Joel Hawksley Photography » Weddings

Leah & Joel

Joel — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 05:03:38 +0000

Over spring break I traveled to Texas for my sister’s wedding. It was great to get away from my day-to-day sports coverage and relax in the warm Texan air.

The couple days after the wedding, we went out to dinner and hung out on the beach for a while.

As we headed back to the car at the end of the day, I knew I had to make one more frame with the last beams of sunset.

Jeff & Laura

Joel — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:30:20 +0000

NIKON D700 - 1/160 f/2 ISO5000 - 35mm

Sam and I had the pleasure of photographing Jeff & Laura’s wedding in Columbus, Ohio earlier this month.

Whenever possible, I like to arrive the day before the wedding to stop by the rehearsal, as it is a nice way to meet the bridal party and immediate family before the big day. It also helps make sure that I am on the same page with the pastor/minister as to how the ceremony will flow, and where they would like me to position myself during the proceedings. In this case, we were told to stay behind the front set of pillars, more than enough room to do our job effectively.

NIKON D700 - 1/80 f/1.6 ISO3200 - 85mm

NIKON D700 - 1/80 f/2.8 ISO6400 - 140mm

NIKON D700 - 1/80 f/1.6 ISO3200 - 85mm

Since the guys were getting ready over half an hour away from where the girls were, we decided early on that a second photographer would be crucial to getting the photos we all wanted. I’ll start off with Sam’s photos of the guys golfing and getting dressed at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/250 f/2.2 ISO100 - 35mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/4000 f/1.8 ISO100 - 50mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/500 f/5 ISO100 - 35mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/8000 f/1.8 ISO50 - 85mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/800 f/1.6 ISO1250 - 35mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/320 f/1.6 ISO1250 - 35mm

While Sam was hanging out with the guys, I photographed the girls getting ready at Designs Unlimited in Delaware, Ohio.

NIKON D700 - 1/500 f/2.2 ISO1250 - 35mm

NIKON D700 - 1/200 f/2.2 ISO1250 - 35mm

NIKON D3 - 1/250 f/1.6 ISO800 - 85mm

NIKON D3 - 1/320 f/1.4 ISO640 - 85mm

NIKON D3 - 1/400 f/1.6 ISO640 - 85mm

NIKON D700 - 1/160 f/2.8 ISO800 - 35mm

NIKON D3 - 1/160 f/1.6 ISO800 - 85mm

NIKON D3 - 1/60 f/1.8 ISO320 - 85mm

NIKON D700 - 1/160 f/2 ISO400 - 35mm

NIKON D3 - 1/125 f/2.8 ISO640 - 180mm

NIKON D700 - 1/200 f/2 ISO1600 - 35mm

Once their hair/nails/etc were done, the girls headed to St. Mary’s to finish getting ready.

NIKON D700 - 1/125 f/2 ISO500 - 35mm

NIKON D700 - 1/200 f/2 ISO500 - 35mm

NIKON D3 - 1/320 f/1.6 ISO3200 - 85mm

Laura had some pretty cool shoes- they were bright blue and Nike Air certified!

NIKON D3 - 1/200 f/1.8 ISO125 - 85mm

Once everyone was ready, I made sure to get some clean “headshot” style portraits of the girls.

NIKON D3 - 1/100 f/1.6 ISO2000 - 85mm

NIKON D3 - 1/200 f/1.6 ISO3200 - 85mm

NIKON D3 - 1/160 f/1.6 ISO3200 - 85mm

Once everyone was all ready, it was off to the ceremony!

NIKON D700 - 1/50 f/4 ISO250 - 35mm

NIKON D700 - 1/1250 f/2 ISO250 - 35mm

Before the service started, we got lucky and found a beautiful beam of light making its way into the sanctuary. I had Laura do a few poses, and the light was gone just moments later.

NIKON D3 - 1/500 f/1.6 ISO320 - 85mm

By having two photographers, we are able to take the time to take more creative images and take different perspectives. The ceremony is a perfect example of this. Here’s my angle of the procession:

NIKON D3 - 1/250 f/1.6 ISO3200 - 35/85mm

Sam’s view:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/80 f/1.8 ISO1000 - 35mm

On to the ceremony.

NIKON D3 - 1/100 f/2.8 ISO3200 - 200mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/125 f/1.8 ISO2500 - 85mm

NIKON D3 - 1/125 f/2.8 ISO6400 - 180mm

NIKON D3 - 1/125 f/2.8 ISO5000 - 175mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/20 f/3.5 ISO2500 - 85mm

NIKON D3 - 1/250 f/3.5 ISO2000 - 24mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/320 f/1.4 ISO640 - 35mm

After leaving the church Jeff & Laura rode off in an old fashioned limousine, one of the coolest cars I have ever seen! Sam’s view:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/250 f/1.4 ISO640 - 35mm

My view:

NIKON D700 - 1/100 f/2 ISO3200 - 35mm

NIKON D3 - 1/100 f/1.4 ISO1600 - 85mm

Once we finished taking the group formal pictures, we headed just a few blocks over to the Winter Street Inn to take a few quick portraits before the reception.

NIKON D700 - 1/160 f/2 ISO5000 - 35mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/50 f/2.5 ISO1600 - 50mm

NIKON D3 - 1/160 f/1.4 ISO4000 - 85mm

The reception was held at the brand new hall at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Columbus, Ohio.

NIKON D3 - 1/3200 f/1.4 ISO3200 - 85mm

NIKON D3 - 1/400 f/1.4 ISO3200 - 85mm

NIKON D3 - 1/500 f/1.4 ISO3200 - 85mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/8 f/5 ISO50 - 50mm

NIKON D3 - 1/80 f/2.8 ISO5000 - 175mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/100 f/1.2 ISO1600 - 50mm

NIKON D3 - 1/60 f/2 ISO800 - 85mm

NIKON D3 - 1/100 f/2.2 ISO1600 - 35mm

NIKON D3 - 1/100 f/2.2 ISO1000 - 35mm

The kids went crazy on the dance floor! All the boys were trying to do hand-stands, with various degrees of success.

NIKON D3 - 1/100 f/2.2 ISO1600 - 35mm

Pretty soon, the dancing got the best of them.

NIKON D3 - 1/100 f/2.2 ISO1600 - 35mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/1000 f/1.4 ISO2500 - 35mm

Laura & Jeff-

Thanks for inviting Sam and I to document your wedding! We enjoyed working with you both and wish you the best.

-Joel & Sam

Canon EOS 5D - 1/200 f/11 ISO200 - 28mm

Charlotte & Mark

Joel — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:30:37 +0000

NIKON D3 - 1/250 f/2.8 ISO4000 - 200mm

Today Sam and I had the privilege to shoot Mark & Charlotte’s wedding at Grace Baptist Church in Kent, Ohio.

Whenever I shoot a wedding with another photographer, I split the day into different schedules for each of us, making sure that we take advantage of being able to cover two different things at the same time. This is crucial during weddings since there are so many things going on at once, often too many for even the most skilled photographers to cover on their own.

NIKON D700 - 1/80 f/3.2 ISO2000 - 70mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/40 f/1.4 ISO1250 - 50mm (Photo by Sam Saccone)

For example, I covered Charlotte and the girls getting ready while Sam hung out with Mark and the guys.

NIKON D3 - 1/800 f/2.8 ISO2000 - 105mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/200 f/2 ISO800 - 50mm (Photo by Sam Saccone)

When it came time to do formal pictures before the ceremony, I took the group shots while Sam stuck with the group I wasn’t working with at the time.

NIKON D3 - 1/160 f/8 ISO500 - 32mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/80 f/2 ISO1000 - 50mm (Photo by Sam Saccone)

Before the ceremony, I went down to the sanctuary to shoot the processional, while Sam stayed with Charlotte.

NIKON D3 - 1/125 f/2.8 ISO4000 - 105mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/100 f/1.2 ISO800 - 50mm (Photo by Sam Saccone)

Here’s our two angles on one of the most important moments of the day; Charlotte being led down the aisle by her dad, Bill.

NIKON D3 - 1/200 f/2.8 ISO4000 - 125mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/250 f/1.8 ISO1250 - 35mm (Photo by Sam Saccone)

During the ceremony Sam and I had more access than at most churches, which allowed use to get more angles than is usually possible.

NIKON D700 - 1/125 f/2.8 ISO4000 - 70mm

NIKON D700 - 1/200 f/2.8 ISO4000 - 24mm

NIKON D3 - 1/200 f/2.8 ISO4000 - 170mm

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/100 f/1.8 ISO1250 - 85mm (Photo by Sam Saccone)

After the ceremony, I made sure to get portraits of the flower girl and ring bearer, since they had finally calmed down after being pretty nervous the whole day.

NIKON D700 - 1/400 f/2.8 ISO4000 - 58mm

NIKON D700 - 1/125 f/2.8 ISO4000 - 70mm

While the bridal party was greeting the guests after the ceremony, I noticed how Charlotte and her mom, Denise, were making similar expressions. I ended up with one of my favorite images of the day.

NIKON D3 - 1/320 f/2.8 ISO4000 - 98mm

After the ceremony, we headed out to shoot group formal pictures. I’m not going to include any of the usual formal shots we shoot, but instead a found moment while I was waiting to pose one of the groups. Here, Charlotte’s younger sister Lucy catches me looking for a candid shot.

NIKON D3 - 1/250 f/4.5 ISO800 - 200mm

Once we were done with formals, we headed off to Towner’s Woods for a quick portrait session. Due to the short amount of time we had to work, Sam and I took turns posing Charlotte and Mark. First, one of Sam’s poses:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/640 f/2.5 ISO500 - 50mm (Photo by Sam Saccone)

My view:

NIKON D3 - 1/800 f/2.8 ISO800 - 160mm

My view, of Sam’s view:

NIKON D700 - 1/200 f/4 ISO400 - 31mm

Next, my pose in the same area:

NIKON D700 - 1/320 f/4 ISO400 - 50mm

Sam’s view:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/800 f/1.6 ISO500 - 50mm (Photo by Sam Saccone)

Sam’s view, of my view:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/800 f/1.8 ISO500 - 85mm (Photo by Sam Saccone)

After that we headed into the woods and had Charlotte & Mark hang out on one of the benches.

NIKON D3 - 1/100 f/2.8 ISO800 - 110mm

Sam’s view:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/320 f/1.2 ISO500 - 50mm (Photo by Sam Saccone)

Next, Sam had Charlotte & Mark stand in the middle of the path, not even ten feet from the bench.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/320 f/1.6 ISO500 - 50mm (Photo by Sam Saccone)

My view:

NIKON D3 - 1/50 f/2.8 ISO800 - 70mm

Since we managed our time well, we actually had extra time, enough to head to the nearby Beckwith Orchards.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/800 f/1.8 ISO500 - 35mm (Photo by Sam Saccone)

My view:

NIKON D3 - 1/100 f/4 ISO400 - 140mm

Next, we headed to the back hill at the Orchards, and were lucky enough to put Charlotte & Mark on the horizon line.

NIKON D3 - 1/1600 f/4 ISO800 - 200mm

Sam’s view:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - 1/6400 f/1.4 ISO200 - 50mm (Photo by Sam Saccone)

Lastly, I posed them in one of the corn fields.

NIKON D3 - 1/400 f/4 ISO800 - 200mm

Then it was on to Newton Falls for the reception at Roby Lee’s. First off were the toasts, couple’s dance, father-daughter dance, and cake-cutting:

NIKON D3 - 1/80 f/2.8 ISO3200 - 140mm

NIKON D3 - 1/160 f/2.8 ISO2000 - 200mm

NIKON D3 - 1/80 f/2.8 ISO3200 - 105mm

NIKON D700 - 1/125 f/4 ISO2500 - 24mm

Next was the dancing. Unlike most weddings, Charlotte & Mark had a contra band play for the reception. Since the dances are directed by a caller, it is easy for anyone to join in, even those who are not normally comfortable on the dance floor.

NIKON D700 - 1/80 f/2.8 ISO1250 - 24mm

Charlotte & Mark wanted a portrait with the band, so Sam and I set up our lights and made the following image:

NIKON D700 - 1/60 f/2.8 ISO320 - 24mm

Using the same lighting setup, I took a portrait of Charlotte & Mark, one of my favorite images of the day.

NIKON D700 - 1/10 f/2.8 ISO320 - 24mm

As something new to try, Sam and I set up a photo booth.