I’m going to open by dispelling a bad stereotype:
Jersey ain’t all that dirty!
I love it, in fact!
Although the traffic to get there I can do without, but that goes without saying… So on to our regularly scheduled programming…. the main reason why Mike and I were in Jersey to begin with- our fabulous engagement session with our  extremely photogenic and witty couple ging and Nick. So we go to this pretty cool park, right? I know, I know- parks challenge me! But I rose to the challenge and this is what I came back with:
a pretty freaking cool greenhouse makes for a pretty freaking cool background for which to place my willing subjects…


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So then they tell me they have a bamboo forest for us to shoot in!! And I’m like…. @#^^%$**&?)_(**@@#$!!!!!!

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and then?

I am all about embracing the light- side light, back light, soft light, broad light, short light, back light, one fish two fish red fish blue fish! Let this blog post be the Dr. Seuss book of light for you!

Check the image up above again. Side light / back light. Don’t be scared.

Now look down. Shoot INTO the light, Carol Ann! I’ll hold your hand.

Now, check me out and where I am, on the edge of the bamboo forest. Rocking my boot. Sweatin’.

Nice, pretty soft light. Even prettier subjects!!!

Like really?? I just love how different both of these shots are- just by having Ging lift her head and make eye contact changes the whole look

Here Mr. Mike Romano puts them into a bamboo time out- even worse he makes ME squish in behind them to hold the light! It was a tight squeeze but I took one for the team

The light started getting warmer and warmer, so we went out to a field to really get the full scope of it and just let it wrap around them

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Then there was this tree, right.

So after we played in the tree we went out to the garden and Mike took advantage of the light and a nice quiet moment Ging and Nick were having

OK, take a walk through my brain time:

So we are in a garden, with zinnias. Green zinnias! One of my favorite flowers ever. They have nice, strong stems, right? So the first thing I think of is this shot-

balancing her ring on one of them- with Ging and Nick in the back ground- I shot this with my 24-70 mm 2.8

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and then it evolves into this shot, with me shooting from above still with the 24-70 mm 2.8 I like this lens because it lets me get nice and close

And then? We see this bee?  I borrow Mike’s steady bee-friendly hands and his 70 mm 2.8 macro lens….

Viola! The final product

So after the sun had worked it’s warm flare magic we ducked behind this wall of awesome foliage, I believe it’s morning glories

So once I got them situated there I let them hang out and worked it a bit…. I was able to feature Nick’s really cool white eyelashes

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How photogenic is Ging??? Oh. MY. GOOOOOOOOD!!!

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So then we played wiffle ball- Nick is a master wiffle ball player

So then Mike played wiffle ball with Nick. Or was it a ploy to throw balls at me??? And my camera!!!

Mike caught this awesome expression of Nick’s while they played

And then we rolled into Hoboken to check out the New York City skyline, but started here with the soccer game going on in the back

So then it gets dark. And this makes Mike and I happy because then we get to play with our flashes and our pocket wizards! And yet life goes on around us…. Mommy’s out walking their babies…. people hanging out

So we work the two light Willy set up (one on either side of them)- 2 flashes, four pocket wizards, two shooters and two happy and willing clients

And then we rock the two light willy set up by moving one light to the right of the frame , and the other behind them to back light them

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Same lighting scenario, just shooting a little wider- and making them laugh with my stupid noises

But then they settle back into their snuggle

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So while Mike shoots I take this shot below of their cuddle / wrestle session

 

Thank you SOOOOOOO much Ging and Nick for letting us have fun with you guys and letting us do our thing!!!

We can’t WAIT to photograph your wedding!!

 

XXOO


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