Ariel, Adam and I met at a popular indoor/outdoor coffee house in Ithaca called Collegetown Bagels. Actually, not much happens outside right now as we approach our annual stretch of single digit numbers in temperature. It is so strange meeting people like this for the first time. It is kind of like a blind date (not that I have been on a lot of blind dates) but you instantly recognize each other with the first eye contact. I mentioned this before in a post http://frankdimeo.blogs.com/frank_dimeo_blog/2007/05/nora_and_eric_i.html and I think it is interesting to talk about. It is something that fascinates me, and I thought it would be nice to share it again. This time I even left my bag in the car so the 40-pound anchor around my neck couldn’t identify me. Maybe Ariel and Adam recognized me from my photo? Or maybe I just look like a lost photographer looking for an engagement couple, I don’t know. Could also be that everyone else doesn’t look like they are looking for someone.
Their first date was at Rulloff’s (I have actually photographed his brain) so we went there next. Edward Rulloff’s unusually large brain is preserved for public viewing in the Psychology Department at Cornell University. It is a crazy story about a local Cornell establishment so click on the links if you are interested. Of course we also took advantage of Cornell’s beautiful campus for a bunch of photos too.
We discovered some new places (even for me) and that is always exciting.
They said, and my couples say this quite often, “We had a great time and really enjoyed you showing us some unique locations that we didn’t even know existed in our old stomping grounds. It is obvious that you love what you do and your energy and enthusiasm is amazing.” This was my 3rd engagement shoot in six days (all over the state). I also did 2 days of weddings, a workshop and trade show in NYC, and photographed Sandra Day O’Connor for the Cornell Law School, all in the past 11 days. That works out to 10 major shoots in 23 days, and gives me barely enough time to back the images up properly before I shoot again. The post-production, blog posts, and everything else pile up really fast though. So yes, energy and enthusiasm are prerequisites, but determination, hard work, and resiliency are also essential ingredients. Isn’t that the case with everything worthwhile in life?
It was a pleasure meeting/photographing you Ariel and Adam. I’m looking forward to doing your wedding together.
i love how you processed the 1st one and on the 2nd it looks like he's saying "I only have eyes for you" awwwww... Nice set!
Posted by: rowena | February 10, 2008 at 01:58 AM
Oooh...love his eyes in the second shot and nice use of light overall! It *is* awesome finding new places to shoot hey? Great job :)
Posted by: C.J. Scott | January 26, 2008 at 02:23 PM
Frank!
Beer, waterfall, matching shirt and flowers color, lens flare and Frank DiMeo! That is one sweet day! Excellent!
Posted by: erich camping | January 25, 2008 at 08:57 AM
Awesome series again Frank!
Posted by: Mike Warren | January 24, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Thank you thank you thank you! These pictures are so beautiful and I can't stop looking at them. You did such a fantastic job of capturing us and how much we love each other and the beauty of Cornell. Our wedding can't come fast enough so we can capture more fantastic memories together.
Posted by: Ariel Schaffer | January 23, 2008 at 11:38 AM
These are beautiful. Your work continues to be an inspiration for me. Did you shoot with the 85 1.2 lens? I love the depth of field, either way!
I totally hear you on the hard work and determination. We would be crazy to do this if we didn't love it so much!
Posted by: Airika Pope | January 23, 2008 at 02:03 AM