Engagement Session: Natalie + Chris at Brandywine Creek State Park, Delaware on May 4, 2013

I met Chris at the Delaware Rock Gym and have rock climbed with him a bit.  I met Natalie at the Delaware Mud Run 5K when I was invited to run on her team.  Not only are they into outdoor adventure as I am, but they also know how to stop and appreciate the beauty of one another and the landscapes that are near and dear to their hearts.  For their engagement session we headed out to Brandywine Creek State Park in northern Delaware.  It was a perfect evening to shoot a few images in a location where they spend lots of time out on trail runs or tackling the disc golf course together.  Chris loves to play guitar; Natalie loves him for playing and compliments him as she sings and dances along.  Check out the images of them playing on the stone walls around Brandywine.

Thanks for checking out Natalie and Chris’s Engagement Session.  Stay tuned as their wedding will be showcased in the very near future!

All the best,

DV

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Engagement Session: Danielle + Ben Enjoying an Evening out in the Little Town of Bethlehem, PA – December 22, 2012

If you have never been to Bethlehem, PA during Christmas time then you must put it on your list of things to do before you kick the bucket.  It is a sweet little town filled with some of the most friendly and cheery individuals I have ever met.  It is filled with 275 years of history including 2 National Historic Landmarks, Victorian era homes and the Bethlehem Steel buildings.

Danielle, Ben and I had set aside 2 hours  to walk around the town that Saturday to capture images that were a true representation of their love for one another.  Looking back it was not enough time to enjoy time in this town nor the pleasant company I was with.

Following their upcoming marriage ceremony in October they will be celebrating at the Hotel Bethlehem.  This was our first location of the day.  Danielle and Ben enjoyed a private table and a drink at 1741 on the Terrace.

Our next stop led us down in front of a historical building, referred to as the Reconstructed 1750 Smithy, that housed blacksmiths, locksmiths and nailsmiths creating works of iron.  This image in my top 3 favorites !

From there we walked across the street just as the horse drawn carriage stopped to wait for their next riders.  It was a happy coincidence that I caught the horses in the same pose as Danielle and Ben just minutes earlier.

Our next location we happily stumbled upon as we walked around the side of the Moravian Bookstore and found a small garden area.

Our journey took us down a red brick walkway, back up the main street of Bethlehem and then down to one of their favorite places to eat, Edge Restaurant.  The owners were gracious enough to let us visit the private dining area so that we could get a couple shots there as well as allow for the couple to see how it will be arranged for their rehearsal dinner come October.  As we were heading back to the car we came across another little space just outside the restaurant with some holiday lights providing just enough light for me to grab a few shots.

Danielle’s parents had a beautiful Christmas tree with a perfect place to get a festive shot of the engagement ring.

Danielle and Ben thank you so much for allowing me to document your adventure around Bethlehem.  I enjoyed our time together and am very much looking forward to your wedding in October.

Thank you for visiting the blog today and for taking the time to look at my work.  Keep me in mind if you find yourself happily engaged or know family, friends, colleagues who would love to have creative, timeless and emotion filled images documenting their engagement or wedding.

All the best,

DV

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Wedding Heirloom: Hand Drawn Black and White Charcoal Drawing by Danielle Vennard

There are new photographers entering the wedding industry every day.

How do I set myself apart from the rest of these wedding photographers besides the fact that they aren’t 5’1, have brown hair and green eyes with an athletic build?

I have to be true to who I am.  Who am I?  I am an artist.  I was lucky enough to be the child of an artist and high school art teacher.  I have had 6+ years of higher education plus a master’s degree in fine arts.  I love being an artist and love creating art it in more than one medium (either drawing, painting, sculpture or photography).  I have used the camera as a tool to gain inspirations for many drawings and paintings over the years.  It made sense to finally integrate my fine art talents into creating a one of a kind heirloom for my wedding photography clients.

The result is my first piece, Christina & Tom.  It is based off of a timeless image I was lucky enough to capture on their wedding day as they were walking back to their limo following our group formal photo shoot in Wilmington, DE.  It is more than just being able to render the drawing in pure photo realism.  It also meshes a bit of the abstract style I love as well.  I am not completely satisfied with the outcome of this one but know that the decision to risk the marriage of two opposites, realism and abstraction, has given me a new and exciting direction in my art.  I am also hopeful that by going beyond the click of the camera, my clients value something more unique and special to preserving the memories of the best day of their life.

Here are images I took in progress of the piece being completed:

Thank you so much for checking out the latest from Danielle Vennard Photographer.

DV

Wedding Photojournalism: Angie + Ryan Married at Lady Fatima and Celebrate at The Mendenhall Inn October 26, 2012

Upon greeting Angie and Ryan at the rehearsal, they hand me a gift bag with tasty wine and raspberry jelly.  You have to love the thankfulness, trust and faith a young couple has even though I hadn’t clicked the shutter yet.

I think Angie and Ryan have some control over the cosmos because their day was perfect.  The sun hid behind the clouds during the outdoor portraits but it never rained.  Everything was on time and nothing went missing.  For me, not only did the illness I was battling all week diminish that Friday morning, but I had more than enough energy to get the job done and then some for the after party.  If it isn’t control over the cosmos then it could also be that their happiness and positive vibes are simply contagious.  Every time I answer one of Ryan’s phone calls with his enthusiastic and excited “Hey how are you?”  I can’t help but start smiling.

Their day was one of the most enjoyable weddings I have had the pleasure of documenting.  Thank you to Angie and Ryan and your families for being so hospitable and kind.  Thank you also to my excellent second shooter, Joanne Beecham for without you the documenting would not have been complete.

Here are a few of the images that stood out from the bunch (side note – being a rock climber I was totally digging the creativeness of their cake design and the fact that they used rocks from their adventures as part of the decoration – and bonus the cake tasted amazing!):

Photo by Joanne Beecham

Photo by Joanne Beecham

I had to throw this last one in of the bride’s maids since we had a little moment together.  They were concerned earlier that I had passed out on the dance floor but in actuality I laid down to get a better angle for the ring shot.  This time when photographing the bouquet they didn’t want me to look silly by myself   Thanks ladies!

Contributing Vendors to Angie and Ryan’s day:

Hair:  Town Hair Salon

Limo:  Dave’s Limousine

Flowers:  Diamond Weddings & Events

Reception Venue:  Mendenhall Inn

Baker:  Dough Main Baked Goods via the Mendenhall

DJ:  D & J Service

And thank you to all my readers for checking out Angie and Ryan’s day.

DV

Related post:  Angie + Ryan’s Stylized Engagement Shoot

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Stylized Adventure Engagement Session: Angie + Ryan at Governor Stable, PA

In just 2 short days Ryan and Angie are going to be Mr. and Mrs. and it hit me that I failed to ever write about their engagement session we had back in March.  I waited to post until it had been picked up by some publications as it was not your ordinary engagement session.

A wedding planner friend of mine, Tonia, from Aribella Events met me at our local Starbucks one February morning to catch up.  There was the usual talk of how the kids were doing and how business was going but what we really wanted to talk about was figuring out how we could finally work together.  She wanted to do a themed photo shoot and I wanted to photograph a cool couple who would be open to an adventurous engagement session out climbing some rocks.  Rock climbing is part of my lifestyle and when I’m not photographing weddings most likely that is what I am out photographing instead.

It wasn’t hard for me to locate the perfect couple as I had just sat down with Angie and Ryan to hash out the details for their October wedding.  I met them in our rock climbing gym, The Delaware Rock Gym.  Their story goes that they met at the rock gym back in 2006, hung out as friends for a bit and then lost touch.  A year later they reconnected at the climbing gym and have been together every since.

Tonia went with a Mad Men theme and my location of choice was Governor Stable located just outside of the PA state capital of Harrisburg.  Both Ryan and Angie were both such good sports since they had to get up early for the make-up appointment with Cindy Kopylec and hair with Tracy Graham at Currie Hair Skin Nails, drive about 2 hours to get to the climbing area and then hike a bit before we set up camp on a boulder that overhung a small stream.

I will admit this was a bit outside the box for me since I stay more on the photojournalistic side and document the unrehearsed moments in life.  Tonia did an amazing job with the set up of all the picnic area as well as posing all the intricate details that she was able to put together from her friends, Virginia Yee of Designs by Yu for the invitations and Papertini for the floral design.  She is also a trooper for hiking in and out with about 50lbs worth of details!  When her work was done she even strapped on a pair of climbing shoes to take part in the rock climbing fun.  Take a look at a few of the cool moments and details from our day together.

Tonia tackling a tall boulder at Governor Stable!

Thank you for taking a look at what is the first of many adventurous engagement sessions.  Thank you Angie and Ryan for going with the flow and making my job easy.  Your genuine love for one and other was the glue that held all of this together.  Look forward to sharing many more climbing adventures with you!

DZ

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Wedding Photojournalism: Andy + Brian Celebrate their Marriage at the Hotel du Pont, Wilmington, DE – September 15, 2012

Andy is gorgeous (and much resembled a young Audrey Hepburn this day) and Brian is the hot RA from back in their college days.  Our paths crossed as my husband (who is my secret…or not so secret…sales rep), introduced me to Andy (newly engaged) when my son and I came to Dann’s office for lunch one January afternoon.  Dann is well compensated for his time…i.e…a 6 pack of his favorite seasonal micro brew

I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Andy and Brian last year as they elected to have me capture some engagement photos for them along Boat House Row and around the Art Museum in Philadelphia.  If you missed the blog post on their engagement session you definitely want to take a look HERE.  The moments just happened that day with no plan and no rehearsal.

Those unrehearsed moments are what I search for.  They are a big part of why I do what I do.  About four and a half years ago I too stepped into that white dress to begin a life with my best friend.  I remember how surreal it felt, almost like I was dreaming.  The day flashed before my eyes and I know I’m not the only bride who feels the same.  There is so much happening and then before you really start to let loose on the dance floor it’s all over.  I have a really great memory of how my day played out but having the images there for me to see all over again lets me relive it at my own pace.  As years pass they become more and more meaningful to my life and someday will take on meaning in my son’s life.

Here are my attempts at giving Andy and Brian the same gift that was given to me…may you both look back and feel that emotion all over again forever and ever.

All the best,

DZ

Wedding Professionals that made Andy and Brian’s day wonderful:

Hair:  Shannon McVaugh at Elite Hair Salon, Paoli, PA

Make-up:  Karli from Chroma, Philadelphia, PA

Flowers:  Blue Moon Florist, Exton, PA

Cake:  in house at Hotel du Pont

Venue:  Hotel du Pont, Wilmington, DE

Coordinator:  Kim Mackin at the Hotel du Pont

DJ:  Stephen Doucas

Videography:  Monachetti Weddings

P.S.  Thank you once again to David Toth for being my co-pilot for the day…without you sir the gift would not be complete.

P.S.S. Thank you Andy, Brian, your family and friends for the excellent hospitality as well as having trust and faith in our abilities to capture your day to it’s fullest.

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When I’m Not Being a Wedding Photojournalist: Rock Climbing Photograph Published in Final Issue of Urban Climber Magazine

Just wanted to take a moment and express my thanks for the opportunity to once again have the climbing world view one of my photographs.  Thanks goes to Seth Derr for his excellent write up on our local climbing area of Governor Stable, Bainbridge, PA.  Without his effort my image would never have been published.  Thank you also to Urban Climber for recognizing a small but mighty piece of land for the local rock climbers of south central Pennsylvania and surrounding states.  GS was the first outdoor climbing area I set foot on 7 years ago and it means a lot to be a part of sharing it with the climbing world.  For more info about access and purchasing passes to climb (open Jan. 1- August 31) please visit the official Friends of Governor Stable website HERE.

Thank you to the lovely Siobhan Wright for allowing me to capture her unique movement on such an awesome boulder problem as well as allowing me to submit it to the magazine for publishing!  You rock girl!

Thanks as always for stopping by the official blog site of Danielle Vennard Photographers!

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