It was wonderful working with the talented Xochitl Gonzalez from Always a Bridesmaid on this Studio 450 wedding. More images of the ceremony and reception to come!
Image of the Month: Hapuna Beach
A few weeks ago, I traveled to Hawaii to attend my friends Nikki and Dave’s wedding. Before the wedding, Chandler and I traveled around exploring the Big Island.
We visited black sand beaches, dormant and active volcanos, ginger farms and waterfalls. The image above was taken of kids playing at Hapuna beach near Kona.
I watched the kids play in the water as their parents followed the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean. The kids raced back and forth to them, oblivious to the gorgeous light. This was one of those peaceful vacation moments that I will always remember. Such innocence. It was also the day before Chandler and I got engaged.
Nikki & Dave’s Big Island (Hawaii) Wedding
In late July, our friends Nikki and Dave got married in Hakalau on Hawaii’s beautiful Big Island. Chandler and I travelled for a week before the wedding festivities begun. There was so much to see (dormant and active volcanoes, waterfalls, lava and black sand beaches). The week was amazing in so many ways…
Here are some photos I took at Nikki & Dave’s wedding:
Nikki handmade her dress from pieces of sari fabric. The leis worn by the bridal party and the couple were also handmade by friends and family.
Indian Wedding at Angel Orensanz in NYC
Have you ever seen a Indian Wedding at Angel Orensanz in NYC? Well the first one I saw there was amazing!
Debjani and Sandeep’s NYC wedding stood out from the others I had photographed at Angel Orensanz. The colors, the style, the flavors of the cuisine, and the joyful energy of this wedding were so elaborate and beautiful. These details were made so much more unique because of the cultural traditions they were derived from. Of course, working with this calm and collected couple was awesome too. It was a pleasure to work with Debjani and Sandeep on their engagement photos in Central Park, which also appeared in the New York Times, and then their wedding at Angel Orensanz in the Lower East Side.
Addendum:
How cool is it to meet with them 8 years later to photograph their family session too? Last week I had the pleasure of shooting their family session in Central Park, including their pup Hayley again, who is not so much a puppy anymore!
Debjani and Sandeep got married this Spring at Angel Orensanz Foundation in the Lower East Side. It was a great party! I love the vibrant colors in this wedding, which were enhanced by the glowing sunset that day and the vibrancy of the lighting in Angel Orensanz.
Here are some of the creative vendors they used:
Location: Angel Orensanz Foundation, Lower East Side, NY.
Band: Dexter Lake Club Band
Video: Hart Pictures, Jesse Hartman
Chef: Jehangir Mehta of Graffiti restaurant
Deb’s Sari: off the rack from some small shop in New Delhi
Dress designer: Angelo Lambrou, using saris and fabric from that small shop in New Delhi and Edison, NJ. Having worn her family’s traditional red sari for the ceremony, Deb picked saris (and flowers for her hair) that were traditional to Sandeep’s family for her reception dress.
Flowers: L’Atelier de Fleur
Hair and Makeup: My Hair and Makeup
Invitations, menus, programs, card table poster and all other printed items: custom designed by the couple (except for the save the date which was from a photo that I shot at their EShoot) and printed at Boxcar Press, the Center for Book Arts and Kinkos.
Groom’s Indian clothes: Om Sari Imports in Murray/Curry Hill.
Day-of Coordination: Sonal J. Shah Events
Lighting: Roberto at Angel Orensanz.
The card table was made up of frames and other decor the couple found on Craigslist. (The big frame was propped up precariously on Sandeep’s guitar stand.)
The mandap was made from excess curtain fabric that Debjani found in New Delhi, draped around a metal Chuppah frame that Angel Orensanz had in their basement.
Bethany & Uli’s Manhattan Engagement Shoot
Image of the Month: Peaches & Blueberries
I chose these images for my Image of the Month newsletter for July because they remind me of summer.
On my last trip out to Long Island to photograph for Silvia Lehrer's cookbook, Savoring the Hamptons, I shot some just-picked East End peaches and blueberries. With such ease, in her Water Mill home, Silvia whipped together a dessert in seconds, using the cut fruit and a homemade syrup to make her delectable Peach and Blueberry Bake.
Beekeepers, Berries, Peaches & Pie
In May, I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing a beekeeper. Her name is Mary Woltz and her business is called Bees' Needs. Mary proved to have no fear as she handled her hives and racks with her bare hands, without a beekeeper's suit on. She talked to her bees in whispers, as she smoked them out of the hives, letting them know that she was there to say hello.
On my 8th and last trip out to Long Island, we drove to Oyster Ponds Farm, a family run farm in Orient, NY to shoot their raspberries and blackberries.
Back at Silvia Lehrer's in Water Mill, I photographed local East End peaches and blueberries. Silvia whipped them together with a syrup to make her delectable Peach and Blueberry Bake, which I photographed in her home, to illustrate this recipe in the book.
Silvia Lehrer's book, Savoring the Hamptons, will be on bookshelves in May 2011.
LA Surfers
I spent a week with my beau in LA in late June. Chandler was there for work (The Skisherman won best documentary at a local festival) and I went out to support him.
While I was there I shot a few rolls, and met some female surfers who intrigued me. I did their portraits and then developed a roll at Richard Photo Lab. I brought the rest home to Mary Converse, my printer at my favorite lab in Chelsea to complete the rest.
It was an interested test and I like the results of both.
I look forward to continuing the shoot upon my return.
Halloween Wedding at Studio 450
Wendy & Kevin planned a Halloween Wedding at Studio 450 in Manhattan last October 31st. Prior to the ceremony, they fit in a long stroll down in the Meatpacking District where we took a lot of cobble stone street shots. Thankfully the rain held off until we were done shooting.
I loved working with Wendy and Kevin, they were extremely fun, and laid back too. They had mentioned “costumes optional” to their guests but didn’t ask what people would be wearing. It didn’t seem as though they worried at all. Everything fell into place. It was a pleasant surprise to see the fun costumes show their heads (pun intended) during the reception.
Here is a list of their talented vendors, who were a pleasure to work with, in front of and behind the scenes:
Wendy’s Dress: Custom-made
Bride’s Shoes: Michael Kors
Kevin’s Suit: DKNY
Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan
Venue: Studio 450
Catering: Spoonbread Catering
Rentals: Broadway Party Rentals
Cake & Cupcakes: Blackhound Bakery & Chikalicious
Flowers: Flower You
Hair: Amanda Shackleton
Make-up: Ellen Bodkins
Ceremony Music: Shih-Hung Young
Reception Music: Rockstar DJ Entertainment – Dave Moulter
Wedding Planner: Exquisite Affairs Productions – Christine Viola