Rochester

Jake + Karen | An Engagement Session at Sunken Gardens

Mar 20 2023

A couple of months ago I was putting together my wording of what I might say on a post for the Rochester Area Wedding Swap Facebook Group and advertising for fun Engagement sessions in the snow. I put together the post and sent it on it’s way. A little while went by and I received a notification that Karen mentioned they needed an Engagement session and she wanted to have theirs in the winter also! Yay! We booked their date for this past week and luckily there was still snow on the ground, even following a couple of warmer days!

As we pondered over what time we should meet due to the sun’s activity, we decided to meet at noon, a time that I normally do not shoot at due to over powering sun rays and shadows underneath eyes, etc. But this day was perfect for a 12 o’clock session and Jake and Karen brought their A game.

Within minutes I could tell they were going to be easy to work with and they were nailing their poses effortlessly! We moved onto more advanced poses and some from Karen’s Pinterest inspiration board within no time and I am in LOVE with how they turned out!! Here are just some of my favorites from their session!

Maryna + Tyler

Oct 06 2022

Their day finally came!! Maryna and Tyler’s wedding day has been planned for a couple of years due to Covid and we just had their Engagement session (below) excitedly talking about their Wedding day coming up and before we knew it, their day had come! They were married at the stunning LaLuna in downtown Rochester, with their closest friends and family on a beautiful September day.

Before their ceremony we all met at a little section of High Falls for Tyler’s first look of Maryna. The bridal party saw her first then Tyler had to take a deep breath to hold himself up as he turned around to see his beautiful Bride.

After giving them a few minutes to greet each other and hug, we were lucky enough to have some shade where we needed it so we jumped right into bridal party photos and we had to capture the beautiful bouquets from Green Gables Florist!

Once bridal party was done, we jumped right into bridal portraits between Maryna and Tyler! (This is always my favorite part of the day!) Their love for one another is easily captured and we had the best time! The lighting was perfect but it was hot so I wanted to make sure I was keeping them comfortable in the shade as much as possible. Before we knew it, it was time for their ceremony!

Their guests started to arrive at LaLuna and the sun was shining! It was a beautiful setting. The ceremony started and Maryna made her way down the aisle to Tyler. Their vows were said and they had their kiss! Finally they were married! So much waiting led to this day and I couldn’t be happier for them!!

The rest of their day was a dream and I couldn’t run right home to start editing their gallery! Here are a few of our favorite images from their day!

Matt + Sarah

Feb 11 2022

Matt and Sarah contacted me last year to discuss their wedding plans for May of 2022 and all the beautiful details to come. I couldn’t wait to start planning their Engagement session this winter however the snow didn’t seem to come at the times we needed it to or with little warning for planning so instead I suggested one of my favorite locations, Lamberton Conservatory at Highland Park. I love the gardens inside and the private session time gives us the freedom to walk through without anyone in our shot. I must admit though, the cactus room is my favorite, it has the most beautiful glowy light coming in!!

We made our way from garden to garden and while I was showing them some of the most common posing we will be using for their wedding day, little by little their confidence started to come out and their natural smiles started to shine! It’s very normal to feel a little shy when first starting your engagement session but it is my job to show you how to relax and enjoy your time with your fiancé. They did just that! I am so excited I had the chance to work with them for the first time in a non stressful environment, they will be ready for their wedding day when we are in much more of a time crunch!

Here’s a few of my favorites from their session!

Brian + Riane

Sep 23 2021

Riane’s Maid of Honor had mentioned that she should look at my website last September for wedding photography. When she contacted me and told me all about the details of their day, I knew their time line was perfect for photographs in/around Rochester and I was ESTATIC when they booked!

When I arrived to Riane’s parent’s house the morning of their wedding, I saw the bridemaid’s in their stunning burnt orange dresses getting ready then Riane as she walked down the stairs in her robe, about to get dressed. She looked beautiful and I couldn’t wait to see her in her wedding dress! We took a few minutes to capture everyone getting their finishing touches wrapped up, Riane in her dress and headed out to have a first look with her Dad. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It was a very touching moment for all.

We then headed off to St Monica in Rochester for the ceremony. It is a B-E-A-UTIFUL church with lots of natural light inside and out. The music began to play and one by one each of the bridemaid’s made their way down the aisle until it was Riane and her Dad’s turn. Everyone turned to look as they made their way down the aisle and Brian choked back tears and just looked her and gleamed. They met at the alter and Riane’s Dad handed her hand to Brian as they made their way to Father Ray. They had an amazing ceremony as their friends and family watched on and also vowed to be a part of the strength in their marriage.

After they kissed, they walked back down the aisle as husband and wife and shared another kiss before heading out of the church to start family formal photographs. After family formals were done, we switched gears to Bridal portraits between husband and wife and I am IN LOVE with how they came out!

We let the family go on ahead to the reception as we finished our portraits at the church and then made our way to High Falls for some bridal party fun! Those burnt orange dresses paired next to the navy blue suits were a perfect blend! Those beautiful bouquets are just stunning and were done by the very talented Jodi Rowcliffe!

We finished up the bridal party photographs and made our way to Highland Park for a quick shoot with just Riane and Brian before making our way to Max of Eastman Place in Rochester where we finished out portraits in the STUNNING twinkle light courtyard! These were some of my absolute favorites from their day!

Because of the ample time Riane and Brian left us for photography, we were able to sneak in for some details shots of the reception hall before anyone came in to sit. Before introductions, Riane asked if we minded following them to their favorite bar, Salingers, just a block away so they could have a quick drink and I knew we would be able to get a few good shots of them getting to take it easy for a few moments before the rest of the night continued!

We left the wedding party and walked back to Max of Eastman Place to get ready for introductions and dances! Once the introductions were done, we got to witness (and capture) dances between Riane and her Dad, then Brian and his beautiful mother. THERE. WERE. SO. MANY. TEARS! And DJ Keyyo from Roc The Party did an amazing job!

We finished up dances and started dinner where we had an amazing meal and went outside to give the wedding rings their proper photoshoot before our time was complete with this beautiful couple, and of course I found the twinkle lights!

I couldn’t wait to come home to edit my favorites from their day! The weather, the locations, the colors, the love… it was all perfect. We are so thankful we were trusted to capture their day. Congratulations Brian and Riane! It was our absolute pleasure to document your stunning wedding day!!

Here are some of my favorites (sorry, not sorry, it was really hard to narrow them down haha!)

Nate + Chelsea

Apr 22 2021

Nate and Chelsea had planned a wedding of their dreams and as the story recently goes…. Covid hit. The state shut everything down at 8pm that evening and within hours to go before the shut down, they decided to head to the court house and knew the only thing that mattered going into a global pandemic was that they were married. They contacted me afterwards and we planned to meet at another time and date so we could capture their formal bridal portraits.

After so many unknowns last year, we agreed to wait until the cherry blossoms bloomed at Highland Park and after a full year, we were finally meeting! We met at the Lamberton Conservatory and surprisingly had the entire area to ourselves and they looked AMAZING!

We started with some formal portraits but the real fun came when they showed me their leather jackets and told me it was more their personality and I was in LOVE!

We spent the evening under the cherry blossoms and it didn’t take long for these two creating beautiful images for their long awaited bridal portraits. We had a cloudy day which allowed for us to start shooting earlier I LOVE how it gave us a little more time! It was a PLEASURE getting to know these two a little more during our session and my only hope is that these images were worth the wait! Happy Anniversary Mr & Mrs Jay!

Joey + Dominica

Sep 21 2019

Lamberton Conservatory, Rochester, Wedding, Photography, Photographer, Moss, Bride, Groom

The Couple

Dominica and Joey first reached out to me last year to set up a Bridal Consultation so we could meet and see if I was a good match to their wedding photography needs. Little did we realize, this would be the start to a beautiful friendship! As we sat at a diner and chatted, I realized this couple was exactly why I wanted to capture love; and they booked their wedding and engagement sessions with me that afternoon!

We arrived at their engagement session, the fireworks started and I began to LOVE working with them!! Here’s one of my favorite images from their engagement session last year!

Corbetts Glen Brighton, NY Engagement Photographer — Corbetts Glen

Growing their family

When Dominica contacted me and told me that they were so happy to announce they were expecting, I couldn’t believe I was lucky enough to be chosen to photograph so many memories to come! From a baby shower, gender reveal, maternity sessions in the snow and Mommy and Me portraits with their new little bundle of joy, I have come to absolutely fall in love with this little family! Here’s a few of my favorite images from our sessions over the last year!

The Wedding Day

After many sessions with Joey and Dominica, I had no doubt that their wedding day portraits would be epic! We started at the Double Tree Hotel in Rochester where the girls started their preparations. Dominica’s dress hung on a personalized hanger on a beautiful mirror in the room. Her bridesmaids helping from all angles to make everything perfect.

Wedding, Photography, Double Tree Hotel, Rochester, NY

Once the girls were ready to go, we headed down to the limo and onward to Chapel Hill for their ceremony! I have never photographed in this church before so when I first stepped in, I was awe-stricken. What a breathtaking site. Dominica’s father walked her down the aisle to an awaiting and anxious Joey and for the first time ever, I saw a tear roll down her cheek and I was no longer able to separate photographer from friend and got a little choked up. What an amazing moment to be able to witness.

After some laughs, tears and a sand ceremony, they were introduced as Man and Wife! We headed outside for some family portraits and before we knew it, we were back in the limo to go tour some of Rochester’s best photo locations! We first stopped at the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial in Manhattan Square and took advantage of the gorgeous stairway falls.

Wedding, Photography, Martin Luther King Memorial, Rochester, NY, Photography

Dominica and Joey hadn’t eaten in a while so what’s a wedding party to do? Stop for some Wendys Spicy Nuggets, that’s what!

We then ventured off to the STUNNING Warner Castle/Sunken Gardens at Highland Park and had some fun with the arches, stone walls and stair cases!

From there, we hopped in the limo and took a short trip to the Lamberton Conservatory where we were greeted by some ducks, turtles, beautiful moss and more stunning views each room you entered and personally, my favorite part of the bridal portraits 🙂

After spending about 30 minutes here, we headed to our last stop and reception location, back at the Double Tree Hotel where there were tables of sweets, a beautiful draped dancefloor and all their friends and family waiting to spend their evening celebrating them. It was a glorious event and I am honored to have spent it with them!!

It was impossible to only choose a few but here are some of my absolute favorites from their big day! It’s amazing to watch your clients’ visions come to life and come together like a true fairytale. (And it helps when you look like a real life princess!)