Writing this post is just about as unreal as it gets. I don't know when I woke up and started my dream job but it has happened somehow. After four days of beach dining, henna partying and seaside lounging, Freya and Guy were married in beautiful traditional Jewish fashion atop majestic Roman ruins by the Mediterranean Sea. And I was there to experience it.
Freya and Guy are friends of
Ruth and Reuben from England. I officially met them in person for the first time this past May when I was photographing Reuben's sister
Abigail's wedding. What was supposed to be a hour-long coffee date turned into a four hour sit-and-talk-about-everything date! We laughed and gushed about our cats. It was awful saying goodbye. They stopped being my clients, they were now my friends.
Freya, Guy, and I are proud cat lovers. So, I would like to dedicate this next series to the bride and groom. These sneaky kitties surrounded Freya and I as we were taking photos.
Welcome to the
Caesar Yam. I snuck off for exactly three minutes (thanks time stamps!) to take it all in. Caesarea is absolutely breathtaking. And, like most of Israel, very historical. Caesarea was founded by King Herod in the first century B.C. and named after Harod's Roman partron,
Augustus Caesar. I could hardly believe it was all sitting right in front of me. Definitely one of the most meaningful moments of the trip for me personally.
Back at the venue I had a few minutes to shoot the details. I probably looked like a crazy ape woman running around getting as many shots as I possibly could. It was just gorgeous.
Back inside the guests were being treated to the most amazing cocktail hour food I have ever seen (and briefly tasted!). A huge tub of fresh hummus, warm flat bread, and fresh slices of tender meat among
other things!
Reuben and Ruth!! Notice anything different? Ruth is pregnant!
Right before the ceremony, Guy and his close family and friends met to sign to the "ketubah". The ketubah is considered an important part of a traditional Jewish marriage ceremony. It outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom and is signed by two witnesses. The ketubah is then read out loud under the huppah and presented to the bride.
After Guy signed the ketubah he walked inside to see Freya for the first time. In Jewish tradition this moment was Guy's chance to insure that the bride he was about to marry was indeed Freya! Thus avoiding the mistake Jacob made in the Bible of marrying Leah and not Rachel. (Fun fact: Freya's middle name is in fact Rachel)
Has there ever been a prettier setting for a wedding?
And then it happened. One of the most emotional moments I have ever experienced at a wedding. Maybe it was the location. Maybe it was the close proximity. Maybe it was the sun staying afloat just long enough for Freya to walk down the aisle before sinking beneath the sea. Maybe it was theme from the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack playing that I have loved for so long. Maybe it was the overwhelming love everyone in the crowd had for Freya and Guy. Whatever it was, my throat gets tight even now looking at the photos. I loved this moment. And I will never forget it.
We ran out of natural light for the portraits and if you know me and my style well at all you'll know I rarely use artificial lighting. So this session was a little bit of a shot in the dark (ugh, no pun intended). I'm so happy with the results though! I've never created a set of photos that looks like these. HUGE props to the video camera man who put up with my "no, no a little more to the left" instructions and provided some beautiful off camera lighting for me to take advantage of.
My favorite shot of the day
Want to throw a good party? I highly suggest contacting Guy and Freya. Their reception was out of this world fun. And lasted well into the morning hours!
The evening concluded with a beautiful paper lantern goodbye as Freya, Guy, and their family and friends sang songs in Hebrew.
Freya & Guy - Thank you for everything. I'm speechless. Hopefully my photos communicate for me. I love you guys so much!!
18 comments:
Chills and a knot in my throat. I'm crying looking at these.
You really outdid yourself, Lydia. That can be said sooooo lightly but I mean it in complete honesty. This is one of the most beautifully shot and shared and celebrated wedding I've seen. So heartfelt and true. Your photos have a stunning depth, a breathtaking authenticity to them.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
This is beautiful and amazing. All about the moments, the emotions, the short spurts of time that go unseen. Not all about the poses and getting the best light. Just doing what you can with what you have, and not spoiling any moments to do so. What a way to capture a wedding.
WHOA! These are breathtaking, Lydia. I love the portraits and Guy's suit is so rad! I'm so happy for you and wish you even more success and adventures!
XO
welp i cried. Lyd these are incredible. you made me want to get into wedding photography again, simply the thought of being able to capture those emotions in an image...
well. done. :)
I've been a loyal reader for a while, even though I've never commented before. But I couldn't help myself. These photos are be-a-u-ti-ful! I love your photographic style. You definitely have an eye.
what a stunning amazing collection of images. your tones are so rich. the emotion you captured so genuine. what a treasure these images will be for this couple. so well done.
This wedding is probably my favorites. Like ever and of all time. You captured some beautiful moments. Really really wonderful.
oh, wow. extraordinary set. amazing. i can't get over the vibrancy of the people. it's like i can hear them dancing through the screen. love!
oh my gosh. when she is squishing his cheeks for the kiss. stop it. right now.
i almost cried. i don't even know these people.
by far the best shot is her and the lantern. Good-night you are awesome Lyd!
Wow. Truly breathtaking. Lydia i want to be just like you!
These photos give me chills. Lyd, you are gloriously talented and tell a story so well through pictures with little to no words needed. What raw emotion and joy! So glad you were able to experience this with them.
OH MY GOD!
Lydia - you totally captured this extraordinary couple and their extraordinary wedding.
As the proprietor of Casa Caesarea, I was thrilled to host them and get to know them. In looking at the photos, I see that the love they so blatantly felt for each other, was shared by everyone of the people who shared their simcha.
Bravo to you for capturing these treasured moments so beautifully and to Freya and Guy for so deserving the love that oozes out of them!
Anne Kleinberg
http://casacaesarea.com
I have NEVER enjoyed looking at a strangers wedding as much as I did these. Incredible. I found you on pinterest and you have a true fan now. Amazing. Just amazing. I can't say enough how incredibly beautiful these are. Wow.
Lydia, well done! These photos are incredible. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, and have much respect for you keeping a cool head even when your portraits had to be in artificial light. I think you pulled them off beautifully! I think my favorite photo is the black and white right before the kiss.
This is absolutely the most beautiful wedding I've ever seen photographed. I want to put these pictures on my wall and I don't even know the couple!
Oh my goodness wow. Just wow. I'm speechless along with you!!
Wow. You are are SO blessed to have such an incredible talent for taking gorgeous photos and to be able to travel the world and use your gift! Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures!
As the bride in these photos, all I can say is how lucky we are to have such a wonderfully talented photographer and friend. You captured the emotion and love and excitement in a way I have never seen before...we can't stop looking through them every day!! Thank you Lydia and thank you to all of the lovely people and your lovely comments.
Freya xx
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