It’s time for the 2nd annual end of the year photo contest.  The contest last year was a huge success and brought tons of traffic and almost 50 comments.  The subject was best wedding cake, and you can take a peak at it if you’d like here. 

Anyway, the contest this year is going to be a little different.  I’ve talked it over with my brides who did boudoir this year, and I’ve decided that this year the contest is going to be about the best boudoir photograph.  I’ve gotten permission from my brides to post these, and I’m delighted to post such a collection.  Bridal boudoir has increased in popularity greatly, and it’s something I think if done tastefully can present amazing photographs.  I’ve felt for a while that the main factor responsible for holding back more popularity of bridal boudoir was the lack of samples.  If people were able to see some of the sessions, and see you don’t need to be a model to look truly beautiful and feel good about yourself, more people would be aware of the service and interested.  So I’ve gotten the green light from some amazing brides to post some of my favorite shots. 

As for the rules…. same as last year, please go to the comments section under the photographs and leave a comment with your vote (and feel free to write as much or little as you’d like).  You are free to vote on whichever image is "best" to you.  If it speaks the most to you because of the pose, or lighting, or you think the overall feel is super sexy, or classic…. you determine which you like the best.  There is no criteria on what should be the best to you.  The winner takes home $100 in prints.  The voting will end on January 10th.

On a final note, I want anyone interested to know that I am offering a special from now until Valentine’s Day on boudoir sessions that are separate from the wedding day.  The most common way I’ve had brides do boudoir has been the morning of the wedding during the getting ready portion, but lately more and more have decided to get them done on a different day.  If this is something you’d like done either as a surprise or as a gift, let me know and we can discuss availability.

On to the images……. vote away (1-10)!!

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As the end of 2006 draws near, I feel inspired to say a thank you to all of the couples who I have, or will be working with.  I’m always so quick to point out to people how lucky I am that my couples absolutely freaking rock, and it really is 110% from my heart. 

If there is a philosophy I have adopted since I started this business, it’s that I think couples who place an emphasis and importance on photography (and also on good taste!) usually end up finding the right photographer for them.  Whether it’s the style of photography, personality, attitude, the way the business is run, whatever the case may be… I think we can all agree that we know when we have found a good match.  I don’t think it’s any coincidence that I find myself saying quite frequently at weddings "geez I love this music selection," or "I love that dress," or the reception is at a location I love or the menu has my favorite choices.  If I ever get married it’s going to be easy since there will be so many ideas to swipe from all of you :)  Maria’s awesome blue shoes, Megan’s custom strawberry ice cream sandwiches, Michaele’s fireworks, Amy’s cotton candy machine… all things that come to my mind instantly as I type that I think were absolutely awesome touches.

So thank you to all of my couples.  From the bottom of my heart thank you for your business, your support, and most of all your friendship.  I look forward to spending much of my 2007 either with you or keeping in touch with you.  I have added a shot to this post that has not been on the blog yet. 

PS – The boudoir post is of the main interest, I know I know, so I will place this below that post after 24 hours.

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Ok I just have to share this story with everyone….

On Saturday the 23rd I made a last ditch attempt to try and convince Alisha to come and spend Christmas here in NY with my family and I.  Alisha was making some cheese-o excuses why she could not and I got into a little bit of a fight with her over it.  Not a huge fight or anything, but I just felt slightly hurt because it seemed like she didn’t even want to spend the holidays together.  I just felt a little hurt, but we made up the next morning right away and I apologized and explained why I started a little bit of a fight.  She only wanted to do it through text messages and emails though… which seemed rather weird. 

Anyway I finally accepted that we just weren’t going to spend Christmas together.  Her presents for me were at my parent’s house already though, and she did mention to me a while back that I could open one of her presents the night before Christmas.  So under the tree there is this box and I’m shaking it and shaking it all day and I just can’t figure out what it is because there is nothing moving.  So finally around 9:30pm I announced to my family that I had to open this present… and Alisha gave me the ok earlier.  Well they all knew what it was, so they gathered all around closely watching with big smiles.  I remember thinking "what the heck?!"  Anyway so I opened the box and it was a piece of paper.  I was very confused so I read it over and over… it was a flight itenirary from Expedia.  The date was December 24th though, which confused the heck out of me?  What?  So it must be next year for 2007 right?  No!  What the hell?!  December 24th of 2006 flight into Syracuse at midnight?  Wait that is in like…. tonight…… and in….2 hours?!?!?!  LOL yes Alisha and my family (they all knew, every last one of them) hid the fact that she was flying in on Christmas Eve at the last hour to spend the holiday together.  I give her HUGE props for keeping the secret from me (I had absolutely NO clue), and also for pulling off the coolest Christmas present I’ve ever received. 

We are both suckers for Christmas and spending it together was amazing.  I know much of my blog audience is made up of former brides, bride-to-be’s, friends and family, and of photographers who know Alisha and I…. so I really wanted to share this story to hopefully make you smile, and to say Happy Holidays from both of us :)

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I just want to publicly wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season this year.  To all my close friends like Jason, Frank, Bob, Andy (who I got to go to a hockey game with on Saturday night), my family who I am staying with for several days, all the people who I have had the chance to make friendships with through "work" like the photographers and other service providers…. and mostly to all of my clients past and present.  One of the absolute best parts of this job has been the relationships I have been able to form with many of the couples I have had the chance to meet and hang out with.  Dinners, lunches, engagement shoots, countless emails, I have had the opportunity to really get to know many of you and it is something I really appreciate.  Thank you for letting me into your lives.

Have an absolutely great holiday everyone, stay safe and thankful this year :)

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Usually for the picture of the week entry I choose one image and talk about it…. this week however I am going to make a couple of my favorite selections from Marissa and William’s wedding.  This was one of Alisha’s weddings that I shot with her (yes it goes both ways), and because things were so busy I never really had time to go through the images afterwards!  I did this morning though (finally), and here are a couple of my favs….

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This has been in the works for a while, so I am very excited to announce that as of February 1st I will have a new studio location in Manhattan.  The address will be -

526 W. 26th St
Suite #305
New York, NY 10001

I will of course still take Upstate NY weddings, and the transition from being based in Upstate to being based in the city will be a gradual one. 

Be on the lookout for a 212 number added, and also a cell phone number change.  I will post notice before anything is changed of course…. but be on the lookout :)

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Alisha has a cleaning service come in her studio in St. Louis when she is traveling, and she loves it.  I decided to try one myself and they were in the studio this morning…and I’m never going back.  I’m sort of a clean freak, and having someone else clean the place from ceiling to floor is super nice.  For all of you out there that like to have a spotless studio, or even apartment or house, check out a small local cleaning service.  The scuff marks on the kitchen floor are being buffed out while I am listening to iTunes and blogging…. life is good. 

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When people ask me if I am a "wedding photojournalist" I often times say… not really.  I mean I am in some sense because most of the day is spent shooting in a photojournalistic style for me, but much of my style revolves around being able to deliver beautiful, contemporary, and unique portraits of the bride and groom.  I like to have fun with my couples and when it comes time to get the shot with them, I have no problem giving a little direction if needed or explaining some crazy idea I have for a killer shot (and you all have seen these shots plastered all over my blog!). 

With all that said, I really do have a photojournalistic approach for the majority of the day and I’m not sure I focus on that aspect much on the blog.  So this weeks entry for picture of the week is of 2 guests at a wedding.  While there are always moments going on with the bride and groom that can be captured, often times little moments are happening all around the wedding and it’s good to have that 360 feel.  Below is an image from a wedding in June during Mara and Rob’s first dance.  It was a very heart felt dance and we have some beautiful shots of it… but one of my favorite images was actually of this mother and daughter watching the first dance.

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I almost never shoot fashion anymore, and even if I do I don’t post it on this blog since it has such a concentration on weddings….. but I wanted to post a shot from my one session in the last 6 months.  I shot this with a model Lori in Rochester about 3 weeks ago, and it was an absolute pleasure for me getting to shoot something different and outside the box. 

I love the style and look my wedding work has developed over the last couple years and I think throwing in 1 or 2 fashion shoots a year really has kept an edge on things. 

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One of my favorite couples of all-time, Amy and Dave Kwiat, hooked me and Alisha up with a super sweet gift certificate to Mirbeau Spa earlier this year as a thank you for doing such a good job at their wedding.  It was such an amazing gesture and Alisha and I appreciated it so much.  We’ve been holding off on using it since it was the crazy busy season, but finally had the chance to cash in on it earlier in the week.  My review of our experience there….. w-o-w.  I highly recommend this place for just about any and every thing.  We had a 5 course tasting meal that was incredible.  The food alone is worth going there for.  The Spa was the real treat though… man was that incredible.  First I went into the men’s locker room and sat in the sauna for a bit.  Then I decided to change into my robe and sit out by the waiting area, use the feet massaging pool with Alisha.  Then her and I got our massages… which were perfect.  Afterwards we soaked in the outdoor terrace hot tub and watched the snow fall.  After that it was yet another trip to the locker room to shower in this massive shower with great smelling lotions and soaps, shave, and one final quick visit to the sauna.  Ali and I drove home in agreement that Mirbeau was one of the best and most relaxing places either of us has ever been.  The food or spa by themselves would be exquisite, but when you combine them you have the ultimate place.

I have shot there before several times, but thank you Amy and Dave for opening up my eyes to how amazing that place is.  Below are some of their wedding images…

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