Beyond The Lens Photography

Meet Emilie and Todd.  They were married last Sunday in a Valentine’s Day ceremony at The Lounsbury House in Ridgefield, CT.  I first met these two a few weeks ago as we discussed the details of their wedding over e a cup of coffee.  From the very beginning they were very laid back about everything.  They are just a very “go with the flow” type of couple.  One of the first things I came to know about them is that Todd is quite the funny guy, and Emilie’s smile is completely infectious.  When she smiles, her entire face lights up and you can’t help but to smile right along with her.  There union was special, not just because of how much they compliment each other, or how you can tell how much they love one another just by being in the room with them, but because they can also mark this date as the day their family finally became one.  Todd’s two sons, Todd Jr. and Joe have also gained another person in their lives to love, to be loved by, and to look up to.  I feel so blessed to of once again had the opportunity to be part of something so special.  I know I say that about all of my couples, but I honestly feel that way about each and every one of them.  To share in such an emotional and monumental time in someone’s life is amazing, to feel truly touched by the event by the end of the night is a blessing!

I also would like to add a huge thank you to both of Todd and Emilie’s families for making Joe and I feel so welcome and at home amongst them!

Here are the details from the day:

Hair: Adam Broderick Studio

Make up: Kaylyn Touhey

Reception: The Lounsbury House

Catering: Ciao Catering

Band: Neutral No Brakes

Here are a few shots of Emile and Todd getting ready.

I love the shot on the right as Todd is giving his oldest son a big booming smile!  And then the contrast of Emilie being brought down the stairs by her father and mother. it’s very “full circle” to me.

Of course I loved the back light here in the window, but it was also awesome listening to Todd and Emilie’s vows, which they both wrote!  I also love the first kiss shot that Joe got from the top of the stairs.

Details, Details, Details…..

This was another one of those awesome moments.  Todd Jr. got to toast his father!  Needless to say when he finished there wasn’t a dry eye in the place, and none of the other ‘toasters” wanted to follow him!

I love how happy Todd is in this shot!

Here are a few more details of the reception, complete with some cake cutting and dancing.

This is Emilie’s Grandma and she was not about to take a seat at a table all night.  It’s just not how she rolls!  She was so energetic, and right in the mix with everyone!

Another one of my favorite shots of the day….LOVE LOVE LOVE the emotion in this shot!

We took a ton of formals…of course, but I really liked this in between shot, because it highlights what a fun playful family these guys are….

No Valentine’s Day Wedding is complete without hearts right!

Emilie and Todd meet while working for the school system, so it was only  right that I incorporated that in some where.

A little moody lighting…couldn’t decide which one I liked more….

And of course some Valentine’s Day heart candies….I thought this one was so appropriate (Grandma helped me pick it out)!

Lastly I want to give a big thank you to my husband  Joe for assisting me on this one.  My semi-permanent nuclear engineer trained assistant who loves to shoot weddings in his spare time and spend any amount of time with his wife on Valentine’s Day even if that means working on his only day off in 14 days! (was that a run on sentence?)

 This past Saturday I had the pleasure of photographing Val and Sid’s wedding day.  These two have a very special place in my heart.  I feel very close to all of my clients in one way or another, but these two have hearts purely made of gold…I mean, like solid all the way through!   They would give you the shirt off of their backs in a snow storm and not ask a question about what happened to yours…GOLD! 

 A shot of the dress from underneath…

 One of the Val and Sid’s nieces.

 The flowers…

 In true “Rock Star Bride” style, Val had to have two pairs of shoes.  A traditional pair for the ceremony, and your not so typical…straight up sexy, for the reception.  Can you guess which is which??

 One thing I loved about the whole day was the getting ready time.  Normally I am all over the bride and taking pictures of every little movement she makes.  BUT being able to be intuitive to your clients, and “roll with it” is something that you learn over time.  In this case, I quickly learned that this wedding day wasn’t just about Val and Sid, but the uniting of two incredible families.  So my coverage soon moved from the norm of “Bride and Groom” to “The whole GINORMOUS family”.  Here is Val’s mom dressing little Noah (Val’s nephew and also the ring bearer).

 Val’s necklace and ear rings

 Val’s Brother In-Law and Sister escorting her into the church.  Ohhh..and it poured

 Noah again, after the ceremony, watching it pour outside.

The reception was at The Portuguese Cultural Center in Danbury, and it had the biggest dance floor I have ever seen.  It resembled a stadium.

Here are some details….

 There was dancing….

 And portraits…..

 And more dancing……

 And more portraits……

 Some seriously sexy dancing…..

 And a huge family portrait!!!!!

This is Val’s family…..and getting these guys all together at 11PM was quite the story…but it was done!!!!

Some more dancing……

And some portraits…..

 and of course the night ended with a ring shot!!!

Ohhhh and I almost forgot……

Something scandalous…….

If you are under the age of 25

Close your eyes now!!!!!!

Come’on doesn’t this guy look like Jay Z?…

A big Thank You to Melissa Kosswig for team shooting this one with me.  She is a trooper

Val and Sid,

Getting to know both of your families and ALL of your friends was amazing!  I can’t think of a better way to of spent a Saturday night.  Your day was filled with a million moments, all heart felt and passionate, but I already knew that you both are full of heart.  What I didn’t know was…ya’ll can party!!!!!

Thank you all again!!!

 So this one time, I got to 2nd shoot a wedding for this really cool photographer named Tania Sones.  As if things couldn’t get any more fun (we quickly realized we WERE in fact the dynamic duo….not the original, but pretty damn close) the portraits were at City Hall in Hartford….AND….the reception was at none other than The Society Room.  Are you kidding me?????  Needless to say it was a blast…..so without further a-du….Please meet Colette and Keith.  The morning started out at Colette’s families’ home where Tania and I began to get to it!

 The dress…in all it’s amazingness!

 LOVE LOVE LOVE the flowers.

 Here Colette is stepping into her dress

 You will probably notice through most of this post that Colette has this infectious smile.  Her eyes light up and this huge grin just takes over.  I love how excited she was about all of the details during her and Keith’s wedding day.

 This is my favorite shot that I took during the ceremony.  I think this moment is so important when a couple is taking part in whatever religious ceremony their faith requires. This moment never really happens at the same time with each wedding I cover, but you can tell it’s that moment when nothing else matters.  No one else is in the room right now but Colette, Keith, their priest, and their God!

Here is the limo driver popping the cork for their champagne toast!

 I love being a 2nd shooter for moments just like these next few shots.  (For my current brides and all future brides…there is much to be said about being primary shooter too…so no worries ) BUT…while Tania is doing all of the formal shots, I get to see the moments that are sometimes missed and lost…

So these next few shots are reasons to have a 2nd shooter…..

 Here are 2 of my favorites from the rest of the portraits we did with Colette and Keith. I could of shot in City Hall all day long.

 BUT…then we got to The Society Room and I was like….WHAT!  I am more than sure my photos don’t do this place justice.  I mean don’t get me wrong, I love my venues (you know who you are)…some more than others (mostly because of staff and service) but being an artist who eats with their eyes…this place very well could of made my head explode!

 Then we went out into the streets of Hartford for some more portraits!

 So The Society Room used to be a bank…and it has this vault..and in the vault there is this sweet little set up for a couple to have some quiet time…or some nice low light portrait action!

 LOVE  LOVE LOVE this shot.  I don’t know what it’s a picture of, but I can guess it’s pretty awesome!

 Again with that infectious happiness

 My FAVORITE shot from the whole day….at this point I am literally bawling.  A son dancing with his mother is enough to make any mother of 3 sons break down, but add in the obvious closeness of their relationship and this crazy little “no one else in the world is here”  thing that’s going on and I was looking for a tissue (more like a roll of paper towels, but who’s keeping score).

 And of course who could forget the ring shot?  They had these sweet little Tabasco bottles next to the GINOMEROUS prawns that they were serving during cocktail hour! As soon as I saw them, I slipped one in my pocket for a ring shot later

Thank you so much Tania, Colette and Keith for having me.  It was a privillage to be part of something so beautiful and real!

I swear there are times in my life that I have to stop and pinch myself, because I literally have the GREATEST job in the world and the best clients on the planet.  Caley and Mike are two of the coolest people I have ever met.   I can give you at least 47 reasons why, but that would take too long so I’ll tell you a few. Caley is that girl next door…BUT, she used to be a professional hockey player!  So were most of her bride’s maids.  Caley and Mike are also that irresistibly sweet couple you see in the corner of Starbucks that are all googly eyeing each other and playing footsie under the table.  As if that wasn’t enough, these two literally come from two of the greatest families I have ever had the pleasure of being around.  I honestly felt like one of them and that made my job (as if it’s really a job at all) so much easier.  I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of something so wonderful.  I am truly humbled by you all

Caley and Mike got dressed at The Ethan Allen Hotel in Danbury, CT and were married in The Shrine Of Saint Anne’s Church in Waterbury, with the reception following at The Fox Hill Inn in Brookfield, CT.

 This is the inside of  The Shrine Of Saint Anne’s Church in Waterbury.  It was so breath taking.

I love how Caley and her dad are both beaming in this shot!

 And the look on Mike’s face as Caley approached the front of the church.

Here are just a few of the details from the day.

 Caley and Mike’s first dance completely brought me to tears, not only because they are so completely in love, but because Mike’s father played the piano and sang “She’s Got A Way” by Billy Joel.  You can see him there at the piano.

 Mike’s mom fought back tears most of their dance together and I could see her beaming, yet crying the whole time.  This is a moment that always touches my heart, not just because I am a mother of three boys, but seeing this primal emotion fold is amazing.

 The band was amazing….absolutely amazing!!!

In the beginning of this series are the shots from the toasts.  One from the Mike’s brother, Caley’s sister, and Caley’s father.  Again I don’t know if there was a dry eye in the room.

This was a must have shot from Mike.  His fellow hockey team members had brought him the jersey and insisted that we get this shot by the bar.

 Another touching moment of the evening was when Caley’s sister got on stage and sang “Come Away With Me” by Nora Jones.  AND…it wasn’t like karaoke at all, she was amazing.  Not to be out done, Caley’s brother got up on stage and sang his rendition of “Piano Man” by Billy Joel, while lifting the lyrics off of the Internet via his iPhone.  Caley, Mike, and every person in the room enjoyed every minute of it!

 Some moody outside lighting by the fountain out back of The Fox Hill Inn.

 And of course the ring shot!

Thank you guys once again for having me, and a big fat “Mahalo” to Mike and Caley as they enjoy their vacation in Hawaii.

Also I wanted to say thank you to Melissa Kosswig for team shooting with me And thanks to Claire Ellen for assisting too