Archive for August, 2007

A Day with Friends in Manhattan

Published by Jenni on August 30, 2007 in Photography. 8 Comments

Last week two close friends of ours, Jessica and Nate, were visiting NYC. They are not only incredible photographers, but also people we just really love. We were so excited to spend the day with them. Although we’d initially planned to go to the Museum of Modern Art for inspiration, the lines to get in were rather daunting, so we decided to change plans. Our first stop was the Apple Store on 5th Ave, which Ulysses had been very eager to visit. Jess and I did some shopping, and we enjoyed our very first Jamba Juice smoothies (big YUM).

iPhone amazement

Of course, when you’re in Manhattan, you have to keep your eye open for celebrities, and Ulysses is incredible at recognizing and remembering faces. As we were walking, he suddenly stopped and said “Anita Baker!” When we turned around, there she was, speaking with another woman. Ulysses immediately walked over and waited until this famous singer was done, and then walked introduced himself and walked with her for a while. I grabbed a few shots before heading over to meet her, as well. Ulysses was so excited to tell her that we danced our first dance to one of her songs - Giving You the Best That I Got - at our wedding almost 18 years ago. She was very sweet, and we really enjoyed meeting her. Only in New York, right? :)

Walking with Anita Baker

The celebrities we enjoyed the most, however, were Jess and Nate. They are as much fun in front of the camera as they are behind it. :) They asked us to take some photos of them for their new website, so we stopped at a few funky locations that had interesting light and had a blast with them.

Ulysses: Before we began walking the streets of NY with Jess and Nate, Jenni served as on-the-scene makeup artist, helping Jess prepare for her New York debut. The ladies looked ABSOLUTELY KILLER, I might add. ;)

Makeup! Where’s my makeup?!??

Some of the photos were taken with their cameras, so I don’t have access to those. But we’ll show you some of our faves that were shot on our own cameras. Sometimes the mood was quiet; other times it was much more energetic (go Jess go!!) :-D

Jess & Nate in love (01) Jess & Nate excited!

A bit of romance after exploring Central Park was nice, too.

Jess & Nate in love (02) Jess & Nate in love (03)

Jess & Nate treated us to an incredible dinner at a Nouvelle Mexican restaurant (really big YUM). After dinner — no surprise — we were still shooting and laughing our heads off.

Jess & Nate by candlelight Jenni by candlelight

It was so refreshing to recharge our batteries in the middle of our busy photography season. Being with great friends who inspire us and share our passion for photography was a true highlight of the summer for us.

(Click on any image for a larger version.)

Quality and Exceptional Service

Published by Ulysses on August 28, 2007 in Products, Tips and Vendors. 0 Comments

Quality - Edwina & RyanI remember years ago shopping in a mens clothing store. A gray-haired gentleman was helping his son buy his first suit. I overheard the young man say to his dad, “What about this one? It’s pretty inexpensive.” The dad looked at the price tag, and then he put his hand on his son’s shoulder and said, “I’ve always told you, buy QUALITY, and buy SERVICE. They won’t let you down later on.”

I have remembered this sage advice from that day forward, and it’s a recommendation I give to anyone when it comes to making important purchases, and especially to couples who are considering us for their photography needs. We are so happy to have had the most amazing brides commission us with such an important trust as their wedding photos. The quality of our photography, the products that showcase your images, and our customer service are second to none and are intended to give you a total experience with us that you will value for a lifetime.

Our reputation is everything to us. Therefore, we feel both privileged and thrilled to have our brides rave with their comments about us both on this blog, as well as in the “Raves” section of our main website. We also have an excellent reputation with a broad selection of vendors and venues who feel the same way about boutique-style service, and we’re very proud of that fact. Our photography has won awards and has been published in magazines. But those accolades are nothing in comparison to the joyful responses we receive from our couples, along with their family and closest friends. You are our biggest cheerleaders, many of you virtually shouting about us from the rooftops. :)

For that we want to THANK YOU.

Quality - Annie & Jason

(Click on any image for a larger version.)

Jennifer & Greg’s Wedding

Published by Ulysses on August 26, 2007 in Weddings. 2 Comments

Jennifer & Greg had a perfect day! It was sunny and beautiful, and all their friends and family seemed so excited to see them get married. It was so beautiful to see the way Jen and Greg looked at each other - they so obviously enjoy every minute together.

Jen and Greg told us from the beginning that they were seriously looking forward to the food, and I know for a certainty that no one left this wedding hungry (including us!). I don’t think I’ve seen that much food in a long time - it was amazing! Jen and Greg, thank you so much for the feast. :)

Their complete online gallery will be available upon their return from their honeymoon. You will find it in the “Client Proofs” area of our main website. But for now, enjoy this preview of images from their beautiful day. Just press the PLAY (Play button)button to begin the show.

We’d love to hear your own comments about their day and about the pictures, so leave a comment by clicking on the “Comments” link immediately below. :)

Lena & Justin’s Engagement

Published by Ulysses on August 23, 2007 in Engagements. 0 Comments

We met Lena & Justin in person for the first time today. What a cute couple! :)

Lena & Justin’s engagement sessionThey were visiting from their home in Minnesota and came all the way out to finalize some wedding details and to spend some time with us for an early-morning engagement session. What a blast we had! The park we’d chosen was relatively empty and was very quiet — quiet except for us, that is. We had a perfect opportunity to simply get to know them better. :-D

Lena wore a lovely dress she’d bought especially for this photo session. The two of them were naturals in front of the camera and hardly needed much help from us. The moments we captured were just delightful, and we can’t wait to show them the results. They were so easy and enjoyable to be around, that we know their wedding at Round Hill House is going to be a fun autumn affair! :)

Their complete engagement gallery is coming very soon to the “Client Proofs” section of our main website, so keep your browsers ready!

Lena & Justin’s engagement session

(Click image to see a larger version.)

Rachel & Ross’ Wedding

Published by Ulysses on August 22, 2007 in Weddings. 11 Comments

Rachel & Ross. Ross & Rachel. Wow!!! We read their names when they first contacted us by email, and we knew we had to shoot this wedding! :-D

It was a beautiful day at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, and Rachel and Ross chose to see one another before their ceremony. As her family and closest friends looked on from a distance, it was such a privilege to photograph them during this intimate moment. They love pictures so much that we got to walk around the pier for an hour to capture some fun and fashionable photos of the two of them. This time together was so appreciated and important! :)

The rapidly waning light of their sunset ceremony lent a very intimate feel to the proceedings even though there were hundreds in attendance. You could tell that they could hardly believe it as they were pronounced as husband and wife. The cheering for them was incredible, as was the reception party to follow.

Rachel & Ross, we were truly moved by your beautiful day, and inspired by the deep love that your parents have for each of you. Rachel, we were particularly touched by the poem read by your grandmother. It was such a special day, and we sincerely thank you for choosing us and showing such confidence in us to take care of you on your wedding day. Thank you, too, for the amazing chilean sea bass dinner! Double yum! :)

UPDATE 8/23/07: The complete gallery is now available in the “Client Proofs” area of our main website. But here is a brief teaser of some of the pictures to come. Just click the PLAY button (Play button) to begin the show.

Make sure to share this blog with everyone! We want to hear from you after seeing some of the photos. Or leave a message for Rachel & Ross by clicking on the “Comments” link immediately below. Enjoy! :)

Carol & Rick’s Wedding

Published by Jenni on August 22, 2007 in Weddings. 2 Comments

Carol & Rick: IntimateAnyone seeing their natural affection on display can tell that Carol & Rick are simply made for one another. We met up with them a few hours before the wedding for their private photo shoot. We love doing these because the couple can be undistracted by any other thoughts and concentrate completely upon one another. And let me tell you, the ONLY thing Carol was thinking about was Rick! :-D

As she slowly walked up behind him so that he could see her in her fabulous designer gown for the first time, the excitement in the air was like electricity. I think we all had tears of joy in our eyes as they greeted, kissed and hugged. Just beautiful. Their wedding ceremony at the Eagle’s Nest was just as packed with emotion. We laughed when as the officiant neared the point of pronouncing them as man and wife, Carol turned to friends and family and said, “Everybody get ready to scream!” :-D

The complete gallery will be available very soon in the “Client Proofs” section of our main website. Please, leave a comment about your favorite photos by clicking on the “Comments” link below this entry. We love hearing from you! :)

Carol & Rick: Excitement!

(Click on any image to see a larger version.)

Our Autumn Season

Published by Jenni on August 21, 2007 in News and Portraits. 0 Comments

AutumnAs many of you have noticed, we’ve been extremely busy lately. In fact, it’s just going to get busier as we head into our autumn season. We’ll have lots of exciting weddings, morning-after sessions, portrait sessions, and even a honeymoon to show you soon on the blog! :)

Since we feel that excellent service is just as important as incredible photographs, we will be closing out the months of September and October to any additional portrait sessions except for maternity and newborn (since they are obviously time-sensitive).

We are currently booking portrait sessions for the months of November and December, so if you are thinking of planning a session, please call us now to reserve a date.

Thank you all! We’re looking forward to an amazing autumn.

Caroline & Jason’s Engagement

Published by Ulysses on August 12, 2007 in Engagements. 1 Comment

Caroline & Jason drove a ways out to shoot with us, and they brought along some incredibly cute friends: Sugar and Ziggy, their pet poodle mixes. After having a nice walk in a nearby park, Sugar and Ziggy were just as ready as everyone else for some photos and playtime! :)

As Caroline & Jason both have their hands full with work, they were looking forward to this little date-like session, when they could just sit and relax and enjoy each other’s closeness. We had a great time getting to know each of them better, as well. We’re looking forward not only to their wedding, but also spending another fun time with them on the MORNING AFTER the wedding. They’ve got some special plans for that day, so stay tuned to the blog for their wedding at Round Hill House this October! We’ll tell you all about it and have plenty of pictures to show you. We can’t wait. :)

Their online gallery is coming soon to our main website in the “Client Proofs” area, but I wanted to surprise Caroline & Jason with this slideshow preview of their engagement session photos so they can see just how fantastic they did together. Just click the PLAY button (Play button) to start the show.

We’d love to hear your comments about some of your favorites by clicking the “Comments” icon immediately below.

Wedding Locations and Photography

Published by Ulysses on August 10, 2007 in Tips. 0 Comments

It might come as no surprise that brides sometimes check our website (and this blog) well before even choosing their wedding venue. Although we’ll probably never get to see every single location in the northeast, we’ve had a chance to visit some spectacular venues and to show them off beautifully in photographs.

Sometimes couples want to make sure that their venue will easily lend itself to pictures. Other times the bride might be looking for decor ideas. Still others simply enjoy looking at pretty pictures as they anticipate their own wedding day. :)

Whatever the reason, feel free to browse around our main website, specifically in the “Client Proofs” area. If you go there, you’ll see not only a listing of some of our most recent weddings (listed by the bride & groom’s names), but you’ll also see a long list of “Featured Weddings“. This is where you’ll see events listed by venue and location, each gallery with a sampling of images highlighting the beauty of the venue, and sometimes even pictures of the tasty dishes served there.

Click to go to our Another way to get that listing is to go to our Client Proofs Index Page, There you will see the same breakdown of whole wedding galleries, as well as some featured wedding locations. Sometimes we’ll show the same venue at a different time of year so you can get a good idea of what to expect for your own wedding there. We love working at beautiful and interesting locations, whether it is the Belvedere Mansion, Castle on the Hudson, Chateau Hathorn, Hall of Springs, Mohonk Mountain House, Ocean Place Resort, Onteora, Skylands Manor, on a yacht, or on a horse farm.

But more important than the intrinsic beauty of the place is how we’ll make use of it on YOUR wedding day, and how we work together to ensure that you enjoy the experience of great photography. We’re not necessarily traditional or conventional, but we think you’ll love how you look in your photos. So browse around our website! And if you have any questions or comments, do not hesitate to contact us for more information. :)

Kristie & Joel’s Wedding

Published by Ulysses on August 9, 2007 in Weddings. 7 Comments

Our weekend was packed with beautiful weddings. Kristie & Joel’s wedding was particularly special because it was as if we were seeing our own brother and sister get married. :)

The day was incredibly emotional for everyone, with tears of happiness being shed when Kristie’s dad saw her for the first time in her beautiful gown, as Kristie and Joel spoke their vows to one another, as everyone hugged right after the ceremony, and during their first dance together. One moment flowed into the next, making the day pass all too quickly. We were thrilled to be able to spend some private time with the two of them for a photo session, and the results were just fantastic (no surprise at all after our previous engagement session with this fun couple).

Kristie & Joel, we want to thank you from our hearts for trusting us with such an important part of your day. You are two beautiful people, and we’ve had so much fun together. We truly hope we get to see you and your families again soon. Thank you so much for the fantastic Chilean sea bass - yum! We truly enjoyed ourselves.

We’re sure you’ll want to see a little preview of what is to come in their online gallery. Here is a brief slideshow for your enjoyment. To begin, press the PLAY button (Play button).

Their complete gallery will be posted when they return from their honeymoon. Keep your browser pointed to the “Client Proofs” section of our main website. And we encourage you to leave a comment for Kristie & Joel by clicking the “Comments” link immediately below. We always enjoy hearing the feedback, and we know they will, too. :)

Julie & Swaroop’s Wedding

Published by Ulysses on August 8, 2007 in Weddings. 0 Comments

Julie & Swaroop’s wedding (2 of 2)Julie & Swaroop’s wedding day had finally arrived! We were very excited about this wedding, as Julie is a photographer herself. They were actually the second couple of ours who had a venue change forced upon them (the same happened for Sarah & Greg’s wedding). But their day at the beautiful Lyndhurst Castle actually turned out even better in the end than their initial plans. Julie was a beautiful vision to behold in her gorgeous designer gown. And we have rarely met such a classy and down-to-earth groom as Swaroop. As is our custom, we took advantage of the naturally warm quality of light throughout the day for lovely results. There was a true blending of eastern and western cultures as their family and friends celebrated by dancing with them throughout the evening. Their exit was made more memorable with a bubble-filled send-off by their guests. It was such a spectacular day.

Julie & Swaroop’s wedding (1 of 2)Julie & Swaroop, thank you SO much for making us a part of your day and for the incredible Indian meal. We loved it! It was a privilege to share in the joy of your wedding. We’ve got so much to show you! ;)

Their complete online wedding gallery will be available tomorrow! Be sure to check the “Client Proofs” area of our main website. And please… we’d love to hear your responses about some of your favorite pictures or your time there at the wedding. You can leave a comment by clicking on the “Comments” icon immediately below this blog entry.

(Click on the photos for larger versions.)