Fotorecord

One for the Road

2008-09-25T18:07:00.004-04:00

We're happy to announce a shiny new blog.
The new Fotorecord has been launched on WordPress and gives us a cleaner, more modern look and the ability to showcase our photos more effectively.
Please stop by and kick the tires and let us know what you think. You can view the new blog by clicking here: Fotorecord.
We'll keep this version around for old time's sake.
We hope you enjoy our new look!

Ballet Photography - Classic Balanchine

2008-09-18T13:52:00.031-04:00

The North Carolina Dance Theatre's (NCDT) upcoming show includes works by famed Russian-born American choreographer George Balanchine.
NCDT is an amazing group and I always enjoy the challenge of capturing these talented dancers.
After photographing the first ballet from the more typical view in front of the stage, I ventured back to capture the action backstage. I like to try to give a glimpse of events most people don't get a chance to see.
(Remember to click on the images for a better view and hit the back button to return to the blog.)
Enjoy!

Seia Rassenti

Traci Gilchrest

Sarah Hayes Watson, Seia Rassenti and Anna Gerberich

Traci Gilchrest and Addul Manzano

Sarah Hayes Watson

Anna Gerberich

Seia Rassenti and Joseph Watson

Anna Gerberich and Joseph Watson

Waiting

Traci Gilchrest

Kara Wilkes

Sarah James and Ian Grosh

Kara Wilkes

Waiting to go on

David Ingram prepares to take the stage

David Ingram

Anna Gerberich and Sasha Janes

Traci Gilchrest

Sonia and Vivek's Wedding

2008-09-04T18:57:00.049-04:00

Sonia and Vivek

Sonia and Vivek are modern and sophisticated professionals.
But they are also proud of their heritage as they proved in their magnificent Punjabi Hindu Wedding Ceremony in Charlotte Sunday.
I hadn't had the opportunity to photograph an Indian wedding, but I knew my 20-plus years as a photojournalist had prepared me for just about anything.
Company photographer Laura Mueller is also a seasoned journalist who has traveled the world and I felt secure having her on the job.
There were many facets to the day and I was struck by the joy and enthusiasm displayed by both families throughout. It was a true melding of families.
Photographing for more than 12 hours and having Laura on duty for six hours, along with an incredibly colorful, visual event, generated the most images I've ever produced at a wedding.
Virtually the same team of vendors, planner Samantha Slapnik of Emma Grace Designs, Eric Weiner from The Westin, videographer Prashant Shah of Prashant Video, Katen from Elegant Designz and floral designer Carolyn Shepard did a great job throughout the weekend. Sonia brought Bollywood makeup artist Kapil Bhalla from India for the weekend and his work spoke for itself.
The Westin is a classy, modern structure with large windows and views of the skyline. Truly a great wedding venue.
The day started on the messy side with Haldi ceremonies for both the bride and the groom. Vivek was at the Holiday Inn Center City while Sonia stayed at The Westin, site of the wedding and reception.
The Haldi involves people rubbing Haldi paste on the bride and groom and it had some fun moments.
Vivek, the groomsmen and members of his family then held the Baraat procession where Vivek rode to the Westin on a horse.
After a few more traditional ceremonies, the wedding took place in one of the ballrooms at The Westin.
Elegant Designz transformed the room with an elegant Mandap (altar) and other decor.
Everyone took a bit of a break following the ceremony and moved on to a cocktail party prior to the reception.
Elegant Designz quickly removed the Madap and Katen and Carolyn Shepard created an entire different set-up for the reception.
The entire weekend was impressive culminating with the couple's exit in a stretch limo as they headed to an after-party.
I felt fortunate to get a chance to play a part in such a beautiful and unique event.
Congratulations to Sonia and Vivek and their families.

Vivek's Haldi gets a little crazy

Sonia gets a similar treatment

More ceremony

Getting ready for the Baraat

This little guy rode the horse with Vivek

Vivek heads to the ceremony

The Baraat

Sonia does some texting during makeup

Looking awesome (Makeup by Kapil Bhalla)

Gorgeous bride

Sonia's mom with bridesmaids in their magnificent Saris

Sonia's mom with her new son-in-law

Sonia's dad, left, and Vivek's dad celebrate

Vivek's sisters Monica, left, and Deepti lead him to the wedding

Sonia's brother Sharad escorts her to the ceremony

After the ceremony

Cocktails

Wedding Cakes By Jill

Table decor by Carolyn Shepard

Entering the reception

First dance

Funny speeches

Amazing dancers

Sonia's mom enjoys the party

Sonia gets carried away

Sonia and Vivek head out to the after-party

The Sangeet (Sonia and Vivek)

2008-09-03T16:29:00.036-04:00

Sonia and Vivek's Sangeet ceremony at The Westin Saturday night was a colorful, festive event filled with music and dancing.
The Sangeet is typically more of a ladies function where all the ladies and unmarried girls from both sides congregate to dance and sing traditional wedding songs.
But the men were involved too with speeches and dancing.
The team of Samantha Slapnik and her assistant Rachel Hamm of Emma Grace Designs did a stellar job of keeping everything on track through the action-packed weekend.
Charlotte's Carolyn Shepard handled the linens, flowers and decor and teamed with Katen from Elegant Designz in Raleigh team to create beautiful settings for the Sangeet, wedding and reception.
I want to thank Prashant Shah of Prashant Video in Raleigh. He was incredibly helpful explaining different aspects of the ceremonies and pointing out key elements.
Sonia brought in makeup artist Kapil Bhalla from India and he did magnificent work. He spends much of his time working with Bollywood actresses and Sonia looked ready to walk onto a movie set.
Next up: the wedding. Check back for more images.

At the Sangeet

Kapil Bhalla helps Sonia get ready

A happy moment before the Sangeet

Beautiful henna decorations

One of many gorgeous outfits

Beautiful

A hookah lounge by Katen of Elegant Designz

Elegant work from Carolyn Shepard

Vivek's friend Sunkul talks about some of their adventures

Sonia's dad did a little singing

The women dance

Vivek's sister Monica

Sonia and Vivek dance with their niece

Celebration

A Hindu Celebration - Sonia Weds Vivek

2008-09-02T15:35:00.009-04:00

After not posting for some time I'm happy to be able to share images from an incredible wedding I photographed in Charlotte this past weekend.
Sonia and Vivek were married in a Punjabi Hindu wedding ceremony at The Westin. The event started Friday and lasted till midnight on Sunday.
I began documenting the event Saturday night at the Sangeet. Company photographer Laura Mueller and I started early Sunday covering a variety of ceremonies and traditions that make up the wedding celebration.
Extraordinary is the best word I can think of to describe this wedding. It was a photographer's dream full of emotion, color and wonderful people.
It is going to take me some time to go through all of the images so I decided to spread them over a few days. Make sure to check back to see these photos.
Today I'm just posting one photo of Sonia and Vivek. It wasn't hard to photograph this incredibly attractive pair who are also gracious, charming and thoughtful.
Thank you Sonia and Vivek and thanks to both of your wonderful families.

Sonia and Vivek

Kristin and Ross Marry in The Mountains

2008-08-18T17:44:00.038-04:00

A trip to the mountains in August is always a welcome relief in North Carolina.
Kristin and Ross would be married in Highlands, a town that holds a special place in the hearts of Ross' family.
After braving the incredibly curvy road that leads to the town, Betsy and I quickly realized the appeal of this charming town.
The wedding rehearsal took place at the private residence of a family friend Friday night. The beautiful setting was a photographer's dream and I was excited about the visual potential.
Well, much like many other areas in the state, the mountains have been experiencing a severe drought. Things were about to change Saturday.
The rain began to fall early Saturday and decided to stick around throughout the day. Ross, who was reminded numerous times that rain on your wedding day was good luck (including once by me), had to scramble to move the wedding ceremony to the Highlands Falls Country Club, the site of the reception.
Everyone took things in stride and they ended up with a touching, fun ceremony in the area that would later serve as the dance floor.
Kristin and Ross are both incredibly laid-back and that helped make the transition a breeze. They had many siblings and nieces and nephews who turned the ceremony into a wonderful family affair.
The old-school photo booth was a huge hit and Ross brought his pals from the band Hometown Sweethearts in from Wisconsin to rock the house. They had everyone dancing all night long.
General Manager Jason Macaulay and his staff at Highlands Falls Country Club did a fantastic job with all of the food and beverages. As an avid golfer, I was awed by the beauty of the golf course, which features a hole with a waterfall flowing behind the green.
It was a joy working with Kristin, Ross and their wonderful families.
Have a great time and eat lots of lobster in Bar Harbor!

Kristin and Ross

Cute nieces

Kristin and her mom at the rehearsal

Kristin and Ross enjoy the rehearsal

The Highlands Falls Country Club

Kristin gets ready

One of Ross' sisters

Ross' brother escorts their mother to the ceremony

Ross' nieces watch Kristin walk down the aisle

A lighthearted moment during the ceremony

The vows

Just married

There was some beautiful light as a light rain fell

The photo booth was great fun

They made a scrapbook with the photo booth pictures

Ross' cousins tell some tales

The couple enjoys the speeches

Toasting

Waylan Nate Palan, left, and Scott Beardsley of Hometown Sweethearts

Ross' brother rocks "Sweet Caroline"

A bubbly finish

Some Cool Relief for a Smokin' Hot August Wedding (Clary and Robert Part 2)

2008-08-06T17:42:00.036-04:00

It's August in the Carolinas and you know it's going to get hot.
So I guess this was the perfect time for one of the coolest weddings I've ever had a chance to photograph.
I recently got to work with Clary when we did her bridal portrait and I photographed Clary and Robert's rehearsal dinner Friday night.
I knew this was going to be an elegant event and both families are incredibly personable and easy to work with.
We started the day at Clary's parents' home as the bridesmaids got prepared. Clary's mom, Liz, who is also a model, thought of every detail. She brought in her friend Melissa B. Melvin, who typically works on fashion shoots, to help get the dresses just right.
The day was indeed hot, but everyone stayed cool through the beautiful service at Myers Park Baptist Church.
Our company photographer, Laura Mueller, was a huge help as she photographed the guys and preparations at the church.
Myers Park Country Club looked incredible, adorned with amazing floral arrangements from The Blossom Shop.
The ladies from Confetti Distinctive Events, Janie Sellers, Betsy Blue and intern Nicole Moody, did a great job handling all of the details with help from Myers Park Country Club social director Bobbie Eller.
One of the cooler elements at the reception was the bar, which was made of ice. Ice Sensations created the bar and other interesting ice features.
Another unique feature was the bourbon and cigar bar, complete with a gentleman hand rolling cigars for the guests. Joe and Alex from PVT Label Cigartainment were on hand throughout the reception.
The Maxx, a lively band from Atlanta, provided a steady soundtrack that had guests dancing all night. Kathy Allen of Cakes of Distinction created an elegant cake and the couple toasted with beautiful crystal flutes her parents brought back from a trip to Santorini Greece.
Clary and Robert are off to honeymoon in Anguilla.

Clary and Robert

Clary's mom, Liz, was striking

The girls head to the church

Clary's dad tries to stay out of the fray before the service

Clary looked amazing in her Vera Wang Couture gown

Two lovely ladies, Clary and her mom Liz

Maid of Honor Elizabeth

Liz is greeted by a friend

Clary and Robert's dads walk him to the church with Dr. Shoemaker

Myers Park Baptist Church

Heading to the reception

Flowers by The Blossom Shop

The cool ice bar from Ice Sensations was a hit

The gorgeous cake by Kathy Allen of Cakes of Distinction

Alex of PVT Cigartainment rolls a cigar

A big send off after a great night

An Amazing Weekend (Clary and Robert's wedding)

2008-08-05T13:39:00.024-04:00

I had the great pleasure of photographing a full weekend of activities that were all part of Clary and Robert's amazing wedding.
I wanted to make sure to do the event justice so I'm displaying the images in two separate posts.
We'll start today with photos from the rehearsal dinner, hosted by Robert's parents, at the Duke Mansion and the after party at Belle Acres Golf & Country Club.
Aundrea Hopkins did a great job organizing everything at the Duke Mansion. Haines Barksdale of For Goodness Cakes made a wonderful groom's cake that paid homage to Robert's alma mater - the University of Virginia.
I can't say enough about how gracious Clary, Robert and both of their families were. It was truly a pleasure working with them.
Make sure to check back for the wedding photos in my next post.
(Remember to click on the photos for better viewing and hit the back button to return to the blog).

Clary and Robert during a toast

A nice outdoor setting at the Duke Mansion

The happy couple

The Duke Mansion

Cocktails

Clary chats with Robert's grandfather

Cake by Haines Barksdale of For Goodness Cakes

Robert's dad tells a funny story about his son

Cheers

Clary's mom talks about her close relationship with her daughter

Clary's dad enjoying the evening

Some of the bridesmaids told a few stories too

Clary looking radiant

Belle Acres Golf & Country Club

Clary greets a friend at the after party

New York State of Mind

2008-07-28T17:02:00.015-04:00

We've just returned from a wonderful family trip to Saratoga Springs, NY, and New York City among a few other places along the way.
After stopping in Marysville, PA to say hi to Betsy's brother Glenn (just missed nieces Carrie and Hayley, who were at work), we journeyed north to celebrate my mother's birthday with my sister and two brothers and their families, as well as other family and old friends.
It was great catching up with everyone. Sean and I also hit the links with my brothers and nephew as Betsy and Ali took in some of the sights in Saratoga.
We decided to make a stop in NYC on the way home. We did some sightseeing and shopping and then had dinner in Little Italy.
We're preparing for a very busy August as we continue to complete our office move to Charlotte as well as photographing three unique weddings.
Check back next week for some images from an amazing wedding we are doing in Charlotte this weekend.

Sean caught a nice moment of his sister taking some family photos

Grandma Carol with her grandchildren

My siblings, from left, Ben, me, Jenny and Jeff with our mom in front

Ali enjoys a glass of wine as she and Betsy explored Saratoga

A rare picture of Betsy and me as we ride a shuttle in NYC

Some of the action in Times Square

We saw this guy hanging out in front of Madame Tussauds

Betsy, Sean and Ali on 42nd Street

Ali was excited to find one of her favorite London eateries in NYC

Wow, two shots of us in one day - the Empire State Building in the background

Hanging with Sean after dinner in Little Italy

Ali got a little creative with her point-and-shoot on a late-night cab ride

Our New Location

2008-07-16T14:45:00.003-04:00

We are excited to announce that we have a new studio in Charlotte!
We loved our Davidson space but we decided it was time to get closer to more of our client base in Charlotte.
Davidson is a great community and we loved our time there. Thanks to all of the great folks we got to meet and work with there. And thank you for everyone who helped and participated in our "Faces of Davidson" project.
The opportunity to get a space in historic Dilworth so close to uptown was a little too good to pass up.
We're now close enough to meet our Charlotte clients on a lunch break.
We'll have more pictures and information as we get a bit more settled in.

Father of the Bride

2008-07-13T18:21:00.010-04:00

A recent photo editing session included a few pictures that made me think of the movie "Father of the Bride."
As the father of a daughter, I can relate to many of the issues and emotions that Steve Martin encountered in the humorous take on a father's journey through the wedding process.
I also get a first-hand view of many dads in my job documenting the wedding experience.
Most people are aware that the driving force behind the planning and execution of weddings is the mother-of-the bride and/or the bride.
Much like in the movie, the joke is that the father's role is basically relegated to writing checks and trying to rein in the spending.
It's often a bittersweet moment for fathers. Their little girl is all grown up but they know that their daughter has found love with great hope for the future.
Capturing all of the emotions is part of what makes photographing weddings so rewarding.
It's such an important moment for families. And it's my great pleasure helping them remember this special time.

Jessica dances with her father

Courtney's dad embraces his new son-in-law

Caroline and her father share a laugh and then a quiet moment before walking down the aisle

On another note, we are preparing for some exciting changes in the coming weeks but I'm not quite ready to announce them just yet. So stay tuned!
We are also going to be doing some traveling and then preparing for some incredible weddings in August.

Beautiful Bride

2008-07-03T15:13:00.014-04:00

I was looking forward to this bridal portrait session and it proved to be all that I had expected.
Clary is striking - more than 6-feet tall and beautiful. Her mom Liz is a model and Clary is very comfortable in front of the camera.
We had a great location and Clary looked amazing in her Vera Wang Couture gown.
Thanks to Joe Strickland for assisting.
I know Clary's August wedding in Charlotte is going to be incredible.

Family portraits

2008-06-30T20:57:00.010-04:00

I haven't been keeping up with the blog too well lately but I wanted to share some fun family photos we did Monday.
Callan and Nicole are a great couple we've gotten to know after first photographing their son, Cal, when he was a baby. After Lily was born, we came back and did some more photos.
They recently moved into a new home and it was time to get some more pictures as the kids continue to grow.
Our dauther Alison, who recently returned from London, came along to lend a hand.
It's so nice to establish long-term relationships with clients and helping to preserve some of these wonderful times in their lives.

Lily and Cal have some fun

Nicole and Callan

A Dream Wedding

2008-06-16T21:34:00.022-04:00

First dance for Stephanie and George

George had an idea.
He would dance with his beautiful new bride under a canopy of stars as all of their friends and family looked on.
Everything was set as he and Stephanie exchanged vows at All Saints Episcopal Church in Concord.
Friend and wedding planner Amy Johnson had things organized at the historic Beaver Dam in Davidson. The tents were arranged with the open-air dance floor in the center, and hanging glass globes with candles would add to the atmosphere.
Sounded like a great visual to me.
While at the church, I was taking pictures from the balcony and I kept hearing a strange sound as the ceremony progressed.
Then it hit me - it was rain, and lots of it.
Precipitation has been a rarity around these parts recently so I figured it would be short-lived. I kept thinking that as I made the trip from Concord to the reception site in Davidson.
But the rain kept coming. It wasn't torrential, but it was steady.
Well, George's dream was going to have to wait. But nobody seemed to worry about it too much and everything went off as planned.
Drinks, dinner and socializing continued and everyone was having a great time.
And then the rain stopped. The floor was mopped, and guests pitched in to dump water and light candles. The stage was set.
And George got his dance.
Although the clouds hid the stars, George and his beautiful new wife moved across the wet floor in front of all of their family and friends.
And they danced on into the night.

All Saints Episcopal Church

A little tie trouble

Stephanie gets help with her new earrings

Karen Wagoner touches up Stephanie's makeup

Stephanie looked radiant

Stephanie smiles at George as her dad walks her down the aisle

A big hug from mom after the ceremony

Entrance in the rain

Guests have some fun

The best man made up a song for his speech

Enjoying the first dance

George and his mom brought everyone to the dance floor as they danced to "Don't Stop Believin' "

Historic Beaver Dam in Davidson

Winston-Salem Wedding

2008-06-11T11:52:00.027-04:00

Jon and Jessica are a fun couple and they had a beautiful wedding at Home Moravian Church in Old Salem followed by a wonderful reception at the Graylyn International Conference Center.
Company photographer Laura Mueller helped out as everyone braved the unusually warm early June weather.
Thanks to wedding coordinator and director Jo Stanley of Perfect Directions Weddings and Special Events. She and Paula Glover, special events coordinator at Graylyn, helped create an incredibly memorable event.

Jon and Jessica at one of Graylyn's many beautiful settings

Jessica greets her grandparents before the wedding

Jessica looked fantastic

Laura's photo at Home Moravian Church

Jessica gets a hug from her grandmother

Jessica's brother congratulates Jon

The beautiful grounds at Graylyn

I never saw a golf cart I didn't like (Laura caught me in action)

First dance

Jessica's parents

Beautiful evening

Jon tears up the dance floor

Big sendoff

In the News

2008-06-09T13:16:00.003-04:00

David Boraks did a very nice article about our portrait project on his website - DAVIDSONNEWS.NET.
We appreciate the coverage and we've gotten some great feedback on the project.
Check back soon for images from a fun wedding I photographed Saturday in Winston-Salem.

Unveiling the "Faces"

2008-06-06T14:47:00.005-04:00

We first announced the project in February, started photography in March and today we are happy to unveil our "Faces of Davidson" pictures.
Click here to see the images. Scroll to the menu section and select Faces of Davidson. Be sure to roll over caption to learn more about the subjects.
Betsy and I wanted to thank everyone involved, from the many people who offered suggestions to all of our subjects.
Our only regret is that it was impossible to photograph all the people that deserved to be included in this fine group.
We had a wonderful time meeting all our subjects and we hope you enjoy the results.

An Eye for Design

2008-06-02T16:42:00.007-04:00

As loyal blog followers have probably noticed I like photographing ballet and I've enjoyed a long-standing connection with the incredible North Carolina Dance Theatre (NCDT) here in Charlotte.
One of the benefits of that relationship is getting exposure to the work of talented artists like costume designer Christine Darch.
Darch has worked with many ballet companies and she is choreographer Dwight Rhoden's designer. She recently asked if she could use some of my photos on her website and I was happy to oblige. The photos show costumes she designed for Rhoden's Momentary Forevers.
Darch also does a limited number of wedding gown designs and she and a friend are working to develop a boutique collection for modern brides and bridesmaids.

NCDT dancers Addul Manzano and Rebecca Carmazzi in costumes by Christine Darch

Love in Bloom - a Garden Celebration

2008-05-20T12:14:00.024-04:00

I know it can be stressful planning an outdoor wedding or reception and it can make you wonder if it is worth the added pressure.
Well Caroline and Chris's reception in the incredible garden at her parents Charlotte home proved that sometimes a roll of the dice can have a great payoff.
Everything came together with perfect weather, music, food and, of course, this wonderful setting that Caroline's mother, Susie, and her entire family have helped nurture over the years.
Caroline and Chris are both Master of Divinity students at Princeton Theological Seminary and they had a beautiful service at Covenant Presbyterian Church.
I worked with the bride's brother, Chip, many years ago at The Charlotte Observer and he has gone on to travel the world as a freelance documentary news photographer based in New York City.
It was hard to do the setting justice in any single photograph but here are a few images from a truly delightful event.

Caroline and Chris

Caroline waits before the service

Caroline and her dad prepare to walk down the aisle

The service at Covenant Presbyterian Church

Chip keeps his niece Whitney busy

The backyard rose garden

Caroline's parents celebrate

Chris and niece Mary Evans

Caroline dances with niece Whitney

David from The Blue Thistle did some of the arrangements

Caroline with her grandfather

It makes you want to "shout"

A little dance in the garden

Appropriately they were showered with petals from the family's rose garden

Ballet Photography (Romeo and Juliet)

2008-05-15T13:14:00.024-04:00

I was able to put my Nikon D3 to the test Wednesday night and was once again blown away by the results as I photographed North Carolina Dance Theatre's Romeo and Juliet. The ballet is a feast for the eyes with incredible dance performances combined with beautiful costumes. I've been photographing dance for more than a decade and this camera offers features that allow me to take photos that weren't possible before.
This performance of Romeo and Juliet is a world premiere and NCDT president and artistic director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux has put together a talented team for the production. Included are set designer Howard Jones, lighting designer and director of operations Nate McGaha and costume designer A. Christina (Stia) Giannini, whose work was a joy to photograph.

A 360-degree kiss (high degree of difficulty)

Beautiful costumes by Stia Giannini

Randolph Ward soars

Waiting to go on

Anna Gerberich, front, and Seia Rassenti

David Ingram and Traci Gilchrest in the lead roles

Traci Gilchrest

Jhe Russell, left, and Randolph Ward

David Ingram

Wachovia Championship Photos

2008-05-05T15:52:00.021-04:00

This past week was a change of pace I spent my time documenting some of the best golfers in the world at the Wachovia Championship here in Charlotte.
Tournament officials hired me to get behind-the-scenes shots of this fantastic event and I enjoyed seeing many old friends at Quail Hollow.
I've covered several major championships over the years and the Wachovia ranks right up there with the best of them.
Even though Tiger Woods was injured and unable to defend his title this year, thousands of fans turned out and great weather conditions prevailed.
Anthony Kim, a talented 22-year-old, dominated the event his 272 total earned his a 5-stroke win.

The scene at the 18th green Sunday

Stewart Cink blasts out of trouble

Ian Poulter struts down the fairway

Jason Bohn chips in to end his Saturday round

Some nice early morning light

Playing from a fairway bunker on the 1st hole

Phil Mickelson works on his game

Ben Curtis hits his second shot to the 5th green

Phil Mickelson always draws huge crowds

Stewart Cink celebrates a long birdie putt on the 17th hole

The crowd applauds Cink's shot Saturday

Sunday's sunrise service included a bagpiper

The mowers were out in force preparing for Sunday's final

Jason Bohn, who finished 3rd, tries to coax his putt into the hole

Anthony Kim enjoys his walk up to the 18th hole

Just 22, Kim has a bright future following his 5-stroke win

Stunning Charleston Wedding (Courtney and Matt)

2008-04-29T13:30:00.018-04:00

Although Courtney and Matt had planned a beautiful outdoor wedding Saturday at Middleton Place Plantation near Charleston, they didn't let a little rain spoil the day. Under Matt's supervision, guests and groomsmen quickly stepped in to help move the event to a nearby tent and everything went off without a hitch.
The sun started to peek through the clouds as soon as the ceremony began and turned into brilliant sunshine by its conclusion.
The celebration then moved to Woodlands Resort and Inn for the reception. It was a great weekend with some amazing venues, starting with the rehearsal dinner Friday night at Planters Inn in Charleston.

Courtney and Matt share a moment after the ceremony

Friends and relatives take cover as the rain quickly turns from a sprinkle to a steady stream

Guests and groomsmen jumped in to help move the ceremony to a tent

Courtney and Matt enjoy their first moments as husband and wife

Having some fun after the ceremony

Courtney and her dad

The sun came out after the wedding

Beautiful early-evening light at Middleton Place

Courtney at the reception

Dancing at Woodlands Resort and Inn

Misty Morning at Quail Hollow

2008-04-21T19:59:00.013-04:00

I wanted to share a few images I took last week in preparation for the upcoming Wachovia Championship at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte.
I've been involved with the tournament pretty much since its inception in 2003. I was The Charlotte Observer's point person for golf coverage for several years and this year tournament officials hired me to document much of the behind-the-scenes action.
Quail Hollow is a magnificent course and I've photographed it several times both from the ground and from a helicopter. The cold mornings we had been having created the perfect conditions to get moody, ethereal shots around the water at the 17th hole.
I knew I would have to get there by sunrise for the best light so I got up early and braved the cold but it was all worth it.
I plan to post some images from a wedding this Saturday before heading out to cover the golf tournament.

Beautiful scene at Quail Hollow

The 16th green at dawn

View from a spectator stand at the 15th green

The 17th green is a tough target - even for the pros

Another view of the 16th green

A heron takes flight

Luck With Light and a Bit of Blarney...

2008-04-16T16:00:00.019-04:00

I was lucky to run into some great light on a couple of recent photo shoots.
On assignment for The London Times, I photographed North Carolina author Eric G. Wilson in Winston-Salem.
Wilson, who earlier in the day had appeared on The Today Show to talk about his book, "Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy," rushed to meet me at his office at Wake Forest University after his flight was delayed in New York.
Daylight was fading quickly but we were able to find a room where a shaft of light was still coming through the window and we did some quick shots there. The drama of the lighting was a good match for the content of his book.
I photographed Lance Drummond, a Bank of America executive, for a magazine cover. This shoot was early in the morning in uptown Charlotte but I was fortunate to again be able to utilize some excellent window light for a colorful, evocative image.
I always carry portable lights on these shoots but I also enjoy the challenge of using natural light when possible.

Wake Forest professor and author Eric G. Wilson

Wilson in his office

Lance Drummond

Our daughter Alison continues to live and work in London and she is loving the experience. She sent us some photos of a recent trip to Cork in Ireland.
She is thinking about spending several months in Ireland following her stay in London.
We miss you Ali!

Ali, far left, with her friend Amanda from Salisbury, green hat, and their Australian friends Jib and Cathy

Ali after kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle

Photo Contest for a Good Cause

2008-04-15T12:26:00.006-04:00

I've been asked to help judge a photo contest to select images for a 2009 photography calendar to be published as a fund-raiser for HAMMERS, the emergency home repair program of the Davidson Housing Coalition.
HAMMERS (Hands Around Mecklenburg/Mooresville Making Emergency Repairs Safely) was formed in 2005 and has already repaired 75 homes in the towns of Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville and Mooresville for people who would be challenged to pay for needed emergency repairs.
The organization is part of the Davidson Housing Coalition, a non-profit geared to help those in need to find safe and affordable places to live.
It's my pleasure to lend assistance to this worthy group but we need local photographers to do their part. The theme for the calendar is "Images of Hometowns," and the pictures should depict scenes of Davidson, Huntersville, Cornelius and Mooresville. The 2008 calendar "Images of Home" included a variety of media - paintings, prints and photographs.
Bill Giduz, director of media relations for Davidson College and a fine photographer, and I will select 13 images (one for each month and a cover photo).
There is a $10 entry fee per photographer for up to three photos. Digital files must be 8 inches by 10 inches at 200 to 300 dpi. Prints must be 8x10 also. Color and b&w are both acceptable.
Check the Housing Coalition website for more information. Digital submissions should go to ann@davidsonhousing.org by 5 p.m. May 30.
Also check DavidsonNews.net for an article on the calendars.
Calendars will be available this fall at local shops or through the Housing Coalition website.

Wedding Photography (Abby and Mike)

2008-04-14T12:52:00.023-04:00

We've been fortunate to have some fantastic clients and Abby and Mike and their families would have to rate at the top of that list.
They were so kind, gracious and relaxed that it made my job very easy.
Abby is beautiful and she also happens to be the sister of one of my good friends. Her brother Craig is a former photojournalist who covered many major sporting events for Getty Images before putting his cameras down to start his own custom home building business a few years ago.
After a wonderful ceremony at Myers Park United Methodist Church, everyone headed to The Big Chill for food, refreshment and lots of dancing to an awesome band.
(Remember to double-click the photos for better viewing and hit the back button to return.)

Some pretty light as Abby checks the action outside the church

Abby and Mike right after the ceremony

Getting ready

Beautiful bride

Abby tries to gather her emotions right before the ceremony

Happy couple

My friend Craig, Abby's brother, lines up a shot of his sister

Big finish to their first dance

Abby dances with her dad

Mike's grandparents, both in their 90s, have been married 68 years

Pulitzer Prize Finalist

2008-04-08T11:14:00.006-04:00

The 2008 Pulitzer Prizes were announced Monday and I was happy to learn that the last big project I worked on at The Charlotte Observer was a finalist for the 2008 Gold Medal for Public Service.
As the lead photographer on a team of editors and reporters, I was heavily involved from the onset of the project. I worked extensively to find the best visual approach to the story until I left the paper in January 2007.
The series, "Sold a Nightmare", focused on the area's high rate of housing foreclosures and questionable sales practices by one of the nation's largest homebuilders. See the Observer's article about the award here.
My challenge initially was to make interesting images from situations that weren't very visually compelling. We found a few families that we focused on to put a human face on the issue.
The Washington Post won the award for a series that exposed mistreatment of wounded veterans at Walter Reed Hospital. Newsday was the third finalist for its investigation into a railroad's safety hazards.
The Observer's project was far-reaching and took more than a year to complete. Observer photographers Todd Sumlin, Diedra Laird, Yalonda M. James and Dana Romanoff all worked on the series.
Congratulations to the winners of the Pulitzer's photography awards - Adrees Latif of Reuters for Breaking News Photography and Preston Gannaway of the Concord (N.H.) Monitor for Feature Photography.

Baby Portraits

2008-04-06T13:06:00.010-04:00

It's always nice to get another chance to get to work with clients and Anne and Tim, whose wedding we photographed in 2005, recently contacted us to photograph their beautiful 4-month-old twins Mary Anne and Austin.
Anne and Tim helped Betsy as they set them up for their portraits, and I tried to work quickly when we had both of their attention.
Family is so important and we feel lucky to be able to share in so many great moments with our clients.

Mary Anne, left, and Austin

Tim holds Austin and Anne holds Mary Anne

Tim and Anne on their wedding day at VanLandingham Estate

Stephen Curry and the Davidson Wildcats (Thanks for the memories)

2008-04-01T16:59:00.009-04:00

We'd seen them take down Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. In other years, that game would have been a crowning achievement as they captured their first NCAA tournament win in 40 years.
The Davidson Wildcats then set their sights on the No. 2-seeded Georgetown Hoyas. After dropping 40 points on Gonzaga, sophomore guard Stephen Curry's sharpshooting had captured the nation's imagination.
After falling behind the Hoyas in the first half, Curry ignited for 25 of his 30 points in the second half and Davidson stunned Georgetown, 74-70.
Next came Wisconsin, the Big 10 champs, and Curry twisted, spun and rained down jumpers on his way to 33-points. The Wildcats coasted to a 73-56 win in front of LeBron James and hundreds of Davidson students bused to the game by the school's trustees.
One more win would mean the seemingly impossible - this tiny, academically challenging school of 1,700 students would be headed to the Final Four.
I'd first seen Curry play as a high schooler when I was assigned to photograph one of his games for The Charlotte Observer. He was overlooked by the bigger schools and Davidson pulled off an incredible coup when he enrolled there.
At Davidson, we saw him play as a freshman and were immediately impressed. We went to several games and even photographed a few this year.
With our studio in Davidson, we felt a connection with the team and the town. My brother and dad both followed the team's progress and I would get calls from Georgia and New York as they talked about the team's exploits.
Our son Sean and I made a frantic trip to Davidson on Easter Sunday to catch as much of the Georgetown game as we could at The Brickhouse, a gathering place for local fans.
We had a small family party at our house for the Kansas game and Betsy cooked up some chicken wraps with a special spice (Curry) and red-velvet cupcakes with chocolate chips in keeping with Davidson's red and black color scheme among other dishes.
Davidson played incredible defense and seemed to have the Jayhawks on the ropes much of the game until they made a late run to take 59-57 lead with 16.8 seconds left.
Everything seemed to be in place for an amazing upset as Curry brought the ball upcourt.
Kansas bottled Curry up and he passed off to teammate Jason Richards, whose 26-foot shot was off the mark as the final buzzer sounded.
It was hard to believe it was over.
As a former journalist, I appreciated what made Davidson's run such a great story. Although led by an amazing star, Davidson won as a team under the leadership of coach Bob McKillop. And the players are true student-athletes who aren't just using college as a stepping stone to the NBA.
As a fan, I just enjoyed following along like everyone else.
Congratulations to all involved.
It was a great ride!

I love this shot our son Sean got of Curry in a game at Belk Arena

Coach McKillop helps out on defense against UNCG

Sharpshooter

These guys always seemed to be having fun

Davidson stuns Goliath (Scenes from Brickhouse Tavern)

2008-03-23T20:03:00.008-04:00

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter.
After church and a nice meal at my niece Missy's house, Sean and I made the trip to Davidson to watch the Davidson Wildcats play Georgetown with other fans at the Brickhouse Tavern. The Brickhouse is Wildcat central for local fans who couldn't get tickets to the NCAA Regional in Raleigh, and we wanted to experience the game with other fans.
For the uninitiated, Davidson hadn't won an NCAA tournament game since 1969 before its first-round win over Gonzaga. And sophomore sensation Stephen Curry, the baby-faced son of former NBA player Dell Curry, has become the story of the NCAA Tournament after dropping 40 points in the first game.
Having our studio in Davidson and being big sports fans, we've all become Wildcat supporters and we've gone to many games at Davidson's Belk Arena.
In the past, I probably would have been photographing these games, but I was happy to get a chance to be a fan with Sean. Check out some great images from my friends and former co-workers David T. Foster III and Jeff Siner at the Charlotte Observer's website.
Curry started slowly and Davidson was in a deep hole, but true to a great script, Curry exploded for 25 of his 30 points in the second half and Davidson beat the No. 2 seeded Hoyas, 74-70, to advance to the Sweet 16 in Detroit.
Curry is a once-in-a-lifetime player and it has been so much fun to watch him play.
Congratulations to Coach Bob McKillop and all of the Wildcats!
Another Goliath awaits.

The fans sense a comeback at The Brickhouse

Davidson moves into the lead

Victory is complete

Fotorecord Turns 1 and "Faces" Project is Underway

2008-03-17T16:24:00.017-04:00

It was one year ago today that we started our blog Fotorecord and we hope you all have enjoyed keeping up with our progress.
In other news, we're kicking off our "Faces of Davidson" project this week.
Betsy and I are having a great time meeting and photographing so many interesting people from the area. We did six portraits today and things have gotten off to a great start.
We will be doing portraits all week and we'll keep everyone updated on the progress and future plans for the project.
We are so pleased with the incredibly positive response from all involved.
I also wanted to wish a Happy Saint Patrick's Day to everyone - especially my favorite Irishman, my dad. Have a great day Chief!
I've been very busy with a variety of different assignments as we wait for wedding season to get into full swing.
Check below for some photos I took last week at the ACC Tournament. I did some freelance work for The Charlotte Observer, my former employer, and it was fun shooting basketball again. It was also nice to catch up with many of my old friends.
I also did an interesting portrait assignment for The London Times and I'll post some images from that shoot later this week.

Faces of Davidson is underway!

ACC Tournament action

Coaches are always fun to shoot

They didn't win

More coaches

Bridal Portraits

2008-03-11T17:27:00.009-04:00

We had a beautiful day for a bridal portrait session with Caroline Monday at the Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary in Charlotte.
Wing Haven is fantastic setting and we found some great locations even though it was a bit early for the best floral display.
Caroline's mom, sister and her two little nieces were all on hand and Betsy gave me an assist on the shoot.
Caroline's brother Chip, who I worked with many years ago at The Charlotte Observer, is an excellent freelance news photographer living and working in New York City.
We're looking forward to working with Caroline and her fiance Chris at their May wedding here in Charlotte.

Caroline with her sister and nieces

Contests and Cameras

2008-03-07T14:15:00.004-05:00

Got some good news today when I found out one of our photographs won a 3rd place in the Getting Ready category of the Wedding Photojournalists Association's (WPJA) most recent contest.
The WPJA is an international association made up of the top wedding photojournalists in the world. The group is highly selective and its contests are incredibly competitive and judged by some of the best people in the world of photojournalism.
Contests can be subjective but its always nice to win. North Carolina is blessed with some amazingly talented photographers and I wanted to congratulate fellow winners Christobal and Kathleen Perez, Corey McNabb, Matt McGraw and Gary Allen.
The winning image came from Mary Madison and Andrew's October wedding in Myrtle Beach. (For more images from the wedding, click here.) It just so happened that it was Bike Week and Mary Madison reacted as she drew the attention of several passing bikers while heading to the church.
JUDGES COMMENTS: This looks to me like a true candid moment with the photographer able to capture this moment because he or she was able to anticipate the action and be in the position to make the photograph. Some would mind the fence of rail in the foreground, but I don’t. If anything it adds to this candid moment. This particular moment was not one of the many predictable moments of a wedding. Howard Chapnick taught me that a great photograph is a combination of elements: capturing the moment, conveying useful information, emotion, and composition. Howard wrote a book which I think is the Bible for picture editors and photographers: TRUTH NEEDS NO ALLY.
They added: Everyone has similar expressions and that’s what makes this photo--as the bride is helped with her dress on the way to the ceremony.

In other news, I'm selling two of my Nikon D200 cameras and I wanted to see if any of our readers might be interested. Both cameras come with the MB-D200 grip and an extra battery. Both are in great shape and have low numbers of shutter clicks.
Email me at crecord@carolina.rr.com if you are interested.

Party Photos

2008-03-04T17:32:00.015-05:00

I had a great time Saturday night with Jackie and Stuart and their families at an engagement party Jackie's dad hosted at Providence Country Club.
They are an incredibly fun couple and I know their October wedding will be a special event. I also look forward to working with planner Jennifer Wouters of Soiree Charlotte Weddings.
Catering director Dee Wood and the staff at Providence Country Club did a excellent job with the food and beverages Saturday. The flowers came from Crawford & Company Florist and Francis C. Nazzaro and Chuck Broncato of The Sinatra Experience kept everyone entertained. I love Sinatra's music and these guys brought it to life.
They topped off the night with some impressive karaoke, include Jackie and Stu's version of "Endless Love."
Congratulations guys and I'm looking forward to your wedding!

Jackie and Stuart

Providence Country Club

Crawford & Company Florist

Francis C. Nazzaro, front, and Chuck Broncato of The Sinatra Experience

Jackie gets a big hug from Stu's mom

Jackie tears up the dance floor with her dad and grandmother

Jackie's dad sings "Margaritaville"

Jackie and Stu's duet of "Endless Love"

Fashion Photography (Runway for the Ballet)

2008-03-03T12:27:00.024-05:00

The Runway for the Ballet Sunday night was a fun mix of fashion, music and dance.
Opening Night Insiders, a group of young professionals interested in ballet and other cultural events, produced and organized the event for the North Carolina Dance Theatre (NCDT).
Models and dancers displayed fashions from Neiman Marcus, one of the shows sponsors. Dancers also performed pieces from NCDT's current show - Rhoden, Bolero & Balanchine. The models were from Wilhelmina/Evolution Management, Carolina Talent, and Directions USA.
Radio personality Ramona Holloway from 107.9 the LINK and Charlotte Observer style editor Rachel Sutherland did a nice job as the show's emcees.
All proceeds from the show will help fund educational programs and allow NCDT to invest in new choreography.
Most of the images were taken with the new Nikon D3 and I'll include technical information under the photographs. (Remember to click on the images for better viewing and hit the back button to return to the blog).

Nikon D200 ISO 1250 1/80 f2.8 17-55mm lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1600 1/160 f2.8 70-200mm VR lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1250 1/250 f2.8 70-200mm VR lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1250 1/400 f2.8 70-200mm VR lens

Nikon D200 ISO 1000 1/125 f2.8 17-55mm lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1250 1/400 f2.8 70-200mm VR lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1250 1/320 f4 70200mm VR lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1250 1/400 f2.8 70-200mm VR lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1000 1/400 f2.8 70-200mm VR lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1000 1/320 f2.8 70-200mm VR lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1250 1/500 f2.8 70-200mm VR lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1000 1/320 f2.8 70-200mm VR lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1250 1/500 f4 70-200mm VR lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1250 1/400 f2.8 70-200mm VR lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1600 1/250 f3.5 70-200mm VR lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1000 1/320 f2.8 70-200mm VR lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1000 1/400 f2.8 70-200mm VR lens

Nikon D3 ISO 1250 1/800 f2.8 70-200mm VR lens

Nikon D3 Test (NCDT Ballet Photos)

2008-02-28T12:10:00.021-05:00

Photographing the North Carolina Dance Theatre's (NCDT) dress rehearsal for "Rhoden, Bolero and Balanchine" was the perfect opportunity to test out my new Nikon D3 camera.
I've been photographing ballet for more than decade and I've transitioned from film to a variety of digital cameras. Ballet presents many technical challenges as you endeavor to photograph movement in typically low, ever-changing light.
I was excited to test the capabilities of the D3 after hearing great things about the camera's performance at high ISOs.
(For the non-photographers, a camera's ISO function sets the light sensitivity of the camera's image sensor - similar to the speed rating of film. Typically, the higher the ISO the greater the amount of noise or grain in the image).
I have to say that among the many great things about this camera, the ability to increase the ISO up to 6400 while maintaining image quality is nothing short of remarkable.
I've heard others make this comment as well, but this camera allows me to make photographs that weren't possible before.
Keep in mind that I'm not being paid by Nikon (although I would be open to such an arrangement), but I am a long-time Nikon user.
The D3 also has a blazing 9-frames-per second motor drive (when shooting with non-DX lenes) and the full-frame sensor which adds a new dimension to lens selection. (Previous digital Nikons all had a conversion factor which changed the actual focal length of the lens.)
The ability to shoot at the higher ISOs allows the use of higher shutter speeds, which enables the photographer to better freeze the moving, leaping dancers. In the past, I would have to use very slow (1/30th of a second) shutter speeds as I would have to time the shot at the moment of least movement.
Well that's enough technical talk. It's been my great pleasure to photograph these wonderful dancers over the years and I'm always amazed by their talent. Charlotte is so lucky to have such an incredible dance troupe led by Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and his wife Patricia McBride.
Performances run tonight through Saturday (Feb. 1-March 1) and then Thursday through Saturday (March 6-8) next week.
You won't be disappointed in this entertaining, versatile show.
(A reminder, click on the photo for a better look and then hit the back button to return to the blog. I'm including some technical information for the photographers in the crowd. Enjoy!)

Traci Gilchrest lets her hair down
(Nikon D3 ISO 5000 1/640 at f2.8)

Joseph Watson and Seia Rassenti
(Nikon D3 ISO 5000 1/200th at f2.8)

Sasha Janes and Alessandra Ball
(Nikon D3 ISO 3200 1/250th at f2.8)

Alessandra Ball gives a curtain call
(Nikon D3 ISO 3200 1/4ooth f2.8)

Kara Wilkes and David Ingram
(Nikon D3 ISO 5000 1/200th f2.8)

Anna Gerberich in the wings
(Nikon D3 ISO 5000 1/100th f2.8)

Seia Rassenti
(Nikon D3 ISO 5000 1/200th f2.8)

(Nikon D3 ISO 3200 1/400th at f2.8)

(Nikon D3 ISO 5000 1/400th f2.8)

Kara Wilkes and David Ingram
(Nikon D3 ISO 5000 1/320th f2.8)

Sasha Janes
(Nikon D3 ISO 4000 1/400th f2.8)

Seia Rassenti and Joseph Watson
(Nikon D3 ISO 5000 1/160th f2.8)

Sasha Janes and Anna Gerberich
(Nikon D3 ISO 2500 1/320th f2.8)

(Nikon D3 ISO 2500 1/500th f2.8)

Kara Wilkes
(Nikon D3 ISO 5000 1/500th f2.8)

(Nikon D3 ISO 2500 1/500th f2.8)

Ali in England and Nikon news

2008-02-26T14:13:00.007-05:00

Alison is having a grand time living and working in London. (For those new to the blog, our daughter Ali loves to travel and has been back-and-forth to Europe several times.)
She and her friend Amanda took a train to Wales this past weekend to see Amanda's aunt and uncle.
Alison's next planned adventure is to spend St. Patrick's Day in Dublin...

Amanda, Amanda's aunt and Ali (L-R)

On the photography front, I'm excited about our latest purchase - the Nikon D3.
This amazing new camera offers technical advancements that will allow us to give our clients fantastic results in a wide variety of lighting situations.
For the photographers out there, the D3 yields beautiful results at ISOs up to 6400 and beyond. This feature will allow available light photography in many more situations than were previously possible.
I'm going to be testing the camera out at the North Carolina Dance Theatre's upcoming dress rehearsal so check back to see the images.

"Faces of Davidson" Update

2008-02-22T16:28:00.003-05:00

We're very pleased with the response we're getting to our "Faces of Davidson" portrait project.
The calls and emails have been streaming in. Keep them coming!
Remember, we're looking for interesting people from throughout the community.
We'll continue to gather names through Feb. 29th and we hope to start the portrait sessions in mid-March.
Betsy is coordinating the event and you can reach her at erecord@carolina.rr.com or by calling our studio at 704.892.9662.
Thank you for all of your great ideas!

Davidson Does it Again (basketball photos)

2008-02-20T11:37:00.020-05:00

With the Davidson College regular season winding down, I wanted to make sure to photograph some of the remaining home games.
The Wildcats took care of business again last night downing UNC Greensboro, 75-66, on the way to their 18th Southern Conference win.
I'm looking forward to following Davidson's progress in March.
(Remember to click on the photos for better viewing. Hit the back button to return).
We're also excited about out "Faces of Davidson" photo project. I want to thank David Boraks for the nice mention in DavidsonNews.net today.
Please send us your suggestions. Don't be shy. Tell us who you think we should include and why. Email us a crecord@carolina.rr.com.
We're in the process of gathering names and we'll release more details about the dates of the portrait sessions soon.

Is this the so-called "Sixth Man?"

Money

Boris Meno rejects UNCG's Kyle Hines

Curry drives

Thomas Sander hits the floor for a loose ball

"Mr. Assist" Jason Richards shoots one himself

Drawing a foul

Sideline humor

Happy Cats

McKillop and company are 18-0 in the conference

Portrait Project: "Faces of Davidson"

2008-02-18T13:32:00.005-05:00

I’m happy to announce an exciting new portrait project we are organizing to help us to get to know more people in the Davidson community.
Tentatively titled “Faces of Davidson" we plan to photograph a diverse mix of people in what we hope will be a local exhibit.
We’re seeking suggestions of people in the area who we should feature in the portraits.
We are looking for interesting community leaders, business people, students, familiar faces and a variety of people from Davidson College. We're trying to get the names in hand by Friday Feb. 29th.
We will photograph individuals in our studio, Christopher Record Photography, above Main Street Books in Davidson. We’ll schedule several times when the selected individuals can visit the studio for a portrait sessions.
There will be no charge for the portrait sessions and we plan to post images online that will be available for purchase.
Please email (crecord@carolina.rr.com) us with any ideas and with suggestions of people you feel should be included.
You can also contact the studio at 704.892.9662. We look forward to hearing your ideas!!

Davidson basketball photos (Part 2)

2008-02-17T20:24:00.018-05:00

I got the opportunity to do some more sports photography Saturday when Davidson faced Furman in a Southern Conference matchup at Belk Arena.
Our son Sean tagged along as well and got some amazing shots. Sean first started taking pictures at the Carolina Panthers training camp with me about four years ago. He never ceases to amaze me with some of the photos he comes up with. (You can see one of his shots at the bottom of the post).
Davidson stayed undefeated in the conference with another strong showing from Stephen Curry and reserve sophomore guard William Archambault had a breakout performance with 28 points.
Thanks to my new friend Tim for making all of the arrangements.

The Davidson bench cheers as the reserves finish off Furman

Stephen Curry warms up

The fans were ready for a fight

Stephen Curry

Curry drives

Will Archambault had a huge game

Davidson coach Bob McKillop

Fans show their appreciation

The Record boys

Sean got many excellent photos and I really liked this one of Curry finishing off a great play

Basketball photos

2008-02-11T10:12:00.000-05:00

Saturday was fun as I took in the Davidson College-College of Charleston basketball game with our son Sean.
Sean and I were a bit nonchalant as we rolled up very close to tipoff, and we ended up parking close to a mile from the arena. (Sometimes I really miss press parking). We hadn't anticipated the large crowd that turned out to see the Wildcats and super sophomore Stephen Curry.
We ended up in the nosebleed section which made my photography efforts a bit more challenging. (I also miss seats right on the floor but I'd much rather go to the game with Sean). I made do with a 70-200mm lens and got a few nice shots.
Davidson, which is undefeated in Southern Conference play, won easily and Curry scored 26 points. I had photographed Curry's father, Dell, when he played for the then Charlotte Hornets.
It's a rare treat to see such a talented player at a small college and we try to get to as many games as we can.
We're hoping Davidson makes another appearance in the NCAA Tournament in March.

Stephen Curry drives to the hoop

Davidson coach Bob McKillop talks to his team

The Super Bowl

2008-01-30T16:34:00.001-05:00

Watching all of the hype and hoopla in Phoenix leading up to Sunday's Super Bowl XLII got me thinking back to my own Super Bowl experiences.
I have friends who work for agencies like Getty and magazines like The Sporting News who photograph the Super Bowl almost every year. But covering a team for a local paper meant you would usually only get to go if your team did.
I had covered the NCAA Final Four in basketball as well as many other big events like the U.S. Open in golf. But there is nothing else quite like the Super Bowl.
The Panthers had gotten to the NFC championship a few times but had fallen short.
The game was played on Feb. 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. Newspaper budgets were a bit better then and The Charlotte Observer sent a huge contingent to cover the team's first-ever trip to the big game.
We sent four photographers to cover pretty much everything that happened the entire week leading up to the game.
Seeing some of the footage from Media Day on Tuesday reminded me of what a crazy event that is.
I also think that Super Bowl was the start of my strong dislike for the Patriots. Even though I attempted to be an objective journalist, I was, deep-down, a Panther fan after covering them from their very beginnings.
The Panthers played a great game in Houston in what many feel was one of the best Super Bowls of all time, but the stinkin' Patriots kicked a field goal to win, 32-29.
My dislike for the Patriots has evolved since then. I'm a pretty big sports fan and Betsy said she doesn't remember me ever watching games just to root for a team to LOSE. I do that with the Patriots. There was the Spygate incident but I think mostly I really dislike coach Bill Belichick. I've seen plywood with a better personality.
I know I'm not alone in this. And I also know that winning can make many people turn against you.
But I won't let my dislike of New England taint my memories of covering the big game.
I will, however, be rooting hard for the Giants on Sunday.

"Mr Everything" Tom Brady

Brady attracted some serious attention in Houston

The Media Day throng in 2004

The Panthers take the field

QB Jake Delhomme takes a hit

I had a great seat high above the field in Houston
(photo by Observer photog Layne Bailey)

Wedding planning

2008-01-28T11:30:00.000-05:00

January is typically a slow time for weddings but a very busy time for wedding planning.
We are busy with inquiries and meetings and we thought it would be a good time to add some new content to our website to help couples with the planning process.
Photographing weddings across the Carolinas for the past five years has given us exposure to some great wedding venues. Excellent venues (like quality photographers!) book very quickly. It's a good idea to secure both early in the planning process.
Click on: Christopher Record Photography and go to Links to see some of the venues we recommend.

Myers Park Country Club, Charlotte City Club, The I'On Creek Club, The Westin (Charlotte)

Apple i-rack

2008-01-18T15:26:00.001-05:00

I got a good laugh when I saw this video on Joe Photo's blog today.

A Great Year!

2008-01-11T12:03:00.000-05:00

Today marks the anniversary of the beginning of a journey.
It was one year ago that I left the friendly confines of the newspaper industry to move out on my own as a freelance photographer.
What a year it has been!
I've enjoyed working with my wife Betsy as we opened a studio in Davidson, NC, and worked to adjust to a new lifestyle. We are lucky to have a talented associate in our company photographer Laura Mueller.
After more than 20 years working at three newspapers, it's been great not having to report to someone else's office each day.
It also made me think back to the start of this endeavor. As wedding photojournalism or a more documentary approach became popular, I became interested in doing weddings about six years ago. I started doing them on the side as I continued my full-time photography job at The Charlotte Observer.
I got excellent advice and guidance from fellow journalists who had switched to wedding photography. People like Matt Mendelsohn and Gary Allen, two great photojournalists who were gracious with their ideas and experience. Also Mike Colon, an amazing wedding photographer who didn't know me from anyone when I called looking for suggestions. He spoke to me at length offering more advice.
I've also been lucky to be involved with the Wedding Photojournalist Association from its beginnings. I've watched David Roberts build the group into an amazing resource for photographers who utilize a similar documentary approach.
Along the way I've seen other former newspaper shooters like Christobal and Kathleen Perez (Azul Photography), Andrew Niesen and Rachel LaCour Niesen and Mark and Erin Adams (LaCour) and Roger Winstead make a big impact with their wedding photography. Former Sports Illustrated photographer and my good golfing buddy Jim Gund and his fellow Charleston photographer Mic Smith (Lowcountry Photojournalism) have joined the fray.
Asheville is a hotbed of wedding talent with people like my friend, one-time client and now Rockstar photographer Corey McNabb, the amazing Parker J., James and Jenny Tarpley (Visio Photography), and Regina Holder to name a few.
It's a great time to be a wedding photographer with so much excellent work being done by so many creative people.
We have been blessed with fantastic clients and we are looking forward to some incredible events this year.
It's been a great year - Cheers!
The journey continues...

Taking a Shot at Politics

2008-01-09T08:43:00.000-05:00

Watching the presidential primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire got me thinking about the opportunities I had photographing presidents and the special challenges that came with those assignments.
I had always wanted to cover a campaign but I also knew that it would be a difficult assignment. (To see an excellent example of coverage of the John Edwards campaign, check the work of my long-time friend News and Observer photographer Robert Willett here: Edwards story. ) Willett has established a relationship with the Edwards family over the years and it really shows in his photos.
Being on the campaign trail gives photographers the opportunity for access they will never get once the candidate becomes president.
Access is often the key to great photojournalism and it has become much harder to come by in politics, sports and entertainment. Public relations and marketing interests try to control the image of their clients and don't want to allow images that they feel don't show them in their "best" light. But many people would prefer to see artists, athletes and politicians more as real people.
Regardless of your political ideals, I think it is always interesting to photograph the president. Many of my first efforts involved arriving at an airport or speech site hours in advance, going through heavy security (after the Secret Service had done background checks on information they received from the newspaper), fighting for position on a platform with other still photographers and videographers and then waiting to photograph the president with a long telephoto lens.
While interesting at first, I grew a bit tired of never really getting close to the president and getting a chance to get a better variety of images.
That changed when I got the chance to work in the national pool with the magazine and wire service photographers who travel with and cover the president as a daily assignment. I got the chance to do this on several occasions and found it much more interesting and exciting.
The president's staff would select one local photographer to be the "pool" photographer for the local area. That meant your photos would have to be made available to other newspapers in the state and region. Since The Charlotte Observer was the largest newspaper in the state, our photographers would most often get the opportunity to work as the pool photographer.
Being the pool photographer meant you would be shuttled around with the national pool photographers and you would get much closer access - often just a few feet from the president. (The first photo below was taken with a 10mm lens just a few feet from the podium).
You have to make sure to be ready to use your elbows and move quickly in this highly competitive environment.
I find the primary process a bit confusing but it is interesting. My favorite take on the events come from Miami Herald writer Dave Barry, who has some incredibly humorous observations in his column.

I was up close with the national pool when I got this shot in 2005

Again with the national pool, I was able to get a different angle as Bush arrived

Another national pool situation where I was in front of the ropes

Bush departs Charlotte

Taken with a long lens from a platform during a Fort Bragg visit

Working the crowd

Up close

I snuck in with the crowd with to get this shot of Clinton visiting Charlotte

Taken during the 1994 Final Four in Charlotte. Clinton came onto the court after Arkansas won the game

Happy New Year!

2008-01-02T16:28:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.
Our family gathered for numerous meals and celebrations over the past few weeks. Alison had a quick trip home and is now back in London.
We wanted to thank all of our fantastic clients for a great year in '07 and we are looking forward to many exciting events in 2008.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T12:00:00.001-05:00

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David,
which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there,
the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and
wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Luke John 1:12

As we prepare to gather with family and friends I wanted to wish all of you a peaceful and joyful Christmas.
The Records - Chris, Betsy, Alison and Sean

Home for Christmas

2007-12-19T20:18:00.000-05:00

We are so excited to have our daughter Alison home for Christmas. Alison flew in from London Tuesday night and will be here through the New Year.
We haven't seen her in four months and it's great to have her home. After stints working as an au pair in Switzerland and Groombridge, England, Ali will be returning to London to get a more permanent job.
It's so great to have your loved ones home for the holidays!

Ali brought us this cool ornament from Prague

Nutcracker Photos

2007-12-12T14:22:00.000-05:00

Seeing the North Carolina Dance Theatre's (NCDT) Nutcracker performance is always a great way to get into the holiday spirit.
This year's show includes a new set and choreography by artistic director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux.
I photographed the dress rehearsal Tuesday night as the company prepares for the first show Friday night.
The cast also includes talented local children who spend many hours practicing and performing.
(As always, click on the photo to make it larger and hit the back button to return to the blog.)
Happy Holidays!

Ellen Hummel as Clara

Drosselmeier, portrayed by NCDT's Sasha Janes, lifts Clara

Addul Manzano leaps

Mia Cunningham and Addul Manzano

Kara Wilkes

Kara Wilkes and Randolph Ward

Chris and Sheryl Wed in Winston

2007-12-03T18:55:00.000-05:00

There was a great mix of culture at Sheryl and Chris's wedding in Winston-Salem Saturday.
Both the wedding and reception took place at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.
The magnificent church is where Chris and his extended Greek family worship. Sheryl's family is Chinese and they seemed to have a great time taking part in some of the Greek dancing.
Company photographer Laura Mueller did her usual stellar job working as a second photographer.
We had a great time working with everyone.
Thanks Sheryl and Chris - have a great time in Thailand.

A beautiful setting

Sheryl's brother gets an assist from Chris's good friend Brian.
Laura hung out with the guys

Chris gets ready

Sheryl gets help with her hair

Chris's cousin and Best Man Chris gets his smile warmed up

Flower girl Elise

Just after the service

Laura got me at work

Sheryl and Chris

Time to dance

Jim and Susan's Family at Lake Norman

2007-11-30T11:12:00.000-05:00

I first photographed Jim and Susan's extended family a few months back and Susan wanted to get more photos of her immediate family.
They live in a magnificent home off Lake Norman which had been used for some of the filming of the Will Ferrell movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
Son Colin is awaiting deployment to Afghanistan and Susan wanted more photos of him as well.
We also had to get some new pictures of son Nate and daughter Peyton.
Thanks guys, I enjoyed working with you all again!

Family photo

Jim, Peyton and Susan

Colin

Nate and Peyton

Peyton and her pal

More Adventures with Ali (Chasing Your Dreams)

2007-11-28T11:24:00.000-05:00

Alison just emailed some photos of her quick trip to Prague over Thanksgiving weekend.
We are so proud of her spirit of adventure and adaptability. She has taken her passion for travel to many incredible destinations.
Ali and her good buddy Amanda had a great time exploring the historic city as they braved freezing temperatures.
The photos are a bit low in resolution so I put them together in a collage. If you look closely you can almost feel the cold.
I know Ali is getting ready to settle down and get a "real" job, but for now she is taking advantage of a great opportunity to chase her travel dreams.
We are all also excited that she is coming home soon for Christmas!

Ali in Prague

Turkey Day

2007-11-22T19:35:00.001-05:00

There are so many things that I am thankful about and tops on that list is family. I'm thankful for Betsy and our children and for our extended family. We are lucky to have several relatives living close by and we get together often for family celebrations.
Thursday was no exception as we had 14 people at our house for the Thanksgiving meal. We had a pretty serious ping-pong battle with son Sean taking the overall crown. We got to have a long conversation with daughter Ali (in England) before her European "Thanksgiving" trip to Prague this weekend.
We are also lucky be seeing several of our northern family members this weekend.
I hope everyone out there had a great day celebrating with family and friends!

Record house 1:45 p.m.

Record house 4:30 p.m.
(We're missing a few in this shot but you get the idea)

Warm Memories of a Cold Day

2007-11-19T13:10:00.001-05:00

Seeing the Carolina Panthers return to Lambeau Field to face Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers Sunday brought back some cold, yet fond memories of my former life as a newspaper photographer.
It was January of 1997 and the Panthers were an upstart expansion team that had fought their way to the NFC Championship game. I made the trip to Green Bay with fellow Charlotte Observer staffers Jeff Siner and Bob Leverone.
The conditions in Green Bay were brutal as a strong breeze combined with freezing temperatures put the wind chill at 22 degrees below zero. (That's cold!)
I remember we were still shooting film in those days and I had to change the batteries in my Nikon F5 at halftime as the conditions caused them to drain very quickly. Loading and unloading film in three camera bodies was no picnic either as we fought with many layers of clothes, gloves and the hand-warmers in our pockets.
Leverone, now a staff photographer with The Sporting News, did his usual stellar job on the action and Siner edited the photos in a trailer behind Lambeau.
The Panthers gave a good fight but were outclassed in a 30-13 loss. Green Bay went on to defeat New England in the Super Bowl.
The Panthers had nothing to be ashamed of as they had gone farther than most anyone had expected.
Linebacker Sam Mills perhaps best signified the overachieving team. Mills was an undersized middle linebacker who gave his all on every play.
I ran onto the field after the game and Packer receiver Andre Rison gave Mills a quick pat on the helmet to recognize his effort. I was right on top of Mills with a wide-angle lens and caught the moment.
Siner and the editors back at the Observer selected the photo for the front page because it summed up the feeling of loss felt by the Panthers and their fans.
Mills was a class guy who was later diagnosed with intestinal cancer. He inspired the team on its run to the 2004 Super Bowl as he continued coaching during his cancer treatments.
Mills died in 2005 and there is a statue of him outside of the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
The Panthers trip to Green Bay this year didn't go much better as they lost Sunday and this season looks pretty much shot as they fell to 4-6 on the year.
It also made me glad that I didn't spend the day watching the game. My buddy John called and we got in 18 holes of golf on a beautiful, warm fall afternoon.

Andre Rison, left, and Sam Mills

Cover Photo

2007-11-16T14:41:00.000-05:00

Just got a copy of the Fall 2007 Davidson Journal, which has my photograph of new college president Tom Ross on the cover.
Following many, many years of seeing my work on poor newspaper reproduction, the beautiful glossy stock of the magazine was a real treat.
One of the many bonuses of having our studio in Davidson is getting to know some of the fine folks at Davidson College. Meg Kimmel, editor of the Davidson Journal, and media relations head Bill Giduz have been wonderful to work with.
Ross is a former Superior Court Judge and he becomes the 17th president of the 170-year-old college. He has a engaging style and it was a pleasure spending some time with him.
Here is the cover and a few other photos from the session.

Davidson College President Tom Ross

I wanted to mention an incredibly interesting talk I got to attend last Friday night at The Studio at the Cedar Street Design Center in Charlotte.
Our friend Nanine Hartzenbusch, who has started a children's photography business in Charlotte, organized a gathering to hear David Hobby, the creator of the Strobist photographic lighting blog.
David also comes from a newspaper photography background and I was glad to get to pick his brain a bit. I would encourage anyone interested in better, simpler photographic lighting techniques to check Strobist.
While I think many at the gathering were expecting to get some new lighting techniques, Hobby focused his talk on his blog and how his niche site had turned into somewhat of an international phenomenon. So much so that I would be very surprised if he ever returns to newspaper work.
He started small with his ideas of how to use off-camera flashes to improve the drama and quality of your photographs. As it gained popularity, Hobby's job has changed into more of an administrative role as he funnels the huge volume of ideas he gets from his readers.
One of his main concepts is freely giving information and knowledge.
Much like David Jay's Open Source Photo, Strobist encourages everyone to share knowledge for the common good. Hobby proved to be an incredibly smart and humorous speaker and his ideas gave everyone food for thought.

Photos of Beautiful Fall Day

2007-11-15T20:12:00.001-05:00

It's been a strange fall here in Charlotte with a prolonged drought and warmer-than-usual temperatures, but a cold front moved through Thursday bringing some rain, colder weather and then a brilliant afternoon.
I had a few things to catch up on at the studio so I headed up to Davidson. I love fall and the conditions prompted me to grab my trusty Nikons to record some of the intense colors around the Davidson College campus.
It's somewhat ironic that I used to hate so called "wild art" assignments like shooting fall color when I was a newspaper photographer at The Charlotte Observer. But I think it's good to keep your creative juices flowing with many types of photography and I thoroughly enjoyed my personal assignment.
I feel so blessed that my passion for photography remains so strong and I get so much enjoyment out of my job.
Here's what I saw Thursday - enjoy!