Chandler & I are Engaged!

While Chandler and I were in Hawaii for Nikki & Dave‘s wedding we stayed in a beautiful cottage, on a former ginger plantation, built by an architect and his wife.

We had the cutest Barbados Blackbelly Sheep as our neighbors. They lived in the pasture in front of our porch next to fields of pineapples, eucalyptus and lime trees. You could see the ocean in the distance and hear a nearby waterfall while eating breakfast.

We arrived at night after having spent 4 days on the West Coast near Kona. We had a lovely time on the West Coast at a B&B called the Luana Inn. We relaxed on Hapuna beach (northwest), and visited some black sand beaches (south) on our way to see the Kilauea volcano. We drove around the Big Island to the East Coast that night to get to the cottage we had rented, but didn’t see the paradise we had arrived in until morning…

The first thing I did that morning were some sun salutations (yoga) in front of a row of Eucalyptus trees. We said hi to our neighbors (the owners) and to their baaing sheep (Buddy and Snickers). Chandler and I were invited to explore the farm, so we decided to take our cameras and head towards the sounds of rushing water. On our way out, Chandler said he needed to grab something from upstairs. I noticed what I thought was an iphone in his pocket…

Chandler went down the path to the waterfall first. I held his hand, and my Contax 645 in the other as I descended. At the bottom of the trail, I took a couple of shots, leaning forward over the cliff to try to see more water falling… Chandler held my belt loop as I took some more precarious steps. When I turned around he was on one knee with a little box in his hand.

Moments later we were engaged : )

In these pictures:

Akaka Falls, our cottage in Pepeekeo, Luana Inn our wonderful B&B near Kona, Luana Inn’s beautiful kitty Yuki and their infinity pool, kids playing at Hapuna Beach near Kona, our neighbors the sheep in Pepeekeo, Black Sands beach, Boiling Pots Falls in Hilo, the Kilauea crater within a crater spewing sulfur dioxide, the Mauna Kea volcano at 13800 feet which we drove up to photograph, and the Mauna Kea observatory above the clouds.

Most of these images I shot on film with the Contax 645.

The color Holga pictures and pictures of Karen were taken by Chandler Kauffman

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

Happy Weekend! and Pictures from the Cape…

For my birthday in May, Chandler drove us up to Cape Cod for the weekend. We didn't do much but walk, and drive around, and shoot pictures, and eat, and shoot some more. Oh, but we did spend some time with my Aunt, my niece, nephew, sis and bro-in-law too : )

These were all shot with a toy camera (the Holga), with medium format film.

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