Frank DiMeo Blog

Happy Halloween

Whew, to say it has been a crazy year would be an understatement. Last year rolled right into this year with no break, and this year has been non-stop. This post is a thank you and an explanation at the same time. It is not meant to make excuses, but rather to provide explanations. I am a few blog posts behind and just wanted to reach out to everyone. I know everyone is waiting anxiously, and patiently, and I thank you. Please trust that I am doing the best I can, and continue to work long hours, day after day. My couples tell me the wait is no longer than the average time most wedding photographers take to deliver images, but I really hate to have anyone waiting for anything.

One of the things slowing me down is the slideshows I do for everyone. They are very labor intensive, and sometimes take three days to edit, and produce. They are also very popular, a huge hit, and very much appreciated. I certainly don’t want to stop doing them for people. However, this is definitely a service I will need to charge for in the future, because the extra work involved is staggering. Currently, I intend to do them for everyone, so please keep in mind how much you enjoyed yours, and why I feel it is fair for everyone to experience their own. Thank you again, I understand and would want everything yesterday too. Your patience has been, and continues to be appreciated.

Another thing slowing things down are the engagement sessions I do for everyone. This is another free add on part of my business that I do because I feel it is essential to make a special connection. Most photographers charge for this service and spend a very limited time with their couples. I’m sure that anyone who has done one with me will attest that money and time definitely are not a factor here for me. I do it because I love what I do and I want to be sure that you, your families, and friends are going to love it to. They can be difficult to orchestrate because my couples and I don’t always live in the same area. We do them when our paths cross, and they usually have full schedules taking care of other wedding day details.

The last thing is that my commercial and publication work has not slowed down at all. In fact it is busier than ever. The upcoming issue of the Cornell Law School Magazine will feature an image I recently shot of Sandra Day O’Connor on the cover. I do not advertise for this type of work, and only do it by word of mouth for a few select people that love my work, and working together. I included a jpeg of the cover in the post because it is a great example of what the new high-end Canon cameras can do. This image was shot with the EOS-1D Mark III at an iso of 3200 (this quality was technically impossible before the advent of this camera) with no additional flash at all. The room was very intimate and quiet, so any flash would have been far too obtrusive. It is an amazing testament for Canon that the image meets the standards necessary to be on the cover of a Law School Magazine.

Thank you if you have made it this far. I have never been accused of not having much to say. Please let me shout out to all of my loyal blog followers and ask for your comments. Many have asked that I do another Halloween post like last year. That is what this post originally started out as. My last wedding of the year is coming up on the 11th, then I have to go in for surgery on the 13th, and will be recovering for a week or so. Look forward to a flood of blog posts after that. I can’t wait to share some new work with you that I am really excited about. I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween, and I wish you the best for the holidays.

Now, for the images… Both of my kids have developed into such a characters. One gaze directly into their eyes is sure to melt your heart. I am so blessed to have my son Gabriel, daughter Bella, and my wife Heather in my life. I went to school with them the other day and took a few photos. Of course, Gabriel was the red Power Ranger, and Bella was Hannah Montana. Heather donned her Hannah wig for the shot of them together. I also included a couple images from Gabriel’s 4th birthday party and a few others because it has been so long since I posted anything personal. Can you guess which ones I took with my cameras, and which ones my wife took with her point and shoot? As always, click on an image to see it larger, and click here for the slide show.

Thanks again everyone. Have fun, live, love, and enjoy every moment of every day.

Katherine & Mark...True Love in Buffalo

You know…sometimes we are in the presence of something that is much greater than we could ever imagine. It is a special part of life that sort of just happens around us when suddenly we realize “Hey this is one of those moments”. Mark and Katherine definitely exist in one of these spaces. They exude what fairytale books refer to as “True Love”.

It seems like I have been shooting and shooting more than ever this year. People that don’t know what is going on are probably wondering what I have been up to because I am so far behind on my blog posts. People that do know what is going on are probably thinking “Yea, we know how busy and in demand you are but we NEED to see the magic you captured for us. All of it, and more! We can’t get enough!” I really appreciate everyone’s anticipation, excitement, and most of all understanding. It gives me fuel to do what I love to do so much.

I say it all the time, and I never say something that I don’t feel and mean with my whole heart. But honestly, my couples come from somewhere. I’m not sure where, or how they always find me, but I have been blessed with the best couples any one could ever hope for. Mark and Katherine certainly are one of the special couples I am talking about, and a person with a camera just needs to be in their presence to record the magic that flows off of them in great abundance. This magic is something I am always looking for, but it is nice when it just hits you in the face too. It refreshes and revitalizes the spirit of everyone lucky enough to be touched by it, and we are all better human beings, being human because of it.

I just want to thank Mark, Katherine, their families, and friends for welcoming me into the family like you did and making me feel so comfortable. There sure is something special about those Ohioans that makes me consider moving there. You all were/are the best, and it was a pleasure doing this together with you. Thank you to the Avanti Mansion in Buffalo for providing such a wonderful atmosphere, and helping to make all of this possible. A very special thank you goes out to Jamie for being so incredible and all of her help. This is one dynamite woman guys, someone is going grab her and not let go real soon. I hope you call me when that day comes Jamie, and I will be there to photograph it for you, no matter how near or far it is. Thank you also to Molly, just for being Molly.

Near the end, almost everyone got together for a group hug on the dance floor. It sort of encapsulated what the whole day was about. Katherine and Mark, I wish you lots of love and best wishes on your journey together. May the sun continue to shine on you, as you shine on everyone around you.

Please click an image to see it larger, and click here for their slideshow.

Becky and Rob get married at Cornell

Wow, first off, I’m sorry Becky and Rob that this has taken me way longer than usual to post for you. Things have been really crazy, and I thank you for your patience and understanding.

Becky contacted me last April to ask about shooting their wedding. They really appreciated my work, and wrote some beautiful things that inspired me to do a blog entry back then called “Appreciation”
I was especially moved when I read the following, “I started looking for other photographers on the Internet. That's how I found your site, which is really spectacular. Some of your pictures even brought tears to my eyes (no, I haven't said that about any one else's pictures!!) :) Rob and I looked at several sites together, and we both agreed that your pictures were really elegant and had a humanity that some of the others didn't. Clearly, you have a very unique and lovely service to offer that is much more than a typical photographer.”

Like a lot of people, they were initially surprised at the cost of good photography. Unfortunately, like anything else, there is a lot of expensive junk out there. This reminds me of a great saying I got in a fortune cookie the other day. It said, “The memory of bad quality lasts longer than the shock of high prices”. This is especially true for bad photography, and I am thinking about using it in my email signature. Fortunately, we were able to make things work, and I’m glad we did because it has been a wonderful journey together since then. We did a fun/fantastic engagement shoot and have exchanged emails about everything, and anything you could ever imagine. They are both gorgeous people with beautiful spirits. Mix all of that together, and it is easy to see why I was so excited to shoot their wedding.

We began the day at Julie Stone’s Hair Salon (Julie is one of my “favorite brides of all time” from a few years ago). Then moved on to Anabell Taylor Hall at Cornell University for the ceremony, and to the A.D. White house for a beautiful reception. I love Neil Young, and their first dance song is “Harvest Moon” so I couldn’t wait to put their slideshow together for them.

Thank you again Becky, Rob, your families, and friends for allowing me to be part of your special day. I look forward to a long friendship, and wish you many blessings and good luck along the way.

Please click an image to see it larger, and click here for their slideshow.

Marti and Steve in Syracuse

I knew Marti, Steve, and I had the right chemistry from the moment we met. They were in town taking care of last minute details for their October wedding so we hooked up for their engagement shoot. We had a terrific day! The light and temperature were magnificent as another beautiful summer quietly faded into the past. We started in downtown Syracuse, (which of course meant that we had to shoot at the Dinosaur), then worked our way over to Syracuse University (where they met) before returning for a few night images back downtown. While driving around, we saw this amazing interior at the incredible Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar. We asked, and were given permission to shoot, so we walked in and pretty much blew the socks off everyone in the place. It was so much fun!

So I am looking around and I see people sitting at the sushi bar as the plates are going by on a revolving track. When you see something you like you just grab it. Well…need I say more? I asked Marti and Steve if they wanted to eat but unfortunately they had other plans. I said ok, lets shoot a little more, but I know what I am doing after I drop you two off. We shoot a few more images and they said, “Let us buy you dinner anyway”. I was like, are you sure? They said, “Yea, this looks awesome, and it will be nice to relax and talk”. Well, let me tell you people, it was! Do your self a favor and check this place out! Plus if you go on Tuesday’s it is only half price.

Marti and Steve are also very creative. She has even been writing a blog about what it is like to be engaged. The blog is called Becoming Left-Handed and is a lot of fun to read. Please check it out and leave her some blog luv. I know you will enjoy her stories, and that she would appreciate your comments.

We had so much fun together, and I am looking forward to the wedding now more than ever. Thank you so much Marti and Steve for the great times, conversation, images and food. Please tell your friend I’m sorry you were a little late, and that I am still thinking about her eggplant. As always, click on an image to see it larger, and here for their slideshow.

Heidi and Scott at Ravenwood Golf Club in Victor New York

Ravenwood Golf Club in Victor New York is where Heidi and Scott decided to do their engagement shoot. There is something wonderful about shooting on a golf course. This is the second time for me, and each time has produced some vibrant colors, beautiful light, and great backgrounds. We moved on to an awesome old barn, and then finished up with some night shots in Victor.

This should be a great wedding! Scott is a Marine, and they are doing a sword ceremony right after the wedding ceremony. It is going to be a lot of fun, and I can’t wait to see these two as husband and wife.

Please click on an image to see it larger, and click here for their slideshow.

Patricia and Alan get married in Aurora

I was back at the magnificent Aurora Inn with Patricia and Alan for their wedding, and the weather could not have been better. It was a glorious day at one of the most beautiful venues on Cayuga Lake. Patricia, Alan, and I hooked up early to do some shooting together, and then we rolled through a ton of group shots, and into a wonderful ceremony. Afterwards a bagpipe player, and the whole congregation escorted them back to the Inn. I have photographed many weddings with out a second shooter, and usually it is not a problem. However, I have to say that when there is this much to do, and such a tight schedule to follow, it takes everything I have to concentrate, and stay extremely focused. It really is a challenge, and takes a lot of energy, but is also very rewarding to come through it accomplishing everything you set out to do.

Lauren Tillapaugh and her tremendous staff did another first class job, making sure everyone was well taken care of. Thank you so much Lauren and everyone for looking out for me, and thanks Chef Greg for the awesome meal! The food at the Inn is always tremendous, and well worth the trip for anyone in the area looking for a great place to eat.

Patricia was a gorgeous bride, Alan has unreal light blue eyes, and the sunset was incredible. What more can a photographer ask for? Well a couple of cute little children decked out in some great outfits would be nice. Don’t worry, they were there too, and they were very cute. One little girl had the most incredible eyes. Another time I was focused in on one of the boys when Patricia (not knowing I was there, and just being her awesome self) bent down and leaned into him to give him a kiss. I took three images that luck played a big roll in. I say luck, because I wouldn’t have the photos if I wasn't already focused on him. Moments like these are a fraction of a second long, happen so quick out of nowhere, and don’t get replayed. Yes, there is luck involved but there is also a sense (from shooting people for so many years) that puts me in the right place at the right time. It is a terrific feeling for me, and brings back the excitement of when I first discovered the magic of photography. In other words, yes it makes my day! Please don’t get me wrong; there is a lot of excitement in creating beautiful, artsy, planned out images too. That is one of the things I love best about being a photographer. But to capture moments like this is priceless. It is usually when you will see me showing the back of my camera to a guest standing next to me, because it is something that has to be shared. People are always floored when they see it too, which adds even more excitement.

Thank you Patricia, Alan, your friends, families, Lauren, and the awesome staff at the Aurora Inn for such a wonderful day. I wish you many blessings on your new journey together. As always, please click on an image to see it larger, and click here for their slideshow.

Kristen and Matt get married in Groton

Well it is 2:00 Monday morning, and I am finally recovered enough to write about Matt and Kristen’s wedding. Apparently it must have taken a lot out of me because I’m not sure what happened to Sunday. It was an honor and a pleasure to shoot this wedding, and the reception was tons of fun. Kristen, her Mom “Mo”, and Matt have been following my blog for over a year now, so I felt connected to them going in and knew we would all have a great time. Kristen also knows I like to do my artsy thing with the wedding dress so she had the perfect spot picked out, and the dress all set to go when I arrived.

Janet Shortall officiated one of the nicest ceremonies that I have had the pleasure of being at. She always seems to do such a tremendous job but there was something special, and peaceful about this ceremony. The reception was at the Benn Conger Inn, and Innkeepers Peter Zon and Douglas Yurubi made sure that everyone had a wonderful time. Michael Erb provided the entertainment and rocked the house down.

Kristen and Matt rented a trolley for the wedding party and built in a little extra time for the creative portrait session. It was awesome because we were all able to travel together, and didn’t have to rush through my favorite part of the day. They also made arrangements beforehand to photograph in the Andrew D. White Library at Cornell University. I have photographed in there plenty of times when I worked for Cornell, but never with a bride and groom. The place is magnificent, and lent itself to some great photo opportunities.

Thanks so much to everyone for such a fantastic time. I wish you much love and happiness on your new journey together. Please click on an image to see it larger, and click here for their slideshow.

Courtney and Eddie from NYC to Ithaca

What can I say? Another awesome couple! The families and friends were great, the best vendors, incredible late June weather, and George Cannon by my side. Does it get any better? People always tell me it is obvious that I love my job. What is not to love with a line up like that?

The amazing Courtney and Eddie were the stars for this magnificent event. I shot their engagement shoot in NYC back in November, and we have talked quite a few times since then, so I knew it was going to be a great wedding, with a fabulous couple. They did not disappoint. In fact, I think Courtney and Eddie win the most improved posers of the year award. Don’t get me wrong, they did a great job at the engagement shoot but it was clear to me that they learned a lot from that shoot, and did a fantastic job at the wedding. I really appreciate it too, because it makes my job so much easier, and frees me up to concentrate more on creative things.

I try to help my brides and grooms in any way possible, and often end up recommending other vendors, especially when the couple live out of town and don’t really know anyone. I tip my hat to Courtney for taking full advantage of this and aligning herself with most of the best vendors in the area. First, the bridal party had their hair done at Julie Stone’s Salon. Julie is one of my all time favorite brides (she is the bride in the image that won the PDN Grand Prize for me). She is also one of the classiest, nicest people I know. Makeup artist extraordinaire Kris Kellogg from Makeup on Demand (M.O.D.) took over next. Then Nicole Boosembark- Event planning manager for the Statler Hotel at Cornell University made sure everything went as smooth as possible. Last but not least, and to top things off, the DJ was none other than the amazing, highly energetic, and very talented Nicky Wood. As always, Nicky made sure everyone got his or her groove on!

I know a lot of you have been waiting for this one, me too, and I appreciate your patience, and understanding. The slideshow is a little long (again sorry for having to repeat the song, but I am using the first dance song for Courtney and Eddie, and feel that it makes it more special that way) because there are so many awesome images. This post took about four days to pull together, so please kick back, relax, and enjoy the show. As always, click on an image to see it larger, and here is the link to their slideshow.

Thanks again Courtney, Eddie, and everyone for making it such a joy to do this with you. Best wishes, now and always.

Edit 7/19/07 Courtney and Eddie are the "Wedding of the Week" in the NY Post today. The nice thing too is that makes three of my couples that have been in the Post so far, with two of them being chosen as the Wedding of the week.

Andrew & Melissa get married at Cornell

What a great wedding with Andy and Melissa at Cornell’s Willard Straight Hall! This one was a little different going in because they live in California and we didn’t get a chance to meet until the day before the wedding. People that know me and follow my blog know that I feel it is essential to get to know my brides and grooms before the big day. So it is a little unusual when this happens. I did speak with them a few times on the phone, and did an impromptu shoot at the rehearsal dinner, so I had a little sense of what they were like. I say a little because wow, what a great couple, great families, friends, and great times! To top it off, Nicky Wood- DJ master, and a great guy, was providing some pulsating rhythms to get the hearts beating faster, and making sure no feet were still. Toss in an unreal meal, and some first class service provided by James Larounis, and his crew from The Heights Café & Grill and you get a very special, and spectacular evening of joy and celebration.

I was so moved by the way the whole day unfolded. There was so much love and friendship in the air, and the ceremony was officiated by my favorite (and apparently a favorite of many others too because this was her third one of the day) Janet Shortall.

Melissa’s mom made her dress, right down to each handmade button; another family member did the flowers, and played the musical instruments, so there was a lot of talent that was put to good use. My favorite part of the day had to be Andy. Both Moms, Melissa and her twin sister were great too, but Andy was a special groom. He just struck me as being so real about everything, and you could just tell how important this was to him.

Lisa Walsh joined me to help out with shooting all day, and she did an awesome job. Please click on her name to take you to her web site and see some of the incredible images she came up with. As always, click on the image to see it larger, and here for the slideshow.

Thank you Andy, Melissa, and everyone for making this a very special day to remember. I wish you much love and happiness along your new journey together.

Katie and Matt in Saratoga Springs

If you know me, and have been following my blog, then you know that when the images come first, there is usually a lot of type to follow.

O.K. so I knew going in that this was going to be a phenomenal wedding, and was really looking forward to it. I love Katie and Matt so much, and they are the nicest couple. There was absolutely no way it could have been anything but. They arranged two rooms for George Cannon (please click on his name to see some great images he captured) and I to stay in at the magnificent Gideon Putnam Resort and Spa in beautiful Saratoga Springs, and treated us like family the whole time.

I decided that since I was in town, I would shoot the rehearsal dinner, and do a slide show at both brunches on Sunday. Then Saturday morning I was looking for Katie, (who was out running in the park at 6 am to start her wedding day) when I saw some incredible light coming through the trees and decided to try and talk Katie and Matt into waking up early Sunday morning to go out and shoot some day after images. We were all pretty beat Sunday after partying until almost 1:00 the night before. Then I was up from 4:30 working on the slide show, when Matt called at 6am and said they were up for it if I was. Wow! I am so happy that we did it too because for the next two and a half hours the three of us went around and created some magical images together. We ended up in the lobby by some built in phone booths that I had been eyeing since we walked in and finished shooting there while their guests started coming down for the new day. It was such a laugh too because everyone thought we had spent the whole night together. George joined us at this point too so we dropped him into the other phone both for an image that we all loved.

George and I went up stairs, and worked on the slide show until the very last possible second. Then we flew over to Matt’s Mom’s house for the first brunch. Showed the slide show, and went to Katie’s Mom’s house for an encore presentation. It was so much fun, and everyone really appreciated the effort that went into creating the images and slide show, so it was special to both George and I. So now it is around 1:00, I have eaten three full meals already, and it is time to get on the road. Good thing George was with me because after I almost drove off the road twice in the first ten minutes, we decided that maybe he should drive us home. I got into the passenger seat, passed out in about fifteen seconds, and didn’t wake up until we were about twenty minutes from home.

Monday I slept until 1:00 in the afternoon (very rare for me), then went to do some birthday shopping for my wife, Happy Birthday Heather! Then we went out for a wonderful dinner, came home and I slept again all night. Actually I didn’t start to get my energy back until mid-day on Tuesday, just before I had to go to a photo shoot for my friend Lauren Tillapaugh at the Aurora Inn. My body was exhausted, but it was so worth all of the energy and time involved because we walked away with some of my favorite images of the year so far.

I have some pretty fantastic weddings coming up with some awesome couples but I have to say that it is going to be tough to top this one. No matter what though, Katie and Matt will always have a special place in my heart.

Thank both of you, all of your families, and friends for such an awesome adventure. Special thanks too Katie’s Mom Carol who welcomed us with open arms from the moment we arrived, and constantly looked out for us, making sure we were fed and didn’t need anything. Thanks again George for all of your help, I’m sure that I couldn’t have done as nice of a job with out you, and just spending time together is a treat on its own. Katie and Matt, I wish you two many blessings and love, now and always. Please click on an image to see it larger, and click here for the slideshow.