Desha and Kyle - July 24, 2006

Our adventure with Desha and Kyle started when I saw them for the initial consultation in January 2006. Before I tell the whole story let me present one image from the couple's engagement session. After two attempts spoiled by bad weather forecasts and a storm of the century we finally got together for some quality photography time on July 2, 2006:



What a great couple, what a wonderful plan for a wedding, what an unfortunate coincidence... but let's start from the beginning: Desha and Kyle had planned to have their wedding reception at a beautiful venue in upstate New York on July 28 - great, I was available for the date ! They also had planned to have their wedding ceremony in Aruba on July 24 - and it would be even more exciting if I hadn't been booked for a wedding on July 23. They were inviting me to go with them and photograph the ceremony in Aruba. I would do it with a great pleasure but there was simply too much risk involving a super tight schedule for the flight and no extra time in case of an unforseen delay. It seemed I had no choice but to pass on this great opportunity. With help came my friend Neil van Niekerk. Thankfully he was available and more than happy to visit Aruba together with Desha and Kyle and create these beautiful images:



from the portrait session after the civil ceremony:



it looks to me like wherever you go in Aruba the colors around you are just amazing:



this image was captured during the official beach wedding ceremony:



...and another, beautiful silhouette shot:



Aruba brings not only beautiful sunset but also wild ocean waves into the picture:



one of the good-bye images:



A few days later, back in New York Desha is getting ready for the wedding reception:



it's not Aruba anymore but the colors can be just as good !



the beautiful bride:



I guess you'd have to try pretty hard to take a bad picture of Desha, this one by Jose:



Let's not forget the fantastic wedding cake:



...and the venue's exotic architecture:



one more image from the couple's outside session:



the first dance gave us a chance to create many special images:



...as did the front of the venue at night:





Desha and Kyle ! Thank You for the unforgettable experience, Thank You for being a wonderful couple to work with and the unique opportunity to photograph Your entire Wedding ! Neil - Thank You for delivering a superb set of images from Aruba !

Katie and Derek - July 22, 2006

Early in the morning of July 22 Katie and Derek's photography started in this church located in Bedminster, NJ:



Derek arrived before his bride so that they wouldn't see each other before the ceremony, here's the groom:



Katie arrived soon after, in the image below her parents' reflection was caught in the window:



Led by her father to the church:



In the meantime, the guys:



Katie with her bridesmaids:



...and one of the bride alone:



The adorable flower girls walking down the aisle:



Katie and Derek during the ceremony:



...and a few real moments that happened right after the ceremony:













Married and moving to the reception:



The cocktail hour was already waiting when we arrived to the Bridgewater Manor:



...but first we went to this venue's beautiful grounds to steal some more of the couple's moments:





this image was captured on their way out of the gardens, Katie saw members of their families waving towards them form a window:



One from Jose, captured seconds before Katie and Derek entered the reception:



he first dance:



And some emotional moments during parent dances, speeches and blessings:







It was nice to see Alexa and Michael among the guests - a couple that I had a pleasure to photograph on November 19, 2005. You can see some images from their wedding in WEDDINGS 2005 section of our main website. They also referred Katie and Derek to us ! Alexa and Michael - it was great seeing you two again - I'm happy you are doing well ! Katie and Derek - Thank You for a day full of emotion and wonderful photo opportunities !

Lenka and Jarek - July 15, 2006

We were thrilled getting ready for Lenka and Jarek's wedding. Looking at what this couple had on their schedule there could be some amazing photo opportunities coming our way... and indeed, after the day was over - we couldn't be happier with what we were able to capture ! I started with Lenka getting ready:



The dress looked stunning:



...and even better when Lenka was wearing it:



Jose - as always - was getting great images with the guys:



Lenka arriving at the church:



The ceremony took place at the Sacred Heart Cathedral
in Newark, NJ. In short - a photographer's dream:



The groom, seconds before seeing his bride for the first time:



The vows:



This ring is definitely not coming off !



Married:



Moments before exiting the cathedral:



Butterfly release outside:



...and a quick session in front of the cathedral before travelling to the reception:



It was a good day for windy veil images:



A less formal, more relaxed photograph of the bridal party:



After a quick session outside Lenka & Jarek entered the 300 guest reception:



The first dance with the background painted by DJ's lights:



Lenka's reaction to one of the speeches:



More dancing in the beautiful ballroom later during the night:



As promised, the evening ended with the couple walking under the arch of fireworks:



Lenka & Jarek - Congratulations and thank you for an amazing day !

Noelle & Stephen - July 9, 2006

Last Sunday I had a pleasure to join Bart Breslow for a wedding shoot of Noelle and Stephen at a spectacular location: Hotel DuPont in Willmington, DE. This time my role was to photograph the groom getting ready:





Stephen, just as everybody else in his wedding party - was a true character and fun to work with:



All we needed to make this fisheye shot of the guys work was a part of the hotel's corridor:



One image of the beautiful Noelle that I had a chance to capture right before the couple's formal session:



...and here's the bride and groom together at one of many stunning locations around the hotel:



After photographing Noelle and Stephen together we followed everybody to the traditional Ketubah signing:





...and immediately afterwards Noelle took a moment to think about what is going to happen in a few minutes:





moments before the ceremony, with her father:



Kids are often the funniest subjects when they feel a bit bored during the ceremony:



One detail image:



Hotel DuPont's amazing ballroom right before the party:



Congratulations Noelle and Stephen ! Bart - Thank You for the opportunity to shoot with you !

Alison & Zach - July 1, 2006

It all started on a November afteroon when Allison called my cell phone. I remember almost not taking the call because the area code looked strange. I remember thinking 'probably another home loan offer...' but now I am very glad I did answer. It was Allison calling me from Arizona ! A few weeks and a bunch of e-mails later a contract was in the mail. Without ever seeing each other I was booked for a wedding and Allison has hired a photographer. Wow ! Going just by a referral from her friends she trusted me with a very important decision. I always deeply appreciate that kind of trust and value all the bookings but never before had I been booked over the phone and e-mail ONLY !

The first time I saw Allison and Zach was at the engagement session shoot that we set up for June 12, 2006 at one of the most popular wedding photography locations in New Jersey - Lambert's Castle. On the morning of June 12 the magic was in the air. Allison and Zach made the location that I know inside out look and feel special:









For their wedding venue Allison and Zach picked ‘The Tides’ in North Haledon, NJ:



The bride arrives:



…getting ready at the bridal suite:



in a few minutes she will wear this beautiful dress:



a few finishing touches:



…and we are ready to start the bridal session:






With a happy bride like Allison every photograph is ‘working’:



Working with Allison is flawless, this session is quickly finished with enough great images to fill a few albums. It’s time to photograph the groom:



Zachary is accompanied by his brother Nick and best friend Ian:



It is an outside ceremony, the bride is walked to the ceremony site by her father, Donald:



…an emotional moment during the ceremony:



Just married:



one more image from the couple’s session, a few minutes before the beginning of reception:



and another portrait of the fabulous bride:



The first dance:



…followed by a hilarious toast speech delivered by Ian, according to him Allison was a ‘really good acquisition for Zach’:



Zachary receiving an actual piece of toast that Ian had prepared:



The rest of the reception had a lot of dancing:





Dancing continued even outside the ballroom:





Towards the end of the reception, with help from the DJ I managed to get all the guests together for a group photo:



Allison and Zach – thank you for a fantastic day and being such wonderful subjects !