Terrence Takeover | The Line Between Guest and Vendor
Apollo Fields | Best Wedding Photos | Long Island Wedding Photography | Catskill Mountain Wedding Photographer | Upstate New York WEdding PHotographer | Writer | TErrence Huie
A bunch of acquaintances sit and stand around a large table, some blinds drawn and a faint waft of hair spray comes floating into the room. The nervous tension is palpable as conversation stalls in the dense air. There are a handful of half-eaten sandwiches and macaroni salads on paper plates strewn across the room complete with crumpled napkins and half-drunk mimosas. These are the last remnants before a wedding finally kicks off.
I’m standing on a beautiful wrap-around porch on an overcast day in the Catskill Mountains in my royal blue suit. It’s the same suit I wear when I work weddings when one of the guys asks, “is it easy for you to turn it off? Like today, will your mind be cranking?” As I begin to say that I was just scouting the first look location and going into details of what I’ve already helped with I stop–”no, it’s not. I’m more of a lifestyle guy. I’m interested in making sure that everyone is having a good time.” It didn’t occur to me until now that I was lying–well sort of half-lying–I was making sure that everyone was having a good time; but I also wasn’t turning it off,
making sure that everyone was having a good time—was actually me working.
I didn’t realize I was fully put into the guest zone until I was walking on the catwalk of the beautiful barn at Windham Manor when someone yelled below, “hey, you’re not supposed to be up there!” I’ve gotten so used to the wedding vendor all access pass that I didn’t know I was trespassing.
For the last five plus years I’ve been going into rooms like the one I described and facilitating conversations with people who may or may not know each other, and definitely don’t know me. I haven’t been afraid of entering crowded rooms since I learned to bartend ten years ago. Actually, I thrive on finding the common ground between myself and others. That’s because the more I learn about others, the more I learn about myself. So when I see a room full of people wiggling in their seats, avoiding eye contact, looking for what to say–I don’t move towards the walls, I move towards the center.
I move towards getting people talking. I notice the ones that don’t want to or can’t find the right words. I don’t press them. I laugh at the loud, lewd jokes. I keep walking along, wagging my tail, as Heather constantly refers to me as a golden retriever. It’s actually a quality that’s plagued me because I find it really hard to quantify. Even speaking about it makes me nauseous with self-importance.
I love to be around other people. That’s it. I’m a chronically addicted extrovert.
So when I attended the wedding of one of the last remaining bachelors of my grade school friends, I talked to a lot of people. I didn’t take many pictures, and I didn’t dance much either. I bounced around from cocktail tables to people seated on stairs, to people on couches at the after party. The entire wedding is a blur of laughter and conversations. I wasn’t working but looking back at it I kind of was. My personal life has blended so much with my professional life that it’s hard to discern where the good times end and work begins. I think it’s a good problem–and one that I will inevitably bring up while wagging my tail at one of our couple’s cocktail hours.
Owl's Hoot Barn Wedding in Coxsackie, NY
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Jess + Kyle
Some of our couples find us through Instagram, some were guests at a wedding we worked, and others, like Jess, are best friends with the woman who delivered our baby, Capa. We actually met Jess for the first time at Stony Brook hospital a week after Capa was born when Heather had a postpartum appointment. I’d never visited a friend who works in medicine at their hospital before but boy were we grateful for Jess’s enthusiasm and warmth.
Long Island and Upstate New York Wedding Photographer
Even though most in attendance to Jess and Kyle’s wedding were from Long Island, they still opted to get married at Owl’s Hoot Barn in West Coxsackie, NY. It’s a beautiful venue with a cute bridge, little creek, a few ceremony sites to choose from, and a great combination of rustic and modern amenities. Jess and Kyle each had their own house on site to get ready in, maintain privacy, and have plenty of space. The light pouring in through the barn doors was perfect for the reception, and the cocktail hour under the covered back patio allowed for their guests to comfortably enjoy the day.
Have Your Friend Officiate Your Wedding
I may be a bit partial to Michelle, Jess’ best friend, officiant, and our midwife, but having someone close to you officiate your wedding is absolutely the way to go. They know your quirks, relationship, and will speak from the heart. Watching the ceremony allowed me into enter another world of Michelle’s life and of course it was consistent with her thoughtful, caring, and genuine self. You just won’t get the same type of emotional investment in those moments with an officiant-for-hire. We welcome all the feelings and all the tears!
That Time Your Wedding PHotographer Rapped with the Bride
So I don’t know exactly how it happened, but it did. That familiar guitar riff from “Lose Yourself” by Eminem came on and Jess got into the middle of the dance floor and started going for it! As a huge Eminem fan, I joined in on the rapping from the sidelines, but once her friends started peeling off as the song got into its lesser known verses, I found myself gravitating towards the center. I wasn’t going to let her rap by herself! Then all of a sudden, there I was, camera on my hip, rapping with Jess as we exchanged lines. If you prefer your wedding photographer to wear black and be a wallflower, please don’t play Eminem or classic hip-hop. You’ve been warned.
End your Wedding with a Bonfire
The music fades, the cake or ice cream has come and gone, and your friends aren’t done hanging out yet. Book yourself a venue like Owl’s Hoot and grab a bench or a stump to roast a marshmallow and assemble a s’more. The perfect wind down to an epic celebration, just don’t tell Heather, she gets waaay too competitive about her s’more technique.
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Owl’s Hoot Barn | West Coxsackie, NY
Floral | River Garden Flower Farm
DJ | DJ Johnny B
Videography | Genuine Collective Films
Makeup | True Beauty Company
Suit | Advance Formal Wear | Rockville Centre, NY
Dress | Enzoani | Bridal Reflections
Invitations | Minted
Cupcakes | Dolce and Biscotti | Clifton Park, NY
Transportation | First Student Transportation
Waterside Restaurant Weddings New Jersey
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Heather and Scott’s Wedding
“This is actually the park where Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton,” Scott told me, his eyebrows raised with the enthusiasm that comes with sharing a juicy factoid. Heather (my wife), Heather (the bride-to-be), Scott, Capa, and I were walking through Hamilton Park in Weehawken, New Jersey, just on the other side of the Hudson from Manhattan, snapping some pre-wedding celebration photos before we made our way up to their venue. I have to say, the view of the skyline from Hamilton Park is unparalleled--and I do love me some views from Brooklyn Bridge Park, The Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg, Liberty State Park (NJ), and Gantry Plaza--but the combination of the elevation and the location of the park (across from ~ 48th Street in NYC) truly takes the cake.
I met Heather and Scott about seven years ago in my favorite community that I’ve ever been a part of in New York--Sheep’s Meadow Ultimate [Frisbee]. Led by a dear friend, Ben, Sheep’s Meadow Ultimate is an ever-increasing group of performers, hospitality professionals, tourists, and pretty much anyone who ever wanted to join in on our ultimate frisbee game. We spent so many hot summer days out there, sweating, laughing, and trying not to get kicked out by the park rangers. I knew Heather and Scott before they were Heather and Scott--and it’s amazing that our frisbee community led to Heather and I being their wedding photographers.
Heather and Scott are performers through-and-through. They’ve both been on Broadway and it had me wondering how people who love the spotlight fared through quarantine. They said that they both found ways to redirect their unspent energy: exercising, eating healthy, exploring career options that don’t rely on rooms filled with hundreds of people. They’ve fallen in love with biking up and down the coast of New Jersey, staring across the Hudson at the city that brought them together. “We love it here,” Scott said.
I was so excited to see Heather and Scott dance together because I know the energy and skill that each of them bring to the table. So when the music started and the smoke machine started pumping I put headphones on Capa and Heather and I started snapping away. Heather and Scott immediately locked right in, synchronizing steps, movements, and looks toward the crowd, baiting their guests with confident stares that said, I know you want more. Things started getting really spicy when Scott heard Michael Jackson come on. I’m so jealous of performers like Heather and Scott who can own a stage like that--Heather and I talk a big game--but when all the lights are on us we pick up a camera, pen, or meet for a beer at the bar.
When you make a connection with someone you never know how long it’s going to last. I’ve seen so many friends disappear over the years, and sadly enough, most of the time it’s for the better. Yet the ones that come back, the ones that reach out, and say, “hey, heard you were in town, want to grab a beer?” Are the ones who are growing right along with you; the ones who aren’t just living life but taking center stage.
Enjoy Scott & Heather’s Wedding Reception Photos:
vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Waterside Weddings
Team Apollo!
Having a blast, as usual, with baby Capa in tow!
The Maker Hotel Wedding Photography and Proposal
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Ricardo’s Proposal and Wedding at The Maker Hotel in Hudson, NY
After wrapping a wedding reception in Port Jefferson on Long Island, Capa and I made our way back home to Northport on a humid sunny afternoon. Heather, however, pressed on past our exit off the LIE en route to a surprise proposal at The Maker Hotel in Hudson, NY. I’m not sure if she listened to DMX, DMB, or podcasts but I’m sure that she was feeling a mixture of fatigue and excitement on the three-hour drive. That’s because The Maker Hotel isn’t just any hotel; and Ricardo and Michael aren’t just any couple.
The Maker Hotel was co-founded by Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg, the creative minds behind the global beauty brand, Fresh, and nearby cafe and bakery, Bartlett House in Ghent, NY. A personalized aesthetic can be traced through all of their brands and nowhere is it more tangible than in the unique and authentic decor between the cozy walls of The Maker. Glazman and Roytberg’s hospitality expert, Damien Janowicz, was pivotal in the execution of the old-world-meets-new-world-vibe, providing both comfort and intrigue to restaurant diners and hotel guests alike.
Ricardo and Michael’s proposal and wedding seamlessly transitioned from a dimly-lit intimate dinner party to a beautifully sexy burlesque on Broadway show between toasts of champagne. Ricardo has a gentle, caring tone that makes him a warm and generous host. You could tell by the look on Michael’s face when Ricardo spoke just how deep their connection ran. By choosing The Maker Ricardo and Michael were able to share their story with their guests in a space that felt like home with a splash of the old world and a dash of bright lights.
Heather and I got to talking and realized that Apollo Fields is based on a lot of the same principles as The Maker and Ricardo and Michael’s relationship. At one point we even said that our motto should be “an old way to look at the new world” in regards to the artistic style we implement when we document weddings. Heather and I have an adoration for history and want to lift the best parts of it into the 21st century. We aim to build a future that celebrates humans in all of their many beautiful forms, and are always on the lookout for honest artistic expression. We appreciate style but don’t want to sacrifice comfort; we want to travel the world without leaving home.
A great relationship is like a great hotel, you feel comfortable anywhere you are. You want for nothing, you’re in great company, and all of your needs are met. You sink into the couch a little bit deeper, sip that hot coffee a little longer, and maybe even drift off into a daydream. You look over at your partner and lock eyes--oh how love can be so light in those beautiful moments. That is what we are all after--what a great partner, hotel, or brand can bring--those moments of deep love that somehow come so easy.
Vendors:
Venue: The Maker Hotel | Hudson NY
Photography: Apollo Fields
Upstate NY Wedding Photography at "The Big House" in Newburgh
Billy and Rachel's Summer Wedding in Newburgh, NY | Upstate New York Weddings | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
What do you do when you have to reschedule the best day of your life? You focus on people rather than things. Obviously it’s easier said than done, but our initial experiences of weddings during Covid have shown us what it looks like when couples are forced to strip away wedding details like invitees from an oversized guest list. Every item or service lost pangs of what could or should have been, but what remains is what really matters. When Rachel and Billy held their wedding in Cornwall, New York, this past weekend, you never would’ve known that this was a contingency plan.
The day began at “the big house,” a stunning Airbnb seated on a hill in Newburgh, NY, which boasts an obstructed view of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge as it stretches over the Hudson River. The eight-bedroom, six-bath, feels like a boutique hotel with its combination of modern and classic decor, and seemingly has natural light pouring in through every one of its unique windows. Heather was like our Jack Russel, Riddle, on a hunt in there--taking sharp turns through hallways and bedrooms while chasing the light (her most cherished natural resource). Meanwhile Rachel and her bridesmaids lounged in luxury as they got ready way ahead of schedule.
When Billy arrived, one of his groomsmen helped him tie his bow tie on the wrap-around porch in front of a rolling peanut gallery of family and friends. He then made his way down the stairs to the sloped green grass in front of the house, and drank in the view of the bridge before closing his eyes. If only we could live our whole lives in those tense moments of beautiful anticipation leading up to a first look. When Rachel tapped Billy on the shoulder and their eyes met you could see them get lost in a look of relief and wonderment, almost as if their souls took a breath of fresh air.
We proceeded to the venue which was a private residence 20 minutes south, in Cornwall, NY. The expansive property had rolling green hills, a pond tucked away in the corner, a putting green, and a house built around an old barn that was brought onto the land several years ago. Rachel planned this entire contingency celebration and the ceremony and reception hummed along as the hot summer day turned to a warm summer night. The Beatles’ All You Need Is Love echoed in the air as their recessional music after an intimate and heartfelt ceremony.
With the help of family and friends, Rachel and Billy never let the best day of their life slip away from them. They showed us that it is possible to safely plan a ceremony and reception during a pandemic while staying true to themselves and their relationship. Cheers to their perseverance, love, and all of their future plans, contingencies and otherwise.
Enjoy these sneak peeks from Rachel & Billy’s Newburgh wedding:
Team Apollo!
Hey guys, it’s us! Loving what we do.
Hudson Valley Engagement Photographers
apollo fields | engagement photos in beacon, ny | outdoor engagement | upstate new york weddings
Escaping to the mountains in Colorado was easy. 30 minutes in a car and the Rockies swallowed us up. The distance to nature from New York City isn’t that much further but it feels like a lot longer. That’s because when you live in NYC -- any trip that requires a subway (or god forbid a bus) transfer -- is like flying to Texas and having a layover in Atlanta. The luxury of the travel service is shrouded by our entitlement and the relative way in which the culture of a city interprets time. I realize that the second part of that sentence sounds like something out of a sociologist textbook but just hear me out.
Heather and I drove up to Beacon, NY, for an engagement session with one of our August 2020 couples, Rachel and Billy. They went to school in upstate NY, currently live up there, and could never see themselves in a metropolis like NYC. When I asked Billy why -- he barely had to answer -- as his eyes stayed fixed upon the rolling topography of Beacon Mountain, studying the horizon like it contained a secret of an ancient text. For Rachel and Billy, proximity to nature is a priority and they couldn’t imagine not having a treeline to watch the sun set over. They thrive on taking the time to slow down and stare out into the woods. That’s the main difference between Rachel and Billy and people who live in NYC.
People who live in NYC never slow down -- and the only things they stare at -- are the things that are in fact slowing them down. Because we move so fast, when things are moving slowly, they feel like they’re going really slow. Einstein theorized that time is relative but living in New York is the proof. Traveling from the city to upstate feels like a journey across several states when in reality it’s as easy as two trains and one transfer. By comparison, traveling to the mountains from Denver feels like a quick trip up the road because the pace of the city is slower. For people in Denver, like Rachel and Billy, involving nature in their lives is a lifestyle priority, not a logistical stressor. Lucky for Heather and I, we have an occupation that makes trekking into the woods an enjoyable business trip.
Driving up to Beacon, NY, for Rachel and Billy’s outdoor engagement photos illuminated just one of the many accessible towns from NYC along the Hudson River Valley. Just as the boundaries of where young people find affordable housing in Brooklyn, Harlem, and Queens are constantly expanding, so are the cultural development of towns running north along the Metro-North train lines. If you’re like Heather and I (or Emily and Augie), and enjoy the hustle of the city complemented by the solitude of nature, press through the stress of traveling and get up and get out. You might just meet another literally down-to-earth couple like Rachel and Billy -- and if you don’t -- just take a deep breath and study the horizon.
Enjoy Rachel & Billy’s Engagement Photos:
AS SEEN IN THE POPPED! MAGAZINE
photography | apollo fields
as seen on the popped! blog
We’re All a Little Bit Crazy
From our animals to ourselves, we’re all a little bit crazy. Anyone who doesn’t admit that they’re at least a little crazy is definitely crazy. Heather and I love each other for all of our quirks and would love to get to know yours! Whether you’re looking for a photographer or a friend, drop us a line by clicking below!