Amanda + Matt // Spillian

in ,

The leaves were golden and the air was crisp when Amanda and Matt were married at Spillian, a private lodge tucked away in the Catskills region of Upstate New York. The warm and inviting estate, filled with beautifully kept antiques, was the perfect location to celebrate the union of this kind and authentic couple.

Gorgeous jazz music, hand picked bottle vases, vibrant floral arrangements, and delicious Mexican cuisine were some of the unique elements, which created a truly special day. Guests were invited to stay the weekend, filling the wrap around porch of Spillian with laughter and loved ones. What a wonderful way to celebrate a life together!

Congratulations, you two. I am grateful to have been a part of your day. 

Thank you to the entire wedding team!

Flowers // Bloominous

Photobooth // Saratoga Photobooth Company

Venue // Spillian / Fleischmanns, New York

Music // Early Bird Jazz Band

Catering // Spillian

Sean + Tess // Saddler River, NJ

in ,

What a joy to capture the wedding day of Tess and Sean. It was an incredible gathering of family and friends, who came to celebrate their eight year love story. Tess and Sean met as high school students at a summer arts camp in Interlochen, Michigan. Their journey has been encapsulated by many meaningful experiences and milestones; including music, travels abroad, career developments, and an adorable Norwich Terrier named Bandit. Congratulations, you two! Thank you for having me capture the beginning of this next chapter in your life together. I can not wait to see where you go next. 

Thank you to all the wedding contributors!

Second Photographer: Ruby Tull

Ceremony Venue: St. Gabriel the Archangel

Reception Venue: The Woman's Club of Ridgewood

Catering: The Catch-y Caterer

Entertainment/Lighting: Ultimate Entertainment (Robert Frannicola)

Flowers: Helen Snyder

Rentals: Taylor Rentals

Alcohol: Carlo Russo’s Wine and Spirit World

Cake: Sugar Flake Bakery (Westwood/River Vale location)

Rachel + John // Red Maple Vineyard

in ,

Rachel and John were married in early June at Red Maple Vineyard, an incredible venue in West Park, New York. Rustic and elegant, with stunning views of the Hudson Valley, this picturesque place holds up even in the rain, which it did plenty of on their wedding day! That is right up until the moment they had their first look.

As the sun broke through the clouds, the warm weather quickly became a reminder of everything friends and family cherish about this fantastic couple. Their kind and inviting nature, ease with one another, and ability to calm each other while making the other laugh, are things I enjoyed most about capturing their love. Congratulations, you two! I am grateful to have been a part of your day. Rain or sun ;)

Thank you to the entire wedding team!

Venue // Red Maple Vineyard

Second Photographer // Ruby Tull

Floral // Peony Design Studio

Catering // Cornerstone Catering

Band // Affiniti NYC

Bride's Gown // Designer Palmoa Blanca, from Wedding Atelier

Bride's Shoes // Nina Shoes

Hair/Makeup // Studio One

Favors // Maple Syrup by Red Maple Vineyard

The Crucible // The Glimmerglass Festival 2016

in , ,

This summer, The Glimmerglass Festival will present Robert Ward and Bernard Stambler’s opera The Crucible, based on the play by Arthur Miller. It’s one of the productions I’m looking most forward to photographing.

After speaking with director Francesca Zambello, The Glimmerglass PR/Marketing team and I were inspired by her vision to create promotional images which utilized the rich, natural landscape of Central New York. For our location we chose a wooded area within Glimmerglass State Park, providing a dramatic setting for the dancers to move through. For this project, using motion blur to capture movement became an integral part of storytelling, as the dancers embody being overtaken by witchcraft hysteria, a prominent theme in the work.

Next month I’ll be heading once again to Cooperstown, New York to begin documenting the 2016 season. Stay tuned for more images on stage, behind-the-scenes, and events. If you haven’t gotten your tickets, don’t wait any longer. I hope to see you this summer! 

Artistic // Francesca Zambello, June Dzialo, Kelly Reller, Brittany Lesavoy

Key Costumer // Alexandria Hoffman

Hair & Makeup // Anne Ford-Coates

Dancers // Olivia Barbieri, Katie Henly, Mandy Compton LoPresti

Ellie + Patrick // Long Island, NY

in ,

Ellie and Patrick were married at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, New York. Loved ones gathered two days after Christmas for a ceremony filled with heartfelt vows, followed by a celebration at Larkfield. What I loved most about this wedding day was how the couple honored aspects of their past and present which brought them together. This included not only a music filled ceremony, but shades of turquoise; a tribute to Ellie's home state of New Mexico. Also, look for the chili pepper in the bride's bouquet and on the reception tables! 

Thank you to the entire wedding team!

Second Photographer // Jamie Kraus

Floral Design // Mary Lou Pappas Flowers

Bakery // Dortoni Bakery

Transportation // Trans-Star Executive

Wedding Invitations // Carlson Craft

Wedding Dress // Arabella by Maggi Sottero

Shoes // Badgley Mischka

Hair & Makeup // Anne Ford-Coates

Men's Attire // Vera Wang

Favors // Alison Ryczek Pottery

DJ // Eclipse Entertainment - Joe Senatore

Sarah + Eric // Engaged!

in ,

2015 ended with a wonderful engagement session of Sarah and Eric, who will be married in October. This lovely, playful, and talented couple met on the national tour of Young Frankenstein the musical. Sarah is a triple threat actress, and Eric is a trumpet player. Thus, it only seemed natural that we stop to photograph them at the arts mecca, Lincoln Center. Together they are a dynamic duo, and I can not wait to capture their wedding this fall. Congratulations you two! 

Sean + Tess // Engaged!

in ,

What a joy to spend a fall afternoon in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square with Sean, Tess, and their adorable dog Bandit! Sean and Tess, thank you for inviting me to create photographs in a place meaningful to you both. Your wedding next fall will be beautiful, and I'm excited to capture the next chapter of your love story.

Lauren + Andrew // New York City

in ,

Every wedding I have the privilege of capturing is unique, which is one of the many reasons I love the work that I do. Lauren and Andrew were married in an intimate ceremony at St. James' Church in Manhattan, New York. A place near and dear to their heart, St. James' Church provided not only a meaningful, but stunning background for their commitment to one another. To celebrate their love, Lauren and Andrew headed to Dumbo Spot in Brooklyn to not only dance the night away but eat pizza with family and friends! What I loved most about their wedding day was that the details were focused on loved ones. I couldn't think of a better way to start a life together. Congratulations you two!

Jessica + Rob // The Crescent Beach Club

in ,

I first met Jessica and Rob when I was asked by Rob to capture his marriage proposal. The big moment occurred during a snowy morning in Fort Greene, Brooklyn with a surprise appearance by friends and fifteen french bulldogs! Since I'm sure you're now curious about the details of this adorable proposal, you should check out this article by Huffington Post Weddings which featured the event and even included two photos of mine! 

There is no denying the connection between this vibrant couple. It was an honor to photograph their wedding day, which included many personal, creative details such as a hand drawn record of their guests, and the incorporation of their parents' wedding photos. Together, these two tore up the dance floor, and created a celebration I know them, as well as friends and family will cherish forever. Many thanks to The Crescent Beach Club and second photographer Ruby Tull for seamlessly bringing all aspects of the day together. Congratulations Jessica and Rob!