Louisville Wedding Photographer | Eric Graf Photography bio picture

Eric Graf | Louisville Photographer

Hello!  Thanks so much for checking out my blog!

This blog is a story about people in love and the real moments that surround them.  I hope you will find inspiration and beauty in the lives of these amazing people I call clients and friends.

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(502) 262-3390

Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding

It’s always a privilege to be invited into someone’s inner circle of family and friends.  As a wedding photographer, I try to get a feel for each bride and groom before their wedding day.  Everyone has a different personality and style.  Trying to discover this beforehand is an important part of my wedding planning routine.

But sometimes its not until the bride and groom are surrounded by their closest friends and family that you really see them come alive!

After arriving at Nancy’s house for family pictures I quickly realized what I was dealing with-  a super zany, loving family that was oozing with talent!  There was no lack of energy at this wedding.  All I had to do was grab on and take a ride.

louisville wedding dresslouisville wedding dress shoeslouisville wedding dressbride and motherred yellow white bouquetchurchilldownswedding55 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding churchilldownswedding54 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding churchilldownswedding53 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding bride and her dogchurchilldownswedding51 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding bride groom louisville skylinebride groom louisville skylinebride groom louisville skylinechurchilldownswedding47 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding churchilldownswedding46 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding bride walking down aisle with mother fatherbride groom first kissWedding reception at Churchill Downs, Louisville ky.  bride groom churchill downs paddockbride groom churchill downs paddockbride groom churchill downs paddockbride groom churchill downs paddockbride groom churchill downs paddockbride groom churchill downs jumpingbride groom churchill downs jumpingbride groom racetrackbride groom racetrackbride groom racetrackI love this sweet moment.  Old people rule.  churchilldownswedding32 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding churchilldownswedding31 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding churchilldownswedding30 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding first dancefirst dancefirst dance dipfather daughter dancefather daughter dancefather daughter dancechurchilldownswedding23 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding

Let the drinking games commence.  drinking beer games churchill downs wedding millionaires row

Love this.  I can hear the drunken banter now.  drinking beer games churchill downs wedding millionaires rowdrinking beer games churchill downs wedding millionaires rowdrinking beer games churchill downs wedding millionaires row

churchilldownswedding17 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding churchilldownswedding16 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding churchilldownswedding15 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding

A masterful, Thriller dance performance at their Churchill Downs wedding reception took the party to a whole different level.

thriller dance wedding receptionthriller dance wedding receptionthriller dance wedding receptionthriller dance wedding receptionthriller dance wedding receptionthriller dance wedding receptionthriller dance wedding receptionthriller dance wedding receptionthriller dance wedding receptionthriller dance wedding receptionchurchilldownswedding04 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding churchilldownswedding03 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding churchilldownswedding02 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding churchilldownswedding01 Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding

Churchill Downs wedding photographer

21c wedding photography | Catharine & Brandon

wedding 21c hotel penthouse suite.

When I first met with Catharine and Brandon they were clear about their vision: they wanted a modern wedding day experience.  The obvious choice for an artistic, contemporary wedding venue in Louisville is the award-winning 21c museum hotel. Catharine and Brandon reserved the 21c penthouse suite and had a beautiful rooftop wedding ceremony!

Afterward I was reflecting on why I enjoyed this wedding so much.  From a photographer’s perspective, I wanted to share a few things that Catharine and Brandon did that helped create a great wedding day experience.

  • Photography was a top priority.  They gave me the time and creative freedom to do whatever I wanted.  They were open to anything and that is inspiring for any photographer!
  • Scheduled an engagement session.  We had a blast shooting their engagement photos inside the 21c museum then concluded at Waterfront Park right before sunset.  We spent a couple of hours playing and getting to know one another and came away with some sweet frames.  An engagement session is like a trial run on your hair and makeup!  Consider it a warm-up for the big day.  Everyone gets to know each other better, trust is built, good times are had, and the couple comes away with beautiful pictures of themselves that represent this exciting stage of their new life together.
  • Bride and groom saw each other privately before the ceremony.  The benefits:  spend more time together as a couple on the wedding day,  get cool bedroom pictures like the ones below, look and feel more relaxed in your pictures because you’re not feeling the pressure to hurry up and get to the reception.  Which also means you can move directly to the cocktail hour and reception where you spend more time with your guests who came to see you.

The team of Louisville wedding vendors who helped make this day a success:

Hair/makeup specialist -Bethany Tiesman

Wedding flowers – David Williams at Magnolias  dwilliams.magnolias@gmail.com

Wedding dress – Couture Closet

Wedding cake – Adrienne & Co.

Wedding coordinator – Megan Breir @ the 21c hotel

DJ – Coxx events  coxxevents@gmail.com

21c-wedding-louisville-ky penthouse suite

bride dressing 21c hotel penthouse suite21c wedding dresswedding dress hanging on vine 21c hotel21c-wedding-louisville-ky wedding dress21c-wedding-louisville-ky wedding dressputting on garter belt 21c wedding21c-wedding-louisville-ky mother hugs bride21c-wedding-louisville-ky father of bride21c-wedding-louisville-ky father of bridefather of bride cryingbridal portrait 21c-wedding-louisville-ky bridal portrait 21c-wedding-louisville-ky bright blue bridesmaid dressesbridesmaids dressesbridal portrait 21c-wedding-louisville-ky groomsmen red penguin 21c hotelgroomsmen red penguin 21c hotelgroomsmen  21c hotelgroomsmen at projection screen 21c hotelgroomsmen elevatorgroomsmen elevatorgroomsmen elevatorgroom waitingbride groom first sight meetingbride groom first sight meetingbride groom first sight meetingbride groom in bedbride groom in bedbride groom in bedbride portrait bedbride groom pose with kurt cobainbride groom red penguins purple bouquet 21c hotelpurple white wedding bouquetbride groom stairs 21cbride groom stairs 21cbride groom wayne static wife tera weddingCatharine’s brother-in-law, Wayne Static of Static-X, is a legit, heavy metal rockstar.  See one of his music videos on this 21c wedding post.

Or check out one of his rockin Youtube videos The Only (opens new window)rooftop ceremony 21c hotel louisvillerooftop ceremony 21c hotel louisvillerooftop ceremony 21c hotel louisvillerooftop wedding 21c hotel louisvillerooftop ceremony 21c hotel louisvillerooftop ceremony 21c hotel louisville first kissrecessional bride groomrooftop ceremony 21c hotel louisvillerooftop ceremony 21c hotel louisvillebridal party toast champagne21c penguin candles wedding decorumlouisville wedding cake blue whitewedding reception dance 21c hotelcake cuttingtoast bride groomfirst dancefirst dancefirst dancefather daughter dancemother son dancewedding reception dance 21c hotelwedding reception dance 21c hotelwedding reception dance 21c hotel

And your name shall be called “Dances with Penguins.”bride dancing with red penguin 21c hotelbride dancing with red penguin 21c hotelbride dancing with red penguin 21c hotelbride dancing with red penguin 21c hotelbride dancing with red penguin 21c hotelwedding reception dancing 21c hotelwedding reception dancing 21c hotelwedding reception dancing 21c hotelwedding reception dancing 21c hotelwedding reception dancing 21c hotel

First day of School | Kindergarten | Louisville ky Photos

Today is a big day for many families throughout Louisville KY as hundreds of children returned to the school classroom.

However, today marked a significant milestone for our family in particular.  Its the day parents know is coming but aren’t always sure how to prepare for.  The day when their little boy or girl officially steps out of the safety of the family house and steps into the great, big world of kindergarten.

We love you son!  We’re so proud of you, your courage, and your spirit of adventure as you head out into a brave, new world.

Feel free to leave a comment below for Joshua!  We’ll read it to him when he gets home :-)

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Super-Fly Bride | Nancy & Lucas | Churchill Downs Wedding

A sneak preview from a funtastic bride and groom–Nancy and Lucas!

Up first, Super-Fly Bride with her two outrageous brothers.

bride flying like superman poseAnd a little Trifecta action in the Paddock Area at Churchill Downs.

bride groom in paddock area churchill downs weddingEdited to add:  click here to see their main blog post wedding at Churchill Downs.

Off camera lighting workshop | Photography class | Louisville ky

I’m very excited to announce an upcoming lighting workshop for pro photographers in the Louisville-Lexington ky area.

Dallas photographer Joseph Stefanchik (JVS) will be leading a one-day, intensive lighting workshop here in Louisville, ky on August 17, 2010 .  This hands-on workshop will teach you how to use off-camera flash using small flash units and portable light modifiers.

Joseph is an accomplished colleague in the photographic community and a Pulitzer Prize nominee.  He is considered a master of light.  In other words, JVS is a lighting ninja.  Actually, he is Yoda’s daddy.  Okay, you get my point.  You will be learning from one of the best, its local, and the skills you will learn will up your game in a competitive market.  Check out his documentary wedding portfolio or his off-camera flash blog.

Here are the deets:

  • Date: August 17, 2010
  • Time: 9am-9pm (approx 11 hours)
  • Location: 930 Art Gallery in downtown Louisville.  Directions are here.
  • Cost:  $375 for a full day of instruction when two people register together ($250 discount to the first five pairs only!  $500 for full tuition), access to cutting edge lighting equipment, snacks/lunch/dinner catered, and a sweet PDF with info/illustrations for various lighting setups so you can focus on learning and shooting vs. taking notes.
  • Get more info, see behind the scene examples, and register now at JVS workshops

Here are a few behind-the-scene images taken at one of JVS’s lighting workshops in California.  Images taken by http://www.marcweisberg.com

photography class

http://www.marcweisberg.com

photography class

photography class

photography class

NOTE: This workshop is primarily for advanced photographers.  If you are a beginner, or would like private photography lessons to help you grasp camera basics, check out my customized photography classes in Louisville, ky.