First Floor Films Wedding Videos | Philadelphia | San Francisco | New York

Introducing 217 Photography

For the past year and a half or so, First Floor Films has been slowly (think maple syrup speed) integrating photography into our wedding day services. I have been an avid photographer for as long as I can remember. Offering photography services seemed like a natural progression for me.
In fact, Philadelphia wedding photographer, Jenn Childress and I were in the same photography class back in 9th grade a few many years ago! I think Jenn and I were the only two students in that class who totally and completely nerded it up when it came to shooting and printing of our black and white Freshman year photographic masterpieces! One of those prints still hangs in my home.
Anyway, I am pleased to announce the launch of the photography branch of First Floor Films....217 Photography! Please take a moment to check out the new site, and be sure to add 217 Photography to your bookmarks.

Married | Holly & Steve

Right after the new year, Jenn Childress and I photographed Holly & Steve's wedding. It was both of our's 1st wedding of the year. Is that how you say that? Both of our's? Anyway...yes...first wedding of 2009! I was happy to come along and assist Jenn with Holly & Steve's ceremony at Saint Mary's Church in Conshohocken and for a brief period at their reception which was held at The Blue Bell Country Club. Congratulations Holly & Steve. I'm sure by now, everyone has had the chance to warm up from our freezing formal shots at sunset!

Married | Shannon & Dave

I assisted Jenn Childress in photographing Shannon & Dave's wedding this past weekend. This time we were at Cairnwood in Bryn Athyn, PA for both the wedding ceremony and the reception. Jenn and I got to spend a lot of time with Shannon and Dave after the reception as we were running around Philadelphia until almost 2:00 AM. Check out Jenn's blog for some of the night time shots. I was unable to take any as I was acting as the human light stand during the night shoot. Thanks Jenn!! 

And a special thanks to Erin Proud of Proud to Plan for helping everything to go so smoothly.  Erin and her staff are ALWAYS great to work with.  We even worked together during my own wedding as Erin was our coordinator too!

I never found out who designed these programs for Shannon & Dave. But they were very cool.

The balconys at Cairnwood provide some interesting Vantage points. This is during Shannon & Dave's first dance as Husband and Wife.

Tom of Magical Sight and Sound was responsible for the beautiful lighting both outside and inside Cairnwood.

Electric Boogaloo!!!

Getting pretty Jiggy wit It....almost double jointed wit it!

The Bro-nanza.

Married | Erin & John

Erin & John were married last week in Philadelphia. I assisted Jenn Childress in photographing their wedding. While Jenn spent some time with the girls, I started at the church. We all finished the reception out with dancing at The Merion in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. Thanks for having me along Jenn. Congratulations to the newlyweds, Erin & John.

Obviously there were quite a few Pittsburgh Steelers fans in the house.

But, Erin was representin' with a Phillies Fan Finger.

Erin sharing a dance with her dad.

Dancing or Fighting?

The last dance of the night was a group serenade of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing". It was a great way to end a great day!

Katie & Shaun 11.1.08

Jenn Childress and I have shot several wedding together this year. Jenn always seems to have couples who are so easy going and just.....fun. But the wedding that we shot together last weekend was really a blast! We spent Saturday with Katie & Shaun as they celebrated their wedding at Pen Ryn Mansion in Bensalem, PA. There were several times during the formal photo session that we all agreed....we were having A LOT of fun! Thanks for having me along Jenn.  And congratulations Katie & Shaun!

Katie was really "workin" the camera as I was doing my best Austin Powers/fashion photog impression.

Sometime in the middle of Dinner, while I was trying to set-up the shot above, Jenn was working on surprising me with this...

Gina & Bernie 10.25.08

Our good friends Gina and Bernie were married last Saturday at The Pearl S. Buck House in Perkasie, PA.  Their wedding was a First Floor Films family affair as I took over photography duties while Dawn and my dad made up the video team.  The next day Dawn and I dropped the newlyweds off at the airport as they left for a Mexican honeymoon.  When they returned last night, I promptly escorted them back home in the exclusive and luxurious First Floor Films honeymoon limo (Dawn's Honda CRV) .  Hmmmm.......this may become a brand new featured "deluxe" service for our select couples!!  Photo, video and limo! What do you think?
 
Back to the wedding.  As many will remember, last Saturday was sorta wet.  OK, OK....it was actually a torrential downpour all day long!  But, that didn't stop the Phillies from winning game 4 that night and it wasn't going to stop Gina and Bernie from pushing on with their wedding.  We just moved everything under the big tent!  Gina & Bernie's ceremony was originally scheduled to be held outside at sunset.  Yes, this would have made for a very romantic setting.  But, what happened instead was even better (in my opinion).
The ceremony took place on the reception dancefloor while all the guests sat, not in rows and aisles but, at their dinner tables.  This made for a very unique setting.  As the officiant declared Gina & Bernie "Husband and Wife" the tent absolutely exploded with cheers and applause.  I have never heard anything so loud and boisterous during a wedding ceremony.  It was really pretty spectacular!    OK, on to the photos....

Gina reading Bernie's wedding day card.

At this point, the tent was rocking with applause and cheers as well as from the 50 mph gusts of wind from the storm outside.

Gina's proud papa.

The first dance.

My Dad doing his part to keep the reception dry after the wind tore a hole in the tent, which allowed in a constant stream of fresh rainwater!

Gina, Ben and Bernie.

Gina and her dad performed a very unique father/daughter dance.

Bernie and his Mom.

Gina made sure that everyone STAYED on the dance floor.

Dance Party!!!

Instead of smashing the wedding cake into each others' faces. Gina and Bernie smashed cake in Bernie's younger brothers' faces....

Not so happy to have a face full of cake.

This is what happens at your wedding when the DJ plays Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer". I think it should be on everyone's "Must Play" list.

Married | Stacey & Dave

Stacey & Dave were married this past Saturday at the gorgeous Church of the Messiah in Gwynedd, PA. You may recognize Stacey as she appears in her sister Lauren's wedding video clip in the post below this one. Or you may recognize Stacey if you know one of her sisters as she, Lauren and Mariel are identical triplets!
After shooting Lauren and Joe's wedding last December and recently editing their video, I felt right at home on Stacey and Dave's wedding day. It felt as though I was just spending time with the very family that I was "virtually" working with all week long! Jenn Childress joined me for an assist on this wedding and I am very grateful for all her help. Check out her view of the day here.

Stacey's beautiful and *heavy* dress.

Smiles and good times all morning long.

Although you can't tell from this shot, Melissa's arm was struggling to hold the dress up.

Stacey looking absolutely gorgeous!

During the ceremony inside the Church of the Messiah.

Guess who just got married!!

The Fam.

We had some incredible light for the portraits of Stacey & Dave.

Stacey & Dave held their wedding reception at The Indian Valley Country Club in Telford, PA.

Sarah, the flower girl kinda stole the show last December at Lauren & Joe's wedding.
So, she must have been an automatic choice for flower girl this time around too. Here she is enjoying some time with her mom.

Congratulations Stacey & Dave!
Thank you for having Jenn and I at your wedding last week. We really enjoyed sharing your special day with you and your families.
I gotta tell you....I feel kinda like part of the family now myself.
So, where are we having Thanksgiving this year?!?

A Sample Wedding Album

We just received our very first Willow Book sample album the other day!  Kelly & Kevin are the featured couple in this album.  You can see the pages of their album in "slideshow" format here.

Photo Shoot with Jenn Childress & Ryan Estes

Jenn Childress, Ryan Estes and I took an afternoon together to take some portraits of each other on an absolutely freezing cold day in Philadelphia. We stopped at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Geno's Steaks before we were all too cold and called it a day.

Shooting with Jenn Childress

I have been working with and shooting a lot lately with Jenn Childress.  Jenn and I have known each other since we were 8 years old! We took photography class together in 9th grade and have recently been re-connected.  It's been great to get to know Jenn again and it has been incredible to work together photographing weddings with her.

These next few photos are from Stacy & Steve's wedding which Jenn and I shot together in October.  We  split up in the morning as I was spending most of my time photographing Steve and the guys getting ready for the day.  Jenn and I then re-grouped at the church and continued on photographing Stacy & Steve's reception at beautiful Drexelbrook.  You can see Jenn's photos of Stacy & Steve here.

Thanks Jenn.  And thanks Stacy & Steve.  You guys were a lot of fun!