Hurricane Gustav

We will be leaving for Jackson,MS on Sunday to wait out Gustav. New Orleans will begin a mandatory evacuation Sunday morning. Hopefully we'll be back by Thursday and New Orleans will be intact.

All wedding images are with me as well as a 3rd backup system out of state so everyone's wedding images are safe. Did the same for Katrina and keeping everything with me went well. Of course that means camera gear and harddrives all over the car and little clothes again.

Stay safe everyone.

*** photo credit to Craig "Deaf Forever" Allen

More wedding images from Rachel and Michael

Rachel and Michael June 14th 2008

Wonderful wedding! Rachel and Michael's wedding started with getting ready at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans. All the way from Tampa,FL I had Tina Ortiz of Ortiz-Sellers Photography  help me out with the wedding photography. 

While Tina was photographing Rachel, I went over with Michael and we shot some images on the balcony at the Ritz. Cool view just outside the Fr Qtr Bar.

The ceremony and reception were held in City Park at the Pavilion of the Two Sisters . I love outdoor daytime weddings since you have allot more shooting options with the light. The reception went great and I think was the first time I've ever been to a 25 minute long 2nd line parade at a reception. Non stop, and since it was Tina's first 2nd line I think she had allot of fun shooting it. Yes, they don't have 2nd line parades in Tampa - I know, weird but true.

Special thanks to Rachel and Michael for letting us capture their special day, and I hope they enjoy the northwestern part of the USA.

Slideshow link: http://www.zoeicaimages.com/Rachel&Michael

Way to long between posts!

Yikes, it's been over a month since I posted anything. I'd say moving was part of the reason but also it's been very busy so putting albums, orders and wedding images together come first before any posts. 

Kay and Corey - June 8th 2008

I'm a little late posting this engagement session but Kay and Corey were a great couple to work with! Can't wait for the wedding later this year. And special thanks to Corey as I'm told he picked me for the photography.

We started in Jackson Square and walked around the French Quarter before heading down to Audubon Park. The sun was going down at the park so there was some great light to work with.

Slideshow link: www.zoeicaimages.com/Kay&Corey

Ashley & Kevin - June 13th 2008

Wonderful couple! And Madison also, if I did not mention her she will probably never pose for me again! :)

Ashley got ready at her mom's house before going to the ceremony at Lady of Good Counsel in New Orleans. I loved the window light inside the front door, made for some beautiful portrait of Ashley.

Believe it or not, the Archbishop of New Orleans wants to close this church! the parishioners have launched a lawsuit so we'll have to see what happens. One look inside this church will make anyone wonder why they would want to close it. 

The reception was held at Generations Hall in New Orleans' Warehouse District. The Bucktown All-Stars provided the music. Can you ask for a better(or crazier) band? It was cool to have all 3 rooms at the Hall open.

I think the reception went til after midnight! Allot of dancing I remember well. Plus there was a groomsmen claiming to be a doctor showing up in allot of photos after 11pm. He knows who he is, whether he remembers anything after 11pm is another story.

Thanks to Ashley & Kevin(and Madison) for letting me capture their day!

Slideshow link: http://www.zoeicaimages.com/Ashley&Kevin

Virginia & Bret - June 7th 2008

Virginia and Bret had their ceremony and reception at The Balcony in Metairie. Virginia got ready at a nearby hotel and we photographed some bridal images at Lafreniere Park before heading over to the wedding. 

Overcast skies gave off beautiful lighting for Virginia's bridal portraits. Credit to her mom for thinking the tree looked like a great area. The area reminded me of what the early 1920's color postcards resembled so I attempted to recreate that look on a few portraits. 

Ceremony and reception went great! With the indoor lighting I was able to capture allot of available light images which I'm trying to do more and more now. 

Virginia is from Bulgaria so they had a breaking bread tradition during the reception. Whoever pulls the biggest piece is in charge, of course Virginia won out on that contest!

Slideshow link - http://www.zoeicaimages.com/Virginia&Bret

June 22nd 2008

Real busy editing weddings right now but I thought I would share something I do not recommend trying at a wedding. Can you guess how this shot was done? It's allot of fun to try but make sure you're good at catch.

Jonathan & Princess 05.31.2008

I've been trying to get this wedding posted for the past couple of days but it's been pretty crazy around here with weddings and other photography work. So FINALLY.......

Jonathan and Princess's wedding was just an awesome,non-stop party, with an extremely emotional ceremony in-between. Now I can see why they decided not to have the wedding portraits together before hand!

Both bride and groom were getting ready at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel in the French Quarter. One of the top 3 hotels IMHO anyway. More than enough areas for photographs, and the daytime wedding allowed for great light through the hotel windows. Carlos Pasos photographed the guys while I stayed with Princess and her bridemaids. Princess went over and left a gift for Jonathan at his hotel door. Funny shirt there Jonathan! Check out the guys socks as well. I had hoped for some more time with Princess' bridal photos but this is a wedding and time can be short, and try getting a dozen guys to leave a bar so the bride's not seen takes some time.

The ceremony was held at St Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. Princess got a photo shoot with a street performer on the walk to the Cathedral, he's probably still looking for that tip!

I've been told already be a few who have seen the slideshow that a few ceremony images bring tears so I'll warn you ahead of time. :)

After the ceremony and some quick wedding party/family photos it was time for the 2nd Line Parade (just type it in on YouTube if you've never seen one before). This one was for sure in the top 5 of 2nd line wedding parades I've photographed! Lots of fun!

Back to the Omni Royal for the reception which felt like it went by in a flash. Plenty of non-stop dancing from everyone. We finished the night with some shots of Jonathan and Princess on the Omni rooftop which offers a panoramic view of New Orleans. You can just make out the St Louis Cathedral behind them in the last photo.

Big thanks to Jonathan and Princess, it was allot of fun capturing their wedding and I hope I delivered what they were looking for!

Slideshow - http://www.zoeicaimages.com/Jonathan&Princess


ps - note to self, it's June now, do not wear black during a 2nd line parade!