Rutgers Gardens Wedding : Anna and Neal : New Brunswick, NJ
Anna and Neal were married on June 11th, with a ceremony at the Reformed Church of Highland Park and a reception in Rutgers Gardens in New Brunswick, NJ. These two met while studying at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Neal is from the West Coast, and Anna is from New Jersey and is the child of two opera singers. We had actually crossed paths in school, but it wasn’t until later that I started to get to know them, as they live near me and I always see them walking their dog through Fort Tryon Park. On the day of the wedding, I started out with Anna as she finished getting ready at the Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick before we took a short ride to the church. They wanted an intimate, elegant, relaxed wedding, which is why they picked Rutgers Gardens, surrounded by tons of greenery and lush sunlight. Once we were at the church, we took some pictures of the guests arriving as well as a few group pictures with the bridal party and family. At the wedding, the amazing harpist Kristi Shade—a mutual friend of mine and Anna’s—added an ethereal touch to the whole day. She is one of the most popular wedding vendors in the New York City area in addition to being a recording artist and musician, and it was amazing to have her there! The weather was perfect, which meant the reception was completely open and in the outside air. I don’t often get to create pictures in NYC that include the twilight sky and guests partying below, so I enjoy shooting outside of the city when I get the chance so I can capture a more rustic feel. I loved that the guests were able to step outside to chat or look at the stars before going back in to dance. I was able to take Anna and Neal aside at just the perfect moment, where the sun was just kissing the treetops. That 5–10-minute span, followed by the soft wash of evening light, often produces the best images of the day. My favorite image was the black and white portrait of them standing in front of the venue during the party, and they must have agreed, because they chose it for their 8x12 studio print enlargement on a cotton rich, heavyweight art paper. It looks stunning! I look for shots like that all day to get that one special print that hangs on the wall forever. Sometimes you just know as it happens, and sometimes you discover it like an artifact when going through the images. Anna & Neal, thank you so much for letting me be part of your wedding! It’s not often that I get to shoot weddings for people I know, and I’m so lucky that you contacted me early and asked me to be there!
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240 hours in South Korea : Seoul & Jeju Island : Asia
I've been with my wife, Hannah, for 9 years. After getting married last April, it was long past due for me to make the pilgrimage to her motherland. Last month, we traveled to Seoul and Jeju Island where I fell in love with South Korea. Koreans are a proud, resilient, peaceful people who know how to eat well and take care of each other. Their culture is rooted in centuries of tradition having only really modernized (in a huge way) in the recent era. There is an appreciation and reverence for one another built in to the body language and verbiage of every day life. The former president, Lee Myung-bak, told Barack Obama that his country's biggest educational challenge was that "parents are too demanding." When waiting for the subway, neat lines are formed on either side of the train door. Those on board get out without being rushed by people trying to get in. People sit in circles with one another and serve the oldest (and wisest) first. It's always a communal atmosphere. All of the food takes time. A year to make the fermented soybean paste which is a base to so much of their cooking. A week to make a glass of makgeolli which accompanies many meals. An entire day to make a broth for one of the staple stews. There's so much love built in to everything they do. It must be working as they're said to have the longest lifespan on the planet - 90.8 years. I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking, but I'd encourage a stop in Korea on your next trip to Asia. It's an amazing place. All images taken on the fly with the Sony RX100 IV point and shoot camera. (Hint: You dont need to bring a bulky dSLR on vacation)
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Oheka Castle Wedding : Megan and Alex : Huntington, NY
Megan and Alex were married on June 4th, with a ceremony and reception at Oheka Castle in Huntington, NY. The entire event was held on the grounds of Oheka Castle, the famous Huntington venue on Long Island. I feel lucky every time I get the chance to visit the castle. Due to the sheer size of the estate, the opportunities for unique photography are vast! You could shoot multiple weddings and have completely different backdrops every time. In addition to the classic character of the castle, it can be decorated in so many ways, and every time people drive in for the first time, the reaction is always the same: “wow.” Even though it was a long day, with 12 hours of coverage, it really flew by. Every moment was filled with fun. While the women were getting their hair and makeup done, Alex and the men took over the estate playing sports, filming 360-degree video footage, and escaping up to Oheka’s “man club” in the tower. Megan looked so amazing in her Lee Petra Grebenau dress as she got ready in the instantly recognizable bridal suite overlooking the expansive, Versailles-esque gardens. This dress designer has quickly become one of Israel’s most prestigious fashion brands, known for its luxurious bridal and evening gowns, each of which is custom-made. This one was magical in the way it caught the light. After a touching first look in the tree-lined entryway leading up to the castle, we grabbed some pictures of the bride and groom as well as the family and bridal party before the ceremony. Thankfully, the weather held out for a beautiful outdoor ceremony overlooking the gardens before we came inside for the reception. Throughout the day, it was abundantly clear that Megan and Alex were incredibly close with so many friends and family, to the point where it didn’t feel like their guests were separate people from all walks of life but one big family getting together for a happy reunion! This was especially clear in watching both of them with their parents—they just genuinely have so much fun with each other and everyone around them. Although I was able to get the quintessential Oheka Castle image that you absolutely must get—the wide shot of the bridge walking down the aisle from above—my favorite shot from this wedding was actually one that my second photographer, Matt, got. It’s a close-up aerial shot that he captured just as the wind moved around Megan as she walked, and it was absolutely gorgeous! Thank you, Megan & Alex, for letting me be part of your amazing day! And a big thank you to Karyn Michael Events for helping to make sure such a large event went off so beautifully.
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Vendors
Wedding Gown: Lee Petra Grebenau
Florals: Pedestals Floral Decorators
Planner: Karyn Michael Events
Cinematography: Millimeter Photo
Bridesmaids Dresses: The Dessy Group
Makeup: Makeup by Marie-Therese
Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo
Band: Elan Artists
Central Park Elopement : Ivan and Martina : New York, NY
Ivan and Martina eloped on September 20th at Central Park. I shoot a couple elopements every year, and it’s always so much fun to be part of the intimate feeling of the day! Martina and Ivan flew in from Montenegro with just a couple of their best friends to be witnesses. We started at a rented apartment in NoHo to prepare for capturing pictures around New York surrounded by its culture, tall buildings, and the iconic Central Park. I’m a big fan of renting an Airbnb or One Fine Stay for getting-ready photos because they often have so much more space than what hotels can offer and often cost significantly less money! If you can, find a place with large windows for natural light and plenty of room. After I arrived, a limousine pulled up and whisked us uptown to the West Side of Central park for their ceremony in the Ladies Pavilion, a unique little spot tucked away next to the lake which you can access from Central Park West near the Natural History Museum. It’s one of the spots in Central Park you have to make prior arrangements to use, but it’s worth it! To add to the New York flavor of the day, we got out of the limo a little early and took a pedicab the rest of the way. In my 15 years here, I’ve never ridden in one before, and I ended up loving the image of them rolling along as I rode behind! The weather was perfect as we arrived at the pavilion for the ceremony, and Ivan and Martina enjoyed a beautiful moment together to the cheers of onlooking New Yorkers. That was by far my favorite part of the day. For as stylish and cool as Ivan and Martina come across, they turned into butter for their vows! Because this was a last-minute elopement booking, I was totally surprised to see my buddy, Kaipo, from 15 Minutes of Frame, filming the ceremony as I rolled up. I was also startled to see two talented people I went to music school with, playing as we approached the Pavilion! You’d think I’d see people I know more often with as many weddings as I shoot, but it’s always a surprise when I do. After the ceremony, we walked around looking for opportunities to get some pictures around NYC. It’s always fun for me because people from overseas especially want to feature the city itself as prominently as possible in their pictures. I always try to give them an insider’s look of New York—not just Times Square or the Statue of Liberty but side streets far South of Midtown or casual strolls on the Upper West Side. I feel so honored when a couple comes to New York to elope and chooses me out of a sea of possibilities to photograph their wedding. Often, these photos of their NYC vows accompany them back to a more traditional party at home, so I know just how much of an impact the images will be when received by their family and friends who weren’t able to be there. Thank you, Ivan & Martina, for letting me be part of this amazing day! I hope you will always remember your adventures in New York!
Bowery Hotel Wedding : Carolyn and Jonathan : New York, NY
Carolyn and Jonathan were married on November 18th, with a ceremony at the famous Daniel restaurant and a reception at the Bowery Hotel. It’s amazing being a wedding photographer in New York because there are so many different ways to throw a truly personalized event, and I seem to see them all! This particular wedding was unique because it was spread out over two days so that they could give attention to the ceremony with their closest friends and family and then spend the next evening dancing all night with literally every person they know. On day one, Carolyn got ready at the Bowery Hotel before traveling to the Upper East Side. The ceremony was held with just the bridal party and family in the private dining space at the 2-Michelin-Star Daniel restaurant. The space was intimate and dimly lit casting a romantic feeling as they read their vows. Carolyn’s 90-year-old grandma served as the flower girl, and her excitement just after the ceremony was adorable, exuberant, and contagious! We took a few pictures after the ceremony just out front and on Park Ave before Carolyn and Jonathan, itching to get back to the event, went back inside for toasts and dinner. On day two, we met up for a few more portraits inside the moody, character-filled Bowery Hotel. I loved having that extra time to focus on photography before 350 people showed up for the extended cocktail party and dancing. Carolyn and Jonathan made their grand entrance through the crowd of guests, and I stood on the stage to get an elevated view so I could capture that moment. After they arrived, video played of the previous day’s ceremony before the dancing truly began. Since the wedding really does fly by in a whirlwind, it was an emotional moment for the couple and their family to witness their ceremony just the day after thanks to a quick same-day edit. I have to shout out to the band, Vali. It’s by far one of the best in the NYC area, and I have been recommending them since I first heard them several years ago. Vali’s musicians are active independently of the band and bring this wealth of experience to wedding performances—and as someone with two conservatory degrees in music, I really appreciate that! Jonathan & Carolyn, thank you for letting me be a part of your unique days! Yours was a very New York wedding, and I love how you made this event wholly your own!
Vendors
Band: Vali
Wedding Dress: Pronovias
Bride's Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Bridesmaids Dresses: Reformation
Groom's Attire: Polo Ralph Lauren