Engagement Session Inspiration -- So Many Reasons Why

Spring is here and anyone who was engaged over the loooong winter months must be chomping at the bit for those budding trees and sprouting flowers to make their appearance -- we're ready and anxious too to make those great engagement shots happen.

Loving the feel of cool, green grass!

If you're not really certain of where or what you'd like to do, here are some great ideas, and some pointers on what to wear, what to bring, and what to expect. First off, please note that just about ANYWHERE you go there are always great free backdrops available thanks to good ol' 'Mother Nature.' The focus of these shots is YOU anyway - the key is to decide on a setting where you're comfortable and which reflects your unique personalities and interests.

At the Old Stone Church, W. Boylston, MA

You may wish to consider a location where you're shared happy moments together. An outdoor café works well. A park where you've enjoyed nature walks together. Or perhaps you like a more urban look -- brick buildings make for beautiful backdrops, and those can be found nearly everywhere here in New England. If it's a 'less-than-perfect' weather day, no problem! Using an umbrella as a prop makes for interesting photography, reminiscent of Hollywood's greatest musical, "Singing in the Rain."

Speaking of Hollywood, perhaps you'd like to dress up in glamor clothing and create a black-and-white Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers look? Recently we posted a link on our Facebook page about an engagement shoot inside an antique shop since that was an interest the couple shared.

Love your pooch? How about including him/her in your session? It could be at a beach, or the park, or a walk through downtown. How about creating a picnic session with a cozy blanket, your favorite foods, some books ... and don't forget the champagne! If you're the creative type, you may opt to bring some hand-crafted items speaking of love.

Another very popular idea is a hang-out at a seldom-used railroad track. The angle of the track receding into the background provides great visual interest.

OK, so we leave the rest of the ideas to you ... but do give it some thought.

WHAT TO WEAR???

Now we want to emphasize what to wear and/or bring to this (typically) 2-hour session. Most couples (especially the bride) opt to bring an outfit change in addition to the one they are wearing. Be aware that complimentary colors on the bride and groom work best -- not the same colors, but complimenting colors. Avoid too many patterns, or one person wearing stripes, the other wearing polka dots, etc. Wear a color that you've often been told you look great in. For the men, you may wish to bring a sport jacket and/or an extra shirt, one casual, one more dressy. Be yourself tho -- if you're strictly a jeans and sweatshirt person, changing your look entirely will not produce results that you'll ultimately be happy with.

That's it for today.  If you're looking for more pointers, do give us a call, shoot us an email, or post a comment here.  We'd love to help and to know your thoughts!

Central MA Wedding Locales-- Part II

Happy Daylight Savings Time! This means that wedding season here in New England cannot be far behind! For those of you who haven't been immersed in the wedding industry the way Wakeen Photography is, we thought we'd continue with Part 2 of our pictoral review of much-loved reception sites in our area.

There are way too many to mention (it would have been interesting if Chris had kept a count all these years of how many places he's shot weddings), but here are a few that we frequent most often ... it's going to be great getting back to these places after a cold, snowy winter!

Pictured above is a beautiful table setting at White Cliffs in Northborough; the "sweetheart" table is seen in the background. They do a wonderful, high-class presentation. Ann Marie, you're the best!



In the bridal suite at the Beechwood Hotel in Worcester, Chris grabs an impromptu shot of this beautiful bride primping before meeting her groom. The Beechwood recently received a Four-Diamond rating in the hotel industry. Congratulations!

This mirrored shot is actually the headboard behind the bed. Mirrors make great photographic props. This shot (below) is one of Chris' favorites.








When searching for a unique venue for your wedding reception, don't overlook places you may not have initially considered. The Worcester Art Museum offers truly exquisite surroundings with an artistic flair ... your guests may appreciate the opportunity to do something in addition to the expected dining and dancing -- a docent-led tour of selected galleries. We just love this photo (below) of the Renaissance Court with its incredible mosaic flooring, its impressive columns and its golden light.


For all you Red Sox fans out there, why not consider having your wedding photos taken at Fenway Park! If your ceremony is in Boston, there's no reason not to look into this option if the bride and groom share a passion for our Sox!


And if you're really not into the urban setting, why not consider a country or pastoral atmosphere? Zukas Hilltop Barn in Spencer, MA (below) offers a gorgeous setting for outdoor tent weddings (offered May thru October) and is a personal favorite of Vic's (considering Spencer her ol' hometown where her daughter was born). They also offer a beautiful indoor reception November thru April, accommodating up to 150 people.

For 2011 you'll find us in Sterling at the Chocksett Inn, in Boylston at Cyprian Keyes, in Spencer at the Spencer Country Inn, and in Sturbridge at the Publick House, among other places.

Well, this concludes our review of some of the gorgeous venues we are blessed to frequent as wedding photographers!

Central MA Wedding Locales-- Part I

There are so many wonderful locales in the central Massachusetts region for a wedding ceremony and/or reception. Chris has creatively recorded all of it in photo form as a full-time professional wedding shooter, long before I (Vic) came along ... and a few since I joined him as partner.

Spring is in the air - can you feel it?! We're so excited for the 2011 wedding season to ramp up! Here are some examples of the great places where wonderful photography happens. It's a joy to work with the management of these venues, and we look forward to many more years to come!



The Old Stone Church in West Boylston, MA (and the adjacent reservoir) is a favorite locale, particularly in the fall ... it's definitely worth a stop after the ceremony for those traditional poses that are part of most wedding albums.







To the right is the outdoor ceremony site at the Harding Allen Estate in Barre, MA ... whether spring, summer or fall, this locale has SUCH beautiful gardens and architectural elements, not to mention the gorgeous interior of the mansion itself ... it's pure joy to shoot a wedding here!





Here in the bridal room at the Harding-Allen, Sarah prepares to meet her groom downstairs ... it's a great spot for the bride and her bridesmaids to change into their dresses, gather up their bouquets, sip some champagne ... and for us to fire off a few shots!










NOT to be overlooked is the beautiful site of Harrington Farm in Princeton, MA, renowned for its unforgettable elegance and country charm. Amid the warm, golden post-and-beam construction is plenty of room for dining and dancing, as this fun wedding party can attest to.
















The Manor in West Boylston is also a great venue for outdoor photography, with its new gazebo and manicured grounds.

Of course this is just a very small sampling of what's available in central Massachusetts for wedding and reception venues. Stay tuned for next week's blog for more.

Anyone for Cake?

Lately we've been thinking about cake -- the wonders of wedding cakes, to be specific, and how they can be beautiful works of art in themselves. And so we started going through the archives and realized just how MANY Chris has photographed. You figure for every wedding there is surely some sort of dessert at the reception and Chris makes certain all aspects of the day are documented for the bride and groom. So much attention goes into the details of the wedding day, and so we try to capture every bit of it. Here are some real beauties ... after reviewing these, I think it's time to go see what we've got for sweets in the cupboard .... yum!

Celebrating the Art of YOU !

Christopher Wakeen, well-known in the central Massachusetts region as a boutique wedding photographer, has an offer you won't want to pass up. And you don't have to be a bride -- it's not just brides that are beautiful!

At Wakeen Photography we believe that Fine Art imagery should be available to everyone. Our packages are appropriate for every budget so that you can take advantage of a fun portrait session where YOU are the star.

Why would you be interested? Well ...

Perhaps you've just finished a degree program, or attained a promotion of some kind. Maybe someone special in your life would like a remembrance of you for Valentine's Day. Or, perhaps you've ended a relationship and would like to mark the beginning of your 'new you' phase. Or, maybe you are widowed or have reached a 'milestone' birthday that you'd like to commemorate. Are you a senior citizen? When was the last time you considered photography? Has it been years since you and your partner have been photographed together? Or maybe you've found 'the one' love of your life, and would like to document your togetherness. How about something as simple as you've changed your hair color, or just got your first tattoo! Need an updated photograph for your Facebook profile or for an online dating service? This is the perfect way to accomplish just that.

Our desire is to help you put your best 'foot' forward, and to join you in celebration of where you're at. Right now. Because as they say, "Life is Good!"



Limited appointments are available, so do inquire a.s.a.p. Our evening appointments are for those who prefer an indoor shoot in a studio-like setting (backdrop, studio lighting, etc.). Select week-end days are available for those preferring an outdoor shoot in natural lighting. And DON'T be put off by snow! We just photographed Sarah, a beautiful woman who's moving to Florida -- she wanted to document her last "crisp" days here in New England!

At only $99, our basic package includes the previews of your session via email (perfect for your Facebook profile!) AND a mounted 11"x14", color or black-and-white print. Additional packages are available. Your results will be much more flattering than anything that you can get from those "quicky" photo retail outfits (and we think you know who we mean)!

Call Vickie @ Wakeen Photography for an appointment (774-262-5332) or email Chris (chris@wakeenphotography.com).

Love Grows -- Nikki & Rich's Maternity Shoot

After twenty plus years of shooting weddings exclusively, Chris decided (and I encouraged him) to shake things up a bit and branch out into other areas. So, when we were approached to do a shoot for a first pregnancy, we jumped at the chance! Thanks to Nikki's mom Lisa for doing just that! What a loving gesture, purchasing a maternity shoot for her beautiful daughter. [Hint, hint -- photography sessions with Wakeen Photography make great gifts!]

(And boy do I wish I had treated myself to this type of photography when I was pregnant. All I own is an unremarkable Polaroid of me lifting my shirt to document that time of my life.)

The excited daddy-to-be, Rich, has completed the baby nursery with new paint and some beautiful built-in shelving. I think this shot (below) shows he's just as in love with his soon-to-be baby boy as he is with baby's mama, Nikki :-)






And what a natural model Nikki is ... hopefully she felt as relaxed as she appears to be since we really want our clients to enjoy the whole experience. She made our job so much easier as she already knew of several poses she wanted to try and was also agreeable to trying some of our suggestions.







Pregnancy is such a wonderful time in a woman's life. A time, we think, when she should celebrate the miraculous beauty of her changing body, and relish the attention she receives from admiring eyes!


We love the fabric Nikki picked out to accentuate her expanding middle. Her feminine curves make for a really beautiful shot.








Best wishes to you both, Nikki and Rich, and DO let us know when baby Rhegan arrives.

The best time to photograph a precious newborn is within two to three weeks of birth, when they fall asleep so easily after a feeding, in a nice warm room with soft music playing. We're ready, willing and able to make that happen!