New York wedding photographer Jody Ake takes antique wedding portraits unlike any I've ever seen.

Jody uses an old-school camera process called wet collodion, which involves coating a glass plate with hand-mixed goo and then exposing the plate while it's is still wet. The resulting "ambrotype" is a negative image on glass that's then backed with black velvet. BLACK VELVET, PEOPLE!

Jody explains, "When people come in for their portrait they soon realize that this is not a normal photo shoot. I use a huge studio view camera that's about 100 years old. I have to prepare each glass plate right before I expose it and I have to develop it immediately." Jody's clients receive their one-of-a-kind ambrotypes to keep.

To see more of Jody's antique wedding portraits and get the scoop on a discounts for offbeat brides, keep reading…

Continue reading "Antique wedding photography from Jody Ake" →

The offbeat bride: Nicole, Landscape Architect

Her offbeat partner: Stew, Photographer & Designer

Location & date of wedding: Hernshead Pavilion Central Park, NYC - July 13th, 2008

What made our wedding offbeat: We found out about Hernshead Pavilion, a Victorian pavilion by one of the lakes in Central Park. It cost us only $25 for a two hour permit. Since we don't share in a fear of the number 13 (it's one of my personal favorite numbers) we were able to get the time we wanted despite our short planning period! Hooray!

Continue reading "Nicole & Stew's Unusually Elegant Central Park Wedding!" →

Remember Layer Cake Films, the awesome Super 8 wedding video company from Los Angeles?

Well, good news for my East Coast brides! Michelle, the adorable cup-cake loving founder of Layer Cake, is moving back East in March. When I asked Michelle why she was moving, she simply said, "I can't take LA anymore." As someone who lasted only a year living in LA, I hear ya, girl.

Anyway, Michelle's relocation means that — while she can travel where-ever you need her — she's extra available to shoot weddings in:

• New York City
• Washington DC
• Philadelphia
• Baltimore
• Asheville & Charlotte, North Carolina

There's still a team of amazing Layer Cake shooters staying in LA, so us Left Coasters can still get in on the action … but if you're on the East Coast (especially New York!) you've got easy, local access to one bad-ass videographer.

Ooh, and remember that Layer Cake Films does a 5% discount for Offbeat Brides. Just mention you saw the ad here, and reap the sweet rewards.