“I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.”

— Andy Bernard

Silver Linings, a look back at 2020

Like many of you, it was sometime in February when I first heart of this thing “corona”. I had no clue, not even the slightest clue that things would not be normal from that point on. Priorities have shifted, office wear has gone from slacks to sweat pants, and weddings have gone from care free huge shabangs to mask filled-socially distanced- affairs. Yet some how time passed, and people made the best of it including my incredible couples.

It was not what anyone expected, but it was not any less love filled. My camera did not get even a quarter of the use I expected, yet my lens captured love and laughter…even some happily ever afters. Yes 2020 will always be remembered as the year of hand sanitizer, toilet paper shortages, and people who clearly dont know how to mute their zoom calls BUT lets take a stroll through some of the AMAZING things that did happen in 2020.

A January engagement session in Dumbo Brooklyn.

Oh sweet Cara and Nick, they braved the cold (actually it was unseasonably warm for January) and brought their sweet puppy out for their engagement session! You will see these 2 a little later on in this post!

A Bittersweet January Memory…

If you follow me on social media you know that this next memory from January is the most heartbreaking. Wedding photography is typically the happiest memories, but stories do not always have ideal endings. This is my sweet Sarah, who I actually went to middle school with. Her and John were married in the middle of a blizzard, it was easily one of the most magical wedding days. With a heavy heart I tell you that this incredible groom tragically passed away just a few weeks ago. Sarah has been a rock, and she is ever thankful that they have these memories.This is the power of capturing. THIS proves the power of images. Sarah, you are an inspiration and John loved you with everything. Until you two meet again, I am so glad to have known him.

A March Engagement Session at Poets Walk

Brandi and Michael, I adore these two. They are one of the many couples who had to reschedule their wedding, a lot of these couples rescheduled. But silver linings in mind, this engagement session was SO much fun. Brandi and Michael are a giggly couple, that cant keep their hands off of each other. When we finally get to their wedding its going to be incredible, we will remake every single laugh had.

 

 

A Freezing Cold NY Engagement Session

Kathy and Luis…these two actually have a major reason to celebrate this year. Kathy gave birth to a beautiful baby boy a few months back. In a few months their newly grown family will all head down to the altar, I cannot wait.

A March Wedding

My second wedding of 2020 was an incredible joy. Cassidy and Rick ALSO just welcomed a sweet baby girl, I joke that most of my couples within a year of me photographing them end up with a baby in tow…im not sure if thats a joke anymore.

A WINDY MATERNITY SESSION

I only do maternity for my past brides, its one of the perks of booking me. Courtney and Nick had the GREATEST wedding in October 2 years ago at New Beginnings Farmstead. They now have the sweetest little boy (remember what I said about my camera) and it was SUCH a joy getting to see them again!

A SPRING ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Because of COVID it was a few months before I was able to get out and shoot again, so before we knew it flowers were blooming and sweaters turned into spaghetti straps. Alaina and Evan are absolutely a treasure of a couple. Alaina has been a bridesmaid in two previous wedding I shot, so when she called me and told me it was her turn I almost cried. You will also see these two later on when we captured their stunning micro wedding!

A BEACH ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Alie and Zach, they are picture perfect. Alie and her piercing blue eyes got me a whole boatload of likes on instagram. I tell ya, girlfriend is sunshine incarnate. Zach and Alie are in for a long gorgeous marriage and I cant wait to capture it <3

A MOUNTAINTOP ENGAGEMENT SESSION

People this gorgeous make it hard for average joes like me, im just trying to get my skin to not be so oily. Shelby and Nathan literally look like celebrities ( I dare you to tell me that Nathan doesnt look just like Paul Walker). We rushed up to beat the sunset and it was so worth it, cant wait to get these two precious people in front of my camera again.

A FLORAL ENGAGEMENT SESSION

I have wanted to shoot at Tarrywile mansion for a long time, so when Liz chose it for her engagement session I actually jumped for joy. This location Is stunning, but it has nothing on Liz and Mark. I am actually antsy to get this girl in her wedding gown, she could wear a paper bag and it would sparkle, so in a wedding dress…oy.

A WEDDING DURING CORONA

This next wedding is special for so many reasons. I have known Marissa for over a decade, she is one of my favorite humans. Her wedding was planned for May but you know, COVID. Marissa is incredibly kind and girlfriend is crazy smart. Her and John chose to downsize their wedding and still get married in 2020, they will forever have the best story and I am SO SO glad I was able to be there!

A DREAMY MICRO WEDDING

Micro weddings, the trend that took over the world. Kristie and Trevor had the sweetest micro wedding. It was incredibly hot and humid, which created this delicious haze everywhere. These pictures will forever graze the cover of everything I publish, I will never get over them.

A HUMID STUNNING ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Devin has got to be one of the most breathtaking humans I have every seen. Joe and Devin will be tying the knot in just a few months and I am SO amped. They are so fun to be around (just look at all the laughter in these images) and March cant come soon enough!

AN AUGUST MICRO WEDDING

Lindsay is the daughter of one of the members from our Church, when she told me her daughter was engaged I wiggled my way right into it. It was so wonderful to meet their whole family, to watch Lindsay cry when she saw her dad and to watch another wedding happen during Corona.

A GORGEOUS GARDEN MICRO WEDDING

Shelby and Matt had a big destination wedding planned in New Orleans this year, and while that might have been moved they still managed to be a beautiful bride and groom for me. I am LOVING all of the greens and sweet expressions that these brought to my camera.

 

A CRIST ENGAGEMENT SESSION IN ALBANY

Ali and Eli have got to be the sweetest humans on the face of the planet. They are both soft spoken and giggly, and they clearly find all comfort and confidence right in each other, its amazing to watch. They will be getting married this year! Its going to be a great day when I  get this girl and her baby blue eyes into her wedding gown!

A LUSH GREEN ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Justine and Pauls story is straight out of a romance novel. Poor Paul had suffered an injury and Justine worked at the physical therapists, she literally helped him learn to walk again. They would take strolls through this very place where we had their engagement session. These 2 lovebirds were guests at a wedding I shot a few years back, in a few months they will tie the know themselves.

A RUSTIC MICRO WEDDING

Chelsa and Chuck, yet another incredible couple whose wedding plans had to evolve into something different. Let me tell you, they made the absolute best of it and had the prettiest micro wedding. With friends who were all to eager to get all dressed up, celebrate their friends, and help them recreate what the tables would have looked like. Chelsa and Chuck I am so happy that I was able to be there with you, for your rainy day engagement session and for your wedding!

A GLOWY PERFECY MICRO WEDDING

Shelby and Mike, and all their dogs are some of my favorite people. They had the whole big thing planned and they adapted in the best way possible. Their wedding is easily one of my favorite that I have ever shot, even with the smaller group they paid just as much attention to detail and created a stunning wedding. Shelby got married at her fathers horse farm and listen, that place should be an official wedding venue. See more from their wedding here!

A MAINE ENGAGEMENT SESSION

I fell in love with Maine when I shot a wedding there a few Septembers back. When sweet Kristin and Shane asked if I would be willing to go up and photograph their engagement session at one of their favorite places I could not clear my schedule fast enough. Shane grew up playing all around Ogonquit, ME and goodness what a childhood to have. I think it is the sweetest thing that he has brought his almost wife to one of his favorite places on a regular basis. What a sweet way to join your childhood life to the life you will grow with your future wife.

A GLOWY MICRO WEDDING

Remember Cara and Nick from January? I told you we would see them later. After their original plans for their wedding got scrapped they put together the most sentimental micro wedding. It was such a joy to meet their families and see the people who adore them. I wont be there when they throw the “big” party, but I got to be there in the city with their puppy, and I got to be there the day they officially became Mr. and Mrs.! Congratulations you two <3

A GORGEOUS ENGAGEMENT SESSION AT LAKE MINNEWASKA

Emily and Mike are some of the funniest people, we laughed way too much during this session. In between laughter we found the time to take some of my favorite Lake Minnewaska pictures, Its like the sun put on a show for us.

A MOUNTAIN TOP ENGAGEMENT

The view for Ashley and Nicks engagement session was absolutely breathtaking. I mean, we saw an Eagle. These two are ALSO expecting a sweet little baby and in a few short months they will tie the knot. I met Ashley back in college and I love that my job brings my back in touch with people, cant wait to see this girl in a wedding dress.

A PICTURE PERFECT COUPLE

Gabby and Andrew, they are straight out of a magazine. They brought along their equally beautiful husky puppy, and that was just the icing on this beautiful cake. This engagement session is also a great example of changing outfits and the variety that that gives you. Girlfriend kills it in her jeans and heels but when she came out in the dress, UGH!

A GLOWY MOUNTAINTOP ENGAGEMENT

Another hilarious, the Office loving couple of mine, meet Amanda and Joel. They have the cutest puppy (not pictured) and as as general rule are the cutest couple. We spent this morning talking our favorite the Office quotes and whether or not I would eventually watch Parks and Rec. Cant wait until they tie the knot this year!

A DOWNTOWN ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Monique and Jeff….I truly am so excited for this September when they get married. Monique was a bank manager at a bank I worked at years ago, and I feel like she has always stayed floating around just outside of my circle of people. I am so glad that she has wiggled her way into my friend circle, her and Jeff have already endured so much so it will be an honor to be their on their wedding day.

A GLOWY MATERNITY SESSION

Charisse and Greg had the most BEAUTIFUL wedding at the Grandview almost 2 years ago. When I saw on my timeline that they were expecting their first baby I actually teared up, I was so excited for them. Getting to get this pretty lady back in front of my camera and just in general hearing what has been going on in their lives was so refreshing. This sweet little girl is now out of her mommas belly and all over my timeline, Im not complaining!

A BACKYARD MICRO WEDDING

Matts brother was one of my past grooms, and when I met Ashley I knew that I really wanted to be her wedding photographer when the time came. These sweet, gentle, and incredibly in love people are contagious. Like many others they chose to do the micro wedding thing, but this was the coziest and prettiest backyard micro wedding. If this is what their “small” wedding looked like I cant imagine what the big shabang will look like.

A BROOKLYN ENGAGEMENT SESSION

If I could go back and live just a few single years in the city , I totally would have lived in Brooklyn. Its the most charming place, but it has nothing on Madison and Pete. These two classy, fun, and almost married people are a fave of mine. They brought along their sweet puppy who clearly puts the biggest smile on their faces, and I keep mentally melting every time Pete looked at Madison and just melted. I have a feeling I will be crying a lot at their wedding day….

A COZY ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Oh Rachael and George, I just cant handle them. Rachael works for a big well known wedding venue so when she got engaged and called me I was incredibly flattered, and then immediately AMPED. We got along like 2 peas in a giggly pod and George is her perfect counterpart. These two are way too adventurous and cooler then I will every be, they are super into their cars and all things extreme but they are REALLY into each other. Shared Blessings Estate once again provided the perfect backdrop for this engagement session, we were lamenting that we dont live there the whole time. These two will tie the knot in August at a brand spankin new wedding venue!

A GORGEOUS FALL WEDDING

I have shot a lot of weddings, but Vickie and Matts backyard fall wedding will go down in history. Their wedding portraits are absolutely some of my favorites ever. With every stream of light that burst from each leaf I actually screamed. Vickie and Matt plower ahead with wedding plan even in the midst of pandemics, and both in incredibly stressful jobs for these times. It was a well deserved and incredibly perfect wedding day.

A FALL ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Speaking on hometown heroes meet Morgan and Anthony. A nurse and a firefighter they deserve all of the applause. You will see these two in a little bit because they were able to still go ahead and have a stunning wedding. So I will keep this short and sweet, these two are the best.

A ROMANTIC FALL ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Emily and James have wiggled their way into my heart. When I booked them a year (or maybe more) I had no idea that I would not only get the sweetest bride but a friend. Emily and James actually already had their engagement session, but her hair was a different color and she wanted a look that felt more like her, bravo friend.

A MICRO WEDDING FOR THE BOOKS

Remember Alaina and Evan? They did it! Plans were shifted around and they will still be doing their “big” wedding later this year, but this micro wedding is perfection. Its always wonderful to meet the families of their couples, everyone equally begins to take up space in my heart. Itll be a great day when I get to see these two at their big party later this year!

A WARM FALL WEDDING

Morgan and Anthony, I told you you would see them again. Our favorite little cinderella got her fairy tale wedding day after all! Here are a few quick favorites but if you want to see this day in all of its fullness, click here!

A FALL ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Rebecca and Collin, girlfriend kills it in her cute hat. Rebecca chose the foundry at Cold Spring for their engagement session, it has quickly become a favorite spot for me. With long sweet trails and a perfect couple this session lacked nothing.

A MICRO WEDDING YEARS IN THE MAKING

Nicole and Mikes wedding day has been years in the making, their story starts in high school. It crosses over entire separate lives just to bring them back together, it was the most touching journey. Their is one set of images here that I need to explain. Nicole got ready at her childhood home, as we were taking portraits outside and remember how her Father who is no longer with us used to wait for her to get off the bus. Her mom walked over to comfort her and remind her that this was a good day, and it absolutely was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well thats the look back.

Sometimes when its dark you may feel like you have been buried, when in reality you have been planted. This quote I think sums up what we have just seen. Beautiful things come out of hardships sometimes, I am so excited to watch these weddings grow into beautiful marriages. If you are currently engaged and looking for a wedding photographer why dont we chat?

IM GETTING MARRIED