Planting Fields Arboretum | Long Island Wedding Photographer | Rafaelina + Javier
Rafaelina and Javier got married on one of the most popular dates in February - 2/22/22, and they wanted to celebrate their elopement-style wedding with formal portraits at Planting Fields Arboretum.
Planting Fields is a popular location for wedding portraits for many reasons, but on this cold and rainy day, it was perfect for us.
We spent a lot of time on the patio. It always looks so elegant, and I loved the way we were able to capture the beautiful details of Rafaelina’s dress and hair. She looked amazing, and the location complimented her perfectly.
We were able to capture some of the majesty of Planting Fields while also staying dry.
There was a brief pause in the rain, and we took the opportunity to take some images within the garden.
I am happy for Rafaelina and Javier. They were able to celebrate their wedding and capture beautiful images. Both of them look incredible, and I’m honored that they asked me to have a small part in their day.
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Opus Steakhouse | Long Island Wedding Photographer | Regina and Dominick
Regina and Dominick had their beautiful wedding at Opus Steakhouse in Jericho. The event was beautiful from beginning to end, and I am so happy to have been a small part of it.
Opus Steakhouse has a long history on Long Island, and it a fantastic wedding venue. While the building dates to 1789, the interior is modern and gorgeous. Prominently featured is a glass room filled with wine from floor to ceiling and an open kitchen. It was fun seeing the kitchen staff get caught up in the music!
Regina and Dominick had many beautiful backdrops for their portraits throughout Opus. We were lucky to have quite some time to walk around the entire facility. While it was way too cold to go outside, there were so many great locations indoors.
After the guests arrived, there was an intimate ceremony. Reverend Dan Callahan was the officiant, and it couldn’t have been nicer. There was definitely a feeling of love and support from everyone there. I loved the way the sun shined right onto Regina and Dominick as the ceremony started!
The ceremony went straight into the reception, and it was so much fun. The food and the dancing were great. Regina and Dominick celebrated with those that are closest to them, and they had a beautiful day. Opus Steakhouse was the perfect venue for them
Venue: Opus Steakhouse
Officient: Reverend Dan Callahan
MUA: Victoria Elizabeth
Florist: Numas
Bakery: Dortoni
DJ: Tommy’s Tunes
Croton Gorge State Park | Engagement Session | Katie and Jake
Katie and Jake had their engagement session at Croton Gorge State Park in the Hudson Valley, and it was perfect. As a wedding photographer based on Long Island, I love going to areas in the greater New York metro area. The landscape is so different, and it gives an amazing opportunity to create images at a location that are important to the couple.
While the leaves were off the trees, this park had so many great locations that would make it beautiful to shoot in any season.
We started down a path that was perfect as the sun was just coming low enough in the sky to start coming through the trees.
Then we hiked down to the Croton River and were met with a beautiful scene. I had arrived about ninety minutes before Katie and Jake’s engagement session started. Locations with a lot of trees definitely change their look throughout the year, and I wanted an opportunity to look around. I knew that the river would look amazing once the sun came down a little bit.
We finished up our engagement session near the park’s most prominent feature - the Croton Dam and the waterfall that starts the Croton River. I loved these fun shots of Katie and Jake being playful at the base of the dam!
We couldn’t leave without taking a picture featuring Katie and Jake with the park’s most impressive view.
This engagement session was so much fun, and I really enjoyed my time with both of them. We captured meaningful images that really represented them as a couple at a location that was important to them. I can’t wait for their wedding!
7 Questions to Ask Your Long Island Wedding Photographer
There are many so many choices of vendors for your Long Island wedding. When choosing businesses to create what you envision for your wedding day, it’s essential to find people you feel comfortable with and trust. It’s especially important when it comes to choosing a wedding photographer. Unlike the rest of your vendors, your photographer will be with you all day capturing memories you’ll look back on for the rest of your life. There are so many options, so how can you find the best Long Island wedding photographer for you?
As you’re interviewing potential photographers, take time to determine not just their prices, but also the style and quality of their images and whether their personality would be a good fit for you and your wedding day. Not sure what to ask? Check out these seven essential questions to help get you started!
How would you describe your photography style?
Every photographer has a different style for their photos. Some like to observe and take documentary-style photos of the day, while others specialize in carefully choreographed images. Most will do both, as needed, thought the wedding day. What is most important is how they capture images. Ask your photographer not only to describe their photography style but also their approach to photographing weddings. Ask them to show examples from previous weddings they’ve shot to give you a better idea of what to expect.
Have you shot a wedding at our venue before?
It often helps to have a photographer who is familiar with your venue and knows the best spots nearby for photos. However, if they’ve never shot a wedding at your venue before, that isn’t a deal-breaker. Ask if they’ll be checking out the venue before the wedding to find the perfect photo backdrops. It isn’t necessary for a photographer to have photographed a whole wedding at your location before, but it is important that he or she has seen the location with their own eyes.
What’s included in your wedding package?
Most photographers have standard packages as well as extras you can add on for an additional fee. Be sure to ask what’s included in the packages, like the number of hours and prints or digital files, and be aware of any fees for travel or other costs. It is important that your wedding photographer understands what is most important to you and creates a package or collection that gives you exactly what you want.
What happens in the event of an emergency?
Be sure to ask any potential photographer about their backup plan in case they’re ill or unable to photograph your wedding because of an emergency. This may feel like an awkward question, but it’s important to know there’s a solid Plan B in place so you’ll get the wedding photos you want, regardless of unexpected circumstances.
Can we view full galleries of your recent weddings?
You might have fallen in love with a photographer’s work when you saw it on their website, but a full gallery from a previous wedding can give you a better idea of the photographer’s style and skill. A complete gallery will also help you see if the photographer is consistent with the quality of their images.
How long have you been photographing weddings, and how many weddings have you shot?
It’s a great idea to ask about your potential photographer’s experience level, as well as their workload. You don’t want to hire someone who’s never photographed a wedding before to capture images of your big day.
What do you love about photographing weddings?
This question may sound like small talk, but it’s an excellent way to get a better understanding of a photographer’s personality and how they’ll approach your wedding day. After all, you want a photographer who’s (almost) as excited about your wedding as you are!
Taking time to interview potential photographers gives you a chance to ask all these important questions and address any concerns you have about your wedding day. Before speaking with a photographer, be sure to write down a list of questions you have and any other details you want to know to ensure that you’re prepared.
Everyone has a camera on their phone, but you already know that you wouldn’t want to leave capturing important moments to chance. Finding the best Long Island wedding photographer for you is important. Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you would like!
If you would like to learn about our style and approach to photographing Long Island weddings, you can find out more below. We take incredible pride in learning about what you value and providing an incredible experience from beginning to end.
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Roosevelt Island | NYC Wedding Photographer | Erica + Samer
Erica and Samer had their engagement session on Roosevelt Island - a place that is very meaningful to both of them. They fell in love while they lived on this island, and it was a perfect location for their NYC engagement photos.
Engagement sessions are such an important part of the wedding photography experience, and finding a location that is meaningful for you as a couple is so important. It is during this session that you will learn how to pose, get comfortable with your photographer, and learn how to look amazing in front of the camera.
Since NYC and Roosevelt Island are such an important part of Erica and Samer’s story, planning our session for Roosevelt Island was a no-brainer.
We started on the southern end of the island right next to an abandoned smallpox hospital.
On our way to our next location, we found a beautiful area where the fall colors were still hanging on even though it was very late in the season. This beautiful light was coming through the trees, and I really couldn’t pass up such a fantastic opportunity.
As a NYC wedding photographer, I thought it was important to show Erica and Samer with big vistas of the city. Since the bridge is such a huge presence and part of the identify of Roosevelt Island, it was important to feature.
What could speak more to this location than an image of Erica and Samer against being framed by the bride and the Manhattan Skyline.
Two of my favorite images from this session were two areas that we casually walked past. There was a sculpture of the letter “C” for Cornell University and also some textured metal that I new would photograph well.
We were able to continue our session as the sun set. There was a beautiful promenade that is also part of Roosevelt Island’s identity.
Finally, we revisited some locations to take advantage of the Manhattan skyline lit against the night sky.
Erica and Samer had a beautiful night, and I am so happy to be able to provide them with memories of their time on Roosevelt Island.