The Portrait and Previsualization

While working on my new website this winter I realized that I was going to require a new portrait of myself, after all, my old one was over 5 years old! I was not looking forward to the experience. I’m one of those photographers who is terrified of having my picture taken and because of that I make the strangest faces in front of the camera. This time, instead of focusing on having my picture taken I focused on  all the things I wanted to say in this portrait. I’m a photographer, a fine artist, a bohemian, I’m mature, yet have a youthful spirit and most of all I’m approachable. I saw myself standing in the woods with camera in hand and a shallow depth of field (and B&W, of course). I told my photographer, Heather Morgan, exactly what I wanted and she nailed it. The best thing was,  I was so focused on the previsualization I forgot to make a funny face. I LOVE my new portrait! Some people do come to me with a previsualization of what they want their portrait to be and they usually love their final portrait. What do you want to say about yourself? The portrait below mine is of the very talented Philadelphia makeup artist Beke Beau. She had a totally new hairdo and wanted a new portrait to go with it. She came with the perfect jacket but most of all she came with her spirit. It’s so Beke! Next is a couple who wanted to say “Latin lovers” in a retro Federico Fellini film! They had so many romantic and passionate images. Lastly is Lyndsay and Vincent wanted their portraits at the Rodin Museum; a tux and an elegant gown, they definitely had something to say about who they are as a couple! When doing engagement portraits the #1 question I am asked is “what should I wear”. Maybe it’s more important to tell me a bit about yourselves as a couple and let’s previsualize together how to say that in a portrait!

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Lambertville Station Wedding of Patti + StephenLambertville, NJ

I know I’ve gotten terribly behind on my blogging! You must think I’m off in Hawaii or something. Truth be told I’ve been working feverishly for the past 2 months on my brand new website! I’ve sort of been lost in it. The good news is that it should launch in the next few weeks! Yeah! For not I like to start catching up on some beautiful weddings I had last fall that I just never had the time to blog about. I’m going to start with Patti and Stephens Lambertville Station wedding in the very historic town of Lambertville, NJ. It was the perfect time of year as the foliage was at it’s peak!

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Venue: Lambertville Station
Florist: The Pod Shop
Makeup: Tiffany Jocilyn
Gown: Maggie Sottero from Fantasy Weddings
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Invitations: Wedding Paper Diva’s
Musicians: Platinum DJ

New Jersey Bride Magazine Features Kara and Boo’s Beach Wedding

Well here is something to take the chill off the winter season; Kara and Boo’s warm and wonderful Jersey Shore wedding. Congratulations you two on your real wedding feature in the latest issue of New Jersey Bride Magazine (on newsstands now). It was  wonderful working again with event planner Beka Rendell of The Styled Bride and makeup artist Beke Beau! Reception Venue: The Reeds at Shelter Haven, Stone Harbor, NJ
Ceremony Venue: Maris Stella Chapel, Avalon, NJ
Wedding Planner: Beka Rendell of The Styled Bride
Florist: Karin Parker of Blooms, Cape May, NJ
Hair: Elements Salon
Makeup: Beke Beau
Gown: Oscar de la Renta from Saks Fifth Avenue, NYC
Veil: Handmade by mother of the bride
Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
Bridesmaid’s gowns: Club Monaco
Grooms Tux: Martin Greenfields Heritage, Brooklyn, NY
White Dinner Jacket: J. Hillburn
Save the Dates, Map Envelope liner: Rachel Rogers Design
Invitations: Scott McClelland of Paper Meets Press
Menu and Ceremony Programs: Mainline Printing
Custom Pillows: Handmade by mother of the bride
Ceremony music: Children Song of New Jersey
Band: Sid Miller Band
Videographer: Birdhouse Productions

New Jersey Bride Magazine Feature – In Black & White

So honored to have my work featured in the latest issue of New Jersey Bride Magazine. Black & White photography has always been a major passion of mine and it’s what ignited my interest in photography from the beginning. Since I have been photographing weddings since 1999, it was all film back then and I had processed all my B&W images. Once digital changed the photography landscape I’ve always tried to perfect the look of my B&W’s to have that timeless richness that only B&W film can give. I even add some grain to every image. I was very honored when New Jersey Bride interviewed me for the article and especially honored they chose some of my favorite images!

Happy New Year!

I will be entering my 17th year in professional wedding photography this 2016! I feel so blessed to have found an art form that I have maintained a passion for over so many years. A hopeless romantic, I love love, families, beauty, hope and all the many wondrous things that make up a wedding. Thank you to all my great couples, past. present and future!  Thank you for letting me capture and share in this momentous day in the lives of you and your family. I’m looking forward to so many wonderful weddings to come in 2016. Silly me, I was just looking back on some of my 2015 weddings. I noticed a strong preference for white bouquets! Maybe it was just my brides! I even had several brides who chose NO bouquets! (I hope that’s not a trend)! Anyway, thank you to all my couples past and here’s to much love and beauty in 2016! Happy New Year everyone!