I have lived in this great city for about 8 years now, and I'd never been to Coney Island. I'm not sure the thought of it even ever really crossed my mind… I mean, I've seen it in movies, I've heard about it, I always knew it was around. But it wasn't until Jennifer suggested we do their engagement session there that I thought DUH! That will be awesome!
And so, the young woman from Long Island, who found herself in Peru, and the young man from Peru who found himself in love, are getting married, and I found them to be delightful. And beautiful. And we took so many photographs. And I seriously was salivating when I came home, so excited to post these, only, I just couldn't make a decision. When I went through and marked the winners, I had more images than one post could swallow. So I just started attacking at random.
And now! Pictures! (We'll start of with the delightful couple, and finish it off with some pictures my Husbone and I took in this colorful place).
I’ve been waiting a long time for this one. I first met Christine and Nick at a wedding reception. I just remember this super excited Korean girl wanting me to take her wedding pictures, and Nick being this really calm dude with a cool Brooklyn accent. Well whenever someone’s excited like that, you know it’s going to be fun shooting with them.
It all happened so fast, but what I do remember is our long limo ride to Yankee Stadium after the wedding and just enjoying the car ride with them.
Without further ado, the highlights from their wedding.

We just wrapped up exhibiting at the NY Gift Fair - it was a little quiet given the economy (crickets..!…tumbleweeds!)… but that's okay because we still got lots of inspiration and made new friends. Plus it's always great to catch up with our fellow designers/small biz owners and the wonderful independent boutiques that carry our cards. There's Chun Yee (intrepid founder of our London office) and Sabrina in our booth…
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This was one of the best parties I've been to! Kicking off my 2009 with the fabulous Jessica and Farzam, at their super swanky engagement party at the Gramercy Park Hotel in Manhattan, I finally got to understand what they meant when the told me how awesome their families were. And what a great group of dancers! Dancing is my most favorite part of every wedding (in this case, engagement party!), because it's such a complete joy to see people who love each other be so… free together. Free. That's what a gentleman and party guest said to me in the elevator. “I love to dance because it's the only time I'm free,” he said. I wholeheartedly agree. And to share that utter freedom, with some alcohol, amazing shoes, amazing music, with the people in the world you want to share this tremendous occasion. And the view was not bad.
I thought I'd change things up a bit for the new year, and hence the brackets.
Yay! It was such a pleasure to meet Deryn and Tony today and frolic in my hometown. These two light each other up, and my job was easy. I can't wait to shoot their wedding at a torpedo factory in Alexandria! I hope you both had a safe trip home!
Love it! Did I mention I love NYC? I usually get to shoot at least one wedding a year in New York and am beyond giddy with anticipation between the time I book it and the time I actually get to shoot it. I always schedule a few other shoots for my trip, just to try and get as much in as I can! 2 trips ago I got to photograph Cara and Wes' engagement. They were planning a wedding in Italy (and already had a photographer, sigh!) but wanted NYC engagement photos to use as decor at their wedding. We had a blast and ran all around the West Village and shot up and down the streets of the sesame street houses. Here are a few photos from the day. I can’t wait to go back this fall!
In an expression of flirtation, Andrew passed Mubina a note during assembly. No, they were not school age, but teachers, and passing notes.
You look nice. Sort of.
Mubina laughs when she tells the story. Well, apparently, it worked, because here we all were. And I seriously could not get enough - thank you guys so much for being the reason why my job is so awesome!!
I'd been looking forward to this wedding for some time. Mubina is just one of the sweetest people I have ever met, and it wasn't surprising that so many people were in the bridal party for this relatively small wedding. So many different people helping out, sharing memories and saying wonderful things. I was a little nervous, because we never got a chance to do an engagement session and I never had the chance to meet her Andrew until the Henna Party.
Thank you to Emma for helping me out today, and to Steve, who took some great pictures.
Hair: Stacy, Styles on B
Makeup: Laura Nadeau
Caterer: Real Food Catering (soo yummy!)
Ceremony: Central Park
Reception: The Goethe Institut (closing on Monday forever! So sad!)
ed. note: somewhat graphic tattoo picture at end of post if you’re a bit squeamish.
By the end of the day, I knew for sure that this would be the longest post of engagement photos I've done so far. I will, unfortunately, not have the pleasure of photographing the union of these two, but I was really excited to have the opportunity to photograph them, together, in amazing sunlight. Their passion for each other was so rich in the way they touched each other, looked at each other, and made fun of each other, that my job was very, very easy. One of the many reasons why I totally fell in love with this couple, is they brought their dog, Butter, who I also fell in love with.
We hadn't been shooting long, when a request was made to finish off the session perhaps at some scandalous store front of a purveyor of explicit props; I suggested the East Village. So we packed in the car, (I got to sit in the back with Butter - we were best friends by that time), and suddenly there was talk of tattoos. And it was decided! Lauren and Desaray would have their names tattooed on each other, and would I mind so much sticking around a bit longer??
FREAKING OF COURSE!#!$!!
And so, it was off to the empty tattoo parlor on St. Marks. Among the galleries of glass “tobacco” pipes and rolling papers, a commitment was sealed. It was like watching a marriage and a birth at the same time. Hunched over the chair in pain, a grazing hand over backs and shoulders for a soothing effect, this was more than wedding rings. It was a stamp. I'm yours, your mine, and no amount of soap or time will wash that away. It was beautiful and moving and so intimate to watch. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing amazing love with me!
I loved this wedding shoot for so many reasons. As Barney would say, it was legen…wait for it…DARY!!!
A. I was born in Queens, NY and this trip was my first time back to my birthing place since I was two years old.
B. NYC was where my father realized his dreams of becoming a fine art painter and I actually got to pay homage to his old art gallery in Manhattan, that is now a converted media marketing business.
C. I went there planning to shoot alone, but my good friend Carmen Alvarez was in town to shoot another wedding the next day and was able to shoot with me! These things don't happen by coincidence!
D. I also got to meet the amazing Rob from Rockmelon videography, who was such a cool guy to hang out with and sweat together in the NY humidity!
E. Every epic wedding has to have epic troubles right? The power in the building went out during the getting ready and they had to use their neighbor's apartment to get ready in! Then the limo didn't show up at all so we had to take taxis across town.
F. This is the very FIRST wedding to be held at the southern tip of Roosevelt Island. How crazily historical is that!
G. We had the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn cityscape as the backdrops. I literally lost my brain when I first saw the view. My eyeballs were already on the ground.
H. Melissa and Tristan were one HOT couple and so very much in love. Working with them was so fun, my only regret was that I didn't get to spend more time with them.
I. There are so many more reasons, but I'll just say that it was a night that I will always remember forever. Words just can't express. The pictures can do the talking.
When my new pet lens arrived over the summer, the super yummy and delicious 50mm 1.2, it was cause to celebrate! And so, Husbone and I renewed our membership to the Wildlife Conservancy Society and made our way to the Bronx Zoo to put our membership to work. Armed with a free t-shirt and many shiny parking passes, we cut in front of the line (members only, people), and frolicked, cameras in tow. Husbone chose the zoom lens, a fine choice for our excursion. But we were very lucky, perhaps because it was such a nice day out, many of the animals chose the up close and personal approach to being nagged at by small children and the general public.
I love the zoo! I love my lens! This was the first time both Husbone and I made pictures together at the zoo, and the challenge of many fast moving animals, the obstacle of ankle high children speeding past us and stealing my flip flop, the various lighting conditions, and the limited time that is polite to grab a shot and go made for very good practice and was a blast! The zoo is kind of our place. If all else fails - go to the zoo! Support wildlife! Take pictures!
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