EB Photography

So much to say

2010-08-05T11:56:00.000-04:00

... has already been updated.

http://ebphotography.com/blog

a new year already

2008-01-02T05:06:00.000-05:00

and in my resolution for simplifying things...

ebphotography.com/blog

what a wedding weekend!

2007-07-30T01:57:00.001-04:00

What a rush! There's definitely something awesome to be said when you get to work a job that is just energized with fun from start to finish. I don't even tend to notice the night is winding down when the newlyweds and friends are having a blast. It's contagious energy that gets me wired and shooting till it's time to go.

We had a blast with Mathew and Katie on Friday. I knew Mathew from junior high and one of his groomsmen I knew since the guy was in k5 with my sis. We dodged rain clouds after the ceremony at Notre Dame but Mathew and Katie were such awesome sports and walked out in the rain a little. Nothing stopped them! Mathew even propped me an umbrella so I could shoot some photos of Katie and her bridesmaids on the Saint Mary's campus. There was no dismay from the rain, and the soft light and faded contrast always make for primo portrait lighting, and we loved it all!

We wound the evening down with family and friends at Windsor Park and even though the ground was dampened, spirits were soaring in the celebration.

Saturday was a day of familiar flashbacks. Sara and I met with Katie and Andy back in September 2006 for their engagement shoot and dodged rain clouds in Michigan City while running back from the lighthouse pier and park gazebo. We got to hang out over a leisurely (read: took ages to serve) dinner while we dried off. One thing I love about meeting new couples is that we've gained tons of new friends through our photography.

Aside from sharing a first name with our Friday bride, Katie (Marklevitz) had arranged to book the same florist, bakery, church and reception venue! (We were thrilled to be another common thread for both our Katie brides this weekend.)

We got to hang out with Katie and her bridesmaid early Saturday as they got ready. Much thanks to Matron of Honor Missy's mom for the breakfast and coffee to get our day started right - it was a lifesaver this weekend after I forgot my coffee at home scurrying out the door!

The couple married at the Basilica where Katie's parents married years ago. The priest who married her parents also officiated for their daughter - what an honor to share in a family's celebrations for parents and later their children!

Saturday was a drier day and we made our way downtown to the East Race river edge for some portraits and off to The Pub for a midday break before the reception. Once at the reception, the celebration kicked into high gear to wrap up this amazing day.

For both our weekend newlywed couples, an immense thanks for including us for your unforgettable days. It was an extended celebration for us with two amazing couples, stories, and welcoming families.

holga 35mm (FILM!) shots

2007-07-23T04:03:00.000-04:00

I couldn't wait and got some film developed, the first since... classes in mid 2006. The film is what's left since then and the hay day of digital imaging going on around these parts.

I think I left the photo counter employees a little perplexed when I told them that, first off, I didn't want any prints, and secondly that I had loaded the wrong size film into a cheap camera, taped it up, and shot at random. I think that this bewildering combination came across like a big "oops, i think I broke-ded my film!" and that I was guessing at what to do but it scored two free rolls of processing to "see if the pictures even turned out" while I waited.

I got the negatives and had to get a look at them before heading out for an engagement shoot, and was glad I hadn't goofed up ALL the photos, just some. (seriously... lens caps were never a problem for me till now, DOHF!)

Here are some of my favorites from this last week, and my first roll with the Holga.

Cold sunrise just outside my window. It was actually pretty cold the night before and there was condensation on all the car windows and I nearly thought it was frost. Yuck.

Fly, little cloud, fly. Over at my folks' house in the back yard. I took the Holga over to my folks' house while I inspected their dead PC and figured a way to get things running again (buy my old one!).

Ominous clouds - the afternoon sky foretold the evening's awesome thunderstorms and tornado warnings keeping us all awake till 3am. (I tried getting some photos of all the lightning but it was some wicked stuff so I didn't go out. My window photos didn't show much besides "what, the curtains?")

TRIPLE DOUBLE (exposure)! Once I remembered the lens cap I was up for a new challenge - remember to wind the film. This is such a learning experience as using a digital (or film) SLR camera I'm usually looking through the picture taking lens so I'll see if the cap is on or off. The cameras either set themselves for the next frame, or in the case of my manual 35mm cameras, won't let you shoot another frame till you wind the film.

Welcome to the Holga school of happy accidents. I shot the grill of my Blazer then realized I was probably too close so I backed up and shot again. When I got up I saw some neat water spots chalked into the hood courtesy of the sprinkler system and shot those too... all on the same frame. Like I said, I'm learning patience and routines I've been out of for a long time.

I managed to snap a few photos at Skyler and Amanda's wedding last weekend - thanks guys for being such good sports. I even managed to shoot one (great composition!) with the lens cap on. Brilliant. The slide show and full gallery of non-lenscap photos soon to come.

Think outside the LCD viewfinder.
eB

low tech creative tools

2007-07-18T19:11:00.000-04:00

Back in my early college classes I took a prereq class Fundamentals of Design. no Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark, or computing of any kind unless you were measuring with a ruler and adding picas, inches or points. It was ridiculously challenging to get used to drawing out designs, cutting paper scraps, blending colored pencils, shading... it was arts and crafts kicked up several notches. Our instructor wasn't a kindergarten art teacher (like my high school teachers) so she was really tough. She knew her craft and told the students this was their job interview cause out in the job market you either get the job or you don't so second rate won't get you by. A nice welcoming kick in the pants from Ivy Tech. ;o)

It was both an incredibly low tech and immensely HIGH SKILL course. Really helped me appreciate designing digitally, but after seeing how cool the final projects turned out I've wanted on several inspiring moments wanted to use these cut & paste techniques again.

Meet the anti-technology, counter-culture tool I just added: the Holga! No memory cards, no changeable lens, no fancy buttons or LCD screen, or wireless transmitter, adjustable shutter... or guarantee of completely sharp images!

What, not used to seeing a cheap plastic camera solidified with packing peanuts and secured with rubber bands and tape? Don't worry, we haven't ditched our usual Nikon Digital gear. :o)

Made for medium format film (also a favorite from college days) this little analog angel can be modified to shoot a FULL frame image across the whole slice of 35mm film, sprocket holes and
frame number and all. Weird plastic lens abnormalities, potential light leaks, unpredictable outcome... here I come!

If you see me toting the Holga at your wedding don't be surprised. It won't be part of our instant album slide show at the reception (drat) but its shots may very well get into albums. ;o)

The Analog Duo: Holga & Vivitar 35mm (FILM!) cameras. Both need light seals (aka, seals get covered with tape instead) and both do magic with the good old medium of film.

Back to the digital designs and high-tech work. ;o)

Seven Seven OH! Seven! - what a weekend!

2007-07-08T12:30:00.000-04:00

Deja vu day number two. July 7th was the hottest wedding date around... numerically and here in Indiana the weather too. Tracy and Andrew had one hot wedding day, and it was a celebration to remember! (We danced and celebrated till 7/8/07!)

While Tracy and Andrew were living in California we met with her sister Cathy and mom last summer to begin planning for the out of state bride. We met up with Tracy once while she was in town and it wasn't till 3 weekends ago that we saw her again at Natalie & Bob's wedding as a bridesmaid. Tracy let us know that Natalie and most of the day's bridesmaids would be back with us on July 7th as bridesmaids to help Tracy celebrate HER wedding. From the great time we had with Natalie and Bob we knew this was just going to be an extended celebration full of great smiles and photos.

I don't use it too often but this fisheye lens came in really handy for Tracy and Andrew's wedding party! We took went down to the East Race and got some excellent outdoor photos including walking the bridal party through a live news broadcast! (If anyone saw News 16 at 6:00pm on the dot let me know! I think we scared the newscaster who didn't see us coming! Sorry!)

Corby's Irish Pub, downtown South Bend. Here, as the story goes, is where they met and the bride picked up the groom. We stopped for some fun photos of the couple dancing (on the bar!) and a some fun shots before the reception. (My only shots are photographic, especially after the faces made after a round of *other* shots! Gotta wait for the gallery for those!)

This was the liveliest day for weddings and events I've ever seen. I crossed paths with half a dozen other brides and grooms from the church to the reception. Here at the Century Center our newlyweds made quite an entrance to the Great Hall overlooking the river.

Lovebirds at dusk! I can't count how many times I want to ask couples to head outside with me at dusk for quiet moments and evening photos. By this time the dancing and fun is well under way and I was glad Tracy had requested dusk photos so I didn't feel like I was directing the reception. (If you haven't noticed, I'd rather you enjoy the evening your way. I'm not much for interrupting fun with friends.)

It's unanimous. Visual artists were pretty near paradise this evening. Jason from Creative Eye Productions agreed that we could probably spend half an hour more outdoors as it had cooled down some and the sky was rich in saturated colors. Mix this with a glowing couple and a terrific celebration day and you'll have some great images and footage to show for it. Here a video light added some warm light to show the dress' ruffled texture and give just enough glow to make the photos pop.

Last image until the slideshow... I love low light and motion (did you see where else I mentioned this?) The Century Center has thousands of hanging twinkle lights and a slow shutter and a zoom out made this image a real crowd pleaser when it showed up in the slideshow (that's included in every weedding photography package!)

It's time for some rest before the work week kicks back in. Drop us a comment or
COME SEE THE SLIDESHOW and GALLERY!

Friday with Erin and Chris at Notre Dame

2007-07-06T23:30:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure if I had my camera down outside of being home or being in the car this weekend! It was a unique weekend regardless of the unique date and we had some untraditional wedding photos to show for it.

I started the weekend off with a colleague providing a second angle at Erin & Chris' wedding. What I didn't know was that I would see the florist and the minister again the next day at a different church. This is where the deja vu and the fun begins.

Motion. Call me strange but I love ambient, low light, and motion. This shot has it all. I only added the border in Photoshop, the rest is via a slowed shutter speed and following he moving bride and dad. (Nerdy, and I love using these techniques!)

The "small world feeling" I've already come to know and love is getting more intense this summer. Friday at Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Rev. Michael Matthews, a friend and travel companion to Chris, shared a wonderful homily of the complimentary personalities and the balance of bride and groom in the union of marriage. Unknown to me until Saturday afternoon, he would also officiate for Tracy and Andrew at his home church Holy Cross the next day.

Part one of unusual locations - ND locker room and into the tunnel! The infamous "Play Like a Champion Today" sign waiting for a smack from every passing person. (I had what, 2 cameras and 4 lenses on me trying to photograph the wedding party and the couple while staying out of the other photog's view... I may have run into the wall but no sign swat from me.)

In the tunnel! We got to go onto the football field for portraits and I loved this silhouette in the tunnel with the library mural adding color to the background. (One of those views I never saw as a fan in the stands!)

Ever since the last time I photographed a reception at the Woodward Room in downtown South Bend I've appreciated the balance of the warm window light and the soft interior glow. As a second photographer I focus on these available light, artistic ideas that get stuck in my mind's eye while telling the day's story.

Congrats Jessica & Kyle!

2007-07-01T16:14:00.000-04:00

Last weekend Sara and I had a blast getting to meet more of the extended Bucholtz side of our family. Jessica and Kyle made a stunning couple for a spectacular afternoon wedding. (I'm not just saying that cause they're new family.)

Come take a look and see for yourself how great of a celebration we shared last weekend!

Here's a link! Click to see the slideshow!

practice, patience, lucky timing

2007-06-28T12:37:00.000-04:00

I love what I do when I'm behind a camera and lines, subjects, action just converge. I spent a good deal of my extracurricular high school hours shooting around soccer fields and basketball courts and learned to anticipate action.

While editing through Natalie and Robert's gallery I came across a shot that made me stop and do a double take at the frozen action. Way too cool.

Click the photo for a larger view.

More great stuff to come... what an amazing start to the spring / summer wedding season it's been!

sibling revelry

2007-06-28T03:03:00.000-04:00

before my wedding last august I picked up some gifts for my bride-to-be and stumbled across a book I bought for both of my sisters in our bridal party. Titled Sibling Revelry it was full of fun photos and quotes of the "friends we're born with."

it made me think. as I read through the book it also made me choke up in the mall bookstore. my sisters and I have had our rough times but since we all got to our older teens and out of school years we've become closer friends that we would have admitted in middle school or earlier.

just before my reception was over, my best man and photo pal Jon caught a couple of photos of me and my sisters that I forgot to ask my hired photographer to catch. my dad walked by and... we made it a photo op as well.

I'm just wrapping up a few galleries from this month and came across some sibling photos from Erin & Dan Quirk's wedding on June 9th. I actually knew Erin's sister Lisa through the camera store years before I met Erin and Dan, and Dan's siblings were a blast
to get to know on the wedding day too.

What bunch of siblings is complete without an inside joke with an accompanying weird face? (You saw my family's version already, so it wasn't too unfamiliar a tradition to me!)

I talked to my middle sis today and my youngest sis is moving home from Missouri this weekend. Last week Sara's youngest sis was in town from Arizona for a week and we saw everybody for Father's Day over the weekend. Sara and I have pretty amazing families, and you gotta love to laugh to be around us!

gonna wanna getta studio

2007-06-26T22:14:00.000-04:00

Our photography has been an exclusively location photography business for a few reasons, but those may change after today's dance session with Liz in LaPorte.

Before our business took off I had worked in a senior portrait studio here in town. They had contracts with local high schools for all the seniors' yearbook head shots and many seniors also had their "other portraits" taken there as well. You know, leaning on a giant year number, their athletic paraphernalia all around, playing a musical instrument, sitting with their dogs. (One very cool Great Dance became my friend after a couple of demonized cat shoots earlier in the day. I promised him some kitties for a treat if he worked with me and didn't devour me.)

All the great backgrounds and lighting setups aside, it got to be really cookie cutter photography fast. I had 10-15 minutes max with each senior, had to make small talk while I set up so they'd "get comfortable" but... I saw tons of guys and girls laughing in the lobby who had great smiles that twisted into nervous expressions as soon as they were under the lights. I loved the freestyle shots that I could set up whatever props, mix the lighting around, and move around a little while I worked. (Have you seen me on a dance floor? I dance with my camera while I photograph dancing!) Still, the time limit and the preset ideas were really a downer. It just wasn't my real interest, but it was good to find that out early on.

I was elated I didn't stick with the studio job when one of my friends showed me his senior portraits taken there by one of my fellow photographers. Most shots had very feminine backgrounds and soft lighting and focus and were plain girly. This kid could do more chin-ups at 15 than i could at...ever, and girly wasn't his look. I remember weekends where we had to pose, snap, pose, snap, reload, pose, snap... all afternoon just feeding kids in front of the camera. I hated the impersonal frenzy there.

I've been photographing stuff since I was 15ish, and loving this visual art medium for the last 12 years. When we began to tell wedding stories with our cameras and albums in 2004 I was thrilled I found a styles and subjects I enjoyed combined. We've taken this same non-invasive approach to our seniors and engagement portraits that has been a growing list this last year too. I've preferred to find a cool spot and shoot around, using the creativity of thinking on my feet and exploring new ground together for great photos.

Today I nearly wanted to move to LaPorte. We met up with Liz through a friend of ours and arranged to photograph her in her downtown dance studio. The giant windows and flood of natural light illuminated the space with a glow I find few places. The hardwood floors and antique paneled ceiling combined with this light and artistic ideas abounding made it a creative afternoon.

The expanse of space, natural lighting, and being enclosed enough to not feel like you have a public audience (though Sara and I were really impressed by Liz's technical and improv dance steps) made us want to move into a studio space of our own.

We'll post up the full gallery soon.

Check out our Seniors, Intimate Bridals and wedding storytelling in the meantime!

Saturday Night Sundae

2007-06-17T00:19:00.000-04:00

We're home and I finished off a sundae to cool down while looking over Sara's picks for the slide show tonight at Natalie & Robert's wedding. Wow, what a day! When we first met up with Natalie it was only a few weeks till MY wedding last year, and tons has changed since then. (For starters, Sara and I are shooting more and more photos - it's way too easy to get carried away with all the great smiles, dancing and laughs shared today! Other news is farther down in the blog updates!)

I love being part of an ongoing family story being told at a wedding. If I overheard correctly, Natalie told her bridesmaids that she had the colors in her bouquets that were in her mother and grandmother. The candles along the aisle were very similar to those at her parents' wedding there 30 years ago. Here at the altar she's handing her bouquet to her dad just after he gave her away to her husband.

Thanks to Natalie, Bob, the Coens and Krannenburgs for inviting us to tell this amazing day's wedding story! Enjoy your secret destination honeymoon, newlyweds!

Click HERE to sign up to get a reminder when the gallery is ready. One of our lab's great new promotions is a print Gift Certificate to all guests who register for a reminder before the gallery is ready later this week.

Thanks again to all the friends and family who signed up and received Gift Certificates for Emily & Pat O'Hara's wedding June 2nd, and for Erin and Dan Quirk's June 9th. Enjoy your prints on us from your favorite moments of the wedding day story!

Congrats Emily & Patrick!

2007-06-03T00:13:00.000-04:00

We kicked off June with an fantastic day with Emily & Patrick this Saturday. I'll have a gallery up this weekend but I just had to post this photo tonight... it was a great day for smiles, sunshine and a celebration. Congrats!

Click the photo or CLICK HERE to get a reminder when the slides and gallery is ready!

Memorial Day with the Killeleas and Kids

2007-06-02T00:17:00.001-04:00

Kristy and baby Tommy

Kristy's mom and Savannah giving baby Tommy a snack

Sweet summer holidays

Savannah... realizing the camera was pointed at her. ;o)

I've known Tom since 3rd grade... just shy of 20 years already. (WOW) I met Kristy back in 2005 when one of my other classmates from 20+ years back was getting married, and almost all the 12+ person bridal party was in my graduating class.

As part of growing up, my wife and I have caught up with more and more school friends who are getting married and having kids of their own. It's great to talk with other friends who are going through and have gone through the early days of newlywed life, pregnancy, house hunting and catching up with friends all at once. Kristy gave Sara a pregnancy & birth book and some prenatal vitamins when we first told her and Tom we would be starting on kids of our own soon last month. Turns out... a month later and we had news of our own to share!

Click HERE to sign the guest book and get a reminder when the full gallery is ready.

Thanks for the cookout, laughs and fun Tom & Kristy!

congrats grad: Mark Kuzmitz

2007-06-01T23:59:00.001-04:00

I've known this guy since he was like 2 and terrorizing his big sis, my little sis' best galpal. Good times harassing sisters together back when became great times running shows at the Underground Cafe in years later.

Congrats Mark! We're proud of ya!

Eric & Sara

Pearl & Family Portraits

2007-06-01T23:34:00.001-04:00

We began last weekend's 4 shoots in 4 days marathon when we met up with Pearl and her family for an easygoing portrait session along the Niles, Michigan Riverfront.

It was a little rainy but it made for great soft light and Pearl had a smile and an umbrella till the session was wrapped up.

We met Pearl in November 2005 when her Daughter Dominique was married in South Bend. It's great to catch up with newlywed friends and see familiar faces again!

Many of the younger ones at Saturday's portrait session were junior bridesmaids, flower girls or ring bearers in Dominique's and her cousin Dakia's wedding in the last 2 years. All were photogenic as ever for their outdoor portrait session.

Click a photo or CLICK HERE to see the entire gallery. Enjoy!

eB

Dustin & Alison

2007-05-31T10:25:00.000-04:00

What a weekend. 4 shoots in 4 days tells me two things - (1) business is picking up fast (2) i am going to need a little more sleep before the weekend hits again!

Sunday I worked as a second photographer for a colleague and we were both pretty tired out from our May schedules. We drove south to Plymouth so we got to relax on the way to Swan Lake Country Club.

When I've worked as a second photographer, or 2nd shooter, I usually know nothing about the couple except their names and where I can find them for photos. This time... there was an enjoyably personal twist on the day. Turns out when we got there I realized I not only knew the groom, I went to high school with him and he graduated with my younger sister. (And at a small school it's hard not to know every person there.)

I hadn't seen Dustin in a long while, not that I could remember anyhow. He was super excited that his wedding day was here at last. And I was pretty stoked to find out that his groomsmen were very cool with getting out for some creative portraits on the greens and around the country club grounds. With a handful of musicians, graphic artists, videographers in the bunch, there were plenty of artistic ideas flying while we went out to shoot.

Weddings are a great celebration and let's be honest - it's almost always the bride that dreams it up, plans it out, and has the spotlight on her all day. I always enjoy a wedding day that begins with the groom and his guys excited too, and when they can share in the fun with some creative portraits, it gets the day kicking better than a good cup of coffee.

The guys were a blast to hang out with and when we mixed it up for a new portrait arrangement I kept hearing "I feel like I'm in a boy band" - at least from one guy, in particular, and the start of a pop song. At least there were no dance routines! (eek!) These guys were ready for a good laugh not just ready for a good photo op.

I'll post a gallery of my favorites once I can narrow it down... seriously, it was such a picturesque afternoon with a very fun couple - it's not easy choosing!

eB

BIG NEWS from Eric & Sara

2007-05-25T22:50:00.000-04:00

WE'RE PREGNANT!

Thursday night at 11:45pm while I finished up some work, I heard Sara screaming from the bathroom. I thought we had a rat loose or something... but she came out jumping for joy! She didn't tell me she was taking a pregnancy test but we knew that we wanted to start on a family this spring.

She took a couple other tests today from other stores and other brands to be sure-sure and... all systems go! Tuesday we'll get the doctor visit tests, but what a nice Memorial Day announcement!

She picked up a baby onesy that read, especially for me "Instructions Not Included" :o)
(Yes, I *do* read instructions, usually first if it's a new gizmo)

Jessica & Kyle Engagemnt

2007-05-17T15:22:00.000-04:00

What a great evening out at Notre Dame campus with Jessica & Kyle. The day before a gust-nado (strong gusts but not quite a tornado) that swept through campus and knocked over trees, branches, and a spire off the top of the Basilica. Things were pretty tidied up as we walked the campus.

With not even a cloud in the sky until we were done, it was a great day out with a fun couple!

Click an image or CLICK HERE to view the slide show.

camera dreams?

2007-05-15T12:41:00.000-04:00

last night I didn't sleep too well. when I woke up it felt like my pillowcase was secretly switched to one filled with old roller skates - the 80s kind with little pompoms on the toes too. not good.

I did manage to have another oddball dream, probably induced by pineapple upside down cake late at night. (why's it upside down!?)

If you're heard me ramble on about how I got into photography, you may have heard that my dad got a mint condition Minolta 35mm camera, lens, flash and stuff at a Police auction for a meager $25 - probably less than the cost of the camera bag that held it all. With paperback manuals and as many books as I could find at the library I flipped pages as I shot off frames of trial and error.
So while resting on roller skates last night I dreamed that my dad had again found a camera for cheap as free, but one for himself. For a couple hundred bucks he found a nice Nikon... a D2Xs. When I went to check it out for him he was bummed that it didn't come with a lens, but what a coincidence, I had a lens he could... borrow. (maybe if I could borrow the camera in exchange...)

Good fun Dad and camera dreams... weird, yes. He knows his way around cars and tools like nobody else I know but a camera... well... my sisters and I bought him and Mom a nice simple point & shoot for a reason - less fuss means more fun to use!

My sis Ali and her newlywed husband Ray met up with Sara and me over at my folks' house last weekend Mother's Day back yard sit-around. Good relaxing laughs.

Congrats Danae & Chris

2007-05-14T00:54:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day everybody!

What a weekend! Sara and I met up with Danae and Chris in Koontz Lake for another perfect May Saturday afternoon. With plenty of sunshine and plenty of smiles, it was a fantastic afternoon together. More great photos in the slide show. Click a photo or the link below to see more!

Enjoy!

Click a photo or CLICK HERE to see the slide show!

business card design

2007-05-08T14:07:00.000-04:00

All the great new couples we've met this spring and all the fun weddings we've attended has emptied out our supply of cards to give out so... we've made up some new ideas.

We'd love to hear your thoughts!

congrats Samantha & Dan!

2007-04-29T13:53:00.000-04:00

Saturday we shared the a beautiful day and a good amount of contagious laughter with Samantha and Dan at their wedding. I met up with Dan and the groomsmen and Sara headed to the Potawatomi Greenhouse to join the ladies basking in the April sunshine as they got ready for this perfect afternoon wedding.

The neighbors will stay off the yard and out of trouble
thanks to Dan and the neighborhood crime watch committee.

Just Married!

Beautiful breezy weather!

The BEST cake fight I've ever witnessed...
more in the slideshow gallery!

Click a photo above or
CLICK HERE to view the slideshow
(cake fight included!)

congrats Jill & Chris!

2007-04-21T23:19:00.000-04:00

Saint Pius X Church - I loved the architecture and dramatic lighting!

"I take you Jill... ahem, I TAKE YOU JILL"
Chris must have been mezmorized -
he nearly forgot the part where he repeated the vows.

The only thing sweeter than spring finally being in Indiana today?
These two and their families coming together in Indiana today.

CLICK HERE to get a reminder when Jill & Chris' photos are ready.

senior session :: Phil

2007-04-19T18:08:00.000-04:00

It's something amazing to think back and see how time has passed. I got out Wednesday to meet up with Phil for his Senior Session for some of the first good weather we've had this spring. Phil's brother Michaux and I used to run rampant at our school's tech and drama classes more than a decade ago. Funny thing was I remembered Michaux's little brother coming to get him after school and church... and his *little* brother is now a month from graduation!

Phil began helping out at the Underground Cafe when he was back in junior high (and still over 6' tall, or close!). He and a couple of guys became a core team that kept the concerts and events running whether I was there to help or not. He came up with some crazy stage lighting ideas and patterns for the concerts, and began to DJ between the bands to keep the show going. Using a mix of his interest in lighting, writing, visual art and turntable dj skills he was soon known as dj Illuminist.

Congrats on all your hard work Phil!
We're proud of you, and we're not the only ones!

CLICK HERE to see Phil's slideshow.

eB

spring at last - senior sessions

2007-04-17T01:36:00.000-04:00

Don't let the sun and greener grass fool you - it was still windy and cold... but it was sunny! We had a blast out with Erik and his parents in Marcellus for a day out around the lakes for a senior session.

Click on the photos or CLICK HERE to view the slideshow. Enjoy!

eB

Congrats Shauna & Nathan!

2007-04-14T22:14:00.000-04:00

We began the 2007 wedding season with Shauna and Nathan at River Valley Church this Saturday for a fantastic celebration! When they left the church they were met with a shower of silver streamers on the way to the car - what a getaway!

Shauna & Nathan's slide show is ready to see - CLICK HERE or click the photo above to see the slide show.

Enjoy!

Baby it's Cold Outside

2007-04-07T08:39:00.000-04:00

Two things came to mind when I woke up to see a snowstorm covering up my car. Ok three, - the first is "why'd I look outside to this THIS?" The second was how'd we go from 75˚ last week to 23˚ in a few days? Looks like it was a smart move to reschedule the family portraits in the park today, unless you're planning on some winter activities. Lastly I realized that brightly colored eggs could be even easier to find against the dull, white snow. Finally! - I can show up my dozen nieces and nephews at the annual Bassler family Easter Egg hunt. :) I won't even have to wait till Dingus Day to find them all!

This, my friends, is Indiana. Land that I love and weather that I loathe.

Despite the snowfall and falling temperatures (yuck) Sara and I have had a whirlwind week meeting up with new friends and familiar faces as spring wedding planning kicks into high gear. I'm ready to defrost, ready to get out there and see the hard work all our friends have been putting into their wedding day plans and celebrate with them as they see it all come together for an amazing day.

Enjoy the Easter weekend! eB

Congrats Aliya and Ray Caldwell!

2007-04-01T00:04:00.000-04:00

I have a brother at last! 26 years and I have a brother today when Aliya and Ray married! While getting a look over the photos tonight I ran across these from just after the ceremony when Ali and Ray returned to the church for portraits... and Aliya was gushing about her newlywed husband and giddy as she looked out the window at him and his wedding gift to her - a blue Jeep Grand Cherokee!

I can't even count how many times I've seen my sister smile in the past 24 years... getting Christmas presents, laughing at Dad making faces at us kids, winning a state basketball championship in high school, screaming for the Fighting Irish football team... amazing memories but it was nothing like today... not even close. Her smile said it all.

I remember when I moved to Sweden for a year of study and kept in touch with my sisters with paper letters and emails. Aliya was almost done with high school. The deep ties of sibling friendships began to surface as I saw my little sisters becoming young women and I felt such an awe, love and pride in them.

After the reception was winding down tonight my dad was outside talking with Ray's cousin about my sisters and me. I had moved away from home to Sweden for a year and lived out of state half a year then lived in Thailand half a year after that. Genna, the youngest of us 3 kids moved to Missouri 4 years ago and has been back for pretty much each Thanksgiving and Christmas and most summers. Ali studied in town and completed her teaching degree, always liked to watch and play sports with dad, and is the first of his daughters to marry. I almost teared up again hearing him talk with such pride in his kids, and sensing how much he's enjoyed Ali living at home while studying and beginning her romance with Ray even when teaching schedules mean she gets little time home.

Expect more gush ahead as more photos are ready. Contact us to get a reminder when the gallery is ready and all of today's memories are ready to be relived one by one. It's always an honor to share a special day with a couple - today was a wedding day that I wouldn't have missed for the world.

Congrats Ali and Ray. I wish I had words for how happy I am for you two.

Your favorite big brother, Eric

UPDATED! Click HERE to view their wedding day slideshow!

Tear-Jerkers Strike Again

2007-03-27T22:22:00.000-04:00

It's spring outside, at least for this moment in Indiana. Sara's off with a friend and my dad called to tell me he fixed her car in two day's time. Make that the little free time he finds in two days. He's an amazing guy to figure out things like he does. He's actually the one who pushed for me to study something I enjoyed and make it a career.

It hasn't really sank it yet - for me, I'm certain - that my little sis is getting married this weekend. I shot engagement photos and I'm going to be putting together a slide show for them but... wedding planning came so suddenly and I don't live with my family so... it's just surreal. Like talking about Christmas when we just got our first taste of spring. Too far off.

It wasn't too far off tonight as Dad asked me to find him a fist dance song. I looked up a few that I've heard often that haven't been overplayed to my ears. And then, as easily as previewing a track, the tear-jerker songs that always fog my lenses at weddings hit me. This is real.

I could gush... and I probably will later next week but I have to say I'm proud of her and thrilled for her and Ray to begin a new life together. Thankfully I have to go get Sara so I'll save the sentimental thoughts for a later time.

eB

New Card Designs

2007-03-21T15:30:00.000-04:00

One of Sara's favorite photos from last summer has become her newest card design. This frozen moment of tranquility, anticipation and joy on the bride's face as she saw herself ready for her ceremony was an instant favorite when Sara added it to the slide show at Natalia & Jeff's wedding last July.

It's the first day of spring, and so far the weather has cooperated to convince me that warmer weather and greener colors are ahead. My little sis is getting married in about a week and a half which begins the busy spring schedule of photography and fun couples.

New Old Work - Design 1 - 2003

2007-03-18T20:22:00.000-04:00

This weekend I came across my school portfolio and some of my favorite analog projects of photography and design. These things really whooped me to concentrate on the why & where of what I did since there was no quick undo button.

I don't remember the name of the art project or style but we started with three designs sketched out in brainstorms. Once we cleaned up the realistic, recognizable abstraction, and single element abstraction sketches, we chose a color scheme for each design. To get the color for each design we cut color and texture snips from glossy magazine ads and backgrounds and hand cut each slice to fit the design and glue it down.

My theme? Camera! - A slick Nikon FM3a we had at the camera store made for the classic SLR look with a boxy prism housing, short fixed focal lens, chunky control dials, manual wind lever... the works.

Recognizable Abstraction

Realistic

Abstraction - can you identify which part?

This class was a tough one, and as our design professor told us time and time again... in the real world there are no runner-ups or B-grades, you simply don't get the job. That's one thing I really benefited from at Ivy Techerson... a dose of reality with a daily dash of kick in the pants. All my profs asked time and time again how what I enjoyed doing could be made into an enjoyable and profitable artform.

I remember one summer course I took I had to set an income goal and find a way to sell my work to meet or exceed that mark. I had some friends graduating and shot some nice senior portraits for them, and I met the goal. At the time I was immersed in rural Indiana barn photography - I loved driving out in the country and finding the pastoral scenes and solitude in the great outdoors.

My prof burst that bubble of shooting barns as income and told me I'd probably have to shoot weddings or senior portraits to make a living. I remember telling him my experiences trying to be the wedding photographer I read about... directing the day, being in the spotlight as I shot frame after frame of perfect endless love singing blissful photographs. I couldn't step in and tell couples how to stage their memories. Plus, I was like 22 and just didn't see myself bossing around newlywed adults. I had "photographer" relatives direct *me* at my early weddings, also a feeling I didn't want to repeat any time soon either.

It was that summer I also started an assisting position with a local photographer who enjoyed shooting a style I have always enjoyed - candid. He caught amazing photos when the couple wasn't staring him down and his clients loved his work. After a summer of assisting I had sharpened up skills to photograph three friends' weddings in the style and in the manner I had always enjoyed. Those three early weddings helped to launch that year's work which propelled the following year's work until we've been able to take our work full time last year.

The only time I'm a starving artist is if, at a wedding reception, catering steals my cake slice before I get to eat it. :o) My Sara works with me in amazing ways, cake defender being among them.

travel updates on the go

2007-03-02T03:51:00.000-05:00

while on the road I'll be updating my travel page:

ebphotography.com/travel

Click and feel like you're on the road too!

eB :: IN>IL>MO>OK>TX>NM>AZ>CA>OR

putting the GO in Chicago

2007-02-28T11:50:00.000-05:00

Train rides? [X] Check.

Riding the SouthShore rails into Chicago had a nostalgic and solitary feel. The nostalgic part was from the numerous times I rode the rails in China and Thailand in my earlier traveling years. Funny how a means of mass transport can feel isolating. A 20-something couple a few seats in front of me snuggled and smiled the whole ride to the Windy City, making me miss Sara all the sooner. Several phone calls to Sara to say "I miss you" followed to remind her I was thinking of her.

In my hurried packing I forgot any sort of headphones to play some easy listens off my nano. Now it's a NON-oh. Eh, I wanted to find a better-than-standard set anyhow.

A quick jump from the SouthShore to street level barely had time for the two frames I snapped and immediately wished I had brought my fisheye lens. A cab to Union Station got me in line for another ticket minutes before departure and, in retrospect I regretted the uninteresting photos I stopped to take as they delayed me just enough that I would have to wait another hour. Time passed quick enough with a few phone calls and some McDonald's chicken strips for a 7pm snack. Better food was ahead so I wouldn't spoil my appetite. A Metra ride to Elgin caught me up with Jon and Ryan for Thai at 11pm home time / 10pm Chicago. Still yummy even late.

So... a filling continental breakfast has added fuel for a day of driving ahead. To steer clear of approaching storms we'll be heading south toward Texas and across southwest states to head west. We'll be skirting the Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Park... places I'd love to stop for a week, unwire and unwind. A day stop is better than none, yes, and we'll hit the road in moments.

eB

PS I love you Sara, see you soon Sweetie.

Truck Cab Wagons... West!

2007-02-27T01:12:00.000-05:00

Here it is: the quintessential and perhaps obligatory road trip of a lifetime. You know, the ones you dream about as a teenager about to graduate high school? Or maybe the college graduate about to enter real life and a career? Maybe it's your last big to-do before your wedding? I'm checking (D) - none of the above.

Make that "the road trip of a 20-something newlywed self-employed college student's stateside travel opportunity." (Much more exciting, I know!) A drive west through the plains, hills, and mountains of the great (north) American landscape in a quest for travel miles and a hoorah before the busy season kicks in all around me.It's been 6 months since my last "long drive" to Tennessee with my wife for our honeymoon. It's been 4 years since my last trip farther than that and outside big city Chicago or lakeside Michigan destinations that involved a flight home.

Planes, trains, and automobiles will be boarded in no sequential order. Midweek I'll meet up with fellow camera store escapee / photo nerd / MacGuyver fan / storywriter / traveler / Thai food junkie Jon in the Windy City to hit the road and drive his truck west to his new business locale in Oregon. He got a pretty sweet deal that his company is moving him there to photograph a bunch of locations along the left coast this spring. Rather bittersweet is the move westward away from the hometown friends and a sweetheart in Wisconsin, the Dairy-Air State.

So then, adventures as they are, I haven't jumped into a flight path or a train route in the States since I visited some friends in North Carolina back in '03 and before that I was on the road / rails / air in Southeast Asia, my second home for my late teens and early 20s. I've only flown westward to Phoenix, Arizona for a convention downtown and never got out to see sights out west. Driving I'll see the landscape better, catch up over a week's time as we head nearby some of the famous National parks out that way and settle in to Portland and see the sights a day or so before... the flight back. (I'm up to drive it one way, but I got a wife waiting to see me too you know!)

Excited, tired, and not yet packed - these are the ingredients to an unforgettable trip if ever I remember one.

eB

My Little Sis is GETTING MARRIED!!!

2007-02-25T01:58:00.000-05:00

That's right... My younger-older sis Aliya is getting married! That's two Bucholtz kids in less than 8 months as she plans for a March wedding!

Tonight Ali and Ray came by for a quick photo for the front of their invitations and instead got a pile of outtakes and one favorite photo. Since only the best goes on the invitation, I had to do *something* with the extras. I wouldn't be a proper older brother if I didn't.

I'm so happy for Ali and Ray... I remember the first couple of times he called to talk to her at my parents' house and I answered the phone. Then we got to meet and I learned we share a similar interest in ridiculous humor, audio production, computer stuff and making fun of my little sis. What's not to like!

So... here's a quick peek at the outtakes and a keeper (see if you can spot it). Enjoy!

Click the photo or CLICK HERE to view the quick slideshow.

eB

Congrats Michelle & Nick

2007-02-12T21:17:00.000-05:00

Sunday we joined Michelle & Nick in Marcellus, Michigan.

CLICK HERE or click the image to view the slideshow

Click HERE to see the full gallery.

eB

Chicago Escape

2007-02-07T01:18:00.001-05:00

We picked the coldest weekend on record to get away to the Windy City for some couple-time. No camera bags, no agenda, no worries. Turns out that Superbowl Weekend and -30˚ wind chills means that downtown Chicago is gonna be really empty!

We snuck out for Red Lobster and a very funny time laughing about nothing over dinner, then hurried back to our hotel to warm up. Out to the Sears Tower Skydeck the next afternoon for a look over the frozen Lake Michigan and sprawling town below. I live not 200 miles from Chicago nearly all my life and I've been up there to look around a total of twice now... the first time when I was 12 or younger.

It was a preemtive vacation... this weekend brings a great concert and two weddings. The busy season is starting to crawl closer... ;o)

After braving the cold for a 10 block hike to a couple of store sales, we got back to the car for a ride home. We got home as the Super Bowl was winding down the third quarter. Taco leftovers joined us for dinner as we watched the Indy Colts win after a rainy day with the Chicago Bears. What a weekend!

eB

Carly Jane - a little news

2007-02-07T01:09:00.000-05:00

Did someone say adorable?

Carly holding Sara's finger while napping

Carly and mom Dawn

Well for all who have asked, Sara went to visit our niece and family in Indy before Carly's surgery. Carly is recovering from surgery, fought through an infection, and is quite a strong almost 6-week old baby girl. Thanks all for keeping her and our family in your prayers.

Beach Wedding Album - New Design!

2007-01-24T07:36:00.000-05:00

Bitter winter is here in Indiana, and days of warm bare feet are long past. To warm up your imagination and memories, we're publishing our fall albums this week to bring some warmth and color back to the winter snowscapes.

Emily & Drew - September 23rd - Silver Beach, St. Joseph, Michigan

Click the album cover or
CLICK HERE to view the Album Showcase.

icy winter blast

2007-01-15T21:36:00.000-05:00

The closest we've had to a lasting winter has been the rain frozen on trees and fences, no snowballs yet. Good thing I'm a patient guy. After the funeral today I snuck out for a little quiet (and cold) time to think and compose closeups of the icy greeting card from old man winter.

weddings by eric & sara | about the photographers | contact us

Recording History in Pixels

2007-01-14T04:46:00.000-05:00

I've been practicing my art as a visual historian behind a camera for nearly 16 years now. 12 of those being behind an SLR's manual focus lens. 3 years now in a completely digital format.

This past week comes with reflecting on the images of a friend I've recorded with my minds eye over the years. Sundays at church, school basketball games, youth group events, even a missions trip to the Dominican Republic 7 years ago already. This past week a family and friends of mine lost their father when he passed away from unexplained "natural causes" yet to be determined. No one could reach him for a few days so they had the police break in to check on him. Once inside they found him in a chair with his Bible in front of him, already gone.

I've known these guys since they moved from Muncie to South Bend in the late 80's and I went to school with his oldest son John since 3rd grade... roughly 18 years. If you've been around CCS - the school and church where we all grew up - for any length of time you've run into these guys at any given basketball game, church function, outreach, missions trip, or cafe concert night. Though I haven't worked with John in a youth meeting like we did for years since the church split and he was let go, I was glad I had the last Saturday of September off to attend his wedding, and he and his fiance (now wife!) attend mine. Mikey has been in my middle sister Aliya's class from k5 though graduation and Sarah has been a friend of my youngest sister Genna since... they could talk. Irma was mom to youth group kids, her tough love earning her the affectionate nickname, Irmanator.

I've been swamped with photo work and hadn't done more than a look through of the photos I shot at John's September wedding from my pew near the back of the church. My wife Sara and I had that Saturday off when a bride rescheduled to the next day, so we were able to join our friends at their wedding as guests, not photographers at work. I couldn't help but bring my camera, and had decided to give him whatever photos I shot as a gift. A family friend did the same for me when he attended as a guest and his photos were a tremendous gift to us. I knew John would enjoy the same. We had to scoot before the reception was over so we could pick up our rental car and drive out of state for our Sunday wedding, but I was glad I could see old friends and catch a few great smiles before packing up.

The more I looked through the moments at the wedding celebration the more my mind's eye began to replay moments with the Ferguson family. Their house near the school and church was hardly ever locked and you could always find a few students there munching on snacks or visiting at most any time I stopped in. We had countless parties for any and no reason. The more I began to remember these moments, I see again how one person can connect so many more people. It's beyond "social networking" that's all the buzz these days, it's something bigger and longer lasting: friendship.

These guys are the kind of people that even though some of them moved away, some that are in town I haven't seen in months, you pick up right where you left of when you see them again. It's like time hasn't sped by so fast after all, and you feel safe to be with old friends. It wasn't till I began to write that I even realized how long I've known them, and the film reels of memories began playing out on the screen of fond remembrances.

Please join me in supporting them any way you can through this loss. Your prayers are coveted for them, and if you can make it I know how much it means to have the support of friends through a death in the family.

eB

Prayer Request for Carly

2007-01-09T03:10:00.000-05:00

As I'm in the midst of editing photos, I'm asking all the believer types out there to send out a prayer for our neice Dawn's newborn baby Carly. Carly was born on December 29th, 2006 and my wife Sara went to Memorial Hospital for join her oldest sister's oldest daughter for her second C-Section delivery.

Carly was flown to Riley Children's Hospital in Indy a few short hours after being delivered when doctors discovered she was having difficulty breathing and was not getting enough oxygen in her blood. Carly's father, Brian, drove to Indy right away while her mom Dawn was stuck recovering from the c-section in South Bend.

Sara holding our new neice Carly, 12/29/06

Carly has been in Riley since her birthday and her mom Dawn was there once she recovered from her c-section. Carly has had been recovering from an infection that has delayed a heart operation to connect blood vessels to let her heart the oxygenated blood as it should. (Even after helping Sara study for her college anataomy classes I'm not completely sure what is wrong or what needs to be fixed, but I know that Carly and the doctors caring for her need our prayers!)

Carly will undergo her operation this Thursday morning and Sara will join her Neice and family in Indy to support them.

Please join me for just a short moment to ask our Heavenly Father God to watch over, heal, and bring peace to Carly and her family. My own ears were healed from near deafness when I was 10 and I know I believe in a God of love, mercy, and miracles. Thanks for your prayers.

Eric & Sara B

New Year's Day!

2007-01-01T22:56:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year Everybody!

I hope you enjoyed your Christmas and New Year celebrations this past week! I love the prospect of a new year and the excitement of new ideas, a fresh outlook, and the inspiration and ideas that flood in this wintertime. Big things are ahead!

The first, most noticeable change for the New Year is the move to this new blog account. Now *anyone* can drop us a comment without the hassle of setting up a new account, remembering new passwords, or the hassle of our our old systems. Share your thoughts with us in a click!
Our update posts are now searchable. See galleries of our new work, find your photographs, a friend's wedding, a sibling's graduation portraits... easily!
More fun to be announced this month... check back soon for more info!

Bookmark us! Hold [control/command]+[d] to add us to your web browser favorites!

All I Want For Christmas...

2006-12-25T01:33:00.000-05:00

Congrats Katie & Nathan!

All I wanted for Christmas was to have a great year of new friends and new couples come to a close with one final celebration on Friday. What I got instead was something more of a grand finale of fun, a fantastic couple, a hilarious wedding party, and loving families that had already begun to mesh together long before the wedding day.

I don't think I'll ever say it enough just what an honor it is to join a husband and wife on their wedding day. Thank you to all our new friends who brought Sara and me along to your wedding day, for giving us a backstage pass to your biggest event, and for asking us to tell your unforgettable story.

Katie and Nathan had such a blast I decided to make an "extended-footage" slideshow of the grande finale for 2006. Click any of the photos above or CLICK HERE to view the Slideshow. It's larger than the usual showcase so be sure to give it an extra moment to load while you get some eggnog, pie or cookies, and hum your favorite Christmas song.

eB

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