I know, I’ve been talking about “the shot” that I took a few weeks back. But I’ve been very busy and I’m now getting some time to talk about it. I also wanted to have it shown for the first time publicly at our new space, the Candy Factory, in downtown Lancaster. Basically, my wife Melissa, owner of Stylish Occasions, put together an awesome faux wedding photo session at the Cork Factory Hotel in Lancaster, PA.

I found out about a week before the shoot that Amy, our “bride” for the day, was the owner and teacher of Premiere Danse studio. So, after thinking about what I could do with that info, I drew a little thumbnail of something that popped into my head. It was a bride jumping in a flowing fashion over a cake. But how would I pull that off? I thought about a few lighting scenarios including thoughts about how the cake would need lit as well. After considering everything, I knew that I would need my big dog Alien Bee light for some added power. There was just no other way to stop the motion of a full deal jump.

Jump ahead to the shoot itself. The day started with Amy getting a little trim of her hair, then some make up. We added in a groom, some cake, a limo, an awesome location and flowers. Voilá, we had all the makings of a wedding day. I started with a few simple photos in the ballroom of the Cork Factory. I lit the couple in the first set with a hair light, camera right. A main light, above. A reflector, below. And a light through a soft box, off camera left to light the cake. After a few more locations in the ballroom, we made our way to a room in the hotel. Then outside for a few rainy shots with the limo.

After all of that was done, I decided it was time to try this jumping shot. I set up a light off camera right behind the cake and bride to light a little of the cake and give some separation off the back of the bride. I had another flash off camera left and behind through a soft box pointed directly at the cake. Then I had my main light (the Alien Bee) camera left above the bride to get enough light above her when she jumped. I had someone stand in to check the light. Then I had her do a test jump to see how she moved through the frame. Then I snapped one off and was so close on the first shot. The second shot was pretty close as well. On the third shot I thought I clipped her toe in the frame as she moved through so fast, but then when the preview came up after a second I knew I nailed it. So, without further ado here are few photos along with an awesome video put together by my man Noah Stoner of the behind the scenes. He did such an awesome job and was all over the place. Then skip to the bottom to see “The Shot”.

Setup: Melissa Miville and Katie Slauch from Stylish Occasions
Location: Jill Fanning and the Cork Factory Hotel
Cake: Megan and Scott Smith from Monkey & Me Sweets
Dress: In White Bridal Boutique
Linens: Special Occasions & Queen St. Linens
Flowers: By Splints and Daisies
Make-Up: Patricia Solis of Elegant Xpressions
Hair: Dianna Allen
Limo: Kevin Bippus from Expressions Limousines
Video: Noah Stoner

See more photos from this session at my Facebook Fan Page.

Awesome Video by Noah Stoner

MiVille Photography Behind The Scenes from noah stoner on Vimeo.

A little trim

Make up time

Kevin’s limo is awesome!

The Monkey & Me Sweets team

Melissa adding some finishing touches

The Happy Couple

The bride and her cake

Is the phone attached to you?

Naughty time in the bedroom

Clean up time

Alone time in the limo

Leap of Faith