My good friend Beledo, an awesome progressive jazz musician asked me to photograph some portraits of him along the Brooklyn Bridge for his new upcoming CD. Of course I agreed and Carol Moore his wife and founder and owner of A Starry Night DJs joined to help out with the shoot. A Starry Night DJ company is the best DJ company in NYC that provides elegant DJ services for weddings. Below are some of my favorites from the portrait shoot.
Check out more of his music on itunes.
Back in the beginning of November, I shot one of my favorite weddings of all time. Illana & DC's wedding at Battery Gardens, NYC was such a sweet, exciting and memorable wedding.
Illana's dress, shoes and details
Illana getting her hair and make up done.
Sandra, one of my beautiful brides from the past, was one of Illana's bridesmaids. All the bridesmaids had fun during the preparation process.
Checking out the finished look.
Another one of my beautiful past brides, Amy was also a bridesmaid and here she's helping Illana get into her beautiful wedding gown.
Illana putting on her earrings.
Illana is such a gorgeous bride.
Putting on the finishing look with the veil.
DC started the day off with walking the dogs.
Getting ready.
The handsome groom.
On his way to meeting Illana.
At the lobby of the Ritz Carlton Battery Park was where they were set to see each other to kick off the day. Illana looks so excited and cute here, ready to see DC.
I love DC's sincere expressions when he sees Illana. These expressions priceless.
They look so cute together.
The bridal party got on a bus to go take portraits around NYC.
At Grand Central.
Illana has some fun with her bridesmaids.
The groomsmen were a little more reserved.
At Times Square.
The Bridal Party.
Signing the Ketubah.
The ceremony set up at Battery Gardens.
Illana walking down the aisle with her mom and dad.
Exchanging rings.
The kiss.
Battery Gardens has a beautiful view of the sunset from its pier.
Cocktail Hour.
Illana is another one of my brides who also happens to be a wedding and event coordinator (she works for the Ritz Carlton at Philadelphia and coordinates beautiful weddings there ). Being that she's involved in the business, she has the most exquisite tastes so the look and decor of her wedding has to be perfect. That's why she trusted the look of the wedding to Jeanne Costello, Floral and Event Designer.
The awesome view from the ballroom terrace.
Illana & David's first dance.
The parent dances came next.
The Hora dance.
Toasts by Illana's mom and David's brother.
The party getting live.
Illana's maid of honor got on the mic to sing a song to her. When they were younger, she told Illana that when she gets married she would sing "That's what friends are for,". It was such a touching moment and one of my most memorable wedding memories.
After a few verses, Illana and DC joined in.
The last dance.
A shot of Battery Gardens at the end of the night.
Besides being an amazing and talented wedding photographer, Ania happens to be an expert make up artist (monster and zombie make up that is). For Halloween this year, Ania created the beautifully grotesque zombie look for her and her boyfriend Roger.
The zombies have me captured.
A few weeks ago, I got a chance to shoot a intimate reception party at the Oakside Mansion in Bloomfield, NJ. Elizabeth & David had eloped on the island of Tahiti during the summer but decided that they wanted to have a small reception party for their close family and friends.
Elizabeth getting ready to meet her guests for her party.
Her mom helping out.
Even her niece and nephew helped out with the dress.
The beautiful bride.
Elizabeth greeting her guests. Here she's greeting one of her best friends and one of my past brides, Ashleigh. Ashleigh had a spectacular NYC wedding back in 04' and reccomended me to Elizabeth for this special job.
The reception room.
They had a pumpkin theme.
During the party, the kids were off making pumkin heads.
After the party, I took Elizabeth and David around the mansion's grounds for romantic portraits.
Many bellydancers who visit NYC while visiting the US contact me about shooting fine art bellydance photos of them. I've shot bellydancers from Greece, Mexico, Italy, Russia, Hungary, Canada, Turkey and Egypt. Akiko is from Tokyo, Japan and contacted me while visiting NYC. While it was really interesting trying to comunicate with each other (I don't speak any Japanese and she spoke very little English), we had a great time working through interpretive body language during the shoot. It was a blast and here's some of my favorites.
It had been quite a while since I had the chance to shoot my fine art photography but I'm so lucky to have the chance to get back into the swing of things with a photo shoot with Angelique. She's an amazing dancer from New Paltz, NY. I had done a photo shoot with her earlier in the year in April and I feel this shoot builds upon our last shoot. Here's some of my favorites.
About 6 weeks ago I shot another amazing wedding at the Hilton Hotel @ Short Hills, NJ.
Alison getting her make up done.
Getting into her gorgeous gown.
Putting the finishing touches with the veil.
The beautiful bride.
Out of the limo and on the way to the ceremony.
Alison escorted down the aisle by her dad.
Vincent looking at his beautiful bride.
Exchanging vows.
Exchanging rings.
The kiss.
Rose Petals were thrown everywhere.
We then took the limo to a park for some portraits.
Cocktail hour.
Alison and Vincent rented out a cool photo booth and all the guests had fun taking silly pictures of themselves in it for the guest signing book.
Besides being a beautiful bride, Alison also happens to be the event coordinator at the Liberty Science Center and has coordinated her fair share of grand events including weddings. For her wedding, every detail had to be perfect and extraordinarily beautiful. Sure enough, the decor, flower arrangements, lighting and ambiance of her wedding ballroom was one of the most spectacular I've ever seen.
The first dance.
After the first dance, they did parent dances.
Toasts by the best man (brother of the groom) and maid of honor (sister of the bride).
Then the band got live and the party got going.
Cake feeding.
The bouquet and garter toss ritual.
The last dance.
Jeanine and John's wedding back in February 21, 2004 was one of my favorite weddings of all time. I still remember all the special moments like when the whole bridal party sang the chorus for Bon Jovi's "Living on A Prayer" during the reception party and the flaming pinapple cake. Here's some shots I took from their wedding about three years ago.
Jeanine has also sent some of her good friends my way for wedding photography (Big thanks Jeanine!) and recently Jeanine and John decided that they wanted to start a family. I'm always excited when one of my couples have a baby but even more so when they ask me to take baby photos of their kids. Jeanine invited me over to her gorgeous Staten Island home to take some photos of adorable baby Dylan. Here's some of my favorites.
Jeanine getting Dylan set up for some photos.
Absolutely adorable and since it's Christmas season now, I think these would make neat gift photos to give to friends and family.
Gina Pedone, the talented bridal gown designer and owner of Adriennes Bridal Salon held an amazing fashion show showcasing her new 07' line. The catered event was held at Gina's store and many top wedding industry professionals including the editors of New York Weddings Magazine, TheKnot, and various wedding planners attended the event. Since I couldn't attend the function, I sent my talented associate photographer, Julie Skya to cover the event. Below are just a few of the fabulous shots she took.
I know it's been a while since I've posted anything (so sorry guys) but I have lots to post and you'll see lots of posts in the next few days.
Anyhow, I shot a fun and exciting interfaith wedding back in the middle of October at Tarrytown House in Westchester, NY.
Maricor checking out her dress hanging.
Checking her shoes.
Showing off her custom robe. Maricor is one of my most cutest brides. She's also super animated.
Getting her hair and make up done.
Getting into her gown.
David getting ready.
Before going to meet up with Maricor, the guys racked up for a game of pool.
Maricor just before seeing David for the first time on their wedding day.
I love David's expression here.
We then went took some portraits on Tarrytown House's grounds.
The handsome groom.
The beautiful bride.
Signing the Jewish Ketubah.
David being escorted down the cremonial aisle by his parents.
I love the kids walking down the aisle.
Maricor walking down the aisle by her parents.
David's expression as she comes.
Unveiling the bride.
Exchange of rings.
In Philipino tradition, they loosely bind up the bride and groom's neck in a figure 8 with a white cord to symbolize the fact that the couple will now share a lifelong bond.
Next the Jewish Rabbi/Cantor sang the Sheva Brachot. She sang with a opera flair and wowed all the guests including myself.
The parents looking on.
The Jewish tradition of the groom breaking of the glass. Traditionally, this custom is a reminder of the destruction of the first Jewish Temple and the anguish of the Jewish people throughout history. It is also a reminder that relationships are as fragile as glass and must always be treated with care, love and respect.
The kiss.
Cocktail Hour.
The beautiful ballroom.
Maricor helping David get ready for their entrance and first dance.
While in college together at Yale University, Maricor and David were performing ballroom dancers and competed in competitions. They put on the most amazing ballroom first dance performance I've ever seen and blew everyone away.
After the performance, everybody joined in.
Next the party went into the Jewish Hora dance and it was a blast.
When the hora ended, then the mothers gave some sweet toasts.
Maricor and her mom were very emotional.
Toasts by the best man and maid of honor.
The party kicks off.
David toasted his new bride and presented her with an unexpected Tiffany ring.
Maricor looks so animated and cute here.
Parent dances.
Cake feeding.
The bouquet and garter tradition.
The last dance.
Maricor and David are enjoying their honeymoon in Japan now. (hope you guys enjoy the great Sushi there - you know I'm jealous).
