge ourselves and for some of us it was to shoot in a manner that you are unaccustomed to. Such as using artificial lighting or off camera flash or mixed light. Thanks to Karen and Healy for helping to make our endeavor a huge success. Here is a sampling of some images from the day, Enjoy!

Bridgit + Derek {Wedding} *Cindy Guessford

Cindy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:49:37 +0000

When days are planned by people near and far it can be difficult to coordinate all the necessary details. Not today though! Flawlessly executed from guest lists to sea shells to create an amazing setting for Bridgit and Derek's wedding day. I'm loving hanging out with the guys today, they are raring to go and playing along =) The girls were not to be outdone and represented fully in all their sassiness! An overall great day to shoot a wedding !!!

Patty + Mike {E-Session} *Cindy Guessford

Cindy — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:24:29 +0000

E-Session, Engagement session, hmmmm engaging! Ha, that’s it to engage with each other, draw interest from each other, captivate each other! These are the kinds of emotions and actions that you want to evoke during an engagement session. Your personalities and the dynamics of your relationship should show through. It’s like woohoo, hollaaaaaa! The natural, fun and loving way that Patty and Mike engage is so easy to document. She looks in his direction and smiles so effortlessly. He wraps his strong arms around her and she immediately relaxes and melts into them. It is a special feeling and so wonderful to be able to see in action. So today as the late afternoon sun dips beyond our view we finish roaming the streets of Philly and I am happy and excited to shoot more and more and more and more images of these two! Here are some of my faves =)

Jen + Payton {Wedding} *Cindy Guessford

Cindy — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:28:34 +0000

I watch from the distance just outside the tented reception as Jen and Payton interact with their guests, my gaze wanders & I am lured into looking towards the darkened grounds surrounding us. Right on cue as if turning the pages of a fairy tale book, hundreds of fireflies could be seen twinkling in the distance. Doing their little dance of love. I’ve always been filled with random factoids and for those that don’t know why fireflies light up well you are in for a treat today =) They do it all for the nookie, the nookie I say. Ha! How bout that. It’s a chemical process that happens when fireflies or lightning bugs try to attract a mate. So when you see hundreds of little lights pinging across the night sky like little beacons of love you’ll know why. Tonight, neither Jen nor Payton need to look too far for they have certainly found their mate, their love, their best friend and it was truly my pleasure getting to spend time capturing the fun they had with family and friends. I wish you both so much happiness for your new lives together and many more perfect days and sparkling nights!

Joyce + Chris {Engagement} *Cindy Guessford

Cindy — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:16:01 +0000

The late afternoon sun is warm and welcoming as Joyce, Chris and I wander around the location that they scouted for their E-Session. I love when clients peep out great spots full of color, texture and little nooks and crannies to explore. Joyce told me how nervous they were about the session and I know how hard it can be on the other side of the lens. Trust me as we walk and talk and forget that there is a camera. Just focus on each other and this incredible connection that you share and just let me be there….. She did, he did, we shot….. Here are a few of my faves =)

Welcome to the world Boyd! {a baby session} *Cindy Guessford

Cindy — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:56:25 +0000

Making the drive to see Kelly and Joe I get a little deja vu! You see, 3 years ago I made the very same drive to snap the very first images of their first born son Luke. Now fast forward three years and we are welcoming Boyd to their family. I love witnessing the dynamincs of family and the interaction within. Luke is what every mom wants a big brother to be. He is so gentle with Boyd and protective and loving towards him. My heart swells just watching how cute and lovely this scene plays out. I know that behavior is formulated early on and so much of our persomalities are all ready established at an early age. Having said this I am confident that Boyd will grow up knowing that he is very much loved and that his big Bro will always have his back! Thank you so muchfor letting me share in these moments!

Rose + Mike {Wedding} *Cindy Guessford

Cindy — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:36:23 +0000

Staring out the window pane I try to assess whether or not the rain has subsided, I can hear the faint rustling sounds of the girls in the next room as they are putting the finishing touches on themselves so that they can help Rose get dressed. I look towards the sky and can see the the sun just barely shedding it’s light down through the smoky colored clouds. Squinting towards the ground I realize that yes, it is in fact still raining as I see the puddles in the parking lot and the raindrops doing their rhythmic dance into them. As I turn away from the window and head towards the room where in just minutes Rose will emerge from dressed and ready to get married I think to myself that there are no worries today. Rose and Mike are just so easy going and adaptable to any situation. I know that no matter what the conditions of the day they are going to embrace the opportunities. This is just one of the many qualities that I love about them! They are cool and chill and just plain easy to be around. You can see the comfort that they share in each other & the support from friends and family. Later in the day Mike approached me and informed me that I had a flat tire. Without blinking and standing there in his tux he offered to change it for me. That’s just the kind of guy he is. There’s no way I was gonna let him do that but I was so taken back by his sincerity and genuine good nature. I am reminded that there are still wonderful, altruistic and beautiful people in this world and that makes me smile. So as I edit these images for blog posting I am feeling a little vintage. Nostalgic for the days when life was simpler and people were nicer and you just did the right thing even when no one was looking. Thank you Rose and Mike for taking me back to those days and for helping me to realize that we can all make “those” days Today. =) Much love to you both!