It’s that time of year again-- I’m knee deep in editing this summer’s weddings while trying to schedule meetings to talk with brides about next spring’s weddings (plus a couple still for this fall!), which hasn’t left lots of time for blogging, especially if I want the kids to remember who that guy who shows up every other week is. I think my wife remembers who I am, but I’ve been on the road lots this season-- six different states this year.

I’m overdue for a real wedding post, and you’ll see a new quirky one tomorrow -- the ceremony took place on a carousel in Massachussetts!

Also tomorrow (Tuesday August 17), my brother’s Tim’s band, the Turbo A.C.’s, invade Lexington. They’re playing Buster’s Billiards down in the Distillery District, and you know I’d love to see a great turnout for them here in their only Kentucky appearance. If you’re a new bride that we haven’t booked yet and you introduce yourself to me at the show, I’ll give you a substantial gift card towards your wedding photography-- trust me, it’ll be a lot bigger than the price of admission, even if you bring your whole wedding party!

As for the promised fun in this post, I was on Improv Everywhere’s site and saw this great mission from last year, where they throw a surprise wedding reception for a couple getting married at City Hall… Enjoy!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lVS22y4uoU

Tell us your engagement story to win a free e-session!

Well, congratulations then! I love hearing the stories about how couples find each other and how their engagements came together… so much so that I’m going to have a contest.

Pop over to our Contact Page and send us your engagement story– include all those details and fun moments, and don’t forget all the reactions and the rash of phone calls that broke out afterwards.

Get it in before February 28th, and we’ll put you in for a free, special engagement session, and your choice of a free 11×14 print or a 12×12 square print of your favorite image from the session! We’ll also share your story here on the blog with your photos.

We’re offering two new types of specialty portrait sessions, and you can be the first to try them out!

Find out more after the jump…

Option 1: The Film Session. I’ve always shot weddings 100% digitally… with one exception– my first wedding, I shot primarily digital, but also with a touch of film as well, shot on an antique rangefinder camera. It was this great old Canon Canonet, made in the 1960s, and the seals have eroded on it, which means I sometimes get these little leaks of light that create cool vignettes and dark edges. I’ve always been in love with the look, but it takes too much time to the way I do at weddings with film cameras.

However, on an e-session, we have a lot more time to set things up, read the light with the meters, load film, set up additional lighting, things like that. Now, I can do all those things with a digital camera too, but some of those organic things that come out of using film in old or lo-fi cameras are lost in the process.

So here’s how I want to do it: First off, I’m not going to use the standard color film that you can buy anywhere that looks exactly like real life, assuming you get the lighting right. We’re going to use black and white film or color slide film. When we use the color slide film, we’re going to “cross process” it, running slide film through the chemicals used to develop normal color negative film. This gives it this cool oversaturated look.

On top of that, we’re not going to use the usual SLR type cameras that I’ll use at a wedding. I’ll use one of my rangefinders like the Canonet, or a lo-fi camera like a Holga or a Blackbird (these shoot square pictures, by the way) that also are known for cool distortion effects.

Over 3 hours time, we’ll shoot 5 rolls of 35mm film (Canonet, Blackbird) or 6 rolls of 120 film (Holga) on one of these sessions, with additional rolls at $30 each for film and processing. You’ll get proof prints and a DVD of all finished images, plus one 11×14 or 12×12 of your favorite image. For those not lucky enough to win this session, I’m pricing this at $400. Don’t feel like you have to do it as an engagement session either– I’m happy to do this for personal or family portrait sessions too!

Option 2: The Streetlight Session. I’m limiting this one to certain city environments (New York, Lexington, Louisville and Cincinnati) only for the obvious reasons– we’re shooting by available light at twilight and at night. I’m doing this as almost entirely black and white, but color is an option, as the low light will require me to use digital cameras for this one. The goal is to shoot a different type of romantic image. I’m planning one of these soon with an upcoming bride and groom, so keep an eye out here for samples! This session, like our stand alone engagement sessions, will go for $35o, including online proofing and an 11×14 or 12×12 print of your favorite image. Please set aside 3 hours for shooting.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LoveUnscripted

If you win the contest and you don’t feel up to trying one of the adventurous options, you’re still welcome to go with our standard e-session. Good luck, and I can’t wait to read your stories!

contest open to residents of Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey or Connecticut.

If you book a deluxe coverage (unlimited time from Ian and an associate photographer on your wedding day + engagement session) before June 30th, I’ll include a 20 page Best Wishes book of your engagement photos (a $165 value) for you to have your guests sign at your wedding! It’s a great way to preserve the thoughts of your best friends and family– you can even choose to include some of your own images of your friends and you having fun so they know where to sign. You can also include vacation photos of you and your fiance… the choices are up to you.

Make sure you mention seeing this offer on the blog when you call or email me.