Bellemore Blog - Philadelphia County Wedding Photography

My Port in a Storm- Starbucks

bellemorephoto@gmail.com — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 19:04:00 -0700

Being a photographer and a theater mom, I end up spending a lot of time in coffee shops. Whether I am meeting with clients or waiting patiently for my son to finish up with his theater/class/rehearsal/workshop, I often find myself needing to kill a few hours someplace that's not near my house.

I love coffee, so naturally, I'm drawn to coffee shops in general, but more specifically, to Starbucks. I know. It's considered a sin in most people's eyes to pay over $4 a cup for coffee, but I don't care. I am thrifty in most other aspects of my life, but when I need a place to hang out and a decent cup of coffee, nothing beats Starbucks. I'm willing to pay a little more for what I get. The quality of the beverages are better, my order is always correct or I get it remade for free and they know how to craft an actual latte. It's also warm and inviting. Their brand colors are the same as mine- Green, white and black. The store is full of plush chairs, warm woods and soft music. Most importantly, it smells like coffee. Much like good photography, I'm paying the extra money for the experience and I don't mind one bit.

No matter where you go, even in other countries like Ireland and Belgium, you will always have one thing familiar to you in Starbucks. They are all a little different but the same. I'm actually composing this blog post from the Starbucks now, while waiting for my son while he's at rehearsal for one of his many theater productions. Sometimes I just come here to work, especially in the winter when I am done being cooped up in my house. It's my port in the storm. The familiar place that sells my favorite beverage and keeps me going.

So, don't feel bad for the little splurges in life. If you want good coffee, go to Starbucks. If you want amazing photographic art of your wedding or family that you can pass down for generations to come, contact me.

Things I Love- Coffee

bellemorephoto@gmail.com — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 16:41:00 -0700

There is nothing like the smell of brewing coffee. It's like the promise of warm creamy goodness. I could drink coffee 24-7, though I try not to drink it after about 8pm or I'll be up all night. Coffee is what fuels me. It's the reason I manage to get up out of bed every morning. I am inherently a night owl, but with two kids that have to get on the bus by 6:50am, that's not a possibility for me.

My first experience with coffee was when I was little and I'd come home after school to my grandmother's house. She'd be having her coffee with one of those Stella Doro S shaped cookies. I think they were called "Breakfast Treats". She'd give me a cookie and let me dunk it in her coffee. (Because they were too hard to eat without dunking) I remember her saying, "I just need a little something sweet with my coffee". Besides dunking my cookie, I had never really cared for the taste of coffee back then.

Then I went to college. The summer between my Sophomore and Junior year I got a job working in a coffee shop on the Atlantic City boardwalk from 6pm to 3am. I also had a 9-5 office job. So, by about 9pm, I needed something to keep me going. I didn't like the taste of coffee, but we made lattes, so I tried that first. LOTS of milk and LOTS of sugar. Gradually, I put in less milk and sugar and more coffee. Now I take my coffee with cream and a little bit of sugar. I've come a long way.

My favorite types of coffee are the organic, small batch, fair trade (and all those other pretentious words) coffees. Yes, it sounds snooty, but they taste amazing and I hope that they really are paying the farmers better. I also still love the frilly foo foo lattes. Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks are my all time favorite. You will see me start to get antsy towards the beginning of September every year when they are getting ready to release them again. Being born on Halloween, pumpkin is just in my blood.

I'm not a coffee snob though. As much as I love the expensive stuff, I'll drink the cheap stuff too. :) It may just need a little extra love added to make it potable. Now, I've officially become my grandmother. I yelled at my husband the other day for trying to eat my Girl Scout cookies that I had squirreled away. I said, "You know I like to have something sweet with my afternoon coffee!" It's come full circle and I think fondly of my grandmother as I dunk my shortbread cookie into my organic fair trade coffee.

Here's a short coffee video I made. Enjoy!

Weddings at the Lazaretto Ballroom- Essington, PA Wedding Photography

bellemorephoto@gmail.com — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 13:43:00 -0700

I had the pleasure of shooting a wedding at the Lazaretto Ballroom in Essington, PA this September. They have the most beautiful spaces to have a ceremony. And there are old buildings on site that you can use as a backdrop for your pictures. They even have signs that they customize for your pictures. The river is right nearby so you can take pictures alongside the Delaware River as well.

Inside, the ballroom itself is lovely and spacious. The staff was friendly and accommodating and kept the day on track.

The Devil's in the Details- Wedding Photography, Essington, PA

bellemorephoto@gmail.com — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 13:33:00 -0700

You spend months prepping and "pinning" and buying all sorts of things from Etsy to make your day perfect. It's all the little details that help to make your day special. I like to make sure that I capture them as well. Whether it's an embroidered pillow, a personalized glass or the small details that you use to decorate the hall, these things are important.

A Little Help for the Groom and his Men from a NJ Wedding Photographer

bellemorephoto@gmail.com — Sun, 31 May 2015 21:43:00 -0700

I've seen it at almost every wedding. The men struggling with those little colorful pocket squares they get with their tuxes. You learn how to tie a tie but never what to do with that fussy little piece of colorful satin.

Well, here's a bunch of different ways to fold it. Happy Folding!

https://www.bows-n-ties.com/how-to-fold-a-handkerchief/

Beautiful Wedding Vows by the Art Museum in Philadelphia, PA

bellemorephoto@gmail.com — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:37:00 -0700

It was a chilly but beautiful November day when my best friend married her girlfriend. I was lucky enough to be asked to take their pictures. I am obviously biased, but they wrote their own vows and they were some of the most beautiful, honest and sincere vows I've ever heard. We were all in tears.

As I was editing their pictures, I thought it'd be neat to include some of their vows into the pictures. I still can't look at some of these without tearing up.

Top 10 Places to Take Portraits

bellemorephoto@gmail.com — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 16:04:00 -0700

A lot of people are opting out of the traditional portrait studio type photos and opting for more creative portraits. This often includes outdoor locations or their own home. Here's a quick list of some of the cool places to have your portrait taken.

10. A Local Park

There's no more accessible place to take portraits than your local park. You are probably familiar with it from taking walks there, playing sports or attending a local concert in the summer. You can easily guide your photographer to your favorite spots and it looks different depending on the time of the year. Best of all? It's usually free to shoot there.

9. A Vineyard

Like wine? How about beautiful lanscapes covered in vines and grapes? Some vineyards are open to the public and will allow you to take pictures ontheir property as long as you are respectful and don't touch the vines. Even without grapes on the vine, they make a nice backdrop for elegant portraits.

8. On the Boardwalk

Ah the boardwalk in the summer! It's a bustling, busy destination with tourists everywhere. However, if you use the right lens and angle, you can capture all of the hustle and bustle of the boardwalk without the actual tourists in focus.

7. On the Beach

From the boardwalk, you can head to the beach. Avoid the bright light of midday by heading there about an hour or two before sunset. Doing this will also ensure a less crowded beach as the bulk of the beach goers are headed home for dinner by then. Or, if you are a morning person, head there around dawn to capture the sunrise over the ocean.

6. On a Bridge

Bridges make for a very interesting background. If you can get the water or a waterfall in the shot, it's even better. Sometimes you can position yourself on the bridge and the photographer can take the shot from one of the banks. But standing on the actual bridge with the photographer also lends itself to some intersting pictures.

7. In Front of a National Landmark

Who doesn't love an iconic National Landmark? Why not have your portraits done in front of one? The only downside to this is that you are usually required to get a permit to shoot there and it may cost you a small fee. Also, you are restricted to certain times you can be there. But, the end result is a portrait of national significance.

6. In Front of Your own Christmas Tree

Why go to a portrait studio in the mall, during the holiday season, in front of a fake backdrop with a Christmas tree printed on it when you can have your portrait done in your own home with your own tree? Your tree makes for a more meaningful Christmas portrait. Also, this allows friends and relatives that can't visit to see your tree.

5. In Your Backyard

This option is particularly good for those with young children. You can go out in your backyard and let them run around and play with their toys. The result is less crying, less stress and beautiful candid shots. This is a great option for anyone though,especially if you are having a gathering of family or friends and just want some great portraits without dragging everyone out to the mall.

5. In a Public Garden

Not a green thumb? Me neither! Public gardens are a perfect option then. They have seasonal foliage and everything is perfectly manicured. You may have to pay a small enttry fee for you and your photographer. This particular photo was taken at a sculpture garden in Hamilton, NJ.

4. During a Party

This is a great option for getting portraits taken of friends or family that are not able to get out to a central location or portraits studio. Have the photographer come to your party. Set aside an half hour to an hour and get various group and individual portraits taken. The guests may then purchase prints from the photographer later from home once the pictures are available.

3. In a Pile of Leaves/In the Grass

The best part about Fall or Spring portraits is capturing the elements that are great about that season. Go to a park, your backyard or anywhere that has the elements you need. In the fall, rake together a pile of leaves and let the kids jump in it. In the spring, the kids can lay in the newly green grass.

2. On a Horse

Have a favorite family pet? Include them in the picture! In this case, the pet was a horse, but you can include your cat, dog, bunny or hamster too!

1. In the Air

The internet is wonderful and has given people access to a plethora of fun portrait ideas. Pintrest and Instagram are great apps for browsing through to get ideas. Talk to your photographer about trying out some of these fun poses. It helps if you have a willing group of people to try them out too. This is one of my favorite wedding photos. And we did it in just three takes!

The New Dichotomy of a Wedding Photography Session

bellemorephoto@gmail.com — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 11:33:00 -0700

What do you think of when you think of a wedding portrait? Most people would say a picture of a beautifully posed bride and groom set in a beautiful landscape. Well, times are changing and couples' ideas of the perfect portrait are changing. Couples want to infuse some fun and creativity into their pictures by doing silly poses or using props. Pinterest has been a big catalyst in this new creative movement, with its seemingly endless supply of fun ideas right at your fingertips.

Because of this new trend, wedding photography has become a fun dichotomy of traditional portraits, candid shots and fun, creative poses. There's something in there to suit everyone's tastes.

Darren Criss and Theo Katzman Concert

bellemorephoto@gmail.com — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 07:36:00 -0700

I had the pleasure of being able to capture some pictures of Theo Katzman and Darren Criss during the Listen Up Tour in Silver Spring, MD last week. I wasn't able to bring my professional camera, so I took these with my Canon Power Shot point and shoot. The crowd was so into the show, that I could barely get my arms up to take the pictures. Everyone was dancing and singing along and really enjoying themselves. They aren’t my best work, but they give you a feel of what the energy level was like.

Theo Katzman was opening for Darren. It was only the second time I had heard him. I saw him in Philly two nights before. I was completely blown away by his talent and stage presence, This guy can really rock. During his set, his glasses flew off his face and a guitar string broke and he just continued on with the song. In Philly, the mic stand broke and he got down on the ground, without missing a beat and continued on with the song.

He debuted two new songs that were not on his previously released album- “Pop Song” and “Do as the Romans.” Both are upbeat and poppy and the crowd at both venues I was at loved them. I can’t wait for the studio version of these to be released. He's playing in NYC on October 5 at Webster Hall. I'll be there and if you're looking for a great night out, I highly recommend seeing Theo Katzman.

http://www.theokatzman.com/

That leads us to Darren Criss. Most of you know him from Glee, where he plays the part of Blaine Anderson, love interest to Kurt Hummel. He is amazing on Glee with his singing and dancing. However, this was Darren's own music and his first SOLD OUT solo tour. He is a great singer, songwriter, and composer as well as an actor. He debuted some of his new songs that will hopefully be on an upcoming album. Having a background in musical theater lends itself well for his stage presence. He really knows how to work a crowd and kept us all highly entertained. His new songs are great and I rotate daily as to which one is my favorite. “Any of Those Things” and “Pheromones” are more upbeat and poppy and I can see them being big hits on the radio. “Picture Perfect” is also a poppy upbeat feel-good kind of song that I think will become every girl’s anthem. It’s about coming home to the person you’re with and seeing them as they are, not dressed up or anything and thinking that they are perfect. During the show, Darren pulls a girl from the audience up on stage and says that she’s representative of all of the girls in the place and proceeds to serenade her, ending the song by taking a picture with her on his phone. This, of course, was everyone’s favorite part of the show.

His song “Words” is one of my personal favorites. It’s a little more bluesy/jazzy and it really lets Darren show off his vocal range. And, when I had the pleasure of meeting him, I was also suddenly at a loss for words. The last of the new songs is called “Once Upon a Time.” I wasn’t sure how I felt about the song at first, but it’s one of those songs that the more I heard it, the more I liked it. It’s about going back to simpler times and wanting things to be the way they used to be. We can all relate to that in some way and I think that’s what makes the song for me. That, and Darren’s emotional performance during the song. Even though he is behind the keyboard for this, he still finds a way to connect with the audience on an emotional level. Darren himself even said that he loves performing on stage since he can see each of us and get that immediate feedback on his performance. It was the best concert I have ever been to and I sincerely hope that Darren releases the new songs soon and goes on tour again.

To check out Darren’s music: http://www.darrencriss.com/

Here are some of the pictures I took at the concert.

Theo Katzman:

Darren Criss:

Darren Criss and Theo Katzman Concert

bellemorephoto@gmail.com — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 07:36:00 -0700

http://www.theokatzman.com/

To check out Darren’s music: http://www.darrencriss.com/

Here are some of the pictures I took at the concert.

Theo Katzman:

Darren Criss:

Darren Criss and Theo Katzman Concert

bellemorephoto@gmail.com — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 07:36:00 -0700

http://www.theokatzman.com/

To check out Darren’s music: http://www.darrencriss.com/

Here are some of the pictures I took at the concert.

Theo Katzman:

Darren Criss:

Darren Criss and Theo Katzman Concert

bellemorephoto@gmail.com — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 07:36:00 -0700

http://www.theokatzman.com/

To check out Darren’s music: http://www.darrencriss.com/

Here are some of the pictures I took at the concert.

Theo Katzman:

Darren Criss:

Darren Criss and Theo Katzman Concert

bellemorephoto@gmail.com — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 07:36:00 -0700

http://www.theokatzman.com/

To check out Darren’s music: http://www.darrencriss.com/

Here are some of the pictures I took at the concert.

Theo Katzman:

Darren Criss:

Darren Criss and Theo Katzman Concert

bellemorephoto@gmail.com — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 07:36:00 -0700

http://www.theokatzman.com/

To check out Darren’s music: http://www.darrencriss.com/

Here are some of the pictures I took at the concert.

Theo Katzman:

Darren Criss:

Darren Criss and Theo Katzman Concert

bellemorephoto@gmail.com — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 07:36:00 -0700

http://www.theokatzman.com/

To check out Darren’s music: http://www.darrencriss.com/

Here are some of the pictures I took at the concert.

Theo Katzman:

Darren Criss: