Vanessa asked during her autumn wedding if I’d be up for photographing her “trash the dress” once the weather turned nice again in the spring. So, on a warm April day, we decided to go for a dip in chilly, 52 degree Lake Erie and “drown her gown.” What a trooper she was, plunging bravely into the cold water, joined by her husband Mike to help her along and fluff her dress. I’ll admit I rolled up my jeans a la Huckleberry Finn and waded up to my knees to get the right composition and angles, and cheered her along as she waded ever deeper, even laying down in the water and putting on a smile to hide the fact that she was freezing…

Getting ready to trash the dress.

Looking serene before the big chill.

Looking beautiful even when feeling so cold...

Vanessa's braver than me, I'm not afraid to admit

Walking on water.