Apr
04
Just finished working on Amanda and Ed’s wedding album (check out the photos from their Copley Plaza wedding), and thought it would be fun to look back at our first session together. We had a blast wandering around Cambridge last summer- hung out on the steps of Harvard‘s library, enjoyed the city streets and Weeks Bridge, and ultimately found our way to John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House, a favorite hang out and site of the rehearsal dinner for this duo.
Want more from Amanda and Ed? Check out their wedding part 1, part 1,2 and their e-session slideshow.
Feb
08
Amy and Phil’s engagement session last spring brought together their passions for each other, for ballroom dance, for MIT, and for the beautiful cities of Cambridge and Boston. On a foggy day (rare for Boston) and with the cherry blossoms showing off their best color, Dave met up with Amy and Phil to capture these portraits for them.
If you would like to see more from Amy and Phil, check out their wedding blog entry 1 and 2, their engagement and wedding slideshows.
Jan
10
I pick up where I left off with Eleni and Johnnie’s joyous wedding. We had just finished our portrait session at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, so Eleni and Johnnie climbed into their vintage limo to head to Cambridge for their reception.
At the Charles Hotel, we had a little extra time for portraits. (We had originally planned to take portraits at the pedestrian bridge over the Charles River, but it was covered in scaffolding. So bummed about that, but really glad the hotel has a pretty awesome lobby.) The lighting and the art at the hotel is mysterious and rich, lending to some amazingly unique images. Here, blending reality with a dreamlike quality- kind of like a wedding day, actually.
Meanwhile the guests enjoyed an outdoor cocktail hour. One of my favorite things about the Charles Hotel as a venue is this courtyard.
Inside the romantic scene was being set with candles,
Warm lighting and vibrant colorful floral arrangements,
And this decadent, sparkly wedding cake.
Eleni and Johnnie made their grand entrance.
Right into their first dance.
As is the Greek custom, their family and friends showered them with money.
Ultimately they were joined on the dance floor by everyone. I especially enjoyed their nephews dancing crazily beside them.
And the party begins….
After the DJ got things heated up, the Greek band led the Greek dancing.
A highlight for all… the men’s dance. Hilarious. I am not 100% sure what it is about, but the boys have to get down on their knees,
On their backs,
and drink. Too much fun!
And I’ll drink to that.
Huge congrats to Eleni and Johnnie and their families. What an amazing celebration. We are so glad we could document it for you.
Additional thanks to all of the pro’s who help make it a fantastic day:
Ceremony Officiant and Venue: V. Rev. Dr. Cleopas Strongylis of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Reception venue and planner: Sarah Chatigny of the Charles Hotel
Caterer: Henrietta’s Table at the Charles Hotel
Cake: Danny Angelopolus at the Charles Hotel
Brides wedding gown: Monique Lhullier from L’elite Bridal Salon
Bridesmaids dresses: Melissa at Allegria Bridal with Jim Hjelm and Lazaro gowns
Groom and groomsmens tuxes: Russo’s Tux
Bride’s hair: Maria Iannessa from Bella Capelli
Bride’s make-up: Eddie Fee
Floral and lighting design: Donna Fucaloro of Pepperberry Flowers
DJ: Kostas Flathras of Hellenic Sound Productions
Ceremony Musicians: Lindsey McChord of Longly School of Music
Videographer: Jesse Barack of Mass Videography
Invitations and other printed materials: Lynne Johnson of The Inviting Company
If you still want more, check out their engagement session, Part 1, and their PicFlick.
Jan
04
We knew that Eleni and Johnnie’s wedding was going to be fantastic long before the actual day arrived. First there was our initial consult and the way Johnnie looks at Eleni. And at that first meeting, he shared how much he wanted to just get married so they could start their life as a family.
Then there was their engagement session, which was loads of fun. The North End was Johnnie’s stomping ground, and where they had their first date. We saw more of the neighborhood than we ever had before. And then during our pre-wedding meeting, we asked them what they were most looking forward to and they both reiterated, “We can’t wait to be married!”
So we knew the day would be extraordinarily special, focused on their love and we knew based on how much fun these two are, that their friends and family would surely be a blast as well. We were not disappointed.
We started at Eleni’s parents home for her getting ready photos and family portraits.
Gotta love her dress, but this image is also about the home that she grew up in- the chandelier, the china cabinet and other family heirlooms.
Dave popped outside to get a photo of all the boys in the family. Eleni couldn’t resist sneaking in. Only one little guy noticed. Then Dave headed off to Johnnie’s mom’s house for their family photos.
Meanwhile, Eleni was helped into her beautiful dress by her mom and her sisters.
I took a few portraits of Eleni in her parents bedroom. The window light was gorgeous. But I also love all of the family details. In this image, I was able to capture her mother watching as well as her parents wedding photo on the wall, a layered story.
And the boys helped her make her way down the stairs.
On the way out, she kicked the glass of water down the stairs. Then she hopped into her vintage limo.
Meanwhile, Dave and the boys had made it to the Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Johnnie can totally pull off the Godfather look; he has the perfect smile.
But his true nature comes out as he waits in the back of the church. He must be thinking, “When can we start already?!”
And then the festivities began in earnest. The boys made their way out to the sanctuary. And as his niece was walking down the aisle, his sister waved her on enthusiastically.
Eleni waited outside the doors with her parents.
From the moment she entered, she and Johnnie were all smiles. And he kept stealing glances at his beautiful bride.
Just before the kiss, Johnnie’s smile grows even bigger.
And what a kiss it was!
Portraits followed… here’s one quick glimpse of what is to come following the ceremony.
And the Charles Hotel reception follows that with some seriously fun and funny Greek dancing!
Mar
28
Last spring, we celebrated this young woman’s graduation with a portrait session on the MIT campus, her new alma mater. She was embarking on a grand adventure, moving across the country to a new job and it just felt right to commemorate her time here in the Boston area. She is a bright, beautiful young woman with the world ahead of her. We wish her all the best in her journey!
Oct
31
The couple that boxes together, stays together.
Initially when we met with Anna and talked about her and Johnny’s engagement session, we thought we might do something at a pizza joint. They met while she worked with him at a pizzeria. I imagined flour being tossed and pizza being made. They would have been great photos. When we started making plans this fall, they had come up with the idea of boxing, as they attend a boxing gym together. I absolutely ADORED this idea. Immediately I had an idea for a photo I wanted to create. As it turns out, Dave also immediately had an idea. They were both different and both exciting. I couldn’t wait.
First, Dave’s concept. Larz Anderson was perfect for it. Anna and Johnny appear to be at the top of a ridge, fighting to the finish. Love the angle and color of Dave’s vision.
My angle on Dave’s idea. Don’t mess with Anna.
My vision was to create something akin to a Sports Illustrated cover or a boxing poster. I wanted off-camera flash (something we almost never use, but every tool has its time and place) times 2. The goal was to turn the sky dark by underexposing it and flash Anna and Johnny, giving them a surreal prominence and power. I am so excited by the way these came out.
This one actually reminds of a scene from The Princess Bride (Anna I will lend it to you, don’t let me forget). The one in which the Man in Black is dueling with Inigo in the ruins.
Anna and Johnny chose Larz Anderson as the backdrop for their portraits for a couple of reasons, one of which was the Boston skyline views. Horsing around on the hills.
Another reason was because Johnny grew up in Brookline and had spent a lot of his younger years in the park. He knew it inside and out.
After we had played around enough, they changed into regular clothes for a few more traditional portraits. Together on the lawn.
One of Anna alone. So pretty and at ease.
Capturing the beginning of fall and one sweet kiss.
We made our way to this beautiful rain pavillion for a few more. Loving the interactions of these two.
And in the gorgeous scene.
Really, this session was so much fun. Anna and Johnny really got into the photos and shared their ideas. Plus how often do you get such a knock out couple knocking each other out? I would highly recommend checking out a few more images here.
Oct
29
When last I wrote about Jess and Dan’s wedding day, I shared the getting ready, a few portraits, and a teaser for the ceremony. If you haven’t checked those out, here’s a teaser from the portraits. A quick note about this image. This was Jess’ inspired idea. We loved it and so we all made the walk to Harvard Square from the Charles River. So glad we did.
And now for the rest of the good stuff. The ceremony and reception. Dan gazing at Jess.
And what a kiss! Check out how all the guests are cheering them on.
Right into their first dance. Literally. I mean they walked 2 steps and started dancing. How sweet is that.
A moment in time from the dance.
Observing it all.
Since it was an intimate wedding, every single person had a special connection to our couple. This made for some wonderful moments. Jess and a friend admiring each other’s fashion choices.
The guests also knew each other, for the most part, so they all really enjoyed catching up as well.
Oh, and we were told that Dan would only be on the dance floor once, during his first dance. "Dan doesn’t dance," we were informed. Well, you can imagine how surprised everyone was when they were able to drag him onto the dance floor. And I would venture to say he enjoyed himself. Loving how he is surrounded by the ladies.
And another one, just to prove it wasn’t short lived, our groom kicking up his heels with his bride. Nice moves, you two!
What a night! Huge thanks to Jess and Dan for including us in your intimate wedding. It was such a joy celebrating with you and your guests.
Many thanks to all of the professionals who helped make their wedding amazing:
Getting ready venue: the staff of The Charles Hotel
Ceremony and reception site: Annie Sarkis from the Rialto Restaurant
Planner, caterer and cake: Annie Sarkis from Rialto
Floral design: Hiroko Takeshita of Hanaya Floral Design
Invitations and save the dates: Paper Source
Hair: Jessica Diop from Aquinn Hair Studio
Gown designer: Amsale
Bridesmaids dresses: Amsale
Groom’s suit: Hugo Boss
Groomsman suit: Joseph Abboud
Can’t get enough? Me neither. Check out more from Jess and Dan’s engagement session, sneak peek, and slideshow.
Oct
24
An intimate wedding with their closest family and friends, amazing food and wine, and works of art surrounding them…. These were the elements that Jess and Dan sought when celebrating their wedding. When they discovered that one of their favorite restaurants Rialto had a private event space, they knew they had found their location. The space offered the intimacy they wanted as well as the good eats.
Because the restaurant is located in the Charles Hotel, it was only natural for Jess and Dan to get ready there as well.
Jess had the help of a few close friends as she prepped.
Loving this image Dave captured of Dan getting ready. A completely different take on it.
I took a little liberty and included this image of Dan’s niece and nephew with his getting ready photos, even though it happened during his 2nd getting ready. Aren’t they adorable?!
After both Jess and Dan were ready, we brought them outside to a secluded walkway near the hotel so they could see each other for the first time in private.
Dan awaiting Jess’ arrival.
Jess is full of spunk, and this photo totally captures her personality. She did, indeed, boogie down the path to go meet her groom. I’m surprised we were able to keep our camera’s straight as we were laughing pretty hard.
When they saw each other, it was all tenderness; the mood changed to one of joy and peace.
Of course, the benefits of seeing each other beforehand are many. One of the reasons Jess and Dan chose to do so was so they would have enough time for their portraits, and be able to attend cocktail hour. We definitely love having the time to play around with our couples before their ceremony. Relaxed, fun, beautiful portraits come out of that time. A few of my faves.
Classic beauty.
Smoky sensuality.
Fun.
Oh, and here’s a good time to talk about the structural art surrounding them. First of all, Jess chose this phenomenal couture wedding dress by Amsale. And she worked with her florist to create floral arrangements that had depth and dimension. You can see it here in her bouquet and later in the table arrangments.
We worked our way back to the hotel for a few touch ups and to hide Jess away in the restaurant so none of the guests would see her. While we waited for the ceremony, we captured a few of Jess alone.
The guests gathered in the ceremony room, and then the music changed. It was Jess’ entry music. The curtains were drawn. And ….
You will have to check back for the rest from Jess and Dan’s wedding day. They are not quite ready. But if you need another fix now, you can see a few from their engagement session.
Oct
05
Jess and Dan are so much fun to be around and we had a wonderful time photographing their engagement session, just before their wedding.
First and most importantly, they are completely comfortable with each other. They began their relationship as close friends, having met at work in the hot bed that all start-ups offer. After a bit, they discovered their fondness for each other had grown and changed. They realized a romance was brewing. After spending even a short time with Jess and Dan, you can tell they know each other top to bottom.
Secondly, they chose a great location for their engagement session- the locale where they first met and spent much of their time together, One Kendall Square in Cambridge, MA. So the engagement session was also a tour of their favorite haunts. And now I leave you to enjoy Dan and Jess!
At The Blue Room…
These two were so interactive. Telling us great stories and sharing ideas. Loving this ramp, a mix of old and new architecture.
Around the corner from the main square, a quiet funky little spot.
Then into the parking garage for views of the area, but enjoying the stairwell just as much. These two are too cool. Love the light, the sunglasses and the lines.
Their wedding was just last week and we had such a great time with everyone- an intimate celebration at Rialto! Check back soon for a sneak peek of the festivities.
Oct
01
Last night, I had the pleasure of sharing the photos from Becky and Neil’s wedding with them. It was such fun catching up, hearing about their Hawaii honeymoon adventures, and of course, reminiscing about their day as we looked through the photos. And what a day it was! You know it’s good times when scientists get married at a science museum.
First of all, there is romance. The Washburn Pavilion let in beautiful afternoon light and provided views of the Charles River as Becky and Neil exchanged their vows.
Their parents and friends were alternating between smiles and tears. And sometimes both.
Becky and Neil chose red, black and white for their colors- formal with a splash of fun. They also happen to be the colors of the Museum of Science, a very nice tie-in. The bridesmaids carried bouquets of red roses and wore red sashes.
Loving this moment just before the kiss. Such joy!
Then there is the fun- it’s a museum and a fun one! I mean, really, what could be better than a museum that has stairs that play music?
After the ceremony, we took a quick tour of the museum to capture some portraits of Becky and Neil in and among the exhibits. Our first stop was the dinosaurs, but on the way, I wanted to capture Becky and Neil in the midst of it all.
We just had to play around with this big ole dinosaur. This reminds of the TV show Land of the Lost.
And then of course, there was this super cool physics machine/toy and the sky at dusk.
When we returned, it was time for the reception. Becky and Neil kicked things off with their first dance. They were great. They took lessons and had the dance choreographed; they totally sold the dance with their energy and connection to each other.
Their guests were understandably mesmerized.
Becky’s maid of honor toasted the couple…
And brought tears to Becky’s eyes.
Enjoying a moment with her parents.
At their sweetheart table, they steal a kiss.
As Becky danced with her father, her mom watched on.
Becky had a very special treat for Neil. Becky had actually sung with the band they hired for their wedding a couple times.
So she decided to serenade Neil with a special song. How cool is that!
For us, the evening came to a close after her song. What a treat it was to be able to spend this day with Becky and Neil. To our newlyweds- you guys are fabulous and your friends and family are lovely. What a truly wonderful day it was! We are so grateful we could be there to document it for you.
Also, special thanks go out to all of the professionals who helped create an amazing day for Becky and Neil:
Getting ready site: Austin Horn from the Royal Sonesta Hotel, Cambridge
Ceremony and reception venue: Leigh-Ann French from the Museum of Science
Caterer: Keith Mahoney from Wolfgang Puck
Floral design: Darlene from Kaleidoscope Florals
Ceremony musicians: Kristine & Steven Kirby of Alla Breve Duo
Band: SirTunes (aka Pete Massa Band)
Definitely check out more from Becky and Neil- their engagement session, sneak preview, and wedding slideshow.
