The Steve Z Photography Blog

My buddy Neil Van Niekerk is coming to Denver on August 18th to do a workshop on state-of-the-art flash photography techniques. This is an amazing opportunity and space is limited: head over to Planet Neil for more information about the workshop, dates, and how to sign up.

I did a great shoot this past April in New Jersey with Neil. It was set in the Paterson Historical Museum, and the modeling was done by Priscilla.

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Part 2

Emma and Jasper’s wedding rocked at least an 8.2 on the Richter scale of awesomeness. Their ceremony was held at the New Hope Baptist Church in Denver. Emotions were running high, and there were a plethora of amazing photojournalist moments captured.

I thought that I’d post some variety in the old blog this week. The flower girls and ring bearers had some modeling moves that would surely register a knockout punch to Zoolander should they ever face each other in a ‘walk-off’.

After the ceremony we transferred to the Omni Hotel at Interlocken in Broomfield. The Omni resort is home to the Omni Interlocken Golf Club, which is a most excellent location for shooting some creative wedding portraiture of the couple.

Even the spacious interior of the Omni had cool lines and angles. I couldn’t get enough!

I should also mention that Emma, Jasper, Judah, and I shot their Engagement Session in Boulder a couple months ago. You can view those pictures HERE.  Thanks guys for the good times and the great photos.

Associate Vendors

Venue .:. Omni Interlocken Hotel

Gown Boutique .:. Amanda’s Bridal

Florist .:. Christian Floral

Hair Stylist .:. La Vie

Last weekend I shot my second wedding at The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach Florida. Victoria and Alex found my previous blog entry on Google and “fell in love with my style of photography”, as the story goes. I jumped at the opportunity to get some beach time on my birthday. It was a win-win situation!

I started off in my usual manner, warming up with some detail shots. Last time I took the epic shot of the shoe on the balcony, looking over the beach and turquoise blue ocean. Options in the room were limited, so I ventured out into the hallway. How does this one rank on the epic scale?

The dress may look pretty good on the hanger, but seriously, how good does it look on Victoria? 10 on the epic scale, I say!

Well, one problem with shooting wedding in the tropics in the summer, is the ever present threat of thunderstorms. South Florida was in a moist flow of the Gulf Stream, and it had rained every afternoon for 2 weeks. Today was no exception. Luckily we were able to get the First Look in before the first round of storms rolled in.

But soon enough, the rains came and we headed into the Breakers to shoot some indoor portraits. I had noticed this particularly cool steel gate earlier in the day.

But just as fast as it started, the rain subsided, and we were able to get some more fantabulous portraits on the spacious grounds of the resort.

I think I may have accidentally manifested the wedding to be held indoors instead of on the ceremony lawn. So sorry guys! When I first arrived at the Breakers, I was secretly hoping the reception would be held in the Gold Room.  I found out that it was actually being held in the Magnolia Room.  Well, as it turned out, when the outdoor ceremony was rained out, it was held in the Gold Room instead!  I always get what I want.

This wedding was an intimate affair, with only around 30 close friends and family in attendance. The happy couple is planning a big bash in the near future where everyone can tear the roof off. On this night, the couple enjoyed a gorgeous venue and intimate moments amongst the people who they care about most. Even the first dance was opened up to everyone around halfway through the song. That didn’t stop anyone from enjoying the moment to the fullest.

Speaking of living life and the fullest, Alex managed to throw down an entire sundae! Yes, there was wedding cake AND sundaes.  I lied earlier in this post; I don’t always get what I want.

In order to work off desert, we headed outside to fool around in front of the fountain. Here is a photo of Victoria and Alex running off to their honeymoon. Or something like that. Whatever. I’m out of jokes. You should check out the vendors below if you are planning a wedding in the area. That part is no joke!

Associate Vendors

Venue/Event Coordinator .:.Virginia Parmigiano .:. The Breakers

Videography .:. Doyle Productions

Gown Boutique .:. Brides Against Breast Cancer

DJ .:. Music Works Talent

Lindy-licious and the Keith-ificator bestowed upon me the honor of photographing their amazing wedding in the halls of the First Presbyterian Church in Boulder Colorado.  What started off as a classy, and mild mannered event eventually snowballed into a party that tore the roof off of the fabulous St. Julian Hotel. Let us begin with classy, shall we?

We casually started off the day by documenting some sexy shapes and lines in the form of some detail shots of the rings and shoes. Wonder Twin powers, ACTIVATE: shape of Lindy’s shoes, form of an ice bucket.  Well, OK that was obscure.  :>)

Lindy, Keith and I had our picture review in the studio yesterday.  We were looking at the bridal pictures and laughing at how Lindy’s natural personality is to laugh all the time, and she wasn’t able to be serious during any of the photos.  Well, here is serious face image number 2 of 3 for the day.  She looks as great in color as it does black and white! I still can’t decide which I like better.

But the seriousness doesn’t last for long. Yeah, we got some picture perfect photos. But they aren’t nearly as fun or real as this…

After the getting ready proceedings and the First Look, we all headed down to downtown Boulder’s First Presbyterian Church. We had some extra time to kill in a little classroom while we waited for the guests to be seated. Hmmm, what to do, what to do? I decided that we needed to get a dry-erase marker, and have a little lesson on ‘The Rules’ before things went down for real. Here is what we learned, kids!

One thing about church ceremonies, is that they often relegate photographers to the back of the room. So what is a photographer to do when his location is limited? I vote for pulling out the awesome lenses.

There is someone I know whose favorite wedding shots are those of the couple during the recessional. This is the time when the couple has this overwhelming joy on their faces, that reads, “WHEW! We did it!” Love this shot!

When it’s time to party … nothing gets party’s started like cake. And there is no cake that is cuter than a cupcake. Except a pastel cupcake. Tee and Cakes sure knows how to tempt a working man into sneaking off into the vendor room to wolf down an illicit cupcake before the guests enter the room. It’s a good thing The Chad and I have cast iron constitutions.

And speaking of party, weren’t we speaking of party? Yes, I think we were, and Lindy and Keith’s crew threw down the gauntlet. I will admit, I witnessed my first ‘wave’ go ’round reception tables. And after that? Conga line. Radical!

And then, just when you thought it couldn’t rock any harder, Keith and his college buddies got the band back together, and Lindy pulled the coup and became the first woman to join the band! There is nothing more fantabulous than the facial expressions of a drummer in his element.  Well other than a photography roller bag filled with extra leftover chocolate cupcakes.

Good night all you garage band loving wedding fans out there. This concludes another installment of the Steve Z Wedding Files. Peace out.

Vendors who kick booty!

Event Coordinator .:.Devin Green .:. dBd Events

Venue .:. Tiffany Setzke .:. St. Julian Hotel and Spa

Florist .:. Aubrey Bullion .:. Brighter Day Floral

Gown Boutique .:. d-Annelli Bridal

Salon .:. 1313 A Salon

Band .:. Chris Daniels and the Kings