A few weeks back now Mike and I hit up Boston in a big way- with our super smiley couple Kelly and Bill. They are so freaking fun together and were able to just tune us OUT and enjoy each other which is exactly how we like it! And so we just walked around Boston, laughing, talking tech talk (Bill is a specialized Apple tech nerd) – Mike and Kelly enjoyed making fun of Bill and I as we geeked out! Whatever dude, it was fun. Back up is important!

So here they are in some random alley, laughing.

And we turned left and saw these colorful cones and textures. Who doesn’t want to cuddle there? 

The Boston skyline was calling us

Gotta get a ring shot….. right?

With all this crazy weather we had the sun was touch and go, and so we scrambled when it came out!

The first of many laughing sequences…. they just kept the jokes rolling!!

We made our way to the North End…. aka Little Italy… Look how she looks at him!

I’m sorry but all I can think about is the tv show Arrested Development and Gob

Is there anything better than pistacio gelato? Maybe. Someone feeding you pistacio gelato!

We walked through a farmer’s market… and saw this scary sight!! CILANTRO!!! YUCK CITY. Kelly and I hate cilantro.

We walked past this little alley where Durty Nelly’s is…. and so Mike works his magic: this is him working it, and this is what he got

I was lurking in the shadows, and I kind of enjoyed it

They were troopers and cuddled in the borderline yucky alley, and i loved them for it

The sun came out and I jumped into sun flare action like a little worker bee with a camera!  

Then we hit up the water, and the clouds were pretty puffy and cool

Always so quick with the laughing

Mr. Bill!

We had so much fun poking around Boston with you guys, but most of all the laughing was off the hook! I can’t wait for your wedding in August!!

xxoo

If poor Mike can ever get caught up on his blog, make sure you check it out!! HERE

see more >>> Engagements

Stop now and go refill your coffee cup, or grab a beer and strap in for a massive, image filled post chock FULL of pretty. Pretty details, pretty light, pretty color and a beautiful bride! This post is pure craziness- I am not sure my poor little old blog has seen one post quite this big! One of the main reasons is that I am including a comprehensive overview of what we all saw that day- me, Mike and Katie. That’s a lot of pictures to go through and narrow down!! 

Some of you may remember Callie and Niels- my New York City engagement shoot a little while back introduced them to many of you. They are so photogenic, and sweet. Not only do I love them- my camera loves them! And their family and friends too, they are just brimming with personality and color.

Their wedding took place at the quaint Webb Barn in Wethersfield CT- a place where Callie’s parents were married about 30 years ago! Callie and her ladies got ready at her families family home, right around the corner from my very own house. They have been long time neighbors of mine- I even coached Callie’s sister Rory in soccer when she was like 11 or 12! 

Callie is just beauty personified. You can barely see her face in the mirror, but you just know….

Her dress was one of the most timeless and elegant I have seen. She got it from Camille’s Bridal in West Hartford Center. I just love walking by their shop, they always have the most elegant dresses in the window! Katie and I tag teamed the dress: Katie got close up detail love, and I got the shot on the right

I love the look on her Mom’s face as she gets a look at how beautiful her daughter is all dressed and ready to go!

In their garage they had this car…. I know, right? Well, this very car brought Callie’s grandparents to their wedding! Even better!

So it became a still life for me to shoot my favorite details….

Their home is filled with vintage wedding family photos, so I just had to incorporate them into some shots

Almost ready… Mike grabbed the shot on the right of Callie coming down the stairs

Crazy beautiful flowers, right!! I believe their florist is called Moss Floral but I have to confirm that- she was INCREDIBLE! All photos courtesy of the super duper Katie Slater

The awesome crazy talented Mike Romano shot this of Callie- come ON!!!!

The ladies all got their dresses from J Crew and were they just the prettiest gals on the block!

The flower girls had the sweetest little wreaths

I was just loving the purple

Another Mike Romano shot. And yes that is in FACT a seersucker suit that her Dad is wearing! LOVE that craziness like 100 times over

Callie’s aunt was the officiant- photo by Katie Slater, super sleuth

An overview of the ceremony- right under this beautiful and massive tree

Callie and Niels’ Moms, experienced a variety of emotions during the ceremony

This groomsman played an original composition for Callie and Niels it was amazing

During the ceremony Callie’s brother came up to do what I thought would be a reading. Was I wrong! He had the crowd do a slow snap then sang to them- and had people in the crowd jump up with their lines! It was awesome. Mike grabbed the shot on the left- he is always ready for spontaneous sing alongs!

It’s official once the rings are on, right?

I think it’s when they kiss! Another Mike and C10ike pairing- Mike’s shot is on the left, mine is on the right

A surprise bubble exit!

Right after they are married 

The Webb Barn has a great garden, and it felt like everything was in bloom!

This is a nice Mike and C 10ike combo platter number 2- my shot on the left, Mike’s on the right. See we can play nice together

I had to get on the stairs for this perspective- yes I know I am not tall but I have quite a long torso! Which doesn’t mean much when you have short legs.

She is just radiating happiness here!

Two birds, one D3- Mike on the left, Mrs. C 10ike on the right. OK, it was two D3’s

This is the three of us, me, Mike and Katie all playing well with others- here is our cumulative vision of the details at the wedding!

Her parents had their wedding album there to share with their guests

Their cocktail hour was so pretty outside

Their cake was not typical at all- I believe it was Danish – and they had these muppet figures out, looks like they dressed up as them for Halloween! Mike got that shot on the right

I couldn’t narrow it down to just one here: Callie makes the best expressions! Niels’ brother said to call him on his BS during his toast by waving your napkin in the air- and so, Callie calls his bluff during his toast!

Their first dance was sung by one of the most incredible performers I have seen, I have to get his name, he was amazing and I loved every minute of his performance! I want to say their song was ‘These Arms of Mine’ by Otis Redding and I would love a copy of this guys version, it was life changing!!

Their father daughter dance turned into a free for all family dance

This is the second phase of the free for all- I was enjoying the funky colors and light

Mike got this great sequence of Niels’ Dad cutting in to Callie’s dance and their families’ reactions! What a great trio of shots

Another stellar Mike Romano sequence: the mother of the bride tearing it UP to ‘It’s Raining Men’ You heard me.

Mike grabbed a great scene setter here on the left, I tag teamed and got the outside shot. This place is great to shoot in I hope I get back there soon!

Callie and Niels- thank you so so so so much for having us be a part of your day, it was pure magic!

And as always- make sure you check out 

Mike Romano, second shooter to the short lady with the pink hair

and Katie Slater, detail goddess and second shooter to the lady with the freakishly long torso’s blogs!!

see more >>> Ridiculousness • Wedding Vendors • Weddings
see more >>>   carla ten eyck photography team members • ten spot

Last week my good friend Paul and I ventured into New York for an engagement shoot. Great, right? Only thing, it was in the middle of a TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR! But we soldiered on!

Now many of you who know me, clients and friends alike,  all know how adamant I am about NOT rescheduling my engagement shoots because of rain. Why not, you ask? Well, what if it rains for your wedding? We can’t reschedule that, can we? And don’t you want a photographer who is comfortable and confident in all weather conditions? I know I would! I have to say some of my favorite shoots were done in the rain. I also really and truly love being forced to think outside of the box, and an e shoot in the park during the pouring rain will certainly do that!

So we met up at the Boathouse restaurant in Central Park and decided to duck into this little tunnel right near it for cover from the deluge above…. so while we are shooting, I see these Hari Krishnas come floating down the stairs, and I say to Scott and Nicole (who have not seen them yet) ‘Whatever happens, just stay focused on each other, ok?’ And then they descend and it was so fun to see this unexpected little splash of color on our dreary day!

So we just hung out in the tunnel for a while and waited for the rain to subside…. they got right into it and were a dream right from the start!

Our next stop was the Bethesda Fountain, which is right next to the pretty tile place that is yet unnamed in my brain- and as yet is unnamed in my awesome Central park iphone app! This app is the BOMB, and I love it and highly recommend it. It will locate where you are on the map, and where all of the spots to check out as well! My favorite feature? The SOS button that will located the closet bathroom, food and water! How cool is that!

So the best thing about a rainy day? The light!

These two were super spontaneous and up for some fun, I loved how they kept me on my toes!

Once the rain stopped we hit up the fountain! 

Love the shoe shots here, and how they are snuggling with their toes

The second best thing about when the rain stops? PUDDLES!

Come on with these reflections, right! OK, the third best thing? No people are around in the park!

These two  have some serious camera chemistry!!

I love all of the textures in the park, they seem never ending 

My 14-24 2.8 came in right handy here! Being able to show the scale here of them to the bandshell is nice!

Texture Central

My favorite thing about New York is how incredibly random everything can be, most of all the people. During the better part of our shoot I feel like this rollerblading maniac of a guy was everywhere, and I slowly became obsessed with him. This guy was super expressive, and would come all close to us with his arms spread all wide! He was rocking OUT on his head phones to god only knows, and was just a flailer through and through. My bet? That he is a surgeon and this is how he chooses to blow off steam.

Texture Country

Scott loves the Mets, and so we did a little baseball theme for a spell, as I lay in the wet grass

Our last stop was at their apartment….which featured a rooftop pool! I was all over it!! And so were my pocket wizards

So to show you where we were, with no creative slant or anything, I set my camera to program and took this shot. Yes, it’s blurry or out of focus, whatever. Stop judging!! 

ISO 500 shot with my 50mm G lens at 2.8 / 1/30th of a second

This is what was in my head.

ISO 250 / 50mm G lens at f 5.0 / 1/ 50 of a second.

Why did I shoot this at f 5.0? I wanted to show as much detail in the clouds as I could, and show some buildings, even though there weren’t that many. Where we were was important, and I wanted to show that. I slowed my shutter down to 1/50th to let in a little ambient light in addition to the remote flash I had set up behind Scott and Nicole.

This one was shot at: ISO 250 on my 14-24mm at 14mm 2.8 lens; at 3.2 1/40th of a second.

Same reasons as above, but I knew with such a wide lens I would have way more depth of field even at a wider aperture, and I wanted that. I really am happy with how they turned out!

Here Paul utilizes a ladder, because he’s not tall enough! Keep in mind we are on TOP of a 35 story building in New York! Or something like that! YIKES!! 

I love the tones of these next few, and of course, the flare

Gold heels? Yep.

Many thanks to Scott and Nicole for putting on a brave face at the beginning and going with it! I am really excited for your wedding!

And many thanks to Paul for coming along, I had a blast with you!!

xo

see more >>> Engagements • Portraits • tips and tricks