My Weblog

Min & Sean Wedding - October 8, 2006

Sorry guys for the long absence from blog posting. I've been gone on vacation in Italy for the last two weeks (had a great time and will post vacation pics soon).

Anyhow, I'm back and I've got a great wedding to showcase here. It was a really special wedding for me to capture because it was a wedding for one of my close college friends. Sean and I went to college together at The School of Visual Arts in NYC and have been friends for about a decade. I first met Sean in SVA's college computer labs where I first learned how to use photoshop. Sean majored in Graphic Design and actually helped teach me some basic photoshop fundamentals when I was first learning the software (this must have been back in 96' or 97' with Photoshop 4.5). Later I photographed Sean's 3D design projects. After all these years we're stiil good friends and in fact Sean is the super talented web designer of my beautiful wedding and fine art websites (he's also designed websites for other wedding photographers, bellydancers, and is a full time webmaster for Jet Blue Airlines).

About a month and a half ago, I photographed Sean and Min's wedding in Queens, NYC. Here are some of my faves and there are more to check out through the link on the bottom.

Min got her hair and make up done in a chinese bridal salon in Flushing, Queens.

Min getting the dress on.

Getting the veil on.

My good pal Sean getting ready.

Min & Sean seeing each other for the first time in their wedding attire.

Sean taking a whiff of Min's bouquet.

In the limo, on their way to a tea ceremony.

Sean and his best man.

Min in her Chinese wedding gown.

Tea ceremony.

On the way to getting some photo ops in NYC.

The gang at Grand Central.

In Central Park.

After Central Park, we headed back to Queens for the ceremony. Here Sean and his groomsmen await Min walking down the aisle.

Min being escorted down the aisle by her dad.

I love Sean's expression here.

Min was very emotional during the vows.

Before the reception party started, They had another Chinese tea ceremony.

Making their grand entrance.

The guests threw confetti during the first dance.

Toasts.

In some Chinese tradition, the bride and groom play humorous games during the reception party to entertain their guests. In this sequence of photos, Min (with her eyes closed) is supposed to identify Sean leg amongst a group of mens' legs.

Cake cutting.

Sean getting down.

The party getting live.

The last dance.

I had a terrific time shooting the wedding and here's some more:
more photos

Yvette & Stephen Wedding - October 7, 2006

A few weeks ago I shots a terrific Asian wedding at Florentine Gardens in New Jersey. Check out a bunch of my favorite wedding pics along with a link to more at the bottom.

I really like how Yvette's dress was hung with the reflecting mirrors.

The excited bride is ready for her make up session.

Yvette was helping the flower girl with her make up. So cute.

The flower girl was helping Yvette get ready. This is just too adorable.

Yvette and Stephen about to see each other for the first time.

I love Stephen's expression here.

On the way to Florentine Gardens.

We started out at Florentine gardens taking portraits around the beautiful grounds.

The bridal party.

Yvette being escorted to the ceremony by her uncle.

Most of the guests were documenting the day too.

I love these expression shots.

The kiss.

Yvette getting ready for their Chinese tea ceremony.

The beautiful ballroom.

The reception started out with a very touching slideshow montage of Yvette and Steven through the years.

The first dance was very dramatic. They had smoke, fog and theatre lighting to create an amazing ambiance.

The guests loved it.

The guests joined in.

Toasts.

The party getting started.

Break dancing.

Cake.

Yvette threw her bouquet from the balcony.

The guy and girl that caught the bouquet and garter are actually dating. Talk about pressure to getting hitched.

Stephen works as a steel construction worker. Here his crew from work are having fun.

The last dance.

Yvette and Stephen gave out the most cutest wedding favors.

To check out a bunch more photos from the wedding click below:
more photos

Carley & Cam Wedding - October 3, 2006

Last month, I shot a great small intimate weekday wedding in Central Park near Belvedere Castle. It was another destination wedding where the couple were from England.

Carley walking towards the ceremony.

Cam's expression while she makes her way.

Carley's mom was emotional.

The best man.

Exchanging glances.

Carley got very emotional during the ceremony.

Exchange of rings.

Looking cute.

Emma & Philip Wedding - September 22, 2006

A few weeks ago, I shot another small intimate English NYC destination wedding.

Emma & Philip walked hand in hand to their ceremony at the Conservatory Gardens.

Glancing at each other.

Exchanging rings.

The kiss.

After Central Park we went to take some portraits at Dumbo Pier in Brooklyn.

Rebecca & Padrail Wedding - September 21, 2006

Last month I had a wonderful time shooting a small intimate weekday wedding for Rebecca & Padrail, an English couple having a destination wedding in NYC.

Rebecca getting ready.

Getting out of the limo for her Consevatory Gardens ceremony.

Rebecca being escorted by her dad.

Padrail looking on.

Padrail's sister giving a beautiful reading.

Glancing at each other.

Exchange of rings.

The kiss.

The guests taking photos of the newly married couple.

After the Conservatory Gardens, we went to Times Square.

Thea & Sal Engagement Photo Session - September 23, 2006

Last month, I got to shoot a quick fun engagement photo session with Thea and Sal at the Hyatt Regency in Jersey City. Here's a few shots from the session.

The Hyatt Pier is so ramantic and has nice skyline views on NYC.

Having fun.

I'm looking forward to their wedding next year at Gargiulos in Brokklyn.

Crown Jewel Bellydance Performance Show - September 17, 2006

Since the summer months are such busy wedding business months, I rarely get the chance to go out and check out bellydance performance shows on the weekend. However, I didn't have a wedding job on the Sunday night of the annual Crown Jewel bellydance show at the Lafayette Theatre. I really miss getting the chance to check out shows and catching up with my bellydancer buddies. Here's few shots I took during the night.

Laura started the show off with a fantastic routine.

Blanca spinning her enchanting veil. I've done a few art projects with Blanca over the years.

Vivian getting the crowd going.

The crowd.

My good buddy Kazja. I've done a number of cool projects with some more planned in the future.

Samara performed a very sensual dance.

My good friend Tanna with her troop doing a cane dance.

The one and only Jehan closed the show. Most of all my bellydancer friends studied bellydance with Jehan and she's regarded as one of the best teachers.

Tribute in Light - September 11, 2006

Back in August of this year, I moved from Suite 5522 (on the 55th floor of the Empire State Building) to Suite 4205 (on the 42nd floor). The move was prompted by many factors, including the need to move into a larger space since my business has really taken off in the three years since I first moved into the building. In my old office, my window view faced east and now my window faces directly south, parallel to where the World Trade Center once stood. The tragedy of what happened on 9/11 affected all New Yorkers including myself (I knew people that where involved in the disaster). This year, my staff and I spent September 11 night looking out through the window and reflecting on the tragedy.

Feature in Winter 2007 Weddings New York Magazine

The newest edition of Weddings New York just came out and they've featured one of my favorite fantastic 2006 weddings in it. Everybody go check it out.

Congratulations to Bhavana & Samir. My photography team and I had an amazing time shooting their 4 day wedding back in April (more of their wedding pics can be found on this blog from 03.Posts 21-30).

Catherine & Vincent Wedding - September 8, 2006

Last month, I shot Catherine & Vincent's amazing wedding at the Swan Club in Long Island, NY. Remember I shot their engagement photos a few months back. Well their wedding was even more fun. Check out a bunch of my favorite wedding pics along with a link to more at the bottom.

Catherine getting her make up done.

Checking out the finished look.

Getting into the gorgeous Reem Acra gown.

Getting the shoes on.

On the way to the church, Catherine read a sincere card that Vincent wrote to her for the wedding day.

Vincent shaving for the big day.

The groomsmen playing around with the ring bearer.

One of Vincient's best men helping him out with the cuff links.

Making sure the hair is in order.

Catherine walked down the aisle first being escorted by her two brothers.

I love Catherine's expression here as they take their vows.

When we got to the venue we took some romantic portraits.

The beautiful ballroom.

Making their grand entrance.

Catherine sings a song to her new husband.

Everbody joins in.

Toasts by the best men. Both of them had one thing in common: they both hated Vincent when they first met him but little by little, Vincent grew on them and charmed his way into being a great friend.

Catherine's brothers sang a song dedicated to the memory of their mother.

The party gets going.

Some of the guests didn't last to the end of the night.

The gang got lifted up on chairs.

Parent dances.

And the night wraps up.

To check out a bunch more photos from the wedding click below:
more photos