Jess and Steve were married at The Hotel Lenhart in Bemus Point, New York.   I have to say that I was really impressed with the beauty of Chautauqua Lake and Bemus Point.   It is a very unique and charming place that I would definitely recommend visiting.  It was also a great setting for their wedding.  The hotel has an amazing veranda that wraps around the side and all the way across the front.  It faces west overlooking the gorgeous bay, and has forty multicolored rocking chairs which they are well known for, and people use to enjoy the spectacular sunsets. It says on their web site to grab a chair early if you want a seat, and after being there I can totally understand why. The wedding ceremony was performed right on the front lawn, and actually became part of the environment with visitors and local people walking by or stopping to watch from the sidewalk.  It was really interesting how it felt like the main road goes right through the hotel.  In fact I was talking with some local people that were sitting out on the porch, and a few even crashed the reception.  Prime Time DJ Services did a great job with the entertainment which included Nick doing an awesome electronic violin accompanied version of Cotton Eyed Joe.

I was even more impressed with Jess.  She is an incredible person and seemed to become more beautiful with each photo I took of her.  She didn’t care if anyone crashed her reception and welcomed everyone (invited or not) with open arms.  It just seemed to be the nature of the place and the people from there.

When I arrived Jess was getting her makeup and hair done inside a gorgeous screened in porch on the side of the hotel.  The light in there was magnificent, and it was the perfect place for the girls to get ready.  The weather was spectacular and everything was wonderful.  I am so happy for my couples when they are blessed like this and things turn out even better than they had even hoped for.  It was an honor and a pleasure to do this for you Jess and Steve.  Thank you, your friends, and families for giving me the opportunity.  I wish you much love and happiness and hope you enjoy your images as much as I have enjoyed shooting, and working on them for you.

WOW!  This word in capital letters and an exclamation mark is really an understatement for Evelyn & Sean.  These guys are the greatest couple!  I seriously mean that too.  They are both incredible parents that realized they were soul mates through some sort of miracle.  The love they have for each other, their children, families, and friends, is breathtaking and inspiring.  They showed a video (click here for the link) at the reception that describes their love for life perfectly, and this is from their first dance.  While it was running, I overheard someone say, “I can’t believe how much fun these guys have!”  Evelyn also happens to be incredibly beautiful.  We have become Facebook friends and she is what I like to refer to as a chameleon. Kind of like the spy Jason Bourne from the Bourne Identity movie.  She could change her look, and does in seconds.  It can be totally different but always beautiful.  I’m sure that this is one of the many things that Sean loves about her.  Her sister Emily is the same way.  Together, they make a dynamic duo, akin to Batman & Robin, just with out the outfits.  As a photographer, there is nothing better than a chameleon.  We absolutely love people like this, and Sean fits right in. As everyone knows, beauty is not just skin deep.  Real beauty is what is inside a person.  It is how they treat and interact with others.  I am always observing and studying people, it is part of being a good photographer.  Especially when they fascinate me.  So of course this led me to “observe” their parents.  I have to say it is so very obvious that the apple does not fall very far from the tree.  I could understand why Evelyn has that beauty, but also why she is such a great parent.  As a parent myself, good parenting is very important to me.  When I see two as good as Evelyn & Sean (or their parents) I have to shout out about it.  You guys are very fortunate, and so are your children.

Here is a little snippet Sean wrote that I borrowed from their website. “So if you are wondering what elaborate, romantic method was used to propose, I have to answer you this way… if you know Evelyn and I, you will know that her passion and my spontaneity would never allow something planned. Our love doesn’t and never will come in a bottle or a plan, it cannot be contained. We live life by the moment, and seize each second to the fullest. Forget Carpe Diem, we’re more like Carpe Secundus. She is the yin to my yang. I never expected I would marry my best friend, as it is so cliché, but God saw fit to grant me this gift.”

Their beautiful ceremony was held in St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Rochester.  Next we went to Highland Park for some fun photos, and then on to the Vista Ball Room at the Monroe Golf Club for the reception.  Celebration Sound did a fabulous job keeping everyone dancing to the very end.

Thank you so very much Evelyn, Sean, your families, and friends for including me in your special day.  I wish you much love and happiness, and hope that the images we created will be treasured for many lifetimes to come.

Not long ago I received an email from Marti & Steve with just the word “Incoming!!!” in the subject line.  As I read on, I learned they were planning a visit to the Finger Lakes for their fifth anniversary.  Wow, I can’t believe it has been five years since I shot their wedding.  Marti & Steve are the greatest couple ever!  I absolutely love these guys.  They both have creative jobs, are well versed in the arts, and they know their wines.  We had a wonderful lunch at the Stone Cat Café, which is only about four miles down the road from where I live.  It was great to talk and visit, then we did a quick photo shoot for old times sake.  Thank you Marti & Steve for everything, you guys are so awesome! P.S. Hi Tonia, Rachel, and everyone!

With it being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this blog post comes at a perfect time. Nikki was diagnosed in January. She found a lump and went to her local doctor. They did an ultrasound, then a biopsy, which showed that she was positive for breast cancer. She had no family history and no other risk factors, but somehow, with less than a 5% chance, she was facing the worst possible prognosis. Nikki and her Mom did some research for surgeons and found Dr. Kort and her team of oncologists, radiologists and plastic surgeons at the Upstate Breast and Endocrine Center in Syracuse. Nikki was their youngest breast cancer patient. Dr.Kara Kort performed a double mastectomy and Dr. Michael Curtis simultaneously performed the beginning stages of her reconstruction surgery. She also removed her lymph nodes and found that 50% of them were cancerous. She was Stage 3B and her tumor was 10cm.  She had the fastest growing type of cancer so they had to proceed with very aggressive treatment. She had 4 months of chemotherapy, followed by 6 weeks (30 treatments) of radiation. She is currently just finishing up with her radiation treatments. Six weeks after her last treatment she will fly out to St. Louis, Missouri to complete her reconstruction surgery because her plastic surgeon, Dr. Curtis moved out there and she only wants him to operate on her.  She and Jamie got married between the chemo and radiation treatments while she was feeling well enough to make the plans and go on the honeymoon. Their dogs and her cancer are ultimately what brought the two of them together.

I have known Nikki’s Mom Lisa for several years now and I was delighted when she asked me to photograph her daughters wedding.  My blog followers that go way back know that my son Gabriel had a serious battle with cancer when he was two years old.  It was a very tough time for all of us, especially because he couldn’t even talk yet to let us know how he felt or anything.  My family and I are very thankful for the support and prayers we received, and almost seven years later he is living cancer free as a survivor.  So of course this is a very touchy subject for me.  One that still draws on, and drains every emotion in my body.  I appreciate how important it is to have a survivor in your family or close to you.  Their life truly is a miracle, and we are blessed to have them with us.  I appreciate every second I have with my son, my daughter, and actually everyone in my life because of this experience.  The fragility of life has taught many of us to relish every second we have with our friends and loved ones.  Some tomorrows never come, so be sure to enjoy today as much as possible.

Congratulations Nikki and Jamie!  I wish you much happiness and love on your journey together.

she doesn't have to say a word. the way she looks at her dad would melt any father's heart

and the way he so proudly and lovingly looks back at her...it is what life is all about

let's get this party started

so fun!

i love to end the day with an image like this

I always enjoy and look forward to shooting weddings at The Aurora Inn. It is an incredible venue that sits on the east side of Cayuga Lake in the beautiful town of Aurora. One of my favorite things about the Inn is their Director of Special Events, Heather Davidson, otherwise known as the bride whisperer. Heather is one of my favorite all time people to work with. She is constantly on the ball making sure everything is going smoothly for the bride, groom, their families, friends, and all of the vendors. There are not too many people in the wedding business that handle their job with such charm and distinction. It is always a pleasure to see her smiling face, and to know that everyone is in good hands with her. Patrick Higgins, the Executive Chef is also superb at what he does, then add the incredible Trina Myers, the Pastry Chef to the mix and you have a combination that is tough to beat. The Inn has great rooms and a wonderful suite for brides to get ready in as well. The overall experience it provides is delightful, especially on a beautiful day with a cool breeze blowing in off of the lake. I travel a lot for my weddings so it is nice to have such a first class venue so close to home.

Ali and Scott had a beautiful ceremony by the lake officiated by the always amazing, and incredibly friendly, Rev. Janet Shortall. For those that have been following my blog, the admiration and respect I have for Janet should come as no surprise. She is without a doubt my favorite of all time.

Nik Lite was the band for the night and they made sure everyone had a great time. So all of the pieces were in place for a great wedding. The only thing left to make it extra special was Ali and Scott. They definitely did not disappoint as they welcomed all of us with open arms and open hearts. Ali is such a sweetheart and they are both so laid back about everything. Working with people like this reduces the stress on everyone and makes for such an enjoyable event. I have to say that I am really fortunate though because most of my couples are like this. It is part of my goal to help them be relaxed and enjoy their special day. I appreciate it though when I get a couple like Ali and Scott because they are such a pleasure to be around.

Thank you everyone for helping to make this a day to remember. I hope that you get to relive it a little through my images. Thank you Ali and Scott, I wish you much love and happiness.

the door was open just about 3-4 inches and I shot through the opening. i love how it blurred the sides of this image

i love the expressions and emotions in this and the next two images, shot seconds apart

the saying, "every picture tells a story" is so true

sometimes i have to wipe my eyes while i am shooting

true love lasts forever...i love to see and capture something like this

how special is this? shot from all the way across the dance floor

i had to miss a minute or so of the ceremony for this, how could i not

the amazing Eddie & Courtney on the right

The Ali Barone Team

I was excited about to going to Connecticut for Beth and Matt’s wedding for quite some time. Partially because I did a wedding there a couple of years ago and loved the area. The main reason though was because it was a pleasure to shoot their engagement session with them in Washington DC. It also happened to be on my birthday, and one of my favorite couples of all time, Courtney & Eddie was going to be there because Courtney was in the wedding. I shot their wedding in 2007, and did their engagement session in NYC with them as well. I did a slideshow presentation at the brunch following their wedding, and the response to it, plus fabulous raves from Courtney & Eddie resulted in me shooting Luis & Amber’s wedding in 2009 (which Courtney was in too), and now Beth & Matt’s wedding in 2012. It is pretty amazing to me how fast time goes by, and how long I have known some of these people now. That is one of the benefits of being a wedding photographer. New friends come into my life, from all over the world. I always try to do the best job I can for them, and I think people can see this and understand that they are being treated special. All of my couples are very important to me and I appreciate being able to watch, and sometimes be a part of their lives as they evolve after the big day.

This wedding was amazing! It was at the Doral Arrowwood Resort in Rye Brook, which is an incredible place. The staff there is friendly, considerate, thinks on their feet, and works well with all of the vendors. Diana Calderon is one of the people in charge and the attitude and work ethic of her staff is a direct reflection of how wonderful she is. The cocktail hour was one of the finest I have ever seen, and included every kind of food one could imagine. It was outside on a beautiful day, and nothing short of spectacular. Then we moved inside for the reception and things just continued to get better and better. I was impressed at how everything was masterfully choreographed by the very talented and creative wedding coordinator, Ali Barone and her team, Nicole, Karen, and Sanchia. The four of them seemed to be able to be in several places at once, doing a multitude of different things at the same time. Joe Bonacci and the Center Stage Orchestra did a fabulous job keeping the party going all night. If you weren’t at least tapping your foot to the beat then someone should have checked your pulse. I knew going in how big this wedding was going to be and also knew that I had to have someone I could trust to shoot it with me. I couldn’t risk shooting with a local photographer that I didn’t know, nor had ever worked with before. I asked my good friend George Cannon to come along, and together we had everything covered. George and I have shot together for several years now. We were reminiscing on the drive and I was actually kind of surprised at how long we have been shooting together.

Thank you so very much Beth, Matt, and your families for putting your trust in me. I really enjoyed doing this for you and I hope the images we have created are something you will treasure forever. I wish you much love and happiness!

Yes, she really is posting on facebook while we "fake" a posting on facebook shot

Laura & Peter

this is a great reason why it is a good idea to have your photographer at your rehearsal dinner

rehearsal dinners provide a lot of great photo opportunities and lets everyone get to know the photographer

Dads

Betty, the one who found me so long ago. Laura said she wasn't even engaged yet but kept my contact info. Thanks Betty, can't wait for yours! and yours Chris & Kristin

I usually never post an image from another photographer on my blog but I had to make an exception for this gem that Erich caught

This is what I mean...how could I not love this bride!

Wow, where do I start with this wedding? There is so much to say. The obvious place to me is with the Lee family. They are the absolute best! Mr. and Mrs. Lee are incredibly warm and welcoming people. They have welcomed me into their family with open arms since the moment I first met them. I photographed Laura and Peter’s wedding two years ago in New York City, and I realized immediately what a wonderful family they are. Their children, (who are just like them) are a testament to what it is like to have great parents. Sorry Laura & Peter, but I did everything I could to try and get Michelle’s images up yesterday for your anniversary. There are so many of them that the time it takes to do everything is increased exponentially. I guess that is a good thing though because I know how much the family loves photography. Happy Anniversary! I wish you, Peter, Michelle, Kristopher, and everyone much love for many years to come.

Laura was and always will be one of my favorite brides ever. It was a pleasure to communicate back and forth with her before, during, and after the wedding. Her wedding was spectacular, even if it was 102 degrees that day (in the shade), but it didn’t matter to her or her family how hot it was, so I definitely was not going to let it slow me down. We all had a wonderful time together and produced an incredible body of work.

Last year Laura wrote me an email informing me that Michelle was getting married. She said that she wished I could be there but it was going to be held in Houston, Texas. I said, “Well let’s not rule it out yet. Maybe we can come up with some sort of arrangement that works for all of us and I could be there with you. I love your family and would embrace the chance to work together again.” Next Michelle emailed me, explained everything, and asked me to come up with a quote. I wasn’t sure if I would be doing the wedding at this point because Michelle is extremely computer savvy and I knew she would do her research on the local photographers. She could possibly save a lot of money and choose to not have me fly down for the wedding. That would mean taking a risk on the most important factor though which is the photographer/family connection. We knew we had this, plus the experience of working together in extreme heat, so I was hoping we could still do it together.

I remember that Michelle was posting on Facebook while I was shooting her sisters wedding, and I knew that if I shot her wedding she would probably do the same thing. So when I arrived in Texas I told her that I had purposely been avoiding joining facebook. However, because this wedding was her wedding, and I knew what an online guru she was, I may have to finally give in and join. Well that is all she had to hear. As it turns out, facebook is one of the things she does for a living. She looked at me and said, “Don’t worry Frank, I am going to take care of you.” That is exactly what she did. She spent a lot of time putting my facebook pages together, and I can’t thank her enough. I really appreciate it Michelle and it is an honor to have your blog post be my first one on facebook. I don’t know why I waited so long because it has allowed me to connect with so many old friends and family, it is really fun to do, and I am excited about being there.

So as you may have guessed, yes Michelle was doing posts on facebook as I was shooting. The photo of her pretending to be on facebook was an idea I thought maybe we should fake because she is always on there. Well turns out that it isn’t a fake, she was actually posting on facebook that we are doing a shoot about her being on facebook. The actual wedding ceremony was also broadcast live online as it happened. So needless to say, Michelle is also one of my favorite brides ever. It is really nice when that happens a couple of times in the same family because I feel like I become part of the family, or at least a good friend of the family. Imagine having the best experience ever with someone because they are such a great person, and then getting to do it all over again with her sister, brother, or friend. Which is actually even better because the sister you shot first is there to help with everything.

There is a lot of responsibility that comes with photographing a wedding for someone. Memories are being captured that are going to be treasured forever. It is very rewarding to be able to take a fleeting moment in life and be able to freeze it for all time. It is something that has gotten easier for me as the years go by, but it certainly is not something I take for granted. Intuition cannot be taught, it has to be experienced. It still takes an intense amount of work the days of the wedding, and in the post-production phases. For these reasons and so many more, when I bring someone to second shoot with me they have to be talented, and willing to work hard. When I was talking about having another shooter with Michelle, she said that they would much rather prefer that I brought someone from home that I was familiar with instead of hiring a stranger in Texas. When she said this to me I immediately knew who I had to try and get. The question was would he be available and interested. So I asked my good friend Erich Camping and he was available and interested. We have worked together several times over the years, and I have to say what a pleasure it always is. Erich is a well-educated photographer who isn’t afraid to take risks in order to increase his skill level or discover something new. He is very conscientious about everything around him, and like me; he enjoys doing this for people. It is important to both of us that the overall experience for everyone involved is equivalent to or even better than the high quality images we deliver with our photography. Of course Erich came through and produced some of his best work ever. Thank you Erich for all of your hard work and your companionship, it is much appreciated.

It was an honor to do this for your families Michelle and Kristopher. Thank you so much for the opportunity, and the wonderful experience. Thanks to Laura, your Mom & Dad, your brother Chris, your cousin Travis (the best Pastor ever), all of your families and friends, and of course the amazing Betty Chan for finding me a long time ago and introducing me to the family.

The following was written by Michelle and she asked me to include it here for everyone.

Kristopher and I had such a fantastic time at our wedding! Everything turned out beautifully and the day progressed without any major hiccups. I think the only thing that went wrong was that we couldn’t find my toss bouquet but we just threw a bridesmaid’s bouquet and went on with the party! We really enjoyed getting to spend time with all the people we loved in one place (and we missed everyone who couldn’t make it). Our family and friends are spread all over the country (and some across the world) so having them all in one spot was a real treat for us and was better than any other gift we could have possibly received.

The best part was we had an amazing photographer with us for the entire weekend to capture every moment. By the time Frank posts this to his blog, I probably still will not have seen all of the photos that he and his equally phenomenal second shooter, Erich Camping, captured; but I know I can say with 100% confidence that he caught every single moment of it. It was such an absolute pleasure to work with the both of them. I truly felt they were guests at our event and not just our photographers; that’s how well they just went with the flow yet still managed to do get the job done. Frank was the photographer for my sister’s wedding two years ago and I’m so happy that she found him (through her friend Betty) because that was the one thing I didn’t have to worry about finding. As soon as Frank said he would fly to Texas I knew I didn’t have to look any further. So really, with all our hearts, thank you Frank!

A special thanks to our other vendors/coordinators as well who made this all possible:

Travis Yee (cousin and Pastor extraordinaire)

Erich Camping

The wedding Reception- Jennifer, Kristina and the entire staff at The Magnolia Hotel, Houston, TX

Welcome Dinner- Little Napoli 1001 Texas Avenue, Houston, Texas

Pre-Wedding Bash- Molly’s Pub 509 Main Street, Houston, Texas

Ceremony- Trinity Garrett at Trinity Lutheran Church, Houston, TX

Rehearsal Dinner- McCormick & Schmick’s 1201 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas

Lisa from Wedding Flowers by Lisa, Houston, TX

Eclipse Band & Orchestra, Houston, TX

Cakes by Gina, Houston, TX

American Corporate Transportation, Houston, TX

Sam’s Limousine, Houston, TX

A-Net’s Bridal, Lafayette, LA

Miller’s Formals, Lafayette, LA

Don’t Toss the Bouquet: Floral Preservation, NY

Paul’s Jewelry, Lafayette, LA

We were in Washington for approximately three minutes when the Million Mustache March came through.

I had the pleasure of going down to Washington DC for an engagement session with Beth and Matt. We were hoping to do it when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, but the fabulous weather we have been enjoying made them bloom a lot earlier than expected this year. We still spent a wonderful day together walking around the incredible monuments. I was really surprised at how much space they covered. It was definitely a work out, and a lot of fun. A couple minutes after we arrived we heard a bunch of shouting from the street and turned to see the Million Mustache March come through. We did a quick photo with them in the background, which was kind of nice.

There is something magical about a hotdog from a street vendor when you have been walking for hours and you’re starving! My kids experienced this with me when I took them to NYC (my son has been hooked on cheese dogs ever since) and Beth, Matt, and I appreciated finding the oasis in the park on this trip as well. When we finished we went to Chipotle Mexican Grill. The food in this place is so unbelievably fresh and good. I tried them recently for the first time at a store that just opened in my area, so I was excited when Beth and Matt suggested it. You can bet that I will be visiting the one by me again sometime soon, and I recommend you give it a try if there is one by you.

Beth was in Courtney and Eddie’s Ithaca wedding when I shot it a few years ago, and she is also friend’s with Amber and Luis, (Hi Courtney, Eddie, Amber, and Luis) so I am really looking forward to going back to Greenwich Connecticut next month for their wedding. Thank you Beth and Matt for a great day, great food, and great times. I hope everyone enjoys the photos from our time together.