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Every now and then things fall into place and offer a really wonderful opportunity. All year my husband, Eric, has been traveling for work. He works for a telecom company that is opening new data centers and expansions in Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami and more. It has been hard getting used to him being away from home so much, especially all winter while he has been going to warm, sunshiny Miami! I have been stuck in the snow and wishing I could go with him. This January it just so happened that Eric had to be in Miami for two straight weeks and I was able to join him!

I have also included some of my Instagram and iPhone photos as well. : )

I have never been on a trip like this. Eric was at work all day and I went out on little adventures. We were staying at the gorgeous Standard Hotel in South Beach. I was so happy just to be warm! I spent lots of time working, answering emails, and editing photos but, of course, I took many breaks to sit by the pool and sip some sangria, walk on the beach, take some yoga classes and relax.

For the most part, it was sunny every day with a high around 80° with a nice breeze. I brought my camera out on a cloudy day because no one was on the beach. It was so serene and beautiful.

I love the colors in Miami!

The best part of the trip was the weekend–Eric could get away from the office and we could really enjoy the area. We spent all day Saturday in South Beach. We rode bikes along the boardwalk all the way down to South Point, laid on the beach and had a wonderful dinner at Lido’s, our hotel’s restaurant that overlooks the water. We even saw dolphins! Oh, and I tried to drink a Mojito as big as my head!

On Sunday, we took a spontaneous trip to the Florida Keys. It was AMAZING! We woke up really early and rented a Mini Cooper convertible from Zip Car. It took about an hour to drive to the beginning of the strip of Islands, Key Largo. From bridge to little island to bridge to little island, we made our way down to Islamadora. We came upon a really fun bird sanctuary full of pelicans. I absolutely fell in love with them! They are like the clowns of the bird world. Dozens of them followed us, waddling back and forth along the wooden walkways.

Then it was time for lunch. We did a quick TripAdvisor search to find a great place nearby, called Morada Bay.  We sat outside with a gorgeous view of the ocean, the sand in between our toes, palms trees waving in the wind and live music playing. We had fresh local mahi-mahi and pina coladas. It was excellent!

Our next stop was the beautiful beaches of Bahia Honda State Park. The natural beach has crystal clear water and stays shallow for a long distance so you can walk out very far with the soft waves barely touch your knees. We ended the day by watching a spectacular sunset and sharing a piece of key lime pie.

Our trip ended with a celebration of Chinese New Year. The Standard Hotel held a little celebration by the dock with sparklers and lanterns. It was so pretty I asked Eric to pose while my camera timer went off!

Now back to the snowy city!

Yay! You are engaged! This is a really special time in your life. Let’s document it with some beautiful photos that capture your story, joy, style, personality and LOVE!

You are only engaged once and it goes by so quick! Don’t let the time pass without getting some great photos to remember all the excitement. It is also a great opportunity to get some casual and fun photos to accompany your more formal wedding portraits.

It is also great practice for your wedding photos! It may sound strange, but taking engagement photos actually improves your wedding photos. You become more comfortable working with direction and understand the process so that we move more quickly through different posses and you know what you like.

For the shoot, the most important thing is to have fun! Relax, laugh, be comfortable and enjoy the session. Here are a few things to keep in mind to make the most out of your photographs.

Spring? Summer? Winter? Fall?

To plan the best time to take your engagement photos, think about the season, the weather, your seasonal outfit options and the locations that might be available. You may also want to plan your session based on when you want to send out save the dates or an announcement. If it turns out that the weather is bad on the day you’ve selected for your shoot, we can reschedule, no problem.

Punctuality = Awesomeness
Natural light is very important to beautiful photography. The timing of your session is really important, because the sunlight greatly affects the shoot. Please arrive on time. Once the sun goes down, it is too dark to continue the shoot. You can check the sunset time for any day of the year using this calendar.

What should I wear for my engagement session?
Plan to wear something that makes you feel comfortable and beautiful. Please bring one outfit change. Most couples choose one casual and one formal look to add variety to their images. I tend to discourage all black or all white outfits and really encourage pops of color. Don’t bring more than one outfit change or the time it takes to change will cut too much into the session. Accessories are also great ways to add variety including scarves, hats, cardigans, etc.

Check out some wardrobe ideas on Pinterest. It can also be fun to bring items that tell your story like a picnic, bikes, your dog, records, coffee cups, or a banner that says “love” or “save the date.”

For the ladies:
Consider having your hair and makeup done professionally. This could be a great day to schedule a makeup and hair trial with the stylist you are using on your wedding day. I will also be taking close ups of your gorgeous ring on your finger. Why not treat yourself to a manicure! These ideas are absolutely not necessary, but I like to recommend them because how often do you have professional photos taken? Why not take advantage of this special time in your life and make yourself feel pampered and beautiful!

Where should we have our engagement photos taken?
There are so many amazing locations perfect for photography. I am happy to help you plan the best spot for you that fits your relationship and expresses your personality and style.

Ideas for great locations for engagement photography in the NYC area:
The High Line, Brooklyn Promenade and Dumbo, Coney Island, Grand Central Station, Madison Square Park and the Flatiron, Washington Square Park, Greenwich Village, SoHo, Bryant Park and the Library, The MET, Lincoln Center, Central Park, Central Park Zoo, Fort Tryon Park at the Cloisters, NY Botanical Gardens, Hoboken, Columbia University, Chelsea Piers, etc.
*Please note some locations may require a photography permit or entrance fee.

Ideas for great locations for engagement photography in the Washington, DC, area:
Georgetown, Meadowlark Gardens, Brookside Gardens, Bishop’s Garden at the National Cathedral, The National Gallery of Art, The National Mall, Tidal Basin, Downtown Annapolis, etc.
*Please note some locations may require a photography permit or entrance fee.

Or find a cool nearby location:
Vineyard, orchard, farm, train station, beach, dock, sail boat around the city, gardens, ice skating rink, biergarten, etc.

Another idea is to choose some of your favorite spots:
The place you first met or a favorite cafe, restaurant, cupcake place, book store, etc.

To take a closer look at an engagement session, check out these links:

Greenwich Village & Central Park

Lower East Side

SoHo Chic

Central Park 

If you have any questions, please ask. I want your session to be great!

***This post was updated Spring 2018.

Jill and Marcus shared their first date in a romantic, rustic bar in the East Village. I met them at The Wren to take their engagement photos.

Like many single people in New York, Jill and Marcus met online. Marcus shares, “One day, before leaving for work in the morning, I checked to see who had viewed my profile. Who is this “jaygee” and why hadn’t she said hello? I viewed her profile. She was witty, sharp and beautiful. I carefully wrote a note, introducing myself, made an attempt at humor, hit send and hoped for a second look.”

Jill remembers, “I got Marcus’s email while I was watching a Rangers game on TV, chatting with a friend on the phone. Marcus’s alias “asithappened” appeared in my inbox with a short, funny email that made reference to one of the statements in my profile. Impressed with Marcus’s confidence and entertaining email, I responded.”

Jill recalls their first date, “We made a plan to meet at The Wren. It was busy and I was running late. I had this giant bag, and I made a joke that it was a mailbag. I think for a second he really thought I delivered mail.”

Marcus continues, “I got there early and had to use the bathroom so when I came out I was craning my neck and saw her. ‘Jill?’ Then I was being my awkward self, trying to get us drinks and after that we settled into conversation and hit it off immediately. We both work in advertising and knew some of the same people. We had lots in common right off the bat, which made things even more familiar. I think we were both surprised at how easily we vibed together. It was nice.”

Marcus continues, “During this initial courting period, the NY Rangers were in the playoffs and Jill’s a big Rangers fan. (Her dad took her to her first game when she was thirteen.) So we got to know each other while watching games. I had been a fan of hockey in Hartford starting when my family moved from Florida to Connecticut when I started high school.

Our first summer together we spent lots of time at music shows, walks around the city and museums. We introduced each other to new things – I introduced Jill to my favorite Brooklyn coffee spots, Jill introduced me to the Lemon Ice King of Corona, a Queens staple to keep cool during the hot summer.

During our second summer together, we decided to check out Rhinebeck, NY, for a weekend getaway. It was that weekend that I asked Jill to marry me after hiding “the ring” in her denim jacket before we ventured out for the day.

We’ll be getting married this spring in Tribeca. The NY Rangers will be playing that night so that’s one game we won’t be able to catch. (But hopefully they’ll win!)”

Happy Engagement Jill and Marcus!

I’m so excited to have Kristie and Clint’s gorgeous winter wedding featured on the Washingtonian!

Check out more photos from the wedding at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel.

A beautiful album is like the gorgeous topper on the wedding cake–completing your wedding photography experience. Investing in an album is an important part of the wedding process. Long after the vows have been said and the champagne has been poured, you’ll still have your beautiful wedding photographs to hold and enjoy for a lifetime.

The album can be created with a linen cover or a leather cover. The linen album is a light, textured, animal-friendly option. The linens highlight the true hand-made nature of the books. The leather features 100% natural leathers selected for their grains, texture, strength, and quality with thick pages.

Check out some samples of the Linen album:

I have been married for over 6 years and still get my album out all the time to relive my wedding day. I love it! The photos were carefully selected and tell the story of my day from putting on my dress to  leaving the reception on a horse and carriage in Central Park. I also love sharing it with friends and family, holding the album in my hands and experiencing the photos with loved ones.

Rather than clicking through a Facebook gallery or scrolling through folders on your computer, cherish your memories. Consider having your favorite photos printed in a beautiful album that you can enjoy on every anniversary, something destined to become a family heirloom you’ll pass down for generations.

Many couples choose to purchase additional  8×8 copies of their album to give to their parents and grandparents. It makes a wonderful gift!

Check out some samples of the leather album:

Please ask me about options for leather covers, different sizes, cover color options, and the brand new luxury Tuscany album, pictured below.