We were so excited to photograph Traci & Ben's wedding at 7 Springs Winery at the Lake. 7 Springs is one of the nicest, cleanest, most professional locations we've had the opportunity to photograph at. Jamie Beabout, their wedding coordinator, has been talking us up and we really appreciate all her help booking weddings at the Lake. During the reception they brought Katie & I food and beer while we were shooting and sounded delighted we were there taking photos of their winery. Awesome people. If we lived at the Lake, we'd be at 7 Springs as much as possible, relaxing, sipping on brilliant wine, beer & food more often.
Ben & Traci's wedding was the last of our 3 weddings in a row at the Lake this summer. We stayed out there for a month shooting weddings & trying to get caught up on business. We started by shooting boudoir on Thursday morning at Ben's families condo on the Lake. They're actually from Illinois, Ben has some 10,000 acre farm there or something huge, but Osage Beach is the place they come down to visit as much as possible; and they have for years. They seemed to know it better than I did, and that's where I grew up! Everyone who spends some time on the Lake, loves being there, it gets in your system and you crave going back every year when the weather starts to warm up a little. Not sure what it is, but if you've been there, lived there, you know.
Anywho, Katie headed out with the girls Saturday morning to get some hair, make-up and getting dressed shots. I went with the boys for getting ready shots and then out to the winery to get some photos done. One of the things I love about having both Katie and I shoot is when we go through the photos, you can see exactly what the boys and girls are doing on separate parts of town at the same time. Something about that, I just love. You'll get a shot of Ben putting on his cuff links and Traci putting on her dress and back to Ben laughing with his boys and the same with Traci and her girls. Dunno, there's something romantic about that I just love.
Ben was laid back and really easy to work with. I felt comfortable from the start with all the guys. Gave me a tip as soon as I got there too. Which, was very cool, some people just know how to butter up their photographers, haha. Although, as far as a tip, taking me out bar hopping with them until 1am or whenever that ended was equally awesome. We took the boys pics at 7springs right in the hottest part of the day. I turned on some Pearl Jam (Ben's fav), which helped a little, but really we were all just about sweating to death out there. The guys stuck it out though. I had a brilliant idea to get them in the woods, in the shade for a few minutes where I got bloody from a horsefly bite. Really, they're huge, and they fly around your head, make you cuss and then bite a hole in your arm. That part sucked, photos look good though.
Traci was beautiful & sweet. Also easy to work with and pose. You gotta love a gorgeous bride who is super easy to pose and is up for any ideas you might have. The wedding was short and simple, lovely and sweet. 7 Springs has a great spot for indoor weddings. And hats off to Ben and Traci for having it indoors. I love outdoor weddings of course, but we'd already shot 2 others at the Lake at 100 deg and 100% humidity. I think everyone was thankful for that. A fun reception with food, drinks and a little bit of dancing and then off to do some bar hoppin on the shuttle. The bridal party, me and more went to 3 different bars, did some Lake style drinking and dancing before I decided to call it a night. The last bar we went to had a live band from Memphis singing 'Sweet Home Alabama' and the like. Fun, fun night.
We had a great time with this couple and their family/friends from start to finish. They treated us like guests and we appreciate that so much. Thank you!
Kevin
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