Wedding at the Lancaster Theater, Grapevine Texas

Click to see the wedding, there will be music!  Wedding at the Lancaster Theater, Grapevine Texas

Erin and Phil were married at the Lancaster Theater on Main Street in Grapevine, Texas. Their names were on the Palace marquee! After their first dance, they boldly visited the marquee and walked the streets for a few minutes while cars honked and people waved. Capturing their kisses in the crosswalk on Main Street at sunset was a thrill.

Congratulations!

More can be found at Fine-Art Weddings in DFW.
Each image is color corrected, retouched for blemishes and artistically enhanced using computer painting programs. Working with fantastic people like Erin and Phil make creating fine art weddings the thrill of my life! 

Sam and Drew at the Ruthe Jackson Center

Click to see the wedding, there will be music!  Sam and Drew at the Ruthe Jackson Center

Samantha and Drew had a beautiful June wedding at the Ruthe Jackson Center (RJC) in Grand Prairie Texas. Her mother escorted her down the aisle and they looked gorgeous.

Gobo lighting and music was provided by Randy Ro Entertainment.

There was a balloon release in remembrance of those recently passed. They were with us today. After the wedding, the couple danced the night away in the Grand Ballroom of RJC. It was a perfect night.

Sunset weddings at the Ruthe Jackson Center
I use HDR camera techniques and a lot of work in the darkroom to create the low light photos for sunset garden weddings at the Ruthe Jackson Center. It involves bracketing the shots, layering them together, removing elements from two of the layers for perfect skin tones, then adding clarity to details. I'm very careful with flash so I do not white out that expensive gown. Not only that, it allows me to use the ambient light that is available in the scene. Afterwards, in the computer, I can move the photograph into a fine art rendition.

When a friend offers to photograph your wedding...
Too many people have friends who offer to photograph the wedding. The results are often sad. When they ask, simply say 'No, we want you there as a friend, not a worker.' The wedding is a high-pressure, get-it-right event that doesn't allow for mistakes and do-overs. And it is this way from beginning to end. For 6, 7, 8 hours or more the newly is being tested to come up with great images that will not only last a lifetime, but be loved by the couples children. Some day, your children will inherit your wedding book. It will be a glimpse into their family history. Will it be awesome? Or will it be a dark boring secret fail they find hidden in the closet they clean out? What would you give right now for an awesome image of your parents?

Pictures become your family legacy…the very ones you want your children to cherish when they are older need to become art, not snapshots that "saved" you two hundred dollars by using a weekend photographer. Worse, the family friend who is just "starting out" but is free is a poor choice. Believe me, that is no wedding gift, it is a wedding curse. Thirty years from now you'll roll your eyes at what you lost for price of two months of cable television. Most images shot by non-wedding photographers cannot be repaired. Those moments are gone forever.

Your Legacy in Wedding Photography
The images you hang on your wall are not only for yourself, they are for your children to see when they come home from school. They need to grow up in a home where they know there is love. They need to know they are born of love, and they belong.

The Wedding of Jennifer and Randy

Click to see the video!  The Wedding of Jennifer and Randy 

Bride and Groom Share a Milkshake

Jennifer came to me with a small wedding in Hurst Texas at Feragne Villa. It was to be simple, with jeans, boots, cowboy hats and an elegant gown. Real people, real America. They were in love, (and that's what really counts…the heart, not the trappings) he managed a band, and I thought this would be a cool wedding. Their getaway car was a 1941 Packard. How cool is that? And…just across the street is a steak and shake. Naturally in Texas, after the wedding is a perfect time to stop in and share a milkshake - right? I think I've seen that written down somewhere? Maybe we are the first! So be it. Let's start a new tradition of shakes after the wedding!

Wedding at Delaney Vineyard in Grapevine Texas

Click to see the wedding!  Delaney Vineyard wedding by Jim Rode Photographer.

Wedding at Delaney Vineyards
Robyn and Paul's wedding began with a first glance at Delaney Vineyards in Grapevine. Robyn stood with her back to the wall in the loft bridal room while Paul anticipated his first look at his fabulous bride. He reached out and they held hands. After a few whispers, they kissed.

Kortubah
They held a Kortubah signing and the room was crowded with family and friends. The Kortubah as beautiful with elegant writing. Bold signatures followed!

Staircase Entrance

The bride came down the staircase at Delaney before walking the aisle in her beautiful gown. The gown was from Lulu's Bridal Boutique in Dallas. The bouquet she carried and the florals were from Alicia at Charming Events Company.

Wedding Ceremony
The rabbi's ceremony was wonderful. He read from the Kortubah and sang beautifully. When Paul crushed the glass with his shoe, the rabbi shouted out Maza Tov to clapping and song! Very cool to witness!

Delaney Vineyard Reception
The staff turned the tables and Remarkable Catering set up a scrumptious plated dinner during the cocktail hour. After dinner and the first dance, DJ Frank Young got the crowd dancing. Included was the Hava Negila and the Hora chair dance where Robyn and Paul were raised up and down by the men in their chairs. Wow, what a fun night!

Delaney Vineyards was the scene off a fabulous wedding. Paul married Robyn and together with friends and family, they partied through the night.



See more at weddings for Grapevine and DFW.

Let's Stay Together

See Jamie and Josephs engagement music slideshow! Engagements Bishop Arts

We had a blast cruising the Dallas museum area and Deep Ellumn before heading of to the Bishop Arts District for engagement photography.


I just loved the Bishop Arts district. It is a perfect place to have a romantic day together. Jamie and Joseph window shopped and danced in the streets.

See more at www.JimRode.com

Wedding Bridals of Rose at the Hotel Palomar Dallas

Rose was so beautiful on her wedding night. She was absolutely willing to give me ten minutes during the reception for some quick wedding night bridals.

Too often, brides don't want to pull themselves away from the reception for anything. Yet, with 200 people eating from buffet service...with the bride and groom being first...there is a time lag in dining. The bride and groom are finished first. While the guests finish their meals why taking advantage of the 10-20 minutes in time?

In the video below, I captured some bridals prior to the ceremony...and got some terrific shots during the reception. The reception bridal selections you see begin with the images of Rose on her couch.

I think we should think long term with the legacy of the day you wed. These are the images you will show your children someday. Someday, you may be a grandmother (shocking possibility!) and will open a beautiful wedding book and show your grandchildren how glamorous you were back in the early part of the century! You will be so glad you did not rely on pure photojournalistic wedding photography. A little fashion photography can make you look so cool!

a whisper of love

For more Dallas wedding photography information, visit with Jim Rode at www.JimRode.com. From there, you can also access Jim Rode's latest and newest blogsite. 

Do the posts below look out of date? (not the image above...)

Yep, you are on my older blog...which is fine...but if you want the latest - please check out my website and blog at www.JimRode.com. I promise you outstanding images! 

You will also find the latest in engagement and wedding photography using HDR techniques. (High Dynamic Range photography)

On the Arabian sea, a few hundred miles south of Bethlehem, it is 61 degrees. The sun will rise soon. I imagine my daughter will stir from her bunk and go out to the hanger deck to gaze at the stars in the Middle East and wait for Christmas morning. I can almost smell the sea salt, and hear the water as the ship slices through the sea. I hope this day finds peace for her and everyone. And grace from God above.

Special Moments Chapel in Lewisville

I loved the challenge of a rainy day wedding. It's considered good luck of course, but still leaves photographers with flat light images. However, a few days at the computer, and I had wonderful images for Elida and Christopher. 

They married at the historic (1880's?) Special Moments Chapel in Lewisville, Texas. The cozy feeling of candles and love inside a warm church was wonderful. The vows, choir, music solo and piano and harp music from Margaret Atkinson were not the only sounds...the gentle tapping of rain on the windows created a feeling in my heart I'll not soon forget.

After the ceremony, Elida and Christopher walked the aisle and rang the church bell eight times. I see that at no other place than this chapel.

The afternoon reception was filled with friendship, food, and a special vocal from Elida to Christopher. Wonderful. The first dance was spectacular. I am so happy to be a part of their day. JimRode.com