Love of a Lifetime Winners announced !!

Hello Everyone!!

Today Fox 29 and Philly.com announced the winners of the Love of a lifetime wedding give away!! Congratulations to Matt & Faye!!! I am honored, privileged, fortunate and very excited to be a part of something so awesome. Thank you all !!

Please go to www.philly.com to read more about the couple and check out my photos!!

Love of a Lifetime !!

I am very honered and privilaged to be chosen as the photographer for this wonderful event. Please go the site http://www.philly.com/philly/living/celebrations/weddings/63548392.html and vote .

The 25 Finalists have been revealed
And we're off to Round 2 in the Love of a Lifetime Wedding Giveaway!

From here on out, it's up to YOU to decide the winning couple of this amazing prize.

The wedding, held at the Independence Seaport Museum, will include catering from Culinary Concepts, a custom wedding dress, flowers, photography, wedding bands, and so much MUCH more! Check out all of the vendors below.

And don't forget, once you've chosen the winning couple, you'll then choose the bride's dress style, flowers, invitations, menu, cake, and wedding bands.

A picture is worth a thousand words ?

I know two blogs in one day but when your on a roll go for it !!

I had the privilage and honor to be chosen by Jessica Weldon and Ryan Muller to be their wedding photographer . We had a wonderful time . Thier wedding was at the Villanova Chapel on December 12, 2009 . For December the weather was awesome sunny and nice .

I have posted some of their images on the website "Jessica & Ryan" if you would like to see more.

This post today is about one image . Today I think we lose sight of that one image. What I mean is we are bombared with images and sometimes I think folks never see the soul of an image.

When ever I photograph a wedding I'm always looking for that one photo that says it all. When you think about it that is really hard . If you only could chose one image from your wedding day what would it be? For me it was this one. Anyone can take a photograph but not all can create and anticpate moments. This moment is now forever .

There is a difference between pictures and the moments of your life . When chossing a photographer what are you looking for? Pictures or moments to cherish .

Autumn Romance

Hello everyone I'm back with a great story.

About two years ago or so? I received an email from a lady asking me if I would be interested helping her with a book project she was working on at the time. She said that there was something about my work that spoke to her. She felt the romance in my work, I was someone who saw love and was able to show it. Well I was very flattered . Needless to say flattery will get you everywhere with me .

Carol Denker is the author of the book Autumn Romance . Carol explained to me the concept and inspiration of her book. "I had a dream to write a book about couples who find love later in life ". " it is generally assumed that young love is beautiful ,but what about autumn love? the Media features couples with perfect bodies. What about those whose hearts have been perfected..with layers of wisdom and experience". Carol then told me about her own relationship with a wonderful man named Warren. "When I met Warren we fell in love I felt like I was sixteen all over again"!!!

So folks you can only imagine how I felt to be asked to help Carol with her amazing book concept, an overwhelming YES!!!

Fast forward to January 2010 the book is a reality !! Autumn Romance: Stories and portraits of love after 50.

There will be a reception for the release of the book at the Central Library of Philadelphia ,Wednesday February 10th at 6:00 pm.

Carol I'm so happy your dream has come true . Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of something so special.

Bob Gruen,John Lennon and Craig Sumsky 9/9/09

9/9/09 Beatles Day !!!

What a great time I had yesterday in the Big Apple . I had the pleasure to meet one of the legends of Rock photography Bob Gruen. What a really nice guy he is. Bob was so gracious and warm. I have to tell you that making a portrait of someone who is celebrity can be intimidating . Then you add that this person is a photographer well , they know what you know. I mean when someone does my photo I'm looking at the lights ,cameras ,what are they looking at all these things go through my head. I'm kind of evaluating their work before I see it. Well I would have done that and this you know. I guess it's like the dentist needing to go to another dentist ??

If you don't know who Bob Gruen is you must google him especially if your into John Lennon and the rock scene or the 70's and 80's. The guy worked with everybody The Stones,Led Zepplin,Sex Pistols,Bob Dylan,The Clash and many many more too many to list. His work is outstanding and did I say he is a really nice guy?

Before I go on none of this would have been possible with out my friend Craig Sumsky( Cutting Edge DJs). Craig is on a mission I said "whatever your doing count me in!!" Craig is a go getter and if you know him you know he is an inspiration. Craig told his idea to many folks about meeting Bob Gruen and most people told him he(Bob) would blow him off. Well the crowd was wrong again. Not only did Bob let us come up for an interview he also signed the many copies(that we drug around NYC) of his new book ( John Lennon The New York Years ) and gave me great opportunities for portraits.

If I may for a moment talk about the responsibility and the power that photographers have with a camera. When you put that instrument up to your face and snap the shutter you are taking something. We all know the stories of people who believe that photographs of people are a stealing of the soul. I believe that great photographs(portraits) are a combination of trust,respect and willingness of the subject to give you something. Always remember(photogs) you have the power. People trust you, don't ever forget that.

Bob Gruen gave me some great images. I have to admit the preconceived ideas I had for this photo shoot were not so great . You have to have some idea going in for any project . What I find is my advantage is just being open and honest about my intentions,motives and sharing the vision with my subjects. Let them have the power make them feel comfortable and know they can trust you.

There will be more about my(and Craig's) day on Craig's blog.. www.cuttingedgedjs.com . Also check out www.bobgruen.com and please if your a Lennon fan or Beatles fan get Bobs book John Lennon ,The New York Years.

Thank you Craig ,Thank you Bob !!

Seaport Museum partners with Kevin York Photography!!

Seaport Museum event planning now in house !!

I had the pleasure on Tuesday to meet with Kelly-Ayn Mckay and Elizabeth Brito of Culinary Concepts/Events at ISM. Both Kelly and Elizabeth are top professionals in the catering and event planning industry here in the Philadelphia market. I am honored and privileged to be chosen to partner with Culinary Concepts/Events at ISM as one of their premier wedding professionals.

I look forward to helping Culinary Concepts make Events at ISM a huge success.

Elkins Estate ,Kevin York Preferred Photographer !!

The Elkins Estate in Ekins Park PA has announced that Kevin York Photography has been chosen to be among the Elkins preferred wedding professionals.

I am honored and privileged to be named as a preferred wedding professional. The Ekins Estate(www.elkinsestate.org) is one of the most unique sites for a wedding I have ever seen. I had the opportunity to create images for their website and brochures.

Please stay tuned for more about Elkins Estate . If you need information please feel free to email or call me anytime.

A Robert Frank moment.

Hi Folks,

Many of you that know me understand that I'm a bit old school. I love old Black and white Images .One of my favorite photographers is Robert Frank .You can look at his work over and over and see something different each time. Photographers like Frank did there work with film,old cameras and bad light meters. Alot of their exposures were guesses,I mean experience. They knew their equipment ,their film and the results before it was ever printed.Unlike most photographers today who without a TV on the camera could not function as professionals.
To me Robert Frank's pictures were stories within single images.When you look at a Roberts work you wonder about the subjects and the situations. You can feel the mood ,emotion and his take on life. You wonder what people are thinking and in some cases you relate .
For me photography is telling a story with one image. I have always tried to do that. When ever I was at any event or moment in my life when my camera was in my hand the goal was to come away with that one image,that one perfect image. Sometimes I come close .
When I was editing my work from a recent wedding( Jillian & Jon @ Riverdale in Lancaster PA)I came across this image. I remember when I made it that I was kind of excited but I thought it was too dark . I knew it was a great moment but did I get it. These are the kind of images and situations you can't put your camera on automatic and expect to get results.I mean the lighting is from inside the car light and sparklers. You kind of need to have the experience to pull this off,old school.
Jon was not the most expressive person I ever met. I would descibe him as a proper British gentlemen and a very nice fellow. His beautiful bride Jillian is a typical American girl full of life and lots of fun,they are a great couple and very much in love.
I realize in this photo you can not see the brides face but to me Jon's expression tells you all you need to know about this couple. To me this is as close as I get to a Robert Frank moment .

What's it all about for you ?

I read a blog today from a good friend of mine Craig Sumsky at www.cuttingedgedjs.com/blog/2009/03/25/your-wedding-dj-are-they-listening-to-you/
He wrote about a bride who hired a DJ and then was told that many of the things she liked the DJ did not . This person then proceeded to insult the bride by making comments about her musical taste . The bride was also told that not having a garter /bouquet as part of her day would be "Weird" ??

It amazes me when I hear these stories but unfortunately they are common. This also applies to photography !!

As a bride or just a consumer how is it that you make decisions about things you purchase?? What value do you put towards certain parts of your wedding ?? What's it all about for you ??

Maybe this bride thought that a DJ is a DJ ?? We'll hire somebody so we got them. As it turns out this guy was a jerk. Thank God she (the bride) caught on to this DJ she will now have a great experience because of Craig.

This also holds true with Photographers . Just because someone has a fancy 300,000 megapixel camera !! does not mean they know what they are doing. Or do they have any idea of what you want ,or do they care.

I recently met a young very successful professional woman the other day who told me she is getting married this year. I said "congratulations" and then I asked( you guessed it) "do you have a photographer? She proceeded to tell me about her bother in law who is a photojournalist for a large newspaper out west." He has won some awards and is really good , He also has all the hiTech state of the art equipment" she said. I then asked "has he ever done a wedding"? " well no but our engagement photos were really nice" ,Hmmm.

I really hope this young lady gets great photos . She has no choice and no options she must and will like whatever he gives her for the rest of her life.

Just because I have a camera and I shoot in a photo journalistic style doesn't mean that some newspaper will send me to Iraq. That job requires specific and learned skills that most wedding photographers do not have. On the other hand many photojournalists do not have the specific skills to shoot a wedding.

Ladies, whats it all about for you?? Is it a great Dj,photographer,band,cake,flowers,dress ,place or just fun. Whatever it is take the time to really study what you are buying and make sure that you know who your dealing with. Get to know your people as well they should get to know you.

Paul Newman

Several years ago(back in the 90's) when I was running around the country chasing race cars and stars. I had the privilege to meet all of my boyhood hero's and some really big name folks.
One of those people was Paul Newman. I must say he was not the most outgoing person I ever met and in fact I had quite a time trying to get him to sit for me. He had me follow him to three states until we finally met in Milwaukee .
It was a really strange photo shoot.I guess he knew I was not one of those slick Hollywood paparazzi types. I was polite and called him Mr. Newman which I guess gave me away . I had no army of assistants just me and him.
So here I was with one of the biggest stars in the world .My assignment was to get a portrait of him for a story RACER magazine was doing about how Racing has changed since 1969. Mr Newman had done a movie called winning where he played a character who had won the 1969 Indy 500. The portrait needed to look rough like we were in a garage the "grizzled veteran" type of thing, dramatic light you get it.
I had everything scouted and figured out and when we were ready to shoot he says" no don't like this lets go into my motor home" , which was really a mansion on wheels. Hmmm ,OK in a bus, no light what do I do now?? I always pride myself with being prepared .In photography most things never go as planned so to cover your "butt" and be prepared for the unexpected is par for the course.
To say the least I was surprised but not shocked maybe Mr Newman was challenging me, pushing me to now be creative under his terms."OK here you go take your shots" nothing like a little pressure. This was before digital photography so like many "so called" photographers today you had to know something.
"Mr Newman it is kinda dark in here can I turn on a light"??" No" he said ."If you don't mind Sir may I open one of these blinds a bit just for a little light"? "Just a little" he said.
With that I started to work with Paul Newman,how cool?? I said "I would like to work close with you eyes" Yea they all do,he said. Here I am moving this guy( a superstar of film) around ,posing , lighting and for a few minutes he worked with me. Hey do ya got it??he said," I got something"?? That's all ya get ,good luck,nice to meet ya.
I picked up my stuff shook his hand and before you knew it I was out the door. Ten minutes of my life I will never forget.

Racer magazine loved the photos !!

I"m posting this today because of a couple reasons first the year end tributes of folks who have passed will start and no doubt Paul Newman will be mentioned. Also it is the gift giving season and there is no one I can think of that has done more for people than Paul Newman. More important Paul Newman is a role model . People like him are few and far between. Celebrities today are measured by a much different standard. Traits like honesty ,integrity and helping your fellow man are not whats in fashion today.

I do not have the Images which were used for the story but I do have these out takes. I think he did like me?? Thanks Paul .

Postcards

I want to thank everyone who has responed to my postcards. They seem to be something that folks really like and i get so many nice comments about them.
One thing I want to make sure that everyone is aware that the postcard does have a value to it.What do I mean?? If you come to see me and you decide to book with me your postcard is worth $100 off any product or service . Including family portraits as well.
I thought this would be a nice way to say Thank you.
Please if you receive one of my cards and you think I may be the right photographer for you,give me a call. I would be happy to meet with you and talk about your special day!!

I Love this Image !!

I guess I'm an old romantic , this image reminds me of a painting I saw many years ago. I can't remember the artist . This is from one of our engagement sessions

Gimme something real !!

Yesterday I posted about an image that I loved . It is a great photo regardless of any manipulation ,the emotion and feeling are there. Everyday one of my favorite blogs is A Photo Editor . Today's post was about in so many words " show me something real, something I can feel" . Rob Haggert is a photo editor looking at thousands of images all the time for his clients and magazines . I'm sure some of you have done the same looking for a photographer for your wedding.
His issue was "what do I tell a photographer about their work when I know they just went through the motions". Even though it's good or even fantastic it's the same as many others. Where's your soul??
Now that i'm blogging I want to use this forum to express my feelings and for you to know who I am as a photographer . The images I have posted here are I think some of the best and powerful images I've been witness to. Love is the answer !!!
I truly believe that of all the categories in photography ,weddings are a place that the soul must shine. I don't believe it is enough to just make pretty pictures ,anyone can do that. They must come from another place. Don't get me wrong I love to do cool fashion type stuff but "gimme something real" is my soul.

Sometimes it just works !

I know I've said in the past how I really long for the days of film. I love the B&W work of photographers like Robert Frank . I feel today that some of the fun of photography is gone because it's a keystroke to create . Sometimes though you play around with stuff and wow it just works. I'm not a fan of photoshop but this works!!
I believe that if you can use the computer to enhance the work thats all good. Because the basic image and message must be there first. I just love how Christina"s vail and the plaster on the wall kind of create a sense of motion not to mention the almost kiss. I like to get that moment just before they touch,very romantic wouldn't you say??

Anna & Brandon

I had the honor to be part of a special day for a friend of mine, the brides dad Randy Buckwalter. I have had the privilege to work for Randy doing photography at the company he works at Harleysville insurance for about 20 plus years.
I was very excited and honored that Randy and his family chose me to be their photographer. Randy and Tammie his wife love their daughter as does Brandons family love him .
Knowing Randy all this time I had a special insight to his feelings and I knew their was a strong bond there. So you can know how I felt when they chose me. I know Randy would only have the best for his daughter.
Thanks Randy !

Hi I'm back

I hope everyone has had a great summer. We have had some amazing and wonderful weddings . I will be sharing many great images with you so here we go.

Where did May go ??

I cant believe it is already June!! But i do love summer and I hope to show you many great images from the season. I have some very cool photos from an Engagement session a few weeks ago. I waqs really surprised when Brad and Kendra said they would wade out in the creek . It all about fun and we sure had some,take a look !

Thank You , Everyone !!!

Welcome,

Since this is my first real post I want to say Thank You to all of my family , friends and clients who have supported ,helped and guided me all these years.

I want to especially say Thank you to my grandmom Louise Whitenight ,who with out her belief in me I never would have had the opportunity to do all the great things I've done and the great things to come.

Sincerely , Kevin

New website !!!!

My official website has been refreshed! You now have the ability to go to my slideshow gallery where I have updated portfolios showcasing my latest work. I will be adding new and exciting images often so please check back regularly.

Stay tuned for more AMAZING happenings at Kevin York Photography.

Now is the time to Be Amazed.

http://kyorkphoto.com

- Kevin
(618) 287-2800