Back in April I had the chance to work with a number of supremely talented Savannah wedding professionals on a mock wedding. With a theme of ‘Elegant New York girl marries Savannah’s southern boy,’ this shoot featured three different photographers and showcased their different styles.

I worked with Diana Daley and had a really amazing time. All of the vendors were so great, and they reminded me what a great wedding community we have in Savannah and how lucky I am to be working here.

The shoot was featured on the Style Me Pretty blog last week. More photos are also online at Morgan Gallo’s blog. I can’t say enough good things about all the vendors who provided their talents.

Design and coordination: Morgan Gallo Events
Photographers:
Geoff L Johnson
Azelle Photography
Diana Daley, Photographer
Dylan Wilson Weddings
Cake: Two Cakes
Florist: Kiwi Fleur
Venue: Ballroom on Broughton
Stationery: Emma J Design
Makeup: Dollface by Jules
Furniture and chairs: 24 E
Gowns and bridesmaid dresses: Bleubelle Bridal Salon
Linens: Connie Duglin Linen
Jewelry and Accessories: Handpicked
Rentals: Savannah Special Events
Hair: Ony Salon

I love when I get phone calls from Dudes. They are directly to the point. Most of my best conversations with Dudes have lasted less than 30 seconds. We probably only exchange two or three sentences.

My conversation with Brandon went something like this:

Brandon: Are you available on Friday?

Me: Sure.

Brandon: We need some photos.

Me: Ok.

Yesterday, Coral, Brandon and I braved the Savannah heat (and the ever-present chance of an afternoon thunderstorm) to take some engagement photos in Forsyth Park. Savannah has special significance to the couple, who live in Jacksonville, because it was were Brandon proposed.

So together we explored the streets and alleys around Forsyth Park before venturing into the Park itself. We even stopped for a reenactment at The Bench where the proposal occurred.

This is an awesome wall. AND (!!!) I shot a vertical (!!!).

I wish I could say that the number 15 has some significance. It doesn't. This is just a cool gate in a nearby alley.

We took a few shots like this one so that Coral's mom wouldn't think that they just made out the whole time.

Brandon and Coral had dinner at Vic's by the River right before he proposed. So we had to take a few photos by the river.

I had a great time hanging out with you guys and am so glad that I was able to be present when you recreated some great memories. Congratulations!

This weekend, I photographed Shannon and Matt’s wedding along with Savannah wedding photographer  Diana Daley (www.lovelifeart.com). The ceremony took place in front of the fountain in Forsyth Park and the reception was upstairs at Vic’s on the River.

Originally from Atlanta, the couple now lives in Houston, Texas. I’ve been to Texas twice. Both times, it was night. I tried to buy a cowboy hat from a gas station at 3 in the morning. The store owner would not put up with any of my shenanigans. That’s all I know about Texas.

Shannon does a final check of the dress. I thought she looked great, and I think she looks pretty happy.

Spanish moss, beautiful day, bride...just perfect.

Right off, it was hot. Like crazy hot. Like in the winter when you breathe and you can see your breath. Except the exact opposite. The odds were stacked against us.

Thankfully, there were buckets of cool water and programs that doubled as fans.  And a good time was had by all.

It's hard to make a bad picture in Forsyth Park. It's just so darn pretty...

Later, after I struck a few poses as examples, Shannon got sassy on the streets of downtown Savannah.

Vic's on the River has gorgeous views of the Savannah River (duh), the Talmadge Bridge, and Wet Willie's Bar (!!!).

I had a great time. Congratulations guys, and thanks for having me along!

I had the pleasure of traveling to Hilton Head, South Carolina yesterday to do an engagement shoot for Valery and Matt, an awesome couple who live near Boston. These two engineers met while in college at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. I’m not 100% sure what their jobs entail, but I think that I learned that the insides of your computer will kill you.

In addition to doing really complicated things with math and science, Valery and Matt are also avid golfers…another thing that I am not allowed to do.

After a little initial nervousness, we were all able to make fun of each others’ accents (Brooklyn yo!) and the pictures came easily.

All of these pictures were taken in the swanky Sea Pines section of the island.

Valery likes pictures that feel casual. For this shot we were all casually sitting high up in trees.

There's a picture of a dude walking an aligator in this lighthouse! Who is this guy?!?

Valery and Matt’s wedding isn’t until next year, and this is the first “wedding thing” that they have done. Guess that means it’s real guys! I had a wicked awesome time!

Thanks for having me and congrats!

I flew to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico this weekend to photograph Andrew and Christie’s wedding with my good friend Dave Robbins (www.daverobbinsphotography.com). The whole weekend was absolutely amazing, and I can’t believe that I’m back in Georgia now. It’s kind of sad…

PS.: Sorry if the words in this post are terrible. I ran out of ways to say “Really freakin’ cool” after about two photos.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the weekend. I’ll let them do the rest of the talking…

Friday's rehearsal dinner on the beach at The One and Only resort was perfect...

Andrew looked sharp in his purple blazer...must...have...one...

After dinner, fire dancers entertained the party of 70.

The view from Andrew's room didn't suck.

Christie's dad looked a little nervous before Saturday's ceremony.

Christie looked absolutely stunning...

They do!

The dinner site was, well like everything else...mind blowing.

And really, what's dinner without after dinner fireworks?

Congratulations guys and thanks for having me!

]]> http://dylanwilsonweddings.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=104 0 http://dylanwilsonweddings.com/blog/?p=92 http://dylanwilsonweddings.com/blog/?p=92#comments Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:22:09 +0000 admin http://dylanwilsonweddings.com/blog/?p=92

I was only in one wedding when I was a kid. I was the ring bearer for my aunt Terri and uncle Mark. I was 7 or 8; I had no front teeth; I wore a white tuxedo. In short, I was awesome.

It’s a silly photo, but it’s an important one in my life. I don’t remember the wedding, but I certainly remember that tuxedo. So, I’m glad that there is a picture to document that moment.

So, in honor of my birthday (which was yesterday), I thought I would put up a few photos of kids from weddings I’ve photographed.

I think that kids are especially fun to photograph because, like that uncle who sits alone in the corner or the bridesmaid who was dumped yesterday, they are wildly unpredictable. Their tendency to run around crazed, pass out in the middle of the dance floor, or just look too darn cute brings a smile to my face, and I feel like I am capturing an important moment in the lives of these children. One day, they too may look back at their childhood photos the same way that I do now.

This young man not only shared a dance with his grandmother, he also wowed a crowd of (much older) girls by doing the worm in a dance off!

Sometimes you pass out inches from the speakers during a dance party. It happens to the best of us.

Elmo like dirty martini...

]]> http://dylanwilsonweddings.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=92 0 http://dylanwilsonweddings.com/blog/?p=73 http://dylanwilsonweddings.com/blog/?p=73#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:16:06 +0000 admin http://dylanwilsonweddings.com/blog/?p=73

I traveled to Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey this past weekend to photograph Michelle and Greg’s wedding. They were an awesome couple, and I had a great time documenting their special day. The day had a St. Patrick’s theme, and the all the greens provided a beautiful color palate to work with.

So…in honor of St. Patrick’s Day (and since I can’t be in Savannah celebrating) I thought that I would post a few photos that showed off the theme.

The bridesmaids wore green dresses...

Greg wore shamrocks on his lapel...

There was lots of green beer.

Greg was harassed by the bridesmaids.

There was a green fountain incorporated into the wedding cake (which was pretty amazing!).

Greg struggled to remove a shamrock garter...

Oh yeah, there was a wedding too!

I had a great time being back in New York City and joining Michelle and Greg for their wedding. Congrats guys!!

The Brooklyn Botanical Garden

One of the great things about being a wedding photographer in Savannah is the abundance of outdoor space.  The Fountain in Forysth Park, the Squares, and Tybee Island all offer couples amazing outdoor venues. Even the red bricks and Spanish moss on Jones Street offer an amazing backdrop for a bride and groom (Yes, I’m slightly biased because this is the street I live on. However, I did pass a tour guide the other day who called Jones Street “The most beautiful residential street in Savannah”).

Couples in New York are not so lucky…

I’ve had the good fortune to photograph some truly amazing New York wedding venues. Capitale on the Bowery, the Angel Orensanz Center, and the Metropolitan Building are all examples of the grandeur that New York offers.

But even more luxurious, and at a higher premium, is outdoor space. With a few exceptions, outdoor spaces big enough to host a wedding party simply don’t exist. Add to the fact that New York weather is often unpredictable, and any outdoor activities quickly become more trouble than they are worth.

Not even New York...This is at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston.

As a photographer, I love to work outdoors. The availability of natural light frees me up to use faster shutter speeds, greater depth of field, and longer lenses. There is also more space to move around and find new, and different, angles. In short, I can be as creative as I want.

Down the Jersey Shore...Snooki, Jwoww, and The Situation were nowhere in sight.

So if you’re getting married in Savannah, consider yourself lucky. Think about all the different ways that you can incorporate outdoor areas in our beautiful city into your special day. Just remember, it’s awfully hot here in the summer. Have plenty of Chatham Artillery Punch and mint juleps on hand!

Chris and Deena take a gondola ride through the Pond in Central Park.

]]> http://dylanwilsonweddings.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=59 0 http://dylanwilsonweddings.com/blog/?p=45 http://dylanwilsonweddings.com/blog/?p=45#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:38:39 +0000 admin http://dylanwilsonweddings.com/blog/?p=45

Photo by Dave Robbins (www.daverobbinsphotography.com)

Finding the right wedding photographer involves many factors. Certainly price and availability should factor into your decision, but I think that style and personality are just as, if not more, important in your final choice.

Photographers come from all kinds of different backgrounds. Some have formal training in schools; some are commercial or art photographers; some photographers work in newspapers or magazines.

These are all things that you should consider: What kind of aesthetic do you have? What do you want your wedding pictures to look like? Do you want mostly formal portraits or mostly candids? Is your look more formal and traditional? Edgy?

Finding the wedding photographer that matches you best is a very important step in the planning process. These pictures are going to last forever, and it’s important that you are happy with the results.

I shot this picture while I was a student at the University of Georgia.

This photo was taken while I was working at The Telegraph in Macon, GA.

Personally, I come from a newspaper background. I studied photojournalism at the University of Georgia and, shortly after graduation, I began working my way up the East coast at different newspapers. By the time I was 24, I was working at the 7th largest newspaper in the country – the New York Post.

Everyday I was roaming the streets of Brooklyn and Manhattan, camera in hand, covering the hard news stories of the day. This included photographing, among other things, celebrities, plane crashes, and opening day at the new Yankees Stadium. It was an exciting time.

It was during this time that I also started my career as a wedding photographer.

This picture was taken at the first wedding I ever photographed. Alex and Eleanor were married on a beautiful cliff overlooking the Hudson River in the Bronx. I used the skills that I had learned as a photojournalist to cover the day.

My style focuses on the candid and little moments of the day. Details are very important to me, and I am constantly looking for another angle or something that no one else sees. This doesn’t mean that I don’t take formal or traditionally posed photos. I do. However, I tend to think that people look best when they are being natural. Besides, there are so many fun things going on during your wedding day. Who wants to waste a lot of time posing for a lot of pictures?

I encourage you to look at lots of different wedding photographers. All of them have different styles, and some may fit your aesthetic more than others. Considering these factors will ensure that you are totally happy with your wedding photos.

Welcome to my blog! First, let me introduce myself. My name is Dylan Wilson, and I am a wedding photographer who has just moved to Savannah, Georgia from New York City. My background is in newspapers, and I specialize in photojournalism-style wedding photography.

This blog will be a place for me to share my thoughts on photography, weddings and my new life in Savannah. I hope that you find it entertaining.

To start, I wanted to share a photo from one of my last weddings in New York. Wendy and Josh got married on December 5, 2009 in the amazing Steiner Studios in Brooklyn, New York. The place is literally just blocks from my old apartment, and they shoot all kinds of movies and TV shows there. It’s a really, really cool place. The wedding was a lot of fun, and the reception was an all-out dance party. It was a blast to photograph.

Check back often, as I promise to frequently update!