For the Bride - New York, NY Wedding Photographer

I'm staying true to my blogging goals for 2011!


I've decided to start "For the Bride", a category for the brides out there, the ones searching for the right person to photograph their wedding day.  I plan to update this section with useful information and tips on how to get the most out of your wedding photography.   I know how important it is to find just the right person for the job. Not only will you worry about what they can offer you as a professional, you'll also worry about your personal experience and interaction with the person you choose for the job. Both are equally important. The photographer is one of the first vendors you establish a working relationship with, and will ultimately be the last person you work with when your wedding day is long over. Will this person deliver the quality of photos they promised? Can you trust this person? Will they have your best interest at heart? Will your personalities mix well or clash? As a bride these are truly important things to consider when selecting your photographer - so in this section of the blog, I'll do my best to lay it all out there.  What makes this section extra special is that as I prepare to walk down the aisle myself later this year (Fall 2011), I'll be able to share my insight as a bride with a photographer's perspective and a photographer with a bride's prospective. 


Super Cool!


Well, I'll keep this one short and sweet but not to worry, there'll be lots more on the way!

Defining Me - New York, NY Photographer

Second blog post for this week. Hollaaaaa!

I feel like I’m on a roll or something.  I better save some of the things in my head I want to talk about and spread them out over the next few weeks or I'll surly run out of stuff to write about.  I want you to know that focusing on this post has actually caused me to burn dinner. Blogging is intense!

Some of you may or may not know that I’m absolutely obsessed with Jasmine Star - and what wedding photographer isn’t? – I mean ...

1. We share the same first name 

and 

2. She is THE GURU of contemporary Wedding Photography!

Seriously. She has risen to the top of the wedding photography totem pole in only 5 years – literally changed the wedding game as we know it. She left her scholarship at UCLA Law to pursue her photography passion. Who does that!? AND kicks butt at it?? Whenever I read her blog or listen to her speak I’m in a trance. Her words are worth more than gold. Every wedding photographer wants to be where she is and more importantly wants to know HOW she made it happen. Bottom line – J* was so focused, so passionate and so determined to make her dream a reality that nothing would get in her way. She never ever says, “it was easy”, but she always assures us ‘IT’ is possible.

Back in October I purchased the Wedding Photography Course with Jasmine Star on CreativeLive and boy was it was well worth the investment – over 10 hours of live wedding photography footage, image processing, brand development and Q&A up close and personal with J*! I watch these courses religiously every free minute I get. She’s like IN MY LIVINGROOM whenever I want! Into the first few hours of the CreativeLive course J* ask her  students to describe their photography style in three words.  According to J* your three words are essential to truly defining your photography style and I think it makes total sense.  Her Mantra: Always go into your shoot with your three words in mind and try to create images based on your three words. Be true to your three words and you will always captivate your audience - your future clients. This is the foundation of your “BRAND”.

Hmm. This is serious - I thought about it for some time, but nothing really came to mind. Trying to figure it out was actually a lot harder than I thought so I didn't try to force it. A few months went by and then BAM! Just like that it came to me a few nights ago while I literally lay in bed.

Simple.

Elegant.

Chic.

When I shoot, I pour my heart and soul into my images. My creative vision is ingrained in EACH frame I take – from camera to print.  I want to provide all my clients with amazing photos they’ll love forever – natural, stylish, beautiful pictures. I want my clients to think they could never ever look this good. Their photos are beautiful AND they look exactly like THEMSELVES.  This is the foundation for MY brand.

The “simple” – crisp, natural looking images

The “elegant” – pretty, polished, flattering images that tell viewers a story

The “chic” – stylish, current and sexy

Pretty cool, right?

I feel kinda awesome about my three words – can’t go wrong with that. :)

Exciting things in 2011! - New York, NY Wedding Photographer

I hope you’ve enjoyed the Holidays!!

I have to admit I’ve been very quiet over the last few weeks – too quiet for too long really.  I apologize for the limbo. Every winter, with the cold weather and the holidays taking over, I seem to go into hibernation mode. I’m sure most people go through the same thing this time of year, but hibernation mode makes for very low productivity levels. Not Good.  Fact of the matter is I need to snap out of it! I’m working on getting back into the swing of things and aim to keep running with the awesome energy of 2011!

I’d like to start my first post of 2011 with a little bit of good news …

I’m Engaged!!

On Christmas morning my boyfriend of nearly ten years got down on one knee and asked for my hand in marriage. Whoo-hoo! The last few weeks have been bombarded with droves of wedding planning. We’re wasting no time here and plan to have our big day in the fall of 2011, (less than ten months away- Eeek!) so I’ve been in high gear. While there have been moments of intense stress, I have been enjoying the planning process and I’m beyond excited to see things fall into place.  Along with planning my own wedding, I have a few resolutions for myself. Not really “New Years Resolutions” just … ehh … resolutions for this year.

In 2011 I plan to:

1. Get fit for The Big Day (cliché but necessary as a bride to be – um, who doesn’t want to feel GORGE on their big day?)

2. Make sure I keep the momentum moving forward in my business ventures (yes, I plan to shoot even more weddings, make bigger networking efforts, expand my internet presence and grow my business this year)

3. Blog more (there’s absolutely no reason why I can’t maintain at least one post per week – I really need to get it together here)

Maybe I’m in way over my head, but I don’t feel like it – at least not at the moment. After some reflection I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be in my personal life and with my business. I think this moment hit me like a bolt of lightning – more than ever I feel like I’m meant to be a photographer, more specifically a wedding photographer. From the minute the “I’m getting married!” feeling set in, I realized I would now be more emotionally in tune with my clients and future clients than ever before.  I will have experienced what she’s feeling, or will be experiencing her exact feelings down the road over the next few months. I will understand her anxiety, her concerns and even more importantly MY role as her photographer on her big day. I will understand her blood, sweat and tears, the importance of every single detail she worked so hard on to make her wedding perfect and the value the images will carry for her after the day is over.  Yep, it just clicked. There’s really nothing like experience something first hand.  Seriously.

Well, I'd like to thank everyone for their support so far! So many new ideas and significant changes will be taking place in my life and with my business this year.  I'm really looking forward to the hard work and greatness 2011 has to offer. Its gonna be an amazing ride. 

Photography is Boring - Queens, NY Photographer

Wait!!

Before you think I’ve lost a couple marbles, this post is not what you think it is. I LOVE photography!! I don’t think its boring at all. I do know though that what inspires me to follow my passion as a photographer is very specific. Let me do a little explaining …

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been trying very hard to start a 365 project – long story short, this project requires the photographer to take a photo of something every day for 365 days in pursuit of developing and expanding ones creative eye as well as improve photography skill by “practicing” daily. Now that sounds really great and all but this is a huge commitment.  I’m always really hard on myself, so rather than set myself up to let myself down I thought I’d start with something a little more realistic for my schedule (and attention span) - a 30 day project.

Well, let me tell you …  I carried my camera and 50mm lens around all week long, and was not inspired by ONE single thing!! Its not that I took bad photos. I didn't take any. Arrrgh! I know that's pretty terrible, especially since I’m a firm believer that there is beauty surrounding us everywhere. Life is beautiful! But I made no photos to prove it. Some photographers can sit on a park bench for hours waiting for the exact moment to capture the most beautiful sunset. Others can go hiking in the woods or in the mountains and take breathtaking images of the landscape.  I just can’t find something to shoot! I'm trying. I’m doomed! My eyes are wide shut …

Then I got to thinking. What I really enjoy most about photography is capturing energy, emotion, and beauty. I don’t want to take pictures of landscapes, sunsets or things … BOOORRRINGGG!!!

While images of inanimate objects by photography legends do move and inspire me to grow and improve as a photographer. I’d totally rather take pictures of PEOPLE!!  I love taking portraits and capturing subjects personalities, their style and I LOVE more than anything bringing out ones natural beauty (even the guys). The personal interaction at a photoshoot is so much fun. Doing your makeup, dressing you up, and bringing out your best – I take great pride in making everyone I shoot feel and look their best whether they're a model, actor or not. Make you laugh, make you sultry, make you, YOU. 

WEDDINGS!! I also find weddings to be one of the best places to do exactly just that. Everyone is full of love and happiness, dressed to the nines in personal style, emotion and energy are flowing everywhere and there are tons of beautiful things to photograph throughout the entire day from the bridal gown, to the wedding cake, right down to the tiniest detail like the gorgeous guestbook the bride spent so much time having designed. There’s a whole story unfolding before your eyes! Things are HAPPENING and MEANINGFUL. Yeah, that’s way more exciting than shooting a tree or a parked car.

So, with winter looming, and my desire to open my creative eyes a little wider, I know I’m going to have to rethink my approach to this 365 (more like 30 day) project … 

And because blogs are much more interesting with a photo, here is one I took not too long ago. You might remember Ashley from one of my previous post. Just as the shoot had wrapped, I had this genius idea to take a few frames with my strobe. It was my first time giving it a go with indoor lighting. My apartment wall, my alienbee, an octobox, and a reflector. What do you think?

Exotic Beauty, Layla - New York, NY Lifestyle Photographer

This is Layla. She's represented by Model Service Agency in New York. I mean, what else is there to say except she's absolutely gorgeous!! I'm literally dumbfounded by her unique look. Large deep set green eyes, full pout-y lips,  a fiery mane of reddish curly hair AND gorrrrrgeous eyebrows (anyone who knows me knows I'm obsessed with fabulous eyebrows).  A true definition of "exotic beauty", Layla currently holds the crown as Miss Caribbean United States 2010, and oh yeah, she's a third degree black belt in Seido Karate with 17 years of training. 

Ummm, watch out!

Makeup, and Styling: Jasmine E.

Location: Brooklyn, NY
Assistant: Aloysius E.

Showing Love to My Love - New York, NY Photographer

I have a lot ot be thankful for. My terrific boyfriend. My cute little apartment exactly where I want to live. My awesome cat (with the personality of a dog) Jenny. I've been a plus model for the last 5 years, lost over 80 lbs, and now I've ventured into one of the most creative outlets ever - photography.

But, I'd like to post this special thank you to my boyfriend and best friend. We are partners in life, and now in business.  Aloysius has literally been my backbone through so many things over the years. When I decided I wanted to try my luck as a plus size model, guess who accompanied me on my visits to each modeling agency. When I decided I wanted to to lose over 50 lbs, guess who automatically transformed into the perfect gym buddy and ate salad with me every night for dinner. And when I decided I wanted to go ahead and be a photographer, guess who spent hours online researching the best camera I could afford. He truly believes in each of my goals, and gives himself entirely to make it work for us.  Now, when I watch photography tutorials online, guess who’s watching with me.  When I’m shooting portraits for a client, guess who’s holding the reflector or blocking light from the subjects eyes. When I’m experimenting with a new lighting setup, guess who my model mannequin is. And when I’m frustrated, lacking confidence, and having a meltdown because “I suck”, guess who recomposes me and believes I can do anything. Yup, Aloysius.  We work together on everything. He’s there through it all.  Knowing I can trust in him to back me up through the day on shoots and keep me in control when I start freaking out is the most comforting feeling of all.

So, Thanks Babe!

And now I should probably get ready for bed since we've agreed to start our 5:00 am winter workout plan tomorrow ... eeeK!

The Wedding of Kathleen & Jason - New York, NY Wedding Photographer

I remember when Aloysius and I first met these two back in March. My stomach was in knots. I so much wanted to secure them as new wedding clients, but I had never done this part before - I had no idea what to expect, or what they were expecting of me. With sweaty palms,  I hoped for the best.  Within a few minutes of meeting them, I felt like they had always been good friends!! So easy to get a long with, easy to talk to, amazing personality, and they were absolutely in love! Right off the bat, I shared  my story about how I came across photography, and why I wanted to be a wedding photographer.   I let her know I was just getting started in the wedding department, and yes, I was hoping she would give me the chance to pursue my passion.  That day, after coffee, breakfast and chit-chat, I left that meeting with my first wedding date for 2010!

I can’t believe 8 months has passed since our initial meeting.  On October 16^th I photographed one of the most beautiful weddings I had ever witnessed! We busted our butts for 10hrs to get every single shot we could, and it was A-MAZE-ING! The bride and groom were the most handsome couple ever, the reception hall was immaculate, the guest were all smiles and the DJ played great music - I’ve never had so much fun taking pictures of people dancing and the bride can really cut-the-rug on the dance floor. All in all, it was such an amazing experience. 

I want to give another Hugeeeeee Thank You to Kathleen and Jason for letting me share your day with you.

Without further adieu – below are just a few of my faves. 

Click HERE to view the full slide show!