Neil Colton: DC Wedding + Portrait Photographer

Joel + Julia: DC Wedding Photography: A Love Story

Neil — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:41:31 +0000

This love story begins in 2006. The setting is Beijing, China. An American student, Joel, is introduced by friends to a beautiful Chinese girl, Qian (Julia). They fall deeply in love and have two wonderful years together before Joel accepts a job that takes him to Singapore, and away from Julia. For the next two years, they would b separated, flying between Singapore and Beijing for time together and dreaming of the day they would be united. Then Joel’s work took him to Washington, where he, and Julia (still in Beijing) began what would become an intense effort to bring Julia to the US. More than a year later, Julia flew to to Washington, where Joel and Julia, the love of his life, were finally united…and married.

But that is not the end of the story. This summer, Joel and Julia will return to the small city in China, which was Julia’s home for most of her life. There, they will be married, again, in a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony, amid Julia’s family and childhood friends. Our congratulations and our very best wishes to Joel and Qian!

Ava + Bobby: Washington, DC Wedding Photography: St. Aloysius Church + The Sequoia Georgetown

Neil — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:36:28 +0000

As much as I enjoy photographing weddings at vineyards, plantations and resorts in and around Washington, DC, there is a special quality that surrounds a traditional wedding in a beautiful church. Ava and Bobby were married at the historic St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church in northwest Washington on April 21, 2012, one of the most beautiful churches in the city of DC. The ceremony, officiated by Deacon Kevin Bagley, a family friend, was equal to the setting and the reception at The Sequoia, on the Georgetown Waterfront, completed a perfect day. My special thanks to Ellie, for her professional eye, her unique perspective and for complementing my editorial style with her artful images.

Our special thanks to:

Kelley Cannon of Kelley Cannon Events: Wedding Planner

Brian of Davis Deejays: Deejay

Lindsey Schneider of The Sequoia: Reception Coordinator

Congratulations to Ava + Bobby!

Enjoy a few of our favorite images from their wedding day in Washington, DC.

Karl + Paula: DC Area Wedding Photography: The Greenbrier Resort

Neil — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:21:20 +0000

My first wedding of the spring 2012 season: Paula + Karl at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, WVA.

I don’t believe in the practice of astrology, but I do believe the stars must have aligned this wedding weekend for Paula + Karl. When they first told me that their wedding was on the 31st of March in West Virginia, I was sure that I would need a new parka, snow shoes and hand warmers. But instead of 12 inches of fresh snow, we had crisp clear skies, temperatures in the mid 60s and not a hint of humidity. The warm winter gave the grounds of The Greenbrier an early glow, with the beautiful colors of spring all around. The mild temperatures had an added bonus… I could capture great images outdoors, without having to retouch all of those pink cheeks! The Greenbrier’s designation as a 5 Star Hotel is well deserved. Nothing is left to chance. From the moment you arrive to the moment you leave the grounds, the staff is at your service, in the truest sense of the word.

This was a remarkable weekend for a beautiful wedding and a very special couple.

Our special thanks to:

Katy Shingler and the entire wedding staff at The Greenbrier

DJ Knowland for the great sounds.

John Mehfoud for a beautiful ceremony.

Martha Sams for the elegant wedding day decor

And our very special thanks to Karl + Paula for inviting us to document and be a part of their first day as man and wife. Congratulations, Paula + Karl!

Here are a few of our favorite images from their wedding day.

Andrew + Cait’s DC Area Wedding Featured On Emmaline Bride

Neil — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:17:48 +0000

Gettysburg is truly a unique and beautiful setting for a wedding. It has an unusual combination of charm and quaint sophistication. It was one of my favorite places to visit last season, so I’m delighted that Andrew + Cait’s Gettysburg wedding has been chosen by the good folks at Emmaline Bride to be featured on their wedding blog!

http://emmalinebride.com/real-weddings/gettysburg-wedding-andrew-cait/

The Perfect Match: Finding The Right DC Wedding Photographer

Neil — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:23:20 +0000

It is March in Washington, DC.

The peak of the engagement season has passed and many newly engaged couples are actively searching for a wedding photographer to document what will be one of the most important days of their lives. With the ranks of wedding ‘photographers’ swelling over the past few years and the relative ease of establishing a web presence, that is no easy task. If you are recently engaged and the work of finding just the right photographer seems daunting, here is a brief primer to help guide you to the wedding photographer that is just right for you.

STYLE

If a photograph tells a story, then a photographer’s work is a conversation with the viewer. Over time, a photographer develops a way of seeing things and capturing images that is unique enough to be considered a ‘style’. This may be how you first connected with a photographer, by seeing their work. This has weight. These images will be your permanent visual record of the wedding day. You may not be able to articulate the style-portrait, photojournalistic, editorial, avant-garde, traditional or a combination – but if you connect with it, you have taken the first step to choosing the right photographer.

EXPERIENCE

Loving a photographer’s style is a good thing…and a great start to finding the right wedding photographer for you, but a wedding photographer’s job is to document your entire wedding day, from beginning to end, in the most professional way possible. This often comes down to experience. The seminal events of a wedding day happen quickly, often unpredictably and they only happen once. Nothing trumps experience to capture these moments, consistently. For those who think the best wedding photography is anything less than intensely hard work, requiring a broad skill set and a reservoir of experience to draw on, under pressure, I suggest you find an amiable local wedding photographer who will let you ‘shadow’ them during a real wedding day. Your outlook will change.

Reputations are earned and established over time. A photographer’s reputation has a relationship to their experience. Are they honest, punctual, reliable, enjoyable, creative, available, et al. The more experienced a photographer is, the longer their track record of performance, good or bad.

There is no substitute for real wedding experience. Even the most seasoned photojournalists have a steep learning curve when they first cover weddings. Those images you love, and that drew you to the photographer in the first place, are a good start, but your wedding day photography will only be a success if your photographer can consistently capture compelling images throughout the day and into the night.

How much experience is enough? You should have confidence that your photographer will be able to document your wedding with a series of images that are consistent with their style and that tell the wonderful story of your wedding day.

COMPATIBILITY

People work best with people they like.

Simple enough, but it becomes very important in the pressure cooker environment of a wedding day. An experienced wedding photographer will have a ‘toolbox’ of methods, techniques and strategies to set everyone at ease on the wedding day, no matter how tense the setting. That produces images that are more likely to naturally capture the joy and emotion of the day. An experienced wedding photographer will also bring confidence and confidence has a wonderful way of spreading.

Compatibility extends beyond simply liking your photographer.

If you want extensive or intimate Getting Ready images, be sure you are comfortable with a male photographer capturing these images… and if not, find out if there will be a female assistant or a female second photographer who can do the sensitive work.

If you want a blend of indoor traditional and outdoor non-traditional portraits, don’t be unexpectedly surprised on the wedding day. Ask this question early on in your search.

Above all, ask questions and don’t be afraid to ask questions that may seem silly or tough. Remember- never asked, never answered.

Discover if you and you’re the photographer you are considering will blend, well before you make your final decision. Whether it is through discussions with their past clients, from online reviews of their services or in face-to-face meetings, be sure you and your photographer meet the compatibility test.

THE PHOTOGRAPHY BUDGET

Budget may be last here, but it is often first in the minds of couples searching for a wedding photographer. That paradigm should change. I believe that a wedding photographer’s style, experience and measure of compatibility with their clients are the first things to consider, before the cost of their services. If you value photography, choosing a wedding photographer should be among the first things on your list, not among the last.

I’m often surprised at the effort and expense a couple will invest in a wedding venue, a bride’s gown, a wedding cake, the entertainment, the accessories, the matching details, the bridal party gifts, the transportation and, on occasion, a wedding coordinator…then hire a ‘bargain’ photographer to capture all of this amazing eye candy…and document one of the most important days of their lives.

I can’t prove a direct relationship between cost and quality, but there is a correlation. Think Apple. There is a reason their products have an almost cult like following. Apple products are well designed, reliable and user friendly (well, most of the time…). This comes at a price. But Apple built its brand around a loyal following that is willing to invest in quality at a premium price. It is one of the most compelling brands on the planet, today, and as I write this, one of the most successful.

There is a story about Pablo Picasso that goes something like this…

On a warm summer day, in a small quaint park on the outskirts of Paris, Picasso sat on a bench sketching a beautiful young model. A woman passing by recognized Picasso and approached him.

“Mr. Picasso, sir, I am an ardent fan and a true admirer of your work. I know this may be out of the question, and I’ll understand if you decline my request, but I would be thrilled if you would sketch me, while you are here! And, of course, I will gladly compensate you for your time.“

Picasso paused, then looked up at the woman standing before him and said,

“I would be delighted to sketch you, madam. I will be done in one hour. Now, if you don’t mind, you are blocking my light.”

Precisely one hour later, the woman returned to the park, ready to be sketched by the great Picasso. He asked her to sit down, grabbed a chunk of charcoal and drew a few lines on a blank page in his sketchpad.

A moment passed. Picasso looked up and said,

“I am finished.”

Stunned, the woman replied,

“Oh my, that was so fast! May I see the sketch?”

Picasso turned the sketchpad toward his new model. She screeched with delight. The image was unquestionably her, but with the clear influence of the master in every stroke.

“I cannot thank you enough”, she gushed. “How much do I owe you for your time?”

“For my time, nothing at all”, Picasso replied, “but for my talent, that will be 25,000 francs”.

True or not, I love this story. It illustrates that there is more to an image captured by a photographer than areas of light and dark. The search for a wedding photographer can be a difficult task, but if you use these few simple guidelines, you will be on your way to finding a perfect match.

The Shot List: Top 10 Tips For Successful Wedding Day Photography

Neil — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:28:07 +0000

With all of the changes that the digital revolution brought to the world of wedding photography, one thing has remained remarkably constant: The Shot List. For those of you who do not live on Planet Wedding, the Shot List is that treasured list of photographs that the bride and groom must have from their wedding day. Whether it is a well conceived and thoroughly prepared document or simply a quick list written on the back of a spare wedding invitation, the success of the wedding photography may hinge on this collection of images.

To that end, here are my Top Ten Tips for making the shot list a wedding day success:

1. Create One… Early

You would be surprised at how often I request a shot list, months in advance, only to find myself on the phone, a week before the wedding, asking a frazzled bride if she has any images to add to this non-existent list. The earlier shot list can be created, the better it will be, for you and for your photographer.

2. Be Kind.. Be Brief

I was once asked to photograph 26 different family portraits in 45 minutes. I did it, but I was ready for it. Make a list and prioritize it in categories like ‘Must Have’, ‘Must Have If Time Allows’, ‘Would Be Nice To Have’, and ‘Only If There Is Nothing Else To Photograph’. You get the idea. A tight list of the most important images will give your photographer the freedom to do what they do best: create compelling images with the extra time they will have.

3. Let’s Review

I suggest a final planning meeting with your photographer, one month before your wedding day. This can in person, on the phone, via Skype or through email, but it is one meeting you should not miss. This is the perfect time to go over all of the final wedding day and photography details, including the shot list. This allows you and your photographer enough time to make changes before the wedding day.

4. Give the Gift of Time

Every year, the wedding day timeline seems to shrink. Wedding photographers are doing more, in less time, than in years past. An experienced wedding photographer can work well under pressure and produce consistently good images. But given the time, some of those images can be great. Give your photographer the gift of time and you will be glad you did.

5. Appoint A Liaison

The wedding photographers I know are very talented, but few are clairvoyant. By appointing a Wedding Day Liaison, you will add to that Gift of Time. This should be someone who knows your friends and family, or at least who they are, and can organize the folks and groups who will be in the family and friends portraits. Supply them with a wedding day timeline and a copy of the shot list and you will see the gleam in your photographer’s eye.

6. Be Prepared

The more your photographer knows about your wedding venues and the conditions that they will encounter there on your wedding day, the better the opportunities will be for capturing great shots. Help them by providing accurate and detailed information about the wedding day venues and the interesting locations in between. A little leg work, here, can go a long way. Ask your photographer if they ‘scout’ the venues before the wedding day. If they haven’t photographed a wedding there in the past, this may be the right time to plan a visit. Gently make suggestions for locations, at the venues and on the route between the ceremony and the reception. These could be perfect spots for a series of images that you will always remember, for the right reasons.

7. Be Realistic… Be Flexible

Even the very best constructed plans for a wedding day can change. Weather, traffic and the unknown often play a part in the wedding day activities. Be prepared for that…and don’t worry. An experienced wedding photographer has seen this before. As good as they are at handling the expected, they are often even better at coping with the unexpected…effortlessly. If things don’t go as planned, a seasoned wedding photographer will get the shots you expect and surprise you with those that you didn’t expect. Be ready to run outside, with the bridal party, and capture some beautiful images as the sun is setting Find The Light

8. See The Light…and use it.

As beautiful as the interior architecture of that 17^th century church may be, there is a very good possibility that the light at the altar may not be equal to the architecture. If the light isn’t brilliant there, move to a spot where the light is beautiful, even and natural. If there are no spots like this inside, move outdoors. Find a friendly spot, in even light, where the ‘must have’ portraits can be taken. If the portraits must be taken at the altar (or indoors), ask your photographer how they deal with bad interior lighting. It is a common problem in wedding photography, so chances are good that they will have a solution. I carry a portable studio lighting rig for just such occasions. That turns nearly any room into a small studio.

9. Get Out of The Box…and out of the building

The Shot List is often a series of family and friend’s images that may seem ordinary enough on paper. That doesn’t mean the photographs have to be. You’ve spent a lot of time looking at websites and researching your wedding photographer’s work. By now you know something of their style and how the photographer handles certain types of images. Don’t be shy. Tell your photographer you are ‘up for anything and wouldn’t it be cool to get a shot of the bridal party on that barn roof at dusk!’. Experienced modern wedding photographers are some of the most creative and talented photographers working today. They have to be. The competition is strong and their clients demand no less.

10. Relax… Have Fun!!

Easy for me to say, but your wedding day will be a true success if you can. So, breathe deeply, let the trained professionals you’ve hired take care of the details…and relax! This is your day. Enjoy it and let your photographer weave their magic with compelling images that will tell the story of the day. Your smiles will tell everyone just how wonderful the day has been!

You can also see this article on the MyDeejay blog here: http://www.mydeejay.com/blog/2012/02/hiring-a-wedding-photographer-round-2/.

Jake + Sarah: Washington, DC Engagement Photography

Neil — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:38:42 +0000

I don’t suffer from triskaidekaphobia, but when Sarah and Jake asked me to photograph their engagement session in Washington, DC on Friday, the 13th, I did wonder for a moment just how it might go. As it turned, it was a fine day and a wonderful engagement session…some would even say we were very lucky. In a city always brimming with tourists, we often felt like we had Washington, DC all to ourselves.

We met on a bright cold afternoon near The National Mall in Washington, DC, to create their engagement ‘story’ and to capture some of the flavor of this beautiful city. With driving winds creating wind chill temperatures in the teens, we made the move indoors. Those who know me won’t be surprised that the setting we chose included some great interior architecture in one of Washington’s best known galleries. As the sun faded, we moved outdoors for a quick series at The Lincoln Memorial. In the end, we had a lot of fun, pink cheeks and some great images of this delightful couple. Congratulations to Jake and Sarah, who will tie the knot in Delaware this fall!!

Please enjoy a few of my favorite images from my engagement session in Washington, DC with Jake and Sarah.

Rob + Danielle: DC Maternity Portraits

Neil — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:48:40 +0000

With the New Year only days away, it is the perfect time to post images of another pending arrival. Along with the New Year, Rob and Danielle, and their families, will be celebrating the birth of their first child! I am so delighted that they asked me to capture maternity images of them. Full disclosure, although I photographed hundreds of children, families and people…this is my first official maternity session. I do have photographs of my wife from the days when we were doing our best to populate the planet (we had four children under the age of 5, before we were 30!), but those were family photographs, shot in our first apartment with my Nikon F100 film SLR camera, using available light, a 50mm f/1.8 lens and captured on Kodak 400TMAX film. Fast forward to two weeks ago….Rob and Danielle’s images were captured in a well appointed studio, with a Nikon D3 DSLR camera, a Profoto light setup and three of Nikon’s latest and greatest lenses.

It simply doesn’t seem that long ago that I was photographing their wedding day at a beautiful vineyard in southern Virginia, but now Rob and Danielle are about to be parents and I’m thrilled to play a part in documenting that experience for two of our very favorite people! Here are a few of my favorite images from my inaugural maternity photography session, with Rob and Danielle and a player to be named later.

Happy New Year!

Karl + Paula: DC Wedding Engagement Photography

Neil — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:40:08 +0000

I am always in search of new and interesting places, in the Washington, DC area, to photograph engagement sessions and location portraits. So when Karl and Paula suggested FT. Washington for their engagement session, I was excited about it. In the all years I have lived in the DC area, I have yet to visit Ft. Washington. It is worth the trip. Tucked away along the Maryland side of the Potomac River, Ft. Washington has a place in the histaory of the Nations’ Capital dating back to 1809. It was the only defense for the Capital City until the Civil War. For you history buffs, there’s more here Ft. Washington National Park.

We could not have asked for a more beautiful day. with clear skies, bright sun and cool temperatures. Paula and Karl were just awesome to work with. Because of that we were able to capture some great images of them on the day. Congratulations to Karl and Paula, who are getting married at The Greenbrier next March!

Now to a few of my favorite photographs from their engagement session.

Round Midnight: A DC Band Rocks This Wedding

Neil — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:58:05 +0000

As much as I enjoy the music of the talented DJs I work with, photographing weddings in the Washington, DC area, there is just no substitute for a great live band. Round Midnight is just that…and more. This group is that rare combination of good, veteran musicians and great vocalists blending their talents to produce a sound that simply rocks. I was fortunate to meet them…and hear their unique sound first hand… at Andrew and Cait’s wedding in Gettysburg, in early October. Who said wedding photography was just about brides and bouquets?