http://justinmarantz.com/ Justin & Mary's Blog en-us http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=727 http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=727 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:22:00 GMT
These two are getting married this weekend, and we just got together with them to do a quick engagement shoot all around the grounds of the Florence Griswold Museum. So we thought you should meet them before they're married! And honestly, how cute are they?? Dave sails for the Americas Cup and Haley is a design manager for J.Crew. So needless to say, with all that nautical goodness going on we were BFF right off the bat! :)

Haley ... Dave, you guys are AMAZING, and we can't wait to see you again on Saturday!
So much love,
J...M

]]> http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=726 http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=726 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:18:00 GMT don't get the whole Lady Gaga phenomenon OR her bow tied hair. Can somebody please help me with this? Because I would LOVE to understand. Really, I would. Because here's the thing, I really liked some of her first songs (Just Dance, Poker Face) but I swear to you on my "La Isla Bonita" cassette single that if I hear Alejandro one more time my head is going to explode. With pink confetti.... And miniature bow ties.... And black eye liner. That is all.

So help a girl out....can someone PLEASE explain the Lady Gaga appeal to me? I am very open to the fact that I'm just wrong. But not really. :)

]]> http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=725 http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=725 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:29:00 GMT kills me! But I thought we could do the next best thing and write a Short Stack about it! :)

So what is the "Ten Minute Rule"?

I think we very first got the idea a few years ago from our friend and fellow CT photographer Carla Ten Eyck (who will also be speaking at PartnerCon with her shooting workshop "Coach, Guide, Poke ... Pose: How to Do What You Need to Get What You Want" So definitely check that out!), and have since made it our own. The basic idea is that for the ten minutes immediately following the ceremony, we get the couple all to ourselves. They literally walk down the aisle where we meet them and guide them to a pre-selected location (I will scout that place out for about five minutes during the ceremony looking for the best light ... location, while Justin ... Julia continue to cover everything else.) Once we have them safely off by themselves, we just drop back and shoot with long lenses while they get to enjoy that "Holy Crap, we're MARRIED feeling!!" :)

What I love about this (non-negotiable) rule is that it's a really good way for us to look out for our couples. Because here's the deal: the second they are pushed into a receiving line or have a million people coming at them, just like that they are snapped back to reality. And that once in a lifetime, "omigosh we just got married" feeling is gone. Sure, they are still blissfully happy throughout the rest of the day:) but you can never get those first few minutes back. So this is our way of preserving that for them. AND the pictures that we get during those ten minutes are some of the most real, emotional and raw images of the day.

Here are just a few of our faves. Kristin ... Chad:

Suzanne ... Justin:

Tiffany ... Dan:

And of course, the one we just talked about, Jenn ... Bryan:

So definitely think about giving it a try at your next wedding (you'll want to tell your couple about it ahead of time!), and see what you think! And if you have any follow up questions about the ten minute rule, feel free to leave em in the comments section below!

]]> http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=724 http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=724 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:02:00 GMT
Married: Jenn ... Bryan

A glittery pair of Louboutin's? Oui si'l vous plait! (Translation: yes please!!)

The day is always that much better with a sparkly dress and a lil' Chanel.

I loved how delicate and classic Jenn's bouquet was!

Meanwhile, Justin was hanging out with Bryan while he was getting some very cool gifts from Jenn: cufflinks made out of the seats from Shea Stadium (more on those to come!)....

....and some killer shades.

Julia ... I hung back with the ladies, where the dress buttoning was a team effort.

Jenn I ADORE you!! You are beautiful and you light up everyone around you!

Now it was Jenn's turn to get some gifts. First up, Bryan ALSO got sunglasses for Jenn...how crazy is that?!

But he didn't stop there....

....this necklace and earrings were also part of the gift.

Jenn's mom is my favorite!! I just loved her!

The bridesmaids were super fashionable and photogenic!!

Here we go!! (How can you not love Jenn's dad?!)

LOVE this set from Julia!

AND this one! Julia was on FIRE during the ceremony. Well not literally...that would be weird!

Mr. ... Mrs!!!

Ten minute rule in full effect!

FULL effect!

Now off for some bocce ball!! Join us for that in Part II coming soon!!

]]> http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=723 http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=723 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:07:00 GMT
It's Julia checking in! And I am SO glad I got to write a post today, because I have a juicy bit of gossip I have been dying to share with you guys!! But you have to PROMISE that this will stay between us? Okay? Cross your heart?!? Seriously, you have to swear that you won't tell anyone...

...Alright, alright, I trust you. Are you ready for this? The word around the water cooler is that Spread the Love 2011- is COMING! That's right, it's happening! And from what I hear, it's going to be BIGGER and BADDER than ever!!

My sources don't want to be named, but from what they tell me OFF the record, planning is in full swing! The masterminds are meeting behind closed doors and they are coming up with something that is sure to blow our minds! And even though I can't officially confirm that this rumor is true, if it were, where would you want us to take the tour (hypothetically speaking of course!)? And IF this rumor turns out to be true, I'll be sure to put in a good word for your city of choice!

So go ahead, tell me where YOU think we should bring Spread the Love! Don't worry, it'll stay between us! Pinkie Promise! ; )

......J2

Do you like me? Do you want to be my friend?

]]> http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=721 http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=721 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:48:00 GMT
Earlier that day, I had laid in the grass and stared up at the trees, while Justin ... Cooper chased a ball above me. Felt the cool breeze of Fall inch up to us and ask if it was ok to stay a while. Gone to the market and bought things like caramel cake and apple cider. And as we sat on the porch with mint mojitos melting in our hands and hot apple cider waiting inside, I rocked just a little bit slower. Realizing that eventually everything changes and moves on. That what's now will inevitably give way to what's next. And it's just our job to try to hold on to it while we can. That regardless of what tomorrow might hold, right here, right now, right in this moment surrounded by my husband and best friend...yea right now... life is good.

Don't believe me? Let's look at the facts! :)

* Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back. Nuff said.
* Mint mojitos and homemade guacamole.
* Puffer vests are back in stores.
* Bare feet on hardwood floors
* After a week with the Grandparents Marantz while we were traveling, Cooper is BACK HOME! Fluffy face and all.
* Best friends since seventh grade who will move twelve hours just so they can be near you and watch scary movies with you whenever you want.
* Scary movies
* That funky smell on third floor from something dying up there is finally gone. Yay!
* The Mountaineers beat Coastal Carolina 31-0 in their season opener. Boo yah!
* Saltwater breezes infused with the chill of Fall.
* Country bread and olive oil infused with grated parmesan
* Freshly washed cars.
* Freshly washed sheets
* Blog friends. Because honestly....y'all rock. Period.
* Wild caught, never frozen swordfish steaks on the grill. We accidentally asked for those by mistake and boy were they pricey, but oh SOOO good!
* Husbands who grill....and kiss your forehead.
* And finally the number one reason why life is good: husbands who will get up at the crack of dawn and go out with you to the store, then sweet talk the sale clerk to open up a box from the store room because they aren't even on the shelves yet because....drumroll please....THE OFFICE SEASON 6 is out on dvd today!!!!

**So tell me, what are all of your "life is so good" moments from this weekend? I'd love to hear em!

]]> http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=720 http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=720 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:34:00 GMT
Today I hope you have something relaxing and wonderful planned for the last day of summer. I hope you drink one more glass of lemonade and then go get a pumpkin spice latte. I hope you walk on the beach in your bare feet and then wander down row after row in an apple orchard. I hope you wear flip flops with your long sleeve shirts and maybe, just maybe, there'll be scarf out there or two.

Today, I hope you soak it all in.

**Here's just a crumb of a morsel of a taste of yesterday's mind blowingly beautiful wedding at Cairnwood Mansion. I wish I had the words to even begin to describe how awesome it was or how show-stoppingly phenomenal the whole team was yesterday (in particular event planning Super Star Erin Proud who rocked our faces off!!!) But right now my brain is mush from shooting a double header, so all that will have to wait! Let's just say the couple was stunning, the day was stunning, and the details...the DETAILS?! Well, they're going to make your head explode! :)

]]> http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=719 http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=719 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 11:05:00 GMT
Yesterday's wedding was in Milford, CT. And at the end of the night, we loaded up the cars with our gear and plenty of caffeine for Justin ... Julia and made our way to Pennsylvania for today's wedding at the absolute INCREDIBLE Cairnwood Mansion. Sure my eyes are a little bloodshot this morning and I'll probably be double-fisting venti green teas all day, but still I can't wait to stop and take in the beauty of this day. Because I know it's going to be an amazing one.

Happy shooting everyone!

]]> http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=718 http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=718 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:50:00 GMT definitely be there in spirit cheering the Blue ... Gold on. So to all my West Virginia fans around the world, I say to you....


LET'S GOOOOOO...

The picture above is the Nike Pro Combat uniform that they designed for WVU in honor of the 29 coal miners who died in an explosion this past year, and which WVU will wear this year during the Backyard Brawl against Pitt. The helmet is smudged like coal dust and the yellow stripe represents the coal miner's light. And I have to be honest that as the granddaughter of a coal miner, it gets me pretty choked up every time. As Nike said, "The uniforms were designed to honor the coal miners who put it all on the line for their families with a toughness you have to live to understand."

True that.

]]> http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=717 http://justinmarantz.com/index.cfm?postID=717 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:02:00 GMT

After a few minutes by themselves, we brought out the rest of the wedding party for a little fun...and a lotta hugs.

Becky's parents are the bomb! If they had a website it would be www.thebomb.com. :)

How bout this lil' guy??

Argyle ROCKS!!

Becky's doggie dropped by for a few shots...LOVE the bow!

Then it was time to wrap up the portraits with just some Becky ... Tay time. How cool is the silo at Sugarbush Resort?

There was a storm a brewin, but it held off for our portraits AND gave us some pretty spectacular light!

The sign says it all.

Some killer details at Sugarbush.

Becky ... Tay had a birch theme both in their place cards...

...and in their gorgeous cake.

Love.

Becky ... her dad are the CUTEST!

The toasts were exactly how I like em.....hilarious...

....and emotional.

Whee.

And finally, the night ended with a show-stopping fireworks display that just wouldn't quit. I LOVE these two that J grabbed!

The end.

Becky ... Tay we LOVE you guys! Thank you, thank you, thank you for bringing us in and treating us like family. It was our honor to be there with you and we consider you nothing short of lifelong friends. There's no getting rid of us now! :)

So much love ... thanks.
J...M

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