I had a great evening photographing Rachel & Tyler. They just moved to Hoboken and they wanted to capture fun shots in their new town. I love the green patina of the Hoboken Train Station, it worked so well with the vintage props that Paige from Gilded Lily Events provided. Can't wait for their wedding next fall at Trump National in Bedminster NJ.
Trump National Golf Club Bedminster: Marisa & Michael: New Jersey Wedding Photography
Marisa and Mike met in 2004. Their families each had vacation homes in the same community, so while they were from two different states, their paths crossed regularly. They quickly became close and vacationed together as frequently as possible, both with and without their families. They grew up together, attending each others' high school, college, and graduate school graduations.
Ten years after they met, Mike proposed to Marisa in the exact place that they'd first met in 2004. It was just them and he turned to her and asked a question he'd asked many times before, "When are you going to marry me?" She responded with her usual answer, "When you ask me!" So he got down on one knee and finally asked.
Our amazing couple chose to get married at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, the same location where Mike's parents married (as one of the first weddings ever held at the club). Marisa got ready at Michael's parents' home. Our beautiful bride had her hair done by Dawn Gomez and makeup by Gina Brozon before getting into her Justin Alexander gown. She completed her look with her mother's purse from her own wedding day, Michael's mother's veil, and a beautiful necklace, hand-picked by Michael just for his bride.
The weather was exactly what you'd hope for in the middle of June - clear skies and a gentle breeze. The couple had their first look before the ceremony and took photos with their families and bridal party. With nerves calmed, everyone could excitedly look forward to the beautiful outdoor ceremony. Michael's father presided over the special ocassion, filling the whole service with love from start to finish.
Inside, the grand reception had been lit and decorated beautifully by Still Life Events. Cosmopolitan Photo recorded every second, helping to immortalize this amazing couples' dream wedding. Our favorite part of the day came with Marisa and Michael's first dance, which was an elegantly choreographed moment that had every guest impressed. Their beautiful cake from Butterfly Bakeshop fit perfectly with the timeless decorations, and LJ DJ kept everyone on their feet, creating a most memorable night.
NYC High Line: Jackie & Danny's Engagement: NYC Engagement Photography
I had such a great time with Jackie and Danny photographing their engagement session in Chelsea, The West Village and on The High Line in NYC! Looking forward to their wedding at St. Ignatius Loyola & The Metropolitan Club later this summer.
Monmouth County: Family Portrait: New Jersey Fine Art Photography
Family portraits make a great Father's Day gift! I loved working with Cara, Brandon, and their beautiful baby boy.
I met Cara & Brandon last spring at her sister's wedding at the Manasquan River Golf Club. When we discussed where Cara might want her family portraits taken, we decided that their historical 1920s home would be the perfect location. With very young children, I recommend having your session at your home. Staying home means that you are protected from the elements but still have the option of going both inside and out.
Cara and Brandon have done an amazing job decorating their craftsmen home - traditional with a modern twist. I loved their bright yellow front door. Cara did a great job coordinating their outfits to fit their style. Photographing at someone's home is an honor that allows you to capture even more of a family's taste and personality.
Summer is coming! Take the time to capture life's precious moments - sign up for your family portrait session today!
Spring Lake Engagement: Elizabeth and Robert: New Jersey Fine Art Photography
I had a great time photographing Liz and Rob's engagement session. They were not beach people so we shot in the park and around the town of Spring Lake. Love that Liz wanted shots with and with out her adorable glasses. They are getting married at one of my favorite venues, Bonnet Island Estate, next August .
Monmouth Beach Bath and Tennis: Family Portrait: New Jersey Fine Art Photography
I love getting to photograph the children of my former wedding clients. How time flies, nine years and two kids later. Lori and Gavin have the most handsome, boisterous boys. I have found with photographing kids, especially boys, it is best to let them run around and have fun. Happy kids make the best pictures!
Lori and I worked on choosing just the right outfits to coordinate with their living room, where the images will be displayed in a collection. I love designing beautiful custom wall galleries!
Call or email the studio to set up your summer family session - weekends are filling up fast!
McLoone's Pier House: Quinlan & David: New Jersey Wedding Photography
Quinlan and David met in high school. They were friends through all four years of high school and remained friends throughout college, working summers together at a local restaurant. They began dating after graduating from college in 2010. They moved to Chicago in 2011, where they have continued to live ever since with their dog Stella.
David proposed on August 11, 2012 while home in New Jersey visiting family. They were at Quinlan's childhood beach club, a place very dear to her and her whole family, when David got down on one knee and popped the question. The lifeguards on duty all clapped. The couple then went across the street to meet up with family and friends to celebrate.
On the day of their wedding, Quinlan got ready with her girls. Quinlan gave each of her bridesmaids a personalized shirt with their monograms and title (ie. bridesmaid, maid of honor, etc.) sewn in. Their hair and makeup was done by Christina Depascal of Depascal Atelier before getting into their beautiful dresses from The Barefoot Bride.
The Autumn wedding was to have a nautical theme, so it was only appropriate that the couple be married by the shore. The ceremony took place at the Elberon Memorial Church in Long Branch, New Jersey. From their, the celebration moved to McLoone's Pier House, also in Long Branch, with its amazing ocean views and the perfect space for a reception!
Florist Cindy Hubeny did an amazing job not just with the girls' bouquets, but with the centerpieces. Each centerpiece was made up of galvanized tins filled with hydrangeas, pink and white lisianthus, and soft pink English spray roses. The nautical accents of white and silver sprayed starfish, blue and white striped table runners, pearls nestled and scattered in sand, and nautical knots really made the celebration the perfect. Every special moment of the night was caught on film by videographer Caroline Doubek, while the couple's band, Brian Kirk and the Jirks, played the perfect soundtrack for the occasion. The night finished with cutting the awesome cake from Piece o' Cake in Shrewsbury, while favors from The Chocolate Shoppe in Red Bank were sent home with happy guests.
Stylized Shoot: Fantasy Floral Garden: NJ Wedding Photography
When Katydid Floral Design and Signature Events reached out to us this past Fall about shooting a whimsical stylized session, we just couldn't say no. Divine Park in Spring Lake sits just across the street from the floral boutique and had the perfect little nook for our beautiful set up. Vintage chairs, china, and petal pink antique glasses brought an elegant rustic touch that transformed the space from plain to extraordinary. Our stunning model (and florist Kate Duffy's daughter), Grace Kendall Young, looked straight out of a woodland fairytale in her dress from Waterlily, topped with a handmade duster loaned from a friend that morning. Her hair and makeup was artfully styled by Natascia Bellis of Colorbar. Flowers fresh from the markets in New York City were designed by Katydid and placed on the tiny table. The gorgeous champagne ribbon taffeta cloth from Party Rental Ltd added that extra elegant flare. And finally, for a special touch of fantasy, we included the peacock couple from Wildlife Taxidermy. The resulting images took our breath away.
Special thanks to Julia Claire Wagner for helping photograph the day!
Dressing for Success: Portrait Attire: NJ Portrait Photography
When it comes to attire, many clients aren’t sure what to wear. What you wear is key for a successful session! The clothing you choose should complement who you are as a family and speak to the environment in which the session is taking place. Additionally, you’ll want to coordinate with your home where the final images will be displayed, so your style should be as unique as your family! With this in mind, we have a few tips for putting together the perfect style for a creative yet comfortable session.
- Adults:
Remember to coordinate well with the rest of the group in addition to these four tips…
- Select solid colors (they tend to photograph best).
- Choose clothes that flatter your body type.
- Men will want to get a haircut a week or so before the session and arrive to the shoot clean-shaven.
- Women should style their hair the day of and wear natural makeup that is slightly heavier than usual.
Sleeveless shirts and short shorts tend to be unflattering. Large logos and bold patterns can be overwhelming and should be worn with caution. Furthermore, you’ll want to avoid dressy clothing unless the session is specifically for a formal event.
- Babies and Kids:
Newborns are sweet sleepy bundles, so keep things simple with these four tips…
- Solid onsies, simple cloth diapers or plain swaddling blankets are perfect.
- Accessories such as a knitted cap can be adorable for a few shots.
- Sentimental objects like an heirloom silver rattle can add a special touch.
- Additional blankets help add variety.
Adult clothing with collars and buttons should be avoided with young babies. Socks, shoes, and large bows are unnecessary. However, toddlers and children can be bolder with color and style…
- Choose light layers to show off their fun style.
- Comfortable, casual, but fitted clothing is best in order to capture natural expressions and personalities.
Kids are best when they’re allowed to be kids. Avoid makeup and hairspray as well was overly baggy clothing. We want this to be a great experience for everyone, so come prepared to have a bit of fun to not only capture real smiles, but also create positive memories.
The Whole Family:
You will want to coordinate and plan your complete outfits a few days prior to the session. Follow these tips and you can’t go wrong…
- Make sure all clothing and clean and pressed a few days before the scheduled shoot.
- When coordinating outfits, don’t forget about the importance of accessories!
- Layers are a portrait session’s best friend, so choose a color palette of 3 or 4 colors and mix it up. You want a consistent theme, but avoid anything to “matchy.”
- Depending on the location of the shoot, keep in mind that light clothes look best on a lighter background while dark clothes look best on darker backgrounds.
- Don’t forget about shoes! They should be stylish and clean!
If you need ideas for colors or coordinating the whole group without matching, just look through magazines and adds. Our favorite stores include GAP, J. Crew Crewcuts, Janie n Jack, and Brooks Brothers!
Follow these tips and your session is destined for success! And if you need more help, never be afraid to go directly to the photographer with questions!
The Stonehouse at Stirling Ridge: Katherine & Ben: New Jersey Wedding Photography
Ben and Katherine met in 2007 at Georgetown while she was a Sophomore and he was a Junior. They were living in apartments that shared a wall. They were friends for a few years while Ben was at school - Katherine specifically remembers enjoying his 90s themed dance parties, but they didn’t start dating until after Ben graduated.
Ben went down to Georgetown frequently in the autumn of 2009 (he had graduated the prior Spring), and the couple became even closer. On December 10, 2009 Ben took Katherine to his fraternity’s winter formal. Rather than going to dinner with the rest of their friends, Ben asked if Katherine wanted to go out just the two of them. She did, and they talked for hours, ending up being quite late to the formal.
Katherine said yes to a second date the following night. Over winter break that January, Ben drove out to NJ to take her on their third date. That night, he met her parents for the first time, along with her grandmother, Nannie. After Ben left, Nannie turned to Katherine's mother and proclaimed that Ben was the one, and someday he and Katherine would get married. Sadly, Nannie died just before the wedding, but she got to know and love Ben, and knew that her premonition was about to become a reality.
Ben proposed on December 20, 2013, but the story starts earlier than that. Ben asked for Katherine's father’s permission to propose on Thanksgiving weekend. Since her other sisters had known when their husband’s were asking for permission, Katherine's dad figured that she did too. About five minutes after Ben asked him, her dad said “It’s about damn time” - among other nice “welcome to the family” things. Her dad later told her what had transpired. After the shock wore off, she started wedding planning immediately, and actually booked The Stone House at Stirling Ridge the very next day, before they were even engaged.
So then, on December 20, 2013, exactly one year before their wedding - Katherine came home after work to find their apartment completely decked out with red roses, candles and white lights. It was a beautiful proposal that ended with Ben on bended knee.
With the venue booked, Katherine went to work finding just the right individuals to work with to make her dream wedding come true. Carissa DeMarco from The Stone House worked as the couple's party planner, helping in any way possible.
On the day of the wedding, Amy Jones Baskin of Beauty on Location came to Katherine's home and skillfully created the perfect bridal makeup. Katherine then moved upstairs and got into her elegant Augusta Jones gown from Kleinfeld. Her mother then helped her add the finishing touches - a pair of earrings that her father had given to her mother before they were given to Katherine on her thirteenth birthday (which just so happened to be the same pair of earrings that Katherine wore on her first date with Ben), a necklace that had been a gift from Ben, and a bracelet that had belonged to her father's mother, Katherine. The veil held a special place in everyone's heart as it had been purchased for Katherine by Nannie before she passed away.
Despite the cold, Katherine's warm smile kept everyone in high spirits. When it came time for portraits before heading to the church, the bride tossed on her gorgeous cape from Alexander Furs and went out onto her parents' front porch, followed by friends and family. Her stunning flowers, beautifully done by Jardiniere Fine Flowers, were red roses with her grandmother's rosary wrapped around them. For a simple touch of winter, her bride's maids carried ivory roses with pine cones and greenery, a simple touch that added timeless beauty.
The ceremony was held at the Church of Christ the King in New Vernon, where Katherine and Ben proudly stood before all their family and friends and promised to love one another entirely and endlessly.
Guests then moved on to the Stone House at Stirling Ridge, which Jardiniere Fine Flowers had outdone themselves decorating with trees, candles, and alternating white and red roses. The lighting design, set up by Craig Scott Entertainment, completed the room's transformation. The Craig Scott Orchestra did an excellent job getting everyone on their feet as the couple made their entrance, Mike Simons Video Productions capturing every amazing second. Dancing and laughter carried on late into the night, ending with the traditional tossing of the bouquet and cutting of the cake.
Special thanks to Geraldine Pritchard for helping us capture Katherine and Ben's special day!


































