I was so excited when Michele and Jessica asked me to shoot their wedding!  They’re a fun, loving couple, and I just knew we would have a good time together…and of course we did! Lia and I started the morning off hanging with Michele and her friends.  It was a great vibe right off the bat!  Her friends even allowed me to give them little nicknames, ahhhemm, Sammy Sweetheart!  After getting some shots of Michele’s side getting ready, we ran downstairs to catch Jess in her room.  Well, by the time we got there, she was all ready to go! Dressed, shoes on, hair done, tie looking tight! She was ready to get this show on the road! I must say, I’ve had the chance to spend quite a bit of time with this couple… and they were READY to get married.  It sure is nice to see!  Michelle and Jess decided to see each other before the ceremony, which is a moment I love to shoot!  The day was pretty rush rush, so we had to grab some shots quickly, then head out to the Channel Club. It was a beautiful day, so we were lucky to have an outside ceremony.  There were many beautiful moments during the ceremony… one of my favorites being Michele’s parents (as you’ll see below). We had just enough time to get some bridal party shots and portraits before the sun headed down and the party began! I was amazed at what a great dancer Jess is! I mean, I was completely motivated to put my camera down and jump in there… too bad I was on the job!   In my usual fashion, I stole the couple for 1 more shot after the reception.  There’s always something I find that we “just need to shoot!” Thanks for choosing me, my friends. Your love is true, beautiful, and inspiring… that’s the meat and potatoes of what makes my job so rewarding!

I could not wait for Hillary & Blake’s wedding!  The moment they told me it was on a farm, I was smiling from ear to ear!  Since we had so many fun places to shoot in, I had to race them all over the site, using as many areas as I could.  We started the day in the salon where Hillary and her girls were getting their hair and make up.  “Hill” was calm and cool, we all giggled, swapped stories, and enjoyed the morning.  I had a few minutes to sneak back over to Blake at the hotel as he showed off his new accessory.  The couple did not exchange rings. Instead, Hillary chooses to wear her amazing engagement ring, and and Blake wears a handsome bomb proof/water proof/life proof watch as his token and wedding gift.  The farm was beautiful and the coordinator was kind enough to escort me around the property to find the shots I wanted! After the ceremony we snuck in a a few portraits before they were whisked off to the reception.  As the party went through the night, I couldn’t help but fall in love with a little boy who could out dance any guy I’ve ever met – and do it well.  (On that note – I know a lot of dancers – high five lil buddy!)  I was planning for a night shot outside the reception under the stars, just as Hillary and Blake were about to sneak off! HHAHAHA Gotcha!  I held them in my clutches for one more winner, I think it was well worth it!  Here’s a peek at their day.

 Clearly, a woman after my own heart!  “The beach is…that way!”

The “Life proof” watch!

Hillary workin’ it!

My lil guy!!

I set out with Lia on a Sunday afternoon to meet  Michele and Jess in Asbury Park, NJ for my first gay engagement shoot. Before we left, I thought, “What should I do differently with a lesbian couple?”  The answer, NOTHING!  People in love, are people in love – and I happen to love them! It was nice to have something different going on for a shoot, though.  I like to step out of the box!

I barely gave Michele & Jess any direction, they were natural, and just being their normal selves!  That’s my style.  Occasionally, I’d yell out my favorite commercial quote, stirring up plenty of laughter and smiles. I couldn’t help myself!  “I’m Jess, and I’m making your pizza!”  I think a few people may have even recognized her! We had two “photo bombs” where passers-by interrupted and jumped in for shots with the happy couple!  We had an awesome time taking advantage of the outrageously gritty backdrop preserved on this boardwalk.  It’s one of my new favorite spots to shoot!  As we strolled along the boardwalk, I kept finding more shots I wanted to take… never seem to have enough!  ” Just one more guys!”

Here’s a few of my favorites from the day! Enjoy the sneak peek!  Can’t wait for your wedding!

I love the lady looking back…

Bad ass!  (Also, a great arm work out for my assistant!)

How appropriate that we found a cute little detail  that’s special to both Michele & Jess.  It’s a line from a book when they first got together.  “I love you to the moon!”

How could we not!!! I saw these guys coming from a mile away… this needed to happen!

My assistant, Lia, and I headed out to Philly last Friday for an engagement shoot with Hillary & Blake before their October wedding! We almost didn’t get to go, the weatherman was predicting rain!  Well, luck was on our side!  Not only did the rain hold off, but it was an absolutely beautiful day!  We met Hillary & Blake on the front steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  For those of you who don’t know it’s glory, please refer to Rocky I, II, and III.  I must say, I was tempted to throw my fists in the air and yell my own name out!  Clearly, I refrained.  Although, these two were such a fun couple, I think they probably would have enjoyed it!  We found so many spots to shoot in, even with some I had hoped to use being closed off for construction… next time!  We laughed (and sweated) through the day.  Ok… I sweated.  I must have cursed my jeans 50 times.  I had such a great time shooting these two, they were up for anything!  After we finished up at the museum, we headed down the street to “Love Park”.  I know everyone goes there for pictures, I try to stay away from the traditional, but c’mon, it’s a must on an engagement shoot in Philly!  We had such a nice time together, that we all sat down to a serious late lunch just across the street.  Oh, and thoroughly enjoyed the air conditioning!  After eating, I snuck my gear in for “1 more shot!”  This is the bookcase you’ll see below.  I loved it, and it was a must! I hope you guys enjoy the sneak peeks…can’t wait for the wedding!

How amazing are Hillary’s eyes?!

One of my favorite shots of the day!

Fooling around with some textures below.  Makes me think of Twilight!

I love Hillary standing on her toes here!

Great, happy smiles on the both of them!

“Eat your meal, then let me get one more shot!”  Hillary and I decided it would be best if we let Blake eat before trying this, he was a trooper!

Hi everybody!  Hope you all have been enjoying the past couple days of amazing weather!  I’ve been able to catch up on some editing and sorting out business deals here and there. I’m preparing a new blog post with sneak peeks from Friday’s Philly engagement shoot with Hillary and Blake!  I’m also really excited to go away this weekend and spend some much needed time with a fun bunch of girl friends…and probably take some wild pictures of them!  (Stay tuned for those in future blogs!)

Now to the topic at hand.  As I was surfing the web, I found this amazing, funny and painfully true chart about working for free by Jessica Hische via another photographer’s blog (Stephen Cardinale).  I have friends who do taxes, I don’t dare boggle them with mine.  I have family who do general home repairs, they get a check and a coffee before leaving my house.  My personal trainer is also a friend,  AS WELL AS,  business partner at the gym. I still pay him to train me.  Guess what?  He pays me for photos! Isn’t it great how that works? (By the way, he was just awarded Mr. New Jersey as the overall champion this past Saturday at  the 2011 NPC NJ State Championship- Go Chris Lentino, I’m so proud! )

Many people get confused between people who have cameras and those who are professional photographers.  Yes we love it. Yes it’s a passion (there would be more happy people in the world if they actually had jobs in areas they were passionate about).  However, we do it for compensation… it’s our job!  Sometimes the world of barter comes into play.  Wherein, equivalent value traded, can make for a very pleasant and appreciated exchange.   Keywords being equivalent and value.  While having this very conversation with my mentor, Jeff Tisman, he recalled a story of a 2 year old’s birthday party.  I believe it was a family friend, or someone of that nature, who was “hoping” Jeff would bring his camera and just “take a few shots” of her kid playing.  Yeah, and just maybe he has his lighting kit and reflector, and would rather set that up then enjoy a slice of cake at the party with his beautiful family on his off time. There are many times where I take it on myself. I just love shooting!  So yes, sometimes I do show up with some gear and take shots, but that’s when I want to…and you may have to wait 6-9 months before I even get to posting those pics anywhere!

Photographers are not money hungry.  We spend THOUSANDS of dollars on equipment and insurance, countless hours editing, having spiders crawl into our hair trying to “get the shot” on location, and if that’s not enough on it’s own, we have a talent that you connect with and we create art for you.   There’s a lot more to it then showing up with a camera and snapping away.  Ever wonder why your pictures don’t come out the same as ours?  It’s not just a $6,000 camera.  It’s thought, it’s feeling, it’s an eye, it’s composition, it’s knowing the technical in’s out out’s, it’s lighting, it’s personality,  it’s a skill.  If you like my work, want to have a good time while getting some really great images, and are willing to treat me as a contracted artist, then lets talk.  Next time you ask someone to do a service for free just because they have a skill, ask yourself, “Do I work for free?”

I had the pleasure of spending the better half of Wednesday with some of the cast from Real Housewives of New Jersey.  We met up with Caroline, Albie, Lauren, Chris, “Uncle Chris” and Jacqueline at their home.  They have an awesome water out called BLK,  http://blkbeverages.com. Check it out, they’re getting some amazing feedback from the people drinking it and are actually having health benefits!  Dining Out magazine ( http://www.diningout.com)  is doing a feature on their new line of beverages and yours truly shot the pics for it!  Buy the magazine when it comes out! I took over their living room (my usual) with lights and equipment.  Once we got things rolling, it was all fun!  It was abundantly clear that this is a tight knit family!  They made each other laugh and hugged throughout the shoot.  Caroline is the kind of woman that you’d love to have as a mom.  Honest as can be, and tells it like it is… I love that in a person.  Jacqueline is sweeter than my favorite Entemann’s cake!  You just can’t help but smile at her. Albie, Chris and Lauren were great, I even got to spend some time with her, talking about boxing.  Chris “wowed” me with a taste of a smooth tequila from their beverage line called Tributo, it IS a bottle full of magic!

After all the work was done, Lia (my friend and assistant for the day) and I got to spend some time with Caroline as she watched us swallow 2 sausage, egg, and cheese sandwiches in record time.  (She and I had not eaten all day!!)  We chatted for some time, telling her about our lives, showing her my scars (of course), and even gained an earful of great advice . Throughout this time Jacqueline was simultaneously getting ready to shoot for the show, cleaning, picking up toys, talking on the phone, all while still wearing her beautiful, white cocktail dress from our shoot and carrying her little guy on her hip!  Wow, she can do it all!  I had an excellent  time getting to know this beautiful family up close and personal for a day.  They really are normal people, with real life going on around them.  As we packed up, Caroline stopped by my car to say “good bye” .  I grabbed this quick shot with her just before she left. I was pretty disheveled by this point, but that’s ok!

I’m super excited tonight to be creating my first blog post ever!! Welcome to my new website!  I’ve been working hard with One Roof Media to get the new site up and running, and I’ve gotta say, I LOVE IT!  I’ve spent the past, ohhhh let’s say 96 hours straight, picking favorites and resizing images.  Here’s an idea of what I look like right now…

Ahhhhhh yes, I give you that warm and fuzzy feeling don’t I?  All kidding aside, the work has been painless for me, and a joy.  Not sure if the same goes for my developer, who I’ve managed to stalk  and incessantly harass during this creative binge!  Good stuff, Marty!

To all my followers out there, I hope you enjoy the new site and blog!  I’ll be updating regularly so be sure to visit often!

Adrienne