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Ereka & Randy Wedding - July 28, 2006

Last month, I shot Ereka & Randy's fantastic wedding at the Brookly Botanical Gardens in Brooklyn, NY. Remember I shot some engagement portraits of this gorgeous couple a few weeks back.

Ereka getting ready for the big day.

Ereka the bride is Ereka Ventrini, ex co-host of the Tony Danza talk show and one of the original apprentices on Donald Trump's first season Apprentice show. She's currently working on a new upcoming TV show.

Ereka's mom helping her get into her wedding gown.

The beautiful bride putting on her earings.

Randy getting ready with some help from his groomsmen.

Randy's brother, the best man, ironing out some wrinkles in his tie.

Ereka with her dad by her side walking down the aisle.

A reading by the two moms.

Ereka and Randy exchanged sincere and heartfelt readings about one another.

I love Randy's expression in this shot.

Exchange of rings.

The kiss.

After the ceremony, we went to take portraits in the beautiful Japanese Pond Garden.

Cocktail Hour.

The beautiful dining room.

The first dance.

Here's a nice shot of the gorgeous Palm House at twilight.

Toasts.

Now the party kicks in.

The guests lifting Ereka's dad.

Wedding Cake.

Parent dances.

The last dance.

The evening ending with the guests mingling outside the Palm House.

Julieta & Jafe Wedding - July 21, 2006

A few weeks back I got to shoot a fantastic wedding at Tribeca Rooftop in Manhattan, NYC. Here's some of my favorite shots.

Julieta getting her make up and hair prepared at a suite in the beautiful Tribeca Grand Hotel in Tribeca.

Putting on her veil.

Getting into her gown. Julieta had a custom designed couture gown. The lace from the gown was over 44 years since it was taken from her mom's wedding gown and sewn into her gown.

Her mom helping out.

I took some portraits of the beautiful bride in the gorgeous hotel lobby.

Jafe getting ready with the help of his best man.

Julieta entering the beautiful St. Francis Xavier Church in Chelsea

Entering with her dad beside her.

Taking their vows.

The ring bearer.

Julieta's parents.

Jafe's parents.

The exchange of rings.

The Kiss.

Inside Tribeca rooftop.

The beautiful reception room.

The wedding guests awaiting Julieta & Jafe's grand entrance.

The first dance.

The guests then lifting the couple onto chairs.

The guests having a rockin' time.

Toasts.

Jafe's best man gave a hilarious toast. One funny story was about their first trip to Jones Beach.

Julieta's brother gave a sincere toast about Julieta's determination to succeed at becoming a chef and opening up a restaurant in NYC.

Cake cutting.

Jafe's grandmother gave a speech.

The awesome entertainment was provided by The Bud Maltin Orchestra. I've worked with Bud and his band on so many wedding jobs and it's still always exciting to hear them play. Here Bud is singing a Rolling Stones tune.

The last dance.

After the last dance we took some final portraits on the rooftop terrace.

Check Out WWW.TANNAVALENTINE.COM

One of my best friends, Tanna, a beautiful bellydancer has finally launched her much anticipated website. I've known Tanna for over 10 years. She was the first dancer to dance for me at my very first solo art exhibition. I've photographed her countless times. Tanna has helped me so much with my fine art and wedding business and I owe her so much for all the good advice and help she's given me over the years. Her new website features lots of photos by me. You can also check out her website to see video clips of her performances. She also happens to be one of the most athletic and fit bellydancers around and has produced two bellydance fitness videos. They're absolutely great for workouts and you can purchase them off her website.

Here's the link:
www.tannavalentine.com

Dalia Carella New Theatre Show

Dalia Carella is known in the dance community as an innovative and cutting edge choreographer. Last year I went to see her Broadway dance show, "In Search of Goddesses" and it was absolutely fantastic. I was delighted when she contacted me back in February this year to photograph some promo material for her new theatre show. The new show entitled, "Cabaret Macabre - Theatre du Bizarre et Surreliste" will premiere in October and I know it'll be awesome so please check it out. Here's the link to her site as well as ticket and theatre info:

www.cabaretmacabre.com

I promised Dalia that I wouldn't showcase any of the photos from the promo shoot until after she announced and advertised the new show. Since she's recently done that, I'd like to share just a few of the shots from the shoot with everyone.

Dalia wanted a gothic and errie ambiance for her new show. I wanted to capture that feel and add a journalistic edge so I took these shots during a rehersal in April.

This style of photography isn't as foreign to me as some might think. When I was in art high school and began to build a fine art photography portfolio, I was very influenced (almost obsessively) by the genius film and theatre work of Ingmar Bergman. I tried very hard to emulate the look and ambiance of his work with my photography back then. In high school and to a certain degree, my early college years, I was a B&W film and darkroom junkie shooting modern and avant-garde dancers. All I shot was grainy B&W T-Max film and I would spend countless hours per week dodging, burning, using contrast filters in the darkroom to make my photography look like gothic theatre and movie stills. Sometime in the next month or so, I'll have to get around to scanning a bunch of my high school/early college portfolio prints (over 12 years old) to show everyone where my work evolved from. Until then, why not rent out "The Seventh Seal" or "Persona" from Blockbuster's classic film section. These were two of my favorite Bergman movies that had a profound impact on me and my art.

Feature in Fall/Winter 06' TheKnot Magazine

In case any of you happen to pick up the new issue of the New York TheKnot Magazine, they featured one of my 05' weddings in it.

Congratulations to Laura & Tom. These pictures were only a small sample (cropped samples even) of the many I took at their fabulous wedding. TheKnot is also featuring the wedding on their website with more of my images. Here's the link:

TheKnot Feature

This is just the start of this year's press and media news. In the coming months, I'll have some of my weddings featured in Manhattan Bride, New York Weddings and also featured on cable tv's Style Network on the show " Who's Wedding Is It Anyway". I'll let you all know when each one happens.

Maricor & David Engagement Shoot - July 16, 2006

A few weeks back I had the opportunity to take fun engagement portraits of Maricor & David around NYC. Here are some of my favorites.

One of the first places we stopped off at was the New York Public Library and Bryant Park.

Inside the merry-go-round in Bryant Park. This is one of, if not the only, merry-go-round ride in all of Manhattan.

Next up we headed to Strawberry Fields in Central Park.

After Central Park, we went to the Brooklyn Bridge.

We came back to Manhattan and headed to Grand Central.

I love the ambiance at the Grand Central balcony.

Maricor and David met each other as students at Yale University. Here, they're standing outside the beautiful Yale Club.

We ended the night at Times Square, one of my favorite NYC spots.

I love doing fun and campy shots at the famous island spot in Times Square.

We had a great time during the shoot (chatting about everything from the best sushi restaurants in NYC to ballroom dancing) and I can't wait for their October wedding at Tarrytown House in Tarrytown, NY.

Janine & Brian Engagement Shoot - June 29, 2006

A few weeks ago I traveled to beautiful Spring Lake, NJ to take engagement portraits of Janine & Brian. Spring Lake is a gorgeous resort town on the Jersey shore.

Janine and Brian have a gorgeous home across the street from the beautiful lake.

They're so cute.

Spring Lake has a very romantic and secluded beach.

I love these fun shots.

I had a fantastic time doing the shoot with them and I can't wait till their wedding at the Trump National Golf Club next year.

Jackie & Michael Wedding - June 26, 2006

Last month, Jackie and Michael traveled all the way from Scotland to get married in the greatest city in the world, New York City. It was a pleasure capturing their intimate wedding held in the Conservatory Gardens in Central Park.

Jackie being escorted to the ceremony by her dad.

Michael's expression as Jackie approaches.

Jackie and Michael hired a string quartet to play the processional music and a few tunes during the ceremony.

Isn't Jackie's expression so cute.

Jackie's dad and Michael's best man.

A reading by Jackie's cousin.

The exchange of rings.

The kiss.

Michael backing up his new wife as she signs the liceanse.

We then went around the gardens to take some portraits.

Just before their getaway.

Ereka & Randy Engagement Shoot - June 25, 2006

Last month I had the chance to take some great engagement portraits of Ereka and Randy a few weeks before their amazing wedding at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Here are some of my favorites from the shoot.

Ereka and Randy are a gorgeous looking couple and one of my most attractive.

We took the photos in the West Village in Manhattan, NYC which is a very special place for Ereka and Randy.

Aren't they adorable.

I love the cobblestone streets in the West Village. Ereka and Randy shared their first apartment together down the street from where this was shot.