• LEHIGH VALLEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER MICHAEL MCNETT

  • I'm Lehigh Valley wedding photographer, Michael McNett. I've been specializing in unique and one-of-a-kind weddings for over 12 years. Wedding photography is my life's passion.

    This site is chock full of my thoughts, ideas, images and real weddings. I hope they reach out and speak to you, the way they do to me. And hopefully show you a bit of who I am in the process.

    I'd love the opportunity to be your wedding photograher, so do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or to just chat about your wedding.

  • 1703 Chelsea Ave. Bethlehem, PA 18018 | 610.419.3464

    Open Tuesday - Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Saturdays are reserved for weddings
    We are closed Sundays & Mondays

    **PLEASE NOTE I HAVE A PHOTOSHOOT IN CONNETICUT THE 22ND - 25TH & WILL BE CHECKING MY EMAIL SPORADICALLY**

I NEED YOUR HELP ! ≈ and I promise it wont hurt a bit

DS33302 EditCD 1024x682 I NEED YOUR HELP ! ≈ and I promise it wont hurt a bit

OK heres the deal. Every year the local paper the Morning Call has what they call their “readers choice awards” ! Winners are chosen based on the number of votes they receive from members of the community (achhhmm you)

“Best” winners will receive a Readers’ Choice plaque to display in their place of business. (Whoooo Hoooo and Ive been fighting plaque with mouth wash for years who knew)

In reality its a little pat on the back, no biggy, for most businesses. I however love pats on the back (lmao). Most of what I do relates to connecting to people, I try to do it in my photography and through this blog. Your vote would kinda be like saying you like what Im doing here and want me to keep it up. Every vote counts, even if I dont win it means a lot that you took the time to do it.

So take to the streets, call your friends, twitter, facebook etc. please pass it along to vote for me.

Heres what you have to do:
1. go to http://www.mcallcommunity.com/contests/custom/readers_choice/category_view/2
2. click “login/register to vote”
3. Fill out all the info (there is a box to check if you do not want to be contacted if that is a worry) & hit “submit”
4. You will get an email to activate your account click the link, and log in
5. In the Ballots box click on “Home & Services” and find photographer on the left hand side
6. Enter “Michael McNett Photography” and place the vote

Whooo Hooo you Rock! now you may enter more of your favorites in any of the categories if you fill out 50% of the ballot you may win a $50 Gift Certificate

If you have family members with an email or coworkers grab them and repeat steps 1-6. If they are not present be their proxy Im sure they wouldn’t mind LOL they just need a different email than yours. Thank you so much for your vote, should I be elected I promise Sloppy Joes every Friday (that may have been my 8th grade class president speech.

Lehigh Valley Wedding ≈ Katerine + Ryan (pre-ceremony)

WAIT ONE SECOND!!!!! DO NOT CLICK PLAY!!! I want to preface this slideshow of Katherine and Ryan’s Pre-Ceremony Wedding photography by clueing you in on the music first. Most of my slide shows Im constrained to only using music that I have the rights to. Being in a art type field I understand copyright issues and respect the artists enough to not use music with out the proper permissions, however I was able to get permission to use this song from an amazing singer/songwriter (and the groom) Ryan Peters. Yes The music is by the groom it is titled “Overcome this Love” and as I watch it I think that it is important.

I will have more slideshows from Katherine and Ryan’s wedding with more music by the groom. Please enjoy and like always leave any comments down below but if the music strikes you please leave any comments for Ryan as well.

The photography was shot at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Bethlehem PA just before their wedding which was held at The Riverside Country Club in Easton PA

August 23, 2010 - 6:45 am

Michelle Lory - Perfection!!! Ryan’s talent really shines through in this song and it is complimented by a fantastic photographer. The pictures show the true essence of Ryan and Kate and the amazing people that they are.

August 20, 2010 - 12:04 pm

Erica James - Simply Amazing!!! You and Katie look amazing!!! Beautiful couple!! Exceptional photography!!!

July 30, 2010 - 6:28 am

Kristin Rohrbaugh - Amazing photography…and an amazing piece of art all around…from the photos, to the music/Ryan’s voice, to both these amazing subjects. You did a great job capturing their “essence” and their true beauty.

July 29, 2010 - 8:21 pm

Lori Diefenbacher - Thank you Mike for this beautiful slideshow! I am a friend of the couple and I was studying overseas in June so I was unable to attend the wedding. This video made me feel like I was there on their special day. Ryan, this song is beautiful and perfect! Love, Lori

July 29, 2010 - 7:50 pm

kate crerand - ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!! WHAT AN AWESOME WAY TO REMEBER YOUR SPECIAL DAY !! AND MR. McNETT YOU ARE QUITE TALENTED!!

July 29, 2010 - 7:47 pm

Janeen - Wow this was beautiful. Kate looked amazing. And as always Ryan, fabulous song! Love it. And the video, pictures, song, just everything went together so well. wow!

Wedding Photography ≈ “How to keep cool photographing a Wedding in hot weather”

  • 95 degrees
  • no A/C in the church
  • long drive in a golf cart in the sun to take pictures of the bride and Groom on the golf course

Q: HOW DO YOU KEEP COOL?

A: Easy drive the cart into a pond in the golf course. 

This is a bit funny followed by some seriousnes, especially for Brides and Grooms who are interviewing photographers to shoot their wedding.

so please read till the end.

Architects Club, NJ

Heres the story. The very nice young lady you see in distress was a rep from the golf course who was driving me and the couple to a very scenic  spot on the course of a bridge that spans a water hazard. We just dropped off the couple on the bridge and drove to the far side of the pond to grab their reflection in the water. I snapped a couple shots and walked back to the cart. Once in the cart the driver proceeded to make a 3 point turn to head back and get the couple. 

Now if you look closely its a big cart (6 passenger) and a tiny path, not the best places for her to choose to  make the turn. I remained quiet deferring to her expertise. Sadly though the cart got away from her just as soon as we were angled towards the lake. She missed the brake and gravity took over. SPLASH

Very quickly I had to make the call WTF DO I DO!!! I grabbed both cameras (I shoot with 2 black rapid straps so my cameras were close to me not on the seat) and raised them up as high as I can trying to protect the disks in them, abandoning all my lighting equipment (you can see it covered in seaweed in the lower left) When disaster strikes PROTECT THE DISKS!!!!! you can replace equipment not the images you have been shooting.

SPLASH!!!! now hip deep in water what do you do next. Pockets getting wet get out fast. Now I have always been an advocate of the GEPE Card Safe. It is a water proof hard shell case that I keep all my camera cards I carry  in. Why do I need the more expensive waterproof case LOL in case Im on a runaway golf cart that splashes down in a water hazard thats why LOL. 

Once on dry land I empty out pockets and set down all equipment on dry land. Im already wet so time to retrieve the rest of equipment from the lake bottom. Sadly its all electrical so can never be used again Id never reuse electrical equipment that has been submerged to unreliable.

Now assess damage. Cameras are good, images are safe, lighting is junk but I have backups back at the reception. Main priority now Im wet how do I keep shooting at a very elegant Golf club with sea weed in my shoes?

Proshop! I walk (run, lol its 95 degrees remember ugggggg) back to the proshop as the golf carts are dispatched to pick up the couple. Toss off my clothing grab a polo and slacks from the sale rack, good to go. Wait there are Coi fish swimming in my shoes. Here it comes, only golf shoes. Only ones in my size are a very nice white and tan alligator skin wingtip model -sigh- 

And the show goes on Whooo Hoo!!

Here is a shot of the bridal party on the course

900 MIKE8627 Wedding Photography ≈ How to keep cool photographing a Wedding in hot weather

 

NOW YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW THE MORAL OF THE STORY!!!! Especially if you are a bride interviewing photographers for your wedding. Well here it is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ask “Do you carry back up equipment with you? and if so is it just a back up camera or do you have back ups for everything?”

I would have been screwed if I didn’t have back up lighting. Its expensive to buy all the equipment then buy it second time “just in case” but WTF its a wedding. Professionals should never make up an excuse as to why they couldn’t get a shot if their preparation could have gotten it.

Conclusion: We lost no pictures, the Club is going to replace my equipment, we didn’t have to delay the reception, I got a refreashing swim in on one of the hottest days of the year and  I got to wear alligator skin wing tips all for the low low price of smelling like algae for the remainder of the night.

August 25, 2010 - 11:02 pm

CL Steele Studio | Portland Wedding Photographer - Okay…I really sat here staring at my monitor with my mouth hanging open! Props to you for thinking on the fly! We carry extra gear with us as well “JUST IN CASE”!
Way to handle a crazy situation! I would have LOVED to see you in the golf shop get up! Great images! The first one is priceless!

August 21, 2010 - 5:37 pm

Atlanta Wedding Photographer - Great story. A lot of morals to this on. I bet you were a boy scout. Be prepared.

August 19, 2010 - 6:41 am

Agnes of Neusse Photography - Mike, the picture is beautiful as always, even the “disaster” one. Glad you are alright and images are saved. That’s how we pros do things – backup, backup, backup!
~Neusse

August 19, 2010 - 6:41 am

Agnes of Neusse Photography - Mike, the picture is beautiful as always, even the “disaster” one. Glad you are alright and images are saved. That’s how we pros do things – backup, backup, backup!
~Neusse

August 3, 2010 - 7:09 pm

Bobby Earle - Saw this on a photo forum — AWESOME! Way to handle everything :)

Bobby

August 3, 2010 - 5:54 pm

Tony Fanning - Great story and I bet the guests had a laugh at your expense.
Great moral as well. back ups are a must for a professional.

August 3, 2010 - 1:04 pm

Nick Everitt - Great photo of the bridal party and photo of the golf cart in the water. Thanks so much for sharing the story and well done for coping very well with the situation, top notch handling of a potentially disastrous situation on your part!

July 29, 2010 - 7:55 pm

kate crerand - THE PICTURE LOOKS LIKE IT IS WORTH HAVING “SEAWEED SOCKS”!! GORGEOUS!!

July 28, 2010 - 2:59 pm

Genaro Orengo - Mike, What a great story. One for the books. You’re lucky you’re an average sized guy. If that had happened to me (being a big guy and all) and I had to get clothes from the pro shop, who knows what I would have come out looking like. I am glad you had the foresight to protect the images above all else. Way to go! – Genaro

Wedding Ideas ≈ Typewriter Messages

I thought this was a really cool idea that Katherine & Ryan had for a neat way guests can share personal thoughts and congrats with the Bride and Groom. Instead of a signing book the couple had a super cool Royal typewriter and a bowl of blank cards for the guests to type their message onto. The guests then left the message (hopefully with out to many mess ups and do overs, typing skills are not what they used to be LOL) in a bowl for the Bride and Groom. I’d love to find out from the couple if they have plans to do anything with the messages or if they are going to save them to read later, but I loved the idea. 

Every little detail can help in making your wedding unique and I love seeing people embrace things that are not the path most traveled. The reception was at the Riverview Country Club in Easton PA. 

July 15, 2010 - 10:25 pm

Tonee Lawrence - what a fantastic idea!! im passing along now!

July 15, 2010 - 11:44 am

Danielle - I love the old typewriter idea to replace the guest book. Adds such personality and spunk! And Grandma’s always gets a kick out of it!

Wedding Photography ≈ Grooms need love too!

As a Lehigh Valley Wedding Photographer who in the course of his 12 years having had studios in Baltimore, MD – Jacksonville, FL and now Lehigh Valley / Bethlehem, PA I have seen many trends come and go in the wedding photography industry. One consistent though has always been that its the brides day (just watch any of the reality wedding shows to see it in the extreme). In looking at my blog and my facebook and my twitter etc etc etc Im guilty a bit as well of being bride-centric. I wanted to share these quick couple moments though shot of the groom getting ready at the new Hyatt Place Hotel in downtown Bethlehem. 

There was some advantage in the bride and groom both getting ready in the hotel, in that I could capture a couple of these shots during a lull with the bride. The groom getting ready is a much smaller affair than the bride. There is less production and more introspection. In a room full of guys a groom getting ready can feel more private than the bride who is getting laced up by a mom and a brides maid while the maid of honor is slipping shoes on her feet. Sure there is typically beer and sports on the tv (world cup in this case but no beer) and the air is filled with good hearted teasing. But when the groom gets ready often he buttons his own shirt, ties his own tie and snaps on his own cuff links. I think these images capture a little bit of what he may be thinking as he prepared to walk down the aisle.

 

July 13, 2010 - 8:13 am

Philip Hawkins Wedding Photographer Edinburgh - Great slideshow! You are right the images really do capture the male side of the day.