105
I first met Meg at Focus Seminars. We quickly became friends and stayed in touch even when she went back to work in Chicago.
I got phone calls and emails telling me about how she met Joe at church and how amazing he was. Then the day came when I got the call. They were engaged and she wanted me to shoot her wedding pictures.
I was so excited for them and to finally meet Joe, but I really felt like I wasn't Meg's photographer. I knew I could do it, but what I wanted for her was better than I could do.
I sent her to my friends at Wirken Photography. I really wanted Becca to shoot the photos for them, and if I was asked to do video I'd love it, but would've been happy to just be in attendance.
In the end, Tyler shot the engagement photos, Becca and Jewel got to shoot the wedding and Ryan and I went along for the video. It was one of my favorite weddings of all time for so many reasons. One, it was Meg & Joe, and I love them - for another, it was Chicago and their wedding was gorgeous. I had also met Meg's mom and sister at Focus, so it was awesome to be a part of the family for the day. The ceremony was amazing at the Moody Bible Church and the reception was by far the best I've been to. The band Sway performed all night and I've never heard better - the dance floor was packed!
The entire day ran so smoothly and I loved the detailed & professional service from Kristin at Big City Bride.
Thank you Meg & Joe for letting me into your world, on your most special day. I was truly honored to be there and capture all of those moments for you. It was one of the hardest edits for me to do because I wanted it to be a 4 hour video. You guys are wonderful & I hope you enjoy this short piece before you get the full length piece... which may be 4 hours.
The music in this video is by Amy Seeley - she's amazing, swing by her website and check out her stuff or grab her record off iTunes. Music was licensed through WithEtiquette.com
Details:
Wedding Planning: Big City Bride
Church: Moody Bible Church
Reception: Germania Place
Band: Sway
For the technical folks out there:
You may see a visual difference in this video compared to the rest that I've done or posted here - Canon released a new camera and it arrived literally the week of the wedding. I shot this entire piece with the 7D, hand held with a 20mm and a 50mm lense. I didn't have time to buy anything else for it. Since that wedding I've shot and produced several other projects with it and all 2010 weddings will have the same visual quality, plus a few new tricks.
For those of you that were left hanging at the end of the video wanting to see more; all of my videos cover the whole day. This is just the opening piece, followed by a full-length ceremony shot with multiple cameras as well as the whole reception edited to music as well. Contact me today so I can get your day on my calendar, 2010 weddings are filling up fast!
I got phone calls and emails telling me about how she met Joe at church and how amazing he was. Then the day came when I got the call. They were engaged and she wanted me to shoot her wedding pictures.
I was so excited for them and to finally meet Joe, but I really felt like I wasn't Meg's photographer. I knew I could do it, but what I wanted for her was better than I could do.
I sent her to my friends at Wirken Photography. I really wanted Becca to shoot the photos for them, and if I was asked to do video I'd love it, but would've been happy to just be in attendance.
In the end, Tyler shot the engagement photos, Becca and Jewel got to shoot the wedding and Ryan and I went along for the video. It was one of my favorite weddings of all time for so many reasons. One, it was Meg & Joe, and I love them - for another, it was Chicago and their wedding was gorgeous. I had also met Meg's mom and sister at Focus, so it was awesome to be a part of the family for the day. The ceremony was amazing at the Moody Bible Church and the reception was by far the best I've been to. The band Sway performed all night and I've never heard better - the dance floor was packed!
The entire day ran so smoothly and I loved the detailed & professional service from Kristin at Big City Bride.
Thank you Meg & Joe for letting me into your world, on your most special day. I was truly honored to be there and capture all of those moments for you. It was one of the hardest edits for me to do because I wanted it to be a 4 hour video. You guys are wonderful & I hope you enjoy this short piece before you get the full length piece... which may be 4 hours.
The music in this video is by Amy Seeley - she's amazing, swing by her website and check out her stuff or grab her record off iTunes. Music was licensed through WithEtiquette.com
Details:
Wedding Planning: Big City Bride
Church: Moody Bible Church
Reception: Germania Place
Band: Sway
For the technical folks out there:
You may see a visual difference in this video compared to the rest that I've done or posted here - Canon released a new camera and it arrived literally the week of the wedding. I shot this entire piece with the 7D, hand held with a 20mm and a 50mm lense. I didn't have time to buy anything else for it. Since that wedding I've shot and produced several other projects with it and all 2010 weddings will have the same visual quality, plus a few new tricks.
For those of you that were left hanging at the end of the video wanting to see more; all of my videos cover the whole day. This is just the opening piece, followed by a full-length ceremony shot with multiple cameras as well as the whole reception edited to music as well. Contact me today so I can get your day on my calendar, 2010 weddings are filling up fast!
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
meg + joe: married [chicago]
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://mikevarel.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/104
111
This was a new experience for me.
Typically I meet a couple, we have some time together at the engagement shoot and then I see them on the wedding day.
With Kara + Domingo, I got to shoot pictures of them for an entire week leading up to their wedding. (see past blog posts for the story)
I connected more with them and their family than anyone I've ever shot in the last 9 years. It wasn't work, It was truly a blessing for me to be there and experience their day with them.
Part of what made this wedding so amazing was all the behind the scenes stories that I got to be a part of.
The other incredible thing was that Domingo's parents speak Ixil (pronounced ee-sheel), so there was really only pointing, nodding and body language to communicate with them unless Domingo translated - Yet these two families came together in an incredible way.
After having 8 sons, Domingo's mom expresses how she feels like she has a daughter now:
The wedding was held in Domingo's backyard. The entire thing was landscaped and designed around his future wedding.
Here are a few from the beginning of the day:
I love Kara's shoes, the calla lilies, and her dress. Kara also kept peaking out the window to watch Domingo setting up while her incredible sisters helped her get ready. I loved catching moments of the close relationship she has with them as the week went on.
As a gift to his future bride, Kara's great grandfather bought this bracelet from the Vatican. Passed down over the years, Kara's mom leant it to her to wear during the wedding. Amanda and Laura wore it in their weddings too.
Here are more from the wedding:
Domingo, Kara, Paula, Laura, Amanda, Ed & Ruth - thank you for inviting me into your lives for an entire week. (All of the rest of you too!) It was an ubelievable experience that I cherish. Thank you for letting me capture the moments from your day and I look forward to many more visits to Guatemala and Canada. (eh?)
If you are a member of the family, please visit here and for the online galleries.
Typically I meet a couple, we have some time together at the engagement shoot and then I see them on the wedding day.
With Kara + Domingo, I got to shoot pictures of them for an entire week leading up to their wedding. (see past blog posts for the story)
I connected more with them and their family than anyone I've ever shot in the last 9 years. It wasn't work, It was truly a blessing for me to be there and experience their day with them.
Part of what made this wedding so amazing was all the behind the scenes stories that I got to be a part of.
The other incredible thing was that Domingo's parents speak Ixil (pronounced ee-sheel), so there was really only pointing, nodding and body language to communicate with them unless Domingo translated - Yet these two families came together in an incredible way.
After having 8 sons, Domingo's mom expresses how she feels like she has a daughter now:
The wedding was held in Domingo's backyard. The entire thing was landscaped and designed around his future wedding.
Here are a few from the beginning of the day:
I love Kara's shoes, the calla lilies, and her dress. Kara also kept peaking out the window to watch Domingo setting up while her incredible sisters helped her get ready. I loved catching moments of the close relationship she has with them as the week went on.
As a gift to his future bride, Kara's great grandfather bought this bracelet from the Vatican. Passed down over the years, Kara's mom leant it to her to wear during the wedding. Amanda and Laura wore it in their weddings too.
Here are more from the wedding:
Domingo, Kara, Paula, Laura, Amanda, Ed & Ruth - thank you for inviting me into your lives for an entire week. (All of the rest of you too!) It was an ubelievable experience that I cherish. Thank you for letting me capture the moments from your day and I look forward to many more visits to Guatemala and Canada. (eh?)
If you are a member of the family, please visit here and for the online galleries.
amanda van soelen:
I have tears in my eyes, you have captured the week so amazingly! It was an amazing experience!
(02.14.10)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
kara + domingo: married [nebaj, guatemala]
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://mikevarel.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/110
109
This was an incredible week. It's hard to describe really. Meeting new people, having an instant connection and sharing amazing experiences and meals together for an entire week really made this special for me. So much so, it really made me forget all about the vacation I had taken the week before.
I flew into Guatemala City to spend the week touring the country with Domingo + Kara, plus her Canadian family. I knew we were going to see some stuff leading up to the wedding weekend, but I had no idea what.
It was an adventure, and I was along for the ride - camera in hand.
We started out Monday morning in Antigua, Guatemala.
If you're from Kansas City, picture the plaza, just hundreds of years older with incredible architecture, charming little shops where practically everything is hand made, and oh yeah, volcanoes in the distance. This happens every 15 days apparently, and we happened to be there on one of those days -
We visited a candle maker's shop to pick out a unity candle and anything else that we could use for the wedding:
I love this moment with Kara and her mom, and Andrew's face in the background
We spent a lot of time on this:
Kara + Domingo didn't seem to mind:
The first day we went zip-lining in Panajachel, right off Lake Atitlan which had 3 volcanoes behind it. Imagine flying over the tree line 50-100 feet up and looking down into a valley leading to a lake with volcanoes behind it. It's even more amazing than it sounds. The whole family came along, even Kara's 9 yr-old nephew Andrew who did amazing.
Day 2 began with Domingo loading our luggage on top of the bus
I gave our bus driver Juan my sun glasses because he was cool, and I sat up front with him a lot. "Tu & Yo, Juan" (You and Me) I would say pointing at the horizon and he would laugh as I pretended to have any idea where we were going. He didn't speak a lick of English, and got lost every day of the trip.
We visited a glass blowing shop and I got to shoot them in action -
After that, we hit the hot springs - naturally heated by the volcano.
We drove further north each day getting closer and closer to Nebaj, which is where Domingo is from, and where he and Kara first met.
On the way we stopped by a children's camp to show the family what Kara's dad had been helping with on missions trips, as well as cutting down some bamboo for wedding decorations.
You'll get to see what was done with the the bamboo in the wedding post.
Let me throw in some shots of Domingo + Kara now. I'd take them from time to time, place to place, but we also had an impromptu engagement session right there in the Mayan ruins.
I'm going to leave it at that for now. I'll show you all some wedding photos and maybe some set-up stuff too in the next one...
I flew into Guatemala City to spend the week touring the country with Domingo + Kara, plus her Canadian family. I knew we were going to see some stuff leading up to the wedding weekend, but I had no idea what.
It was an adventure, and I was along for the ride - camera in hand.
We started out Monday morning in Antigua, Guatemala.
If you're from Kansas City, picture the plaza, just hundreds of years older with incredible architecture, charming little shops where practically everything is hand made, and oh yeah, volcanoes in the distance. This happens every 15 days apparently, and we happened to be there on one of those days -
We visited a candle maker's shop to pick out a unity candle and anything else that we could use for the wedding:
I love this moment with Kara and her mom, and Andrew's face in the background
We spent a lot of time on this:
Kara + Domingo didn't seem to mind:
The first day we went zip-lining in Panajachel, right off Lake Atitlan which had 3 volcanoes behind it. Imagine flying over the tree line 50-100 feet up and looking down into a valley leading to a lake with volcanoes behind it. It's even more amazing than it sounds. The whole family came along, even Kara's 9 yr-old nephew Andrew who did amazing.
Day 2 began with Domingo loading our luggage on top of the bus
I gave our bus driver Juan my sun glasses because he was cool, and I sat up front with him a lot. "Tu & Yo, Juan" (You and Me) I would say pointing at the horizon and he would laugh as I pretended to have any idea where we were going. He didn't speak a lick of English, and got lost every day of the trip.
We visited a glass blowing shop and I got to shoot them in action -
After that, we hit the hot springs - naturally heated by the volcano.
We drove further north each day getting closer and closer to Nebaj, which is where Domingo is from, and where he and Kara first met.
On the way we stopped by a children's camp to show the family what Kara's dad had been helping with on missions trips, as well as cutting down some bamboo for wedding decorations.
You'll get to see what was done with the the bamboo in the wedding post.
Let me throw in some shots of Domingo + Kara now. I'd take them from time to time, place to place, but we also had an impromptu engagement session right there in the Mayan ruins.
I'm going to leave it at that for now. I'll show you all some wedding photos and maybe some set-up stuff too in the next one...
amanda van soelen:
beautiful! Can hardly wait to see the wedding shots!
(02.04.10)
Paula:
AMAZING! Thanks for the pics... can I steal some and put them on FB?
(02.04.10)
Kara:
Wow, Mike! You are way too awesome at what you do. I am your biggest fan :) Miss you!
(02.12.10)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Guatemala
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http://mikevarel.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/108
110
The artist's market.
It's open each day of the week, but even bigger on Thursdays and Sundays.
I got to photograph it on a Thursday.
I'm going to let the images speak for themselves. Color, texture, character, beauty.
It's open each day of the week, but even bigger on Thursdays and Sundays.
I got to photograph it on a Thursday.
I'm going to let the images speak for themselves. Color, texture, character, beauty.
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Guatemala: Mercado de Atesanias
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
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108
I have no idea where to begin here.
I'm back in town after two incredible weeks, one that made the other look just silly.
My vacation in the southern caribbean was much overdue and great, but completely overshadowed by an unbelievable week in Guatemala.
There's simply too much to share for one blog post, so several will be coming.
I'm not even going to bother with talking about vacation although it was great to hang with some of my old Nashville friends on some really great islands. (and eat way too much)
I'll include a couple of shots though for those of you stuck in the cold KC weather:
Here is what's to come:
- zip-lining in Guatemala
- a glass blowing factory
- hot springs naturally heated by a volcano
- a Guatemalan market
- being adopted by an incredible Canadian family (practically)
- an unbelievably beautiful wedding with an epic mountain backdrop and over 500 Cala lilies
for now, a scene from Guatemala:
I'm back in town after two incredible weeks, one that made the other look just silly.
My vacation in the southern caribbean was much overdue and great, but completely overshadowed by an unbelievable week in Guatemala.
There's simply too much to share for one blog post, so several will be coming.
I'm not even going to bother with talking about vacation although it was great to hang with some of my old Nashville friends on some really great islands. (and eat way too much)
I'll include a couple of shots though for those of you stuck in the cold KC weather:
Here is what's to come:
- zip-lining in Guatemala
- a glass blowing factory
- hot springs naturally heated by a volcano
- a Guatemalan market
- being adopted by an incredible Canadian family (practically)
- an unbelievably beautiful wedding with an epic mountain backdrop and over 500 Cala lilies
for now, a scene from Guatemala:
(that's a volcano in the background - one of the 6 we saw)
James Fry:
Wow! That's all I can say. Glad to hear the trip went well :) Amazing scenery for sure!
(02.02.10)
amanda van soelen:
Hey Mike, Looking forward to seeing your pics of Guatemala. It was such a blast getting to know you, you are so special!
Love you, my new brother!
Amanda
Domingo Perez Bernal:
Hey buddy, You are the MAN... awesome pictures!
(02.14.10)
Lisa:
Wow, Mike - these pics are beautiful!!! What a great experience.
(02.24.10)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
where to begin
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Mike, nicely done! I've seen Meg's pictures from the Honeymoon, but nothing from the wedding. You are so talented, and I really enjoy looking through your work. Who knows, 20 years from now, I may want you to do my daughter's wedding!
(03.14.10)Mike,
Thanks for sharing your work. I had seen Meg's photos from the Honeymoon, but none from the wedding. It looks like it was a wonderful time. I love the work that you do - you are so talented. Who knows, perhaps in 20 years, I'll need you for my daughter.
Damian.
(03.14.10)Oh my goodness Mike, wow, I hate to admit this, but I hadnt seen it since it went on your blog, just when it was password protected, so I didnt know I could point people to it! You are one of the greatest guys I know Mike and you do incredible work. Thank you for your kind words, amazing work and for your constant encouragement. You are truly a blesisng to everyone you come in contact with. May God continue to bless you as you bless so many others :)
(03.29.10)