WIPI is featuring my work on the front page of their website.   Feature includes my biography and a selection of images.

Last week we had an exhibit of gorgeous 20 x 30 inch prints of lifestyle portraits of persons using John Deere products in rural Maryland.  The exhibition was sponsored by John Deere and included images created for Catherine Hall Studios by Catherine Hall and Curt Littlecott.

Mennonite Boy in John Deere Dealership

Boys in Cornfield

Farmer and Tractor

Morning at the Dealership

Grandson with Grandfather on Family Farm

Mennonite Family Portrait

June 30, 2007
Highlands Inn, Carmel

Featured Wedding Image Slideshow

Sarah, 25, a Marketing Specialist, and Kevin, 32, an Everglades National Park Guide, met while Sarah was doing an internship in Naples, FL for her last remaining credits towards a Communications degree from Michigan State University.  The pair clicked instantly on their casual first date over sushi, and a shared love for the beach and being on the water.  Truly, it was love at first site, so after graduating from school, Sarah moved to Naples.  After two wonderful years together, Kevin asked Sarah to be his wife on her 25th birthday while the couple was sharing a romantic evening overlooking the Gulf of Mexico at twilight. 

When it came time to plan the wedding, the couple decided that they wanted something intensely romantic, dramatic and intimate.  The found everything that they were looking for at the renowned Park Hyatt Carmel Highlands Inn, on the picturesque coastline of California.  Carmel is known for its world-class golf featuring Pebble Beach and Spy Glass golf courses, as well as a quaint, downtown area filled with art galleries and small cafes.  Sarah had fallen in love with the spot while vacationing there with her parents as a teenager and witnessing an outdoor wedding on the hotel balcony which overlooked the cliffy, white-capped Pacific Ocean.

Sarah planned each detail of the wedding to be simple, elegant and personalized for the 30 family members making the journey out to California.  The invitations and cake incorporated iridescent tones, pearl finishes and rich creams. The outdoor ceremony included a lemon leaf, eucalyptus and orchid garland draped over an archway framing the couple during the marriage ceremony.  Pale pink peonies, tulips, orchids and hydrangeas were tied all throughout the wedding in the table’s cape, cake decor, boutonnieres and bouquets.

The ceremony commenced at 2 o'clock in the afternoon on a perfect June day. Sarah chose a classic sweetheart cut Mon Cheri Couture gown and complimenting scalloped veil adorned with Swarovski crystals.  Kevin wore a timeless Ralph Lauren tuxedo and soft pink vest and tie; to accomplish the look of a classic gentleman. During the ceremony, Sarah's young cousins stood up in front of the congregation to read a special poem about the personal meaning of love and marriage to Kevin and Sarah.

After the ceremony, guests enjoyed champagne, native Californian wines and artisan cheeses while listening to the live acoustic guitarist who had also played softly as Sarah graced down the aisle with her father.   The party then moved into an intimate reception area with a long conference style table, fireplace and windows lining the walls looking out towards the Pacific.  Their dinner menu reflected Californian cuisine, incorporating artichoke hearts, Dungeness crab, local sea bass, and lots and lots of wine!!    Dessert was a delicate, chocolate buttermilk cake filled with layers of chocolate panache and fresh raspberries, and covered in a white fondant with a cascade of orchids for decor.

The party lasted until 7:30, and the guests danced the night away to the sounds of Motown and Nat King Cole while looking out over the water and feeling the overwhelming love that a close knit family can collect when they join together in the joyous celebration of marriage.   

Venue:  Highlands Inn
Event Coordinator:  Erna Clay at Highlands Inn
Dress Designer:  Mon Cheri Couture
Florist:  Fleurish
Cake Designer:  Parker Lusseau Pastries
Classical Guitarist (during outdoor ceremony): Terrence Farrell
DJ:  Peter Burkhard
Caterer:  Highlands Inn

Married on June 16, 2007
Vanderbilt Mansion in Oakdale, New York

Featured Wedding Image Slideshow

Rachel, 28, a Fashion Publicist and Founder of Invitation Chef, LLC and Chris, 27, a student at the Harvard Business School, met on a Sunday afternoon in a coffee shop on the Upper East side of Manhattan. After a cup of coffee and good conversation, they knew that they had both found something really special.  Chris and Rachel were engaged at midnight on their 1-year anniversary at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas, NV overlooking the famous fountains which Chris had pre-arranged to play their anniversary song by Celine Deon. 

For her work, Rachel frequently attends the Oscars and Emmys to dress celebrities, plans high-profile events and produces extravagant wedding invitations for clients. When starting to plan their wedding, she wanted a world-class event where every detail made a statement. 

Chris and Rachel sought after a grand and enchanting setting and decided on the Vanderbilt Mansion in Oakdale, NY.  Oakdale is a relic of America's gilded age of a century ago, where powerful men of incredible wealth built South Shore gold coast mansions and dwelt in manorial splendor.  Of the most prominent was William K. Vanderbilt, who built the most noted mansion, Idle Hour, a 900-acre estate on the Connetquot River.  Today, the Vanderbilt Mansion serves as a venue for weddings and formal affairs.

To set the tone of the wedding, Rachel started with a simple pink rose and green hydrangea topiary as her theme. She wanted a whimsical, enchanting centerpiece for the tables and built everything from this idea.  Because Rachel wanted a very high-end and completely coordinated affair, she designed wedding invitations, save-the-date cards, menus, and programs adorned with silver ribbon that were intended to be used as small fans for guests during the outdoor ceremony.  Every piece was influenced by a rose pink and pistachio green theme. Her escort cards were adorned with a Lenox heart box and each of her tables were named after varieties of pink roses. Her bridesmaid dresses were also pistachio green. 

For the ceremony, Rachel wore a grand Henry Roth A-line gown and then changed dresses before the reception for dancing and mingling. To make a bold statement, Rachel also wore several carats of Hearts On Fire diamond couture jewelry and a vintage diamond brooch in her hair.

The ceremony was beyond romantic, the weather was perfect and Chris and Rachel were married in front of 140 of their closest family and friends.  Followed by an extravagant dinner and dancing, Rachel and Chris ended the night with coffee and a Venetian desert hour, finished with chocolate covered strawberries to send guests on their way from what many described as the best wedding they had ever attended.

Vendor Information:

Photography: Catherine Hall Studios, Photographers: Catherine Hall and Curt Littlecott
Placecards, invitiations, etc: Invitation Chef 
Diamonds:  Hearts on Fire
Wedding Gown: Henry Roth
Caterer: Lovin Oven
Florist: Lovin Oven Floral

I have decided to add new section to my current events site that reveals some of the stories behind my featured imagery.  Couples will share tips, stories, vendor lists, and much more about special day.  It is a great place for brides to come for information and inspiration.

Rangefinder Magazine, recently published an article featuring my shooting style.  It is a great article, that even moved me to tears - there is some personal stuff about my how my mother has shaped my career as a photographer.  The writer, Michelle Perkins did an incredible job...

Adding Empathy to the Equation

Many people have asserted that a portrait says as much about the photographer as it does about the subject. Looking at Catherine Hall’s evocative images, it’s easy to see what they mean. Despite the diversity of her subjects, from upscale New York City brides to underprivileged Appalachian children, Catherine’s images reflect a consistency of vision that arises from her empathetic approach to photography as a whole and to her subjects as individuals.

To read the rest of feature: Download chs_feature.pdf

Last weekend I went back to Cal Poly (where I went to college) and had so much fun with one of my couples.  We met downtown and walked around old San Luis Obispo and then went off to Shell Beach for some lifestyle portraits.   I haven't had a chance to retouch, but click here to view a slide show of the digital negatives.

I am in Maryland with Curt Littlecott working on an advertising shoot for John Deere.  This "dream" assignment is to document the lifestyle of persons that use John Deere products.  Below is one image from the shoot; there will be many more to come...

Two of my favorite images from a recent engagement session in San Francisco.

I photographed the most amazing wedding in New York.  Below are a few of my favorite images of the bride.  Please click here to view a wedding day slide show.