Michael and Hannah’s Wedding at Zukas Hilltop Barn in Spencer, MA
Sometimes the greatest source of inspiration comes from the most unfamiliar places. As a wedding photographer, the unknown can be very daunting. When you move at the pace of a wedding day, it is nice to rely on well known surroundings to get as many quality images as you possibly can for your client. While this can be comforting at times, it can also be a recipe for the dreaded creative rut. One of my favorite locations to shoot, one that I know like the back of my hand, is the gorgeous Zukas Hilltop Barn in Spencer, MA. It is an ideal venue for rustic and outdoor weddings. It is equally stunning in Spring, Summer, and Fall. I have shot many weddings over many seasons there, but one scenario I have never encountered was to shoot there with much of the landscape still covered in snow. I am sure no one was more surprised by this than Michael and Hannah on their early Spring wedding day; however, this is New England and there’s just no guessing when it comes to the weather. Here presented the challenge for me: to capture images at this very familiar location under highly unusual circumstances. As a result, I had to view this space through a completely different filter, inspiring new and creative ways to photograph a Zukas wedding. Fortunately, I had the benefit of photographing a couple who were fearless when it came to posing in frigid temperatures and bone chilling rain. Their big payoff: some beautiful and unique images that they will enjoy for many more years to come.