Howard & Andrea's engagement session

We met Howard and Andrea earlier this year when they came to talk with us about photography for their wedding next year. Howard impressed me with his apparent ability to recite random facts from our online Bio!! I felt quite honored that he took the time to actually read it, let alone remember it!
They recently moved to Brooklyn and with this in mind, plus the fact Howard loves the Brooklyn Bridge, we decided to shoot their engagement session there. The sky was clear and the sun was out even though the temperatures dropped to around freezing at times taking into account the wind chill factor!! I'm not complaining however. We had the bridge to ourselves for the most part and a fun shoot together.

James & Michelle

Surely one of the most challenging jobs facing a photographer is that of shooting the wedding of a fellow photographer!! You know the scrutiny is going to be much higher and given the chance, they would probably prefer to shoot it themselves if they could, but if you share somewhat of a similar vision it can make for great photos.
James is a very talented photographer himself and got married to Michelle on November 3rd at the Bridgeview Yacht Club in Island Park. This was on the heels of Hurricane Noel and although the beach proved to be too windy for most group shots, we were blessed with phenomenal light as the sun set.

Michelle and her mom prepare the dress before putting it on..





This is not your traditional bridal crop, but I love it!! Michelle was about to come downstairs as Kim was able to get this shot..



..and then a quick peek to see if her bridesmaids were ready for her big entrance..



The ring bearer was a little shy at first but soon warmed up to the job at hand..



OK, you know it was just a matter of time before James pulled out his Canon 5D and started taking photos!!



The key to taking beach photos when the wind is gusting 40mph... very, very short hair!!



James with 5D in hand again..



We found some minor shelter behind the dunes but it wasn't long before the wind started tugging on Michelle's veil..



...but by the time we got to the Bridgeview Yacht Club, the wind had subsided and the sunset created an amazing pinkish blue sky backdrop..





One of my favorite candid photos from the day. This was taken as I followed Michelle downstairs from her bridal suite..



The DJ at the reception was incredible - probably one of the best I've ever worked with! At one point during the reception, he had all the guys crowd around Michelle and sing "You've lost that loving feeling" into 'fork' microphones!!



Three sexy guests taking a self portrait...



..then checking out the result :-) !

Katrina & Michael's Wedding

October 27th was Katrina and Michael's wedding day and one that Kim and I had been looking forward to for a long time. One of the first weddings we ever photographed was that of Michael's sister Rachel and to this day we are ever so grateful for her trust and support she has shown us and also for being our biggest advocate!! We love you Rachel!

The weather started off somewhat overcast and wet, but by the time the formals rolled around, the sun was out and the light was perfect - in fact after the ceremony, Katie and Michael drove off in a convertible!

So much time is spent and so many decisions are made on the seemingly small details of a wedding and we make sure these decisions don't go unrecorded. We know how much thought went into choosing the right shoes and the right flowers, but what about the programs? Did Katie and her mom sift through catalogue after catalogue of samples trying to find the right font for the right paperstock or the right ribbon that ties it all in together? We don't always know so we photograph it with equal importance..



While Kim was with Katie as she was getting ready, she noticed this beautiful note from Michael. .



Katie's mom and her Maid of Honor help her secure the dress...



...and Katie poses for a beautiful natural light portrait..



While Katie was adjusting her veil in the mirror, her mom walked behind her to admire her beautiful daughter - the shot is not 100% sharp but it doesn't need to be - the mood is intact!



What happens when you have lipstick on your teeth and no handkerchief in sight? You have a bridesmaid use her dress of course!



When Michael showed up at the Church it had just stopped pouring buckets so the limo driver shelters him from the falling raindrops from the trees overhead..



Katie's arrival..



I love this shot below!! Katie was waiting in her limo for all her bridesmaids to enter the Church and one of the flower girls couldn't resist a peek as she followed them..



The ceremony was held in a beautiful brick Church in Babylon - The Church of Saint Joseph..



The bridesamids check out Katie's new Wedding Ring!..



...and Michael grabs the video guys camera for some impromptu footage..







This is a fleeting grab shot that I am sometimes lucky enough to capture - the Groom toying with his new piece of jewelry! I would say that most men don't really wear rings until they get married so having a ring on your finger is sometimes an unusual sensation at first and causes this sub-concious reaction...



Before the reception began, I left the cocktail hour with Katie and Michael so they could check out their room before the guests came in. I turned off the flash and let them enjoy some moments from a distance, free from distractions..



If there's a fun group of people at the wedding, the reception is quite often my favorite part of the day! The libations have started to take effect and the guests are about as camera friendly as you could wish for. Once the party gets cranking all I have to do is people watch, point and focus - the revelers take care of the rest...

December 2nd 2006

Happy Anniversary (December 2nd) Lauren and Brett! I photographed their wedding at the Nassau Country Club in Glen Cove last year and wanted to post a couple of photos from the day.

Lauren looking positively lovely in front of some of the Country Club's Christmas decorations..



A dining room shot I kind of like complete with Christmas Tree and wreaths..

Dianna & Chris' Engagement Session

I shot Dianna and Chris recently for their engagement session - we actually photographed Chris' cousin wedding last year and they liked us so much they booked us without even formally meeting with us! :-) The day of the E-session was incredibly cold and extremely windy which is never great, but brutal if you plan on shooting at the beach. As luck would have it, the Vanderbilt mansion was a stone's throw from the beach where we met and somewhat secluded from the elements so we decided to head there to do the shoot. It just so happens that Dianna and Chris are actually getting married at the Vanderbilt mansion anyway so it was a good call all around.

Heading into the mansion grounds on a cobblestone road, you are met with a grand gate and archway - it feels like you are entering a medieval castle!


This was a originally a silhouette shot which I backed out a little to show more detail in the faces. Dianna could not keep a straight face for this one and laughed every time their lips met!




We did this shoot on October 28th so Halloween was just around the corner. As we finished up in the courtyard, one of the staffers appeared dressed like Cat in the Hat to ask what we were up to!

Dianna and Chris - thank you for sharing some time with me to take these photos - I know your wedding will be spectacular at this gorgeous location!!

Kate & Jared's Engagement Session

Kate and Jared are such a great couple - completely and contagiously in love with one another! I fell in love with them during our initial meeting and am really excited to be shooting their wedding next year. I met them at Cold Spring Harbor park on Saturday to shoot their engagement session, the weather was a bit chilly but the cloud cover made for excellent light and we were able to get some great shots together.

I process all my images in Adobe's Lightroom and have managed to concoct a kind of washed out, 1970s, faded, pinkish, bluish tone that I like to apply to some of the images...

And a cool sepia tone as well..


It's a great time to shoot on Long Island right now. The lingering summer we had means that the leaves are only recently turning, creating beautiful, warm toned backgrounds..




Thank you Jared and Kate for indulging me with my off beat creativity! There is a beautiful willow tree at the park with flowing leaves and wispy branches and I wanted to shoot a few shots peaking through the leaves..


This is one of my favorite shots - a little abstract perhaps but quite nice as a ring shot.


Quite often, the best images from a session are the spontaneous candids we do, usually toward the end of the shoot when everyone is loosened up and comfortable being in front of the camera. Although Kate and Jared were pretty comfortable from the get go, I really like this 'piggy back' image we did at the end of the shoot..

Thanks Jared and Kate - I had a great time shooting you guys and can't wait for the wedding!