Melissa & Ethan's Wedding

Melissa & Ethan's wedding thrilled us! When we'd first met them many months ago, Melissa told us she was shy about photography. But we quickly gained her confidence and trust, and she is such a natural that we were not at all surprised at the amazing results on their wedding day. :-) (Click image to the right to see a larger version.)

It was a beautiful May afternoon as we headed to The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers. This premiere venue is known not only for its incredible views of the Hudson River, but also for its first-class treatment of guests. We absolutely cannot debate that excellent reputation. We arrived at The Lighthouse and were escorted to the bridal suite, where we met Melissa and her hairdresser. We immediately began photographing since Melissa didn't want to miss a single detail. Soon, the suite was filled with family members. We enjoyed ourselves immensely because we got to mingle and meet everyone, all the while capturing everyone's excitement. As Melissa's incredible flower arrangements were arriving (provided by the exclusive services of Banchet Flowers) and the details for the ceremony were finalized, the family was ushered out so Melissa could finish preparing for her private meeting and photo session with Ethan.

Ethan was waiting outside The Lighthouse on the pier. It was warm but also breezy, perfect conditions for him to see his incredibly beautiful bride for the first time. Melissa slowly came behind Ethan to give him a hug. We let them enjoy a few moments together privately, and then began our portrait session with them — a bit of fashion, with a generous amount of playfulness, and allowing them to simply be themselves. It all made for a really, really cool and totally enjoyable time for everyone. We can't wait for them to see the gorgeous results.

We can't say enough positive things about The Lighthouse, and particuarly the attention to detail that the event coordinator, Eric, gave to every phase of the day. Abigail Kirsch is the exclusive caterer for The Lighthouse, and the service and food were exquisite (THANK YOU, Melissa & Ethan, for making us feel so at home as guests there). The live musical entertainment was provided by the soulful sounds of the Hank Lane Music, who kept the happy audience on the floor all night, both young and old.

We had an amazing time on this day. And we could tell that Melissa & Ethan, no longer shy about photography, enjoyed it immensly, as well. This day capped off an incredible weekend of wedding photography for us. We know you're looking forward to seeing the extensive gallery of photos, and you can rest assured that they will soon be available for everyone to enjoy in the "Client Proofs" section of our main website. Feel free to click on the "comment" link beneath this blog to leave your own thoughts about the day!

Heather & Damian's Wedding

Heather & Damian's wedding day was eagerly anticipated by Jenni and myself. We'd gotten to know Heather well over the past several months via phone calls and emails. The first time we met her we knew without a doubt that we wanted to be her photographers. It's amazing how things worked out to bring all of us to this day. (Click the picture to the left to see a larger version).

Preparations began at the incredibly lovely home of her friend, Cindy, who kindly took care of every detail and need for Heather and the rest of us there. The relaxed and spacious atmosphere was perfect, and Heather was able to take her time getting ready. As her mother and sister helped her put on her elegant gown, we could feel the charge of excitement in the air as they buttoned up the back. Flowers on the Porch provided her gorgeous flowers.

The church was a short trip down the road, making it easy for everyone to arrive and breathe a bit before the ceremony, which was conducted by Heather's uncle. As Damian and his groomsmen marched towards the altar, we saw the smiles of parents and grandparents in the front rows, all incredibly happy for the couple.

Immediately following the ceremony, we were delighted to meet Heather and Damian in the garden area of the incredible Round Hill House. This was particularly exciting for us because they had designated a full hour of private time to spend with us to create some beautifully exciting and romantic portraits. After only a few minutes, it was as if we were watching them fall in love all over again. There was such amazing chemistry between the two. (THANK YOU, Heather & Damian, for making room for such valuable time to photograph you. When you see the amazing pictures, we know you'll be just as thrilled as we are!!!). If you'd like to see a small teaser of some of the day's photos, click this link to see a brief preview slideshow (PC only).

When we finished their private photo session, we joined the rest of the family for photos, and then it was time for the rest of the cocktail hour and introduction of the wedding party. Damian led Heather in a wonderfully performed ballroom dance. The crowd went wild as Damian dipped Heather for a spectacular finale. Dinner followed immediately afterwards, and all were able to enjoy the expert services of the staff at Round Hill (thank you, Heather & Damian, for the excellent dinner!). Although Heather is an event planner, we were so glad to see her simply be a bride on her wedding day so she could enjoy every minute of it with her fun-loving groom.

Keep your eyes on our main website, where you'll soon be able to see the complete online gallery in the "Client Proofs" section. Once Heather and Damian have had the opportunity to see their photos first, the gallery will be opened for everyone to see.

Jan & Greg's Engagement

Jan and Greg were just perfect together for their engagement photo shoot. We met at a beautiful park on a gorgeous day that made for conditions perfect for spending some alone time together. To our surprise, there was also a car show at the same location. So after shooting with them in the woods for a while, we decided to take a stroll to see some old classic cars (Greg is a car buff), and we even got to take some pictures next to some incredible rides.

As Jan and Greg walked together by the lake, we couldn't help but feel privileged to have such an important role for their upcoming wedding. Traveling from Connecticut to meet us, they're a beautiful couple with true appreciation for photography. And we're so glad they planned their day so they could have a good time with us. Jan is a gorgeous natural in front of the camera, and we think Greg probably surprised himself by staying so close to Jan and holding her tight. That's what we love to see. :-)

Their online gallery will be available soon at our main website in the "Client Proofs" area, so stay tuned!

Michelle & Rob's Engagement

When we saw that the weather report called for not only rain, but even thunderstorms, Jenni and I thought: "Great!!" And I don't mean the sarcastic type of "great"... but the excited can't-wait to get out there sort of "great". Alas, the weather actually cleared up for Michelle & Rob's engagement session and we joked with them about how much we were looking forward to getting them soaked! ;-)

But rain or shine, we had a really really fun time with these guys. They'd travelled all the way from Boston, and we were so grateful that they chose to spend a good amount of time with us so we could get to know them better, talk about their incredible wedding plans, and most importantly to spend some time shooting. As we walked around, Rob wondered to himself whether it seemed conceited to say, "We're busy today walking around with our two photographers." And I have to say... while it's not conceited, it is DEFINITELY something special, something different. On this day, we were THEIR photographers, and we wanted to make it memorable for them. We had lots of laughs, lots of fun, and there was plenty of romance in the air, too. They had no problem at all staying close and allowing their love to show for the camera. We can't wait for their wedding in Saratoga Springs. They're going to make sure to give us time so that together we can produce incredible pictures. :-)

Their online gallery of engagement photos will be released within a day or so; keep checking our main website to find them in the "Client Proofs" section.

Roseanne & Jeff's Wedding (UPDATED)

Roseanne must have been the bubbliest bride of May! And with her close friend, Denise, keeping everyone's champagne glass filled with the bubbly, it was entirely appropriate. We absolutely adored Roseanne's preparations. She and her two bridesmaids were as giddy as school girls and so much fun.

We arrived at the Old Stone Church, which was set atop a high hill overlooking an intensely green valley, and we found their family members waiting for the arrival of the bride. You could tell that everyone there was so excited for Roseanne and Jeff. It was as if it was the only wedding in the world on that day. As we thought about the day that we shared with them, we could not help but feel incredible happiness for them.

We spent some private time with Roseanne and Jeff for a romantic photo session, and created some stunning images for them. If you'd like to see a preview, click this link for a brief slideshow (PC only).

Following this session, we headed out to The Eagle's Nest, a venue with yet another beautifully scenic valley view. We always enjoy working with the staff there, and the dinners are superb (thank you Roseanne and Jeff for your kindness in this regard). We found a few more pockets of time to shoot some fun pictures of the happy couple, and then it was party time. The musical entertainment was provided by fun-loving DJ Erick Santana of "Right On Cue Productions". Roseanne's beautiful flowers were provided by Flowers By David Anthony.

The complete gallery of images will be available upon their return from the honeymoon. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the day or their photos, so post your comment to this blog!

UPDATE: The incredible responses to this wedding have truly touched us. We appreciate both the emails as well as the comments that you've left on the blog. So by popular demand, we're going to tease you with ONE MORE image from Roseanne & Jeff's private photo session. We hope you enjoy viewing it as much as we did shooting it! (and remember, you can click the image to see it larger).

Mary Ann and Benjeil's Wedding

Jenni and I enjoyed a beautiful wedding day in Brooklyn. We found Mary Ann at the Akwaaba Mansion, a lovely bed & breakfast, where she was getting the final touches of her makeup applied. The warmth of the room and the friendliness of her bridesmaids set the perfect tone for photography of her preparations. She was absolutely breathtaking in her elegant gown and shoes, both by Vera Wang. Her flowers were designed and arranged by Benjeil's sister and added a beautiful splash of color that complemented the colors of the wedding. (Click the picture to the left to see a larger version).

There was so much richness to their wedding, both culturally as well as emotionally. Two musicians introduced the ceremony by walking down the long aisle of the church, beating a set of African drums while all eyes looked attentively towards them. After the wedding party took their stations at the front, Mary Ann was slowly escorted down to Benjeil by her father. And when the ceremony was over, there was a jumping over a broom by the extremely happy couple.

Once they'd spent some time receiving the greetings from joyous friends and family, we took some family and party photos, and then headed over to the Vanderbilt at South Beach in Staten Island. Since there was a beach right there, we asked Benjeil if they'd like to take some time to walk on the sand for some romantic portraits. Mary Ann didn't hesitate and rapidly nodded a definite "yes!" And we're so glad that we were able to spend that time with the two of them. While we didn't spend long, the pictures that came out of that time together are some of our favorites because they really showcase how intensely Mary Ann and Benjeil love one another.

Mary Ann and Benjeil, thank you so much for letting us share in this incredible day. The staff at the Vanderbilt were very kind to us, even making sure that we were provided with a wonderful multi-course dinner. We truly felt like your honored guests there. The music provided by DJ Shuttle was among the best, and we could tell that you and Benjeil definitely enjoyed your time on the dance floor, as did everyone else.

The full gallery of images will be released after Mary Ann and Benjeil get back from their honeymoon. You'll find them at our main website in the "Client Proofs" section. For now, click this link for a slideshow preview of a few images (PC only). And feel free to click on the "comment" button to add your own thoughts and well-wishes to Mary Ann and Benjeil. We'd all love to hear from you.

Maureen and Andy's Engagement

After we'd completed the engagement session with this lovely couple, Jenni and I looked at one another and each said, "I love what I do!"

Maureen and Andy are incredibly easy-going people whom we immediately liked from the first moment we met them. We first got acquainted by phone several months ago, and Jenni and I knew right away how important photography would be to them. We could tell that Maureen has a love and an eye for the arts. She and Andy also share a love for music. All of those common interests are probably what drew our personalities together even before we knew much about one another. We feel this is an important part of what helps couples feel at ease with one another — when they can trust one another and mesh well for capturing pictures such an important event.

Maureen and Andy took a day off from school and from work, and they came quite a distance to spend this afternoon with us. They did a beautiful job during their photo session. Keeping them close together helped them both find a comfortable "place" for this first-time photo session. If they hadn't had a train to catch for home, we would probably still be snapping away right now. :-)

We're truly looking forward to their wedding in the Catskill Mountains area of NY.

Their online gallery is available right now in the "Client Proofs" section of our main website! We hope you enjoy them. Please feel free to leave a comment for them or for us by clicking on the "Comment" link below. We love to hear your thoughts.

Enjoying Your Galleries, Part 1

We're receiving great feedback from our clients who view their gallery images. Starting with this blog entry, we're going to periodically help you to enjoy the galleries even more by showing you features that you may not have noticed. This entry is all about the Slideshow feature.

Many of our engagement galleries run with 50 or 60 pictures; wedding galleries often run into the hundreds. When it's your first time looking at the gallery, we often recommend that you use the Slideshow feature so you can avoid having to click through each picture.

When you come into a client gallery, you'll see the grid of thumbnails and image names. Click on one of those thumbnails, and you'll see the following: A larger version of the picture, a list of print sizes and mounting options, other products available, etc., everything you need to place an order.


Immediately underneath the image, you'll see a short menu of options. For now, you want to click on the "Run Slideshow" option. Click this option with your mouse.

A small pop-up window will open, and you will have the ability to play the slideshow, which starts from the image that you initially clicked in your gallery session. You can click any of the numbers at the bottom of the window to see a different picture; you can navigate to the end or beginning of the slideshow; you can pause or begin playing the show again. You can turn the sound ON or OFF, as well as control the volume of the music. The options are yours to control, whether you're at home or at work.

The idea is that you can sit back, relax, and enjoy seeing the pictures for the first time without having to do a lot of clicking with your mouse. When you're done, simply close the window and browse through the gallery as normal.

Lela and Chris' Engagement

Today's engagement session with Lela and Chris rounded out our triple-header of shooting over the weekend. And we truly felt we hit a home run with this wonderful couple. They drove quite a ways to meet us for the session, and as soon as we'd gotten out of the car, they were each there to greet us with open arms and warm hugs. Though the skies were overcast, we knew it was going to be an incredible day.

After sitting to talk and get better reacquainted to go over their wedding plans and timeline, we got our gear together and began walking towards an ivy-covered stone wall. It might not at first have looked like the ideal spot to many for the beginning of our photo shoot, but we thought it was perfect. Lela and Chris hardly even needed prompting from us, because they immediately fell into a fit of simultaneous giggling, holding and squeezing. We made sure to capture it all.

Lela mentioned something to us that was completely untrue, however: She said she didn't feel she was photogenic. We found that to be extremely inaccurate! When a couple is relaxed and simply enjoying their time together and naturally demonstrating their love for one another, there is no such thing as an unphotogenic person. Lela and Chris have this incredible bond between them that we felt immediately, and it helped them both shine in front of the camera. We feel so privileged to have had the chance to capture so many beautiful sides to their personalities. They are TOTALLY photogenic, and it was a complete joy to be there with them. We shared a happy group hug as we said our goodbyes. :-)

Click on the above picture to see a larger version. Their online gallery will be made available soon in the "Clients Proofs" area of our main website. Feel free to leave your comments on this or any other entry of this blog. Jenni and I love hearing back from you! :-)

Kristin and Bryan's Engagement

What to say about Kristin and Bryan... Well, I suppose I can begin by saying that we adore this couple and cannot WAIT for their wedding on the beach to arrive. Kristin found out about us through the very kind words of another awesome bride whose wedding we enjoyed shooting last year. We love it when that happens! :-)

Kristin and Bryan were so jazzed about their engagement session that they actually drove 1-1/2 hours to meet us at a beautiful spot we'd found. After a little time spent getting to know one another, we told them, "Prepare yourselves." Their eyes flashed with happy smiling expressions, and the shooting began. What a fun couple they were, too. They fell into a very comfortable rhythm with us, and we were able to capture a wide range of expression and emotion with them. Sessions like this get us so pumped for their wedding day.


Towards the end of our e-session with them, we asked Kristin to hop up onto a stone ledge. While getting in position, she ripped a small hole in her turquoise sundress. Jenni and I felt horrible about it and apologized profusely. But Kristin's reaction? — "It's okay... really... no REALLY!!" And we could tell she truly meant it. Kristin and Bryan were up for WHATEVER ideas we had in mind for them, whether it meant needing to do a little laundry later or even if it meant some sewing. Got to love that. Bodes well for the wedding day. Kristin and Bryan... Prepare yourselves. (hahah!).

When we told them the session was over, Kristin said, "Awwww..." We were sorry it was over, too. :-)

Their gallery of photos will be online soon, available in the "Client Proofs" area of our main website. Until then, enjoy the sample above. (click on the image for a larger version)

Penny and Bob's Wedding

Since Penny and Bob had planned their ceremony to be held on the top deck of the yacht, Romantica, with a scenic cruise around Manhattan with their family and closest friends, we were hoping for a lovely day. With cloudless blue skies above our heads, we couldn't have asked for better. We met Penny that morning and were able to board the yacht early to get some shots of her final preparations. It was fun to see her so excited as she got herself ready to see Bob for the first time that day. As she walked up the stairs behind him to greet him, you could see Bob's happy anticipation and a range of other emotions as they finally melted into one another's arms for an unforgettably romantic time together before their guests arrived. What a joy it was for each of us to spend some time enjoying beautiful photography!

The ceremony was a warm and intimate affair, with some 75 of their smiling friends and family clustered around them on the upper deck. Penny's dress was absolutely gorgeous. Her AMAZING fiery red hair was accentuated with white flowers. Between her glamorous style and Bob's classic good looks in his black tux, they looked ready for a NY red carpet event. (click the picture on the right to see a larger version)

Flowers by Joan provided Penny's wedding bouquets and petals. We truly enjoyed ourselves aboard the Romantica, one of the fleet of yachts operated by the East Coast Yacht Charterers. The staff was very friendly and attended to everyone's needs during the tour. We were also thankful for the well-prepared meal and the variety that was served (thank you, Bob and Penny!). The tour took us from the pier at Weehawken, NJ, north towards the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, and then back south again towards the Statue of Liberty, after which we headed back past Ellis Island towards the pier. Both Bob and Penny love the water and sailing, and we were privileged to be there with them for such a scenic wedding.

We'll soon have their entire gallery available in the "Client Proofs" area of our main website. If you were there on Bob and Penny's wedding day, we'd love to make this blog entry an interactive experience for you by hearing your comments on what you enjoyed about the day. So feel free to post here!