Enchanted Wedding Expo

This past weekend we participated in the Enchanted Wedding Expo at the Saratoga City Center. It was our first time at the show...as vendors. The actual first time we went, Rosie and I took our wedding bands off and pretended to be newly engaged...so we could scope out the show before deciding to participate...probably unnecessary, but fun nonetheless. This weekend we met hundreds of brides and grooms face to face and made some great new friends with several local wedding professionals. In addition to taking part in the show, we were also given ad space in the Enchanted Wedding magazine that you may have seen around Saratoga. Here's a peek at our ad, and a shot of our incredibly talented new photographer/videographer Ray Stockwell. Ray's been a great addition to our staff, giving our clients an additional photography option for their wedding day AND he's a great videographer to boot! Thanks to the staff at Saratoga Today for making this show go off without a hitch. We're already looking forward to another great show next year! If you missed us last weekend, visit us at the Star & Moon Bridal Show at Longfellow's on Sunday March 7th. Check here for information, visit us online, or call us at 518•584•0596 to find out more details!

Glen Sanders Mansion Winter Wedding

Becky & Pat were married on a BEAUTIFUL February afternoon. Though it was cold, they had some absolutely gorgeous light all day long. Glen Sanders Mansion did an outstanding job once again with the entire afternoon. Mitch Frasier, one of my absolute favorite singer/guitarists played the cocktail hour and DJ'ed the entire reception. Always good to see him, and HEAR him. Do yourself a favor, go to his website and just listen to one of the audio clips! And the florals by Mark Felthousen were just stunning. I had not yet worked a wedding with Mark, but I hope this is the first of many. It's easy to take great photos of flowers and centerpieces when they look so good! The ceremony and reception were great fun, but one of my favorite parts of the wedding day is the hour or two just before the ceremony. Everyone is excited, buzzing about, and I'm trying to keep from getting covered in hairspray... The bridal prep pictures tend to be some of my favorites, just because they are always so spontaneous and purely candid. AND, I get the opportunity to meet the bride's family dog! I had to include this photo, as my fellow photographer, Ray, told me, "that's the cutest dog I've seen in years!" It's always fun to get a glimpse into the bride's life before marriage, and I really think it helps us to connect for the rest of the day. And on a final note ... thank goodness for Pat! It's not every day that you're lucky enough to meet a groom who is truly willing to be photographed, but Pat grinned from ear to ear the entire day long! You only have to look at Becky to know WHY he was smiling. And if you know Becky, then you know why he couldn't stop smiling. I just love being part of these experiences every weekend. It constantly reminds me of how much I love my wife and my wedding day all over again. So if you want to have those same wedding day memories, call us at 518 584 0596 or visit us online to schedule a wedding photography consultation! Congratulations Becky & Pat!!

Winter Wedding at Longfellow's

Congratulations Sara and Michael! (Married just a few weeks ago at Longfellow's here in Saratoga.) It's such an amazing place to photograph in the winter - with the courtyard lit up and candles burning around the water and bridge. Rebekah and Geri did an amazing job, as usual, making the space look beautiful and taking special care of the bride and groom. The flower girls and ring bearers were in rare form, being cute and smiling for the camera. Rosie and I always joke that kids are an important part of weddings. When the adults get bored of having their picture taken, the kids are ready to do something cute! Congratulations again to Sara and Michael - may this be your first of many happy memories in your newly married life together! If you are considering getting married in the winter season, nothing is more romantic than the fireplace, candles, and twinkle lights that decorate the inside of this restaurant and inn. Oh, and be good to your guests - put the salmon on your wedding menu, it's our personal favorite :) Call us at 518•584•0596 or visit us online to find out more about our wedding photography packages!

Hair at your House!

Here's a screenshot of the Timeless Updos website. We've just sent over a handful of photos to Kristen & Jenn from a past wedding we worked on together. Those photos are being featured on their website currently, as well as on WeddingWire.com If you are still looking for someone to come TO YOU and take care of everyone's hair for the wedding, check them out here. They do a great job, are entirely reasonable, and a pleasure to work with. Happy planning, and please stop by our booth to say hello at the upcoming Enchanted Wedding Expo at the Saratoga City Center on February 21st!

Skin Care Product Photography

Yes, we shoot commercial work too! It keeps us busy in the winter - funny that nobody seems to want to get married in the dead of winter in upstate NY!! Well, that's not entirely true - we have one more wedding left before 2010 and two in February. All of them very much INSIDE (unless it starts snowing and I can talk them into going outside!) Here's one of our latest commercial ventures for Livad Skin Care. Check out their brand new website here. We did all of their online product photography, partnering with my friend Matt Ratto at Luxus Media. The website looks great Matt! Well done!

Lisa & Jason

Lisa and Jason were married just a few weeks ago at Saratoga National. The whole day for me was an absolute blast. Both families were so incredibly sweet and easy going - it made my job a real pleasure. It all comes back to the bride and groom - when they're happy - EVERYONE is happy. Lisa's father even had a chance to show off that new furniture at the house - (don't worry Tom - there will be MANY photos of the furniture to come in the complete online gallery!) It's always easier when the bride and her family plan on having the photographer to the house. It gives us all time to get to know each other, so when the wedding and reception roll around, everyone feels comfortable. Though at one point the bridesmaids did catch me lying on the hallway floor to photograph Lisa's wedding shoes! The ridicule I may have took for it was a small sacrifice for the sake of art... As usual, everything at Saratoga National was beautiful - the staff, always helpful, let us borrow a few golf carts to shoot down by the bridge and ponds along the course as seen above. Finally, I have to say that I've probably seen hundreds of cake toppers, but this one was probably my absolute favorite. It's the first time I've seen anyone use one passed down through generations of their family - so I HAD to photograph it. Lisa & Jason - CONGRATULATIONS again! I wish you both all of the happiness a marriage can bring, and keep an eye out for the online gallery in just a few short weeks or less!

Sarah & Matt

Happy Halloween and Happy Wedding! Sarah and Matt were married October 31st at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Niskayuna by Deacon Dick Thiesen. I had never photographed there before and what a surprise to see how beautiful it was inside! Thanks to the Deacon for a beautiful ceremony as well. Their reception followed at Glen Sanders Mansion - I can only tell you how good their food is so many times, and the staff is ALWAYS classy. Unfortunately, it POURED outside all night. Fortunately for all of us, we were inside, the music was great thanks to our DJ, Russ, from Piano Man and the dancing was non-stop until the end of the night. And how great was that "through the years" slideshow?!? I LOVE this picture of Sarah watching and tearing up! For those of you who were at the wedding and are friends with Matt, GO WILDCATS - I thought the UK cake was a nice touch. Congratulations Sarah and Matt! We wish you a long happy life together!

Jackie & Andy

Congratulations to Jackie and Andy! They were married on a COLD October afternoon just a few weeks ago. We still had some great foliage though and were able to photograph under a beautiful maple tree right next to the Museum of Dance that had turned a bright yellow. I spent the morning with the bridesmaids getting ready and we had a blast at the hair salon and back at the house. I had to post some of the orchid photos - how many hours did you girls spend snipping these orchids?! There was a full orchid team at the house just cutting, bagging, and handling the hundreds of flowers they used at the ceremony and reception. It was definitely worth it, they looked great! As always, the staff at the National Museum of Dance did a wonderful job supported by Kimberly from Classe Catering - they planned a delicious barbecue dinner that was served out in the courtyard. Besides the orchids and the BBQ, my favorite part of the night may have been Andy's family on the dance floor. Andy, I don't think your dad left the dance floor from the time the music started until the DJ was leaving the parking lot!! (And we've got pictures to prove it.) Way to go Jackie and Andy, congratulations again!

Andrea & Tony

Andrea and Tony were married last weekend on the East Side... of Lake George. Dunham's Bay Lodge is a perfect location for couples wishing to get married on Lake George without dealing with the traffic and general business that exists near downtown. It's always a pleasure to photograph there, and couples love being able to sneak down to the beach for a quick photo shoot. A beach with mountains in the distance - an all around GREAT view! I met Andrea as she was getting ready in the cabins, excited, nervous, but mostly just excited that the wedding day had arrived. The bridesmaids were buzzing all around helping her, and I knew I was going to be spending the day with a fun group. It always amazes me how many weddings seem to ESCAPE the threat of bad weather! It was cloudy and overcast right up to the moment that Andrea and her father stepped outside and began their walk down the isle. I couldn't believe it!! Here are a few photos from the day. Who doesn't love a bride who smiles this big?! That sort of positive attitude really rubs off on the guests... and when I left later that evening, every single one of them was wearing that same big smile - maybe it was Andrea and Tony, maybe it was Total Entertainment spinning the music, or maybe it was that great bar they have at Dunham's Bay. Who knows, who cares, they're married now, and had a blast!

Kara & Bo

What a great bunch of fall weekend weddings we've had this year! We squeaked by the weather a few weeks ago and were able to get Kara and Bo married before the rains came. They were married in a beautiful lakeside service in western NY. With the clouds rolling in and wind picking up, we were able to sneak some beautiful shots down by the lake before dark - we even got Kara to cross over the half submerged dock for the sake of art - now that's my kind of bride...Bo's kind of bride too! Soul Session provided the music and had the entire crowd on their feet the whole night! These are the kind of weddings I live for. There's always something to photograph when 200 people are on the dance floor. There isn't always some place to stand though, so I thank the heavens that I'm tall. Enjoy the photos, and enjoy the season - to Bo & Kara, congratulations and may you always remember what a ridiculously good party you threw for your wedding day! Thanks again for including me!