they said i do

I am finishing up the editing process for the two weddings I photographed in August, and although they are not quite done yet, I have to say that for different reasons, these photos are turning out to be some of my favorites out of all that I've taken thus far in my professional career. The couples were rich with joy and fun and love, and there was something extra vibrant about them. Photographs of Melissa and Jonas will come later this week, but for now, thank you Mallory and Jeff for letting be a part of your special and playground-fun day.

Keep linked to my smugmug page to order prints, merchandise, or digital negatives from Mallory & Jeff's fun and colorful wedding! The photographs will be available by October 2nd, 2009. You can also see other beIMAGED photography work at beimaged.com.

good sound abound

An "underground" band very much worth checking out is New York City's Left on Red. To stumble upon them feels like a gift: for me, they were a sweet surprise on Sept. 3rd after Tori Sparks enraptured us with her powerful chords. The band features cute and humble girls with incredibly unique music, that say with friendly smiles that they make their money playing in subway stations. Each song transports you to unfamiliar territory where the music is good and the drinks crisp. One second you are at a Parisian cafe, the next you're swept away, off to a sultry Spanish night club. Words can't even begin to fully describe the experience of seeing Left on Red live, but I'll try: ephemral, fun, freeing, happy, uplifting, real, provoking, one of a kind. Best put, their music embodies the moment in time when you are stuck at a red light at 3 AM in the middle of nowhere, with your left turn signal monotonously blinking, and you decide to slowly let your foot lift off from the brake, because sometimes life is just a little bit more fun if you don't follow the rules.

sparks ignite at the very bitter end

Miss Tori Sparks sends me on a trip with her deep and powerful voice and lyrics on September 3rd, at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village. She's a little bit of country, a little bit of folk, and a lot bit of soul. There's pain behind her songs, but optimism in her demeanor - and she carries the two with nothing short of grace. In between songs about confusion and loss, she drinks her gin and tonic and gives the crowd a wide grin while casually chatting about all of the characters she's met along her travels - as if to say that yeah this world might be messed up, but it's ok: we're all special. After belting out one of her gem songs "Tall Towers", off of her new album, "The Scorpion in the Story", she gives a giggle and sigh because it takes her back to the character that inspired the words. For her, the music is not just about her personal journey and experience, but everyone else's as well.

With an insightful connection to the world around her, a voice as deep as a canyon, three full albums and one EP under her belt, and a Tennessee charm that is nearly impossible to resist, this country gal has got something truly magical to offer to the world.

Just hearing about Tori for the first time? Check out her website at torisparks.com, and I beg you to tune into my own personal favorite album of hers: 2007's "Under This Yellow Sun". And check out her upcoming tour dates - she might just be headed towards you!

Photography by Melissa Lynn of beIMAGED Photography.

surfing on a rocket dailey

It's August 28th, 2009. Will Dailey lights up the stage of a dark and ancient building, where bouncers and bartenders make you wonder what happened to the concept of a smile. Will is the one to bring you back to life with his sparkling eyes and dazzling lyrics, and the hint of an edgier rock set revives you as you as the lights flitter from red to purple to white.

My friends are drunk and giggling in some corner of The Bowery Ballroom, and I'm lit on one gin and tonic spiked with Dailey and his crew. The music makes feel light on my feet and their rock energy of the evening feels different from that of the last performance I attended on 07.28.09 at The Mercury Lounge. I have heard listeners deem this band "generic" and "grade-B pop", but I strongly beg to differ: With the ability to switch genre gears with ease, to be as playful as 5 year-old kids with their music, and with the pure ability to have fun with their performance, I say these guys are grade-A non-generic music makers.

Will Dailey and The Rivals are as vibrant as the filtered strobes that dance all around them on stage. For sure, Dailey is the whip cream smile on a stack of pancakes that you can't eat because you're too hungover. And in a confused world and a messy time, these guys stand out with guitars, drums, voice, song, and a hell of a good amount of noise, to make some serious sense and some clean movement in the right direction. Photography by Melissa Lynn of beIMAGED Photography.