I’m excited to share this Adirondack Elopement (featuring newlyweds Hannah and Sam) in the Adirondack Mountains.Â
This wedding was styled by Lacy Geary and orchestrated by Mary Dougherty. Every detail was breathtaking.Â
On the day of the wedding, we began before dawn. After driving down to Saranc Lake, we rowed out toward a small remote island. It was an intimate spot for the wedding ceremony!
We took lots of photographs as the sun rose. Because we started early in the morning, we were able to catch the beautiful sunrise light—it was the perfect way to start the morning.
Hannah & Sam’s invitation.
How gorgeous is this stunning bouquet by Fern Croft?
The island where the ceremony was held.
An intimate ceremony with just Hannah, Sam, and their friend and officiant Staci.
Hannah and Sam changed after the ceremony and we headed to the Lake Placid Lodge. The waterfront reception consisted of only a handful of guests to keep things intimate.
I seriously don’t think these two could be happier together.
Cheers to an amazing day!
Hannah & Sam’s Adirondack Elopement Vendors
Host: Mary Dougherty
Design, Create Direction & Fashion Styling: Lacy Geary
Photographs: Tom Schelling Photography
Venue: Lake Placid Lodge
Videography: Live Oak Films
Bride’s Dress: L’eto Bridal
Bride’s Shoes: Bella Belle Shoes
Florals: Fern Croft
Hair & Makeup: The Luminous Bride
Calligraphy: Layers of Loveliness
Are you interested in planning an adventure elopement? If so here are a few tips!
There’s no better way to take Brooklyn Bridge Engagement photos than sunrise—it’s amazing seeing the bridge with nobody on it. No traffic, plenty of parking—it’s totally worth it! (aside for the getting up early part, but hey, Starbucks is open!)
There are a lot of great spots within a short walking distance to take photos in DUMBO, Brooklyn. It’s best to start on the Brooklyn Bridge. As the sun rises, it can be difficult to take photographs with the NYC skyline in the background.
For our session, we started on the bridge and made our way to Pebble Beach and finally to Washington Street, with the iconic view of the Manhattan Bridge in the background. It ended up being a perfect morning!
Capturing engagement photos at the Brooklyn Bridge requires getting up early. It’s worth it for images like this!
Look at that golden glow from the sunrise!
The classic view of the Manhattan Bridge is only a short walk from the Brooklyn Bridge entrance.
Pebble Beach is a great spot to see the downtown NYC skyline!
Are you thinking about having your wedding in DUMBO, Brooklyn? You might be interested in this article:
5 Tips for Amazing Wedding Photos in DUMBO, Brooklyn
Are you looking for some inspiration for your engagement session? Check out these boards on Pinterest!
Nicole and Joe’s wedding at The Village Club at Lake Success (with photos taken at The Hempstead House in Sands Point) took place on a beautiful spring day. Nicole and Joe had such great chemistry together. Look how in love they look in every photograph!
Here’s a funny story for you. Their wedding planner, Pejy, was actually a friend of mine from a past job! We didn’t even know that we would be working together again (this time in a different setting) until a few months before the event. Needless to say, Pejy did an incredible job with the decor.
Congratulations Nicole and Joe and thank you for letting me play such an important part on your wedding day.
A double exposure of Nicole and her flowers as she was getting ready.
Nicole’s dad see’s his daughter for the first time. So much love in this photo!
I love the way Joe is looking at Nicole here.
The Village Club at Lake Success Wedding Vendors
Photographer: Tom Schelling Photography
Video: Project 8
Planner:Pejy Kash Events
Venue: The Village Club at Lake Success
Florals: United Floral Co.
Catering: Luxe Staffing and Events
Bride’s Dress: Anna B
Groom’s Tuxedo:Forresto Tuxedo
DJ: Bravura Entertainment
Limo Services: Camelot Transportation
Invitations: Fairy Tale Affairs
Interested in more NY Wedding Inspiration? You might like these:
Battery Garden’s Wedding | Dane & Carolyn
Did you know that on your wedding day, you may end up spending more time with your photographer than your family (or even your fiancé 😳)?
Wedding photography is unique in that it’s an active part of your wedding day. Unlike other vendors who do most of their work behind the scenes, your photographer will be frequently interacting with the people closest to you.
His or her personality and style will have a big impact on the overall energy and mood of your day.
Not only do you deserve beautiful images, you also deserve an amazing photographic experience!
Here, the 3 most important traits to look for in your wedding photographer.
1. They understand your wedding vision
The best photographer for you totally gets your style and expectations.
It helps to find someone who has a similar vibe to what you’re looking for—who understands that you might not want overly posed or traditional photographs, for example, but rather a more candid and natural feel.
It’s also important to find someone who really takes the time to learn your values to personalize your experience.
They should be a resource for you as you plan, helping you craft the perfect photography timeline and giving you tips on how to look amazing in your photographs.
One of the ways I do this for the couples I work with is by providing them with a questionnaire. In it, I ask specific questions that both relate to the details surrounding their wedding as well as the atmosphere they are trying to create.
With that knowledge, I’m able to approach their wedding with an open mind and in a way that aligns with their vision (such an important part of feeling relaxed in front of the camera is that trust!).
2. They’re supportive and encouraging
It’s almost like they’re part of your bride (or groom) tribe
You’ll see pretty quickly that having a photographer who’s part of your support system before, during and after your wedding day makes a world of difference.
I often joke with the couples I work with that my goal is to be like an extra bridesmaid or groomsmen by the end of their wedding (but don’t worry, there’s no need to invite me to your bachelor/bachelorette party 😂).
For me, it’s so important that I’m available to answer questions, give wedding-planning advice and be there when you need me!
Planning a wedding is not easy (we know firsthand: Heather and I are in the process of planning one ourselves!), and I’ll use my experience to help you with planning any way I can.
They help you create a timeline
Another sign that a photographer wants you to have the best experience is when they work through your timeline with you to figure out the general flow of the day.
This saves you from unnecessary stress—that way you can focus on enjoying the moment (because, hey, isn’t that what your wedding is all about anyway?).
In that same questionnaire I send to the couples I work with, I ask for the locations and times for the major events surrounding their wedding.
With that knowledge, we can work together to craft a timeline that allows you to take amazing photographs and also be present during the day.
They’re sensitive to family dynamics
A great photographer will have a system in play to capture all of the must-have family combinations while making sure to avoid accidentally creating any awkward family dynamics.
Although I generally don’t work off of a physical shot list on the day of the wedding (I have a mental shot list of what I need to capture), I’ll use one when photographing the families.
This ensures we don’t miss any combinations and we’re able to set the proper amount of time beforehand for family pictures.
Once you and your photographer have created a rock-solid timeline, next it’s about actually taking great pictures.
3. Your wedding photographer puts you at ease
Even if you’re not super comfortable in front of the camera (there’s few of us that are!), it’s your photographer’s job to make you feel comfortable so you appear relaxed—and you look like you.
Many of the couples I work with tell me they have two main concerns:
- They want their pictures to have a candid, behind-the-scenes feel and not look stiff or overly posed.
- They want to make sure their photographer isn’t rude to their family and friends and is easy to get along with on their wedding day.
That’s why helping you to feel comfortable is my top priority.
They value making an authentic connection with you
I’ve found that simply learning about you and your fiancé as people, not just as clients, is the best way to tackle those two concerns at once.
That is why I prefer to do a video chat or meet in person instead of a regular phone call when discussing your wedding details, and why I always recommend doing an engagement session before your wedding if possible.
Having that time to chat and really connect is the best way to ensure you feel comfortable in front of the camera. This naturally leads to authentic, candid-looking images.
It should be fun working with them!
A great photographer will feel more like a wedding guest than just another vendor.
(Remember, they’ll be frequently interacting with the people closest to you.)
You want them to be a calm and uplifting anchor, not a cause for unnecessary stress.
As the famous photographer Alfred Eisenstadt said, “It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter.”
This mantra is a core value of what I do and a necessity to capture images that don’t feel stiff or forced.
More than anything, you’ll remember how they made you feel
Often we connect images with how we felt when they were being taken.
Think for a second about a photograph that has a lot of meaning to you.
It is the most professional of photographs?
Most likely not.
That’s because truly great photographs take us back to a moment in the past and allow us to ever so briefly relive it.
If your photographer is pushy, aggressive, stressed out or just plain old unkind, it doesn’t matter how beautiful the images are.
Years after your wedding, when you look back at those photographs, you’re going to remember how you felt when those photographs were being taken.
Though a beautiful photograph can make that memory that much more special, the most important thing is that you find a photographer whose goal is to make beautiful images *and* ensure that you feel amazing as they’re being taken.
These three skills—aligning with your vision, being an uplifting source and putting you at ease—are at the core of why I became a wedding photographer in the first place.Â
Do these values resonate with you? If so, I’d love to hear more about your wedding. Let’s chat and see if we’d be a good fit!
You may also like…
Want more wedding inspiration? Check out these boards on Pinterest.
Your wedding photographer will often begin the day with bride getting-ready photos.
This is the part of the day where it all starts to sink in. You’re getting married!
You might feel a little nervous (don’t worry, that’s totally normal) and ready to get the day moving. Try to soak it all in though—your wedding day will fly by so fast!
Why bride getting-ready photos are important
As a wedding photographer, my goal is for the couples I work with to look at their wedding photographs and really be able to relive the entire day.
The getting-ready portion is an essential part of your wedding story.
Though it might not be as glamorous as other parts of your wedding, there’s still a lot to document and a whole lot of love from those closest to you that can be captured.
Getting the most out of your bride getting-ready photos
Just like the other parts of your wedding, a little bit of planning beforehand will go a long way to ensure you can enjoy this portion of the day—and your photographer is able to capture the best photographs possible.
For example, the location you choose to get ready at can have a dramatic impact on the way those images look.
To avoid common pitfalls and make sure you end up with images that fit your wedding vision, here are a few of my top tips.
How to find the perfect location
Many people choose to get ready at a hotel that’s near their wedding venue.
While some hotels are gorgeous, many will force you and your bridesmaids into tiny rooms with limited (or sometimes even no) windows (a big no-no for photography).
Depending on the size of your family and bridal party, this can be a bit of a nightmare (think the beginning of Home Alone, when everyone’s running around the morning they’re supposed to leave for Paris).
Plus, the morning of your wedding you might want some privacy. That’s hard to achieve if everyone’s crammed into your hotel room!
Hotel alternatives
Another option is to get ready at your venue instead of a hotel.
This means less driving around, more space (most venues will have multiple rooms you can use to get ready)Â and an aesthetic that’ll match the rest of your wedding (your pictures will look more cohesive if everything is captured at the same location).
However, this isn’t always possible.
Some venues might have multiple events per day or even an event before yours. (As a side note, be careful of venues that have other events going on at the same time as your wedding. That often means you and your guests will be limited to how you can use the property).
Other venues don’t have a getting-ready space or might need time beforehand to setup, so they’ll ask you to arrive later in the day.
If you’re unable to get ready at your venue and you’re looking for an alternative, I always recommend using an Airbnb instead of a hotel.
Why an Airbnb is a great place for bride getting-ready photos
It’s less expensive
A quality Airbnb can sometimes cost less than half that of a fancy hotel, and they have better elements for taking getting-ready photographs.
You’ll have more space
With an Airbnb, you can rent out an entire home, which gives you access to many rooms.
This’ll give you the space your family and friends need to get ready while still being together.
There’ll be less chaos
Airbnbs can also be more intimate than a hotel.
You, your family and friends are the only ones there, and you won’t have to deal with other hotel guests.
Especially during popular wedding weekends, there may be four or five wedding parties using the same hotel.
This can be chaotic and stressful when trying to coordinate with family and friends.
You’ll have more control
Thanks to the pictures and reviews, you’ll have a good idea of what each room looks like in an Airbnb before you stay there. If you’re unsure of what to look for before you book, just check in with your photographer!
Make sure there’s plenty of space
If you’re unable to secure an Airbnb, just make sure the location you choose has plenty of room.
Not only will your friends and family thank you, but with a bigger space you’ll get more variety when taking pictures.
Smaller rooms also make it challenging to capture images that show off your full dress, since there’s little space to move around.
Finding the right room
If you’re getting ready at a home or an Airbnb, the best room for this is usually the living room.
Often furniture can be moved around to make the most of the space and to capture a variety of different poses.
Some hotels have common areas that can work well. This can be a challenge when photographing in a hotel though, so be sure to keep that in mind when choosing your getting-ready spot!
Choose a location with soft, neutral wall colors
Believe it or not, the color of the furniture and walls can have a dramatic effect on the color of your skin in pictures.
In general, rooms with soft pastel or neutral colors work best.
If possible, avoid darker-colored rooms with distracting patterns or wallpaper.
Here’s why: When light comes in through a window, it bounces around inside the room, which causes the colored walls to reflect light back onto anything or anyone inside the room, making skin color shifts that may not look natural.
Seek out rooms with white or neutral, bright colors to ensure this doesn’t happen.
Big windows are a must
Taking amazing photographs begins with having amazing light.
The quality (which is often different than the quantity) of the light in the room will make or break your getting-ready photographs.
Here are a few things you can do to make sure your room has great light.
Bigger is better
When it comes to window light, the bigger the window the better.
Windows that stretch all the way to the ground are the best-case scenario, but any large window that faces outdoors will almost always work great.
By having a window in the bridal prep area, your photographer can create beautiful portraits, like this one of Lindsay. These photographs often look better with natural light than with flash, so the more windows the better!
More than one window
I’m going to get a little technical here for a second, so bear with me.
If you prefer that light-and-airy look in your photographs, it helps to have at least two windows at a 90-degree angle to one another.
This is called clamshell lighting (as the positioning of the lights looks like a clam with its shell open) and it’s my favorite type of light for bridal-prep pictures.
Most of the getting-ready pictures you see in this post were taken with this type of lighting.
Here’s an example of how the windows would be positioned in a room:
I created this incredibly detailed drawing (haha) to demonstrate the best window positioning for getting-ready photographs. Each of those lines would be a window and the circle would be you. If your getting-ready location has a room with windows like this, that means your photographs will have a gorgeous light-and-airy look to them!
Hotel tips: facing east
If you do plan on getting ready at a hotel, here’s a trick to make sure you get the best light: Ask for a room with windows that face east.
This is the direction that the sun rises, which often means more light will come through in the early morning.
Another thing to keep in mind, especially in hotels—try to avoid first-floor rooms, as sometimes the buildings that surround them can block out the light.
The wedding day
Ok, so you’ve chosen a getting-ready location and followed the tips above.
Now it’s your wedding day and your photographer is on the way.
Here are a few things you can do to prepare.
Getting your details ready
For many photographers (myself included), the day often begins with bridal details.
This is one of my favorite parts of the wedding day because it allows me to prepare and get my creative side warmed up. I try to photograph details in a way that matches and showcases the style of the wedding day.
If you can, try to have all of the details you’d like your photographer to capture gathered in one spot. This makes it easy for him or her to start right away.
Here’s a list of the most common bridal details. (Keep in mind you don’t need them all—just the ones that have meaning to you.)
- dress
- veil/hair pieces
- rings (all three)
- shoes
- bouquets & boutonnieres
- jewelry
- perfume
- invitation suite
- family heirlooms
How to add more personality & meaning to your bridal details
Depending on the theme and look of your wedding day, keep an eye out for extra elements that you could include with your details.
For example, if you’re going for a rustic theme that includes wood elements, maybe save a small piece of wood for your photographer to use when they’re capturing your rings and jewelry.
If you’re having a beach wedding, some shells and sand can be really photogenic.
This ties together your theme and makes for beautiful, consistent wedding album spreads.
Don’t forget to hold on to the rings!
The most common detail missing when I arrive are the rings—often they’re already with the best man.
However, it’s actually better to hand them over to the best man during the bridal party portraits later in the day, so that your photographer can capture some great ring images with your other details.
A flower delivery tip
If you can, have the bouquets and boutonnieres delivered to the same location (even if the guys won’t be there)Â at the same time your photographer arrives.
This way your photographer can incorporate them into your detail and portrait photographs.
The number one reason weddings run behind
It’s often because hair and makeup take longer than expected.
Schedule your makeup and hair early enough so that there’s plenty of time for you to be ready (or nearly ready) by the time your photographer arrives.
My tip is to double the time you think you’ll need for hair, makeup and travel.
This way you’ll be able to take portraits before the wedding without any time pressure.
Groomsmen prep
Depending on where the groom is getting ready, your photographer may be able to cover it on his/her own.
This often works great if you’re getting ready at your venue.
If there are separate locations at the venue for the bride and groom to get ready, it’s easy for your photographer to jump back and forth while you’re getting into your dress, or while hair and makeup is finishing up.
When to book a second photographer
If you’re planning on getting ready at separate locations and it’s not possible for your photographer to cover both, it might make sense to have a second photographer cover it separately.
Cheers to the most gorgeous bridal-prep photos!
I hope these tips help you to enjoy every moment as you get ready on your wedding day—rest easy knowing that, with a little planning and preparation, you’re going to have incredible getting-ready photographs.
P.S. Here are more free tips and resources on all things wedding planning, from 3 tips to look amazing in your wedding photographs to how to create the perfect wedding timeline & more.
You may also like…
Want more wedding inspiration? Check out these boards on Pinterest.
Resources
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Destination Wedding Photographer based in NYC & Southern California
