The BAM Bridal show was a huge success! Over 350 attendees! A big thanks to all who came out, was fantastic to meet so many happy couples. So many of you want to hire all Bklyn vendors for your wedding, and there were so many fantastic ones to choose from at the show. I love to see that Bklyn pride. We were pretty busy at the show: Jake Price took fantastic portraits of all those who stopped by our On Site Photo Studio. We projected those images live through out the event. Mike Canzoniero, our videographer, was on hand to showcase his work and I conducted a workshop entitled “An Insiders Guide to Finding the Perfect Photographer.” So many couples came up to me afterwards thanking me for the the advice, I decided to post my tip sheet here. I hope your find it helpful.

I photographed the Sung’s wedding in their beautiful townhouse a couple years ago. They had barely unpacked all their boxes before they said “I do”. Now they have a new baby and are packing up the boxes again to move. They wanted me to photograph little Jackson all over the house so he’d remember his first home. Best of luck with the move!

We’ve teamed up with Great Performances and BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) for their first wedding expo March 7th from 2-6. BAM is the preeminent, progressive performing and cinema arts center in NYC. They now offer that same edge and sophistication to weddings and events. There is so much talent in Brooklyn, and these days everyone is “going local”. This expo aims to showcase all that Bklyn talent in one place. We will be leading the photography “ask the expert” workshop. Come and have all of your questions answered and learn what this wedding photojournalism thing is all about. We’ll be giving away a free engagement portrait ($475 value) and we’ll have “The Studio” set up all day. You don’t want to miss it! Enter code “bambride” at http://bit.ly/7mh6bR for discount tickets.

If you’re still searching for that perfect Brooklyn location or vendor be sure to stop by the expo. We’ll have The Studio set up to shoot some fantastic portraits throughout the event and you can enter to win a free engagement portrait by yours truly ($475 value). Hope to see you there!

I’m so excited to announce that Kelly Guenther Wedding Photojournalism/Video is on the preferred vendor list at the following NYC locations:

632 Hudson

Studio 450

Angel Orensanz

Bubby’s Brooklyn

The Foundry

The Montauk Club

The Bell House

BAM

Maritime Parc (Opening Summer ‘10)

More locations coming soon……

Here is a little sneak peak at Colleen and Mohamed’s wedding. They had a private City Hall ceremony in the spring, so this was just one big, fun reception. It was my first time shooting at Steiner Studio Stage 6 in Bklyn. Wow, what an amazing venue! Not only is the staff fantastic, but the views are amazing and the food actually tastes as good as it looks. Congratulations Colleen and Mohamed!

I’ve been hearing concerns from my evening wedding brides that they won’t have any fun photos outside after dark. I tell them that beautiful photos at night are still possible, and in some cases are even better than daytime shoots. Night photos are so dramatic! And the source of light is so much more interesting; could be from the headlights of a passing cab, a street lamp, or if your lucky a full moon. As one of my professors used to say “there’s always light, you just need to find it”. In the case of night time photography, you may need to be a little patient and have a longer exposure. Lucky for you I have a very steady hand;) The results are stunning and so romantic!

I think Gabriella Risatti (owner of Gabriella Bridal) and I were separated at birth.  She has a sharp wit and fantastic sense of humor. Not to mention that she’s a savvy business woman with a love of all things bridal, but I digress…We hit it off the first time we met at an industry mixer in her shop. I asked her if she’d be interested in sprucing up her white walls with a few of my photographs. She told me several photographers have asked to hang photos in her shop but that I was the first photographer who’s photos actually moved her, made her laugh out loud and feel something. We collaborated on the selection and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I’m especially fond of the edgy photos in the dressing rooms (see below). According to a member of their sales team “The brides are so busy looking at your photos that they aren’t focusing on the dress!” Ladies, work with me here….dress first, photos second;) Our goal is to cycle in new photos throughout the year of “Gabriella Brides” in wedding day action wearing dresses bought at Gabriella’s, photographed by yours truly.

Well, not me exactly…that’d be cold and uncomfortable. But my photos are in the window reminding everyone that it’s prime wedding planning season. And if you live in Brooklyn Heights, you can get 1/2 of your planning done in two blocks! They’re featuring my photography, their invitations and flowers from Seaport next door. Be sure to check it out if you’re in the Heights: Overtures 216 Hicks St. between Montague and Remsen. Happy planning.

And a ton of fun with the right attitude. Greta and Jeremy had planned for an outdoor wedding w/all the trimmings, including a dramatic entrance via boat. A sprinkle turned into a downpour and the entrance and outdoor ceremony was out of the question. “The Captain” made it very clear early on he was up for anything and after Greta and Jeremy said “I do” they adventurously also said “why not” and climbed aboard the boat…at night…in the pouring rain. I of course jumped on board with them. The flimsy canopy top didn’t do much to keep us dry. The Captain kindly lent me his raincoat (thanks Cappy) and everything was going great…till the wind picked up and it started raining sideways! Captain offered Greta and Jeremy a plastic garbage bag to cozy up in and stay dry. (FYI, it was a pitch black night and I couldn’t see a thing. I’d wait to hear them giggling or kissing and that would be my cue to click the shutter. I snapped one of my favorite images of the night like that, no flash and a long exposure to boot. I’m a girl who loves a challenge;) Soon the rain was so bad I spread my arms like a mama bird and covered them with Captain’s coat till we made it back to shelter. They now have a story to tell for years, none of which would have been possible on a beautiful, sunny day.