DIY Intimate Block Island Wedding | Jill & George
Backyard weddings have such a unique feeling. The memories held in the place make everything feel important. I find myself wanting to photograph every detail; family photos on the walls, the dogs bounding around the yard, the flowers hanging under the deck; once planted and cared for in the yard by Jill's mother, then cut and arranged for her daughters wedding day. This was the house that Jill’s family owned on Block Island for most of her life. It then became a special place in a different sense for Jill and George as they fell in love and the place they chose to have their wedding. Here’s a little glimpse into the details and moments of their day and a reminder of the magic of backyard weddings.
A SUMMER WEDDING ON BLOCK ISLAND
Backyard weddings have such a unique feeling. The memories held in the place make everything feel important. I find myself wanting to photograph every detail; family photos on the walls, the dogs bounding around the yard, the flowers hanging under the deck; once planted and cared for in the yard by Jill's mother, then cut and arranged for her daughters wedding day.
This was the house that Jill’s family owned on Block Island for most of her life. It then became a special place in a different sense for Jill and George as they fell in love and the place they chose to have their wedding.
Here’s a little glimpse into the details and moments of their day and a reminder of the magic of backyard weddings.
JILL & GEORGE
The couple both attended RISD, had tons of mutual friends, and graduated the same year, but they didn’t meet until a New Years Eve party in Cambridge years later and they didn’t get together until a couple of New Years Eves later in 2017. George was living across the country in California but that didn’t stop them from trying to be together.
After hours and hours of phone conversations they decided to meet in the middle of their two cities, booking a getaway together in Cuba. George had already been thinking about moving back to Boston but it was through their shared collaborative mentality of 'we might not know what we’re getting into, but let’s figure this out together' that inspired their relationship. Two months later, George packed up his apartment in San Francisco and road his motorcycle cross country back to Boston.
GETTING READY AT HOME
Seeing the old photos on the walls of Jill and her sister as kids and Jill’s parents as a young couple enjoying time on Block Island showed me just how special this place is to them all. We packed into a bedroom where Jill and her mom and sister had their hair and makeup done. This wedding was filled with DIY touches made by Jill and her family and friends. Speaking of....let’s talk about Jill’s gown. The fabric was selected by Jill and she had the dress of her dreams created by a friend. She then hand sewed some additional flowers to the dress to add more of a 3D effect. SO amazing.
CEREMONY WITH A VIEW
Jill and George’s ceremony was held on a scenic overlook in a neighbor’s backyard. The dress code was “Colorful, Flamboyant, Be Somebody” which made for a great mix of color and unique accessories. Guests gathered around a large rock that the couple and their officiant stood on; the ocean and the cloudless blue sky as their backdrop. Guests tossed dried flower petals as the couple recessed and then walked or drove back up the road to Jillian’s family home for the reception.
LAID BACK, DIY BACKYARD RECEPTION
The reception was hosted at Jillian’s family’s home on the island. The space was already lush and beautifully landscaped by Jillian’s parents but colorful furniture and boho touches made it even more cozy and inviting. Jillian’s mother created amazing floral installments beneath the eaves of the deck along with Jillian’s bouquet. So much talent in one family!
George, his friends, and dad cooked a whole lamb for dinner. It was quite a spectacle and drew a crowd as it was roasted, taken off the spit and cut up.
Guests enjoyed yard games and a delicious, greek dinner buffet accompanied by George’s roasted lamb. There were also some traditional Armenian desserts (George’s family is Armenian). It was such a beautiful evening and I wish only the best for these two!
Cape Cod Backyard Wedding | Kaitlin & Noa
Will I ever tire of backyard weddings? Probably not. There’s something so special about the transformation of a home into a beautiful venue and about all of the family history and love that exists there. Kaitlin’s family home in Brewster, Massachusetts was the setting for this lovely, intimate summer wedding for Kaitlin and Noa.
A SUMMER WEDDING IN BREWSTER, MASSACHUSETTS
Will I ever tire of backyard weddings? Probably not. There’s something so special about the transformation of a home into a beautiful venue and about all of the family history and love that exists there. Kaitlin’s family home in Brewster, Massachusetts was the setting for this lovely, intimate summer wedding for Kaitlin and Noa. I had met the two brides during their winter Boston engagement session back in January at the Arnold Arboretum. They were so great and meeting them before the chaos of the wedding day made it feel like a fun reunion.
WEDDING DAY PREP AT HOME
This mid June Cape Cod wedding began with hair, makeup, and prep right on site for both Noa and for Kaitlin. The two got ready in the same space but chose to get dressed separately to maintain a bit of mystery for their first look. Kaitlin chose a gorgeous, off-the-shoulder bridal gown while Noa wore a fantastic teal custom suit that she had made in Brooklyn (yes she drove all the way there for fittings).
FIRST LOOK
Noa and Kaitlin opted for a first look before their ceremony; I always recommend first looks to couples for many reason - see my previous blog post about it here! The images from this part of the day are some of my favorite. You can see the joy and love so clearly in their expressions. It also served as a moment where the couple could take a breath and be together before their guests arrived and the ceremony began. After some couple photos (did I mention the property is also home to goats, a donkey and a horse who were all dressed for the occasion? We took photos with them too), we took family photos and wedding party photos to make sure that everybody would get to enjoy the amazing cocktails and delicious food** during cocktail hour.
**cocktails made by friends of the couple. Truly delicious and beautiful creations. Food from two local vendors that both blew me away. Check out my vendor list below for their info.
COVID WRENCH
Due to last minute Covid diagnoses, Noa’s parents who live in Israel could not fly to the U.S. This wrench in the plans was understandably upsetting for everyone, but Noa’s sister filled in beautifully for her missing family members. She walked Noa down the aisle, gave a speech, and the sisters had a very fun “Father Daughter” dance together. Noa’s extended family also helped by recording video and live streaming the entire day for those who could not be there.
CEREMONY
The brides’ close friend officiated the wedding and incorporated stories of the couple’s first dates and first love letters that made everyone laugh and cry. It made the ceremony really unique and special. Fun fact: Noa’s first date with Kaitlin was also her very first dating app date EVER. She literally downloaded the app, matched with Kaitlin, went on a date with her, and eventually married her. Such a great story.
RECEPTION UNDER THE TENT
After the ceremony & cocktail hour, the brides gave a welcome toast followed by toasts by Noa’s sister (in place of their father) and the maid of honor. The night continued with first dances, all with piano accompaniment by the brides’ friend and pianist, Yotam Ishay, and finally some fun and wild dancing to traditional Klezmer music played by The Klezwoods.
Congratulations to Kaitlin and Noa on their Cape Cod backyard wedding! It was a highlight of my 2022 wedding season so far and I’m excited to share some of my favorite highlights with you below!
Wedding Vendors:
Catering: @thechubbychickpea
Catering: @thehandsomeoysterco
Bar: @robolife823
Piano: @yotamishaymusic
Band: @klezwoods
Hair & Makeup: @lisa_george_hair_and_makeup
What to Wear to Your Portrait Session | Outfit Ideas and Styling Tips from a Boston Lifestyle Photographer
Choosing what to wear to your portrait session can be overwhelming. Whether that is your Boston engagement photos, family lifestyle photography session, or an in-home newborn photography session, there is a lot to consider.
While I’m not nearly as picky as some photographers can be, I do have a few preferences and suggestions for what to wear to your portrait session to make your photos look the best they can! Below, I list out a few dos and don’ts for you along with some assistance with how best to coordinate clothes and choose appropriate outfits based on the season. Hopefully this will eliminate some of that stress and help you to choose outfits that will look amazing in your photos.
Choosing what to wear to your portrait session can be overwhelming. Whether that is your Boston engagement photos, family lifestyle photography session, or an in-home newborn photography session, there is a lot to consider.
While I’m not nearly as picky as some photographers can be, I do have a few preferences and suggestions for what to wear to your portrait session to make your photos look the best they can! Below, I list out a few dos and don’ts for you along with some assistance with how best to coordinate clothes and choose appropriate outfits based on the season. Hopefully this will eliminate some of that stress and help you to choose outfits that will look amazing in your photos.
What NOT to wear to your portrait session…
When deciding on what to wear to your portrait session, you want the focus to be on your faces, not on distracting clothing items. Here are some common clothing items to avoid:
Clothing with large logos, pictures, or characters
Flip flops
Outfits that show bra straps or undergarments
Hoodies
Neon colors
Transitional Lenses - if you typically wear glasses, wear them for your session. But if you have transitional lenses, consider taking them off. Dark glasses will cover your eyes in the photos.
Short dresses & skirts – for maximum comfort over any other reason. Short skirts can make it difficult to comfortably pose, sit, and play. If you’re not sure if your skirt is long enough, test it out by seeing if you can sit and walk without having to adjust.
Identical clothing – for example, everybody in the family wears jeans and white tops. When everybody matches, your photos will look very staged and posed. It will be obvious that you were dressing for a photo shoot. While I am not trying to hide the fact that you are participating in a photo shoot, the photos will turn out better of you are wearing coordinating but not matching outfits. More on that to follow…
How do I coordinate clothes for my portrait session? What colors should I wear?
Coordination can be a tricky balancing act. You don’t want everyone to wear the exact same thing, but the colors and styles should blend well together. My best advice is to start with one member of the family (or couple). Have that person choose an outfit that they love and feel great in. Pull colors from their outfit to dress everyone else. Stick with 2-3 colors from that first outfit and stick to those shades coordinated with neutrals as your palette. If you are buying new clothes, choose a palette to begin with. For example pastels (pinks and blues), primary colors (red and blue), earth tones (navy, tan, burgundy, or green) etc. (see one great example from this Boston engagement session). Find an outfit for each family member that has at least one predominant color in the palette and balance that with neutrals like tans, greys & cream. Once you think you have everyone’s outfits picked out, lay them out together and see if they look good! If not, replace whatever clashes.
Style by session type and season.
What to wear for your family lifestyle session or engagement session:
For both of these types of photo sessions, you should focus on coordinating complimentary colors with neutrals and choosing an in-season wardrobe. As you know, the weather during your Boston portrait session can vary greatly depending on the season. When in doubt, wear layers. For spring sessions, you may want to work in some pastels or florals to match your environment. For a fall session, consider jewel tones. You might select certain colors and style based on when you plan to share the images. A family holiday card, for example might call for different color choices than an engagement session for your beach wedding save the dates. As always, avoid large logos, clashing patterns, and neon colors.
What to wear for your senior session:
This session is all about celebrating you and your momentous occasion. Let your personal style shine! You can dress up or dress casually, but make sure that your style is at the peak of its game. Wear the very best outfit you have to show your personality - not necessarily just what you would wear every day.
What to wear for your maternity session:
Maternity photos are another case where you will want your personal style to shine, as well as your shape. Choose a dress or a shirt that will accentuate and show off your bump - that is the point of these photos after all! Prioritize your comfort and how beautiful you feel in your outfit over anything else.
What to wear for your in-home newborn session or in-home family session:
Think cozy but not TOO cozy. Keep your clothing neutral, soft, and comfortable but refrain from actually wearing pajamas (unless of course that’s the theme you’re going for). Babies can wear minimal clothing. Diaper covers, neutral-colored onesies and swaddle blankets are perfect.
The most important tip for what to wear to your portrait session: wear clothes you feel good in.
This is the most important tip! Wear what makes you feel good. While it’s important to put thought into what to wear for your portrait session, what matters most is creating an heirloom that your family will cherish for generations. You will never remember that you chose the grey shirt over the green. In the end, you’ll see past the clothing to your family laughing and holding each other close.
Behind the Scenes: The Process of a Wedding Photographer
From first inquiry to final albums, gallery delivery, or print sales, every wedding photographer does things a bit differently. If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes between booking your photographer and getting your delivered photos after your wedding, keep reading! Below, I’ve laid out my process broken down into steps from start to finish.
From first inquiry to final albums, gallery delivery, or print sales, every wedding photographer does things a bit differently. If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes between booking your photographer and getting your delivered photos after your wedding, keep reading! Below, I’ve laid out my process broken down into steps from start to finish.
1) Introduction to Couple & Booking
Whether I am asked to document a proposal, referred to from a friend, vendor, or previous client, or discovered on Instagram, couples have found me in all sorts of ways. After our initial correspondence (typically a fairly brief email or message on social media), I request that we make a time to talk in person, via phone or Zoom to go over the client’s wishes and get a better feel for each other before booking to make sure that we are a great fit. I’m generally very easy to get along with but every now and then, budgets, personalities, or visions don’t align and it’s MUCH better to know that before a contract is signed!
2) Engagement Session
Not every couple chooses to book an engagement session, but this is by far the most common way that I meet couples before their big day. I always recommend an engagement session to couples (see why in my Instagram post on the subject!) to help them get comfortable in front of the camera and working with me among other reasons. It’s always a much more relaxed environment where the couple and I can really talk and get to know each other a bit before the (amazing) chaos of a wedding day.
TIP: If you’re looking to use photos from your engagement session on your Save the Dates, leave time for your photographer to edit the photos and for the save the dates to be printed. Plan to book your engagement session at least 8-9 months prior to your wedding! Save the Dates should go out between 6-8 months prior to your wedding day.
Also, see my helpful blog post on what to wear to your portrait session if you’re planning an engagement session!
3) Final Check-In Before Wedding
Around 2-3 weeks prior to the wedding day, I like to check in with my couples to do a final meeting to go over the day’s schedule and anything new that may have changed since we last spoke. At this time, I also will ask for a vendor list so that I can reach out to all of their vendors to introduce myself beforehand. Developing and fostering relationships with fellow wedding vendors is so important, and a quick note of introduction saying that I’m excited to work with them goes a long way. Also, sending out the gallery for their use showcasing their work on the wedding day (gorgeous floral photos for the florist, a beauty shot of the wedding cake for the bakery, wide shots of the venue in use for the venue etc.) is always appreciated.
4) Wedding Day!
The morning of the wedding, I start off with a healthy breakfast and get some caffeine in my system. I fill my fanny pack (I use this one) with some granola bars and fill up a big bottle of water (staying hydrated throughout the day is a STRUGGLE but so important for my energy levels and overall well being). Next, I pack up my camera bag and my harness that saves my back on long wedding days (I use this one). The night before, I will have made sure all batteries are fully charged and will have packed extra batteries, memory cards, & business cards in my fanny pack. I get dressed in something comfy but wedding appropriate (almost always a black jumpsuit and black sneakers like these). The worst mistake ever is wearing uncomfortable, non-supportive shoes for a wedding day. I’m on my feet for 6-10 hours straight and if I’m distracted by how much pain I’m in, I’m not going to be performing at my best. Once I’m all dressed and packed, I hit the road.
I’ll send the bride, groom, planner, and/or any other contact given to me a text when I arrive and will typically head to the bridal suite first to get some getting ready photos. If I’m photographing the wedding solo, I will usually stop by wherever the groom and groomsmen are getting ready and spend some time documenting their morning before moving on to the bride and bridesmaids.
If the couple wants to do a first look, this will take place about one and a half to two hours before the ceremony and will be followed by couple portraits, family photos, & bridal party photos. After these portraits, I will head over to the ceremony location to document the scene there and prepare for the start of the ceremony.
After the ceremony, I will spend the remainder of the day documenting moments from the sidelines - capturing friends and family at the cocktail hour and dinner, first speeches, dances, and important moments during the reception. I always like to stay for at least a bit of dance floor time since that is when the celebration really gets going and many of the guests will have had a few drinks leading to some fun photos with lots of personality.
When my time is up, I’ll say a quick goodbye to the couple (making sure that there aren’t any last minute photos they would like before I leave) and then I’ll pack up my things and head home.
5) Uploading & Backup (IMMEDIATELY).
This is the most important step (after photographing the day itself I suppose). If I don’t back up throughout the day on site, I will make sure to do it as soon as I get home before I go to bed. I don’t take risks with the weddings I photograph. I know how important and special these images are to my couples and also how vital it is for my own reputation as a wedding photographer to be extra cautious. I always photograph with two memory cards in each camera (one acting as a backup) and upload my images to my desktop & multiple hard drives (both physical and cloud) as soon as I get home. Because of these failsafes, my couples and I don’t have to worry about my images getting lost or the potential of corrupt technology ruining a couple’s once in a lifetime memories.
Initial Quick Edit
The day after the wedding, if I have time (or if not sometime in the first week), I will take a quick look through the images and select 3-5 for a preview for the couple and a potential preview for my social media that week. I will edit these images the same way that I edit every image that goes out to my clients, so it will take a bit of time, but couples appreciate it and it helps me to feel like I can take the time that I need to finish the full edit knowing that the couple has something in hand already.
Main Selection Edit
I shoot well over 1000 images throughout the course of a typical 8-10 hour wedding day. This means that going through a full shoot and selecting the images that should be delivered to the client takes a lot of time and focus. I typically spend an hour or two on the first selection, then on another day when I have fresh eyes, I will refine my selection even more. I make sure to only deliver the images that are up to my high standard, which means I do not include anything that is unintentionally out of focus, extremely unflattering, or otherwise lacking. Often, I will photograph 5-10 frames of the same moment and so I will spend time picking out the 1-2 shots in that series that stand out as the strongest. The images that I choose to deliver at the end of my editing process will potentially be posted, printed, or otherwise shared and will represent my brand, and so I take great care in the selection process to choose the best, most beautiful or emotionally impactful images to deliver to my clients while still giving them lots of options for photos of each part of the day.
Lightroom Edit of Selected Photos
Once I have my selection to edit, I upload them to Adobe Lightroom which is where I do broader editing on each image such as color correction, exposure adjustments, and cropping. I maintain a consistent editing style on each image so that they have a cohesive look with the rest of my work.
You’ll find that each wedding photographer has their own style - there are a few trendy styles in the wedding photography world right now including “light and airy” photography with low contrast, less vibrant colors, and blown out highlights, and “dark and moody” photography with more neutral, muted colors and a cinematic feel. Both of these have merit and can be beautiful, but I avoid trends for good reason. I want to make sure that my work will not look dated in 10-20 years. I want my client’s images to be timeless and so, although I do some tweaking to make my photos pop, I stick to true to life colors in my edits.
Photoshop Final Edit (for more advanced, detailed editing)
Many photos will require some additional work to be perfected. Since my background is in photojournalism, I tend not to like to mess with my images too much. I will not do much in the way of changing appearances or altering the scene from how it truly appeared, but, if for instance an “Exit” sign or a bright orange traffic cone is distracting from an otherwise good image, I will remove it (see before and after example below). This is the final step in my editing process. The tones, exposure and color will have already been perfected but smaller, more detailed edits will be done in Photoshop.
Final Check & Upload of Edited, High-Resolution Gallery
Before uploading my final edited images I do a once-over with fresh eyes. I’ll give the gallery a day or two without touching it and then open it up, and go through it making sure all of the photos are edited the way that I want them and in perfect shape for delivery. Once I’m feeling good about them, I will upload to Sprout Studios, the gallery host that I use, and once again check that the photos have uploaded in the correct order and are ready for delivery.
Gallery Delivery to Client
As soon as I’ve uploaded the gallery, I send my wedding couple a very exciting email - YOUR WEDDING GALLERY IS READY!
Follow Up & Album Creation
After the couple has viewed their gallery (and hopefully left me an amazing review!), they have the option to create albums with my design assistance. Most of my packages include an album, but it is always an option to add on after the wedding. I use Kiss Books for my albums because of their extremely high quality, wide range of design options and beautiful craftsmanship. They have options for both luxury heirloom albums in leather or linen as well as less expensive but just as beautifully made photo books.
And that’s a wrap (until my next wedding)!
4 Great Reasons to Do a First Look At Your Wedding (And One Great Reason To Skip It)
As a documentary wedding photographer, I am all about the candid, natural, moments. I tend not to vouch for doing many shots that are staged in any way, so it might surprise you to know that I actually recommend doing a first look to almost every couple I work with. There are some really great reasons why you should do a first look and only one really good reason to skip it.
As a documentary wedding photographer, I am all about the candid, natural, moments. I tend not to vouch for doing many shots that are staged in any way, so it might surprise you to know that I actually recommend doing a first look to almost every couple I work with. There are some really great reasons why you should do a first look and only one really good reason to skip it.
Reason #1: Calm Your Nerves. There’s something sort of weird about the tradition of not seeing your husband or wife to-be in the hours before your ceremony. They are your best friend and the person you want to be with for life’s biggest events after all! Having a private moment to see each other just before the ceremony and to take away that nerve-wracking "big reveal” feeling can help make the ceremony a less anxiety-inducing experience. It will put you and your partner in a good space and allow you to take a beat to enjoy your day together before it really begins.
Reason #2: A first look makes for truly beautiful, emotional photos. During your ceremony, you’ll both have all eyes on you and nerves will have kicked in. Sometimes, this will make you clam up and not express your emotions in the same way that you might have in private. With a first look, your photographer can capture a beautiful, authentic, emotional moment between the two of you that may not have happened otherwise. Capturing your emotion as each of you sees each other for the first time on your wedding day can make for some of the most amazing images and portraits of the two of you from the day. It is possible to capture these emotions while one of you is walking down the aisle, but with the distance between you physically and the formality of the moment, it is never quite the same photo-wise.
Reason #3: You’ll be looking as perfect and fresh as you will all day (as will your bridal party and family members)! Take advantage of your freshly made-up selves and take your couple portraits, family, and bridal party photos before the ceremony. That way you can all ugly cry during the ceremony and nobody will have to worry about the ramifications of mascara stained cheeks or keeping a makeup artist on site for the extra time for touchups (do make sure to bring some makeup to touch up before the ceremony though, as you’ll likely need it post-first look emotion!).
Reason #4: THIS IS THE BIG ONE. Get your portraits over with before the ceremony so that you, your bridal party and your family can relax and enjoy the party with your guests after the ceremony! You’ve probably spent hours planning (and paying for) delicious food and drinks to serve your guests at your cocktail hour. Don’t miss out on all that deliciousness yourself because you’re off taking photos! Cocktail hour is a perfect time to chat with guests and make some rounds talking to family and friends who have traveled from near and far to celebrate with you. Do a first look so you can thoroughly enjoy that time!
The ONLY reason to skip a first look: You want the first time that you see your partner on your wedding day to be when you are at opposite ends of the aisle. If that tradition is most important to you and overshadows reasons 1-4, by all means, skip the first look! It’s your wedding day and you should stick with what you love. If you’ve always dreamt of your ceremony in this way, then do it! It will be beautiful and your photographer will still capture your “first look” emotions (make sure to hire a second photographer if you care to get both partners’ emotions captured).
Very important advice if you go this route and skip the first look: Make sure to have a friend who isn’t in all of the photos snag you and your partner some cocktail hour food and drinks so you don’t miss out!
Kaitlin & Noa's Snowy Arboretum Engagement Session
Kaitlin and Noa had booked an engagement session with me but we had nothing scheduled until a few days before an impending blizzard when they reached out asking if I would be available for a snowy photo shoot at Arnold Arboretum after the storm. The arboretum is one of my favorite locations in Boston and I was very excited for some winter wonderland photos there.
Kaitlin and Noa reached out a few days before the blizzard we had in January asking if I would be available for a snowy photo shoot at Arnold Arboretum after the storm. The arboretum is one of my favorite locations in Boston and I was very excited for some winter wonderland photos there.
I suggested we begin at the arboretum’s Conifer Path for some photos with the snow covered evergreens. The spot exceeded my expectations - the arboretum was so beautiful covered in snow and it was still mostly untouched by human footprints in a lot of the places we ventured through. Once we got deep enough into the path, there were hardly any other people around at all, and the only sound you could hear was a Great Horned Owl hooting high above us. So dreamy!
At the end of our session, we walked up Peters Hill (a serious workout), had a quick snowball fight to catch our breath, and ended at the scenic top of Peters Hill where there is a clear view of the Boston skyline. It was such a unique, beautiful session and from now on I will always suggest post-blizzard photo sessions to anyone who isn’t afraid of the cold. So worth it!
Kaitlin and Noa are adorable enough on their own (I mean, come on you guys), but the magical, snowy landscape certainly helped to make this session one of my all time favorites. Congratulations on your engagement, Kaitlin & Noa! I can’t wait to photograph your wedding soon!
