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July Wedding at West Hills Country Club Wedding in Middletown, NY // Anna + Brian

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July Wedding at West Hills Country Club Wedding in Middletown, NY // Anna + Brian

I believe one of the most generous things a wedding photographer can do is to treat every wedding as if it were brand new - because it really is, if we think about. Brand new to the couple. Brand new to the guests. Even though us wedding photographers capture dozens of weddings a year, that shouldn’t mean that we don’t capture every single one with heart eyes as if we had never seen a wedding before. To me, that is loving our clientfriends well; it is cherishing what they cherish, adoring what they adore, getting excited about what they are excited about….

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Rainy Wedding at West Hills Country Club in Middletown, NY // Erika + Aaron

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Rainy Wedding at West Hills Country Club in Middletown, NY // Erika + Aaron

When I think back on my journey with Erika + Aaron, all I can think of is: all joy and pure heart. Erika’s smile is contagious, and her sweet spirit is infectious. Aaron’s kindness feels like a warm hug whenever you’re around him. Being in their presence feels like a privilege. They are an excellent match….

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Summer Wedding at Whitby Castle in Rye, NY // Christina + Jonny

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Summer Wedding at Whitby Castle in Rye, NY // Christina + Jonny

The first time I met Christina + Jonny in person was at their engagement session - Christina clad in an adorable floral dress and Jonny smiling wide. They had their precious pup Murphy in tow, and the trio instantly had my heart…

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Memorial Day Weekend Wedding at West Hills Country Club in Middletown, NY // Jess + Ricky

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Memorial Day Weekend Wedding at West Hills Country Club in Middletown, NY // Jess + Ricky

My wedding season typically begins in April with a few smaller events here and there, but then really kicks off in May, especially taking into account Memorial Day Weekend. While it’s nice to have the weekend off sometimes, I do love photographing weddings on this weekend, since everyone is already in a celebratory mood - it just feels even more exciting to add a wedding to the mix…

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Krissy + Joey // A Warm May Microwedding at the Country Club at Otterkill in Campbell Hall, NY

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Krissy + Joey // A Warm May Microwedding at the Country Club at Otterkill in Campbell Hall, NY

Some days I have a lot of words for these blog posts, and some days I don’t. Sometimes I feel that words enhance the story, and sometimes I feel like they detract. And sometimes I think that pictures can just very obviously speak for themselves….

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Pinehills Golf Club Wedding // Emily + Micheal

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Pinehills Golf Club Wedding // Emily + Micheal

What has always struck me about Emily and Micheal is how effortless they are with each other. Maybe it’s because they’ve been together for a long time; Maybe it’s because they are just a good pair…their comfort with each other creates a softness in the air around them. If you’re uneasy before you spend time with them, their comfort in each other can’t help but to reach to you. It will calm all your nerves, settle your heart palpitations, make you feel like things really aren’t as bad as you may have thought they were just 10 minutes prior…

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Greek Orthodox Wedding at Crested Hen Farms in High Falls, NY // Maria + Derek

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Greek Orthodox Wedding at Crested Hen Farms in High Falls, NY // Maria + Derek

Maria + Derek were an absolute joy to serve. From the moment I met them on Facetime, I knew that our hearts were connected - I was almost even jealous that my associate photographer was able to photograph them instead of me (haha). But, two things I knew before they even signed a contract:

  1. My associate photographer would take the best care of them ever.

  2. They would take the best care of my associate photographer ever.

I was not wrong. The symbiosis was beautiful.

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Smart Alice Wedding Education: 5 Tips to Help You Hire Your Wedding Photographer

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Smart Alice Wedding Education: 5 Tips to Help You Hire Your Wedding Photographer

In a world full of Pinterest checklists and advice from literally everywhere, it’s often easy to get overwhelmed and “list happy” when you are planning a wedding - especially when you are considering who to hire as your wedding photographer. Believe me, I know. Wanna know how? I hoarded checklists from The Knot and WeddingWire like it was my job when I was getting married in 2013. And, I was also the bride who gave my photographer a color-coded spreadsheet of my wedding day timeline. Who did I think I was? Amy Santiago…?

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Love in the Time of COVID-19: Updated April 18, 2020

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Love in the Time of COVID-19: Updated April 18, 2020

I sent the following email out to all of my current clients yesterday - March 16, 2020. Of course, all of this information is subject to change, but for now, this is where my sweet little business is at.

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Lambs Hill Wedding // Elizabeth + Kael

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Lambs Hill Wedding // Elizabeth + Kael

Sometimes you just have to wait to publish blogs. Not because you are too busy. Not because you can’t find the words. But because some days are so special that you hesitate to want to share them. Almost like they are special little treasures that you want to remember in the way that only you remember them, without anyone else knowing.

That was this day…

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Oh, But Isn't Life Lived in the In-Between?

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Oh, But Isn't Life Lived in the In-Between?

Oh, but isn’t life lived in the in-between? In the moments that are somewhat out of focus; in the laughs of grandmothers; in the wedding day selfies, and in the quiet moments of getting ready…?

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The Heart of 2019

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The Heart of 2019

2019 was beautiful, sacred, heart-filling, soul-nourishing, and just all around GOOD.

Here are my faves from the year, in no particular order.

Some aren’t perfect, and I love them for that.

Some only got 40 likes on Instagram - and I love them even more…

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September Wedding at Hollow Brook Golf Club in Cortlandt, NY // Kerri + Brian

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September Wedding at Hollow Brook Golf Club in Cortlandt, NY // Kerri + Brian

A minor threat of rain. A few blue details. A sunlit church. Many tears…

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Sam + Jeff // A Vibrant September Wedding at Diamond Mills in Saugerties, NY

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Sam + Jeff // A Vibrant September Wedding at Diamond Mills in Saugerties, NY

I wish I could collect all of my wedding day memories in jars or books, and take them off the shelves when I want to breathe in their essence again.

Pictures are meaningful because this is what they capture. No, you can’t smell them, but you can feel their essence. Thank God for that…

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Fall Wedding at West Hills Country Club in Middletown, NY // Kaila + Justin

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Fall Wedding at West Hills Country Club in Middletown, NY // Kaila + Justin

I’m sure you’ve noticed, but I am blessed to photograph a good handful of weddings at West Hills Country Club in Middletown, NY every year. Although the venue is the same, each couple and their family and friends are so different, and I am honestly always in awe at how unique and varied the human experience can be…

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I Can Still Feel Her Hand Reaching Back from the Front Passenger Seat: Free Wedding Giveaway 2019

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I Can Still Feel Her Hand Reaching Back from the Front Passenger Seat: Free Wedding Giveaway 2019

We learn so much from the people that raise us.

I learned the most from my Mum - my best friend, confidante, rescuer, best hugger, mommy. One of the biggest lessons she taught me was that when you have nothing material to give, you can still give your heart, and that is one of the biggest and best gifts you could give to anyone…

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Mount Gulian Wedding // Haylee + Brian

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Mount Gulian Wedding // Haylee + Brian

Confession:

Sometimes I choose the photos for blog posts, but then let myself mull over the right words to put down to describe these beautiful days that I have the honor of being a part of. I chose the photos in this blog post in April. It’s now June, and here I am, finally putting figurative pen to paper to describe Haylee + Brian’s wedding day. Sometimes, it’s just so dang hard…

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Gatsby Inspired Fall Wedding at West Hills Country Club in Middletown, NY // Lauren + Nick

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Gatsby Inspired Fall Wedding at West Hills Country Club in Middletown, NY // Lauren + Nick

It’s hard for me to write these blogs. Not because I have no words. But because I have too many. And how does one adequately use words to describe beautiful souls? Sometimes spirits transcend words. That’s how I feel about Lauren + Nick…

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Jeannine + Derek // An Overcast September Wedding at the Links at Union Vale in LaGrangeville, NY

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Jeannine + Derek // An Overcast September Wedding at the Links at Union Vale in LaGrangeville, NY

If there is anything I absolutely adore about a wedding (besides, you know, the obvious), it is getting to interact with and become an honorary family member on these beautiful days. I love to watch how excited the parents are, and see how they caress their child’s face right before they walk down the aisle. I love to watch the grandparents, and see how they fret over straightening the groom’s tie or tucking one hardly-seen hair behind the bride’s ear. I love to watch the sisters help the bride into her gown. I love to watch the brothers get slightly inebriated, and toast to the groom in their hotel room suite.

Weddings are about so much. A lot of this “so much” is family.