Marc James
Today was not just about one person, today Minnesota as a state came together to give every single person the equal opportunity to marry the one they love and I know the the whole Rivets family is proud of our state today!! Congratulations!!
a little impromptu shoot with model Blair Emerson around Harriet Island. I recently got some new fun equipment so this was a great opportunity to test it out!
Over the holidays I made my yearly journey to Brookfield, Wisconsin to see my fathers side of the family and being that this was the first time in some time that all of us were together, it seemed like something that needed to be documented. Meet my family.
This past week I had the pleasure of working a few different projects. One of which had me working with Rhymesayers artist and local legend Toki Wright, one put me in the depths of strange night in local Hip Hop at the 'Group Therapy' show, but first I would like to show you this. I had great time shooting with local model Allison Reimer for a little Lumberjack themed shoot. Though we were not in the heart of northern Minnesota we made it work and came out with some great images!
These are from my shoot with Mr. Toki Wright. Make sure to take listen to his music and see what all the fuss is about. He just put out a great new podcast which gives you a look into what this local artist listens to and what his life is like.
Last but not least I have the madness that was the Group Therapy show. All in all it was a great night but what really made the night was this. Next door to the 7th St Entry Public Enemy was performing. We were able to get in for the encore and when Flava Flav came out I heard this, "What Up Indianapolis!!!"... Flav you were everything I hoped, you retarded little savant you.
I had the absolute pleasure of documenting Megan & Dylan Guerbers wedding day. They are the lucky couple that won one of the Rivets and Roses wedding giveaways and I must say that I was the lucky one. To find a couple so pure at heart and genuine is rare, they made my job effortless and after spending 2 minutes in there company I forgot I was even working. True love comes naturally and when it is real, everyone knows.
This past weekend I had the pleasure of working at the Wisconsin State Ballroom Dance Championships. This was the 25th year celebration and it was quite a wonderful weekend. A special thanks to Dan and Becky Messenger who put together an amazing event and congratulations on 25 YEARS!!
A few days ago I had the pleasure of working with the City House. The City House is a group that connects those on the margins of society, who might be homeless, in prison, or in recovery, with those in the mainstream of our society, for mutual listening, learning, and transformation. I was able to document the days of mentors and leaders in this group and talk with them about the lives they have lead and the lives they currently lead, an experience I won't soon forget.
When I first was presented with an opportunity to shoot for Rivets and Roses I was both excited and a bit nervous. I had never seen myself as a wedding photographer and frankly was not exactly interested in it. I got my start as a photographer shooting concerts in the Minneapolis area and from there with my background in design began working with musicians on album design/photography, promotional material, etc and that is something I will always do, but I yearned for more. I truly enjoy documenting the events of the night at a said concert but to me there wasn't enough substance or emotion. I always left satisfied but I felt I was in need of documenting something with a bit more depth.
When I first met Eliesa I expressed my concern that I had been told that a wedding photographer could not be considered an artist but the more I became familiar with her work I began to realize that this is far from the truth. Through Rivets and Roses I have been given the oppertunity to not only retain my artistry but to document the most important time in someones life. I have always been afraid of creating something 'conventional' or 'boring' and now that I have found Rivets and Roses I know that this is something I will never be. I don't strive to be an average photographer, I will always strive to be something more and I am so excited to bring my unique vision to lives of the people I work with.
Now another thing I wanted to touch on briefly was what I am looking to accomplish in the wedding world. As you can tell already I am staying away from the conventional. I am looking to carve a new path in this world and I am excited to see who will go there with me. This is my opportunity to basically define a new style in wedding photography while creating images that will truly last froever for each and every couple I work with.
I am more than excited to continue to share my vision with you and I hope that we may get the chance to work together in the future. I am not just looking to be there on the day of your wedding with my camera in hand, I want your experience with me to be more than that. I am not just a photographer, I am an artist, and through Rivets and Roses I have been given the oppurtunity to let my work carry over into the wedding world.
So here goes nothing.
m.james
