Michael J Charles Photography

Alissa and Nathan at the Barn at Gibbet Hill

2012-01-09T17:03:00.000-05:00

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall...I never tire of documenting weddings at the Barn at Gibbet Hill. The setting is like something out of a movie, the staff is always "on," and the clients are always super fun...but then again, all of my clients are :) Check out images from Alissa and Nathan's Fall wedding at "the Barn." And if you stroll the links over to the right of my blog you'll find one of my album designs from the Barn as well. A big THANK YOU to Alissa and Nate for bringing the fun, including all of the cool details like the giant ampersand and let's not forget the groomsmen's VANS!

Lindsay and Ryan's Engagement Shoot in Greenwich, CT

2011-09-19T16:55:00.000-04:00

Every now and then I sign on to document a wedding for a couple from the New York City area. In Lindsay and Ryan's case they'll be hosting their wedding in Newport, RI next year. For their engagement shoot we found a nice location in Greenwich, CT. I grew up in a nearby town, New Canaan where my folks still reside. So for me it's a business/pleasure trip, and Nana and Pop-pop are always happy to see their grandchildren. Once I met up with Lindsay and Ryan I knew it was going to be a fun shoot. They both have such a fun and care free approach to life. I was welcomed in and I think we were all laughing for the majority of the shoot. As the sun set and the park closed we all realized what a long walk we had back to the car. Shortly thereafter we were offered a ride by an old salty dog who manages the boat rentals in the park. I have to say it's the first time I've hitchhiked on a shoot! Kids out there, just a reminder we were in Greenwich. And in discussing the ride later on, Ryan and I both agreed that we could "take" the guy had things gone a-rye. Ha! Well, we made it back to the car safely. Below are a few shots from our evening. More samples can be found on my facebook page.

Maritza and Graham at the State Room

2011-06-09T14:49:00.006-04:00

Ryan and I had a great time documenting Maritza and Graham's wedding at the State Room last month. May was a bit dicey with all the rain but we lucked out once again with a nice overcast day. The wedding ceremony was held in Burlington, and we spent some time on the Burlington Commons before heading over to the Boston Harbor for some shots. The flowers which were provided by John Laroche at blueGuava design were pretty incredible. The room looked absolutely amazing. Below are a few samples. You can see more on my facebook page.

2011-03-07T16:53:00.004-05:00

I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Jen and Dan to design their album. Humble, happy, and passionate are just a few words that come to mind when I think of them. And their wedding was loaded with all of the above. They make you feel like an old friend, a guest and really appreciate all the work (and fun) that goes into it. This is just one aspect of my job that I love and I'm reminded of it every time I go out to shoot.

Their wedding reception was hosted at the Westin in Providence last November, a great venue with a grand ballroom and plenty of great spots for shots! Here is a link to their album design...Jen and Dan's album design. You can also check out a few spreads below (click on them to enlarge)...

Melissa and James / Wedgewood Pines Country Club

2011-01-13T14:11:00.010-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted so I thought I'd share a few images from Melissa and James's wedding last fall. It was the end of October which brought us some amazing foliage. I had an absolute amazing time with Melissa and James on their engagement shoot in Swampscott, and even more fun at the wedding. The unexpected bonus for me was witnessing the best "Ice Ice Baby" dance-off ever!

Katie and Bernie / St Ignatius and The Exchange Conference Center

2010-08-31T17:21:00.007-04:00

Even though I graduated from Boston University, I sometimes make exceptions and document weddings for Boston College alumni. Especially when the couple hosts their reception at the same venue my wife and I hosted ours at -- the Exchange Conference Center. Seriously though, St Ignatius has to be one of the most beautiful churches in the Boston area, and I'm a bit biased when it comes to the Exchange Conference Center (right on the harbor, it's a great location for more intimate weddings).

Katie and Bernie did something really unique at their wedding. Prior to being introduced onto the dance floor, they shared a short film with all of their guests which conveyed their story. Nowadays you hear about quite a few people meeting online which is so cool - a modern day romance. Equally as cool and romantic is how Katie and Bernie met. Their story struck me as something out of classic movie. They were on their way to a national sales meeting and met at Logan Airport. They parted ways, and met up again six months later at another meeting. A few days later Bernie decided to ask Katie to lunch and the rest is history. Or as Katie put it "that was it". Congrats guys!

Rebecca and Michael

2010-08-04T14:17:00.007-04:00

I remember when I first saw Rebecca and Michael. They were on a dance floor at the Copley Fairmont. They were smiling, laughing and thoroughly enjoying each other's presence. It made me smile as I knew that their wedding was going to be a blast. Even still, I don't think I could have imagined the amount of dancing that took place. From the moment they were introduced it seemed as though they barely left the dance floor. And the same smiles were present...they thoroughly enjoyed their day and I still smile when I reflect on their awesome celebration. Check out samples from their day below and take a look at their slideshow here.

Diana and Mike at the International in Bolton, MA

2010-06-07T13:41:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone,

Just thought I'd post a few samples from Diana and Mike's wedding this past weekend. They hosted their reception at the International in Bolton, MA. A brief down pour blew through on our way from the ceremony to the International (perfect timing). We checked the radar on the way over and it appeared that things would clear up shortly. Sure enough by the time we arrived the sun was shining! Diana and Mike were both ecstatic and their friends all got into taking photos as well. With all of the crazy weather this weekend (I can't believe tornadoes actually touched down in the Boston area), we saw some pretty amazing clouds kicking around (see photo below along with a few more samples)...

Congratulations guys!

Lauren and Matt at the Four Seasons Hotel Boston

2010-05-04T12:39:00.004-04:00

We had a great time with Lauren and Matt this past Sunday. Their entire wedding took place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston. I thought I'd share one of my favorites from the end of the night.

Also, I've added their engagement shoot slideshow to the portfolio section of my website. You can check it out HERE.

Ilenna and David's Wedding at the Omni Parker House Boston

2010-02-26T15:17:00.006-05:00

It's that time of the year where I get to design several wedding albums. I thoroughly enjoy this aspect of the job because it enables me lay the images out in a way that tells the story of couple and their wedding day. It's really like being there again.

Ilenna and David's wedding took place last July at the Omni Parker House in the heart of Boston. That day, they commented a couple of times on how I took the stress away from their day. But I have to say it was them that made my job so much fun. I can actually remember my face hurting at one point from all of the smiling (hmm, so that's where those wrinkles are coming from).

Below are a few spreads from their wedding as well as a link to the complete album design.

Enjoy!

Michael J Charles

Click here to view Ilenna and David's album design

Allison and Andrew at The Fairmont Copley Plaza

2010-02-17T10:24:00.005-05:00

We just put the finishing touches on Allison and Andrew's album and I thought I'd share a few spreads. They hosted their entire wedding at the Fairmont Copley Plaza. The Grand Ballroom (lit by spot lights) created such a bold yet intimate setting for their ceremony. The centerpieces that were created for the reception were really spectacular, and they brought so much color to the space. You can see some of these details in the spreads below (as always, click on any image to enlarge it)...

Briana and Carlos - 1 Year Anniversary Shoot...

2009-10-27T12:58:00.004-04:00

I was flattered when Briana and Carlos contacted me to document their 1 year anniversary. Originally, they were interested in having me document their wedding in 2008, but I wasn't available. So it was nice to have this opportunity to work with them both. For their shoot we decided to start out near the Prudential building in Boston, the site where Carlos first popped the question. They were awesome subjects and we had some great light that day as well!

Cathy, Ralph and Harley Davidsons

2009-08-31T12:38:00.006-04:00

As a photographer, I'm always honored to be invited to document a wedding that I wouldn't otherwise be able to witness. It never gets old witnessing two people uniting through love. It's always new and you can feel the joy. All of this comes to mind when I reflect back on Cathy and Ralph's wedding from this summer. They were married by a friend out on the grounds of the Barn at Gibbet Hill. The overwhelming feeling I got from their ceremony was pure joy and happiness. Happiness that two people found each other.

Cathy and Ralph first met through their common interest, riding Harley Davidson motorcycles. They were acquaintances at first, and officially became a couple on a ride to Killington, Vermont back in July of 2006. Their engagement shoot in Newport last fall was a blast! They decided to bring their bikes which made perfect sense. Oh, and if I was giving out awards I'd have to give Cathy and Ralph the award for best dip of the season! You can check it out below...

Abby and Eric

2009-08-18T11:17:00.006-04:00

Photographing Abby and Eric's wedding was like documenting a personal family member's wedding. I've had the pleasure of photographing Abby's sister's wedding along with a handful of their friends' weddings as well. It was great to celebrate with so many familiar people.

Abby and Eric decided to host their wedding on the south coast of Mass. where Abby's family spent their summers growing up. Fitting too, since Eric is an avid surfer -- everyone was right at home! Below are a few sample images from their wedding day. The cake topper says it all...

Lauren and Richard at the Seaport Hotel

2009-08-03T22:36:00.009-04:00

This summer has been one of the wettest ones many of us can remember. However, I have to say that we've dodged the big storms at all the weddings in June and July. Lauren and Richard's celebration was no exception! Richard was beaming from ear to ear as we took prep photos. On one hand he was getting ready to tie the knot with his best friend and love of his life, and on the other, he was completely blown away that the rain had stopped!

Check out a few images below from their wedding (as always, you can click on any image to view it larger). You can also view their slideshow over to the right. Oh, and a big shout out to Lauren Pimental at the Seaport Hotel in Boston who made everything flow so well that day!

Ishviene and Sorubh

2009-07-14T14:55:00.005-04:00

For the past few years I've had the honor of documenting at least one Indian wedding per season. It's always an amazing experience just witnessing the traditions that are carried out. Most recently I was hired to document Ishviene and Sorubh's wedding which spanned three days. The first night was the Sangeet -- it's where the families come together with gifts, dance, food, and lots of celebrating. I then documented the Mehndi, where Henna (temporary) tattoos are applied. The third day was filled with various ceremonies, wardrobe changes, and of course, the reception.

As a photographer, I'm always blown away by the colors and patterns I see at Indian weddings. It's a feast for the eyes as they say. At Ishviene and Sorubh's Sangeet and wedding reception, this was all enhanced by the use of colorful lights that accented and complimented their attire. Personally what made it even greater for me, was the fact that they dressed in blue the first night, which happens to be my favorite color! Below you'll see some photos that spanned the three days. You can also check out their slideshow over on the right hand side of my blog. Enjoy!

Heidi and Reuben -- Wedding at the Boston Harbor Hotel

2009-04-23T23:03:00.013-04:00

A cloudy day doesn't usually bring a smile to most people's faces. However, for a photographer it could mean nice even light which could bring nice smiles and very little squinting. Well, on March 28th, it was actually sunny, but as we approached Boston on 93 we noticed a huge layer of fog. I was excited because we were headed to the Boston Harbor Hotel to shoot Heidi and Reuben's wedding. It was a great day and it was awesome to learn more about how they met. It's one of those modern day romances -- they found each other through Match.com. And they truly are a perfect match! View their slideshow here: Heidi and Reuben

Jaime and Shane's album design...

2009-03-12T15:42:00.009-04:00

Last September as we headed down to the Cape, it was raining. It was one of those days that was suppose to clear out, and boy did it ever! Jaime and Shane were blessed with some great weather on their wedding day. Just below is a sample spread from their album. You can view the entire album by clicking here.

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-26T14:16:00.002-05:00

Martha's Vineyard in September

2008-10-29T22:11:00.010-04:00

Last month we had a great opportunity to document a wedding on Martha's Vineyard. Mariana and Hayden were blessed with some of New England's finest weather! Their ceremony took place at East Chop Light in Oak Bluffs. Their reception was held under a lit tent and a starry night at a good friend's home in West Tisbury. I think we could all use one of those friends :)

Below are a few images from their day and here is a link to their slideshow:
Mariana and Hayden's slideshow

Meet Lincoln

2008-10-16T14:27:00.005-04:00

It's been a busy yet rewarding season and it's been a while since I've posted a blog entry. There were so many great weddings we documented this summer and I want to post a few of them. But first I thought I'd share a little news. My wife, Amy and I welcomed our son Lincoln into the world two weeks ago. His sister Chelsea is really happy to have a little brother! While Chelsea shares many traits with my side of the family, Lincoln, so far, appears to have many features from Amy's family. Attached is a shot of Lincoln from a couple days ago. His brow tends to furrow when he hears the clicking of my camera...

This is where we held our reception...

2008-07-24T14:17:00.007-04:00

My wife, Amy and I tied the knot back in July of 2002. We had a relatively small wedding (100 people) and living in Boston, we found the Exchange Conference Center to be the perfect location.

So I always get a little sentimental when I return. This time around it was for Alissa and Brian's wedding. We had great weather that day and there were a few surprises (some nice sail boats and a trolley or two which made for some nice back drops). Also, it was really cool to learn that Brian constructed the chuppah which was used for their ceremony. You can see a picture of it below along with others. Also, here is a link to their slideshow: Alissa and Brian's slideshow

Castle Hill Inn, Newport

2008-07-10T13:03:00.002-04:00

It's hard to beat their engagement shoot at Fenway Park, but I think I can say we did indeed! Heidi and Ben were blessed with some of the finest weather on their wedding day and Castle Hill Inn provided a perfect setting for their day. I've gotten to know them pretty well over the past year or so and know that they love taking photos. Well, as a photographer this just makes your job a blast. Below you'll find a few images from their magical day along with a link to their slideshow (Heidi tells me that her mom has it set as her home page since so many patients at their office have asked to see the wedding photos).
Heidi and Ben's slideshow

More Fire Trucks!

2008-07-02T12:45:00.002-04:00

Jillian and Charlie's wedding was very cool for a few reasons. Not only were they totally laid back and fun, but they brought a fire truck to their wedding! It was the 2nd one I've seen in as many years at weddings that I've documented. Last year, it was at Michelle and Matt's wedding that we took time to swing by Dad's fire house down in the South End of Boston. This time around, it was Charlie's crew that rendezvoused with us and showed up with Charlie's truck. Oh, and they also brought Rocky, the family dog. I thought it was a good idea to have Charlie hold Rocky, rather than Jillian. Their wedding ceremony was held at St. Anthony's in Gloucester and the reception was held at the Crane Estate in Ipswich. Here are a few samples as well as a link to their slideshow... http://www.michaeljcharles.com/slideshow/jillian_charlie

Erin and Cory's album design

2008-06-16T11:33:00.009-04:00

Last fall I had an opportunity to document Erin and Cory's wedding at the Barn at Gibbet Hill in Groton (one of my all time favorite venues). It was raining that day when we showed up at Erin's home. Meanwhile, the folks at the Barn were watching the radar closely and by the time Erin arrived it was determined that we could pull off having the ceremony outside. Well, perhaps one of the coolest things that day was right after Erin and Cory kissed the sun came out in full force. Everyone cheered and rejoiced - it was such great symbolism, almost as if God was smiling down and cheering along. Perhaps that's why their sunset shot (currently featured on my portfolio page) holds even more meaning (to me as least). Although we all hoped for sun, I don't think anyone knew it would be coming out that day.

I had the pleasure of seeing both Erin and Cory at their cousin Alissa and Brian's wedding this past weekend. We took some cool extended family night photos with the Boston Harbor and lights in the background. At one point Cory joked that they'd have to invite me to all of their family reunions in the future (I guess it seems I'm always there when they get together). That would be an honor for sure :)

Click on the link below to view their album:
http://www.michaeljcharles.com/albums/erin_cory/

My first wedding on the Cape this season

2008-06-09T20:31:00.004-04:00

My first wedding on the Cape this season was for Betsy and Mark. Everything took place at Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee. The weather and landscape provided for a perfect setting. They had a good sized bridal party and there was plenty of joking around. Both Betsy and Mark were so humble when they first met with me, telling me things like "well, you have your work cut out for you." They couldn't have been further from the truth...

Red Sox fans will appreciate this Fenway Park shoot

2008-05-28T14:16:00.002-04:00

Earlier this month I was invited to Fenway Park for an engagement shoot with Heidi and Ben. We had roughly 25 minutes to shoot once inside the park and we couldn't go on the field. But we basically had the entire park to ourselves! It was such a great treat. I've posted the slideshow below and you can also check it out in the portfolio section of my site. We all know at least a dozen Red Sox fans or more. Feel free to share this with them...

Fenway Park Engagement Shoot

Hyeshin and Robert

2008-05-20T09:35:00.004-04:00

Looking back on Hyeshin and Robert's wedding, it was one of those days where it started out cloudy and then all of a sudden the sky opened up! It was right around the time of the ceremony that the sun popped out. Following the ceremony I was capturing an image of Hyeshin and Robert just outside of Highrock Church in Arlington when Hyeshin's veil was taken away by the wind. If you watch the slideshow you can see exactly when it takes place (see below).

The reception was held at the Westin in Waltham which had some really nice settings and lighting for photos. Below are a few samples and here is the link to their slideshow: Hyeshin and Robert's Slideshow

Jenny and Kevin

2008-05-08T11:39:00.010-04:00

I've been busy with many engagement shoots and have been working away on albums. But I wanted to make sure I posted a few images from Jenny and Kevin's wedding earlier this spring. Their entire day was hosted at the Intercontinental Hotel in Boston. It's a relatively new venue and it was my first time shooting there. We had a great time! Congratulations to Jenny and Kevin!

You can view their slideshow by clicking here:

Rebecca and Dan's Album Design...

2008-04-09T21:26:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone,

I just added Rebecca and Dan's album design to my blog. You can check it and others out over on the right hand column or by clicking here.

Femaris and Gabriel

2008-04-01T16:30:00.005-04:00

Earlier this winter we documented Femaris and Gabriel's wedding. Everything started out at Boston College and the reception was at Atkinson Resort and Country Club. It was a really warm celebration. Many guests travelled from abroad to be with them on their special day. And a good friend of theirs married them, which was really cool. Here area few shots and below is a link to their slideshow.

Enjoy!

-MJC

CLICK HERE to view their slideshow

Our little Easter bunny...

2008-03-23T22:22:00.004-04:00

Happy Spring!

Nichole and Jim's Summer Tour

2008-03-04T15:13:00.007-05:00

On Sunday I met up with Nichole Clarke and Jim Gerdeman to take photos for their press kit. Their two bands, Orange Nichole and Mercy James Gang will be hitting the road this summer on a 5 city tour from Boston to Chicago.

Nichole and Jim handled the cold weather well and we all laughed quite a bit. Here are a few of my favorites from our shoot...

Tara and Matt's Slideshow

2008-02-11T20:25:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone,

Just thought I'd share a slideshow from Tara and Matt's wedding last month. Their ceremony took place at Immaculate Conception in Revere and their reception was held at the Tewksbury Country Club.
Click here to view their slideshow!

New slideshow added

2008-01-03T13:05:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year everyone!

I just added a new slideshow to the portfolio section of my website. You can check it out here...Jen and Leo

These photos were taken in Copley Square last Friday.

Enjoy!

-MJC

Aruba

2007-11-14T14:38:00.000-05:00

Earlier this summer I had the unique opportunity to travel to Aruba to document Melissa and Arthur's wedding. We recently met to design their album. Reviewing the images reminded me of what a great time I had with them. In downtown Aruba, we walked the streets for their engagement shoot. Everywhere we turned there were old buildings with vibrant colors - a photographer's dream! Two days later I documented their wedding celebration on a small island just off the coast of Aruba. Melissa and Arthur were such great hosts to not only their closest friends and family, but to me and my family as well. Here are a few shots...

My little pumpkin...

2007-11-09T10:41:00.000-05:00

Pumpkins are Chelsea's favorite things at the moment. When we go on walks with her she'll point to people's doorsteps and exclaim "GA" whenever she sees one. It was only fitting that we dressed her up as a pumpkin for Halloween...

Rockport in October...

2007-11-08T21:52:00.000-05:00

I first met Kim and Dave at Meg and Kevin's wedding last year. They were both in the bridal party and were beginning to plan their very own wedding. Last month I had an opportunity to meet up with them again in Rockport where we documented their engagement. Kim's a big Sox fan - yay!! And Dave is a huge Pats fan so we decided to have a little fun with that...

Lindsay and Tom

2007-08-31T12:57:00.001-04:00

Last month we had so much fun documenting Lindsay and Tom's wedding. We even took a break to play a little tennis! Here are a few images from their day...

Liz and Jon

2007-06-13T15:26:00.000-04:00

Liz and Jon were married at St. Joseph's Chapel on the campus of Holy Cross in Worcester. I'd never been there before and found the architecture to be just amazing! Liz and Jon really shine when they are around each other and it was great to be there to celebrate with them. Here's a sneak peak from their day which includes a few images of that great chapel...

Nicole and Rob

2007-05-18T17:05:00.000-04:00

When I first met Nicole and Rob it was via transcontinental video conference. At the time they were living and working in England where Rob was born but had plans of hosting their wedding in Boston where they would settle. It was kind of fun to hold our meeting in this way. The other cool thing is I learned that Rob also works as a wedding photographer. At their wedding I kept joking that the pressure was on for me to perform because Rob shares the same profession. The two of them would just laugh at me. Turns out they both were such an easy going couple and we've become good friends since.

Paddy Saul, One Town Tasted

2007-04-26T08:36:00.000-04:00

Paddy Saul is local singer songwriter who originally hails from Ireland. I first met Paddy while he was laying down tracks at my brother Brian's studio, Zippah Recording in Brookline. We hit it off and ended up going out on a photo shoot. The results of our shoot can be found on Paddy's new CD, One Town Tasted which was released earlier this month.

Paddy has a couple of gigs locally at the Druid in Cambridge on May 6th and 13th before heading off to tour Ireland. Be sure to check out Paddy's website where you can learn more about upcoming gigs and hear samples from his new album.

I'm up for best wedding photographer again...

2007-04-10T09:15:00.000-04:00

As you may know I won CBS's Alist Boston poll in 2006. Well, I've been nominated again and could use your vote. Just click on the Alist logo below.

Thanks so much for your support!

Michael

St. Patrick's Day in Boston

2007-04-02T22:15:00.000-04:00

This year St. Paddy's day in Boston brought us Irish flags, shamrocks, green beer, and Jenny and Jon's wedding. What a great way to kick off my 2007 wedding season!

My latest creation...

2007-03-29T18:50:00.000-04:00

I've been meaning to share a couple photos of my daughter Chelsea. Below is a photo of her at 3 months old and another at 3 days. It's amazing how much she has changed in such a short period of time. Just the other day, she received her first haircut! Chelsea brings so much joy to our hearts and we are truly blessed to have her in our lives.

Caithlin and Peter on the Cape...

2007-02-22T16:31:00.000-05:00

Caithlin and Peter deserve some sort of wedding couple's award! While temperatures must have been hovering in the 20's with the wind chill they were determined to take photos on the beach. I think it was their laughter and obvious love for each other that must have kept them warm...

Annu and Manish

2006-11-13T18:45:00.000-05:00

This past September I headed off to Martha's Vineyard to document Annu and Manish's wedding. Aside from the Justice of the Peace, I was the only guest present. Following their brief ceremony we headed out for a few photos. The wind was pretty strong that day but thankfully the rain held off. We had a great time riding around the island, making stops in Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, and Edgartown. It was a real honor to be a part of their day...

Amanda and Mike

2006-11-13T17:31:00.000-05:00

When I met with Amanda and Mike this past August for their engagement shoot the location of choice was a beach in Scituate. During the shoot they both expressed their love for the ocean and hopes that one day they'll get to live very close to it. Fitting then that they chose to have their bridal party photos taken on the beach. Their venue (Atlantica) was also situated right on the waters edge.

Here are a couple of shots from their day...

Cara and Ben's engagement shoot

2006-08-25T17:05:00.000-04:00

Last week I had the opportunity to hang out with Cara and Ben. We all decided to meet up at Starbucks where Ben first "popped the question". Here are a couple of shots from our day...

July 1st / Melinda and Josh's wedding

2006-07-24T21:56:00.000-04:00

Amy and I had a great time documenting Melinda and Josh's wedding. We started out at Boston College's campus and ended up at the Exchange Conference Center. This was amazing because not only was it the site where we hosted our reception but it was almost 4 years to the date that we got married. But enough about us. Below are a few images from Melinda and Josh's wedding.

Congrats guys!