We started the day with Irene and Jeff meeting at my house.  Thanks to Irene, she chose two wonderful locations for photos.  Our first location was at Snug Harbor and with 83-acres of land. We had so much to work with - gardens, historic buildings, and even Greek revival architecture! It was definitely a great place for a photo shoot.  Half-way into our photo shoot we were stopped by security and was kindly asked to purchase a permit to continue our shoot.  It was really convenient that we were able to purchase a permit on the day of the shoot.  From my experience, there are plenty of places in NYC that require permit requests to be submitted as early as 2 weeks in advance for approval.  But not at Snug Harbor!  And as we made our way across the park to purchase the permit, we took advantage of the long walk and happened to finish all the photos needed for that session so no permit was needed after all. 

After staying out in the cold at Snug Harbor, we moved to our next location - St. George Theatre.  It was a nice change of environment compared to Snug Harbor.  While I am a huge fan of outdoor shoots, I have to say it's quite a toss-up when comparing to indoor shoots.  St. George Theatre was a perfect indoor location because it was controlled, warm, dark, and open.  I was amazed with all the beautiful details that the theater had.  It gave the place a really grand feeling.  There were no performances taking place when we visited, and the theater manager was kind enough to let us use the theater for our photo shoot.   We explored the entire place and were able to work with different lighting and angles.  I have been living in Staten Island for ten years and am still surprised by how many gems there are here.   A special thanks to Irene for doing her research and finding this spot. 

Congrats Irene and Jeff! I hope you both had a wonderful trip in Costa Rica!

Photog Shootout:

The purpose of the NYC Photog Shootout is to connect photographers with different strengths, abilities, and talents to learn from each other, network and make new friends.

We are a part of the global Photog Shootout network. We are planning on spreading all over the world, so no matter where you travel to, you will know what your fellow photographers are doing! This will be your one stop to find workshops, photographer GTGs and other photography related events!

January 23, 2010 was our first Photog Shootout event of the year.  I had the pleasure of planning this event and all the coordination and work was worth it!  Below is a video of the behind-the-scenes from our recent event.  After taking Jason Groupp's Fusion workshop, making this video was easy.  There were so many questions answered that I would have never figured out on my own.  This is what Photog Shootout is all about!

I want to thank everyone who participated in the Photog Shootout event.  It was a blast and it was great meeting so many of you!

And of course, special thanks to those that helped make the event such a success!

Rob Ninja Nicholson - www.humbledeyesphotography.com www.photogshootout.com
Jason Groupp - www.jasongroupp.com 
Neil Van Niekerk - www.planetneil.com
Josh Lynn - www.joshlynn.com
Peter Quinn - www.quinncophoto.com
Chris Chen - www.chrischenstudios.com

Jina Pak - www.jacbeauty.com
Alexa Prisco - www.theglamfairy.com
Katia Hroncich
Valentina Gonzalez

Haley Eve Kasenetz
Yelena Kim
Kate Wang - www.katewang.com/blog
Danielle little
Deana Tart-Spiotti
Kendra Andrews

Top Five Locations for Wedding Photography in New York City

Determining the top five locations for wedding party photography in New York City is formidable but it can be done. Here is a quick guide, in no specific order, to elite sites chosen for bridal party photographs in New York City, New York.

With 52 acres of breath-taking outdoor scenery and structural landscaping, Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a memorable bridal party photography site. Couples can pick from the Japanese-Hill-and-Pond Garden with its architectural elegance, the Cranford Rose Garden with a horticultural showcase of over 1,400 rose varieties, or the aesthetic artistry of the Italian style Osborne Garden, for a rare and unforgettable wedding photography session of romantic portraiture.

Photography sessions are limited to 45 minutes, must be booked in advance, and require a $250.00 permit fee (20 people maximum). A rain date valid for one year is given in case of rain outs. To make a reservation call: 718-623-7220.

Central Park is the largest and best-known scene for nuptials and wedding photography in New York City, and with 843 acres from which to choose, there is a sentimental site for every couple. Bridal parties can select one of the three Conservatory Gardens: French, Italian, or English, but should reserve early to ensure booking the garden of choice. Ceremony permits cost $400 while photo permits are $100. Wedding parties may use the Central Garden lawn for 30 minutes, but are limited to 25 people. Central Park has explicit guidelines regarding photo and film shoots on the property so be sure your wedding photographer is familiar with all regulations. To schedule a photography session, visit: www.centralparknyc.org.

The Foundry in Long Island City is another favorite wedding photography site in New York City, and wedding parties can choose from the Foundry (inside), the Courtyard, the Foundry Terrace, or a mix of these venues to fit their matrimonial and photography expectations. Call 718-786-7776 for booking, permit information, and details
about wedding photography.

Valentine's Day happens just once each year, and so does the opportunity to be married at the Empire State Building in New York. For those craving an atypical location, an effortlessly remembered anniversary date, and a novel venue the Empire State Building's once-a-year nuptials is difficult to outdo. Comprehensive details are on their official website:

For a sensational wedding venue, consider exchanging vows at the Angel Orensanz Center. The Angel Orensanz Foundation has kept the neo-gothic attractiveness of this previous synagogue and the environment delivers a extensive range of options for wedding photography and marriage ceremonies.

12.25.09 | Linden Place, Flushing New York

An American author once said, "The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree, is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other".  For Windy and Albert, it was the gathering of both their families and closest friends on Christmas day to witness and celebrate their union.  And to top that off, the biggest gift of all, Windy and Albert's vows of love to each other forever.  Christmas 2009 was definitely a Christmas to remember.  

The day started full of excitement as Windy and her bridesmaids began preparing for the wedding.   After everyone was ready, we went back to Windy's home and waited for the groom and groomsmen to arrive.  My favorite part of any Chinese wedding is definitely the games played before the bridesmaids allow the groom to see the bride.  Of course, I'm not sure I would say the same thing if I was the groom trying to pick up my bride, but it certainly is more entertaining from the other point of view.  How many push-ups did you have to do again, Albert?  Regardless, it was clear nothing was going to stop Albert from getting to Windy.  

As for any wedding, some outdoor photos are a must!  Despite the recent snowstorm we had in New York City, the weather didn't dampen anyone's spirits.  We started off at Fulton Ferry Landing for some beautiful images of the East River and Manhattan.  After that, we hopped across the bridge and continued our session at World Financial Center Plaza.  The trick to staying warm - coats on between shots, hand warmers, and a whole lot of love!

It is truly amazing how couples work so hard together to do all the necessary planning for their wedding.  On top of that, the effort and time that goes into coordinating such an event should not be underestimated.  A special kudos to Windy and Albert for their great time management skills.  Without it, all the shots at the different locations would not have been possible.  

Windy and Albert, congratulations again and I wish you the very best!