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Factory 220 Wedding

October 18, 2016

Factory 220 Wedding: Angelina + Stacey

I remembered my consultation with Angelina and Stacey in back in December of 2015. Angelina’s last question to me was: “So what are most of your clients like?” My response was: “A lot of my clients seem to have an artistic side to them, most of them certainly seem to have a strong love and appreciation for art and photography.” Unbeknownst to me back then was that Angelina had a background in the visual arts!

It all began in grade school for these two as they actually went to the same K-8 Catholic school. They were a year a part, grade wise, but Stacey became best friends with Angelina’s cousin. They grew up ten minutes away from each other but their lives would take on different paths. Angelina went on to pursue a career in education whereas Stacey became a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army. They were reunited in 2012 thanks to an introduction from Angelina’s cousin. When they were dating, they frequently met up at the historic Hoboken train station as their rendezvous point. The Hoboken train station was where we photographed their engagement session back in June.

They’ve been happily together since 2012 and some of their favorite activities include traveling and eating out. They’ll be spending their honeymoon in Italy in part because Stacey’s favorite food is pizza and Angelina loves pasta. In particular, they plan on visiting Cinque Terre, a beautiful fishing village on the Italian Riviera with really colorful buildings on the seaside and then on to Tuscany for the legendary Florentine steak.

I wish them so much joy and happiness in their new lives together!!

I can’t thank my good friend and second photographer Aaron Morris enough for being part of this day and taking some amazing photographs!!!

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Highlawn Pavilion Wedding

June 24, 2016

Highlawn Pavilion Wedding – Elizabeth + Ryan

Elizabeth and Ryan’s wedding at the Highlawn Pavilion took place on a beautiful sunny Friday evening. The Highlawn Pavilion, in West Orange New Jersey, is a fantastic venue with amazing food and breathtaking vistas of the New York City skyline. It was a perfect day for an outdoor ceremony as the weather was perfect and of course the light during the early evening was just beautiful.

This wedding is almost 16 years in the making, they first met through a mutual friend. They dated a few times but lost contact for several years. As fate would have it, they were reunited just three years ago and that’s when things really took off between these two. Now they love spending their time together at home enjoying their favorite TV shows (a favorite past-time of mine as well!). They will be celebrating their amazing honeymoon in Greece with stops in Mykonos, Athens, and beautiful Santorini. Thank you Elizabeth and Ryan!!

Also a special thank you to my good friend and super talented photographer Aaron Morris for the amazing second shooting!

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City Winery New York City Wedding

June 3, 2016

City Winery New York City Wedding: Stephanie + Stephen

Both Stephanie and Stephen have been together for ten years and they finally got married on a beautiful Memorial Day weekend at the City Winery in New York City. Stephanie and Stephen, both Manhattanites, had their engagement session a month earlier in East Hampton where they like spending their weekends. You can often tell how special a couple is by how far their friends and family members are willing to travel to attend a wedding. Indeed, Stephanie and Stephen had many friends and family members fly in from all around the world to take part in their celebration.

Stephanie and her bridesmaids got ready at the luxurious Trump SoHo Hotel and Spa in downtown Manhattan while Stephen and his groomsmen got ready at the City Winery. Stephanie is enormously talented, she showed off her artistry and style in designing not only the Chuppah but also the floral backdrop, escort cards (each with the guest’s photo…who does that???), and candy station. This bride can just about do it all – look out wedding industry!

It was such a great honor to have been their wedding photographer!

Special thanks to my friend and enormously talented photographer Aaron Morris for being an amazing additional photographer and Ashley Peraino for coordinating the wedding. Makeup artist: Siobhan Uryevick

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Antigua Destination Wedding

April 6, 2016

Antigua Destination Wedding: Elizabeth and Case

What a way to start off the 2016 wedding season! I was beyond thrilled to be back in Antigua, especially with my compadre Daniel Diaz, to shoot a wedding for a very special couple who commissioned us a year in advance even before they had confirmed a venue. We spent a week getting to know them while accompanying them through their wedding journey in Guatemala. First off, we spent two days in beautiful Lake Atitlan followed by a hike up Mount Pacaya which is one of several active volcanoes near Antigua (last major eruption in May 2010) . The hike up Pacaya was a piece of cake for this fearless couple who are no strangers to mountain climbing and other extreme activities – they each climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and Elizabeth climbed Mt. Everest basecamp!

Spending a week with our couple pushed our photographic and artistic skills to the limit – we employed every possible composition and technique we could from vantage points up high on rickety jungle bridges and on tall columns in the ruins to getting real low on razor sharp volcanic pumice, and even submerged for some underwater portraits. We did it all, thanks to our couple who were so brave and who were so willing to give it their all!

Elizabeth and Case are both doctors who recently graduated from medical school. Case will be specializing in orthopædic surgery and Elizabeth will be specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. Prior to their first year of medical school, they met each other on the bus to orientation where Elizabeth’s beauty and escapades about traveling the world captivated Case. It took some persistence, a number of corny jokes, and a desire to travel for Elizabeth to fall just as hard for Case. Fast forward, they now both have adventured side by side through medical school and around the world – Case proposed to Elizabeth while scuba diving in Indonesia.

To share their passions for adventure and culture with their closest friends and family, Elizabeth and Case wanted to host a destination wedding. They chose Antigua, Guatemala as it provided the perfect blend of history, culture, mountains, and adventures. The ceremony was held at the beautiful Convento de las Capuchinas followed by the reception at the stunning San Jose el Viejo. While at Lake Atitlan, we stayed at picturesque Hotel Atitlan in Panajachel and in Antigua, we stayed at the wonderful Porta Hotel Antigua.

Congratulations you two – I’m envious of all the adventures that both of you will have together! To quote a famous author:

“You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!”

From “All the Places You Will Go” -Dr. Seuss

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Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Footnote: Photo by Daniel Diaz

Footnote: Photo by Dave Paek

Best 2015 Wedding and Engagement Photography

January 9, 2016

Best 2015 Wedding and Engagement Photography

Although I’m quite proud to present my Best 2015 Wedding and Engagement Photography, I’m always striving to do even better. As far as my photography is concerned, 2015 was a year marked by a lot of inspiration and hard work. I’ve pushed myself to new creative levels and challenged myself to do even more for my clients. Most importantly, I continue to evolve as a wedding photojournalist. Photojournalism is an absolute passion of mine and the most important skill that a wedding photographer can have, in my humble opinion. 2015 was a year filled with immense joy mixed in with some tears – including some of my own. I’ve been able to capture more and more poignant moments because I’ve allowed myself to become even more emotionally invested in every client and moment I’m photographing. I am so deeply grateful to each and every client whom I’ve had the privilege and honor of working with on their most special day – thank you so much for trusting in me! I’m really looking forward to all the spectacular weddings to come in 2016!