kml photography - Kate Murphy Lowenstein

The new address will be http://blog.kmlphotography.com. Please update your bookmarks, RSS readers, etc. Thanks for keeping our information up-to-date!

Check out Emily and Matt's wedding featured today on the Cape Cod Wedding Blog!
(Click here)

Shannon and Matt were married this past weekend! We were hoping for some weather like today (65 degrees and sunny). Unfortunately, April in New England is rather unpredictable and what we got was more like, well...April weather - 45 degrees and a little drizzly.

But that didn't put a damper on the festivities! It was a fabulous kick-off to my 2010 wedding season and an absolute honor to be with Shannon and Matt on their wedding day. I had so much fun!

Shannon was one of the most relaxed brides I've worked with yet. Not once did I see her nerves - just pure happiness and anticipation to see Matt for the first time as she walked down the aisle at St. Patrick's church. When I arrived at the Beach Breeze Inn, she was already dressed and ready to go. She looked stunning.






Thankfully the girls were willing to brave the chill and drizzle and get some pictures outside.




As I was busy spending time with the girls, my assistant, Fran Colonna, was helping the groom stop the blood gushing out of his neck. A wee nick by the razor had left his white shirt red. And after bleeding through shirt number two, Fran called for some nail polish and quickly painted his neck to stop the flow of blood. (Fran, your not only a talented photographer, but a quick thinker!) Here is the handsome groom.


Relaxing with his dad and his brother right before the ceremony.








I love the look on their faces as they walk down the aisle past their guests.




Family (no-so) formals on the docks behind the Flying Bridge. This is Matt's family's rock star pose. Lol!


Was having a little fun with the girls when Shannon decided she'd go for the Charlie's Angels pose. I love it when my subjects have fun in front of the camera! There's nothing worse to me than a stiff image of a bride and her bridemaids with their toes all pointed in the same direction and their flowers aligned by their waists ala the 1980's. I love it, Shannon - work it, girl!



And the groomsmen looking relaxed, having fun, and yet sophisticated and dapper.


This is one of my favorites of the two of them.


First dance.


Shannon's father was the first to toast them.




I just love their reaction to his speech.




Yummmm...Cupcakes! (thanks to Cupcake Charlies).


What a great idea for guest favors! Lucky in love scratch tickets.


Shannon and her beautiful Mom.








While the kids were dancing inside...


...the bride and groom were doing the cha-cha outside.








Thanks again, Shannon & Matt for a beautiful day in spite of the not-so-beautiful weather. I know you are having a great time relaxing in the sun and I look forward to seeing you when you get back! XOXO, K

I've had such pleasure photographing this family! First it started with the engagement session where Pat actually proposed to Meghan. Then their gorgeous wedding at Oyster Harbors. Then their first baby. And later his first birthday photographs. This day, they introduced me to their new arrival (and brought big brother along). (And I almost forgot to include the wedding of Pat's brother and the baby pictures of Meghan's sister).

Look how cute he is (and the little mischievous smile on his face)!






And here's big brother. (He brought his own camera with him).


A huge fan of golf (like his Dad).


And a strong swing! (that nearly put a hole in my wall, I think - Lol)


Admittedly, this image isn't as sharp as I'd like it, but it was too darn cute!






I think little brother might be a golfer as well!


Thanks so much for coming down and bringing the boys and your Mom to come see me, Meghan. It was so great to see you and your growing family. I hope to see you all again this summer!

I ripped the above title from a post I just read on Facebook by DWF (Digital Wedding Forum). (http://www.facebook.com/DWFForum)

It says...

"According to this survey 22% of brides felt they did not spend enough money on their photographer.

Well there you have it! Right there in black and white. Good photography is worth paying for but 22% of Brides don’t realize it until after the wedding is over. What the heck can we do about that?

Online printer/image host/publisher Shutterfly released their most recent survey results today and amongst a few worthless facts (like blue is color of the season) there was some valuable information.

Should’ve spent less on the dress; more on the memories. Of survey respondents married within 12 months prior to the survey, 28 percent felt they didn’t spend enough money on the honeymoon; 22 percent felt the same about the photographer. 19 percent of the same sample reported spending too much on the bridal gown and food.

So this either means that 22% of the surveyed brides either wanted more product or there are a bunch of hack wedding photographers out there who aren’t living up to brides expectations. Interesting food for thought no matter how you look at it…" - DWF

When I read the above article, I recalled an email I received last week. It read...

"I have a bit of an odd question....do you ever head down to Washington DC or know any photographers in the area? I was married in Cape Cod and considered you as a photographer but went another direction due to budget concerns. Unfortunately, we were not AT ALL happy with our photographer (should have used you!!) and are now looking into doing a sort of 'trash the dress' for our one year anniversary to try to get some good portrait shots. Would love to make it back up to the Cape, but that is just not looking likely this summer, and therefore figured I'd see if you ever travel down here or know anyone you could recommend. Thanks so much,
Kristi"

And so, the article by DWF rings true. There's one to prove it.

I feel very badly for Kristi who was unhappy with her wedding images. I feel even worse that she regrets not hiring me.

I know how that feels. I too was unhappy with my wedding photographer. I didn't meet him before the wedding. We got married in Bermuda and to be honest, I wasn't much into the wedding planning part of my wedding (thus the reason we did a destination wedding). I chose a hotel that had a wedding package that included everything including a photographer and whoalla! my wedding was planned.

Bad idea...My photographer captured ONE photo that I actually like from my wedding. Yes, ONE. I posted it on Facebook a couple weeks ago when we celebrated our 10 year anniversary. Unfortunately, my photographer wasn't the right fit for me. Of course I didn't know this when I booked him because I never met him beforehand. While he was photographing me and Andrew right after our ceremony, he kept on making us do things I was clearly not comfortable doing - things that were just not "us". (I am way better behind the camera than in front of it!) He was even telling us how to kiss (clearly we weren't doing it right). So, I stopped him and said, "We're just really not comfortable doing that. We're really just interested in some candid shots and if you catch us kissing than that's great." He barked back, "I am the professional and you do what I tell you to do." Andrew tried to be the peacemaker, but the rest of the images consist pretty much of me giving the man behind the camera dirty look and none of the candid shots I was hoping for.

And is it my photographer's fault? Not really. Had I done my research and met my photographer beforehand I probably could have figured out he wasn't the right fit for me. I'm pretty sure his attitude would have deterred me from the start and his overly posed, pointed toed images were not the same vision I had for my casual, relaxed beach wedding.

I guess my point is that couples should choose their photographer based not on budget, but on their style and personality as well. Make sure the photographer you select shares the same vision for your wedding and is someone that you can see yourself spending time with on your wedding day.

Above all, don't regret that you hired the wrong photographer. (A good camera does not make a good photographer).

The one (candid) image I like from my wedding 10 years ago.

A couple weeks ago I met with Anne and Nate who were on the East Coast for a short while visiting with Anne's family and settling the last of their wedding plans. Although I'd met Anne at an initial meeting before she hired me, I'd not yet met Nate. She told me I'd love him, and she was right! What I love most about Nate is how he looks at Anne and how he just can't keep his hands off her (and vice versa). I can just tell they are so in love and "into" each other. And thankfully, even though Nate works behind the scenes on shows like VH1's "Tool Academy" and MTV's "Jersey Shore", I was happy to see he was just as comfortable on the other side of the camera. Not surprisingly, Anne wasn't a bit afraid of the camera either. I guess that's what being an actress is all about!








They are just so darn cute with each other, I can't stand it!


And this is one of my favorites from our session. Really, Anne - you're stunning.


Anne has gorgeous green eyes and a fabulous smile.


And Nate, you're not too shabby yourself!





Both Nate and Anne are huge football fans. They both route for #12. Unfortunately not for the same team.








Hike one!


Hike two!


Tackle! (a little prematurely)






Another one of my faves.


And time for a little practice.

















Seriously HOT! Love this one too.


Thanks Anne and Nate for a great session. I am soooo looking forward to your wedding in June! Can't wait to see you both in a in just over two months!