8 Tips For Great Family Portraits: NJ/PA Portrait Photographers

1. Take Advantage of Family Vacations: If you have extending family together for vacation, it can be a great time for a portrait.  Think about possible groupings that you may want, such as siblings and generational shots.  Make sure to research local photographers and possible locations ahead of time to make it a fun outing.

2. Think About Display First: Before your shoot, ask your photographer what products he or she offers.  Think about your home and your personal style.  Share which products you love before you shoot and your photographer can tailor the shoot. I personally have an app that allows me to customize displays for each individual client's home.

3. Wardrobe: Think about your personal style and your home.  Do you have a traditional home or a modern beach house? What colors do you love? Then try to bring these colors into your wardrobe.  I prefer coordinating rather than matching, and I love incorporating texture and layers. 

4. Schedule Around the Youngest: It can be difficult with younger ones to do an extended family portrait.  Try to schedule around your child’s nap and meal times.  Remember, if you’re doing beach photography, midday is tough light-wise, early morning or evening work best. 

5. Make it Fun: Portraits don’t need to be stressful.  Oftentimes, families go in with the image of a perfect smiling shot, and...well...kids are going to be kids.  When they misbehave or are tired and begin to melt, instead of yelling, it's best to redirect the energy. The next two tips address this very thing.

6. Bring Props: It’s less about that perfect prop and more about bringing something your kids enjoy, like a kite or toys for the beach.  If there is an activity to break up the more traditional shots, kids tend to be more patient.  Most of my clients' kids are thrilled to do portraits again because they associate it with play time with their cousins. 

7. Let the Kids Pick: I sometimes ask the kids where they want to shoot or how they want to stand, and they have a blast. If a little one wants to make silly faces in every shot, I have everyone make silly faces.  The winning shot is always the next frame when everyone is laughing and smiling. It works!

8. Banish Cameras and Phones: It seems like a great time to have your camera or cell phone out to snap a few shots while all the family is there, but this can create issues.  Many times, kids end up looking at the family members and not the photographer.  It is best to leave the devices and enjoy the day!

8 Tips for Great Maternity Portraits: NJ Portrait Photography

1.  Ask for Help: New moms have so many things to worry about that sometimes the day of a portrait session they don't have enough hands to get ready.  Have a friend, sister, or sitter - someone your comfortable with - to come for a few hours the day of the shoot so you have time to get ready.

2. Treat Yourself to New Lingerie: Many new moms to be get out their fancy lingerie from pre pregnancy and find that the fit is not the same.  Treat yourself to a trip to the store and have a professional find you the correct bra size.  Get your nails done with a light colored polish as darker polishes can appear almost black in photos.  You deserve it!

3.  Think about Wardrobe: Lay out a few different outfits to give your photographer some options.  Flowing fabrics are beautiful but remember to show of your new shape. Grab your husbands white button down.  A crisp white button down makes a great outfit with your new bra underneath and boy shorts.  If your have a wall portrait in mind, think about the colors you decorate with and coordinate your wardrobe to compliment.

5. Invite Your Husband or Partner: Having your significant other with you on the shoot can be a touching reminder of the new bond you share.  It is less about the styling and more about capturing those emotions and the growing love between you two.

6. Put Your Wedding and Engagement Rings on a Necklace: Swelling is normal during pregnancy and sometimes rings don't fit properly.  Putting your wedding and engagement rings on a nice chain and wearing them on your neck is a way to keep those precious items in the photos.

7. Prep Your Nursery: Having a few photographs in your new nursery is a fun way to remember the first moments.  Details of the new crib, stuffed animals, baby blankets and other baby shower gifts are wonderful images for memory books.

8. Think About Display:  Before you shoot think about how you want to display your images.  Some new moms get a fine art print from the session to display in their bedrooms, nursery or changing rooms.  Starting a collection of custom photo books is also fabulous way to document your little ones life and when they get older children love to look through their books.  If you like to keep things a little more private a silk trifold with a few images can be a beautiful intimate reminder of this amazing moment.

Navesink Country Club: A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Monmouth County Wedding Photographers

"Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;

So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart."

A Midsummer Night's Dream, 3. 2

Congratulations to Cate & John!  It truly was a night to remember!

Details

Gown: Pricilla of Boston

Groom: Brooks Brothers & Vineyard Ties

Church: St. George's By the River

Venue: The Navesink Country Club

Florist: Renny and Reed

Stationary: Minted.com

Confectioner: Beaches Bakery Del Pontes

Band: New Power Soul

The Loeb Boathouse: Aspen in Central Park: NJ Wedding Photography

Christin and Alexis both love New York City, but they met nearly 2,000 miles away in Aspen.  She was a ski instructor while he was a bartender, and they bonded over their mutual love for adventure and the outdoors.  Together, they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.  However, when it came time to pick a location for their wedding, New York was the obvious choice.

The bride and groom had a perfect Fall day for their October 5th wedding.  Christin looked nothing short of regal in her Monique Lhuillier gown and Jimmy Choo heels.  With her mother by her side, she stole everyone’s breath as she walked down the aisle of the Church of St. Thomas More.  After the ceremony, the happy couple took a stroll through Central Park with their bridal party before going to the Loeb Boathouse for their spectacular reception.  The tables were beautifully adorned with bright orange and white.  The roses, hydrangeas, and orchids were all contained with birch details from Ovando’s.  Floating candles gave each table a romantic glow, setting the atmosphere for the entire reception.  Levy Lighting transformed the space into a luxurious autumn retreat.  The couple did not forget to bring Aspen into the reception, incorporating the great outdoors and woodland charm.  Adorable squirrel details, and a wall of birch trees with directional signs to all of the places dear to them tied the theme together.  The fantastic four-tier cake from A White Cake had orange leaves and gold decorative touches, mixing the natural with high-end finishes.  The Jimmy Vali Band brought the couple’s vision for the wedding to life and made the reception an unforgettable night.

A Baltusrol Golf Club Wedding: Newport Meets New Jersey: New Jersey Wedding Photography

Gail & John Henry met on vacation at beach in Newport, RI, and quickly bonded when they both found out they lived in Beacon Hill in Boston.  The next five years flew by with summers at Newport Beach.  John Henry knew his beautiful bride-to-be well when he planned out his proposal on a Christmas holiday at his family home in Rhode Island.  He took a little detour and arranged a private tour of The Vanderbilt Hotel for Gail, who is a talented interior designer.  It was chilly and it took a little coaxing and a glass of champagne to get her out onto the patio deck, but, as she stepped out, she saw John Henry shivering with a photo album of their favorite moments together and he dropped to one knee and proposed! The bride grew up in New Jersey, where she learned to play golf at an early age with her dad, and her family's life revolved around Baltusrol Golf Club.  John Henry realized very early on that he would have to learn to love golf if he was going to be accepted into the family.  Lucky for him, he was a natural at the game and quickly won the family over with his warmth and good nature.   For their big day, there was no other place that they could imagine than the Kennedy family's home away from home: Baltusrol Golf Club.  Gail worked with Lynda Dandenau to create a Chinoiserie theme for her wedding, mixed with classic country club appeal and a little golf for good measure.  They started with peonies and dogwood, and wanted to keep the look playful with bright navy blue and conch shell pink.  J Papers in Greenwich helped custom design the pagoda that was engraved on the invitations to introduce the chinoiserie theme.  Each detail was crafted to perfection.  Not even the intermittent thunder and lighting could keep her spirits down.  The minute the sun came out from behind the clouds, she kicked off her Kate Spade's, grabbed a cocktail and a putter, and headed for the course with her handsome new husband.

Mantoloking Yacht Club: A Perfect Day on the Water: New Jersey Wedding Photography

It was through a mutual friend that Lindsay and JJ met.  The couple had grown up in neighboring towns, but their paths did not cross until after college.  They met at the Fourth of July Mantoloking Centennial Celebration, and were set up on their first date the following weekend.  On their one-year anniversary, JJ proposed on the beach in Mantoloking, and Lindsay happily said yes! Their love for their beach town made it an easy pick for the location of the ceremony and reception.  On September 28^th, the stunning bride got ready at her family’s home just a short walk from the church.  Her Liancarlo lace dress was just the right mix of elegance and airiness to fit the shore location.  Her bride’s maids each chose their own style of beautiful blue J. Crew dresses, which went perfectly with their hydrangea bouquets that were skillfully put together by florist Kate Duffy.

The ideal weather made it an easy walk to the church, St. Simon-by-the-Sea.  The joyful couple made their vows surrounded by loving family and friends before walking to the reception at the Mantoloking Yacht Club, just two blocks away.  A large tent had been assembled for the big day, decorated with the signature flower.  The couple’s florist, Kate Duffy, doubled as their party planner and found no detail too small, from the mason jars filled with lemonade and paper straws, to the sparklers at the end of the night.  The love that filled the room was apparent, not only from the smiles on everyone’s faces, but the hugs and tears that came from the dances and speeches.  The New Power Soul Band got every single guest on their feet, while the beautiful bay view at sunset took everyone’s breath away. The cake held a lot of sentiment for the bride, coming from a favorite childhood location, the Oldwick General Store, which managed to survive Super Storm Sandy.  It was truly a special day.

Bonnet Island Estate: Rustic Elegance at the Shore: New Jersey Wedding Photography

Whitney and Jason first connected in February 2011 online, using Jdate.  They met for their first date at Caffe Reggio in the Village and were immediately inseparable.  Over a year later, Jason planned to surprise Whitney with a trip to Captiva, Florida, when Hurricane Sandy hit the Jersey Shore.  A week later, he convinced Whitney to go on vacation anyway, where he got down on one knee on a beautifully secluded beach and asked her to marry him. They chose the scenic Bonnet Island Estate in Long Beach Island for their special day.  The picturesque boathouse chapel was beautifully decorated with a birch huppa, flower petals lining the aisle, and candles in every window.  Whitney made a stunning entrance in her Anne Barge wedding gown, with its delicate details and flowing veil.  Florist, Katydid, created an elegant bouquet that tied in perfectly with the rustic theme of the wedding.  Two more special details were added to the arrangement in order to make it complete: a broach that belonged to Whitney’s grandmother, and a single orchid in honor of her other grandmother.  The bridesmaids were gorgeous in their blue Lela Rose gowns, while the men looked dapper in their Dante Zeller tuxedos.

With big smiles and warm hearts, the couple tied the knot before taking a stroll along the winding paths around the estate.  Inside, seating arrangements were creatively hung on an old barn door, and the beautiful reception hall was decorated with charming, rustic details.  The tables had a touch of burlap and lace mixed with pastel flowers, large glass lanterns, and delicately caged candles.  Creative Video Editing Films captured the night while Kim Sozzi and the Creations Band got the party started as soon as the newlyweds made their first appearance as husband and wife.  The lovely couple ended the night with a four-tier cake from The Bake Works.

The Bernards Inn: Classic Hollywood Glamor: Somerset County Weddings

We are so excited for the up and coming Bridal Showcase at The Bernards Inn! For more details, check out their site by clicking the link.  Below is one of our favorite weddings from The Bernards Inn.

Meredith & Matthew meet at Moravian College and started dating after he graduated the New York City Police Academy and she moved to New York to study pediatric nursing.  After four love filled years Matthew proposed in Paris!   For the big day Meredith selected a Romona Keveza gown with flowing tulle and lace detailing from Gabriella Bridal Salon paired with a Lady Dior veil and silver Badgley Mischka heels. We just loved how make up artist Ashley Frato accentuated Meredith's radiant smile with just the right shade of color!  She looked as if she could have stepped out of a scene from a classic Hollywood movie.  Matthew and his groomsman were dapper in Jos. A. Banks suites with navy and green ties to accent the bridesmaids J.CREW navy one shoulder sheath dresses.   Jardiniere Fine Flowers selected peonies and green hydrangea for the bouquets creating a fresh from the garden spring look.  Their ceremony was held at the Pluckemin Presbyterian Church, a beautiful white columned church from 1851.  The couple chose The Bernards Inn for their reception site.  There is a classic ease and elegance to The Bernards Inn where Jeffrey B. Haines of Butler’s of Far Hills presents the Signature Style of Entertaining.  Brian Kirk and The Jirks were amazing as always and on hand to keep the party moving.  It was a night to remember!

The Park Savoy: An Elegant Garden Wedding: New Jeresy Wedding Photography

Martha & Andy were both ecstatic on their wedding day, full of love and radiant smiles!  Martha was stunning in her delicate lace Monique Lhuillier gown from Kleinfeld Bridal and Angela Nuran shoes.  She accentuated her look with a custom-made bracelet by Frederic Goodman Jewelers.  Her bridesmaids wore elegant marine blue sheath dresses by Lela Rose from Adrienne's Bridesmaids accented with necklaces from Dogeared.  Andy and his groomsmen looked dapper in tuxes from Jos A. Bank and ties by Ermenegildo Zegna.  The groomsmen coordinated ties with the ladies gorgeous blue dresses while the groom set himself apart in cream.  Bloomers Florists created elegant bouquets in shades of cream and green for Martha and her girls.  The Park Savoy in Florham Park, with it's 19th Century Architecture and vibrant gardens, was a beautiful back drop for the ceremony and portraits.  The Wedding Crashers Band kept the party going into the night.  

Baltusrol Golf Club~Style Me Pretty: Congratulations to Gail & John Henry!

My sister Julia & I were just so excited to be published again on our favorite wedding blog Style Me Pretty!  We are proud members of their Little Black Book a selection of Style Me Pretty’s hand picked vendors. Congratulations to the stunning couple Gail & John Henry!

Style Me Pretty Link

Photography: Therese Marie Wagner Photography | Cinematography: Oakjo Wedding Films | Dress: Oscar de la Renta | Flowers: Lynda Dandeneau of Dandeneau Flowers | Invitations: J Papers | Ceremony Location: Christ The King, New Vernon | Reception Location: Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield NJ | Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew | Event Design: Lynda Dandeneau + Bride | Band: Marcus Reid Band represented by Hank Lane | Bridal Boutique: Saks Fifth Ave NYC | Confectioner: Natales Summit Bakery | Custom Tablecloth Design: Quadrille | Custom shirts: Bonobos | Day of Planning: Eileen Kaden Dean of An Affair To Remember | Hair & Make Up: Elle Murphy owner of Ellela Cosmetics | Menu: J Papers with embellished watercolor painted by the bride herself (who is an interior decorator | Rain Boots: Hunter | Tablecloths: Gerardo Upholstery | Tuxedos: Ralph Lauren