Here are some tips to ensure that your family’s photo session is gorgeous and your outfits and accessories are in harmony:

DO'S

Do: Start with one outfit and build the rest of the family clothing from there - It can be overwhelming trying to choose all the outfits at once so start small and build from there. Everything doesn’t have to be new, shop your closet! 

Do: Pick one pattern -  Avoid dressing the whole family in patterns. A good idea is to choose one item, a dress for example, with a pattern containing the colors you love. Then choose colors from the item that you love for the other family members to wear. 

DON'TS 

Don’t: Choose colors that match the scenery - If you’re doing a lot of outdoor photos for example, avoid wearing a lot of green as you’ll blend in too much with the background. Of course pops of green here and there are fine!

Don’t: Wear solid black or solid white clothing unless they have textures - These colors don’t show enough dimension when photographed.

Don’t: Wear characters or words - It distracts from the important stuff, YOU!

Have you ever been driving to a wedding and you have the most horrible feeling that you’ve forgotten something? You keep racking your brain going, “What is it? What could it possibly be? The door’s locked. The oven’s off. I have all the stuff I need. Right? “ Panic starts creeping in, you start sweating, your heart is racing. “WHAT IS IT?!” you think. Well for me, it’s usually just a waking nightmare and I haven’t forgotten anything important. ( But I have pulled over on the turnpike to make sure my camera is there before. ) For Jared though, it was for real. He forgot his suit! I can only imagine what that felt like. Sami and Jared handled it well though, nothing could bring these two down! Jared’s parents were still in the vicinity of the suit and picked it up for them. So with just a little hiccup this family affair could get underway.

After getting dressed and some family photos, Sami and Jared were ready to get married. On top of being at Sami’s childhood home, everyone had something to contribute. Sami’s mom, Susan,  officitated. Jared’s mom, Ellen, did the reading. Presley, the ringbearer, was a star! Presley is Sami and Jared’s dog and he carried the rings faithfully down the stairs and then to his mom who he obviously loves above all others. ( Sorry, Jared! ) Surrounded by family, these two tied the knot and sealed it with a kiss. 

While lunch began, Sami, Jared and I went to take some portraits. You know when you see two people together and they are totally relaxed with each other, as if they fit together? Well that’s Sami and Jared. When it was time, Susan made a very nice toast to the happy couple.  For dessert the cake was brought out and make sure you check out the cake topper, they got engaged on a ski trip. Sami and Brian made the cake! ( Turns out Sami is an excellent baker and food photographer! Go follow her on instagram @samihomemaker )  What a perfect ending to a gorgeous day. 

Sami and Jared thank you so much for including me in your celebration. You are a lovely couple and made me feel like a long time friend. Please give Presley an extra cuddle from me! 

Florals : Craig Kiely Designs 

Dress : bhldn

Hair and makeup : Jillyan Scarpa Skin Bar & Paint

Food : Zabar’s

Party Rentals : Paul David Partywares

Cake : Sami and Brian!!

Melanie looked just like I remembered her. She is my youngest sister’s friend and has been since grade school but I haven’t seen her since probably her junior prom, when I photographed Bria and her friends before the party. The chance to be a part of Melanie’s wedding was something I was super excited for! 

Watching her walk down the street with Scott to begin our pictures was the best. You could tell they were a couple. Not just because of the beautiful lace dress and the handsome blue suit but because of the way they walked and talked together. Like a radiant team of two ready to take on whatever 2020 threw at them. Including the rain that had been happening all day. Good news, the rain tapered off just as we were beginning pictures! 

( Did you know that having an overcast sky is not a bad thing in photography? It creates a giant softbox in the sky and nice soft light. In fact, unless you are photographing at golden hour, it is often preferable to sunny skies. )

Scott, turns out, grew up one town over in Mt Laurel. He met Mel at a bar in Philly. Funny how small the world is sometimes. He’s got a great smile, a close family, a fabulous sense of humor, and is totes into Melanie. I only just met him but he’s good people, you can tell. 

The Shambles is an historic open air street market in Philly’s Headhouse Square. Iconically incorporating some of the history of the city they live in and love, this is where Mel and Scott said their vows. Surrounded by immediate family, Mel’s dad walked her down the aisle to Scott. Officiating was Scott’s parents next door neighbor. In a beautiful and intimate ceremony, they exchanged rings and promises. Officially married!

After some family pictures, we headed over to The Twisted Tail. And here I’d like to give a big thumbs up to them. The original plan was a bigger wedding at a different venue with lots of dancing and friends but … 2020 happened. So things changed a bit. The Twisted Tail was supposed to be the location of the rehearsal dinner, it was special to Mel and Scott, they really like it there. When Twisted Tail heard that the original plan was not going to work out, they really went out of their way to make this wedding as special as they could. 

Scotts’ nephew was the emcee and introduced the new husband and wife into the room and their first dance. Parent dances were next and then everyone said a toast. It was perfect!

Congratulations Mel and Scott! Thank you for letting me be a part of your celebration!

Hair / Makeup : Moxie Blue Salon 

Venue : The Twisted Tail

Cake / Cookies : Night Kitchen Bakery

Soooo, look what I found! Junior prom! LOL This is medium format film. I was 22, 23 when I took this?? (Don't do any math!)

2020 has been difficult for many people and many reasons but on June 20th in Watchung, NJ you wouldn't know know it. Here there was a celebration! Of love, of family, of close friends, all the important things in life. An intimate Catholic ceremony at Devon's high school was always part of the plan, the larger guest list and party just had to be scooched a bit down the calendar. They will have two chances to celebrate! This one, was a joy for me and obviously for them.

Devon, with her father, walked down the aisle to Rob with her best friend ( from the age of 5! ) singing "Only Fools Rush In." At the end of the aisle, there were HUGE smiles, on Rob's face, on Devon's face, on her Dad, even the Monsignor looked overjoyed. As it was a family affair, both of the sisters had readings and after the homily Devon and Rob exchanged rings and vows. The huge smiles came back again as everyone clapped them back down the aisle and outside as a married couple!

The first thing we did was a group photo of everyone. ( Which I always like to do at an intimate affair. Pictures of your people are important! ) With much joking and making sure everyone looked their best, we proceeded with pictures outside the chapel. Once we finished Devon, Rob and I headed over to Ninety Acres. Which was a nice drive because it was pretty hot and the air conditioning was a blessing.

Now it was just the three of us. Have you ever met a couple and think to yourself, "Wow, they really go well together!"? Well that's Devon and Rob. They met a mutual friends party and Devon agreed to go to a Springsteen concert, thinking it was a joke. Well, Rob bought the tickets for real and they've been together ever since. Ha! 

Devon, Rob, you are warm, friendly, funny, and amazing people, it was an honor to be included and I can't wait to see you again in November to do some more celebrating!

Hair and Makeup : Beauty and the Blush

Florist : Cassandra Shah Flowers & Events, Red Bank, NJ

Sign & Menu : The Jess Press, Middletown, NJ

Chapel : Mount St Mary Academy High School, Watchung, NJ

Dinner : Ninety Acres, Peapack and Gladstone, NJ

I love you and I like you