Fall Engagement Session at Bethpage State Park | Long Island Wedding Photographer | Tatiana + Henry
If you're looking for a stunning fall engagement session location on Long Island, Bethpage State Park is a must-see! Tatiana and Henry's session was so much fun to capture, and the autumn leaves made for some magical photos.
Bethpage State Park - Fall Engagement Photos
Bethpage State Park is incredible during the fall months! When the weather turns crisp and cool, couples are rewarded with vibrant hues of orange, yellow, and red - all provided by the changing leaves of the trees.
The engagement session photos of Tatiana and Henry were so sweet and memorable that we just had to share them. As we look through these delightful pictures, we’re growing ever more excited for their big day!
We are so excited to see what these two have in store for their upcoming wedding day! It will no doubt be a beautiful celebration of their love. The gorgeous backdrop of Bethpage State Park combined with the sweet chemistry of this couple made it easy to capture amazing engagement photos.
Sand Castle Wedding | Long Island Wedding Photographer | Jenna and David
The excitement of a wedding day tends to be contagious, and Jenna and David’s wedding exemplified this perfectly! Their day was a wonderful example of family and friends truly celebrating the couple in a meaningful way.
Jenna and David grew up near each other, and each of them got ready in their parents’ homes. There was a lot of excitement at Jenna’s house, and it was wonderful to see.
While we were planning, Jenna’s mom shared a photo of her getting ready for her wedding in the same house. She was putting lipstick on in a large mirror in the living room, and we recreated that photo for her.
After the preparation, we took several portraits before we left to go to the church in the front yard.
The energy at David’s house was much the same. David, his family, and the groomsman were enjoying the moment, and I loved to see that. So much of the wedding day can go by in a blur, and I was happy to see that everyone was enjoying themselves.
The ceremony was at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Malverne, and it was packed! There were so many people that came to witness the wedding ceremony. Jenna and David kept looking at each other and smiling, looking back at their parents, and enjoying a very personal and meaningful service.
Outside the church, there was a very warm welcome for the newly married couple.
One of the best parts of a wedding is the ability for family and friends to see each other for an important celebration. This was especially true after 2020, and the joy evident great to see. We took the opportunity to family photos outside the church as the sun was setting. While the purpose was to take family pictures, I loved seeing everyone enjoying themselves after not seeing each other in such a long time!
When Jenna and David first spoke with me on the phone, they told me that they had both always wanted to get married at the Sand Castle. That specific venue had an important meaning to them, and I can only imagine how happy they were when their car pulled up to the entrance!
It was dark by the time we were at Sand Castle, but we were able to take some images outside during the start of the cocktail hour.
The cocktail hour ended with everyone’s attention being brought to one area. A bar slowly descended from the ceiling with a demonstration of flail bartending.
About five minutes before the guests arrived, we took an image of the room ready for everyone. I think this is such an important memory. The couple is taking a moment to themselves before everyone comes in with the room perfectly decorated and ready to go.
The entrances and first dances were beautiful and, again, a great celebration.
The guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and most of them were on the dance floor most of the evening. Their band, Tradewinds, was incredible. They did such a great job of keeping everyone moving.
We did have a few quiet moments where Jenna and David were able to take a few pictures in the beautiful lobby of Sand Castle.
Over the past year, I’ve spent a lot of time with both Jenna and David, and I’ve enjoyed all of it. My experience with them exemplified why I love being a wedding photographer. I got to see them plan their day, get excited for their day, and have an amazing wedding. Then, I had the opportunity to watch them go through their album and relive each moment. I can only imagine the memories that are going to be made as they go through their album with their families and relive the day with the people that are closest to them.
MUA: Beautique Salon
Florist: DePalma Florist
Limo: Camelot
Venue: Sand Castle
Band: Tradewinds
How Many Hours of Wedding Coverage Do you Need?
You’ve put so much time into planning your wedding, and often, your photos are the only tangible memories you’ll have of your perfect day. So, how you do determine how much time you need? Every wedding is unique and every timeline is going to be a little different, but here is some general advice you can consider to determine how much coverage time you should include.
Wedding Coverage Should Start Well Before The Ceremony
Your wedding photographer is going to look to tell the story of your day, and that story starts well before the ceremony! Usually a photographer is going to arrive at the bride’s getting ready location about 90 minutes before the bride leaves for the ceremony, the first look, or the venue. This will allow time for the photographer to take some images that will tell the story: the dress on a hanger, jewelry, the bridesmaids with the bride in robes, the makeup artist doing some finishing touches, the bride doing a reveal for family, some portraits at a childhood home, or anything else you can dream up. It will also allow some time for some formal portraits of the bride by herself as well as the bride with family members and the bridesmaids.
Often, while the lead photographer is doing all of this, another photographer is doing the same thing with the groom, the groomsman, and his family.
First Look or No First Look?
Some couples opt to have a first look for a number of reasons, but other couples have always dreamed of seeing each other for the first time on the wedding day as the bride walks down the aisle. The best solution here is whatever you want. This is your day, and you should schedule it the way you want.
If your timeline includes a first look, that means that you can plan for family portraits right after you share that moment. The benefit here is that you probably won’t need to schedule a large amount time later with your family for photography. If your timeline doesn’t include a first look, you’ll need to devote some time for family portraits, bridal party portraits, and portraits of the bride and groom. This is where you way want to consult with your wedding photographer about your specific timeline. The photographer’s experience can serve as a tool for you to make sure you get every image you want without feeling stressed or rushed on the day of your wedding.
Bride and Groom Portraits
Most couples will want images at the venue. You’ve spent a lot of time, money, and energy making decisions about what venue to choose and how it is going to look, so it is important to take images of the bride and groom at the venue. You’ll want images that show off the venue but also some more intimate portraits that show the general feel as well. Usually, these images take about 30 minutes, and that can impact your timeline depending on how much of the cocktail hour you would like to attend.
Sunset Portraits
One other factor would be the sunset time on your wedding day. If images during sunset or at the golden hour are important to you, there isn’t much wiggle room with sunset times. Usually, the bride and groom can sneak away for 15 minutes for these images without too much of a disruption. This is especially true if you’ve already set time aside for portraits of the bride and groom.
End of Coverage
How long you would like your photographer to stay is a personal decision. Some couples want the photographer to stay through the end of the night and even attend the after party. Usually, a good rule of thumb is that the coverage should end no earlier than an hour before the reception ends. At most weddings, this is when the cake is presented and cut.
Every wedding is different, and ultimately, you need to do what feels right to you. Your wedding photographer is a great resource, and he or she can help answer whatever questions you may have about the timeline.
You want to have images that capture authentic moments and tell the story of the wedding in a stress free way. When time is short, the one thing that gets cut is the time set aside for photography, so keep an open line of communication with your wedding photographer to make sure you have the memories you want.
We pride ourselves on capturing your day the way you want it to be captured. We know that photography is an important part of your wedding, and we also know how important it is to enjoy your day. If you would like to learn more about our experience, click below for more information.
How To Choose A Long Island Wedding Venue | Long Island Wedding Photographer
There are many different types of Long Island wedding venues, each very unique.
When choosing a location for your wedding, think about the weather and the time of year. Are you looking for an indoor venue in the cooler months or do you want your wedding to be held outside in the summer heat? Once you determine what kind of wedding you want, you can better figure out where will be the best place for you to take their photos.
Determine what style of venue will suit you best
Long Island has so many options. Will you choose a more casual beach wedding or a luxurious estate? Maybe you’ll opt for a urban loft that feels industrial. Whatever your vision is for your big day, find a location that fits your dream.
Think about your audience
When choosing a wedding venue, you should have a general idea of your guest count. If you’re planning on hosting a large reception with hundreds or even thousands of guests, then you definitely need to think about how formal the venue will be.
Look into everything there is to know about choosing a wedding venue
Where you choose to have your wedding will determine not just your planning details, but your decor as well! No matter what type of theme your want for your wedding, find out every detail before you book your space. This way, you can focus on designing your reception and making sure that your wedding day is perfect without worrying about whether the room matches the other pieces of your wedding design.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Before touring venues, have all your questions ready to go! Imagine youre visiting a restaurant for dinner and having to ask the manager everything you want to know about their menu. That won’t end with the best experience. Ask staff members that interact with customers about your options and take note of which ones get the most responses. You can also refer to previous reviews to see how other couples have resolved issues and choose one or more ways to deal with each decision.
Be clear on what you want
Before touring venues, have a clear idea of what you want from your wedding ceremony. This may include a specific theme or color palette, or maybe you just feel that certain places fit your personality better than others. Take time to write a list of requirements (like an emphasis on tea cups vs. china) and tour different venues to see which one fits the bill.
Start early
You’ll want to begin planning well in advance for your wedding day, so don’t wait too long to choose a date and venue.
Book you photographer
Once you have a date, you’ll want to book your wedding photographer! Choosing your wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for a couple of reasons. Your photographer is going to be with you a lot on your wedding day, and it is important to find someone that is a good fit for you. Even more importantly, once the wedding is over, the images from your photographer will be some of the only tangible memories from your beautiful day!
South Street Seaport Engagement Session | Long Island Wedding Photographer | Julia and Christian
The location for your engagement session should be a place that has some meaning to you as a couple.
For Julia and Christian, the South Street Seaport was the perfect location. From their first date onward, it has always been an important place for them, and it is a beautiful location for an engagement session - from the cobblestone streets to the tall ships, it is truly a unique location within New York City.
Celebrate Your First Date
An engagement session allows you to celebrate with your partner the joy of falling in love and being together. It is a great way to mark and capture the moment when you first started dating. Some of my favorite images from this session came from the Paris Cafe - the location of Julia and Christian’s first date!
East River Esplanade
The East River Esplanade is a such a unique park on a Pier over the East River. With stunning view if the FiDi skyline, it is a great place for engagement photos.
South Street Seaport Tall Ships
There really aren’t that many places where you can see tall ships with with skyscrapers, but that is exactly the charm of the South Street Seaport.
Views of Brooklyn
Images of the Manhattan Skyline from DUMBO and Brooklyn Bride Park are very popular, but I think that the view in the other direction are just as beautiful. I love how the buildings catch the golden light at sunset.
South Street Seaport at Night
The photography opportunities in New York City at night are endless. We had the opportunity to spend some time after the sun set with a completely different look.
