This was a fun wedding! Andrea, Chris and I have been emailing back and forth for a long time now but I actually just met them a few weeks ago for their engagement session. Andrea’s mom and sister came into town too so I have able to meet them as well. It was great to spend a couple hours with everyone and get to know each other. Plus it was exciting knowing we would be together again in less than a month for their wedding. Of course that month flew by and it seemed like it was just yesterday when we rejoined for the big day.

As time goes by it seems like I do more and more weddings away from home. I am traveling quite a bit this year but this wedding was the first of two in a row that were actually back in Ithaca. When I first started out I shot a lot in Ithaca and there are several vendors that I am quite fond of. It is always a pleasure to shoot at the Statler Hotel on the Cornell Campus, and it is a special treat to work with Melissa Hill, Nicole Boosembark, and their incredible staff. They are always so friendly and accommodating, and go out of their way to make sure everyone has a wonderful time. I have been to a lot of venues now and this crew is still one of the best in the business. Another huge favorite of mine is my man and DJ’s extraordinaire Nicky Wood and Jeannette. Nicky and I have done a lot of weddings together now and I can say for sure that it is comforting to me when I know he will be there. Andrea and Chris also choose my all time favorite officiate, the one and only Rev. Janet Shortall. I have said it before, and I will say it again, nobody does it better.  It was also great to meet the extremely friendly and helpful Janelle Hanson. I must say that Sage Chapel has never been in better hands.

There were a bunch of other factors that helped to make this the fantastic wedding it was. Andrea wore a spectacular Vera Wang dress that flowed with her every move. It was fun to watch her on the dance floor with it. My good friend George Cannon came along to shoot the early part of the day and was a big help. George is a super terrific guy and it was special for me to work together with him again. We are shooting another wedding in a couple of weeks, and I am looking forward to it. Nathan Baker from Finger Lakes Entertainment did a fabulous job with perimeter up lighting. The room looked wonderful and I thought his lighting worked well to compliment my photographs. It is definitely an investment worth looking into if you want quality images from your reception. Don and Melissa Bazley from Cascade Video were a pleasure to work with and seemed to do a great job. The flowers by Michaleen’s were beautiful as always, and the cake was an incredible, edible chocolate. I was kind of surprised to see a dark brown cake (it was definitely different to photograph) but even more surprised when the sweet aroma it was giving off practically intoxicated me while I was photographing it. I think it may have been the first time I actually smelled the cake while I shot it, and I tip my hat to Ithaca Bakery for doing such a tremendous job.

Thanks so much Andrea, Chris, your families, and friends for welcoming me with open arms and for providing such a pleasurable experience. I wish you much love and happiness now and always. A big thank you to everyone I mentioned above as well for being so great to work with.

Well it seems like a long time ago when I first talked to Sam and Jenni about photographing their wedding. I think it was about two years ago when they booked me. We communicated back and forth so many times but never actually met until I got off the elevator at the hotel. If you follow my blog then you know I usually spend a lot of time with my couples getting to know them at their engagement session. Unfortunately we never managed to hook up because we all had such off the wall schedules. After several unsuccessful attempts they decided to have me shoot the rehearsal dinner instead. Of course this was a great idea too because I was able to spend a little time with everyone before the wedding. It didn’t really matter much with these two though because I could instantly see the love they have for each other. I realized the moment I saw them that they had a sparkle in their eyes, and it impressed me. It made me think of something Sam wrote to me way back when the plans were falling through for an engagement session. He said, “Thank you so much for your understanding and patience with our hectic life.  There’s only one thing Jenni and I have that is certain, and that is each other.” I remember being moved when I read this, and after meeting them I could see how much in love they are. It is wonderful to witness such love, and even more incredible to be able to capture it in photographs for people. It gives me even more appreciation for how truly blessed I am to be able to do this for a living. Thanks for everything Sam and Jenni. I hope you enjoy your images as much as I enjoyed creating them for you.

“The Bandulos” are an incredible band and had everyone dancing and having a good time. I would definitely check them out if you are considering a band for your reception. The Island Chateau is also a beautiful venue and very photo friendly.

Andrea and Chris told me that they were going to be in town to take care of some final details for their wedding next week, so we decided to get together for their engagement session. I don’t usually do shoots this close to the wedding but sometimes it is tough to make it happen any other time. There was a solid chance of rain (and it did rain) but we went forward with the shoot because it was the only opportunity we had. I’m glad we did too because we got a chance to get to know each other a little bit before the big day. Sometimes I think a few of my friends are lucky because of the rich variety of shooting locations they have at their fingertips. Other friends have said the same thing to me about the locations I shoot at. I think when it comes down to it we are all lucky because no matter where you are there is beauty to be found if you look for it. Thank you Andrea and Chris for a wonderful day. It was a pleasure to meet you, your Mom, and sister, and I look forward to meeting the rest of the families soon.

Erica, Dan, and I met up in Syracuse and spent a wonderful afternoon getting to know each other while shooting their engagement session. Their offices are located in a neat building that used to be a firehouse. When Erica did the interior design (quite beautifully too if anyone is in need of an interior designer) www.jgbproperties.com she decided to leave the original pole that the fireman used to slide down on. Well, it isn’t everyday that I have access to one of these so it seemed like the perfect place to start. I have to tip my hat to these two for doing such a great job too because I usually start with something a little further away and gradually work in closer. As I have said before, it can be a little strange to take direction from someone you just met, especially when that person is putting all of this sophisticated camera gear in your face. People always ask me what they are supposed to do. Should we do this, or should we do that? Should we smile, should we look at you? I always say that I will put them in a place that I like and make suggestions. What they need to do is be comfortable, do what feels natural, and just have fun and respond to each other. It can be frustrating for all of us at first because it is such a strange/different experience (any of my past couples reading this and want to comment please do) to be photographed on this level. It is amazingly rewarding for me when we turn that corner and they start to reveal their true inner selves. That is when the magic happens. I think these two hit the magic point big time, and by the end of the day they were experienced models.

Next we spent a little time in Franklin Square with a few thousand carpenter bees. Okay, so that was a little rough for everyone. We finally gave in and decided to head over to one of my favorite parts of Syracuse, Armory Square. We shot in an alleyway there that I had been in before for an engagement session with Nicole and Marcus. I absolutely love the textures and light in this area. I don’t know what it is exactly but something just seems to feel right about this place. It is always interesting for me to revisit an area (especially one I really like) and see how different the images come out.

Erica and her friends are huge fans of the movie Dirty Dancing and love the line when Baby says, “I carried a watermelon”. So she wanted to do a shot with a watermelon, and it worked for me so that is why the watermelon is in the sunset image (incase you were wondering). Bugs covered the three of us as we were literally attacked while shooting these images by the water at sunset. Bravo to Erica and Dan for hanging in there! It took a lot of retouching to get rid of all of them and I’m not sure what was worse, actually standing in them or reliving the experience again in front of my computer. I swear I can still feel them on me after working on these images.

Afterwards they treated me to an incredible sushi meal at Ocean Sushi (another great sushi place in Liverpool/Baldwinsville that I just found out about). The next day they were a big hit with my kids too because Erica and Dan gave me the balloons and watermelon to bring home. I thank you both for everything, and it is much appreciated. I am really looking forward to your wedding and making some spectacular images together.

The best thing for me is when I instantly know that I have captured something truly special. It is like having a jolt of energy surge through my veins. This image is one of those times. Beth doesn’t have any make-up on and her hair isn’t done but none of that matters because this is about a father seeing his daughter in her wedding dress for the first time and realizing that she is getting married. His love and admiration is written all over his face and reflected back to him in her face. Is there anything more beautiful? To record something like this is magical for me.

This is Katie and Chirag. A past bride and groom, (not married to each other.) How could this not be a fun reception with these two in the house?

This was done with an incredibly high ISO and no flash in a very dim part of the room because I didn’t want to wake her up. The capabilities of the new cameras are phenomenal

Beth and Marco’s wedding was extra special to me because it was the first time that I had three brides (and grooms) at the same wedding. It all started in 2007 when I photographed Katie & Matt’s wedding in Saratoga Springs. Beth was in that wedding and when her friends Anita & Chirag announced that they were getting married she told them that I was the guy they had to get. Their 2008 wedding was a four-day Indian extravaganza on Long Island that is without a doubt the biggest event I ever shot. Of course, Beth was in that wedding too, and I told her then that I was looking forward to shooting her wedding. Three years and three weddings later have created some wonderful friendships with the most amazing people. I treasure these friendships and hope to stay connected to them forever.

I did Beth and Marco’s engagement session and knew that Katie and Anita were going to be in Beth’s wedding and I was looking forward to seeing them again for the longest time. I also knew that Katie’s Mom Carol (whom I absolutely love) was going to be there as well. So I was really excited about being together with everyone again. The sad thing about this type of gathering is that it comes and goes before we have a chance to really appreciate it. It always seems like the wedding is so far off in the future, with so much to plan for, and then suddenly it is over and behind us.

I came into town Friday night and joined Beth, Anita, Chirag, and a bunch of family members for pizza at her Mom’s house. On Saturday everyone met for an early rehearsal at the incredible Bethesda Episcopal Church. Then I scouted the area for interesting places to shoot on the wedding day and discovered the amazing Adelphi Hotel. This place is a rare surviving High Victorian Inn in the heart of Saratoga Springs from the end of the 19th century. Built when Saratoga Springs reigned as America’s “Queen of the Spa’s.” The Hotel was constructed in 1877 during the heyday of the national rage for “taking the waters” at Saratoga. Please check this place out if you are ever in Saratoga. The décor is breath taking and it is worth the visit just to see the artwork on the walls. Thank you to the Adelphi for opening their doors to us, and thanks to Beth’s sister Julie for making arrangements and getting us the okay to shoot there. I could have easily been there the whole day, and thank Julie again for keeping us on schedule.

Next, I met Beth and her dad for a dress rehearsal at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. This was another first for me, and something I would highly recommend to everyone that has access to a dance studio. Leslie Valencia is the owner/operator of the studio and it is obvious that this is her passion and her life. I was very impressed with her and the studio. She is like a ray of sunshine that lights up a room and puts a smile on every face in it. Beth and her Dad had so much fun (me too), and did such a great job. Please see the caption below the image of them dancing because it was a very special moment and one that I was proud to be a part of. Thank you Leslie, you are the best!

Before we knew what happened it was time to be at Limoncello Ristorante for the rehearsal dinner. What a fabulous place this is.   Limoncello Ristorante is an upscale Northern Italian trattoria in a beautiful romantic setting. Every meal is prepared with a passion and served with a flair for an out of the ordinary dining experience. The food is delicious, and the staff is the most friendly and accommodating people you could ask for. Apparently everyone in Saratoga is incredibly friendly. Or at least everyone I have met so far at the three weddings I have done there is. So much so that it is worth mentioning here that this is a very welcoming place. I wish I could move there and be there all the time.

So, we spent a lot of time together before the wedding even started. That is always the best way to do it though. As a result, Beth and Marco have such a range of photos with all of their friends, and I am so glad that I was able to do this for them. It also gives Marco a glimpse into a lot of the behind the scenes things that went on. We started out the big day with me hanging out with all the girls as they prepared for the ceremony (yes, this is such a tough part of the day). It is always a lot of fun and very exciting for me to watch someone’s little girl be transformed into a beautiful bride. A princess if you will, just like in the fairy tales. It is magic and I feel blessed to be able to record this for people. Then I checked in on Marco and the guys for a few quick photos and rejoined the women just before it was time to go. The ceremony of course was spectacular, and then we ran around like crazy trying to do as many wonderful photos as possible before the reception.

The reception was at Longfellows Hotel and Conference Center, which again had amazing food and a great staff. This is a huge place with lots of wedding experience, and they definitely know what they are doing. So I’m working and working, and working (I shot all this alone with no second shooter or assistant) and then it comes time to eat. So I look to see where I am sitting and well, Beth made my night. She had me seated right next to my favorite, Katie’s Mom Carol. It gives me a nice feeling to even write about it. I feel like I have known this woman forever now, and it was such a pleasure for me to sit with her for a little while and catch up on things. Thanks Carol for always making me, and everyone around you feel so great. You really are special to so many of us.

When you shoot something so intense like this there is always the chance that you could forget something. I really try to be extra careful about everything but sometimes it happens. That is why I always ask people to remind me of anything that is important to them because I would rather shot it several times than not at all. Afterwards I was so disappointed because I never got together with my three brides for a photograph of the four of us. How often does something like that happen and what a missed opportunity it was. I hope we get the chance in the future to take that photograph. It would have been very special to me, and one that would definitely be up in my office, and on my blog.

Well Beth, Marco, Katie, Anita, Chirag, Matt, Carol, your friends, and families, thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this special weekend. I hope everyone enjoys the images as much as I enjoyed creating them and working on them. I wish you guys much love and happiness on your journey together, and I’m looking forward to doing a big group photo with my three brides, their husbands, and their kids in a few years.

I remember when I first met Anika she was this cute little girl a little younger than my son is now. Wow, it is so scary how fast time really does fly by. As I worked on these images I was thinking OMG, I am going to blink my eyes and my kids are going to be this grown up. How does it happen so fast? I met Anika’s Mom when I was helping a friend shoot the unique interior of The Skyland Farm Art Craft Gallery and Café in the Finger Lakes (yes, it is a very nice but complicated layout and does present some interesting lighting challenges). Barbara has been operating the business for quite some time now and she has built it into a place where people of all ages can visit and have a wonderful experience. It is loaded with a vast array of artwork from over 300 local, regional, and U.S. artists, and has a lot of homemade culinary delights as well. Plus Barbara is very friendly so I’m sure you will enjoy your visit. I highly recommend stopping by if you are wine trailing along the east side of Seneca Lake.

Barbara called and asked if I could make arrangements to photograph Anika. My schedule was as crazy as ever, but I had been thinking about getting into doing senior photos for a while and thought this would be a great chance to play around with the idea. Anika did a tremendous job, especially considering it was her first experience with a professional photographer. I have photographed thousands of people and it is easy to forget (my wife often reminds me) how intimidating a huge camera and lens can be to someone that isn’t used to it. Thanks for doing such a great job Anika! I hope you had a lot of fun, and that you, your Mom, family, and friends enjoy the images we created.

Thi, Ken and I managed to rearrange our schedules last fall long enough to sneak an engagement session into the many weddings I was shooting at the end of the season. We met near Ithaca and took advantage of some of the natural beauty the area has to offer. Our first stop was at the majestic Taughannock Falls. This is truly an amazing place, and the falls is actually higher than the mighty Niagara. Next we went to Collegetown by the Cornell Campus for some of my favorite Vietnamese food. Then we were lucky enough to get into the Kiplinger Theatre at Cornell’s Schwartz Center. I used to photograph a lot in here for the theatre department when I worked at Cornell and have wanted to get a couple into the space for a long time. We ended the day exploring Robert Treman State Park. It has been so long since I walked through this incredible place, that I almost forgot how spectacular it is. We had a wonderful time together on a beautiful day.  I’m looking forward to their wedding this summer in Buffalo. Thank you Thi and Ken for being so adventurous and for reintroducing me to a very special place. I can’t wait to bring my kids through it and see the amazement in their eyes.

A friend of mine (also the best wedding consultant in the Central NY area) Tara Reimer from Terra Rosa referred Scott and Amanda to me (thanks Tara). It was kind of late in the season when they booked so we didn’t have a chance to do an engagement session. I basically showed up at the rehearsal dinner, met everyone for the first time and spent the next day and a half photographing the wedding. This is not something that is easy to do, especially considering that my work is mainly about capturing emotions and fleeting moments. Anyone that has followed my blog for the last few years or that looks back at previous posts can easily tell that it is important to me, and I enjoy connecting with my couples and their families. It really is an essential part of what I do, and why I do what I do. So yes, I was a little bit concerned but Tara assured me that they were a wonderful couple and I felt that I got to know them a little through our emails and phone conversations. Any apprehension I had was immediately put to rest the moment I looked into Scott and Amanda’s eyes. I could tell that they appreciated having me there, and I was instantly scooped up and welcomed into the family. It is kind of strange to be put into a large group of people and create the images you see here without knowing anyone and having just met everyone. I don’t think a lot of people would actually be able to do it. There are a lot of technical things, and compositional things involved in what I do but there isn’t anything more important than the socializing skills that are required. Then consider that most of my time is spent alone working behind a computer for hours on end and the extrovert thing gets even more complex. I think photographers in general love and embrace that interaction with people. I know I do, and it gives me the spark to keep going, forever looking forward to the next wedding, and the incredible people that I will meet and do this for. Oh, in case you haven’t noticed, photographers can also talk about anything or nothing for long periods of time. It gets even worse when we talk to each other. A friend may call and we will talk for hours. Both of us working the whole time, editing or post processing images while we gab away about what ever. It is even worse as a photo student because you have professors, other students, or someone you want to photograph that you talk to and talk to and talk to. One of my favorite assignments I ever had was for an independent credit course I took with Owen Butler at R.I.T.. He told us that we were not allowed to speak one word to anyone for an entire week. My roommate was in the class with me so we couldn’t even answer the telephone at our apartment. Plus the school for the deaf is in Rochester so everyone we met just assumed we were deaf. It was a very interesting and eye opening experience to say the least, and I recommend that everyone should try it. The rush of the world seems to slow down around you, and you can actually smell the flowers as you are forced to take time along the way.

Back to the wedding…okay so another thing that increased the comfort factor was that it was at Cornell University. After working there for ten years and also photographing numerous weddings there it is kind of like home for me. There are not many photographers that know the ins and outs of the place better than I do, and the people that work there are all very friendly and accommodating. A big shout out goes to Melissa Hill and her crew at the Statler Hotel for always doing such an amazing job. Add Tara to the mix and there is nothing to worry about. Tara dots every i and crosses every t in a totally non-stressful and very friendly way. She is detail oriented and well organized, and makes it easier for everyone to do a great job for the couple. After all, that is the most important thing.

The whole wedding party and I climbed to the top of the McGraw Tower for a special Chimes concert, and the rain held off long enough to give us some wonderful opportunities. The Cornell Chimes are the university’s oldest musical tradition, and one of the most frequently played set of bells on any American college campus. Housed in historic McGraw Tower, the 21-bells are played primarily by student chimes masters. All concerts are open to the public—you simply have to climb the tower’s 161 steps (it feels like a whole lot more than that though). The door to the tower opens five to ten minutes before a scheduled concert and closes before concert’s end. Your stair-climbing efforts will be rewarded with a spectacular view of Cornell and the surrounding community, and a musical performance like you’ve never seen before. One of the guys in the wedding party helped carry my bag for me and I can’t thank him enough.

Thank you Scott, Amanda, your families, and friends for everything. I wish you much love and happiness on your new journey together.

Wedding Planner: Terra Rosa Tara Reimer

Ceremony Reception: Statler Hotel Melissa Hill, event planning manager

Hair & Makeup: Makeup on Demand Kris Kellogg

Florist: Michaleen’s Michaleen

Cake: Bluewave Pastries Joanna Sacucci-Bryan

Band: Jay Sweeny

Ceremony Music: Myra Kovary

Cocktail Music: OXtet Jazz Trio Josh Oxford

Transportation: Finger Lakes Winery Tours Carol & Fitzlimo Mike Fitzgerald

Officiant: Rabbi Scott Glass

Ceremony Sound: Calf Audio Barny

Cornell Chimes Chimesmasters Ryan Fan

a good reason why your photographer should be at the rehearsal dinner

Courtney and Eddie

Amber and her Mom were first exposed to my photography and shooting style a couple of years ago at Courtney and Eddie’s wedding. They saw the huge slideshow presentation I did at the brunch for that wedding, and the rest of the images online. When it came time to choose a photographer for Amber’s wedding they were very familiar with me, and my work. When Amber first emailed me and mentioned that she was at Courtney’s wedding I did not hesitate and called her immediately. I don’t usually call everyone that emails me, but if you were at a wedding I shot and are now asking about your own wedding then I feel it is best to pick up the phone and talk about it. We kind of know each other a little bit already so why waste any time? Amber and her Mom agreed, booked me, and we never looked back. When I asked Amber about it later she said that Luis had just asked her to marry her and the first thing she had to do was book me as her photographer. She and her Mom were actually talking about me when the phone rang and I was on the other end. They were both so surprised to be on the phone talking together just minutes after sending the email. I want to thank both of you for placing your trust in me because I know how important photography is to you. Your faith in me, and the way you have treated me and welcomed me into your family has really meant a lot to me. This wedding will always rank up near the top as one of my favorites. From my very first conversation with Amber and her Mom, to the engagement session, and right on through all of the post-production work, I can honestly say it has been one of the most pleasurable experiences in my photography career.

Once again there were several professional photographers and other creative people that make their living in the design/art world at the wedding. Their presence is much different than the friend, or uncle with a camera type thing. They respect and appreciate what I am doing, see me making a gallant effort, and sometimes it leads into very interesting conversations. A lot of photographers are intimidated when other cameras are around, even more so when it is another professional holding the camera. I never realized this until I brought a camera to a cousins wedding and the photographer nearly went into shock because of it. I introduced myself and told him I do this for a living and would stay completely out of his way. I could tell by his reaction that he was quite uncomfortable. I have the complete opposite reaction when this happens to me. It may be because of my experience and/or confidence but having people like that present or in this case even working for another professional pushes me even harder because (like always) in the end I want them to be wowed over by the results. It can be a real challenge depending on the venue and a bunch of other factors, but overcoming those challenges is also very rewarding.

So where do I start…well how about the food? That is always a favorite subject of mine. THE FOOD WAS INCREDIBLE! They actually had a whole suckling pig at the cocktail hour, plus clams on a half shell, scallops, meats, anything you could imagine, and it was all sooooo good! It had to be hands down with out a doubt the biggest spread I have ever seen. Then we sat down and were served dinner. Yes, it was unbelievable! Even more impressive were the deserts. They were presented in a room full of Viennese Tables, and I mean a BIG room. OMG is an understatement for sure. There was everything and anything you could think of and more. My mouth is watering just thinking and writing about it. It really was amazing. The Tides Estate is an incredible place for a wedding and reception. I would highly recommend it. I have never seen anyone so attentive to the wedding couple and their guests as Mike (the maitre d) and all his staff were. They are really on top of the game, best in the business that I have seen so far. But honestly, put all the beauty and attentiveness that the place has to offer aside, and I would book it based on the food alone. Quite simply put, it doesn’t get any better.

The ceremony was beautiful as well. They did a sand ceremony with their families. Each member poured some sand (different colors for each side) into a large vase, which was topped off by Luis and Amber pouring in their sand individually, but together. It was really nice. Four of Ambers high school friends (Ines Thieme, C. Rapier Copeland, Guy Turner, and Nadine Zahr) flew in from different parts of the country and performed an amazing a cappella rendition of “You’re All I Need to Get By”. The Devonshire Players- a string troupe founded by Lakshmi Thorne (one of Amber’s bridesmaids) also performed and Lakshmi joined them for a solo during the ceremony. There was also a nice broom ceremony that I had never seen before. The bride and groom use the broom to clean the path in front of them and then jump over the broom together to start their new life as husband and wife. Everything was outside in the open air and right before sunset. Then we moved inside for the amazing feast, and a night full of dancing and fun all made possible by DJ extraordinaire William Otero (from Latinos Unidos)

I know that a lot of planning went into everything and I really want to tip my hat to Amber’s Mom Angela for the amazing job she did helping Amber pull everything together. Angela told me a few times along the way (this past year or so) that this is what she does. She plans things for a living. It couldn’t have been more evident that we were in the best of hands. There were so many major and minor details to deal with, and everything was perfect. A special highlight was the anniversary dance. I have seen these done before where they dismiss couples by how many years they have been married until it gets down to the couple that has been married the longest. What was so amazing about this one was that they had the couples submit a picture from their own wedding beforehand and all of the images ran in a slideshow that played in the background as the couples danced. It really was a lot of fun to see all of the different styles and eras of photography. It truly was a special touch and one I would hope to see repeated by any future brides reading this.

I know this wedding was very special to a lot of people. It was special to me as well. It was great to see Courtney and Eddie again, and wonderful to get to know these two incredible families and their friends. I am honored to have done this for you and hope that our paths cross many more times in the future. Amber and Luis I wish you much love and many blessings on your new journey together.

Please click here for their Slideshow

Special Mention of Vendors:
- El Punto Restaurant in Paterson, NJ (site of the rehearsal dinner)
- Tides Estate in North Haledon, NJ, esp. Tito Freire (our Banquet Manager), Mike (maitre d) and all his staff

-The Devonshire Players
- Flowers: Blooms of Wayne
- DJ: William Otero (Latinos Unidos)
- Videographer: Ambiance Video
- Crowne Plaza in Fairfield, NJ (a new favorite place of mine, and the site of the Sunday brunch) -provided free transportation to and from the wedding for all the guests staying there.