Travel - Vacation Wedding

This has been a long time coming. It's Vacation Time!! What made it even more exciting was that it was my first cruise and international wedding. As the wedding was taking place in our first port in Montego Bay, Jamaica. 

Before that, We spent the day in New Orleans, LA to explore Bourbon Street. I have to say it was quite fun. Definitely making it a return spot. The atmosphere is one that I enjoyed. During that week was Pride Week so it was a lot of people of all types. We didn't let it ruin our time there not one bit. At the same I tried gator for the first time it was so good. I managed to bring back a few masks from on of the shops along Bourbon Street.

The following day it was time set sail on our cruise. Everyone was extremely excited we were close to the ports to taking an Uber or Lyft wasn't costly at all. Settling on the boat wasn't an issue at all, the only problem was receiving our bags til about 730p. First time being on a cruise ship, it was only right that I explore it up and down, and that is exactly what I did over the course of the trip. 

I'm not going to bore with the full details of the whole trip. So, let's get to the main reason for the trip.

Wednesday, We dock into Montego Bay and the ladies were first to get off and head to resort to prepare. One hour later the all the guys and guest left the ship. We arrived to the resort after a 15 minute drive. Just like every wedding I've ever done, it never starts on time. As there were a few things that Groom needed to correct before the ceremony began. As the Groom was taking care of that I was with the Bride in her room as she was still getting prepared bit she was already dressed with a few things missing. 

The ceremony commenced and everything was beautiful. Both Bride and Groom wrote their own vows as their own declaration of love to each other. Everything was set up on a pier with canopies to block the sun. Few problems, a party boat near by and the airport as well. Now it's reception time. The Maid of Honor and Best Man gave get speeches for the couple. It wasn't until the Bride gave her thank you speech that things took an emotional turn, as the bride mention she was honoring her mother-in-law's Pandora Bracelet who had passed earlier this year. There wasn't almost a dry eye in the room. 

As everything began to wind down, it was time to head back to the ship. After the cruise photographer Made finished with them I was able to do a few shots for myself. In my opinion these were better than what the cruise could have produced. 

Again I didn't want to bore so I skipped a lot of days and detail of the trip to primarily focus on the wedding day in general.

Chris & Shannon First day as husband and wife in Grand Cayman Islands

For all wedding pics click here.

Travel - Washington D.C.

June 23, two days after my sister Phoebe birthday. We were suppose to be on a plane heading to Las Vegas for a day trip. As there was a blunder with the tickets, the trip was a bust. Fast forward June 26, now we are up early finally going on our day trip. It's not to Las Vegas though, we were flying to Washington D.C. for some cultural learning.

So we arrived at Reagan International airport, like always I searched ahead for transportation and the railway was the best way around.

Smile

Heading to National Mall

Department of Agriculture

Department of Agriculture

When we arrived at the National Mall, the first thing we needed was food!! We asked and was directed to the agriculture federal building to the USDA cafeteria. We had just missed breakfast so we had to wait til lunch was ready. After lunch we were ready for our adventure around the National Mall. While there we are on a time limit on what to see and how long to spend at each museum. Our first stop was the Smithsonian Castle and S Dillion Ripley Center (even thought she got it confused with the Ripley Believe it or not museum). 

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While making our way thru the Ripley Center we enter the National Museum of African Art, and seen a lot of great conversational pieces from a mask and jewelry to a vision art called "Invocations" by Jim Chuchu.

After getting lost a little then finally coming back to the exit we started to head to the Air and Space Museum but was quickly deterred because of the long line to enter the build. So we began to head towards the National Gallery of Art and Museum of Natural History for some bones. While in the gallery of art I was able to study the lighting of Rembrandt a lot better than copies on the internet. Over at the Natural Museum we looked at the history of mankind, animals and a few dinosaurs, as the dinosaur exhibit was still under construction. 

After all the walk we have been doing, we had a few more sites to visit, we made the decision to take the bus to the last stops. The last few sites was the MLK Memorial, WWII Memorial, Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial. 

As this trip was a fun one I was ready to make a return trip with family and friends. Only down side was that the African American Museum is sold out until October 2017. I highly recommend this for it's educational value that you will receive.

DaMogul & DaModel

Last Sunday, I had the honor of shooting Chris and Shannon engagement pictures for their wedding next year. The wedding will be taking place in Jamaica along with a seven day cruise. This I am excited and can't wait to participate in. We were originally planning to shoot in the botanical garden right next to Heritage Park in Taylor, MI, but I soon discovered there was an event happen and also you have to have permission to shoot there now. So no more walking there and shooting then leaving. Permits are a must. This shoot was just part one or two which weather clears we would be able to do in Dearborn. Here's a sample of Sunday's session.