Archive for the 'Photography' Category

It’s the Little Moments

Published by Ulysses on June 20, 2008 in Photography. 0 Comments

We love spending time with a couple to take beautiful portraits that showcase their affection and passion for one another. Julie & Swaroop, whose day was spent largely on the site of Lyndhurst Castle in Tarrytown, were one such couple who had no difficulty at all producing some gorgeous “Magazine Cover” opportunities for elegant fashion during their photo shoot. It’s part of who they are, and we loved every minute of it as much as they did.

But then there are also the little moments. . . times during the day that are so fleeting and yet so precious that you don’t ever want to forget them just because they lasted only a split second. Finding these and putting them on display for our couples is a virtual obsession for us, and we enjoy them just as much as the dedicated portrait sessions. Moments like these provide a cherished window into who our couples are and how they truly feel about one another.

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More from Julie & Swaroop:

The Greene Family Portraits

Published by Ulysses on April 5, 2008 in Photography and Portraits. 0 Comments

It’s been just marvelous getting to know Jesyca & Bill over the past couple of years. We’ve had the opportunity to photograph their wedding, and then document their growing family from pregnancy and into little Alex’s first year of life. Part of the richness of our experience is getting to know their families, as well. So when Bill’s mother, Lorraine, called and asked us to come and take her family’s portraits, we jumped at the opportunity. Each of these folks is so down-to-earth that it was a real treat seeing them all again. And we just know that Lorraine’s mom is going to absolutely love the surprise gift of portraits of all her kids and grandkids!

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Their complete gallery of photos can be found in the “Client Proofs” area of our main website.

Girls Getting Gorgeous!

Published by Ulysses on March 18, 2008 in Fashion, Fun, Photography and Tips. 9 Comments

Vivian portraitOne of Jenni’s most important tips to brides is: “Makeup is your friend - don’t be afraid of it!” As photographers, we know this is such a true statement. We know how beautiful you are, but a great makeup artist will help enhance that beauty even more so and help you look amazing in your pictures.

So when Marisa Verdi of Flawless Image Makeup offered to do makeovers for Jenni and Vivian (of Vivian Photography), they were excited to see what she could do. She gave them a softer daytime look, as well as more dramatic looks for evenings or going out (or a special photography shoot!). It seemed to me that the options were endless! Marisa is extremely talented and did an incredible job - her art background really shined through. She is also a veritable encyclopedia for MAC makeup, and sent Jenni home with a long shopping list. :)

But it wasn’t all work and no play! After their makeovers, I had a chance to photograph three of the most beautiful women you’d ever want to see - that’s right, Marisa had a chance to style for us, too! I think they absolutely rocked it.

IMPORTANT TIP: Since makeup will often look much lighter in your photos, don’t be afraid to go much darker than you normally would for everyday. Notice how dark Jenni’s makeup looks up close when being applied, yet look how amazing it looks in the other pictures.

Jenni’s eyes

So, there’s your proof ladies. A great makeup artist is going to work well with your photographer for stunning results in your photos. Makeup really is your friend.

Have a look at some more photos from the day. And to contact the talented Marisa Verdi, call 845.629.2398.

Marisa Verdi at work Vivian - Live a Colorful Life Jenni styling it alone
Jenni and Ulysses together Jenni - dramatic eyes and lips Marisa Verdi, Flawless Image Makeup

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Just Because . . .

Published by Ulysses on February 28, 2008 in Engagements and Photography. 2 Comments

We’re always encouraging our couples to look at their photos, and to look at them often! Why? Just because. When you go through your photos for the simple purpose of reminiscing over them, to enjoy your loving expressions, you’ll likely find that the emotion drawn up by the images can be very powerful. After all, you worked hard to look as fantastic as you do in those photos, and we work hard to find the mood that best expresses you in pictures!

We enjoy these images just as much as you do. I was recently perusing at random through some of our past engagement photos sessions and found a few that I wanted to share.

January & Glen (#75) Jill & Adam (#64) Jamie & Paul (#90)
Sarah & Greg (#55) Caroline & Jason (#56) Vivian & Johnny (#98)
(Click on any image for a larger version.)

The feelings evoked by photos like these, whether contained in art-mounted prints or in book collections, is priceless. It’s one reason why we cherish the time you give us during the shoot to create pieces like these, and we know you will, too.

When Jamie & Paul Knew It…

Published by Ulysses on February 1, 2008 in Photography and Weddings. 0 Comments

Anyone who visits our studio knows I like to tell stories about our pictures. I think it’s more than wonderful to be given a privileged and personal look at how a couple’s wedding day is impacting their feelings. Moment by moment you can see their changing emotion and expression.

For example, when exactly does a couple realize they are joined together at the most amazing moment in time that has ever happened for them? We take it as a personal challenge to try to find that defining moment.

The image seen below easily illustrates one of those moments for Jamie & Paul. As they sat during the ceremony, there was a period when they each looked at one another and then simultaneously, as if connected by the same magical thought, they looked down at the wedding bands that signified their union, while Jamie held and lovingly caressed Paul’s hand. It lasted for only a second, but it was a pure and amazing moment.

Jamie & Paul’s amazing moment (#241)

(Click image to see a larger version.)

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.

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What She Shot; What We Got

Published by Ulysses on June 3, 2007 in Photography and Weddings. 2 Comments

Everyone knows that we’re always behind the camera. We’re almost never in FRONT of the camera. The rare but enjoyable exception is when someone actually wants to take a picture of us, making us part of their personal story. Take Angela, for example (Gina’s sister and maid of honor). We had a lot of fun with these two girls, and in fact the entire bridal party. Unbeknownst to us, Angela was watching and putting on her inner photojournalist by capturing some shots of US getting our bridals with Gina. Too much fun! Thank you for sharing this, Angela! I had no idea we were so intense. LOL! :-D

Angela’s photo of the photographers (us…)

And pictured below is the shot Jenni got from that same period of time. I think most were surprised that we’d turned their foyer entrance into a makeshift photography studio. :)

Gina’s wall

 

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We’re on “Trash The Dress”!

Published by Ulysses on May 8, 2007 in News, Photography and Tips. 4 Comments

Lauren and Justin at Giorgio's, Long Island - Infrared photography“Something old, something new” - It’s a familiar expression. The old tradition of keeping the wedding gown spotless and untouched has been with us for ages. That’s understandable, considering the expense that usually goes into making the bride look her best. But then the gown was vacuum-packed and stored in an attic, never to be seen again. What a shame, we say! However, a growing NEW tradition is causing excitement among some adventurous couples who want as much mileage out of their wedding attire as possible for something spontaneous, celebratory, liberating, fashionable, unique, and totally INCREDIBLE for their photos. We’re enthused about this, because we’ve been doing it for years with our couples!

A new website called Trash The Dress (the name alone cracks us up!) regularly hosts images from photographers around the globe who are producing some awesome images for their couples. Many of these photographers are our friends and colleagues. So you can imagine our excitement at having our images shown there, as well. Check out the story and enjoy the looks on the couples’ faces! It’s about more than simply having fun trashing the dress; you can end up with some of the most beautiful and heart-stopping images of your entire album. Some couples make a second album with this unbelievable session.

We’re so happy to have several upcoming wedding and engagement sessions like this. If you (or anyone you know) enjoy this concept for your own wedding or bridal photos — or even a photo session some weeks after the wedding — contact us ASAP, and we’d be happy to explore more ideas with you. We’ve got a ton of them! :)

Here are some images from one of our past “Morning After” sessions with Nicole & Mike. Click any of the thumbnails below to see larger versions. Enjoy! :)

Nicole & Mike - 04Nicole & Mike - 05Nicole & Mike - 06

Nicole & Mike - 07Nicole & Mike - 08

“Where are the family photos?”

Published by Ulysses on December 23, 2006 in Albums, Photography, Tips and Weddings. 0 Comments

We are not your traditional wedding photographers. So it’s no surprise that on occasion we get asked, “Where are the family photos? I don’t see many on your website or in your album samples.” Another related question might be, “I enjoyed your photographers’ photos, but I wish there had been more family groups.” I’ll take a moment to address each of these questions.

1. Where are the family photos? First of all, we love getting to know not only the couple, but also their families. We’re frequently told by the bride or groom’s mother or other relatives that “you didn’t seem to be strangers to us. You felt like family.” We love hearing that because we work very hard to make everyone comfortable with us and our shooting style. It’s that comfort level that enables family photos to proceed with everyone in a joyful state, rather than dreading the photo session. Family photos are an important part of documenting your day, since it may be years before you see some of the individuals in your pictures again. We enjoy taking them.

At the same time, our photography is about much more than simply documenting people and events and facts. Simply put, WE WANT TO MOVE YOU. We want to give you something that moves the heart, that touches the soul, and that will make you fall in love with your wedding day again and again. Therefore, we tend to showcase the rarer intimate moments between the bride & groom, or between them and their family and friends. That’s what you’ll see in our studio and on our blog. The family photos are there if you look through our extensive galleries and album samples. Our photos of families will be relaxed and fun, as there’s no need for anyone to feel stiff and forced.


2. I wish your photographer had taken more family photos. This is a statement that may sometimes be made by friends or perhaps even other family members, rather than by the bride and groom. :)

It’s important to note that the list of formals are chosen by the bride and groom. The number of formals they opt to have us shoot will be impacted by the how much time they have, whether travel is required, and the schedule of the day. What others may sometimes forget is that the couple has worked closely with the photographer to plan the pace of their day. It’s important to us that no one feels rushed. To that end, most couples find that they do not need every possible combination of family members in the pictures. This way they acquire the pictures they need - both family formals as well as important private time for portraits of the bride & groom, while still having enough time to enjoy their wedding day.


So, family portraits are definitely important to us. They are a valuable part of the wedding tradition. Just as important and impactful is the photography time spent with the bride and groom. We love that time together with them and we love to share those pictures with others, as we feel what we do sets our work apart. The couples that commission us feel the same way, so we’ve found a winning combination and a good balance for our studio.

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It all happens so quickly!

Published by Ulysses on September 16, 2006 in Photography and Weddings. 0 Comments

We’re always amazed at how rapidly things can change during the course of shooting a wedding, particularly with regard to the quickly changing expressions in faces and eyes and smiles. You never know what’s going to happen, so you always have to be ready for the shot! We usually shoot in series because we love the unfolding story that takes places over the course of mere moments.

Take Jesyca & Bill’s recent wedding, for example. Bill was saying his vows, and Jesyca was clearly wrapped up in the moment. I couldn’t hear what Bill said that caused this series of reactions from Jes, but it was awesome. This all happened in about two seconds or less. :-)
Whether very subtle or very obvious, we love it when we see the animation and expression in the eyes and faces of our couples, making the photography such a joy. (click image to see a larger version)

Tip: Give your photographer time

Published by Jenni on March 31, 2006 in Photography and Tips. 0 Comments

All of the couples who work with us will no doubt notice that we emphasize spending some time alone with the bride and groom during some segment of their wedding day. We cannot state enough how important this is. Of course, we will get plenty of candid moments of you two throughout the day. However, there is no substitute for beautiful portraits. We get lots of feedback from couples about how much they enjoy this photography time, as we keep it fun and relaxed. One bride even called us on the way to her honeymoon to tell us how much fun she had taking pictures! It becomes a nice quiet break in the day for you two, away from all the people and pressure – a time when you can just concentrate on each other and how you’re feeling at that moment.

To help make sure this time is available, we are more than happy to help you develop your wedding day schedule. The biggest mistake we often see is planning something for every single minute. You’ll want to make sure there is buffer time in case things run a little late so that you’re not stressed. Your day will go so quickly it will be a blur, so planning in advance will help to ensure that everything important to you is accomplished. If you’re currently at the stage of planning your schedule, please call us – we look forward to hearing from you!

Here is a beautiful example of a couple who gave us time before the wedding…


One who stole away with us time during a quiet time in the reception…

And one who planned a sunset getaway with us…

Artist’s Choice… What’s That???

Published by Ulysses on March 28, 2006 in Photography and Products. 0 Comments

Jenni and I love taking pictures. Whenever we meet with clients, we always talk about how the shooting is only one part of the creative process. Images captured in camera, whether film or digital, still need to be “finished”. This is the case with our own photos, as well. While our focus is upon the couple’s deep feelings for one another, their expression of affection for one another, and producing the best moment frozen in that image, we also enjoy working on these photos to bring out their best for color, mood, and emotive impact. A proof alone will not completely convey the vision that Jenni and I have for that particular image in its finalized state. So what do we do? How can we convey our ideas to you, while also helping you enjoy your photos?

When we have the time available between shooting sessions, we create a little preview slideshow (for PC users only… no Mac version available at this time), which includes select images to demonstrate the way we “see” your photos. This slideshow gives you a chance to slow down, stop and drink in the beauty of your images in a way that the proofs may not. If it is a wedding slideshow, we also might be hinting at images that would look superb in your wedding album or as larger artistic wall prints. ;-)

A preview slideshow here at Ulysses Photography lasts only about a minute. But we also offer an Artist’s Choice Slideshow on DVD for engagement sessions as well as for your wedding images. This is what you might consider as a “director’s cut” of images (about 25 from an engagement session, and about 100 from a wedding), chosen by myself and Jenni, and then given a large dose of TLC during post-processing to produce a one-of-a-kind commemoration of your day together. Our emphasis is upon the pictures and the way these make you feel, rather than upon the show itself. But instead of using more words to describe it, why not take a look at a few recent examples of preview shows. The DVD versions of these shows are somewhat longer, with more images, but very similar in feel:

Jaime and Brett’s Engagement Preview

Jamee and Jeff’s Wedding Preview

Vivian and John’s Wedding Preview

We hope you enjoy shows like these. They are our way of providing another way to enjoy your photos. If you’d like to find out more about these, feel free to write and ask about them. Or request your very own Artist Choice Slideshow on DVD when going through your proof gallery. We think you’ll enjoy it immensely.

Loving What We Do

Published by Ulysses on November 7, 2005 in News and Photography. 1 Comment

Here’s a picture that Jenni took of me while on a recent photo shoot. My cheesy smile while working probably says it all (just click on the picture to see the smile even larger!). All of our couples who meet us can tell instantly that we absolutely love what we do. There’s no question about it. When we get to meet a new couple who are hopelessly in love and can help them bring their inner joy to their photographic session, then we know we have a wonderful thing going with them. The results are unforced and genuine.


It all begins with establishing a good relationship with our clients, and continues when we have the opportunity to invest in time spent with them both during their engagement sessions AND on their wedding day.

If you want the best possible pictures of yourselves, make sure that you allow time for yourselves on your wedding day. It’s so often forgotten during the planning stages. And we’d never want for your pictures to be short-changed without some fun and romantic portrait time built into your schedule. Ask us about helping to plan your timeline for your wedding day so that you can get the most out of your valuable photographic time with us.

Photograph Your Photographer

Published by Ulysses on August 24, 2005 in News, Photography and Tips. 0 Comments

We’ve always said that there’s a special closeness we feel with each of our clients. It’s more than a mere business relationship. And we want our clients to feel the same way. For us, it’s the only way to produce the sort of pictures that we’ll all enjoy.

But imagine having such closeness that the shoe is on the other foot, and finding OURSELVES being the ones photographed! Now that’s something we don’t see every day! Nicki and Mike enjoyed their “Morning After” session with us, and the entire morning was as Jenni likes to describe it, “impossibly romantic”. Nicki is a photographer herself, and loved having a little bit of playtime with one of our cameras, and even took a few shots of us on this amazing day. Getting out to the beach with Nicki and Mike was definitely a highlight of our summer season thus far, and we revelled in every minute of it.

Sharon and Ben are another couple that we couldn’t get enough of in our pictures. She’d promised us during their engagement session that she was going to make sure to get pictures of her photographers. We laughed and joked about that, even on the wedding day while in her bridal suite when we saw her snap a few pictures in our direction with a friend’s digital camera. We were surprised and elated when Sharon and Ben stopped by our home studio after returning from their honeymoon in the Caribbean and handed to us a couple of photographs that they’d printed — the very same shots of us that she’d taken on the wedding day! We’re going to make sure to put those in our own album.

Stories like the above are a reminder to us that when you develop a relationship of warmth, appreciation, and even love for one another, some really memorable things are the result for everyone there — including myself and Jenni.