Gyasi & Maddie's NYC Engagement Session
Gyasi and Maddie met me at Grand Central Station (Gyasi’s favorite place in NYC) to begin their engagement session. Despite the bustling crowds, we managed to find some spaces without too much traffic and incorporated the crowds into other shots. I have been inside GCS at least 100 times commuting when I lived in NYC, and there was so much about the details of the architecture and the decor inside that I had never truly appreciated. I’m so glad I was able to explore the space in a new way with these two!
Gyasi and Maddie met me at Grand Central Station (Gyasi’s favorite place in NYC) to begin their engagement session. Despite the bustling crowds, we managed to find some spaces without too much traffic and incorporated the crowds into other shots. I have been inside GCS at least 100 times commuting when I lived in NYC, and there was so much about the details of the architecture and the decor inside that I had never truly appreciated. I’m so glad I was able to explore the space in a new way with these two!
From GCS, we drove up 9A to the couple’s neighborhood of Washington Heights and explored another area that was brand new to me. The Met Cloisters was closing by the time we arrived, which we knew would be the case, so we spent our time exploring the beautiful architecture surrounding the building as well as the paths leading from the Cloisters into Fort Tyron Park. There were lots of intersecting paths jutting out from the original one, and because of our limited sunlight, we did not get to explore all of them, but what we found was perfect for our session. The museum and this park are #1 on my list to explore further when I return to Manhattan next.
Congratulations, Maddie and Gyasi! I can’t wait to photograph your wedding in (less than) 8 months!
Want to look as fabulous as these two for your engagement session or couples lifestyle photography session? Check out my post on What to Wear to Your Portrait Session for some helpful advice.
Remis & Kali's Intimate Wedding at Walden Pond
Remis and Kali were married at sunset at Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. The ceremony was gorgeous with the sun setting behind them, and they added lots of special details like readings from “Walden” in their ceremony.
I was introduced to Remis and Kali less than a week before their December wedding after their original wedding photographer had to back out. Despite the stressful circumstances, they were so easy going about everything and I could tell that they were a lot of fun. They told me that their wedding was “Roaring 20’s” theme and that guests were encouraged to dress the part - the guests (and the couple) did not disappoint! Everyone took the instructions seriously and looked amazing. Their wedding was a small, intimate ceremony with close friends, family and their children which made it feel really special. They were married at sunset at Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Walden Pond is a special place to the two of them and I loved that they incorporated readings from “Walden” in their ceremony. Passersby couldn’t help but stop and listen and watch as they couple were married next to a gorgeous sunset over the pond.
“The scenery of Walden is on a humble scale, and this pond is so remarkable for its depth and purity as to merit a particular description. Walden is blue at one time and green at another, even from the same point of view. Lying between the earth and the heavens, it partakes the color of both.”
(Henry David Thoreau)
Congratulations, Kali & Remis!
Reception Venue: Colonial Inn, Concord, MA
Dana, Dave, & Caleb Family Session - Smith College, Northampton, MA
Dana and Dave reached out to me about getting some family photos while they were visiting home (Western Massachusetts) for the holidays. Smith College in Northampton is Dana’s alma mater and also the location that Dana and Dave chose to take engagement photos, so it made for a special setting to take some family photos with their 2 and 1/2 year old son, Caleb.
Dana and Dave reached out to me about getting some family photos while they were visiting home (Western Massachusetts) for the holidays. Smith College in Northampton is Dana’s alma mater and also the location that Dana and Dave chose to take engagement photos, so it made for a special setting to take some family photos with their 2 and 1/2 year old son, Caleb. We started off near the greenhouse and arboretum and made our way down the dirt path by Paradise Pond, ending up on the bench swing overlooking the pond.
Caleb was a little bit shy and preferred staying close to mom and dad, but that was no problem as it helped them to be a part of almost every photo. It was also very cold out so we kept it moving constantly. Thanks to some creativity on Dana and Dave’s part, they discovered that the phrase, “It’s chilly willy bing bong cold!” made Caleb crack up, and so of course, I had them repeat that for the remainder of the session to get some natural smiles and laughter (big shout out to Richard Wylde for the magic phrase!).
It was so much fun spending some time with this awesome family - maybe next time we’ll try meeting up in some less chilly willy bing bong cold weather? Warm sun and green grass sound pretty great to me right now.
Best Wedding Planning Podcasts in 2022
A list of the best wedding planning podcasts for anyone involved in planning a wedding. Some favorites and some that come highly recommended!
Best Wedding Planning Podcasts (2022)
Aside from being a full time wedding and family photographer, I am also engaged and my fiancé and I have been planning our own wedding (May 20, 2023!) since late summer 2021. This stock image above is probably how I looked on a New England autumn day, headphones on, feeling serene and stress free as I sniffed the fallen leaves while thinking about my wedding, all because of the helpful podcasts I listened to…
I mean, tbh I’m still very stressed at times when thinking about it all, but podcasts really have been a great tool for mulling over both big and small ideas. I’ve learned all sorts of things that I may not have thought about otherwise and they’ve been extremely helpful when making some important wedding decisions. I love them because I can multi-task while listening and feel doubly efficient - I listen to them in the car, while editing, or sometimes while on a run (although I wouldn’t recommend that last one particularly. Music is much better motivation).
I figured I’d impart the wisdom I’ve gained and list out some of the best wedding planning podcasts (in my humble opinion) along with some that come highly recommended. I made sure to listen to at least one episode of each on the list before recommending!
Podcasts are listed in no particular order. Happy planning!
1. The Big Wedding Planning Podcast
Hosted by professional wedding planners Michelle & Christy (while doing this research, just found out that Christy is leaving the show! :( It’ll still be great though), this podcast is one of my favorites. Michelle’s voice sounds just like Kristen Bell’s and I could listen to it (and sometimes do) for hours. They have worked in the industry for years, so their advice is coming from a very knowledgeable place. They also have great guests on and make a lot of effort to make the podcast super inclusive and awesome and fun. Also, the theme song is very fun. I find myself saying “LISSSTEN. LEARRRN. PUH-LAN THAT WEDDING!” along with them every time. Would recommend as a great place to start wedding podcast-wise!
This one is new to me, but I love it already. The host is a hilarious Australian woman named Aleisha and she brings so much joy and laughter to what can be some stressful topics (like family dynamics, covid issues etc.). I look forward to listening to many more episodes of this one!
2. Bridechilla
3. Betches Brides
This was recommended by my dear friend (and a recent bride) Molly. I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed the Bachelor & Bachelorette recaps by Betches in the past, so I knew their style was right up my alley. It’s hosts, Nicole & Jordana work for Betches and as of the episode I listened to, Nicole very recently got married and Jordana is planning her wedding currently. Lots of great discussions and tie-ins to each woman’s own wedding planning/wedding day experience. This podcast feels the closest to sitting down with your besties and talking about your wedding that I’ve experienced. If that vibe is what you’re looking for, look no further!
Hosted by Ashleigh (Whitby) Coffie and Toniah Paryo, this podcast was created to fill a void in the wedding podcast space. The life-long best friends noticed a lack of Black representation and have used their podcast to speak to Black brides, grooms, bridal parties, and wedding vendors. They also work to inspire engaged couples to be mindful of hiring vendors from diverse backgrounds.
I’ve listened to a handful of episodes and can say that this is a great podcast for anyone who is involved in planning a wedding. It’s super informative and has some great interviews with vendors and couples.
4. Hue I Do
5. The Woman
Getting Married Podcast
This was the first wedding podcast I discovered. It’s also the only one I’ve heard of that is hosted by a husband and wife not affiliated with the wedding industry in any other way, which is an interesting and unique point of view for wedding planning. Lindsay and Cory Jones have a fun dynamic and some really great topics and relate things back to their own wedding experience with everything they talk about, which is sometimes very helpful and interesting, but sometimes a little bit just like what it is - hearing one couple’s opinion.
I now know every single detail of the Jones’ wedding after listening to hours of this podcast. It gets a bit redundant and if you’re like me, Lindsay’s vocal fry and odd pronunciations of words like “restaurant” will begin to irritate you (sorry Lindsay, you seem great otherwise!). So, what I would recommend is picking out a handful of episodes to listen to on topics you want to hear about instead of listening straight through for hours like I did. I did find this podcast’s viewpoint interesting and helpful in a lot of ways, but I have discovered that I personally prefer wedding podcasts hosted by experts in the field. If you’d like to skip the podcast, you can still get lots of great tips and recommendations from the Woman Getting Married website and Facebook group that I would recommend joining. https://www.womangettingmarried.com/
This is a fairly new podcast (2019) so there aren’t a ton of episodes yet, but it’s started off strong! The podcast is produced by Love Inc. (an LGBTQ-inclusive wedding publication, devoted to creating original content targeted to both straight and same-sex couples). Host Brittny Drye (founder and editor-in-chief of Love Inc.), hosts this podcast highlighting wedding planning tips and LGBTQ love stories. The episodes have lots of really great guests including planners, vendors, and couples and is one of my new favorites to listen to.
6. Inclusively Yours
7. Put a Ring On It
Hosted by wedding photographer Daniel Moyer and wedding planner Danielle Pasternak, this podcast was created “to help couples navigate the modern world of weddings by knowing which rules are ok to break and why certain traditions have stood the test of time”. Again, I love advice from people who have lived and breathed weddings for years and this podcast is exactly that. They go into the nitty gritty of details of the day and give you lots of good questions to ask your vendors.
Andi & Warren Newborn Lifestyle Session
Meet Andi & Warren! After spending two weeks in the NICU, these preemie twins made their way home healthy and we did an in-home lifestyle session when they were around 2 months old.
Meet Andi & Warren! After spending two weeks in the NICU, these preemie twins made their way home healthy and we did an in home newborn lifestyle session when they were around 2 months old.
On the day of our shoot, Andi & Warren took turns falling asleep and being alert and giving me (and mom and dad) beautiful baby eye contact. I love that we were able to incorporate photos of them with their parents too. Check out a recap of our time together below!
Also, see my helpful blog post on what to wear to your portrait session if you’re planning an in-home newborn session.
Jacob and Lisa's City Hall Wedding (Manhattan, NYC)
Lisa and Jacob got married at City Hall in Manhattan. Due to Covid regulations, they were only allowed one guest inside with them, so I acted as both their photographer and their witness.
Lisa and Jacob got married at City Hall in Manhattan. Due to Covid regulations, they were only allowed one guest inside with them, so I acted as both their photographer and their witness. The experience at City Hall is a bit like the DMV, but much less stressful and way more romantic. Happy couples lined the street outside in various formality and waited anxiously inside for their number to be called. Lisa and Jacob were called in to the waiting room and given their number. After a brief wait, they were called up to a desk to fill out paperwork and sign their official marriage certificate and then sat back down to wait for their turn in the ceremony room. Their officiant called them up and delivered a straight to the point, but friendly ceremony. They said their vows, kissed, and were officially married. After the ceremony, we took some photos on the Brooklyn Bridge and in some nearby parks. Congratulations, Lisa & Jacob!
