A SUNSET ELOPEMENT IN BROOKLYN
A BROOKLYN ART GALLERY WEDDING AT SMACK MELLON
A NEWBORN PHOTO SESSION AT HOME IN BROOKLYN
A couple of months ago, I had the immense pleasure to meet baby Charlie, his parents Megan and Brian, as well as Shamus, the OG baby of the family for a newborn photo session at their home, in Brooklyn.
Baby Charlie graced us with a few beautiful smiles as well as a few tears (babies, am I right?) but overall, the shoot went very smoothly.
As a wedding photographer, I am often contacted by former couples to take photos of their pregnancies, babies, and even toddlers and I have to say that I LOVE it! It is always such a treat for me to meet my couples’ growing families and to shoot in a quiet environment where I can take my time, let the baby guide us through the session, and enjoy every minute without running everywhere.
So I am putting this out there: I am totally down for more baby sessions, so send them my way!
A MICRO BROOKLYN WEDDING WITH A ZOOM CEREMONY
THE PANDEMIC PUT A DAMPER ON YOUR ORIGINAL PLANS? HAVE A VIRTUAL WEDDING IN YOUR BROOKLYN HOME.
One of the greatest advantages of organizing a micro wedding with a Zoom ceremony, is that planning doesn’t take a lot of time. Melissa and Ryan contacted me ten days before their wedding to ask me to be their photographer, and in a matter of a couple of days it was all settled and we were ready to go!
I created a hybrid package for them with a ceremony shot on FaceTime and a photo session IRL in their neighborhood. Melissa and Ryan were very mindful of the pandemic, which is why the home portion of the day was all virtual. In addition to me, their guests, witnesses and officiant were all on Zoom, participating from afar.
Melissa and Ryan live in a really bright apartment with lots of windows and natural light, which was great for the FaceTime shoot. The fact that they had great light was a huge advantage for their photos to come out as beautiful as possible. We FaceTimed a few days before the wedding to decide where to prop the phone, and on the day of they put the phone on a tripod.
After the virtual ceremony in their living room in slippers (check Ryan’s feet!), I met them on their rooftop in Prospect Heights. They brought their big puppy for the family photos, and then we hit the streets for a few photos in the gorgeous winter sun.
Lots of tears were shed during the FaceTime session, both during the ceremony and the speeches. It was a true testament that virtual weddings can be as emotional and intense as IRL ones, and that nothing can stop brides and groom from having the wedding of their dream. Not even a world pandemic.
Check out a few of the FaceTime photos below as well as some of my favorite portraits. And if you guys are interested in a FaceTime shoot, I wrote a little article explaining how it all works over here!
And now, here are the real life portraits we took in Brooklyn!
LAUREN AND TOM: AN INTIMATE ENGAGEMENT SHOOT AT HOME
GET UNIQUE AND INTIMATE PICTURES (AND INCLUDE YOUR PUPS) WITH A LAID-BACK AT HOME ENGAGEMENT SESSION
Lauren and Tom wanted to get their engagement photos done at home a few weeks before their wedding, and it turned out to be a really great experience. They lived in a beautiful brownstone in Prospect Heights with a private yard, and were about to move to Maine a few months later so Lauren could go to grad school so it was a wonderful way to celebrate their home and their time in Brooklyn.
It was also a very good way for me to get to know them; being able to spend time in their home allowed me to get a glimpse into their personalities and what mattered to them, so I could adjust the way I worked and focus on the important things to please them to the max.
Engagement sessions can feel a bit overwhelming, no matter how relaxed your photographer is, and having someone new in your home asking you to cuddle among your personal belongings can need a bit of getting used to. Lauren waited for the shoot to cut Tom’s hair, and give him his wedding haircut (which was about 3 weeks later). That’s something she usually does for him, so it was a good way to keep them busy while I shot away, and a way to capture this sweet habit they have created over their years together.
Once this was done, we had already shot a bit so everyone was at ease with each other. They spent the rest of the session playing with their dogs, sitting on their stoop, and being overall super cute.
Those two love birds are now happily living in Maine, and I wish them all the happiness in the world with their furry fam!
A FALL WEDDING AT CELESTINE, BROOKLYN
KATELYN AND RYAN: A SWEET AND INTIMATE CELEBRATION AT A HIP BROOKLYN RESTAURANT
I was honored that Katelyn and Ryan picked us to shoot their Fall wedding at Celestine. After spending a lovely Sunday afternoon with them in the Spring for their engagement photos, I discovered that their relationship was very special and that their wedding was going to be a good one. And it totally lived up to our expectations. The venue they picked, Celestine, was a treat for our eyes – and cameras –. Tucked right beside the Manhattan Bride, Celestine boasts beautiful views on the city and the two bridges. And if you plan things well, you can have your ceremony outside right as the sun sets behind Manhattan.
That’s what Katelyn and Ryan did. After some family photos and wedding portraits around Dumbo, we all headed to Celestine for their ceremony. It started right when the sun started disappearing behind the buildings, and ended during the special Blue Hour that follows sunset. The night ended with some dancing indoors and cigar smoking outside. Celestine was the perfect venue for this laid back and intimate wedding. And I cannot wait to get back there again and shoot!
Photography by the super talented Jonica Moore for Carole Cohen Photography
