Wedding bells, rain drops, and lightning cracks

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of shooting my first solo wedding. I knew the couple from school and I worked with the bride at Starbucks in Chicago. They were both really fun so I knew it was going to be a riot. They were having it at this amazing old plantation outside of Jacksonville, near the Swanee river (yes, the same one we've all heard about in songs). When they asked me to photograph it I was thrilled. Not only because I would get to be part of their wedding day, but also because I knew this location would promise some amazing shots. I headed into it feeling prepared but knowing there would be things I didn't expect. Boy, was I right. You'll see why.

We started the time off partying it up with some of their closest friends. (First unexpected thing, they ended up being friends of mine as well.)
Then came the bachelor party. All the guys piled into two cars and we were headed off to have one last night of wild debauchery with the groom. Just kidding! I believe racing go carts was the agenda. However, we didn't quite make it there.

Unexpected thing #2
This was the usher's car after it hit the best man's. OUCH!

A couple shots of the groom's pad.Unexpected thing 3: I couldn't have imagined just how beautiful this property was going to be. When we arrived it had just finished raining and the light was shooting through the clouds so beautifully.

From the rehearsal on, things really picked up steam. Here are some of my favorites from the rest of the wedding.
The rings...love
The ceremony started perfectly outside but some began to wonder...
But these two couldn't be bothered...

Then came the pitter patter of raindrops and out came the umbrellas. (Unexpected thing #4)
Just after this ceremony everyone ran into the house to try to wait out the storm. It wasn't too promising so they decided to move the wedding into the house.

Unexpected thing #5: The kids decided that playing right in front of the bride and groom was the best place in the house!



All in all it was an amazing weekend and I was truly blessed to be a part of it. Congratulations Kenny and Lenna, God Bless!

Some of my favorites.

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These are some of my favorite moments captured both recently and over the past couple of years. Some for the beauty of the image, some for what those moments have meant to me.

DEBUT!

This is the first post for and public debut of deBruynPhotography.com's photo blog, Through the Eye. The title of this blog comes from a William Blake poem, of which Malcolm Muggeridge once said, "To see through the eye is to grasp the significance of what is seen, to see it in relation to the totality of God's creation."

God has given us such beauty throughout life: in awe inspiring landscapes, in an artist's ability to create and perform something wonderfully, in the love a husband and wife have for each other, and the wonder He gives children when they see things that take their breath away.

I am so excited for this next stage of my life, I'm putting my heart and soul into it. My goal is to learn to capture things in such a way that their significance can be seen. I only hope that you will come along for the ride. Who knows, maybe you'll even turn up here.

Party on,

Tom

Speaking of beauty, I recently ate this hot dog from Hot Doug's in Chicago. I went, I tasted, I was amazed by the mountains of goodness packed inside this little encased meat wonder. Go there... now, if you can.