Matthew J. Wagner - Photography

Some Enchanted Evening

2012-01-13T12:17:00.003-05:00

Engagement sessions are usually fun. But when there's a theme involved, it can go to the next level.

This session is a perfect example. Nathan and Nicole wanted to give their wedding guests a taste of what their wedding day will be like. The masquerade masks and their clothes were a perfect fit, not to mention a great location for the session: St. Clement's Castle in Portland, CT.

Today we received their coffee table engagement book back from our designer. All I can say is "Wow! Wow! Wow!" Check it out here or click on the cover below to see the book. Enjoy these highlights from the session.

Click here to view the book!

Autumn Evening at the Farm a Success!

2011-10-26T17:15:00.000-04:00

Well, one thing's for sure: Tim Goodwin of the Community Farm of Simsbury really knows how to throw a party!

The turnout was incredible and the weather was great for being outside, riding ponies and eating fresh kettle corn. Here's a visual tour of some of the evening's fun and entertainment...

There was no shortage of live entertainment either. I couldn't believe how may cool bands there were. Here's a group of young guys rocking the farm.

Here's the line for the hayrides.

Visitors to the barn enjoyed a petting zoo and a gallery of some of our favorite fall children's portraits.

Congratulations to Brian Heany, winner of the teacup auction of a family portrait session and gift portrait!

To Do or Not to Do: First Look Before Ceremony?

2011-10-13T12:56:00.001-04:00

Last week I asked my clients how they felt about having a first look portrait session before their ceremony on their wedding day. Watch the video below to see their answer...

Lauren & Kevin's Amazing Wedding at Carlyle on the Green

2011-09-26T20:54:00.001-04:00

There's absolutely nothing like a Long Island Wedding.

I thoroughly enjoyed this wedding for so many reasons. First, my amazing coworkers. As usual, I get to work with my wife Teresa. I also got to work with my buddy and New York-based assistant Lance. We documented the day with our favorite wedding filmmakers, Geoff & Kate of The Light Mill Film Studios. And we met a bunch of new friends.

Then, the location. I got my start photographing weddings in the greater New York City area and there is just something about photographing weddings there that both inspires and amazes. Carlyle on the Green was no exception.

And lastly, speaking of inspiration and amazement, there is Kevin and Lauren. What a beautiful bride and an amazing couple! I am so happy for the both of them and their families. It wasn't easy to narrow these photos down for this post, but here are a few of my favorites from the day...

Lauren and her bridesmaids looked awesome with the help of Stacey and her team from Once Upon a Bride.

The weather was threatening rain but we were able to photograph Kevin & Lauren's first look on the beautiful grounds of the Carlyle on the Green. Look at Kevin's reaction to seeing Lauren for the first time in her wedding gown...

... and Lauren's reaction!

No groom would be complete with a bunch of crazy guys to help him out on his wedding day. These guys kept calling me "Lance" all day. I guess I remind them of their friend Lance. That probably would have been OK if it wasn't for my friend Lance assisting me. Very confusing.

I believe this photo is an ideal example of a glowing bride!

Maya of Swank Productions did a great job setting up this room for the ceremony. Those hanging candles behind the bride and groom were her handiwork.

These people know how to dance and have a blast!

DJ FLO got the party started right away with some amazing grooves. The reaction of the dancers tells the story.

Endearing words from the Maid of Honor and the Best Man, Kevin's brother.

Congratulations Lauren & Kevin! You guys rock!

Lauren & Kevin Engagement Session

2011-07-20T15:29:00.001-04:00

Here's a slide show of Lauren & Kevin's Long Island City engagement session last month. Leave a comment to let us know how you like it.

Teresa and I are looking forward to their wedding this fall. We will be working with our favorite wedding filmmaker, The Light Mill Film Studios!

Janice & Kevin Engagement Session

2011-05-03T19:30:00.001-04:00

Janice & Kevin's wedding is coming up very soon. They chose one of my favorite places in the Farmington Valley to photograph, Collinsville! If you like Janice's makeup and hair, it's because our friend Dana Bartone & Company did a great job! Check out their website.

UPDATE: Since this session we heard that sad news that Janice's mother passed away. Please keep her and her family in your prayers during this difficult time.

Seeing Double: Daniel & William

2011-05-02T19:20:00.002-04:00

When it's cold, rainy and the trees look like barren wretched twigs reaching to the sky, it's time to stay indoors. This time of year (March / April) doesn't favor our usual outdoor environmental portraits. That's why we tried something different for Daniel and William on their first visit to our studio.

Enjoy the cuteness...

Double trouble!

I sneaked this one of grandma. She looked too good to pass up.

Sierra

2011-04-30T19:12:00.001-04:00

Many of my blog readers probably have noticed that I am not a big fan of the latest effects or heavy-handed treatments. One of the few treatments that I regularly use (and my favorite) is my own sepia toning blend. There is just something about the absence of color and the graduated tones that is surreal.

Here is my new little friend Sierra. As you can see, she is quite a little character.

We Want the Funk!

2011-04-24T12:07:00.002-04:00

I met Cynthia several years ago when we still lived in Brooklyn, NY. I always remember her as a very happy person. When we heard that she finally found her soul mate and was to be married, we were elated!

I didn't get to meet Danny until the day of the wedding, but we spoke over the phone. What a fun couple!
We started the day at Dan's apartment and after a few minutes of helping him choose the right tie for his suit, his roomate heard him mention my first name. "Are you Matthew Wagner?" he said. "Yes" I said. Then he told me who he was. It was Desmond! I hadn't seen him in ten years but we used to work together back in the mid 90's. What a small world! Little did I know that would be a recurring theme to our day with Cynthia and Dan. We bumped in to so many friends and friends of friends throughout the day.

Oh, you might be wondering why I chose the title I did for this post. That's because Dan's last name is Funk. Cynthia is very happy about her new name that is much easier to spell than her maiden name. As you might imagine, the DJ at the reception had his fun playing with "funk" in the title.

Anyway, here are some of our favorites from our day.

Teresa stayed with Cynthia while I went with Dan to scope out the best locations on the island.

Rocky the New Britain Rock Cat Visits Simsbury!

2011-04-19T18:12:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday we officially welcomed baseball season for this year thanks to the help of Rocky the Rock Cat. Rocky is the mascot of the New Britain Rock Cats, our local Minor League baseball team. We teamed up with Kidz Kutz in Simsbury, a hair salon just for kids for this fun outdoor event.
Even though we had a rather cold spring day, we had a good turnout. And what would a baseball event be without popcorn!

Rocky arrived in the Rockymobile and was kind enough to bring along a fun baseball / skeeball inflatable attraction!

Teresa made sure that Rocky knew what to do and where to do his thing.

Honk if you're a Rock Cats fan!!!

This thing was a blast!

Go Noah!

Rocky strikes!

Stewart from Opticians Unlimited in Hartford takes a swing...

Ouch! Strike!
Blake did better than all of us grown-ups!

Everyone who participated will receive a complimentary souvenir portrait from the event. Be sure to stop by the studio for yours.

A fresh haircut from Lisa at Kidz Kutz!

Special thanks to Lisa Chapman (left) of Kidz Kutz for hosting this fun event and to David Richman for letting us use the property!

Matthew J. Wagner's Work Appears in Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine

2011-03-24T16:00:00.001-04:00

This past summer we had the privilege of photographing table tops once again for Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine.

The venue chosen for this photo session was AWESOME, the newly opened Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. If you haven't been there you definitely need to check it out. Top notch service and ambiance. I brought Teresa back with me a few months later to enjoy the amazing Sunday brunch.

Anyway, here are a few of the images featured in the current (2011) issue of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style New England magazine along with the page numbers where you can find the images.

After the images featured in the magazine, I added some other "behind the scenes" photos that were not featured. Enjoy!

The first setup (above) is on page 166 of the print edition of the magazine featuring the following collaborators:

Table Design: True & Wesson (True Event & Chocolate Creative Design) Floral Design: Hana Floral Design Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. , Rentals Unlimited, Wildflower Linen Table/Chairs: Rentals Unlimited

And as for behind the scenes.... let's just say we weren't the only ones who thought it was a great day for the beach.

For more behind the scenes photos of us working, check out the True Event blog post here.

This next image features:

Flatware, glassware and chairs from Ocean House Table & floral design and linen: Elements China: Wedgwood Oyster plates: Alison Evans Ceramics

Here are some close ups of what's on the table and the flowers.

Here's a fun one from page 160, a collaboration of Jubilee Events and Tony Palmieri of Datura a Modern Garden. What made it fun (or challenging) is that we had to move this very heavy glass-mirrored table and all of its settings from a spot in the sun (impossible to photograph well) to this beautiful shady spot. Some funny facts about this location: This is the common locker/shower area. Just off of camera left were shower heads and faucets. Tony was perched atop the shower column holding the left-hand side of the bamboo that holds the flower chandelier. I really love the textures of the large stone wall behind the table and the smooth black stone tile of the floor. What do you think?

Table design: Jubilee Events Floral design: Datura, A Modern Garden Chair covers and napkins: Roberta Karsch-Resource One, Inc. Table setting: Party Rental Ltd. Table and chairs: Luxe Event Rentals Stationery: Posh Paperie

Check out more photos on Datura's blog here.

On to page 150 with Victoria Kenyon of Toria Dolce. I love fondant cakes!!!

And here are some others that didn't make the magazine pages... Enjoy the inspiration!

Fun Kids Event at Kidz Kutz of Simsbury, CT

2011-03-16T16:35:00.001-04:00

Attention kids!

Spring is right around the corner and you know what that means... BASEBALL SEASON!!! To commemmorate this American pastime Matthew J. Wagner Fine Photography and Kidz Kutz of Simsbury are hosting a special event for kids of all ages.

When: Saturday April 16, 2011 from 12 to 2 p.m.

Where: Kidz Kutz, 730 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, CT

Facebook users can get more details about the event and RSVP here.

For everyone else email us here.

Meet ROCKY from the New Britain Rock Cats at this exclusive Event. We will be there to create an unforgettable portrait of your child (or you) with Rocky from the Rock Cats. Receive a complimentary souvenir gift portrait of each child. FUN giveaways and tickets to the Rock Cats game this season. Don't miss it.

Photos of the week - Sandra's Online Dating Portrait

2011-03-13T13:46:00.001-04:00

"Do you do dating headshots?" Well, yes and no.

We create dating portraits. Portraits represent the real you and highlight the qualities that YOU want to project. We don't like to use the word "headshots" because it doesn't fully represent what we do for our clients. Your profile photo should be much more than a "shot". This is your first impression. First impressions are lasting impressions.

If you are looking for love online, separate yourself from the crowd by having us create a beautiful portrait for you. Most people who use online dating websites try to do this themselves or use a snapshot they had sitting on their computer. The results? Mediocre images that just don't represent the real you.

Call us or email us to find out how to put your best foot forward online.

(860)264-4192

Photos of the Week - Kya-Joelie

2011-03-06T11:50:00.002-05:00

"Am I going to be a model, Mommy?"

I think the answer to her question is definitely "YES!".

What a cutie! I think the image above says it all. In case it doesn't, here are some more of my favorites.

Winter Wonderland 2011

2011-02-01T10:33:00.001-05:00

If ever there was a perfect day for sled riding and other outdoor winter activities, this was it!

This year we decided to take our Winter Wonderland event outside the studio. The location? Simsbury Farms. What an amazing hill for sledding! After all the snow we've had (multiple feet) I couldn't believe how packed down the snow surface was.

Check out the images below to see how much fun everyone had.

First Photography Basics Workshop a Success!

2011-01-10T18:48:00.002-05:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in Saturday's photography basics workshop. I really enjoyed seeing the "light bulbs" turn on over my students' heads.

In case you missed it, we will be doing our next photography basics workshop on Saturday February 26, 2011. Click here for the details.

Here are some photo highlights. First, meet some of the students!

Meet Lance from Brooklyn, NY.

And his lovely wife Dorli!

Here's Jennifer...

That's Filomena... seems like everyone was hiding behind their camera. I'm helping Jessica in the background.

Here's Lindsay with her "antenna" lens grip technique.

As you can see from the photos above, there were a lot of hands-on learning opportunities. Check out the students in action.

Here's Lance doing a lab on sensitivity. He doesn't look very sensitive to me. Maybe because I'm drinking coffee while he does his lab.

This photo shows Teresa trying out an exercise on depth of field. I'm helping Jennifer with the same exercise.

This lab was all about using exposure compensation to properly expose your subject... especially with a snowy background.

Now for some examples of what everybody learned!

Another depth of field lesson learned...

Here are some results from the composition hands-on lab...

Before:

After:

Heres one from the lab on composition... or was that the one of focusing?

Another composition lab result.

Motion blur in action in the shutter speed lab...

I hope to see you at the next workshop on February 26, 2011. Click here for more info.

All Seats Filled for this Saturday's Photography Workshop!

2011-01-04T20:54:00.001-05:00

I am really getting excited for the participants in this Saturday's photography workshop! We are at capacity and have students coming from as far as Brooklyn, New York.

I'm looking forward to seeing some new faces and getting back together with others that I already know. This is going to be great!

If you have already reserved your seat, we will see you Saturday at 8 a.m. Come early for coffee & bagels!

Introducing WOW! Wagner One-day Workshops - UPDATE

2010-12-04T12:49:00.001-05:00

Many of you will be happy to hear that the first Wagner One-day Workshop has been rescheduled to a SATURDAY!!!

The new date for...

“Somebody got me this great camera…Now what?”

a/k/a: How to Get From ‘P’ to ‘M’ on the Camera Mode Dial.

... is Saturday January, 8th. Space is limited so be sure to reserve your seat soon by calling 860-264-4192 or emailing us at info@matthewjwagner.com.

Know someone who recently got a digital SLR? Giving one for the holidays? This would make a great gift for them. Hope to see you there!

Introducing WOW! Wagner One-day Workshops

2010-11-09T10:42:00.001-05:00

Save the date! Our first Wagner One-day Workshop will be Wednesday December 8, 2010!

See the description below...

“Somebody got me this great camera…Now what?”

a/k/a: How to Get From ‘P’ to ‘M’ on the Camera Mode Dial.

Do you have a great camera but can’t get the results you want? Have you ever wondered what that strange button that you never press does? This workshop is for you. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to get the most out of their camera and create beautiful photographs for fun and family.

We will discuss digital photography basics, camera functions, as well as making great photographs, basic editing techniques, and a helpful critique of your work.

Participants will learn about:

Understanding exposure
ISO
Aperture and shutter speed and how each affects your images.
Learn to get it right in your camera, saving hours of time at the computer.
Make the most of your location and available light.
Understand your equipment. What should I buy next?

Level:Beginner to Mid-Level

Tuition: $195.00 Per Person

Tuition includes:

8 hours of training with Matthew
Classroom instruction
Hands-on training
Lunch
A fun and informative critique of your work - what worked and what didn’t, and how to make it better next time.

Date: December 8th 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Class Size: 6 people

Location:

Matthew J. Wagner Fine Photography Studio

522 Hopmeadow Street

Simsbury, CT 06070

Please Bring:

A camera (any camera with manual settings)

Pen and paper for notes

Laptop, memory card reader or camera interface cable (optional)

Basic photo editing software

Call 860-264-4192 or email us at info@matthewjwagner.com to reserve your seat.

See you at the Workshop!

Help us design your ultimate photographic workshop!

2010-11-04T17:36:00.001-04:00

Our workshop in Tuscany last year was so much fun we have been trying to set up workshops closer to home that my U.S. photographer friends can benefit from.

We want these workshops to benefit you as much as possible. With that in mind, we would like to get your opinion on what you would like to see in a photography workshop. What kind of stuff would you like to learn from me? Techniques? The basics? Studio lighting? Digital Asset Management? Lightroom workflow? Here's your chance to let us know. Click HERE to complete the survey.

This is also your chance to win a free Wagner One-day Workshop tuition! One fortunate survey-taker will win their choice of one-day workshops. One entry per person please. We hope to announce our schedule of dates and topics in the next week or two so stay tuned.

Thanks!

We are so excited to be finally launching

Andres & Lauren Engagement Portrait Session

2010-06-15T14:10:00.001-04:00

Gotta love the beach! Andres & Lauren do. That's where there wedding reception will be this fall. Down at the shore.

Check out the fun they had during their engagement session at Watch Hill, Rhode Island.

More great images in the slide show below.

Jason & Amy Wed at Branford House Mansion in Groton

2010-06-14T08:22:00.000-04:00

How do you follow up after an incredible rehearsal dinner? With an incredible wedding! Here are some highlights...

Amy was Cinderella for a day!

Mom was hospitalized during the rehearsal dinner festivities and made it home in time to get ready for the wedding day. Here she looks at Jason & Amy's engagement coffee table book. She loved it!

Another surprise for Amy: Tuxedo dog!

Amy & Jason wed close to where Amy grew up in East Haven, CT. After the ceremony, rain chased us all the way to Groton where a beautiful reception at the Branford House Mansion awaited.

One of Ana Parzych's amazing cakes!

What a cute couple! Guess who's next to get married...

Jason & Amy's Carnival-Themed Rehearsal Dinner

2010-06-12T08:21:00.000-04:00

Who ever said rehearsal dinners have to be simple and boring?

Amy & Jason did an awesome job putting this event together. It was only fitting that the event, held at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven (East Haven specifically) had a carnival theme. Check out these cool details.

OK, enough details! On to the food. What kind of food? Carnival food of course! Two of the area's best mobile food vehicles blessed this event: The Big Green Truck (brick oven pizza) and Super Duper Weenie (hot dogs).

First, the Big Green Truck. Awesome pizza, gelato and cappuccino!

And of course, Super Duper Weenie! I always noticed that sign on I-95 between NYC and New Haven and wondered what made these hot dogs super-duper. Teresa and I wonder no more...

How's that for contentment?

Amy and her dad enjoy a photo by the beach.

The nice thing about renting the Lighthouse Point Park Pavilion is the beautifully restored carousel that is available to the guests.

Gelato by sunset...

Fireworks anyone?

Simsbury Farmers Market Opening Day

2010-06-11T08:13:00.000-04:00

When people ask me about how I found our new studio location in Simsbury, CT, I tell them that it was with reluctance that I met with the property manager. Teresa had to schedule more than one appointment with them for me since I really thought that Simsbury would be too far away from where we were living at the time. I couldn't imagine a 30-minute commute each direction every day.

That all changed when I arrived at Simsmore Square in Simsbury. The day that I went to see the possible studio location happened to be the last day of the 2009 Simsbury Farmers Market. What a scene! I loved the atmosphere, the fresh produce, the pumpkins and the kids running around eating kettle corn and tasting food samples. I immediately fell in love with the place.

So, with that being said (or written) I was very excited to actually be a "host" as a Simsmore Square tenant to this year's Farmer's Market.

I made it back to the studio just in time to see local NBC weather man Bob Maxon do the official opening

Bob looked to the sky hoping that the storms rumbling around the area wouldn't pass through Simsbury. We seemed to be blessed with a patch of blue sky and sunshine...

But alas, it only lasted a few moments.

The first week of the market was a wet one. That didn't dampen the spirit though. Town First Selectman Mary Glassman stopped by to check everything out here with Sarah Nielson, one of the market organizers.

Somebody's ready for some cake!

Feeling sorry for yourself? How about some "Pour Me Tea"?

If your looking for the market, turn where you see the waving ten-foot corn cob man.

Local Museum to Feature Matthew J. Wagner's Photographs for June Exhibit

2010-06-10T10:56:00.001-04:00

One of the Farmington Valley's rich heritage sites is the Stanley-Whitman House Museum in Farmington, CT. I have been working with the museum for about a year now and have really enjoyed learning about the humble beginnings of such a great Central Connecticut town.

A few months back I was asked to participate in a month-long art exhibit at the museum's gallery space and jumped at the chance. The theme? "June Romance: Photographs of Matthew J. Wagner".

As it turns out, the Stanley-Whitman House was home to several newlyweds throughout it's multi-century history. The photographs in the exhibit feature love and romance not just at weddings or between engaged couples, but also love between various family members.

The exhibit can be viewed throughout the month of June and I will be present for a special gallery "opening" night this coming Monday, June 14, 2010 from 5 - 7. Light refreshments will be served and all are invited.

You can RSVP via Facebook either here or here.

The Stanley-Whitman House is located at 37 High Street, Farmington, CT. The gallery will also be available for viewing during the museum's normal hours which are Wednesday - Friday from 9am to 4pm, Saturday & Sunday from 12pm to 4pm.

Hope to see you there! Enjoy the photographs!

Yan Ting's New Ad in Natural Awakenings Fairfield Magazine

2010-06-07T16:04:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite types of portraits to create is the executive portrait. There are so many great businesspeople who have lousy portraits that don't represent who they are or what they do at all. I love creating images for clients that really represent their personality, style and business.

A couple of months ago I had the honor of photographing Yan TIng. Yan sent me some fashion and beauty photos from magazine as inspiration for what she wanted for her portrait. We had a blast and she absolutely LOVES her portraits. Sandra Downie did her makeup and it looked awesome. I always recommend investing in a professional makeup application for your executive portrait.

Today she sent me a copy of how her advertisement looks in a local natural health magazine in Westport, CT. Here's how it looks.

Here are some other photos from the session. Very cool!

Grandparents Exhibit Featured in Hartford Courant

2010-06-07T13:32:00.001-04:00

A few months ago we hosted a special gallery event at the studio called "Our Family Heritage: Our Grandparents". Recently we loaned the portraits to a special place in town that takes good care of many of the town's grandparents, the Virginia Connolly Residence.

Well, today I just received this article that appeared in Sunday's iTowns section of the Hartford Courant. Here's the link to the article.

See the "reprint" from Sunday's paper below.

Simsbury

Heartwarming Photography Adorns Dining Room At Virginia Connolly Residence

Special for Seniors

Submitted by Patricia Howland, Simsbury Housing Authority, on 2010-06-01.

Matthew J. Wagner

Photo display in the dining room at the Virginia Connolly Residence.

Residents of the Virginia Connolly Residence in Simsbury are enjoying the masterful photography of Matthew J. Wagner as they dine. Upon a recent visit, Matt noticed that although the building had recently undergone a major renovation, the walls were greatly in need of some artwork. He generously offered to rotate some of his wonderful portraits in the common dining area.

The first works were titled "Winter Wonderland," and featured children playing in the snow. The photographs were immensely enjoyed by the residents, most of whom have grandchildren, or great-grandchildren, of similar ages. The current works are "Our Family Heritage: Our Grandparents" which are beautiful portraits of those who mean so much in our lives and whose acquired wisdom and knowledge are priceless.

"One of the primary services provided 365 days a year for our residents is a main meal served at noon in our dining room by waitstaff," said Joe Loewy, executive director of the Simsbury Housing Authority. "This artwork has upgraded the look and feel of our dining room. The many compliments that we have received from residents and their families tell us that we have, without a doubt, enhanced the dining experience."

The Virginia Connolly Residence is a 40-unit congregate and assisted-living facility, committed to providing a safe, caring environment, allowing residents to maintain and prolong their independent living status. The facility is overseen by the non-profit Simsbury Housing Authority, which also manages the Dr. Owen L. Murphy Apartments, consisting of 70 garden-style units for seniors or persons with disabilities. Both properties are located at 1600 Hopmeadow St. in Simsbury. For more information, contact Executive Director Joe Loewy at 860-658-1147 or view their brochures at www.simsbury-ct.gov/PublicDocuments/SimsburyCTHousing/index.

Matthew J. Wagner Fine Photography is located at 522 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, in Simsmore Square. He specializes in family, children and wedding photography. For more information, visit www.matthewjwagner.com or call 860-264-4192.

Featured on Excel with Dallas Cyr!

2010-06-03T09:46:00.001-04:00

According to Dallas, I am the "Artistic Entrepreneur". I met Dallas several years ago and always love his positive energy and desire to better himself and others. He recently started a new endeavor that will more directly help others to achieve their goals.

Check out his website/blog here and specifically this post where he interviews me about the importance of getting help reaching your goals.

There is a special portrait offer for the month of June at the end of the post. Don't miss it!

Enjoy!

Marissa & Johnathan's Spring Wedding

2010-05-28T22:32:00.001-04:00

Today was the day for Marissa & Johnny to tie the knot. What a perfect day weather-wise that they had too. We really enjoyed this wedding since we got to see so many of our other clients and friends there... John & Deb, Steve & Renee, and hopefully some new clients too.

Also exciting was the chance to have one of DJ Foster's cake creations. Mmmmmm.... awesome!!

Anyway, congratulations and enjoy the Caribbean on your honeymoon.

Here are some highlights from the day...

Click here to see more photos from the wedding...

Winter Wonderland Winners Featured in Local Newspaper!

2010-03-05T10:42:00.000-05:00

Congratulations again to the top 3 contestants of our Winter Wonderland event! You are famous!

I can't wait until next winter so we can do this again. I'm hoping to have the event in December. Stay tuned!

Florence at 107 Years!

2010-03-04T22:40:00.000-05:00

Wow! Whoever said 40 years old is "old" hasn't met Florence. Florence is 107 years young!

I met Florence through my friend John Bell. John has been doing some renovation work for his friend Jeanne for the last few months. When I mentioned a personal project that I was working on he immediately thought of Florence, Jeanne's great aunt.

After our Winter Wonderland event, I was thinking about what we could do for our next studio event. I love cute kids but I wanted to focus on another group of people who often are overlooked and under-appreciated. I asked myself "Who in my life and family do I appreciate? What group of people add the most to my life?" Then I thought, "What about grandparents!"

Their wealth of acquired wisdom and knowledge are priceless. In today's fast-paced world it is easy to let too much time pass between visits, or phone calls to our grandparents (if we are still fortunate enough to have them with us). I also thought about grandparents who have grandchildren that live far away from them (like me).

Parents often take regular photographs of the grandkids to send to the grandparents, but what about great portraits of the grandparents? How great would it be if the grandchildren had beautiful portraits in the home of their grandparents to remind them of the special people that love them from afar!

That's why I am announcing our next event "Our Family Heritage: Our Grandparents!" Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 31, 2010. We will have a studio gallery opening with original portraiture of some of the "great" grandparents of our community. See their portraits and meet the subjects in person and learn what makes them so special.

Facebook users can RSVP here. We can't wait to see you there.

Winter Wonderland Event in Local Paper!

2010-03-01T16:27:00.001-05:00

Yay! I was super stoked to have a reporter stop by last week from The Valley Press newspaper to see what was going on at our event. We were featured on the back page of section 1. Wow!

Thanks again to all who participated. I can't wait until next year's event.

Great Local Press This Week!

2010-03-01T16:23:00.001-05:00

I opened my mail this morning to a pleasant surprise. Some of my work from a recent Chamber of Commerce event was featured in a local business publication, the Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Business Bits & Bytes Newsletter.

Then I was even more surprised when I saw the write-up about our grand opening event last month!

Check it out below or click here and scroll down to page 3 in the Member News section.

Winter Wonderland 2010 Cutest Snow Kid: We have a winner!!!

2010-02-27T20:14:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to our "gold medal" winner Aaron in the 2010 Winter Wonderland Cutest Snow Kids Event!!! He did it with a whopping 117 votes! Aaron's family wins a complimentary portrait session, with a session album and a DVD slide show. Way to go!

It was a fierce battle to the finish. Amelia took an early lead but finished with a "bronze" at 70 votes.

At a close second place and "silver medal" is Linnea with 105 votes. She skyrocketed to my 3rd most viewed image on Flicker in only one week! Linnea's photo received the most comments on our Facebook Fan page as well. I think I need a Norwegian translator to understand what everyone wrote. Amazing!!

Time is Running Out to Vote for the Cutest Snow Kid

2010-02-25T11:51:00.001-05:00

Only 3 days left to vote for your favorite Snow Kid. The parents of the Cutest Snow Kid will win a $1,200 portrait package that includes a session, a session album and a DVD slide show!

To vote on Flickr, click here. To vote on Flickr just click "Add to Faves" to the upper left corner of the photo.

If you have a Facebook account, and would like to vote, visit our fan page here and become a fan if you haven't already. Once you become a fan, you can then vote for your favorites in the voting gallery here. Then just click "Like" for the photos you like the best.

Winter Wonderland Event

2010-02-19T21:48:00.001-05:00

Thanks to everyone who supported and participated in today's Winter Wonderland Kids Event.

We had a great turnout and the kids had a blast. Thanks to Pastels Catering for providing such cool winter treats for the kids.

Now it's time to vote for your favorites. Everyone can vote and we are providing two different locations to view and vote on the cutest snow kid!

To vote on Flickr, click here. To vote on Flickr just click "Add to Faves" to the upper left corner of the photo.

If you have a Facebook account, and would like to vote, visit our fan page here and become a fan if you haven't already. Once you become a fan, you can then vote for your favorites in the voting gallery here. Then just click "Like" for the photos you like the best.

We will tally the total favorites on Flickr and Facebook to calculate the winner. Voting is open for a week and we will tally the votes at 7 p.m. E.T. Saturday, February 27.

Let the voting begin and may the cutest snow kid win!!!

Grand Opening Event a Success!

2010-01-21T16:14:00.001-05:00

I really wanted to have a grand opening event when I opened my studio in Farmington but I never got around to it. Something held me back. Maybe it was just trying to keep up with work for my clients, maybe I thought it wouldn't be worth the effort.

Anyway, as Teresa and I work to improve ourselves and our business we decided that this is something that we must do. With much encouragement from our mentors Jerry & Sondra, this time our Grand Opening Event became a reality.

I tried to put on a few industry networking events at the former studio and they never seemed to materialize. Not enough people invited, very few could make it.

This time was different.

I couldn't believe the turnout that we had. Another thing that made it so special was the cross-section of guests that made the effort to stop by and wish us well: clients, colleagues from the past and present, friends, neighbors. It was like "watching my life pass before my eyes" as the saying goes.

We had guests that traveled across town and others that came all the way from New Jersey.

Teresa and I were really moved by the entire experience. We are so grateful to all of our fans, new and long-time ones. We love you!

Thank you for the gifts, flowers, wine and cards and especially your belief in us and what we do for the our clients and the community.

Here are some photo highlights and captions...

Here Teresa takes care of some last-minute coordination... Special thanks to Truffles Bakery for the catered items in the background.

Special guest Charity Folk of the Simsbury Chamber of Commerce.

Chip & Val having a blast.

Here are some of my big-time fans, Victoria from Centennial Inn Suites and Barbara Barry of BHB Mailing Service!

Check out these beautiful flowers from Cathy Bates.

Gotta greet those little fans too.

Jeanine Christensen & Dr. Diane Hindman.

Representatives from Simbury Town Hall.

The burly Travis Flynn of Travis Flynn Photography.

Brand-new fans Charlotte & Jean from Avon Old Farms Hotel.

Meet our bookkeeper Amanda!

I really wonder what Teresa was saying to John Bell here...

Former intern Sarah stopped in. Yay!

Chip's reaction to receiving his special gift scroll.

Leo & Elizabeth Hebert of Angel Moon Photography.

John & Sheila loved the slide show. They weren't the only ones.

My landlord Nord. Hey! That rhymes!

Laura Donna... Long time, no see!

More representatives from the Chamber of Commerce.

My little Italian buddy, Giacomo! Ciao bello!

Un bacione!

Meet fans Christina & Miguel!

Flowers from Always Bloomin Floristhttp://www.alwaysbloominflorist.com/
.

Thanks to Maryana, nobody left thirsty.

Financial guy Lyle.

Mike & Jane Shauck of Iris Photography.

Akshata Murthy & Rishi Sunak 2-Day Wedding Event in NYC

2009-09-30T13:46:00.001-04:00

This was big... really BIG!
Watch the slide show below and read on for the details.

I was introduced to this very special couple through their event planner Pallavi Shah of Our Personal Guest. Their love story is a great one. If you haven't read about it in my blog post featuring their engagement session, you should read about it here.

To celebrate New York's role in their romance and to provide a world capital destination for their guests, they chose two incredible venues for their wedding celebration.
First, the Mehndi and Sangeet celebrations, combined into one evening at the world-famous Museum of Natural History. Everyone's clothes, the color of the turbans and the decor were a feast for the eyes... rich color everywhere.

Akshata's father happens to be the founder of Infosys, the company that made outsourcing customer service to India a reality. Here's a photo of Ted Turner greeting Akshata and her dad.

The master organizers behind the scenes: Our Personal Guest!
The next day at noon, a soccer (football if you aren't from the US) tournament at Chelsea Piers for Rishi's schoolmates and family.

Meanwhile, back at the Mandarin...

...master hair stylist DM works on Akshata's tresses. Check out his site here.

Time frames, time frames... Usually Indian wedding ceremonies last at least 3 hours... this one was on fast forward: 30 minutes!

After the ceremony, the bride and groom changed in to yet other beautiful garments.

Amazing reception details!

Beautiful words from Mr. Murthy to his daughter and her new husband.

Definitely an event to remember!

Lia & Mike

2009-08-29T08:46:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Lia & Mike! It seems like this year we are photographing a lot of weddings with ties to England and/or my roots in Pennsylvania. This time it was the PA roots. I enjoyed meeting so many folks from my home state.

Lia chose the the lovely Simsbury 1820 House in Simsbury... very quaint New England Bed & Breakfast!

Lia's family & friends couldn't believe her bridal transformation!

A very cool idea for favors... custom printed M&Ms.

Proud dad.

Loving gaze.

Pennsylvania people!

What a cutie!

Having a small wedding? Don't want to spring for a DJ? How about renting a jukebox! This was very cool.

Roly Poly Baby!

2009-08-19T17:31:00.001-04:00

I really don't think I have to write anything about this post. Baby James is the cutest guy since the Michelin man!

Best buddies!

The whole family!

Steve & Ashley's Providence Wedding

2009-08-18T17:30:00.001-04:00

For my first wedding in Providence, Rhode Island, this one really ROCKED!!!

Steve and Ashley chose great locations for both their ceremony and reception. We started and ended our day in downtown Providence. But allow me to tell the story in photographs.

Click here to see the full size slide show.

Ever wonder what the guys are doing while the bride gets ready?

I'm a sucker for colonnades. I found this one across the street from the hotel where Ashley got ready. This Lazaro dress was amazing!

Special thanks to DownCity restaurant for allowing us to use their cool decor for these bridal portraits. We had brunch here the next morning and had a really cool variation on eggs benedict, Downcity’s Uptown Crab Cakes Benedict: poached eggs served on crab cakes (instead of English muffins).

OK, back to our story...

Since Ashley & Steve were riding together in the limo to the ceremony we set it up so that Steve's first glimpse of Ashley would be in a beautiful setting... the colonnade at the Arcade. His reaction was quite emotional.

Off to Roger Williams Park for portraits...

...and the ceremony! Check out this place!

Wow!

This is one of my favorite photos of the day. Something about the soft light on those bouquets with the yellow dresses. Beautiful!

Love those streamers!

Back downtown to the Riverwalk.

Grace Ormonde photographed the 2007 cover and editorial of Wedding Style New England magazine right in this very spot. One of the neat features of the Riverwalk are the Venetian gondola's you can get a ride on. You can see one in the background of this photo.

This is not a ventriloquist dummy! That is Scott & Ashley's super cute son.

First dance at the beautiful Federal Reserve. This place used to be a bank. It even still has the safe (which is now the bridal suite).

This was the best flower toss ever. You have to see the action in the slide show.

We took a few minutes away from the reception to do some portraits at night in downtown providence.

While we were working our way around the city streets I kept hearing this South American music a few blocks over. I thought it might have been one of those Peruvian street bands playing music and selling CDs.

It turns out there was a full-blown Bolivian Festival going on in the Bank of America skating rink. There were people in colorful native dress dancing their folk dances to loud music. The rink was surrounded by spectators watching the festivities.

I told Scott and Ashley, "If you dare to go out there in the middle of this performance, I'm all for it." To my surprise, they did dare. It worked out to be so awesome.

Instead of getting kicked out, they were welcomed by the dancers. Before I knew it, they were part of the act.

The crowd cheered as they pranced around the stage waving the colored flag to the music. I couldn't believe it was actually happening.

Afterwards, little girls flocked to the sidelines to be photographed with the "Princess" Ashley. Even Dora the Explorer wanted a photo.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Sean tries to steal the show.

Lake Compounce Fun Sessions!

2009-08-12T17:21:00.002-04:00

I want to thank my friends Nick, Stefania and Sofia for helping me promote a new special kind of family and kids session: the amusement park session!

Summer trips to the amusement park are lots of fun for kids. I thought it would be cool to combine the joy and fun of those summer days with photography. Why not perserve those memories and tell the story of a perfect summer day?

So off we went to Lake Compounce in Bristol, CT. This park is very family friendly: not too big and yet something for everyone. A lot of families in the area get season passes and take their kids to the water park at least once a week to beat the summer heat.

Let me know what you think by commenting at the end of this post. In the meantime, enjoy the photos.

First stop: Kiddieland!

Enough of the rides, it's time for the water park! This ship-themed splash area was crazy fun!

When this thing dumps, that water is really cold!

We finished up with a train ride to the other side of the lake.

Waiting for the boat ride back to the beach.

Akshata & Rishi Engagement

2009-07-29T20:59:00.003-04:00

This is a great story!

When I told Akshata about our engagement sessions she suggested we tell the story of how she and Rishi spent their courtship. It was to be our most ambitious engagement session ever!

They met at university here in the States. Afterwards he went back home to the UK, she stayed in California. Could they do the long-distance relationship? Where would they date? How could they spend time together?

Solution: weekends in New York! Before you watch the slide show, read my comments on the photos below to better understand the story. When you are ready to watch the show, click here to watch it full-size.

Enjoy some favorite images and then make sure you watch the show...

So as to maximize on their time together they would book flights on British Airways and Delta so as to arrive and depart from the same terminal.

Then off to Manhattan to the W hotel for backgammon and drinks in the lounge.

Saturdays were spent in beautiful Central Park.

We interrupt our story to bring you Blackwolf the Dragonmaster!

Now back to our story...

And a proper English gentlemen must have his tea. So, off to the Mandarin Oriental Lounge for tea and biscuits with a breathtaking view of Columbus Circle and Central Park below.

The departures from JFK, parting is such sweet sorrow...

Farmington Country Club's Chef Kevin Cottle is on Hell's Kitchen!

2009-07-24T15:58:00.005-04:00

Congratulations Chef Kevin Cottle! As readers of my blog know, Kevin is Farmington Country Club's rocking chef extraordinnaire. I just found out today that he is a contestant on season 6 of Fox's Hell's Kitchen. How far will he go? Stay tuned to find out!

In the meantime, here are some photos from his upcoming website...

Another Matthew John?

2009-07-22T17:28:00.000-04:00

I'm really excited about increasing the number of baby and family portrait sessions we will be doing. It's a blast to connect with cute little folks like this guy. Interestingly enough, this guy has the same first and middle name as me (Matthew John).

Are those some of the biggest, cutest eyes you have ever seen? Be sure to scroll down to see the "Matthew John Shuffle" video we did on our new Canon EOS 5D mark II. He has a very interesting way of getting around!

Table Top Photos for Grace Ormonde

2009-07-16T17:26:00.000-04:00

This week we had the grand privilege of photographing some extraordinary wedding table tops by some incredible wedding designers such as Design Fusion by Jerry Sibal, Ed Libby & Company, Jessica's Country Flowers and more for Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine.

Since the photos won't appear in the magazine until January of 2010, I can't yet show you the full images but here are a few close-ups of what you might see in the next issue.

This was a really exciting, yet exhausting day. When I got to see first hand all the work that goes into such beautiful creations, I really wanted to make sure that I captured what I saw and felt with my eyes and heart. Knowing that these masterpieces were only going to be there for a few hours and then dismantled made me want to do an extra good job. I felt like pro golfer Tiger Woods eyeing up the next shot; checking all the angles to make sure that my photograph was worthy of the artistry of these incredible artists.

Be sure to check out the next issues of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style and Wedding Style New England to see some of these great table tops!

Here my intern Lindsay checks the ambient light readings on Jerry's creation, wait until you see the whole thing!

Chris & Lisa's Italian Wedding

2009-06-22T17:26:00.000-04:00

At the risk of sounding like a long running comedy musical, I thought the theme for this post appropriate.

This was my first wedding at Anthony's Ocean View in New Haven and it was definitely one of the most entertaining weddings in a while. I had the assistance of a couple of great photographers from Boston, Jim & Lisa Engelbrecht along for the ride. There's a great photo of Jim later on in the post.

You might remember Chris & Lisa from the Jet set engagement session post a while back. Well there wedding day finally happened and here are some highlights from the day.

OK boys, show off your tools!

I saw this little circle garden and thought it would make a cool group photo. The only problem was how to get up high enough to capture it.

Let's just say, long legs come in handy. Hi Jim!

OK, which one likes to be the center of attention?

Cute cake topper!

Smoke and lasers for the first dance. But Chris didn't let that steal the show.

Off came his jacket and the real dance began! (you had to be there to see the whole thing).

The rowdiest table surprised the bride and groom with a blues brothers number...

Very touching dance with daddy.

One of best toasts I've heard in a while. Nice job Chris.

OK, I've never seen this before. Chris went down to find the garter...

...and he came up with these baggie panties!

OK, that's better.

Mmmmmm.... canoli!

And, Mr. Center of Attention turned out to be quite the entertainer, belting out two Italian favorites that really got the crowd on the dance-floor. Nice going!

Enjoy this slide show of the days events. (click here for a larger version).

Text

Christian and Seema's Wadsworth Mansion Wedding

2009-06-11T15:18:00.000-04:00

What do you get when you cross the Wadsworth Mansion with an Indian wedding? What do you get when a great gal and a great guy fall in love? You get Christian and Seema's wedding, that's what!

A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of photographing my first Indian wedding. Wow! What a blast! That bride was Seema's Sister Shetal. It was great to see so many familiar faces this weekend at Seema & Christian's wedding. A lot of guests remembered us from Shetal's wedding and we remembered them too.

Since returning from Italy last week, it has been very cold and rainy but the sun came out for these two. Check out the slide show below or click here for a larger version of the slide show...

This venue is so impressive!

Seema waits patiently...

My favorite part of the Indian wedding, the Baraat!

Go Raj! Break it down!

What an awesome day!

This is a cool part of the ceremony. Several of the bride's family whisper advice into her ear. This is guaranteed to produce smiles and laughter.

This is one of my favorite dance photos in a long time! Christian's brother blew everyone away with his dancing.

Congratulations to the both of you!

Matt & Melissa's Wedding...

2009-06-09T15:18:00.000-04:00

...and rehearsal dinner!

Many of my clients are opting to have me join them for their rehearsal dinner to provide continuous photographic coverage of all of their wedding celebrations. It's a great way to get to know the "key players" and the "inner circle" of family and friends before the big day.

Anyway, we made it back from Italy just in time for Matt & Melissa's rehearsal dinner and wedding this past weekend.

Matt & Melissa chose a great location for a rehearsal dinner, Abbot's Lobster in the Rough. It was so rainy and humid that I just had to photograph the cloud coming out of the ktichen.

And the next day....

They had SUNSHINE!!! All of the day's events took place at the Spa at Norwich Inn. It was kind of funny seeing people in white robes roaming the grounds and the hallways all day. Kind of felt like I was in some monastery or something.

Here's a small version of their slide show to watch (full-size version click here). The music was specially selected for them. I think they played this song 8 times at the rehearsal dinner.

Hey! How did this get in here?

Look! It's the Kowalski family!

Italy Trip Part VII: Wedding in Rome

2009-06-05T15:16:00.001-04:00

An unexpected treat to end our Italy trip was to be invited along with Girolamo Monteleone to photograph a wedding in Rome. Wow! What fun!

It was interesting to note the similarities and differences between the weddings I have photographed here in the USA and this wedding in Italy. The day started very much the same as most weddings begin in the States, at the bride's house. Here's Pamela getting ready.

Gigi & Pamela ended up with a rainy day for their wedding. It was still beautiful to me.

The man in the white hat is Dirk. Dirk is not an Italian name. In fact, Dirk is from Germany and married into the family... no not the mob. I know, his hat reminds me of that mobster in Godfather II. Dirk had a lot of fun with his camera and enjoyed talking "shop".

Here's a behind-the-scenes photo of me trying to keep the bride and groom dry while Girolamo runs to the car for his fancy wedding umbrella. What a sacrifice!

Now "That's Amore!". It was hard to believe that in 24 hours, I would be on a plane heading back home.... Bummer!

Congratulations Gigi & Pamela! All the best! Tanti auguri!

Italy Trip Part VI: Texas meets the Italian Far North?

2009-06-01T15:15:00.001-04:00

Texas? Italy? What I mean by that is, our friends (and clients) Jordan and Stephanie met up with us in Udine in the far North-East corner of Italy. We picked them up at the airport (only took us 2 tries to get the correct airport). Here are a few photos of us at the airport with our new friend Sara.

The next morning, we finally found a mercato that seemed to have decent stuff at reasonable prices. This trip it seemed like the items being sold in the markets were mostly stuff made in China or just low-quality items and OK prices. On previous trips we did much better.

Here is Teresa with our host Rosita.

The babies in Udine like to keep up with the news.

We had to watch our back at all times. Here is a not-so-undercover agent roaming the streets of Udine.

Our hosts took us to see a beautiful city, Cividale di Friuli. Here is a view of Ponte del Diavolo. Look how clear that mountain water is!

Here is a talking french fry trying to tempt me to come into this place. But wait!

Ahhhhh, frico! This stuff looks much more authentic (and delicious). Cheese, potatoes and onions baked into a delicious mouthwatering pie.

Here we all are with Teresa...

And to prove I was actually there, me.

Something about this sign just cracks me up.

The lovely canals of Udine... not very deep, but quaint.

We didn't end up going to Venice, but this photo makes it look like we did.

We finished up the day in San Daniele, capital of the world's best prosciutto. I've never had so much prosciutto in one sitting. Incredible!

We said good night to the happy couple. See you back in the States!

Italy Trip Part V: Workshop Day 2

2009-05-29T23:30:00.001-04:00

Here's my happy class!!! Check out some of the great photos we created at Terre di Nano.

Girolamo and Barbara helped us find an incredible dress designer, Sonia Lupo. I have never seen dresses like these in my life. AMAZING!

Marika and Davide got right back into the wedding spirit for these photographs.

And as for Veronica & Luca, they got to do a trial run for their wedding day. Thanks for doing such a great job modeling!

Italy Trip Part IV: Workshop Day 1

2009-05-27T23:14:00.001-04:00

Morning is my favorite time of day, especially when I'm in such a beautiful place as this in Tuscany. Everything was quiet as the sun graced the sides of the Tuscan hills as the countryside awoke. OK, enough words! On to the photographs!

One of our two canine hosts: Valser and Pippi!

Love these cypress trees!

Olives anyone?

Well, that filming of the Twilight movie ruined our plans to photograph in the Piazza of Montepulciano. Several of our students got separated from the main group in one of the most confusing and frustrating driving experiences ever. Anyway we made it down to the outskirts of town near this old temple. Beautiful views and a wonderful sunset helped us get these great photos.

Emanuela really enjoyed the entire class, especially the engagement session.

This was fun...

Then Valerio popped his head into the scene...

This guy looks so cool!

He looks like he could kill someone with that Canon. Brings new meaning to the words "photo shoot".

Our models Veronica and Luca... really engaged.

And Marika & Davide (already married and still in love).

Italy Trip Part III: Workshop at Terre di Nano

2009-05-24T23:14:00.000-04:00

Terre di what? Nano! Not the Nano-Nano greeting of Mork from Mork & Mindy (does anybody still remember that show?). Terre di Nano is a beautiful country villa retreat in the heart of Tuscany that highly recommend after staying there.

We arrived on Sunday afternoon to check in and get ready to meet our students for the Italian-language photographic workshop on Monday and Tuesday. We checked out some of the nearby towns for ideal location for our model engagement session and bridal photo sessions. Montepulciano looked good. Sunday there were quite a few groupies hanging around trying to catch a glimpse of some of the actors during the filming of the new Twilight film there.

We then hopped over to Montichiello, a Tuscan hill town with a medieval tower. As I was location scouting for our engagement session, I saw this guy with a tan vest and a very 70-200mm Nikon lens. We greeted each other and we soon realized that he was one of my students. Leonardo D'Angelo is an experienced sports photographer who has traveled the world making great photographs. Check out his website here. Here he is photographing me from the top of the entrance to the town.

As we made our way back to Terre di Nano for our welcome dinner for the workshop students, I took advantage of the Tuscan sunset to take some photos of these really cool invitations that we brought with us from Praez Occasions Custom Couture Invitations & Accessories. They have some of the most incredible over-the-top designs for invitations I have ever seen. Check out their website too if you get a chance.

This was an awesome meal! Local foods cooked to Tuscan perfection. Everyone present enjoyed getting to know one another.

No one wanted to leave the table as the sky darkened. But get some rest! Class starts tomorrow!

Italy Trip Part II: Florence is HOT!

2009-05-23T21:03:00.001-04:00

After leaving Rome we headed North towards Florence to visit our friend Alessia. We stopped by Terre di Nano to check out our workshop location and scout out a place to do our model engagement session. Montepulciano looks like it will work perfectly!

Anyway it's been over 90 degrees here just about every day and it's hard to sleep at night. It was so nice to spend time with our friend Alessia again. We brought her a surprise or two, namely two wedding gowns that we were hoping would fit her for a modeling session. Fortunately they fit perfectly!

Here are some photos from our adventures in Florence...

Here's an animal we had never seen before... a nutria or coypu. It kind of looks like a cross between a beaver and a rat. It's almost as big as a beaver though. Not as ugly as a rat either... actually it's kind of cute.

Somebody lost a cat... and likes to write... a lot.

We love the "open air markets"! Deals were much harder to come by on this trip. :(

We had to cross the Atlantic to find "The Best" toilet paper... it was in a 99 cents store.

This was interesting. All the car repair shops we walked by have tile floors... very Italian!

Thanks to Facebook, people back home could track our progress in real time. Amanda Sirica recommended visiting La Torguga, a restaurant that her husbands relatives own. It was great!

Saturday morning Alessia had her modeling session. Check out some favorites.

Wow! A Florentine fireman!

Back to Alessia in Florence.

This was fun. These two carabinieri were kind enough to let us take a portrait of them with Alessia. I love their uniforms.

Italy Trip Part I: Rome & Bracciano

2009-05-21T15:12:00.000-04:00

Siamo arrivati! That's Italian for "we have arrived!".

It is great to be back in Italy after 5 years. Boy, things sure have changed quite a bit since our last visit in 2004.

Our new friend Girolamo picked us up at the Rome train station after we botched catching the correct train from the airport. There's nothing like 6 hours of jet lag and non-functioning train station signage to help you get on the wrong train.

Anyway we picked up a car and followed Girolamo to his wife, Barbara's office and from there we headed off to find our first real Italian pizza. Funny enough, we ended up at a shopping mall in Rome. That was a new experience. Very weird feeling to be in a foreign country, be speaking the native tongue, and to be surrounded by many of the same stores I thought I left back in the USA.

After a good night's rest in Monterotondo, a suburb of Rome, we spent the morning and part of the afternoon wandering around a few of the less tourist-traveled streets of Rome near Barbara's office. One of our favorite features of any Italy trip is the local open-air markets. Here's photo of Teresa looking for her first shoe bargain.

Like I said before, Italy has changed since our last visit and bargains were much harder to come by. Most of these shoes were kind of cheap and a lot of stuff was made in China... kind of defeats the purpose of shopping in Italy.

Later that day we decided to head off to Bracciano, home of Vinicio Ferri, photographer extraordinaire. I was introduced to Vinicio by a local wedding and event planner here in Connecticut who hired Vinicio to photograph her wedding... small world!

If the town of Bracciano sounds familiar it is probably because that's where Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes had their wedding. The castle across the street from Vinicio's studio was where it all went down. Very cool! We didn't get to tour the castle since somebody was filming a movie inside.

I love all the cool passageways that these old Italian towns have.

People watching is one of my favorite pastimes, especially in Italy. This lady in the ugly green car is as mean as she looks. She just got done yelling at her husband in front of a crowd of people. NICE!!!

Speaking of ugly, I call this photograph "Racism is Ugly".

Here's another beautiful view of Bracciano Castle.

Rush hour in Bracciano.

Evening time in the center of town. Some local characters...

More travel stories to come...

Navina & Kyle

2009-05-13T15:11:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Navina & Kyle!

Thanks for letting us share in such a special day and important event in your lives. Your families are both super cool. We had a blast and you guys really know how to plan a reception. The music was awesome!

This was only our second Indian wedding and quite a bit different than the last one we did. We were indoors almost the entire day at The Sterling. After the ceremony we all got spring fever and made an escape with the bride and groom to a local industrial park where we got some really great portraits.

Another fun part of our day was working with some great artistic talent, namely Scott & Cat Dove of Dove Photography and Geoff Boka of The Light Mill Film Studios. What a blast! Working together with such positive people can only bring spectacular results as the photos below show.

Make sure you scroll down to the bottom of this post for a small version of the slide show we put together. It was a long day and so it's a long slide show. Check out a larger version of it here.

Wedding Guest Books are all the Rage

2009-04-28T12:59:00.002-04:00

A really cool product that our wedding clients love is the engagement session guest sign-in book. It combines style with functionality.

I always ask clients "What do you do with a traditional guest sign-in book after the wedding? Do you throw it away? How long do you keep it? If you keep it, do you ever look at it?

Tom and Holly are gettinng this really cool guest book for their wedding. Check out how it looks here!

It's one thing to see a preview of the layout. It's another thing to see them and hold them in your hands. Here's what Krissy & Blair's guest book looks like...

Stop in to the studio to see it for yourself.

Jet-Set Engagement Session

2009-04-26T08:34:00.002-04:00

Always on the lookout for new and interesting locations for portrait locations, I asked Chris and Lisa what interests or hobbies they have (or had). It was then that I found out that Chris took flying lessons and at one time had his pilot's license.

BINGO!!!!

I let him do the footwork of finding an airport that would let us onto the tarmac and finding an aircraft we could use as a prop (no pun intended).

Not only was he able to do both, he found us a private jet (complete with pilot), a captain shirt with captain stripes and wings too! Lisa put together a flight attendant outfit and voila!

This is what you DON'T want to see if you are a passenger on a commercial flight...

And let's not forget the pilot (and his wife) of the awesome craft that made such a nice backdrop for our session... THANKS SO MUCH!!!!

Scott & Lisa's Spring Wedding

2009-04-24T08:27:00.000-04:00

Every bride and groom worry about how the weather will be on the day in which they put so much effort and planning. Scott and Lisa got the perfect day in April for their wedding. Sunny, warm and beautiful... just like Lisa!

OK, enough of the funny stuff. Check out this slide show to see how much fun everybody had. Read on below for more commentary on my experiences of the day.

The Simsbury Inn provided a beautiful backdrop for Lisa's preparations. Dana Bartone provided excellent makeup and hair styling, as usual.

This is one of my favorite images from the day (below)...

It was so much fun to watch Scott at the altar. He was so serious yet excited to finally be getting married. I think this image captures his joy.

We didn't have much time for portraits and the only place I could think of for group formals was at the Farmington Valley Arts Centerhttp://artsfvac.org/ in Avon, CT. I love the walkways that this former munitions factory has between its buildings.

These two guys were so cute!

How does it feel to be a celebrity for a day?

An almost perfect photograph...

Lisa's brother didn't want to miss the shot and captured video of both parent dances with his new phone. Nice pose dude!

The Riverview is usually a very dark and difficult place to photograph without bringing supplementary lighting. An afternoon reception though is perfect with the large windows providing great gentle light that is very flattering.

Matt, Melissa and an Axe Factory

2009-03-31T08:30:00.000-04:00

OK, if you read my last post, you learned that Thom grew up in Erie County, PA like me. Coincidence?

Well, Matt (the guy in these photos) also grew up in my neck of the woods in Titusville, PA. I guess I'm not the only one who got out of dreary, overcast sky land.

Let me just start by saying how much I love these guys. Melissa is such a doll. They complement each other so well. I'm looking forward to their wedding in June.

A special treat for this session was Kaleb their dog. Check his photos out towards the end of the post.

This marks the second time that I was able to photograph in and around Collinsville, former home of The Collins Company Axe Factory. I'm surprised at how many locals don't know about this quaint little town and it's hub for grub, LaSalle Market & Deli . Since it was a cold winter morning we warmed up here first with some coffee.

Here Matt & Melissa are "gearing up" for love (I know, that's pretty bad, but I couldn't resist).

Back to LaSalle Market for some carrot cake french toast, rasperry pancakes and coffee to warm up. Look at how she loves her man!

In case you wondered how I got the above photograph, look below.

This ended up being our grand finale. Kaleb was not a very good chaperone.

And finally, a portrait of Kaleb.

Wedding Salon Spring 2009 NYC

2009-03-24T08:24:00.000-04:00

It was nice to attend the Wedding Salon event and not have to exhibit. This time it was at the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan.

As a special treat I took along two of my interns, Sarah and Linsday. They had a blast tooling around the city while I met with a planner. This sign caught our eye... hmmm.... who's haunting who?

Check out these table tops!

Care for a Hypnotique cocktail? YES!

These dancers were pretty awesome.

Holly & Tom's Snowy Winter Engagement Session

2009-03-19T08:32:00.000-04:00

When it snows, create photographs! Words to live by. This is the second time this winter that I told a client to watch the weather and call me when it looks like we will be getting snow.

I'm glad Tom & Holly called. We went to a few spots that I have been dying to photograph, namely Collinsville and the Farmington River. I just love this part of Connecticut... in any season.

Want to hear an interesting coincidence? Tom grew up in the same county in Pennsylvania that I did. Now we are both here in Central Connecticut. Fascinating!

I can't wait until your wedding guys. This was a blast!

Client Laura Donna in the News

2009-03-17T18:45:00.001-04:00

Looking your best in business is VERY important. I had the privilege of meeting Laura at the Grand Bridal Show back in January. She has some great new ideas for using fragrance at your wedding and in your personal life.

I'm not sure why but from the moment I met Laura, I knew we were going to get along. She had one of the most impressive, original booth designs at the show. She was so friendly and open.

I was happy to photograph her for her publicity photos and blog. It looks like as of late, her photo is getting some good use in the press. Check out the articles in the Hartford Courant and in Global Cosmetic Industry Magazine.

Check out her website here and her blog here.

Abigail Visits the NorthEast!

2009-03-01T11:08:00.000-05:00

Our friends Andrew and Marianne left New York about the same time we did and moved to the Atlanta area.

Recently they had a new addition to their family, namely, Abigail! When we heard that they were headed up North for a visit, we went out of our way to spend some time with them and meet a real cutie.

She's not much older than a year but she's already starting to talk. We miss you already! When are you coming back to see us?

I look like my Daddy!

Aunt Teresa is funny!

Story time with Daddy. Look! Three generations!

WPPI 2009

2009-02-20T11:06:00.000-05:00

No sooner did we complete our extreme networking week and we were off to Las Vegas for the WPPI convention. I gotta say, I don't think I've ever seen so many iPhones in one place.

Which brings me to my next point...

Facebook on the iPhone has made it really easy to "micro blog". I'm actually enjoying the brevity, the humor and the real-time nature of it.

For this reason, I'm not posting any photos about WPPI here but welcome you to check out the album I created on Facebook here.

This year Nikon sponsored a concert featuring Blues Traveler. This is a band that, in my opinion, has been overplayed on the radio to the point of being obnoxious. But hearing them live is another story altogether. I really enjoyed it.

We reconnected with several photographers from all over the world and with many of the people that we rely upon to provide our clients with the best photography products.

The highlight of this year's WPPI for Teresa and I was getting to spend time with our marketing consultants Jerry & Sondra from Power Consulting. They have helped us so much over the past few months and I am so excited about working with them.

Grace Ormonde Event at Chocopologie

2009-02-12T11:05:00.000-05:00

Grace Ormonde and company visited tonight at a special event for their Connecticut-based Platinum List members. All in attendance enjoyed some of the most delectable chocolate creations at Chocopologie in South Norwalk.

If you haven't been to South Norwalk, you should definitely check it out. It's got a lot of energy and a great place to go on a date. It's like a little taste of NYC on one city block with lots of really interesting restaurants and cafes.

A highlight of our evening was getting to know Zeb & Rae from Praez Occasions Custom Couture Invitations & Accessories. Yes, I know that's a really long name for a business but you must check out their work. It's incredible. The funny thing is, I actually just met Zeb & Rae in NYC the night before at a Wedding Salon event. Well, we just clicked and can't wait to work on some cool projects in the coming months.

Here's a happy capped creature!

The love of my life!

And last but not least, the comic Robert Norman.

Jessica & Jacob Visit - Blast from the Past

2009-01-26T11:03:00.000-05:00

The other day I get a call from Jessica.

Who it Jessica?

Well, the last time I saw Jessica was back in 1989 at my friend Matt's wedding in Cleveland, OH. You see Matt and I are the same age and he got a little baby sister when he turned 15 or so.

Anyway Jess was about 4 years old the last time I saw her. And she called to tell me that she and her husband are coming up for a visit.

WOW! Talk about a time machine jump!

Anyway I'm so glad I got to see Jessica and her husband Jacob. Jessica looks so much like her brother (and mom too). We had a great time at our favorite pizza place, Pomodoro Pizzeria in Farmington and a trip to Starbucks thereafter.

Hope to see you again soon guys!

Love,
Matt & Teresa

Put your Business Portaits Enhance

2009-01-22T11:01:00.000-05:00

I just love making people look their best. I also love it when those people get to see how good they really can look when good lighting is used and the photographer is able to capture the subjects true personality.

Recently I've been working with a few professionals in the area to enhance their image.

Meet Laura Donna. We met earlier this month at the Grand Bridal Show. We met there earlier this month and we really hit it off. She is the fragrance specialist. Check out her website and blog for more info.

Also, meet Dr. Diane Hindman. Dr. Hindman publishes a local health magazine called Natural Nutmeg, is an inspirational speaker and a life coach. She works with individuals and companies to help them reach their goals whether they may have to do with weight loss, health or success. Check out her site, "Dr. Diane Speaks".

Thinking about giving your public image an overhaul? Or just a little polish? Ask us how we can help you.

Speaking at Bridal Boot Camp on Park Avenue NYC

2009-01-16T10:53:00.002-05:00

This week I was asked to speak at a recurring special event sponsored by The Wedding Salon in New York City. The Wedding Salon is one of the most prestigious wedding shows in the world. 4PM Events produces the Wedding Salon in Miami, New York, Beverly Hills and New Jersey each year.

The Wedding Salon puts on Bridal Boot Camps throughout the year in various locations for the benefit of the select brides that get invited. This boot camp was hosted by Scully & Scully on Park Avenue which, by the way, is a really cool store with some of the finest home furnishings from all over the world that you have ever seen.

Scully & Scully

I was one of four different wedding service providers that had the privilege of advising the brides on various aspects of planning their weddings. Among the other speakers were a pastry chef, a makeup artist, and a florist.

We were asked about hot trends in our specific fields, what to look for and what to avoid. I mentioned about the hot trend of the engagement guest book. I was surprised that Rebecca Dolgin, executive editor of The Knot Magazine had not yet heard of this trend.

Here's a photo of Rebecca adressing the brides.

Anyway, if you are in or around the city and are getting married, you should definitely take advantage of this great resource and see if you can get on the guest list. The Wedding Salon highlights the best in the industry.

Check out our cool display (frame for my TV courtesy of Farmington Frame Co.).