Albany NY Wedding Photographer | 2013 Year Review

As 2013 comes to an end, I still can’t believe all of the amazing things that happened, the incredible people I had the honor of working with, and the touching moments I had the privilege of capturing. I have been there as so many of you marry your best friends, I have planned out exciting gender reveal sessions, I have photographed newborn babies and children to help their parents capture a moment in time that passes all too quickly, I have captured families in all of their silliness and beauty…..I still can’t believe that I get to do what I love!

Along the way, I have had clients turn into friends, I have been amazed at the love and support I have received from so many of you. I want you all to know how much you truly mean to me. Without all of you, I would not be able to make my dreams become reality. From the engagement session, to the wedding, to watching your families grow, I am honored that you choose me to be a part of capturing it all. Thank you for an amazing year!

2013 was such a year of growth for me as a photographer. I learned to take chances, to think outside of the box, and to not be afraid of all of the reasons great things may not happen. I learned to set aside my fears, and aim high with my goals. Most importantly, I learned to believe in myself. With hard work, and determination, great things can happen. This past year was proof of that for me. I spent every moment I could learning and growing as a photographer, and had the honor of seeing my work published for the first time in places such as Well Wed New York, The Wedding Channel, Borrowed and Blue, and more. Crazy, right?!

Some highlights of 2013…

 

I could go on for days! Thank you all for such an amazing 2013. I look forward to another fantastic year in 2014!

Jenn and Bill’s Engagement Session at Thacher Park

I met up with Jenn and Bill at Thacher Park near Albany, NY  this fall while the leaves were bright in color. We wandered around the beautiful park, getting some great shots along the way. It was a chilly day, and the two of them kept warm with their flannel blanket.

After getting some photos of just the two of them, we included their dogs in some of the shots. It was clear they loved their dogs, and treated them as family, so we definitely needed to add them into their session. I look forward to photographing their wedding next fall!

Albany NY Wedding Photographer | Lindsay and James at Liberty Ridge Farm

When I met with Lindsay and James for the first time, Lindsay described the way she envisioned her wedding day. She talked about her desire to have a very country and rustic feel to the day, while still adding feminine touches. We got together to do their engagement session at a local historic site with old barns, and open fields. We had a great time, and even befriended a giant ox.

Months later, when I arrived at Liberty Ridge Farm, it looked exactly the way Lindsay had described her ideal wedding day to me. There were haystacks, pumpkins, mums, burlap, mason jars, and lace. The couple shared an emotional first look, followed by the exchanging of vows down by the river with their closet friends and family nearby.

We had some fun with an old truck we found, which made an awesome prop for photos of the whole bridal party, and of the bride and groom. Then, it was time to celebrate! Lindsay and James had a wonderful wedding day, and I wish them both the very best!

Their first look..

It was a beautiful ceremony!

What a fun bridal party…

Such a great looking couple!

Time to celebrate!

This wedding has been featured in:
WellWed New York http://www.weddingsnystate.com/blog/real-weddings/new-york-real-wedding-lindsay-james
Borrowed & Blue http://www.borrowedandblue.com/hudson-valley/weddings/lindsay-james–2

Albany NY Wedding Photographer | Jaclyn and Liam at the Altamont Manor

I had the pleasure of photographing Jaclyn and Liam’s beautiful garden wedding last September. They chose the Altamont Manor as the location for their wedding day. The flowers were in bloom, and the grounds were beautifully kept. White chairs were circled around the altar in the garden where the ceremony took place. The two of them shared an emotional first look on the porch of the manor, overlooking the garden.

The bride chose a dress by Allure that was just breathtaking. The groom looked handsome in Gray.  It was raining that day, and we were hoping it would stay away long enough for their outside ceremony. Turns out, it didn’t rain at all in Altamont even though it was pouring in nearby areas!

I knew when I met Jaclyn and Liam to do their engagement photos the previous year that we would work together very well, but what I didn’t know was that they were going to have the most picture-perfect wedding day! I wish this beautiful couple all the best!

The beautiful dress…

The bride looked just gorgeous!

Their first look!

After the first look, we got some shots of the bride and groom before the ceremony…

This was such a beautiful location for a ceremony.

Such a fun bridal party to work with!

The details…

They ended their big day with dancing, great food, and lots of laughs.

This wedding has been featured in:

WellWed New York http://www.weddingsnystate.com/blog/real-weddings/new-york-real-wedding-jaclyn-liam

The Bridal Detective http://thebridaldetective.com/rustic-garden-wedding-infused-with-tradition-at-altamont-manor/

Lela New York Weddings http://lelanewyork.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-real-new-york-wedding-jaclyn-liams.html

Albany NY Wedding Photographer | Connie and Mike at the Water’s Edge Lighthouse

When I first spoke on the phone with Connie last year, I knew the two of us were going to work very well together. She expressed her concern about not always being a big fan of photos of herself, and I assured her that everything would be fine, and her photos would turn out beautifully.

She wore a gorgeous gown covered in lace and looked absolutely stunning. Her ladies were dressed in black, and looked fabulous. The men were looking snazzy in their gray suits. She was escorted down the aisle by her son and daughter. It was a beautiful ceremony, and a touching joining of two families.  After the ceremony, we took photos down by the water which was a beautiful location. Then, it was party time!

I had such a great time capturing this couple’s special day and wish them the very best!

A Gender Reveal at Thacher Park

I met this lovely lady back before there was a baby bump. I photographed her and her two little boys for Mother’s Day and did a couple of pregnancy announcement photos. I was super excited when she asked me to do a gender reveal photo session for her and her husband. We went to the beautiful Thatcher Park in upstate NY for our session. We had a wonderful time and I absolutely love the way their photos turned out. Now that they have had a chance to reveal the gender to their friends and family, I can announce it. They are having a….

Albany NY Wedding Photographer |Courtney and John at the Franklin Plaza

When Courtney and John asked me to photograph their wedding at the Franklin Plaza, I was super excited. Not only are they a great looking couple that I knew would photograph beautifully, but the love between the two of them was evident. We met up at Thatcher Park for their engagement session and got to spend a little time getting to know each other and getting them ready for being in front of my camera on their big day. On their wedding day, I arrived at the hotel to find Courntey looking beautiful and doing a great job at staying calm. The day was a wonderful one, with an emotional first look, a beautiful church ceremony, and a wonderful reception at the Franklin Plaza in Troy. I am so honored that they chose me to photograph their special day and I had a great time doing so. I wish them both the best of luck in their lives together!

Their super emotional first look…

I loved the shots we got in this alley way!

This wedding was featured in:
Lela New York Weddings http://lelanewyork.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-real-new-york-wedding-courtney-johns.html

Albany NY Wedding Photographer | Ashley and Ben at Brown’s Brewing

When Ashley and Ben asked me last year to photograph their wedding at Brown’s, I had no idea it was going to be so much fun! Ashley was a stunning bride. Ben’s men were hilarious to photograph, and there was such a bond between Ashley and her ladies that was amazing to witness. The love between Ashley and Ben was obvious and showed in all of their photos. Everyone had a great time at the reception and I loved the different angles I was able to get with Brown’s balcony over the dance floor! What an amazing day!

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A Boho Inspired Photo Session With My Girls

I am always very busy planning photo sessions for other people. I absolutely love what I do and put my heart and soul into every photo session. I get so excited planning out the sessions and making or purchasing props. I thought it was about time to do a session with my own little ones. I can get everyone else’s children to cooperate and have a great time, but my kids run from me when they see my camera in my hand. I made sure to let them know ahead of time that this was important to me (and bribed them with ice cream). It was very humid and the bugs were really bothering them, but they did a great job and I am so proud of how their photos came out! I finally have some beautiful photos of my own kiddos!

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A 1st Birthday Photo Session in Clifton Park NY

I was so excited when this adorable little guy’s mom contacted me to do his 1st birthday photos. I gathered my props, balloons and gear and headed out to Clifton Park where we met up. I made silly sounds and faces. He laughed, smiled and had a great time, and I caught it all. I look forward to working with this little guy and his momma in the future!

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