I was kind of dreading jumping back into school today, but it’s been fun! We went to the library and read all about the everglades . . . the exotic birds and the alligators . . . about sea urchins and star fish . . . I had so much fun sharing all the exciting things that I did and saw. I am always astounded at the power of a couple of days in the sunshine.

Popped over to answer the onslaught of emails . . .and Woot! Look at the good news that came through.  It’s only because I have such wonderfully encouraging clients who bend over backwards for me. So, to my 2009 brides . . . each one of you . . . thank you from the bottom of my heart for the way that you feed my soul.

Baltimore, MD. 01.19.10 – WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced Kathy Freundel Photography has been selected to receive the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for Excellence in Photo Journalism!

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

Kathy Freundel Photography is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that Kathy Freundel is among the very best wedding photojournalists within the WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings.

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KathyFreundel Photography Photography

Classic DJ’s Carl Brashears

Reid Robinette Officiant

Occasional Flowers Floral Design

Rachel Piet  Hair and Makeup

In ninth grade, she settled it. It was nursing. She carefully boxed her dream of becoming a writer, set it on the bedroom shelf, and began to apply herself to her new dream. After all, her family never failed to dream big, and after graduating from her Vancouver high school, she continued on to Trinity Western in British Columbia, spent time traveling in Asia, South Africa and Europe and eventually landed at the top of the heap at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where that young girl’s dream came to fruition.

He was equally ambitious, wanting to discover a cure for cancer as a young boy in Blue Springs, Missouri. In high school he dreamed of becoming a nuclear physicist and
solving the world’s energy problem by developing viable nuclear fusion technology.  He eventually headed west, to Caltech, where he earned his first degree in Mechanical Engineering. He earned a master’s degree at Washington University in St. Louis and landed at at Robitics Inc. where he is a robotic manipulation researcher at Motile Robotics Inc. He is concurrently pursuing a PhD from UMaryland in mechanical engineering.

This is what happens when the smart people crash into one another.  It happened in a ballroom dancing class.  There is NOTHING that these two don’t do well. I call it purposeful living. They take nothing for granted. Their spiritual journey, their romance, their personal growth . . . Karen and Chad live full, rich, purposeful lives. I LOVE these guys . . . Renaissance power couple, Karen and Chad Kessons.

Karen and Chad chose to see one another before the ceremony . . . they wanted that  moment to be theirs alone. Look at Chad’s face. He knows she’s coming, but he promised he wouldn’t turn around until she spoke his name. That’s one happy groom. Sweet. Love.

“Remember. Don’t lock your knees.”

Seems that Colin has a history of hitting the deck when the stakes are high. A couple of big concerts in high school and BOOM, he was out. I’m happy to report that the only lightheaded behavior on this day was fully functioning.

We met in my studio last spring. April and Colin were so excited to be marrying at Historic Savage Mill, an former cotton mill that boasts an truss bridge known as The Bollman (c. 1869). April, Colin and her parents sat in my studio and excitedly showed me lots of great photos that they had taken of the venue.  I could tell that photography was of real value to all of them.

Can I tell you, it is so much fun to shoot a wedding when bridal is couple is down for just about anything. April and Colin were that couple. So much fun. So in love.

Reason #1 that everybody wins when Tim comes to shoot a wedding with me.  He goes to the inner chambers in guy-ville.

April had some pretty hot kicks. We were shooting those shoes all day long.

A little pre-ceremony run through for Mr. I Got the Ring.

Reason #2 I’m grateful for Tim. Hidin’ the bride, pre-ceremony. Fifteen minutes to ceremony and wait till you see the cool shots he got of the groomsmen.

April was ultra fun during a pre-ceremony session. So relaxed, so full of of laughter and anticipation. So chill. It’s the Pre-K teacher in her.

Meanwhile.

And the guests arrived. Right through the shops at Savage Mill. So while your wedding is happening there are voyeur shoppers vicariously joining in the celebration. Pretty cool.

Reason #3 for a second shooter.  This is Tim’ shot of Colin and April.

Same moment, my shot. It’s so much fun to look back through the day and see two different perspectives. It’s a win-win-win.

Okay, so I’m getting to reason #4. Watch the bottom right corner of the frame. Do you see him???

BAM! There it is. Reason #5. Father of three. Multi- tasker extraordinaire. the gear, the flowers, Mr. I Got the Ring . . . and he smiles.

I’ll just say it. You can’t go back an capture more images of your wedding day. Go for the second shooter. It matters.

Okay. Back to the party.

I’m not the only one that loved the shoes.

You know that look.

And the clean up.

April and Colin, your love for one another is tender, intimate and a blessing to witness. I am so grateful that you allowed me to share in your day and opened your lives to me.  You are on the beach in Hawaii right now, but when you see these images, I hope all the joy, laughter and tears of the day flood back. You guys ROCK and so did your wedding day.

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Just as a preview, here’s how the photos will look.

Nice, huh? This is Lisa.

{And the image is straight out of the camera . . . gorgeous bride}

And this one is just straight out of the camera. Okay, so it was a five minute blog post . . .

but you get the picture. The Big Picture.

If you’re feeling nostalgic for my former blog, “through the lens,” it still floating out there.