Rappa Photography Blog

Jennifer & Efren....Mexican New York Wedding

2010-12-06T19:01:00.000-08:00

When I first met Jennifer and Efren, we had a fabulous engagement session in Central Park. Originally they were to wed in their family's homeland of Mexico, but they ended up reciting their nuptials here in New York. To honor their culture, everything about their wedding had Mexican flavor and it was so lovely to witness the joyous celebration of two very happy people, joined by their ecstatic families and celebrating with authentic Mexican cuisine and music. It was quite an event!

Pretty detail in the bouquet.

I like the use of empty space here.

Absolutely stunning detail in Jennifer's gown.

This dress takes my breath away....and Jennifer's not even in it yet!

Fits her beautifully.

I love capturing these first moments of wearing a bridal gown on the actual wedding day.

I really love when more than one thing is happening in an image.

Vibrant blue sky, puffy clouds and magnificent church.

I opened the church doors just enough for some great light. The limo guy was super sweet and I really love Jennifer's face here. (And that's her papa fussing with her dress.)

Lovely ceremony.

I love when couples raise their arms up like this. Your mind completes the picture that lies before them.

Married!

You may kiss the bride. So he did.

I'm really into this lately.

This is my absolutely favorite shot of the day. I just love their pure expressions and the drama of the veil just makes it all the better.

Love the strong background here.

Traditional and gorgeous.

Super cute.

If you haven't noticed, I had a mild obsession with Jennifer's gown. But I tried to not make it the exclusive focal point of every image. It does play an important role here. With this angle, it serves to draw your eye to the happy couple.

This little girl (their niece) was absolutely adorable. I like this little moment and especially Jennifer and Efren's casual body language.

More casual stuff, even though it's posed.

The room at the Elmwood Country Club in White Plains was spectacular.

The layers of Jennifer's dress were just calling for a spin. Love the colorful lighting in the background, too.

Jennifer and Efren wanted a shot of themselves in the main reception area before everyone got there. Good call.

Pretty details.

Loving their first dance.

Nice moment.

Efren shares an emotional dance with his mom.

As a wedding and children's photographer, I just love when I can blend the two like this.

The party has officially begun and stayed at this level all. night. long.

People were swingin' and movin' in ways I didn't think was possible!

Fabulous!

Haven't quite figured this one out, but I really like it anyway.

More dress, um, I mean dancing.

(To see more dancing from this fantastic wedding, check out this highlight from videographer Chris Fig Productions. )

Jennifer's mom and little bro. Super sweet.

Group hugs are the best.

Another special dance for the bride and groom.

Enjoying the moment.

These handmade signs say it all but it's the moment they are sharing that is even better.

Jennifer and Efren, I had a blast shooting your wedding. I wish you all the best today and always!

Family and Fall....Fantastic!

2010-11-05T08:06:00.000-07:00

Fall is a popular time for taking family portraits. The colors are wonderful and we still have plenty of light to shoot later in the day when the sun is most flattering. This was the case for a recent family session. I photographed a family and their infant daughter, along with the mom's two sisters and their families.

Do you just want to eat up this little sweetie pie?

Her gorgeous eyes are my camera's best friend.

There are a ton of possible captions for this one. Want to take a stab at it?

Stick a kid in the grass and the images almost create themselves.

Busted. She saw me.

"I'm daddy's little girl and I know it."

This right here is website worthy image. I love the expression on the baby's face and even more so, I love how you can feel so much of mom's expression without seeing her whole face.

Snuggled in between mom and dad. The best place to be.

Full body portrait of a cousin. I like the composition, her expression and.....I love her outfit.

Those of you regular blog followers know I am always popping myself into the bushes for my shots. I also like to stick the kids in there for a natural backdrop.

What's the first thing you notice in this photo? (And no, her eyes are not photoshopped AT ALL.)

A bit of a different angle.

Love his look.

And his big kid pose with just a tad of attitude.

Little bro had an awesome gift of looking right into my lens.

Again here. Love the colors and composition here, too.

Cousin shot! I love the baby's expression in particular.

Happy family. Big smiles.

Another family shot. Love the angle, green grass, blue sky and the height differences of each subject. This will be nice to look back upon as the kids grow taller.

Enough with the formal shots...let's have some fun. (Always my favorite.)

I was kind of dangling from the top of the swing set for this one. I like the way she is looking up as well as the texture on the ground behind her.

Using lines to draw you to the subject. (Funny, this is apparently a popular swing set model....I find myself doing this shot with many family sessions.)

Pretty as a princess on the swing.

Back to the blanket for baby.

And we ended up with a group shot of everyone. I like using the swing set as a prop. It really sets the tone for the stage these families are in right now. And just makes it fun.

Great session everyone...it's a wrap!

Six Kids in Six Years

2010-10-27T08:23:00.000-07:00

I photographed two wonderful families recently. Two sisters had six kids in six years, each of them alternating a year to have a child. (I would think that's got to be some sort of statistical phenomenon.) My first task was to try to get all six kids together - no small feat with these ages but fun anyway. I think this came out cute. Shows their personalities. And I love the vibrancy of all the colors (kudos to the moms for great fashion choices!)

An outtake in between posed shots...love it.

Individual shots....adorable in the grass.

A slight angle change can make a big impact on the image.

Switching it up for big cousin. Blurring the foreground really makes the subject pop.

Adorable closeup.

Posed and pretty.

One of those photos that the parents will look at and say, "Wow, look how big she is." And in five years it will be, "Wow, look how small she was."

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this shot. This little guy had a remarkable way of making a posed shot look so natural. I try not to pick favorite images when it comes to multiple kids, but....well, I won't say it. ;-)

Another one of his looks. I could seriously eat him up.

This little boy was in my daughter's class a few years ago and I've been dying to get those blue eyes in my camera ever since. Felt so good to click this one.

A more traditional portrait.

Full of personality.

Sparkling blue eyes. Full cheeks.

Amazing how similar images can evoke such different emotions when you switch out the subject. I almost immediately relax when I see this shot.

Creative use of lines to draw you right in to this little guy's eyes. Not that you really needed that much help anyway.

Love the colors and the background texture again. And that adorable face.

I love the energy in photos of kids running.

And kids taking in nature. This shot is one I'd like to replicate when the kids are young adults. I think that juxtaposition would be so powerful.

Her simple expression and the texture are so simple yet strong here.

I guess you can say the same thing about this shot, yet the result is so different.

Clearly I love the outtakes but I can certainly appreciate the fondness of traditional family shots.

Had to squeeze in a few more outtakes. I like the editorial nature of this image.

I want this shot to be in their wedding videos one day. (I know, I'm a total cheeseball.)

Sweet moment with dad.

What a great day I had. Another session where I feel so lucky to do what I do. Thank you so much for having me document your bunch!

Elizabeth & Eric Are Married....with a little help from MySpace and Nana

2010-10-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with Elizabeth and Eric as soon as I met them. They are simply the kind of couple that makes you smile and so I knew their wedding would be a wonderful event to document. I particularly loved the story of how Elizabeth and Eric met and how they got engaged. Their story is truly a blend of old and new and this was reflected in many ways throughout their wedding day.

Elizabeth and Eric met when they were in grade school, were friendly but then lost touch as they went off to college. After college, Eric found Elizabeth on MySpace and "friend requested" her. This lead to their first date and the rest is history. When it came time for a proposal, Eric's surprise plans to pop the question during a hike were spoiled when Elizabeth mentioned something about getting engaged during a hike. It was all for the better, though, because Elizabeth's Nana ended up surprising Eric by giving him her own engagement ring to give to Elizabeth. (Is your heart melting yet?)Well, the story gets even BETTER. Eric decided to propose to Elizabeth in front of Nana, hitting the surprise quotient out of the park and creating a memorable, uniquely meaningful start to the rest of their lives together.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago....Elizabeth is getting ready for their wedding, still not believing that she is actually the bride today. You can almost hear her saying it here as she looks at herself in the mirror.

Just giddy.

Her dress had the most unique details...a bit vintage in style.

With a modern cut that fit Elizabeth beautifully.

Still sinking in that she is the bride.

You just have to smile with her when you see this, right?

And the giddiness is returned by Eric as he watches his bride arrive.

A ceremony filled with happy tears and laughter. Perfect in my book.

A peaceful moment.

The energy here is just awesome.

The right angle and the right lens MAKE this shot. (And a stunning couple, of course.) And I love it.

This picture with Nana was at the top of my list.

A little romantic moment along the Hudson River.

This image (and the preceeding shot) were taken just a few steps from the church (St. Augustine in Ossining). The architecture of the church was amazing, as were the views. And thank you to the man upstairs for the gorgeous sky that day.

Some more shots that elicited a cheesy grin from yours truly. Click click click.

Eric's looking good.

Fun bridal party shot. Love the colors.

Best friends since Kindergarten. (See what I mean about the details behind this wedding?)

A fun group.

Girlie girl shots.

Alone again...

I love the casualness of this shot. And how the train of Elizabeth's train fans out in perfect, soft folds.

Shooting in the bushes has been working out for me lately, so in I went.

I like the off center composition here to add a bit of interest to this look-at-the-camera shot.

Joy. Pure and simple.

There's a lot to be said for a traditional bridal shot.

Another vintage element to their day. Love it!

Ready to party.

Romantic moments on the dance floor.

Unknowingly replicating Erics' parents in the background. Sweet.

And your loved ones smiling the whole time. (In this case, Elizabeth's brother.)

Smiles all around during the wonderful best man and matron of honor speeches.

Once again, a contagious smile.

A lovely room setting at The CV Rich Mansion in White Plains.

A pretty literal old and new depiction, but I think it works well.

I love how you can totally picture Eric and Elizabeth in jeans and sneakers in this shot. So much cooler in a tux and wedding dress, though.

Multiple things happening in one shot is fun. It's Eric and Elizabeth's facial expressions in the background that really make this image.

And my favorite shot of the day....this is what it's all about.

Elizabeth and Eric, it was beyond pleasurable to photograph your amazing wedding. I am STILL smiling and know that you will be doing so for many, many years to come. Congratulations!

Jessica & John Went to the Chapel and Got Married!

2010-09-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

I've been looking forward to Jessica and John's wedding all year long. I actually met Jessica for the first time while I was in high school (a LONG time ago) as I was friends with her older sister, LeaAnn. But you see, Jessica was but a wee little one, still a toddler, I think. Who'd a thunk that all this time later, I'd be shooting her wedding? I was thrilled that she and her super sweet guy John chose me to be their wedding photographer. I knew it would be a great day.

I like this candid moment featuring Jesse and her mom during her bridal preparations.

Gorgeous bright flowers.

And a gorgeous bride to match.

Seriously amazingly pretty. It was slightly drizzling outside so we didn't want to go outside for photos yet, but I just had to capture Jesse in natural light. I popped outside, told her to stand in the doorway of her room, shot through some bushes and click.

Hi LeaAnn!

And the hosts of many of my high school sleepovers...Mr. & Mrs. Hutter! (Sorry, just can't call them Richard and Sandy.)

I like blurring the background but still getting a sense of the bride.

Groom John waiting for his bride at the chapel at Manhattan College, where Jesse and John first met.

A dramatic angle during the ceremony.

Best man and bro was clearly happy for this union.

As were the moms.

I know I'm biased with this shot, but I think it's my favorite of the day. It's awesome when there's more than one thing happening in a photo.

Getting some shots on campus (which is lovely, I might add).

The ladies patiently waiting while I was shooting with Jessica and John. I love how casual this is.

Thought I'd incorporate the bride and groom and the guys. A bunch of family and friends that just happened to be really dressed up that day.

Another one of my posed shots that I am really into lately.

Textured in the front with great landscape in the background.

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!

And so very happy.

Formal portrait. I like zooming in close.

Onto the lovely Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle, NY to get some images in the lovely setting before the cocktail hour.

WAY impressed with this very in sync couple!

John, this shot's for you! ;-)

I think this is my favorite image of just Jessica and John. So natural.

Just couldn't get enough of these two.

Jesse's eyes just light up when she looks at her new hubs.

There I go in the bushes again.

Lookin' good John!

Lovely settings in the reception area.

A grand room.

They look so elegant as they dance for the first time as husband and wife.

How every mom should look as her child gets married.

BIG cheers following two wonderful toasts.

John giving his bro a high five during his speech. That is pure joy on his face and I love it.

Rock it, girl.

My competition in a few years.

Another biased shot of my friend LeaAnn. ;-) All kidding aside, I really love capturing reactions like this. It is so nice for the bride and groom to see after the wedding.

John is a great guy, very family oriented, as you can see here with him and his brother.

For the record, I witnessed Jessica giving John FULL permission to do this. (I got your back, John!)

A sweet dance with dad.

And another special dance for the lovely couple. May you dance like this for many, many years to come!

Thank you, Jesse and John, for having me as your photographer. It was truly a special day.

Jennifer & Andrew's Nuptials

2010-08-25T19:08:00.000-07:00

I've been seeing Jennifer and Andrew all summer at weddings. First at their friends' Megan and Chris' event, then at Debra and Timmy's and on July 25th Jennifer and Andrew were the ones to tie the knot. It was a fun day and EVERYONE had a blast.

Jennifer's bouquet was so simple and I thought the vertical slats of this rocking chair provided a nice graphic background.

The light was so pretty on this nearby plant so after making sure there was nowhere the ring could fall, I gingerly placed it on a branch (could ya tell I'm paranoid), blurred the background, clicked and got this pretty bling shot.

Jennifer's dress had a pretty symmetrical pattern on the front so I thought this was a cool way to capture it.

What is it about mirror shots that I like so much?

The cut of Jennifer's dress was so flattering.

I like how this image gives the sense of "someone is always looking at the bride."

Great reactions when Jennifer walked out in her dress.

A beautiful wooded setting for a bridal portrait.

Off to the church. Such a great part of the day....knowing you're about to walk down the aisle is an awesome feeling.

Pretty flowers.

Ceremony program with ceremony conveniently in the background.

Thought the cross window made for a nice frame of the ceremony.

When other people are snapping photos is sometimes the best time for me to take a shot.

"Hey, look back here for a sec."

Andrew with his men.

A traditional shot but I like how the bridal party is behind the couple.

Jennifer and her sister/maid of honor. Pretty ladies, pretty lighting, pretty background.

Andrew and his brothers. I love the manly man look of this.

Something a little more fun.

Andrew has an addictive smile and I remember smiling as I took this shot.

Whenever I take this shot, I think about how all the guys will probably rip on each other for who jumped the highest.

Gazebo fun.

Andrew has a great serious look, too.

An off center composition adds interest to this image.

Andrew's dad enjoying his son's wedding. (That smile lasted all night.)

Room details with fun colors at Ceola Manor.

Stood on my tippy toes to get this wide shot.

Now THAT is how you enter a room.

I love how Jennifer and Andrew are enjoying each other here.

Maid of honor speech with Jennifer's parents in the background. Blurring people just slightly in the back makes note of their presence just enough to make the image great.

A nice interaction among a guest couple. Love capturing stuff like this.

Three young ladies enjoying the slide show. Sweet, right?

An even better angle.

Enjoying the party.

Clearly the festivities were super lame for real stick-in-the-mud types. ;-)

My absolute favorite shot of the day.

Thank you, Jennifer and Andrew, for having me at your wedding. So much fun and can't wait to show you more!

Debra & Timmy are Newly Wed!

2010-07-27T15:49:00.000-07:00

I knew I was in for a great wedding when I originally booked Tim and Debra, but after seeing them dancing all night recently at Megan and Chris' wedding, I was sure their wedding would be amazing to shoot.

Debra's makeup looked stunning. Stacy is a talented and experienced makeup artist and just made Debra bride beautiful.

Debra's sister recently had a beautiful baby so pictures with the newest family member were a plenty throughout the day. I like this one in particular.

I often say shooting bridal preparations is probably my favorite of the day. The excitement of the anticipation is just a great moment, as you can see here.

Debra was cool, calm and beautiful.

Moving to outside portraits to shoot even more flattering light.

Debra and Tim decide to see each other before the ceremony for photos and this just has to be one of the most adorable "first time seeing each other" sequences ever!

Timmy taking in his bride....and liking what he sees.

So much so that he needed a touch up?! Ha.

This is how I like to do my family photographs. Fun and lots of love.

Hard to keep the camera away from this little peanut.

With proud aunt and uncle.

Cool guys shot at a cool angle.

Trying something beyond "bride and groom in the middle and line up around them" bridal party shot.

Onto portraits of the happy couple.

Love this happy shot.

Something tells me this couple has many years of laughing and smiling ahead of them.

Even though Deb and Tim are not even looking at each other in this image, I like it because they are still smiling, just taking in the day.

Tim is very natural in front of the camera.

Thank you, sky, for being such a beautiful blue.

Ah, romance. Just can't get enough of it.

Dips not cued by me are the best.

LOVE this shot. Debra and Tim, PLEASE frame this and keep it displayed in your home forever!! ;-)

Onto the Venetian Yacht Club in Bayshore, Long Island for more photos before the ceremony. Can't beat being on the water on a gorgeous day.

"Ignore me, I'm not here" is what I tell all my couples.

Posing this would never come out as special.

Some more real moments.

Time for the ceremony. Good planning with the fans and also a pretty decor piece.

Playing around with the program graphic.

This moment is all dad's (well let's say mostly dad's.)

Jaw dropping ceremony site.

One of the many highs of the day....married!

Can't help getting back to the baby....and just love the priceless joy in grandpa's face here.

You can tell there's a lot of love behind this congratulatory hug.

The Venetian Yacht Club puts on an impressive cocktail hour....the food was outrageous and beautifully presented as well.

Best man's speech during a twilight blue sky in a room with great ambiance.

And the party begins. Both bride and groom were on the dance floor all night.

As you can see by these next two photos, Tim is definitely his father's son.

A table of cousins even gets into the dinner music. I loved this!

Who doesn't love the tarantella?

Cake and kissing. Two wonderful things.

A special dance with dad.

Dancing with mom. Couldn't you just cry? God bless all the mothers who dance with their sons on their wedding day. For personal reasons (I have a little boy), this has to be my favorite shot of the day. My son is only a toddler but you just know that little boy image is what mom is holding onto.

Debra and Tim, a HUGE thank you for having me as part of your day! I truly enjoyed being there and capturing your special moments. xoxo

Jennifer & Greg - Married!

2010-07-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

I recently photographed Jennifer and Greg's lovely wedding at the Knollwood Country Club. I was really looking forward to it for many reasons. When I initially met with Jennifer and Greg, we had such pleasant conversation and their overall sense of the wedding planning was in all the right places. The gathering of their family and friends to celebrate with them was at the heart of their day. And, I knew right away we'd be on the same page when Jennifer told me about how she loves going to her grandmother's house and looking through old photo albums.

I started with detail shots and tried a few different angles that I really like.

Pretty flowers.

The reality of what is happening settles in as Jennifer sees herself in the mirror.

A moment with mom. I like to take the scene setting shot.

And then something more up close and personal, too.

Love this candid shot of Jen as she walked out of her house.

Pretty portrait of Jen with matron of honor and cousin, Heather, who was a former bride of mine. So nice to see past clients again!

I was determined to get great light in Jennifer's eyes to show off that AMAZING shade of blue.

Nice natural portrait of Greg. Just a guy dressed up in the woods.

A gorgeous blue sky, fancy stone church and a slick car.

Camera low and tilted for a serene church shot.

Up to the choir loft I go to capture the full beauty of the church.

Dutiful matron of honor Heather set the dress up perfectly for this shot. Thanks!

I love the blessing part of the ceremony. A reminder of all our hopes and dreams.

Such a royal feeling to this image.

Heather's husband Craig was entertaining his daughter (also the flower girl).

Clearly smitten by his little girl.

Nice outtake of Jen during the receiving line. Loving those lashes!

Blue sky, stone church and fancy car replaced by fancy couple.

Bridal party. I love the simply setting and how the lilac dresses pop from the green background and black tuxes.

A bride and groom moment.

The guys just hanging out.

For this shot, I honestly can't brag about anything particularly amazing in the photographic sense. I just think it's so adorable that they're riding in this golf cart.

Dramatic angle at the signature Knollwood Country Club arch.

I like to capture how a groom looks at his bride.

And how he makes her feel.

Traditional.

With a twist.

Love the high contrast of this shot.

When I originally met with Jennifer and Greg, it was made very clear to me how important it is to photograph the children. No need to tell me twice. These kids were too cute not to be photographed.

The sweetness of little girls.

And sweating-from-running-all-over-the-place and silly little boys. (And still super cute, mind you.)

Heather took a lot of time and energy compiling wedding photos of each married guest attending their reception. How sweet is that?!?

Love the color scheme carried over to the cake.

Jen and Greg took a break from photos for a short bit when we arrived at the Country Club. I didn't though. Lately I'm finding myself shooting some still life that doesn't necessarily scream "wedding." Could be used for some casual artwork around the home with underlying meaning behind it.

Good wishes commemorated on a fun platter.

This first dance shot is one of my favorites of the day.

GREAT reactions from the Best Man's toast.

Jen said a few words to their guests and recounted a funny story about her mother and beloved father from their wedding. I love this heartfelt reaction from her mom with someone who clearly remembers that moment.

Time to kick back and celebrate!

I used the videographer's light to my advantage to get these. I love the slightly blurred, high contrast look for action shots. Shows the movement.

Standing far away but zooming in close to get this lovely moment.

More creative use of video light to get the right color of this scene.

Funky wide lens for this shot. I love shooting the back of bridal gowns.

I rarely ask a bride and groom to leave their party to take pictures...only when I know there are some must take photos. Jennifer and Greg happily obliged for a few minutes for these photographs.

My absolute favorites of the day.

Jennifer and Greg, thank you for allowing me to share in your special day. I wish you many years of happiness and hope that one day your grandchildren will come to your house and enjoy all of these pictures.

Anthony & Kelly Tied the Knot!

2010-06-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

I've been looking forward to this post for a while now. My dear old friend Anthony and his lovely bride Kelly just tied the knot. I was beyond excited to shoot the wedding and have that special perspective of all the preparations and everything leading to the party. As Anthony put it, I then metamorphosized into a guest and danced my butt off as my colleague Sherri Jackson took over shooting the cocktail hour and reception.

I always say I shoot with my heart but in this case my personal tie with the couple made that even more pronounced. I hope you will enjoy this (unusually long) blog post in honor of the new Mr. & Mrs. Zic!

All you regular blog followers should be able to predict my verbage for the next several shots, "I am obsessed with shooting details with (all together now) my awesome macro lens." Here's proof.

Unique details on the back of Kelly's gown.

I love how this buckle practically jumps off the page at me.

Classic look with a bit of bling. Nice choice, Kel!

Their unique invitation made a great backdrop for the ring shot.

A simple bouquet can be so stunning.

Especially when you look closely at the beautiful flowers.

Best man John showing off his responsibility.

A closer look.

Here's the man of the hour.

The curtains of hotel room windows soften the nice directional light.

And the lovely blushing bride.

Kelly wasn't posing here. She's naturally elegant.

Been into this angle lately. Shows off great lashes.

And a little closer to really show off the angle.

Getting zipped up.

I just love the look on Kelly's dad's face here. Nothing like the first time a daddy sees his little girl in a wedding dress.

Happy faces. Happy tearful faces. It's all good.

In come the bridesmaids for a peek.

Can't you just feel the excitement?

Someone is feeling the reality of this joyful day here.

Creative use of blank space can be very alluring.

The joy of this union is clearly shared by all.

Shooting up with the right lens can give that "fly on the wall" feeling to a photo. In this case, I guess the fly is on the ground, though.

Lots of beading but still very soft. Just lovely.

Gorgeous.

Reflecting.

Alright, alright - the next shot I told her to look at the flowers. Still pretty, though.

Kelly had a nice range of looks, so I just kept clicking.

And clicking....

Off to the church to capture pre-ceremony shots. I love Anthony's natural smile here.

When I shot this, I thought, "I'm going to embarrass Anthony and post some shots of him dancing the jig on my blog." As you might guess, though, this guy doesn't embarrass easily.

Feeling larger than life.

Cool portrait.

A guy waiting for his bride.

And here she comes....I like this scene setting shot.

Meeting at the altar.

It's so nice to see a couple that truly enjoys their ceremony.

Becoming one.

There are so many shots throughout the day that truly show Anthony and Kelly's personalities and how nicely they compliment each other. Here's one of them.

I think this is one of my favorite "you may kiss the bride shots" ever.

Walking proudly as husband and wife.

Nice moment with little sis.

And a nice moment with mom.

Not a new shot for me but I was very excited to see the faintest bit of light illuminating the end of Kelly's veil here. Makes it feel almost fluid.

Opa!

I really like this outtake shot.

Another fun one.

One big happy family.

Anthony is a guy's guy kind of guy. Can't you tell?

Another use of empty space. I like it.

Big bridal party does "shameel, shamazel..."

One of my favorites.

More details (can never get enough if you ask me).

Kelly's unique color scheme will stand the test of time. Love the bright yellow against the dark blue.

This group was full of laughs.

Took a couple of tries to get this shot, but we got it!

Not every great image needs to include faces. Sometimes your imagination completes the picture.

My second favorite image of the day, I think.

This series is so fun, I can't include just one.

Changed my mind. This is my second fav of the day.

Traditional beauty.

Using the texture of the ground for some dramatic angles.

With a perfect blue sky and vibrant green trees, it's nice in color, too.

Fun shot.

Having some fun with the veil.

The sun was casting the perfect light on Kelly's dress...shooting close also adds dramatic effect.

Anthony being silly and making ME laugh.

Up close and personal.

Such beautiful scenery.

And the last image I snapped before my photographer hat came off for the day....funny that it turned out to be my favorite.

Many, many congrats to you Anthony and Kelly! WHAT A DAY!

Extended Family Portraits

2010-06-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

Two sisters hired me recently to do a photo session as a Mother's Day gift to their mom. Between the two sisters, there are five grandchildren and like any grandparent I know, she and grandpa love photos of their grandkids. And like any busy family that I know, it is near impossible to get any good shots on your own while also taking care of your kids. Planning an afternoon with a professional photographer is a great way to document the family. In fact, I see some families once or twice a year to update photos and preserve that time in their lives.

I photographed the youngest first, thinking it would take the longest. Nope. She was an angel as you can see here.

I like this angle for little ones. I think it accentuates their delicate little features.

A "cooler" pose for big sis. Shooting at a low angle gives the feeling you're in the grass and adds a nice texture to the image.

Cousins were next. I switched up the background to add some variety.

Her sister's eyes were mesmerizing. She knew the exact spot to look at the lens.

The only boy in the family and the longest eyelashes. Why is it always like that?!?!

"Avoid flare" is a rule I have fun breaking sometimes.

A group shot of each family. Traditional with a twist.

The WHOLE family.

Above shot would not be possible without these two special people.

And the shot that I hope will show up in all of their wedding videos one day. ;-)

Thank you for inviting me to your home and spending the afternoon with me!

Megan & Chris - Married!

2010-06-08T22:03:00.001-07:00

Megan and Chris' wedding was so much fun to shoot! They were a super nice couple and they had an amazing party.

I started the day with the bling shot. Gorgeous sparkle.

An easy way to be unobtrusive is to shoot in the mirror.

When capturing details of stacks or multiples, I like to exaggerate the volume by shooting close up with the right lens.

OK, this time Megan knew I was shooting but I still like the mirror perspective.

Makeup check. I love how you can practically see the intensity of Megan's thoughts here.

Great directional window light casting a flattering soft glow.

Megan's eyelashes make this shot.

The grand act of bridal preparations.

Sweet moment with "nannie" (grandma).

Shooting through some branches makes a pretty frame for Megan.

Just a slice of time that I liked.

Another nice moment with nannie. (I really liked nannie!)

Megan thoughtfully remembered her paternal grandmother in her bouquet with a photo and the very rosary beads her grandma carried on her own wedding day.

Pretty portrait and nice natural looking makeup done by Meredith Hayman.

Megan's favorite childhood tree.

Still not sick of this shot.

I like wide shots like this that encompass everything. Capturing the videographer enhances the action. (Typically Ray from Timeless Films is so unobtrusive that only a wide angle lens can get him in the shot!)

Lovely church scenes.

And now onto a new beginning.

Married!

At Pepsico Gardens for fun bridal party shots. I like the contrast of the pink dresses with the green grass.

Gotta use the tall trees for some drama.

As well as intimate shots. Chris and Megan's faces are so genuine here. The natural setting is the perfect compliment. (My almost-favorite shot of the day.)

Details and then some.

This family of goslings came right over to Chris and Megan - you would've thought someone cued them.

Natural smiles come from within.

I might have been just a little obsessed with the bouquet shots...oh well.

Funky coloring is cool sometimes.

Not every image has to include faces to exude romance.

I love the trees here. And the gravel. And the clarity. (Hey, it's my blog - I can boast a little.)

Traditional is nice, too.

Right after the above shot was taken...

Gorgeous couple, perfect weather, lush setting, pretty dress silhouette....dreamy.

I'm always looking for lines that can lead your eye to the subject. Limos do the trick.

Megan and Chris' reception was at the lovely Doral Arrowwood in Purchase. Wow, what a room, right?

This image is not just an image of eight people. Megan's mom is one of seven children. Seven! It is rare they are all together so it was my pleasure to photograph nannie and her "babies."

A lovely first dance. I worked with Ray's soft video light to get this shot.

Cake and more.

I really like the circular feel of this shot. My favorite of the day.

Congrats to you, Megan and Chris! It was a blast shooting your big day!

Southern Charm Comes To NYC

2010-05-14T09:42:00.001-07:00

Mary and Geoff are a delightful couple that met in Nashville and now live in NYC. They are the kind of people that have you smiling instantly and I was super excited to kick off my spring wedding season with their big day.

Geoff looking dapper....and not the least bit nervous.

Geoff has a great profile.

The guys doing their guy thing.

I've often said that one of my favorite parts of a wedding are the bridal preparations. A giddy bride surrounded by her girls.

Pretty antique lace detail in Mary's dress.

Geoff proposed with a ring that covets several generations of family diamonds. I was obsessed with this ring! (More on that later.) Fortunately my balancing act between Mary's funky wedding shoes worked.

I love hand shots.

The church was full of family and friends, Mary was stunning and the church details were awesome.

The emotions in this series of shots is the whole point of documentary style wedding photography.

I love how the graphics of the tile floor lead your eye to the couple's profile.

The floor reflected great light. It was a springboard for so much creativity.

Here's a modest couple - cheering on their bridal party and families as they walked down the aisle to finish the ceremony. Mary and Geoff, your sense of friendship and family is awesome.

Lovely ladies.

This is what family shots are all about.

A special shot with "sissy."

In between formal shots, I think Mary and Geoff were chatting with the Reverend here. Depth of field and a slightly angled lends can make for a great image.

After the ceremony, Mary, Geoff and I cruised around the city to a few special spots.

Greenwich Village.

Washington Square Park for some more romance....

Married!

When the sun illuminated Mary's already sparkling green eyes, I just clicked.

It was a sunny but windy day. Love Mary's face here.

When you get a blue sky like this, you shoot UPWARDS!

Mary and Geoff elicited lots of great reactions from people in the park. This shot was taken right after a group of girls sang them a love song - and Mary and Geoff obliged with a dance. I was seriously pinching myself to see if this was actually happening - and it looks like they were, too.

For more traditional portraits, we headed into the shade to capture the most flattering light.

Gorgeous, gorgeous Mary!

I used the bright sun to my advantage and captured some flare. What I particularly love about this photo is the romantic little world Mary and Geoff are sharing between them while the city just bustles around them.

Off to Times Square. Somehow Mary and Geoff ended up carrying their stuff with them. Thought it was pretty funny.

Taking it all in.

Just the perfect gust of wind.

Some windy moments were not so perfect, but lots of fun anyway.

It's fun to juxtapose a traditional image versus a silly one. I love them both, but totally prefer the silly one.

This is a man who completely adores his new bride.

Just hangin' out in Times Square. Like any other day.

Two of my favorite shots of the day.

A sure fire way to hail a cab in NYC.

Love shooting against walls with a shallow depth of field.

Chillaxin'.

These two are so adorable, I can't stand it!

Here's where I got, um, a little obsessed with the ring shots.

Mary was having a ball.

It doesn't get more romantic than this....

Mary and Geoff's first dance is deserving of its very own blog post. They told me beforehand they had a big number planned and so I was prepared for some slick moves. Once they started, I seriously had to lift my jaw off the floor in order to maintain a professional composure for this one.

The dance started off slowly and I felt a wide scene-setting image captured this mood best.

Midway through, they surprised their guests and picked up the pace with an OUTRAGEOUS dance.

Complete with all sorts of flashy moves....twists, turns, you name it!

Yes, she did a split.

And yes, they did a flip. (!!!!!)

Their lighting designer had a spotlight on them so I turned my flash off to capture something a little funky. I love the way you see her dress spinning.

I don't know if I had more fun capturing the dance moves or the crowd's reactions.

The reception was held at the spectacular Desmond Tutu Center in Chelsea. You can see from some of the images below that the room exhibited a unique, old world feel. The space was large with high ceilings yet the decor made it very intimate and personal.

I loved the shape of the head table.

Mary also did a very impressive dance with her dad.

Mary and Geoff knew how to enjoy their party, something I encourage all newlywed couples to do.

Having a great time right to the very end....

Amidst all the excitement, dancing and partying, Mary and Geoff managed to steal some intimate moments. My favorite shot of the day.

Congrats, Mary and Geoff! What a wedding!

Carlyn & Matt's Wedding

2010-05-10T18:09:00.001-07:00

I am about to be in full swing for busy wedding season and just wanted to squeeze in ONE more wedding from last season before I start posting newer ones! Carlyn and Matt had a lovely fall wedding and I was glad to shoot it with Kelly Vasami.

Shooting the guys getting ready is a totally different vibe than photographing the girls, but very cool nonetheless.

If I see a stone wall, my subjects WILL be photographed against it.

A nice moment with Matt's aunt.

Every time I take ring shots, I fall in love with my macro lens all over again.

Love the stone church.

Married!

Joyful reactions are awesome.

I didn't think I was a lace person....until I saw Carlyn's dress. Gorgeous detail.

Romance on the dock. My favorite shot of the day.

My runner up favorite.

And the shot of the season that just cracks me up EVERY time I look at it. Poor Kelly (and bridal party) in a delightful frenzy to get off the very shaky dock (location suggested by the bride and groom, NOT us!). Me? On dry land with all my equipment capturing Kelly saying, "Don't save me, save my camera!"

I like zooming in during group shots.

Fun bridal party shot.

"Just passing through...."

Love this shot of Carlyn.

And the composition of this shot.

Kissing in the woods. Shhh....

Happy.

Peaceful.

I'm liking this perspective shot.

Take me away...

Carlyn & Matt's reception was at The Nyack Seaport, a lovely location on the water. The decor was lovely, as was this nod to Carlyn & Matt's past family weddings.

The best man's toast elicited great reactions.

Love the energy in both the foreground and background of this image.

Most of the time I want my images to be tack sharp, but sometimes grain is good.

An emotional dance with dad.

I have great memories of this evening. A reminder that I love what I do! Be back soon with lots of great stuff.....

Jennifer & Efren - Engaged!

2010-03-31T18:03:00.000-07:00

I met up with Jennifer and Efren for a fun engagement session in New York City. We chose Central Park as our location and I can just never get sick of shooting there. To boot, Jennifer and Efren were super sweet and fun loving, not to mention very photogenic!

Love the way Efren is looking right at the lens and Jennifer's pretty eyes are accentuated in a very different yet still very alluring way here.

Happy happy.

Jennifer and Efren have a great "how we met" story. They both live in NY but met in Mexico while visiting their families. How convenient! They didn't have to do long distance. ;-) They got engaged and will be wed in Mexico (appropriately so!), so I wanted theses photos to reflect their NY relationship.

I always like to do some individual portraits at an engagement session. What a gorgeous bride and groom they will be!

Individual portraits....yet not.

The weather on the day of the session couldn't have been more gorgeous. The first true spring day of the year and these two were all smiles (and happy to be engaged, of course.)

Hard to pick a favorite shot of the day from this session, but I think I'll go with this one. Relaxed. Happy. A perfect pair.

Congrats Jennifer and Efren! I had a great time with you in Central Park!

Two Newborn Miracles

2010-03-23T15:24:00.001-07:00

Diane and Leo contacted me to photograph their twins, Ella and Nicolas. While it is always very flattering and a pleasure to photograph newborns, I could have shot pictures of these two little ones for days. Probably the best behaved babies I've ever photographed, although poor Diane and Leo say this is not the case at night. ;-) Anyway, all this is to say that I once again have way too many photos to post, but I just can't help myself. Ella and Nicolas are beautiful miracles.

The thing that struck me most about Ella and Nicolas is they were most comfortable when together. At three weeks old, they still position themselves as if they are in the womb. Amazing.

I love how Nicolas is snuggling into Ella here.

Ella and Nicolas' have very different personalities, which can be seen here.

Two little heads.

Twins also deserve individual portraits.

Precious.

Perfection.
'

When photographing newborns, I think it's so important to show how truly tiny they are by showing a small object next to them. Wedding rings are always a fav.

...or highlighting another piece of jewelry (in this case, Diane's mom's pin)....

or just placing their little heads in your hands.

Of course, pictures with mom and dad are a must. An aspect I really try to capture is the emotion of the parent. There are and will be tons of photos of the babies (rightly so!). However, when Ella and Nicolas get older, it will also be nice for them to see the joy in their parents' eyes and the tenderness of their touch.

Whispers of "I love you".

Already bonding with dad..

Family time.

Diane, Leo, Ella and Nicolas - thank you for inviting me to document such a tender part of your lives. Congrats to all of you!

Alexandra

2010-03-20T19:02:00.000-07:00

I'm finding playing catch-up with the blog pretty neat.....kind of like looking at a photo album you haven't looked at in a while, walking down memory lane. Another reminder of why I love what I do.

Last summer I photographed my niece, Alexandra. This was particularly fun for me for many reasons. One, it was yet another in-my-face-reminder of how quickly she has become a lovely young lady. Second, it was an exhilarating departure from photographing my own (young) children - Alexandra actually stood still and smiled. When you have a 4 and a 2 year old, it's easy to forget that one day they actually won't run away from the camera (although that may not be the case with mine given my profession). Lastly, it was fun to capture the many sides of a teen. Fun, flirty, pensive....just to name a few.

Started out with an environmental portrait.

I photographed in an area with tons of interesting textures (a few different fences, play equipment)...incorporating that into the shot adds interest but I still try to keep the subject as the main focus.

Alexandra has amazing hair (and she's probably sick of me telling her that) as well as very pretty eyes. I wanted to highlight these features in the photos.

I LOVE this shot. By far my favorite for the day.

Some fun shots by the pool....timing the summer light for late afternoon is key in getting bright colors to really pop.

My favorite "fun" shot of the day.

Thanks, Alexandra! Let's shoot more this summer. ;-)

Luisa & Sean - Married!

2010-02-24T18:44:00.000-08:00

I had such an amazing time shooting Luisa and Sean's wedding that it's going to be hard to blog about it without posting a zillion photos, but I will try my best. (And yes, I know I have yet to blog about all my Fall weddings but I will get to it - I promise!)

Luisa was cool, calm and smiling from the inside out from the minute I showed up (and I'm sure beforehand, too).

I had to keep myself from doing the happy dance with the amazing light that was spilling into Luisa's bedroom as she was getting her final touches of makeup. Her eyes were literally sparkling.

LOVED this simple bouquet of flowers with a bold color statement.

Luisa's mom, sister and aunt all thoroughly enjoyed getting her ready. Her family is clearly one of very close women. This moment between Luisa's mom and aunt is a favorite of mine, a reminder that Luisa and Sean's day is special for everyone.

Shooting in the mirror was an easy way for me to snap this shot without Luisa realizing it and also makes for a somewhat unique composition.

Luisa was about to leave for the church when I quickly squeezed in this shot by her french doors. My name is Ro Rappa and I'm addicted to natural light.

Walking up the stairs with dad just moments before the ceremony. (And what a day - thank you Mother Nature for being so kind in February.)

Sean taking in his bride. Ladies, this is how every husband should look at his wife. Am I wrong?

Great architecture in the church. I think it's important to capture wide church shots as it portrays the ceremony as a truly grand part of the day.

Married!

A special moment with dad. Hugging with your eyes closed is more than just a hug.

I find myself often shooting a silhouette shot like this after a church ceremony. It's actually very easy and always comes out as a favorite.

Onto the formal photos at the beautiful CV Rich Mansion in White Plains. This shot was actually Sean's idea. I originally set it up with just the guys and after I shot that, Sean asked to include Luisa. I like it...thanks, Sean! (More on Sean's camera interests below....)

This shot was taken amidst a series of formal family photos. Luisa and Sean were always "in the moment."

I think Sean was trying to do a cheesy pose with Luisa here but they just couldn't keep a straight face. I love the lighthearted and carefree nature of this documentary shot.

Taken a millisecond later....love when a bride cracks up like this.

One of my many favorite rooms to shoot at CV Rich Mansion is the library. A nice setting for a formal photo. Also, staggering heights of the group with the sofa adds visual interest.

Luisa, I just want to pinch you!

Sean is one of four brothers so we took some fun shots of boys just being boys.

I like taking bouquet shots that are more than just bouquet shots.

CV Rich Mansion really provides a warm "house" atmosphere. The possibilities are endless for me with so many great doorways and details.

Most people don't take their own wedding pictures....except Sean! As I found out later during the maid of honor's speach, this is classic Sean behavior. And I got the shot to prove it. ;-)

Grooms deserve a nice formal portrait, too.

An intimate moment.....not posed by me. Luisa and Sean being Luisa and Sean.

We were blessed to be able to shoot some photos outside.

I ran inside quickly to change my lens and these two were at it again. Click!

Luisa's "something old" was her grandmother's pin. What a nice touch to her bouquet.

Back inside taking advantage of the last moments of natural light for the day.

Perfect wedding ambiance.

Party time!

In this shot I think it's cool how your eye naturally goes to Luisa and Sean because everybody else's back to the camera frames the couple.

The best man's toast was hilarious - I was laughing pretty hard myself. Luisa and Sean were married 18 years after they met in college and the best man (Sean's brother) was clearly looking forward to harping on this. He noted that the continental shelf has moved three feet since then! Made for a great reaction shot for me.

What do you get when a dad has all boys? Lots of great daughter-in-laws.

Family having fun.

Sean, put down the damn camera! ;-)

Just a few friends from Boston College.

Lots of happy faces at the reception.

Tons of dancing.....

....and some rather creative moves.

Well,I guess I didn't do such a great job at keeping this blog to a few shots, but sometimes too much of something is a good thing. ;-) Congratulations Luisa and Sean on the beginning of the rest of your life together!

Allison & Tommy

2010-01-21T21:20:00.002-08:00

I had the pleasure of second shooting with the fabulous Kelly Vasami a few times this past season. It's quite a nice mix for me to shoot second every so often because it really offers a unique perspective. I literally get to stand in places that I don't normally get to stand. Keeps me on my toes.

Anyway, I had a lot of fun photographing Allison and Tommy's wedding. Allison got ready at home with her entire family. This wide perspective really sets the scene.

Pretty bridal portrait.

Bridal formals were done and Allison snuck downstairs to touch up her makeup.

Allison's nieces and nephews were clearly a very important part of the big day...

The ring bearer must have asked 100 times, "Is the limo hear yet? Is the limo hear yet?"
"No, sweetie" I said, "but if you hold this bouquet it may come a little faster."
"OK."

Thankfully the limo came soon after. ;-)

Keeping my camera focused on the door crack, I was determined to get a sliver of Allison when the door opened right before she walked down the aisle.

Tilting the camera is fun for walking-down-the-aisle shots.

Tommy's a happy guy.

The church had a lovely outdoor area for taking photos....

Off to Ceola Manor for photos on the grounds before the cocktail hour began. The gazebo and surrounding greenery made great backdrops.

Allison's ruffled dress and bright bouquet were so unique. Gave me great texture and composition opportunity for this photo.

Allison and Tommy enjoying their first few married hours....

It's cool to take some more serious shots, too.

And last but not least....if you ever wondered if you can kiss and smile at the same time, take a look at this shot. It is possible!

Congrats again, Allison and Tommy, and thanks to Kelly for a fun day of second shooting!

Julie & Raphael's Wedding

2010-01-21T21:19:00.001-08:00

It's Blog catch-up time at Rappa Photography. My pre-Spring wedding season mission is to post at least some of the late 2009 weddings and portrait sessions that never made it here, one of which was the wonderful wedding of Julie and Raphael.

Julie and Raphael's wedding was actually the last wedding I shot in 2009 and I remember thinking, "It's always great to end the season with a wedding like this." Julie and Rafael were such a sweet, laid back couple who were clearly in love, celebrating their union with tender, tear-jerking moments and knew how to rock it when the party started.

How cute are they?

Julie was simply giddy and enjoying the formal portrait session.

Sweet and sensual.

Their reception was held at the exquisite Tappan Hill Mansion by Abigail Kirsch in Tarrytown. The entrance is spectacular. As we shot this, it was pouring outside and I couldn't have cared less!

Using the stairs in a non-traditional way.

The decor was lovely - a perfect balance of bling and elegant florals.

The first dance was so emotional (and one of the previously mentioned tear-jerking moments). Tears of joy all around. I always say I'm glad I can hide behind my big camera.

The best man and maid of honor speeches were a highlight of the evening. Notice how the guests in the background are all grins.

You can just feel the love here.

My favorite shot of the day....an innocent kiss in a magnificent setting. Congrats, Julie and Raphael!

Cousins

2009-12-04T19:51:00.000-08:00

Very excited that I'm actually blogging only 24 hours since my last post! OK, this catch-up thing is possible.....

Two sisters, Karen and Jackie, contacted me to photograph their kids - a set of 2 year old twin boys and a 9 and 6 year old brother/sister duo. My favorite part about the session was how well the kids all interacted with each other. The older kids knew exactly how to make the little ones laugh and the little guys took so well to their older cousins. Great family!

This sweet girl was not camera shy....but I didn't want just straight on shots, because her parents probably have a ton of those. I shot through this playset ladder to add some interest.

Big cousin rooting on little cousin to climb up the steps....priceless.

I always say it's great to be a kid. Who doesn't love a slide?

This little guys' connection with the lens makes this shot, I think, especially since his brother is oblivious to the camera.

I like to photograph older kids with interesting angles and compositions....still portraying his youth but showing that he's starting to grow up.

The sun was perfect in this one sliver of a spot and really shows off those blue eyes.

Shot for Grandma of all the kids!

I like to zoom in on individual portraits even when I'm doing group shots.

Hangin' out....

Such innocence in his face here...

....and innocently getting into the bushes.....

Love how different the twin boys are....

I'm going to miss shooting the texture of leaves on the ground in the next few months.....

Boys and trees....love the combo.

And the sweetness of a girl. Aren't her eyes fantastic?

I love his expression here. Gap, do you need models for your next season?

So happy with Mickey....wouldn't you be?

In an attempt to get him to sit still, Dad was pulling on the little guy's sweatshirt...he was cracking up...

Karen and Janet, thank you for the privilege of photographing your great kids!

Sara & Sean's Family at Rye Town Park

2009-12-03T19:54:00.000-08:00

Haven't posted in a while but there's lots to catch up on....for now I'll show some images of a lovely family I photographed in Rye Town Park. I've been there many times with my own family during the summer months (such great fireworks every Friday night) and it was nice to enjoy it with new people with the fall foliage.

Sara and Sean's kids made my job very easy....they L o v e d the camera......

A little dramatic angle....

....paired with something more traditional...

....and we always make sure we have fun.

Same goes for little sis.....

A little devil/angel moment here......

quickly converted to two angels.

She's not so sure about what I'm asking her to do....love it!

I love the connection his eyes have with the camera here....

....and the sunlight in her eyes here.....

This guys' first tooth came out the day before.....will have to follow up and see what the tooth fairy is bringing under pillows these days.

An environmental shot. I like how this image clearly displays their size difference.

'

The next 2 shots were taken less than a second apart and I like how there is a connection to the other sibling even though their face isn't in the shot.

Every little sister longs for a little protection from her big brother....

And you can see older brother maturity here, don't you think?

Her outfit matches the fall foliage perfectly (thank you, Sara!)

Blue skies like this just scream "take a picture."

I like the texture of the gravel in these shots. Scuffed up my jeans but who cares?!

The kids had fun running around the trees and picking at the bark. Learning about nature on their own terms.

I love love love these final images. They say so much about being a kid. Miss those days!

Thank you Sara and Sean for sharing this lovely Sunday morning with me!

Grace & Todd's Wedding

2009-11-12T18:21:00.001-08:00

My husband and I attended our friends' wedding this weekend and had so much fun. Grace told me ages ago that she was inviting me as a guest so that I don't have to work at her wedding. So I decided to leave my camera at home, enjoy a night out with the hubs and leave all the pics to the pro that she and Todd hired.

Fast forward to the morning of the wedding. I'm getting my hair done, getting my dress ready and thinking about how great this wedding is going to be. "I am going to wish I brought my camera...I just know it!" So I quickly charge my battery and promise myself to just take some pics outside of the church. I held true to my promise, am so happy I got these few shots and still danced the night away.

Congrats, Todd and Grace! Many, many years of happiness await you!

Deidre, Matt and Two Fun Kids

2009-10-26T20:14:00.000-07:00

My daughter's preschool held a fundraising auctionearlier this year and my friend Deidre "won" the family photo session I donated. I remember hearing about the auction afterwards (I wasn't able to attend) and it's kind of a strange feeling to hear that people were bidding on my services (among others). I'm not gonna lie....it was kind of exciting!

Anyway, I met up with Deidre, her husband Matt and two kids recently for their session......it was a lot of fun playing around at Pepsico Gardens (finding myself there a lot lately)...

This boy never met a tree he didn't like...

Little sis? Not so much...but I still like the pic!

Off the trees and onto much safer territory for some simple portraits....

...and some playful ones, too....

I'm doing this a lot lately, but it works, so why not, right?

I like the simple texture of the gravel in the foreground and then the dramatic background here...

I'll end with my faves.....I love this relaxed family shot.

This pretty face was having a devilish moment with her brother just a second earlier, but showed her angelic side just perfectly here....

I love the texture of the grass, an off-center composition and Alyssa's laid back (but very model-like!) pose....

Thanks, Deidre & Matt!

Gianni's Communion and His Friends

2009-10-01T18:07:00.000-07:00

An old friend from high school heard that I was a photographer so he and his wife asked me to photograph their son Gianni's communion portraits. I really like doing this sort of thing because when most people think of communion portraits, the images are often super posed in a studio. I wanted to freshen it up a little and photographed the family outdoors in a relaxed way.

For traditions' sake, I incorporated something slightly studio-like, but used window light to add just a touch of drama.

Little sis was a total ham....and I didn't mind at all.

"Sit still" was not what she wanted to hear....and that's fine because then I shoot something like this.

La tutta famiglia!

Like father, like son.

Proud Grandma and Grandpa.

We added a Part II to this family shoot.....two sets of family friends each also have an older boy and a younger girl. All the boys were born in the same year and all the girls were born in the same year. (I don't think you can plan that if you tried!) So pictures are a must with this group.

The sweetness of girls....

The spirited boys....

Some individual portraits...

Family portraits...

Often times after couples are married and have kids, all the photos taken are of the little ones or the entire family; never of them anymore. So I always take pics of mom and dad on their own.

Gianni's proud parents......

Something a little more casual for their friends....

Congrats, Gianni!