The Gray Dove | vendor spotlight

We have been photographing weddings in this area for over thirteen years, and have had the pleasure to meet so many great people who work alongside of us in the industry. Sometimes, it might just be a “hello” in passing on a wedding day, or seeing someone briefly around town. We realized that we might know the work of a wedding planner, florist, or the distinctive flavor of a caterer, without really knowing the people behind the scenes. So we started reaching out to some of our amazing local vendors, and have begun photographing and interviewing them. We’d like to give potential brides a great behind-the-scenes look at the wedding professionals in the area, and the personalities behind their work. Last year, we did a fun inspiration shoot at a fantastic new rustic venue, but only recently did I have a chance to get to know Josh + Melissa Cain of The Gray Dove!

How would you describe yourself?

I’m a very creative think-outside-the-box kind of person when it comes to ideas related to giving out thing new life.  I am persistent at times when I have ideas and plans in mind, I like to see them through. And lastly, I’m witty especially as a default when things don’t go as planned. As a result, our venue always has fun, exciting and interesting additions!

Could you characterize your style in three words?

Eclectic in some ways. My style is basically a reflection of my life. I live on a farm and am a mother. Farm and kid-friendly is a must!

 What sets you apart from your competition?

Our location, the proximity to the interstate and surrounding areas and our love of the history of our property and buildings on it.

What do you love the most about Chattanooga?

Both myself and my husband were born and raised in Chattanooga and the surrounding areas. Growing up here, you take for granted what an amazing city it is and all it has to offer, especially the history. We are major history buffs when it comes to architecture and the old ways of life. We feel that Chattanooga has something for everyone.

What inspires you?

History. New and modern has its place; however, there is something wonderful about being able to bring a 100 year old barn back to life and surround it with antique pieces from the same era. 

What is your favorite aspect of a wedding?

We enjoy seeing families love and enjoy our property and barn as much as we do. Knowing that couples choose our venue to begin their life together is something very special. 

Do you have any advice you’d like to give engaged couples?

Marriage is hard work, but like anything else: the more work you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

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Field + Flora | Vendor Spotlight

We have been photographing weddings in this area for over a decade, and I have had the pleasure to meet so many great people who work alongside of us in the industry. Sometimes, it might just be a “hello” in passing on a wedding day, or seeing someone briefly at around town. I realized that I might know the work of a wedding planner, florist, or the distinctive flavor of a caterer, but I didn’t really know the people behind the scenes. So, I’ve started reaching out to some of our amazing local vendors in the area, and have begun photographing and interviewing them. I’d like to give potential brides a great behind-the-scenes look at the wedding professionals in the area, and the amazing work that they do. I recently had the amazing opportunity to sit down with Krista Flora Dunbar an amazing floral designer in Chattanooga.

 

How would you describe yourself (and/or your business)?

I am a very visual person and have always been passionate about all things creative whether writing, art, photography, interior design, etc. I have such respect for those in all these different fields and more and I stay fascinated by how these creative endeavors surround us in every way in our day to day. I would describe my business style as carefree yet controlled, often mimicking nature, and versatile to fit many needs.

How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

Lush | Natural |  Evolving!

What sets you apart from your competition?

I actually find myself admiring much of the “competition”. There is so much talent around! Still, I am always trying to improve in as many ways I can by learning more about the industry, floral knowledge (it’s endless!), and trends while maintaining and molding my own style. I try to meet the clients where they are, make them feel like they are in good hands, and try to make things as seamless as possible as they have so many other moving parts to figure out at the same time. I want to have each arrangement, event, or wedding meet the clients needs, personalities, and sensibilities and from there try to make things personalized and exceed expectations, of course!

 

 

How long have you been in business?

Field + Flora is 1.5 years old, however I have been in the floral business for 6 years. After college I worked in advertising with small local businesses where I gained so much knowledge of the hard work and passion it takes to own and run a small business. After a long obsession with flowers I made a shift into working for a 4th generation florist, which I thought would be a short term indulgence. This turned into a passion I couldn’t shake. Through working with such an established company I gained so much design experience as well as the ins and outs of the administrative, ordering, and customer service aspects of the field. I am grateful for all the experiences that have lent themselves to me finally taking a leap into owning my own company.

 

What do you love most about Chattanooga?

Chattanooga is the perfect mix of an urban environment, scenic and natural landscapes, culture, and all with a small town feel socially where relationships and connections are concerned. Having lived here just over 10 years I have seen it grow and flourish and I am grateful to have seen the transformation myself to appreciate it even more!

 

What inspires you?

It’s not hard to constantly be inspired in this field! I stay awestruck by the way the earth unfolds and incredibly produces the mediums I get to use! I may get to use my eye for color, my sense of textures that work well together, and assemble the flow and shape of the end design, but so often it is the flowers that speak for themselves! Colors whether in a painting or even a piece of fashion may move me. In the age of social media it is so amazing to be able to keep up with other incredible designers and floral movements all around the world and that’s an incredible inspiration!

What is your favorite part of a wedding? (or your job?)

Most people don’t realize how much work goes into the process before ever getting the finished product. Unpacking and cutting in flowers, cleaning dirty buckets, foliage and stems everywhere you look, striving for gentle transportation, setting up, taking down, it can be overwhelming! But once I am hands on designing I am on cloud nine. Seeing the finished product and the customers reaction is priceless and so satisfying! The thing about flowers is that their offering is usually an expression of some great emotional experience, whether that be a wedding, inspiring a smile during a happy occasion, expressing love, or offering peace in the hard times. Getting to be a part of these important times in a person’s life is so gratifying.

 

Do you have any advice you would like to give engaged couples?

Don’t let the planning process overwhelm you to the point of not savoring the point of it all. Have an idea of what you are looking for where flowers are concerned but don’t get too caught up with pinterest or grand magazine spreads as often these are styled shoots and some of the grand things you see may be less realistic than you imagine. Trust your florist to take your preferences and make them fit your budget and vision appropriately.

 


Field + Flora Design Co.

www.fieldandfloraco.com

https://www.instagram.com/fieldandflora/

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    Notes from my Mom

    My mom taught me so much in life. She taught me to; pray first before making any decision, always look on the bright side, use my napkin, turn my feet out (I was extremely pigeon-toed growing up!), smile, be myself, have joy in my heart, laugh-out-loud, be thankful for my red hair because it made me unique, and if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.  She is an amazing example of a Godly wife, mother, and friend.  I never thank her enough, but now having children of my own, I thank her most everyday.

    We want to say a big, “Thank You” to ALL mothers on this very special weekend for it is always mothers who laugh with us, cry when we hurt, hold us when we’re sick, pick us back up when we fall, and watch over us whether they are near or far.

    Here are some of our favorite “MOMents” from weddings!

    ~Lindsey

    My mom and I on my second birthday!

     They cheer us on.

     Their patience.

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    Their incredible wisdom.

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    Their gentle words of guidance.

    They teach us to laugh!

     They pray for us.

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    They watch over us.

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    They pick us up when we fall.

       

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      our fifteenth wedding anniversary

      This June we will celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary! To commemorate it, we are offering special anniversary sessions! Our hope is to celebrate marriage by revealing both the joys and struggles of real life. We are asking couples, “What happens to love after the wedding day?” Love doesn’t need to dissolve after the wedding, but in order to keep it alive we have to put forth the effort to create a life-long love. You can read more of our story below.

      Email us info@bamberphotography.com if you would like to be a part of our anniversary sessions.

      All photos is this post are from our 10th anniversary trip to California by Mike Larson & our family photos are by Ben Finch & Jo Photo.

       How long have you been married?

      15 years on June 29th!
      Do you have children? If so, tell us about them!

      Yes, we have two children, Jack & Lola.

      Where did you meet your fiancé?

      We met at Belmont University in Nashville, TN in our freshman Calculus class!

       

      What was your first date?

      Lindsey: Our first date was to harvest festival at a friend’s church. We went on a hay-ride and sat around a bonfire. It was a pretty perfect first date! It was cold so John let me wear his jacket!

      John: I thought our first date was when your car broke down, and you called me. I came and picked you up, and took you to the Cooker in Murfreesboro. Maybe it wasn’t a real date because I was still to nervous to actually ask you…but in my mind, we were together. Now, that I’m writing that, it makes me seem like a stalker! 🙂

      Was it love at first sight?

      Lindsey: NO! John and I met freshman year in Calculus class. He sat behind me. One day, I had a few buttons that were unbuttoned on the back of my shirt and he buttoned them without asking. That did not go over well with me! It took him a year to convince me that he was a nice guy!

      John: Guilty as charged. It took a long time for our two “circles of friends” to converge and for her to trust me.

      When did you know they were the one?

      Lindsey: Probably the summer before we started dating. John was a traveler…I believe that summer he was in Argentina, Australian, & Papa New Guinea. On my birthday he mailed me a beautiful letter and package from Argentina. It was so thoughtful and kind that he remembered my birthday even though he was traveling all over the world and actually had a girlfriend at the time! That’s a subject for another day!

      John: I knew when I couldn’t speak every time I was around her. That was when we first started running together and playing soccer.

      Where did you get engaged?

      Lindsey: We got engaged on Christmas Eve. It’s a huge celebration in my family. We go to communion together and then to my aunt and uncle’s house for dessert and presents! After communion, he said that he forgot his camera at my parents’ house and wanted to go back and get it. It was a beautiful evening, so he asked me to take a little walk before heading back. He got down on one knee and asked me to spend forever with him.  It was so amazing because we could go straight and tell all my family!

      John: I was so nervous. A family friend and jeweler from home in Missouri had worked with me on the ring, and I even got to help out with some of the finishing touches. It seemed like it was burning a hole in my pocket. I remember driving from Missouri to Tennessee and picking up a hitch-hiker along the way, praying that he wouldn’t take the ring!

      Did you go through any type of pre-marriage counseling?

      Lindsey: We did. My childhood pastor counseled us which was good, but probably the best thing for us was the year we were apart while John was studying in France. We spent much of our dating relationship apart while John studied photography and traveled.  We have volumes of letters and emails written to one other during that time. That was how we learned to really communicate with each other.   Looking back, I feel that more counseling would’ve been beneficial.  We joke about this, but we recently read Gary Chapman’s book “Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Got Married.” It was so helpful and enlightening. We always recommend this book to engaged couples. If only we would’ve read this 16 years ago!!

      John: We did a bit of counseling with Parson Brown (yes, just like “Winter Wonderland”) and it was helpful, but in retrospect it might have been better to do a even more counseling. It’s important!

      What is your favorite memory from your wedding day?

      Lindsey: I remember walking down the aisle with my dad to John. That moment was priceless. I loved our vows. We each wanted to be completely present during our ceremony, so the music and our vows were really important to us.

      John: Seeing her for the first time in her dress was absolutely amazing. For me to get teared up, and to literally be speechless (I could barely whisper my vows I was so caught up!) she was and is so stunning.

      Looking back, would you do anything differently on your wedding day?

      Lindsey: Probably see each other before the ceremony. I wish that we could’ve spent more time together with our family and friends throughout that day. Our ceremony was a 7 pm, so we didn’t see each other the entire day!

      J: I agree. I wish I had spent more time with Lindsey throughout the day, rather than just a few hours at the end! Also, for some reason, I was cooking for the groomsmen the morning of the wedding, and lost a few eyebrows doing a flambée. Not kidding. Hindsight is 20/20.

      What would you say was the most surprising aspect of marriage?

      Lindsey: I would say how selfish I realized that I was! Just thinking of someone else first was and is a challenge! I am selfish by nature.  Therefore, it is that much more precious to think of him first because it is difficult and most of the time requires sacrifice.  This requires thinking of each other’s needs before our own and even before our children’s needs! This one is harder for us these days. Our kids naturally demand our attention and so for a season, we sort of forgot each other…this was a rough patch for us. Dave Willis says,  “We think the HAPPINESS of our kids should be a bigger priority than the HEALTH of our marriage.  I learned from my parents that one of the greatest gifts you can give your children is the security that comes from living a unified home where their mom and dad are in a loving, committed marriage with each other.”

      J: I think it surprising how natural it felt to be able to finally wake up next to one another. We knew that we wanted to start our lives together, even at an early age: we were both 22 at the time. That might seem young to many people, but we came into it with excitement, some degree of naiveté, and ready for the journey ahead. We learned from one another, and while at first, some of the small things bothered us: she never changes the roll of toilet paper (still) and I don’t always pick up my socks. Sometimes we let our human nature get in the way of it all, and we concentrate on the small things that might not be perfect in some form or fashion. We miss the big picture: the love of my life has committed herself to me, and I to her. I’m going to change the roll of toilet paper every time for the rest of our lives with a smile on my face, because it’s one way I can serve her. I’ll try to remember to pick up my socks, but I hope that she gives me grace when I don’t. When we live our lives in a “tit for tat” (do people still say that, or am I like 100?) way, or in keeping score with every aspect, we miss out on the ebb and flow, and the give and take that is marriage. If you find yourself looking in the mirror, sad that you seem to be the one doing all of the giving within a relationship, take a moment to see things from your spouse’s perspective to see the ways which they (hopefully) lovingly serve you, especially the times they aren’t patting themselves on the back for it.

      What are two of your favorite qualities about each other?

      Lindsey: John is the most sincere and kind person you will ever meet. He will drop everything to help someone out. Before we even started dating, my car broke down on the interstate about halfway between Nashville and Chattanooga, I was on the side of the road and had no idea what to do. My first thought was, call John Bamber. I just knew that he would come and get me. He always shows up for people.

      J: Lindsey is incredible. I can’t really narrow it down to two things, but I can say this: she’s beautiful but doesn’t really know it. She’s a great listener, but has a strong opinion behind that smile. She’s not competitive, but she’s a winner.

      How often do you go on a date with your spouse on a weekly basis?  Do you feel dating is important after marriage?

      Lindsey: We are SO bad about this. There are different seasons of life and marriage. Right now we just enjoy spending time with our kids at home. We love taking walks, gardening, tending to our chickens, or walking over to my parent’s house (they live through the woods from our house!).   Our idea of the perfect date is cooking dinner together, taking a walk, and watching the sun go down.

      J: That’s actually something we’re working through right now. Lindsey does so much of our scheduling for our photography business that I have somewhat let go of the calendar so that I don’t create conflict in our schedules. However, I’m realizing that I need to take more initiative and take her out more often…just hijack the schedule and make it happen. Sometimes, we let ourselves get so busy with life like soccer practice, even church activities and such that we lose sight of one another.

       

      What do you consider to be the secret to your marriage?

      Lindsey: Communication. Seriously….this is so important!  It is essential for both of us to remember that this is a forever commitment that we promised each other in our vows. We’re in this together,  forever,  no matter what.  We do not allow words like divorce to enter our thoughts,  conversations and especially not our in our disagreements. Marriage is too important to be based on our momentary feelings.  Instead, we need to build a marriage based upon a sacred commitment even on those days when we’re not feeling it. Our world is so quick to question and even quit on a marriage the moment feelings change.  A healthy marriage requires choosing each other every day.

      J: I agree. Communication and honesty in every part of our lives. When our marriage has struggled the most has normally been a product of a lack of communication, or me trying to do something on my own, without the support of my wife.

      What is your favorite thing to do together?

      Lindsey: We love hiking, and make a point to go with our kids hiking at least 3 times a week.  John and I love canoeing and kayaking. When we travel, it’s a great way to explore a new city. We have paddled on 3 continents together. We also love cooking together!  A perfect date for us would be cooking dinner, taking a walk with the kids, and watching the sun go down.

      J: We love being active and outdoors. I’m about 6 inches taller than Lindsey (and therefore have a longer stride) but still somehow have a hard time keeping up with her on most hikes! In life and in the outdoors, we look forward to the final vista, summit, etc., but we don’t focus on that so much that forget to enjoy the journey together.

      What’s it like to work with your spouse?

      People ask us this all the time! Many say,  “I could never work with my spouse!” Normally we smile and reply that it isn’t for every couple…but honestly, the principles of working together each day go hand in hand with marriage in general.  First, we had to create a foundation for our marriage.  John and I have had the privilege of working together throughout our 15 years of marriage. Working together every day is a blessing, but it comes with its own challenges.  Some of those years, we worked additional jobs as well, but our photography business was born the first year of marriage.  Now that we both work for Bamber Photography, we love being able to look over at the desk next to ours and know that we are partners in every sense of the word. At each wedding, we always steal a glance at one another during the ceremony. It might be subtle, but there’s always that “I’m thinking of you” or “I remember our vows” moment that we share as we witness the covenant of another couple.  We have both changed so much these past 15 years. We still struggle, but thankfully we understand just how important it is to get past our own pride knowing that we have an amazing chance to encourage each other to grow, not only in our marriage, but as parents, people, & artists.

      What are the top three things that you argue about?

      Lindsey: 1) Those little daily decisions (what should we cook, where should we go.. just little silly stuff!). 2) Over committing. This is huge. We are both self-employed and raising our kids together. Plus, our families and church are very important to us. We have a tendency to over-commit ourselves and this eventually causes a strain on our marriage. 3) Finances. It such a struggle to be both dreamers and realists! We are both artists, so the business aspects of our photography business have always been a struggle for us.

      John: 1) Choosing a restaurant. It’s the worst: we finally made it out the door, got a babysitter for the kids, and the restaurant where we wanted to eat was overbooked. So there we are…driving in traffic, hungry, looking for somewhere to eat. Somehow, we just end up trying to guess what the other wants, and we just get “hangry.” Then it’s easy to lose sight of the joy that we should both be feeling…that we’re actually on a date, and can simply relax and enjoy being together! 2) We also have some disagreements about raising the kids. I don’t enjoy punishment (neither giving nor receiving) but I’m sometimes too quick to say, “….or you’ll get a spanking!” when simply getting on the kids’ level, and showing them the way in a more loving manner would more than suffice.  3) Over commitment. We both have trouble saying “no.” It’s normally easier to see in her life where she shouldn’t have committed to this or that, and she seems to have pretty good insight into my life where I’ve over committed. The most important thing is not simply saying that your family is important; it’s showing your family that they are important by being there for them.

      What do you feel is the most important thing you learned since getting married?

      Lindsey: To give each other Grace. To us this means, giving each other the benefit of the doubt when life gets stressful.  Some of the best marriage advice we ever received was to be each other’s biggest fan.  It is not always easy.  At times, it truly means doing or saying the opposite of what you feel in the moment.   Most of the time for us, this means restraining our anger, being careful with our words and truly trying to listen before we speak.

      John: Yes! I agree. Giving her the benefit of the doubt shows that I trust her, and I know that with every fiber of her being, she is making the best decisions she can for the good of our family. It gives me confidence and courage to know that she is 100% behind me, no matter what!  Also, for great communication, I’ve learned the hard way that our tone of voice is so important. Obviously, the word we say matter, but the way we say them is paramount. In James 3:2, it says, “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.” So I know that what I say will never be perfect. But I strive to take a deep breath, put any anger aside, and to speak words that edify, and in a way that is sincere.

      What’s your best marriage advice?

      Lindsey: The very foundation of our marriage is that our FIRST love is God, not each other.   Our true joy and fulfillment comes from Him.   1 John 4:16 says, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” It is because of the love of God that we can love each other despite our imperfections.  As husbands and wives, we will fail each other, but having God as our firm foundation allows us to build back what is broken. When we start trying to find everything we need in each other, we fall flat.

      John: Those words are true, and I know them in my head. When we submit ourselves to God and walk that out in our lives, is when we show that we believe that with our hearts.

       

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        Walnut Hill | vendor spotlight

        We have been photographing weddings in this area for over a decade, and I have had the pleasure to meet so many great people who work alongside of us in the industry. Sometimes, it might just be a “hello” in passing on a wedding day, or seeing someone briefly at around town. I realized that I might know the work of a wedding planner, florist, or the distinctive flavor of a caterer, but I didn’t really know the people behind the scenes. So, I’ve started reaching out to some of our amazing local vendors in the area, and have begun photographing and interviewing them. I’d like to give potential brides a great behind-the-scenes look at the wedding professionals in the area, and the amazing work that they do. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Lauren from Walnut Hill Farm.

        How would you describe yourself (and/or your business)?

        Walnut Hill Farm is a private 55 acre estate with manicured gardens and mountain top views.  Our farm creates an atmosphere of privacy in a beautiful natural setting.

        Could you characterize your style in three words?

        Natural, Relaxed, Elegant

        What sets you apart from your competition?

        Our integrity, our friendly staff, and the majestic views from our breathtaking Hilltop and gardens definitely set us apart. But our food is our masterpiece.  The gourmet farm to table cuisine created here at the Farm is truly unlike anywhere else.

        How long have you been in business?

        9 years
         

        What do you love the most about Chattanooga?

        We love the the melting pot community that Chattanooga cultivates.

        What inspires you?

        God’s creation, the beauty of where we are inspires us in all the details here at the farm from food to decor.

         

        What is your favorite aspect of a wedding? (or your job?)

        Our favorite aspect of a wedding is watching their day unfold and their vision come to life.  Knowing we have worked on the details for months and that we are making the they have dreamed about come true is a great feeling for us.
         

        Do you have any advice you’d like to give engaged couples?

        Find a vendor you trust with your vision and turn the details over to them.  And remember that the marriage is more important than the day!

         

         

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          The Venue | Vendor Spotlight

          We have been photographing weddings in this area for over a decade, and I have had the pleasure to meet so many great people who work alongside of us in the industry. Sometimes, it might just be a “hello” in passing on a wedding day, or seeing someone briefly at around town. I realized that I might know the work of a wedding planner, florist, or the distinctive flavor of a caterer, but I didn’t really know the people behind the scenes. So, I’ve started reaching out to some of our amazing local vendors in the area, and have begun photographing and interviewing them. I’d like to give potential brides a great behind-the-scenes look at the wedding professionals in the area, and the amazing work that they do. I recently had the amazing opportunity to sit down with Anne Strunk & Kate Courtney from the Venue Chattanooga.

          How would you describe yourself (and/or your business)?

          Three locations = one Venue. Simple and straight to the point–it describes both our business and our personality. We keep things transparent and accessible to clients. Our calendar, for instance, is available online as well as our pricing. We want to make the planning process as easy as possible.

           

          Could you characterize your style in three words?

          Simple, Elegant & Unique

           

          What sets you apart from your competition?

          We have wonderful event spaces here in Chattanooga. At The Venue Chattanooga, we offer outdoor and indoor spaces within one location. Our space was created with versatility in mind, giving our clients a blank canvas to create the wedding they have envisioned. The main Venue can accommodate up to 350 guests, a generous capacity for the Chattanooga area. Outdoor ceremonies or receptions come to life under the bistro lights & stacked stone fireplace.

          How long have you been in business?

          After much planning and excitement, we opened our doors in the Fall of 2015.

           

          What inspires you?

          We love meeting new people and creating relationships. People are fascinating and everyone has a unique story. In this business, we are consistently meeting new faces and it is inspiring to hear the unique stories of clients and vendors alike.

           

          What is your favorite aspect of a wedding? (or your job?)

          Each client has a different vision for their wedding and we love to make their dream a reality.  We love seeing a wedding come together especially when it captures the couple’s personality.

          Do you have any advice you’d like to give engaged couples?

          On your wedding day, don’t forget to soak things in! It is so easy to pack your day full and become caught up in the execution of the day. A wedding day goes by quickly, so prioritize some time to enjoy the friends and family around you.  For most couples, this is the only day where everyone who loves you will be under one roof so try to slow down and enjoy your friends and family.

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            Victoria Love Events | vendor spotlight

            We have been photographing weddings in this area for over a decade, and I have had the pleasure to meet so many great people who work alongside of us in the industry. Sometimes, it might just be a “hello” in passing on a wedding day, or seeing someone briefly at a bridal show, etc. I realized that I might know the work of a wedding planner, florist, or the distinctive flavor of a caterer, but I didn’t really know the people behind the scenes. So, I’ve started reaching out to some of our amazing local vendors in the area, and have begun photographing and interviewing them. I’d like to give potential brides a great behind-the-scenes look at the wedding professionals in the area, and the amazing work that they do. This is the tenth installment of a large series of spotlights!
             I can remember the first time we worked with Victoria Love…like it was yesterday. It was in the fall of 2015, the beautiful and amazing wedding of Rachel + Brent. Victoria takes her job very seriously, but is still somehow impossibly spontaneous and bubbly and fun at the same time.

            I was photographing the ceremony of this lovely wedding, which had ended up being slightly chilly. Then, I turned around, only to find her (out of the view of the wedding guests) wrapped in the draperies to not freeze to death. She saw me lift the camera and couldn’t stop laughing.

            How would you describe your business?

            Luxury | Boutique | Personal – I love to make my clients feel special and I always treat them like family! 

            Could you describe your style in three words?

            Romantic | Detail- Oriented | Innovative

            How long have you been in business?

            We started in January 2013. 4 Years

            What inspires you?

            Guest Experience | Creating an atmosphere no one has seen before | Customer Satisfaction | Travel… lot’s of travel!

            What is your favorite aspect of your job?

            Exceeding client’s expectations – I love to go above and beyond for every single client.

            What’s is some advice you’d like to give couples?

            Don’t sweat the small stuff. Put your energy into the things you love not the things you think you need for your wedding.

            Recycle, Reduce, Reuse. | Talk with your florist about donating your flowers to the local hospital or nursing home after the wedding.

            Don’t skip the videography! – I would pay $10,000 to go back in time and have video alongside my photographer. With the day passing in the blink of an eye, there is nothing more wonderful than to be able to sit down after the wedding and watch the highlights of your special day.

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              FUJI GFX 50s | CAMERA REVIEW

              In the past year, there have been just a couple of camera announcements that have really shaken things up: in the Summer, Hasselblad announced the X1D, a medium format mirrorless camera with a sleek design and a decent price point (compared to most other digital medium format options). Then, at Photokina last Fall, Fuji also announced a similar product. Demand for both has been high; crashing websites, and even forcing Hasselblad to change its financial structure in order to accommodate all of the new orders.

              I have been watching B&H’s website, and emailing contacts at both companies, hoping to get my hands on one to preview, and eventually was able to finalize my order on the Fuji GFX 50s in early April. That said, I hope to be able to try out the Hasselblad sometime soon as well!

              What is medium format, and why does it matter?

              Basically, it’s all about larger sensor size, which offers increased resolution, and light-gathering capabilities…like an owl that has huge pupils, and can see far better at night. That’s why even an older dslr does better in low light than an iPhone. In many cases, this larger sensor size comes at a cost: both a huge price increase, as well as cameras that might not be as light, ergonomic, fast-focusing, or user-friendly as the ubiquitous DSLR of the Canon or Nikon variety. Up until the past couple of years, the larger sensors have been relegated to CCD chips, which have great color rendition and sharpness, but poor low-light performance.

              Fuji has been coming on strong in the mirrorless market in the past few years with all of their X-series cameras. The Fuji X100t was my favored “carry piece” for a couple of years. I only recently sold it to save up for medium format digital. Fuji has done very well in developing new technologies in focus, processing, optics, and a host of other areas as well. Because of the experience with the X-series (an APS-C sized sensor) Fuji leveraged their mirrorless muscle with their extensive knowledge of medium format film cameras, and came up with a brand new system! Enough jabbering. I’ll start showing some images!

              Here are some other links to a few of my previous forays into medium format digital:

              Leica S007

              Hasselblad CFV-50c

              Leica S006 and Contax 645

              Phase One P65+ and Contax 645

              Leica S2

              Here’s some recent medium format film work:

              Cuban portraits with a Hasselblad and Zeiss 110mm f2.0

              Hues of Cuba

              A wedding shoot featuring the Contax 645

              Putting it to the test! Out of the box, and to the beach!

              I have large hands, and many mirrorless cameras feel too tiny. This one felt just right. The place for one’s right thumb is particularly great for balance.

               

              The camera responded very well, and has a great ‘feel’ to it. Admittedly, it’s not quite as handsome as some of Fuji’s retro-inspired X-series offerings, but it also has a lot more going on under the hood!

              first shot out of the box!

               

              Resolution

              For me, I’m looking for that j’en sais quoi in an image, from increased sharpness and resolution, but also an absolute confidence of knowing when I got the shot.

              The resolution on this sensor is really something to write home about!

              detail zoomed in… keep in mind, this was shot through plate glass at a zoo as well!

               

              Lens Adapters – a unique advantage for mirrorless cameras

              Without getting into too much technical mumbo-jumbo, let’s suffice to say that because there is no mirror that flaps up and down for each exposure, the distance from the lens to the image sensor can be shortened significantly. That also means that vintage lenses have plenty of opportunity to be able to render their image circles. The reason that the adapter seems so long is that the lens needs that much distance to be able to render its image in focus, as it was originally designed to project an image that far. Though it made for a different feel and balance for the camera, the long adapter wasn’t a deal-breaker. This Zeiss 110mm f2.0 lens is one of my absolute favorites. Except for Fuji’s adapter to Hasselblad H lenses (manufactured by Fuji) all of the off-brand adapters currently available for the GFX are “dumb” meaning that they can’t control aperture, auto focus, transmit any EXIF data, or anything else for that matter. I was delighted to find (in one of the many Fuji menus) a setting where I could name this lens…so presumably when I use this adapter, the camera remembers that it’s a 110mm lens, and will fill that EXIF data into the file. I’m guessing that if I put a different lens on the same adapter, the camera wouldn’t recognize a difference. On a technical note, I had to figure out one caveat in order to work the adapter: Deep in one of the menus, I had to select “shoot camera without lens attached” so that it would work.

              I can’t wait for manufacturers to make one for my beloved Contax 645 lenses either; especially the sublime 80mm f2.0 unit. Since nobody has made a dumb adapter yet, I’m hoping that they are spending the extra time and resources to make a smart adapter, which would presumably carry aperture settings and possibly even AF!

              Here are a few shots with the vintage Zeiss glass and Fotodiox adapter. DOF was crazy thin, and I was thankful for focus-peaking in the EFV.

              General Usage

              I received this camera while on vacation with my family, so it only made sense for me to torment them at the zoo, the beach, and in our daily lives as I put it to the test! I sought out colorful and interesting things to shoot, but also purposely found situations that would be difficult for the autofocus, and tried to make a few ‘bad’ exposures to see what the files are capable of. I was impressed that the camera could handle everything I was throwing at it!

              Dynamic Range – I was ‘blown away’

              Digital sensors have been steadily improving in all aspects, and dynamic range (being able to capture all of the lightness and darkness in a given scene) is one of the most important. Being a wedding photographer, it’s important for me to be able to confidently change lighting situations throughout each day, knowing that highlights are not going to be blown out. Also, brides want to see the details in their wedding dresses! So I need a camera that’s able to capture all of the details, as well as be capable to recover highlights, even if my exposure was less-than-perfect. Here are some tough exposures I did on the camera to highlight the dynamic range!

              Bokeh, Bokeh, Bokeh

              You could also say: “that blurry area that’s so pretty.” In France, it’s called flou. Most of the time, I’m shooting with my lenses wide-open so that the optics can serve up a nice bokeh in the foreground and background. This 63mm lens has really impressed me with its lovely bokeh, as well as the sharpness where it counts. Here are some shots the show off its capabilities. All are wide open at f 2.8, unless otherwise labeled for comparison.

              Cons

              Honestly, there are always going to be a few cons with changing camera systems, especially for a first-generation product. Admittedly, there is an ever-so-slight shutter lag. It’s nothing that can’t be overcome, and I found that the more I shot with the camera, it became a non-issue for me. You can see in this section how my timing improved with practice.

              Low-light performance

              I had intended to do a few more samples with high ISO’s but was also trying to be a good parent on vacation…so no late night wandering around…yet. Here are 2 samples that give a feel for it.

               

              Conclusion

              In conclusion, this camera lives up to all of the hype generated by its announcement and release, and then some. It’s exactly what I have been looking for in a tool that will help me deliver better images to clients of all genres. It’s got phenomenal dynamic range and resolution,  great bokeh, as well as the sharpness where it counts, and low-light capabilities that are almost unheard of in this genre. That being said, I’m going to be selling off some Canon gear and a few other things to finance this purchase! 🙂  To be fair, I’ll still keep at least a basic Canon DSLR kit…

              I am excited to see what this camera will push the competition to do. Just like many other things, a healthy competition is great for the end user, as the bar is raised higher and higher. I’m looking forward to trying out the Hasselblad X1D, though I’m slightly perplexed as to why they didn’t introduce the camera with a great “normal” lens, or start off with a partnership with Zeiss for optics. Yes, the 65mm has been announced, and I hope it’s faster than f3.2 like its brothers. Speaking of competition, I’m also hoping that Zeiss has been at its drawing board since the GFX announcement. I’ve heard that their Touit line of lenses developed for the Fuji X line are great. Imagine if they were to develop a new lineup of primes for the Fuji GFX line! That would be amazing!

              This post was in no way sponsored or promoted by Fuji, B&H, Fotodiox, or Zeiss, although it may sound that way. I have been more impressed than I had even dared hope with this product!

               

               

               

               

               

              4 comments
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              • Fujifilm GFX 50S vs Leica M240 vs Canon 5D Mark IV vs Fujifilm X-T2, NOVOFLEX and More | Fuji Addict[…] Bamber Photography – “this camera lives up to all of the hype generated by its announcement and release, […]ReplyCancel

              • Ravi Mahadevan“This post was in no way sponsored or promoted by Fuji, B&H, Fotodiox, or Zeiss, although it may sound that way. I have been more impressed than I had even dared hope with this product!”

                The agony of writing blogs and reviews under oath !!!
                And trust me, I am one of the first users of this exotic piece of equipment and all the hell that has broken loose on FB and Fuji rumours brings in just one emotion. ‘ Amusement’

                Why were these tears spared for the Pentax 645Z?
                They forgot to ask, comment- Pentax? Medium format? Bah!ReplyCancel

              • EdwinVery nice review! I have a few Zeiss V-mount lenses (from Hasselblad 500CM), do you think the GFX 50s is a good camera to give these lenses a second life? How was you manual focusing experience with your Zeiss 110f2?ReplyCancel

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