Okay, so I know this engagement photography session is really about Lauren and Mike, BUT, 4 month old Mason really does like to steal the spotlight!  He is just so cute, as only a 4 month old Golden Retriever puppy can be.  And so Mason is in a ton of these photos (and yes Lauren, there are plenty of photos without him too!).  I had a great time photographing this fun couple (and their adorable puppy) at exactly the one year point before their July 2011 wedding.  In the beginning, Mason was super curious about everything I was doing, but eventually he just became bored with the whole idea of engagement photos and went to sleep.  I guess I’m just not that exciting….

Photographing Rebecca and Kevin’s engagement session was such a  pleasure!  Rebecca’s Maid of Honor, Michelle,  bought them the session as an engagement gift – such a great idea!  It was one of those hot steamy summer days we’ve been having alot of lately and taking these guys on a hike around the grounds at the Vanderbilt Estate definitely gave them a workout.   Our 1st date had a rain-out, but this day was absolutely gorgeous.  It was also a perfect opportunity to get to know  Rebecca and Kevin better – I can’t wait for their wedding next May!

When Margaret asked me to photograph her and Nick’s wedding last year, I was so excited I really didn’t want to have to wait an entire year for the date to arrive.  Her and Nick are both so sweet and so in love.  Margaret and Nick picked Kingston Point Beach and the Rondout section of Kingston for their engagement photos.  I’ve lived here for years and had no idea that Kingston had a sand beach on the Hudson River!  Actually, I had no idea there was a sand beach anywhere on the Hudson River.  Leave it to a couple of Long Island transplants to find these little local gems.  We pretty much had the beach to ourselves and after some fun water photos, headed to the Rondout in Kingston a change of scenery.  The day of their engagement photo session looked like rain all day and I really thought that maybe we should reschedule, but the weather held out until about 5 minutes after we wrapped things up – perfect timing!

Well, Margaret asked me to please send her my favorite photo from her and Nick’s engagement session as a preview.  The only problem is that I have at least 29 favorite photos – I really can’t choose just one!  Margaret and Nick’s wedding at the Grandview in Poughkeepsie is one wedding I have been looking forward to for a long time, and now it is only a few months away.  Stay tuned for wedding photos in September!

Kingston Point Beach, Kingston, NY

The Rose Garden at Vanderbilt Mansion

Jackie at Vassar College

The wedding day itself seemed to come up pretty quickly after Jackie and Tony’s engagement session.  A touching ceremony was performed by Jackie’s cousin at Vassar College Chapel with a stunning bride and a very handsome and happy groom!  The photo session after the ceremony was in the beautiful Shakespeare Gardens on the grounds of Vassar College and then on to an evening of dinner and dancing at The Grandview in Poughkeepsie.  I was able do some cool photos with Tony and the guys earlier in the day – a nice switch up for me.  The reception in the tent at The Grandview had more food than I have ever seen at a wedding before.  The centerpieces of gerber daisies and photos from the engagement session were gorgeous. What a wonderful day!
Ceremony at Vassar College Chapel
Dress by Maggie Sottero
Flowers by Morgan’s Florist
Music by DJ Dom
Reception at The Grandview

The Shakespeare Gardens at Vassar College

The original plan was to do Marissa and Shawn’s engagement session on the waterfront in Cold Spring, but the day was so windy that we headed up into the Village of Cold Spring instead. Marissa and Shawn were up for anything and we had a fantastic time using the urban setting and great architecture of the old buildings as a backdrop to some fun, sexy and romantic pictures! These are just a few of my many many favorites that day.

Marissa and Shawn

Riverfront Park in Cold Spring

The Village of Cold Spring

Hudson River