Mahati + Winston | Engagement Session | Dumbo and Brooklyn Bridge
New York City Engagement Session | Dumbo & Brooklyn Bridge
New York City offers so many phenomenal locations for photography, and photographing couples at these iconic locations is one of my favorite things to do!
Working with both Mahati and Winston was incredibly fun. We had a great time walking around both Dumbo and the Brooklyn Bridge. We started out on Washington Street capturing images near the Manhattan Bridge. This is a very popular spot, but we were able to capture the images we intended.
An engagement session can last for up to three hours, so we had plenty of time to walk through the area. Their stunning outfits were incredible, and the color of Mahati’s dress was absolutely perfect.
We stopped at Jane’s Carousel for some whimsical images, and then we headed to Brooklyn Bridge Park - showcasing the extraordinary skyline views of Manhattan.
Finally, we walked to the Brooklyn Bridge where we were able to get images in a very busy location!
Mahati and George are from North Carolina, and they will be getting married there in 2021. As Manhattan residents, they wanted to capture images that helped to tell the story of their engagement.
Each couple I work with teaches me a something about relationships. This couple has such an easy-going nature and are both fun-loving and adventurous. They were up for anything!
I believe that their images captured their personality as a couple, and I’m so happy that they chose me to help tell their story!
If you would like more information regarding engagement sessions in New York City or Long Island, please contact me. I’d love to work with you to create imagery that tells your story.
Kayla + Robbie | Engagement Photo Session
Engagement Photo Session at Planting Fields Arboretum
Engagement photos are sometimes the first formal pictures a couple takes, and it marks a major milestone in wedding preparation. Often times, the images captured at an engagement session will be the imagery used throughout the wedding preparation, on a wedding website, a save-the-date card, and sometimes even at the wedding itself.
An engagement session also provide the soon-to-be bride and groom with practice before the big day. You’ll learn about posing individually and as a couple, and you will have the opportunity to see what you look like after being coached by your photographer. While a portfolio can help show you a photographer’s style and ability, the engagement session provides a peak into what you can expect on your wedding day.
An engagement session also helps you build a rapport with your photographer. You’re going to spend a lot of time with him or her on your wedding day, and having someone you can trust is a huge advantage for you and your fiancé. Your photographer will also learn how you interact with each other and that will help capture special moments.
Kayla and Robbie are a couple that have known each other for a long time, and working with them was such a pleasure. They are very easy-going as a couple, and it is obvious that their demeanor stems from a strong relationship.
Our session took place at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay. It is a beautiful location with a variety of different backgrounds - perfect for engagement sessions or wedding formals.
After we met and discussed some basic elements of posing, we took a walk around the grounds and found some backgrounds that fit them as a couple and worked well with their outfits.
My favorite image from this session was right near the end. I asked Kayla and Robbie to walk down a wide tree-lined path. I took some images of them walking there and walking back, but when they got pretty far away, I asked Robbie to slowly spin Kayla. I love the way they both look so happy in this moment - Kayla looking out and Robbie looking at Kayla, each of them with a genuine expression of excitement and happiness.
After our time at Planting Fields, we drove to Hempstead Lake State Park in Rockville Centre. Planting Fields does not allow dogs, and it was important to get a few images with their dog, Brody. It also allowed us to get a few images with different and more casual outfits.
I really enjoyed working with Kayla and Robbie on their engagement photos. They are a fun couple with a great relationship and friendship!
If you would like more information regarding engagement sessions in New York City or Long Island, please contact me. I’d love to work with you to create imagery that tells your story.
Isabella - Dance Portraits at Planting Fields Arboretum | Long Island Portrait Photographer
Dancers have always impressed me with their athleticism, grace, artistry, and discipline. And I was happy to work with Isabella, a young ballet student from Integral Ballet, at Planting Fields Arboretum a few weeks ago.
One of the things that I like most about working with dancers is the collaborative nature of the project. Dancers always come with very specific ideas of poses, and then we collaborate on every other element to capture our shared vision
I approached this shoot as I would a senior portrait session. I made sure that we had some traditional portraits, but then we worked to document Isabella doing something she is passionate about. I worked to document her doing what she loves as artfully as possible.
One of the reasons I suggest Planting Fields Arboretum to my clients is not only due to the genuinely beautiful scenery, but it offers so much versatility. In addition to the grand vistas, it also has many small, tucked away areas that work perfectly for family portraits, senior portraits, engagement sessions, and, in this case, a dance portrait.
In this session, I aimed to capture several different styles. I wanted to deliver images that show several sides of her ballet style and her personality
Isabela is a brand ambassador for Metronome Dancewear. She brought several outfits provided by them and they complimented by the stunning scenery at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park.
Isabella is a very expressive and talented dancer with strong technique and phenomenal expression. It was a pleasure working with her, and I hope I have the opportunity to work with her again!
If you are interested in a senior session or a dance session, please contact me at anytime.
(516) 667-4223 (call/text)
info@stephenmayophotography.com
Dance Studio: www.integralballet.com
Attire: www.metronomedancewear.com
Location www.plantingfields.org
First Communion Portrait Session | Long Island Photographer
First Communions are always a special time, and for a young child, it is a huge milestone. After a long period of preparation, they have a very special day that is just as important to the parents as it is to the child making the sacrament!
While 2020 has pushed many First Communions on Long Island from their traditional time in the spring to the summer and even the fall, I was glad to have an opportunity to take photos of this young man and his sister.
We started with a brief studio session where he got to show off his suit and his willingness to pose!
His sister also had an opportunity to show off her dress for his Communion. She was probably just as excited!
Then we went to a nearby park for a few outdoor portraits. It was a hot day, and we walked around during the hottest part of the day, but these two did really well!
I really enjoy First Communion sessions for a variety of reasons, but one thing that always strikes me is the pride that the children have. They feel special during the ceremony, but they also feel special every time the suit or the dress comes is worn.
If you would like more information about First Communion sessions or any other type of family photography, feel free to contact me for more information!
First Communion | Long Island Family Photographer
The sacrament of First Communion is an important time in a child’s life, and as a photographer on Long Island, I’m often called to capture these moments. I was so happy to capture these images of this amazing young girl!
First Communion itself is such an important milestone, and imagery that celebrates this is important to both the family and the person receiving the sacrament. There is so much that goes into planning - starting with a year of preparation that culminates with this important event. But the planning also includes small things that make the young person feel like a grown up: a new dress, a veil, their own rosary, shoes. All of these things come together for a truly special and blessed event.
These sessions are absolutely adorable - elementary children ready to take on a more grown up role within the Church.
This session was scheduled about a week before the First Communion day. While we intended to go outside, the weather didn’t cooperate with us at all. But, we made it work! We took a lot of images inside the house that celebrated this young girl and her upcoming sacrament.
Taking images before the First Communion day is important because it takes away the stress of trying to capture your son or daughter in a room that often is crowded and has limitations. Knowing that you have the photos you need in advance makes the day a little easier for everyone!
If you would like more information on a First Communion Session or for any other type of family photography, please feel free to reach out at any time!
Contact
info@stephenmayophotography.com
(516) 667-4223 call/text