New York Wedding Photographer – Ulysses Photography Blog » artistic. unobtrusive. fashionable. fun.

One of our favorite things to do in Paris was “sample” the variety of foods and tasty dishes. This was an exciting adventure in itself because half the time the menus were written completely in French, with no English translation (!!!). So occasionally, we’d get something that was nothing like what we expected, considering our very poor French. But the food was always of excellent quality as to taste and presentation.

Our traveling partners, Melissa & Rene Tirado (also incredible photographers) were Jerry’s other models during our trip, and we loved spending time with them. So here in the final image for our tour of Paris, we found ourselves sitting outside a popular cafe, and clearly having a blast as we think about our incredible experiences.

We can’t say enough about how much we loved being in Paris. I know we’ll return one day soon, and MAYBE we’ll even photograph some of our awesome brides there! Wouldn’t that be amazing!?? Dream large when it comes to your photography! And make it happen!

Click on image for larger version. Photo courtesy Jerry Ghionis, XSiGHT Studio.

We’d like to thank ALL of you for looking and sharing your comments. Keep your browsers bookmarked to this blog. There will be more great images and information coming soon. Please keep your comments coming. We truly enjoy the interactivity that this blog allows. Knowing what you love about the pictures helps us to do what we love so much, too.

Especially would we like to give a shout out to Jerry, Ryan, and Sally, our Australian friends; David Beckstead of Washington; and the Melissa & Rene in Boston (love you guys!). Without you none of these incredible images would have been possible. Let’s do it again sometime soon! 😀

This one wasn’t actually shot in Paris. But I just had to include it in the line-up because we really enjoyed meeting a variety of warm and enthusiastic photographers while in Europe. We had a chance to help Jerry out with his workshops, and two of our favorites attending the class were Berty Greenbough and Laetitia Perrot, who together form the team of Perrot Photography. Each of them share a similar energy and enthusiasm for photography that Jenni and I do, so we couldn’t help but be drawn to their work.

During the shooting portion of the class, this image was taken by Berty. We had fantastic morning light, and he used it to best advantage by creating this very cool and dramatic interplay of shadow and sunshine.

Keep those comments coming! We’re going to continue to respond to as many as we can, too. We’re really enjoying the feedback, as it helps inspire us for your own photos. Stay tuned! Our blog returns to Paris tomorrow!! 🙂

We decided to get a closer look at the Eiffel Tower. On its northern side is the bridge crossing the Seine River leading back to the Trocodéro, and on its southern side is a long narrow park of grass and walkways lined by benches and trees. This park is where we now found ourselves.

Although it wasn’t as green on this January day as it would be during the summer, it was unseasonably warm (for January in Paris), and a walk by the Eiffel Tower was a perfect opportunity to enjoy the panoramic views, as well as enjoy one another. We saw plenty of other couples like this, in love and in their own private world.

Click image for larger version. Photo courtesy Jerry Ghionis, XSiGHT Studio.

While we usually avoided the major tourist traps in Paris, how could we resist spending at least a little time at the Eiffel Tower? We walked across the bridge that leads from the Trocodéro to the Eiffel Tower. Once we got there, it was only then that we appreciated how truly massive this structure really is. Though it is made of steel and covered in thousands of bulbs to light it up at night, it is undeniably beautiful even in broad daylight.

Swept up in the joy of being there near the Tower, we couldn’t help but get closer for this movie poster-like photo. I love the almost “epic” feel of it, another story captured in a single moment.

Click on image for larger version. Photo courtesy Jerry Ghionis, XSiGHT Studio.

Immediately across the Seine River from the Eiffel Tower sits the beautiful park of The Trocodéro, which is also the site of the Palais de Chaillot. Many thousands gather each day to enjoy the grand views of the commemorative structures, the peaceful greenery of the park, or to gaze upwards at the Eiffel Tower which lords over this portion of Paris.

For this fashion session, we chose to make ourselves as indigenous as possible and do as the Parisians do: Sit on a bench and enjoy watching the tourists and sight-seers pass by. Of course, to make this work, you must strike the pose that we have here! 😀

All of a sudden we (the models and Jerry the photographer) became one of the sights that the tourists were gawking at. It was actually a lot of fun, turning a photo session into a surreal but utterly enjoyable experience. We absolutely loved it. 🙂

Click on image for larger version. Photo courtesy Jerry Ghionis, XSiGHT Studio.

“I feel good!” or perhaps “You make me feel like dancin’!” or I could go with “Dancin’ Machine!” However we choose to title this one, it just makes me laugh every time I look at this photo. 🙂

We were still walking by the Seine River, and Jerry asked me to “Dance!!” I don’t know if it was just the wind or the fact that I didn’t comprehend his *extremely* simple request (hahah!). He shouted again above the wind, “I need you to dance your heart out!” So I started to improvise as best as I could. Let me tell you, I never felt so silly, but the results in the pictures made me look like a dancin’ genius! Jenni was off-camera and laughing hysterically, but that’s okay. My best moves are yet to be seen! 😀

Please, keep the comments flowing. We’re really enjoying your feedback on these photos. We’re always excited about bringing this same sense of freedom, fun, and creativity to your own pictures!

Click image to see larger version. Photo courtesy Jerry Ghionis, XSiGHT Studio.

French couisine is everything that you’ve heard it would be — flavorful, filling, and beautifully presented. In fact, one of the most enjoyable features of Paris was checking out the various cafes and dining experiences. Yumm! Never feeling at all rushed, we were able to enjoy our meals at our leisure, and sit for long conversations while watching the rest of Paris pass by our windows.

After a delicious meal, what could be more lovely than an evening walk to the Seine River? When we got there, what a view we had! — expansive palaces, parks, the Eiffel Tower with its rotating beam of light, and other landmarks, all marvelously lit to show off their art and architecture. This photo was taken by international traveler and award winning photographer, David Beckstead, whose loose and relaxed style was perfectly suited to this slow romantic stroll down the river.

Click image for larger version. Photo courtesy David Beckstead Photography.

There is a dark underground tunnel giving pedestrians access to the base of the Arc de Triomphe. This tunnel served as the location for our next fashion session. The concrete texture of the walls provided texture, and the low lighting provided a sense of mystery.

I love the look of longing in Jenni’s green eyes, juxtaposed against my mostly hidden features in this image. A sense of the luxury of times gone by is conveyed by her fur stole as well as the black hat. What is she supposed to be thinking here? And where am I going? That’s the fun of it, and I love making up stories in my own mind when it comes to images like this. Sometimes during our engagement sessions or our brides’ fashion sessions, we’ll ask you to pose a certain way perhaps because we’re “creating a story” with your pictures.

Make up your own story about this photo and share it with us by leaving a comment! 🙂

Click image for larger version. Photo courtesy Jerry Ghionis, XSiGHT Studio

Paris has the well-deserved reputation of being the “city of love”. Nearly everywhere we walked, we saw couples holding hands, touching affectionately, or kissing. We don’t know what it is, exactly, but there’s definitely something about this city that takes hold of you and sweeps you away in its romantic embrace.

You would never imagine a long climb to the top of the Arc De Triomphe as the place for a fashion shoot, but it proved to be just perfect in setting the desired mood of isolation and privacy while the staircase itself seemed to wind into infinity. Of course, holding and kissing Jenni has never been a problem, making this session an ideal reward for climbing all 284 steps to the top of the monument. 🙂

Click image for larger version. Photo courtesy Jerry Ghionis, XSiGHT Studio

Many of our readers know that we were excited to take a trip to London and Paris in January. The trip was part vacation and part work-related. During our time in Paris, we had the unique privilege of being photographed by multi-award winning photographer, Jerry Ghionis from Australia, who had asked us and our traveling companions, René & Melissa Tirado (also wedding photographers), to model for his European workshops. What an amazing opportunity to be inspired while being photographed, and the whole time taking in the wonders of Paris!

For the next week or so, we’re going to share with you one picture per day from our fashion shoot in Paris. These took place over the course of two very intense but completely enjoyable days of shooting. Hopefully these images will give you not only an idea of the passion and romance that can be found in this incredible city, but also convey just how stylishly playful great photography can be.

We’d definitely love to hear your comments on the photos. So please click on the “Comments” icon immediately below this entry, and give us a shout! 🙂

Our first photo was taken on a fifth-story corner balcony of our hotel. It was very windy and quite chilly out there, but we were so excited about this start to our sessions that it really didn’t matter. As I gazed out towards the Arc de Triomphe, the wind provided a bit of movement to Jenni’s hair and fur stole. Jerry asked us to adopt a little attitude, ignoring and yet feeling drawn to one another at the same time.

Click image for larger version. Photo courtesy Jerry Ghionis, XSiGHT Studio