It’s going to be a while before I blog a another wedding, because I’m going  to switch my focus to getting all my weddings processed before the end of the year or some of my  brides may be very unhappy.

I used carry my professional camera with me whenever I walk out the door. It lasted only couple weeks before I stop, because it’s really heavy. One day when I went out during the middle of the day; I saw a construction worker cutting up the road with a huge radial saw. The sparks were flying, this huge saw was cutting away right in the middle of the road with cars backed up all the way. I reached for my camera and then realized that I didn’t bring it! What a missed opportunity for a great shot!

On a wedding day I carry 3 fully loaded cameras for over 10 hours without a complain, but on a off day, I somehow cannot even carry one professional camera.

Recently, I purchased a Canon G11, a portable point and shoot semi-pro camera and it goes with me whenever I go out. I love it! Now, I can record the changing of the season and all the nuisances of the day as I travel through time and places that are easily forgotten.

I’ve decided to share with you some images straight from my new carry around camera without any editing or processing whatsoever. The pros call these images SOOC  (straight out of camera). Here’s a collage of light and color of fall 2009 as I wandered through and captured it with my point and shoot camera.

Weddings are a once in a lifetime event that most, if not all brides dream about. When it comes to weddings, perfection is not an option but very much preferred. We are only human and can sometimes err in our choices and planning a wedding is nothing but making choices and hope that in the end it all comes out perfect.

On Melissa and Joe’s wedding day the entire bridal party cheered and chanted my name as I walked through the door of the bridal suite; because I was available to phatograph Melissa and Joe’s wedding. I was elated, surprised and humbled by the ovation; it showed me how important my photography services are to a bride, her friends and her family.

Bungalow Hotel
50 Laird Street
Long Branch, NJ 07740
phone: 732.229.3700
email: info@bungalowhotel.net

Avenue Restaurant
Le Club Beach Club
23 Ocean Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
phone: 732.759.2900
email: info@leclubavenue.com

I’ve been documenting weddings, engagements and other celebrations since the turn of the century and have not shot a wedding or engagement photography session on the Brooklyn Bridge itself, but always with the Brooklyn Bridge in the backdrop from afar.   Is it just like being a native New Yorker who has not been up to the Empire State building or the Statue of Liberty?

It’s easy to make things look beautiful from afar and always a challenge at close distance.  I faced that challenge when I met Mikaela.  The challenge, of course, is the Brooklyn Bridge and not Mikaela and Brian.

When I first met Mikaela in my studio she was coming straight from yoga class and was carrying her yoga mat. If I could have taken a photo of her then, I would say that she was enveloped in light!

Two weeks before their wedding, Mikaela and Brian wanted to do a pre-wedding (engagement) photo session on the Brooklyn Bridge and in Dumbo.  The best way to capture both locations is to start at the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge and walked across the bridge to Dumbo.  And the best time to do this engagement photo session is in the morning, sunrise to be exact.

Some of you may already know that I am not an early riser, but I will wake up and will stay up any time and every time for a photo shoot.   Mikaela and Brian rewarded me handsomely with beautiful images and on their wedding day they received enthusiastic compliments on the sunrise engagement photos we did on the Brooklyn Bridge and in Dumbo.  Of course, my artistic skills count for the stunning results of the engagement photos; but a huge part was truly that of Mikaela and Brian.

It did not hit me until later into the shoot why they choose to have a photo session so darn early in the morning! If Mikaela is the light, then Brian is the Greek god Helios who chariots the sun across the sky.

When I finally met Brian that early morning, I saw why they are in each other’s life. They are both so happy and couldn’t stop smiling. I had to tone them down for some of the shots; so that we may have variety of expressions!

I later learned from a friend of Brian’s at the wedding that it’s a hobby of Brian’s to take sunrise photos every where he travels to. Well, they are a couple that brings the sun up every morning!

A private eye in stilettos? No, it’s  makeup artist extraordinaire Laura Nadeau.

It should be common sense for people in wedding industry to be dedicated to the well being and happiness of their clients. If one cannot provide this most basic service, one should consider a profession in another industry. After all it’s a service industry and you are here to make people feel fantastic and comfortable on their big day!

This past weekend, I had the unfortunate encounter of a limousine driver who made the groom felt so bad on the way to the church that everyone got off the limo and walked to the church! And I must say this is the first for me in New York. Few years ago, I encountered something like that in Boston and was totally shocked by the experience.

Of course these are extreme cases and people in our industry in general are service oriented people, but there are few that stand above and beyond the norm!  Laura Nadeau is one of those who go above and beyond her duty to help and make her clients feel terrific on their big day! Not only is she a consummate artist who makes her brides look beautiful; she is out to help them by providing one of the most informative and inspiring website filled with expert advices from the pros in the wedding industry. This is something you rarely see.

I had the fortunate experience of working with Laura and she made my job much easier by handing over a gorgeous bride on time; so I did not have to rush.

I challenged Laura, and asked her to make herself look beautiful by doing her own makeup. We did a glamour editorial session last week in Soho.

Modern brides don’t forget to listen to an impromptu interview with Laura.  Please keep in mind that I am a professional photographer and do not have the eloquence of Barbara Walters.

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Without further adieu…the gorgeous Laura Nadeau’s Modern Lifestlye Fashion Photography Shoot.

This is the fourth consecutive Modern Lifestyle Family Portrait session for Dea and Chris. I photographed their wedding a few years ago and 2 years after that I photographed their lovely baby girl, whose photos are some of my all time favorites. Last year I photographed their new addition to the family, a baby boy. I look forward to their session every year because I get to witness and document the growth of their children and family.

The Chinese character for “good” (?) composes of a “girl” (?) on the left and “son” (?) on the right. Dea and Chris have this “goodness” not only because they have a daughter and a son, but because they really are a wonderful and fun loving family!

I totally enjoy photographing them because they instinctively know how to let it happen naturally without a fuss. They invite me into their life as a friend for the duration of the session and trust in my ability to capture the truth of their characters and family dynamics. This total trust and willingness on their part to enjoy the process have always created memorable and distinctive photo keepsakes.

These photos are not mere recordings of the changing face of a child, but the emerging character development of a little human being. I feel truly lucky to witness the transformation of their baby girl into a little princess and now seeing their son from a new born into a toddler!

Carl Schurz Park on the Upper East Side of New York City.

Click on the slideshow to see more images from the family portrait session in Carl Schurz Park on the Upper East Side of New York City. Be patient while slideshow loads…

Click here see a Lower East Side Modern Lifestyle Family Portrait session.