As the weather here in New Jersey gets cooler, we’re welcomed with softer sunsets. This weekend was Halloween and Daylight Savings, and so that means the sun is setting before 5pm and we’re inching closer to the holidays!!! I’ve always found beauty in the changing of the seasons — it’s actually one of the reasons I love living in the northeast. Each season is just the perfect amount of time and there’s honestly something beautiful about each one of them. Winter is my favorite (I know, unpopular opinion). Anyways, this fall, I was able to photograph so many couples with the beautiful fall foliage as their backdrop. Batso village was the perfect backdrop for Jerilyn and Johnny — leaves, woods, and a bit of spooky vibes. They LOVE halloween, and so it was only fitting that we included some halloween-themed props in their engagement session. Fun fact, the smoke bombs in some of these photos were originally red, but two weeks later, they announced that they were EXPECTING A BOYYY… so I just had to turn the color to blue. I was photographing their engagement, maternity, and family photos all in one day. Their connection and love made my job just that much easier.
Fall Couple Session at Batso Village | Jerilyn + Johnny
Sandy Hook Couple Session | Anna + Christian
I’m not really sure if the title of this post should be “engagement” or “post-wedding” or… idk? But Anna and Christian were originally set to get married in June 2020. They decided to postpone their wedding blessing in their church until next year, but they chose to officially get married in the courthouse this past summer. The pandemic kept pushing back their engagement photos, so we just turned this session into a “WE’RE MARRIED! YAY!” type one. We even added some night lights in there because it was something Anna really wanted to incorporate. I always love a good beach session.
Location: Sandy Hook Beach
Hudson Valley Microwedding | Martine + Matt
I don’t think I can say enough how much I feel for the 2020 couples who were planning on getting married in front of their loved ones. It breaks my heart because I’m a newlywed, and I KNOW how hard it is to plan everything to a tee for MONTHS. I know what it feels like to dwell over that guest list… “should we include plus ones?!” “will they hate us for not inviting X?!” “how do we narrow family"?!” … it’s tough. I know what it feels like to have your heart set on a venue. I know what it feels like to work around a budget. I know what it feels like to cut costs and save up. I know what it feels like to be excited for that bachelorette ( or in my case a joint) getaway beforehand. I know those knots you get when thinking about all your loved ones under one roof celebrating YOU… and seeing faces you haven’t seen in a while. Imagining whether or not you’ll trip down that isle, wearing the dress that you so carefully chose. Having a vision of your “theme” come to life, whether it’s the flowers, decor, table setting, food, or little details that make it unique to YOU. Thinking of that first dance as a married couple or thinking of a full, packed dance floor. SO MANY THOUGHTS as you prepare for that big day. I get it. But I can only imagine how it would feel to have all that stripped from you, uncontrollably. Life is hard sometimes, and it’s okay to feel defeated, sad, or discouraged. But I do believe in silver linings, and I hope that in midst of it all, you and your partner can find that sliver of light.
Martine + Matt did just that! They rescheduled their wedding to 2021 (as with most couples), but decided to get married in their beautiful St. Augustine church on the original date they chose. It was a micro wedding along the hudson river of 30+ guests, which was mostly family. Everyone wore a mask. Everyone stayed within proximity of their household. Everyone was respectful. And at the end of the day, they were married! It was surely a different sight to see, but comforting nonetheless. Always grateful to be able to capture such a special moments in people’s lives. I’m here not only to be a photographer for ya, but also a friend and a support throughout this crazy process. Here’s a few snippets of their day :)
