Montauk Engagement Session at Camp Hero State Park
Montauk Engagement Session at Camp Hero State Park | Hamptons Engagement Photography | East End Wedding Photographer | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers
Ijeoma + Richard
Charles River Engagement Photos in Boston, MA
Kendall And Kevin’s Engagement Photos On The Charles River Esplanade in Boston | Massachusetts Wedding Photographers | Apollo Fields Photography
I find peace in conversation, in taking the time to really listen to the words that people choose to express themselves. Some decide to speak with a less-is-more attitude while others feel the need to explain. I love that conversation is such a human experience compared to the way other animals communicate. As we walked up the Charles River Esplanade in Boston last week, it became pretty clear that Kevin spoke the language of the trees, naming them as we walked past, making sure to touch a leaf or a branch along the way. Kendall was a bit more cerebral, almost like you could see the wheels turning as she told a story, giving us the mental space to imagine it ourselves. As we continued on and stopped to take their engagement photos in Boston on an idyllic summer night, I couldn’t help but appreciate the serenity their conversation offered.
Early in their relationship, Kendall and Kevin used to run together on the Charles River Esplanade, which provides bridges in two-mile intervals that act as guides for the city’s active dwellers. I’ve always been jealous of couples that exercise together—the only crossover Heather and I have athletically is mini-golf. In our conversation I learned that I’m more the Kendall-style runner, choosing to push rather than pace, and wind up running shorter distances. I’d compare Kevin and Heather’s running styles but Heather does most of her running on horseback and that’s not fair. I love the idea of Kendall and Kevin getting to know each other while jogging, swapping stories between breaths—it sounds like the beginning of rom-com with a happy ending.
In the last few months, Kevin has seen his tree-cutting business boom during Covid-19, as people are reallocating their vacation funds to projects they’ve been putting off. He said that he’s had a difficult time expanding his team in light of government unemployment, but Kendall being a team player pitched in. “Kendall can drag brush with the best of ‘em,” Kevin bragged as he laughed.
Kevin went on to explain that Kendall loves to talk at night before bed but that he often falls asleep too quickly. “Not that night,” he said, “that night she worked in the field she was out.” Kendall also helps on the administrative side of the business that can give Kevin a headache and it’s really wonderful for Heather and I to see another couple work so well together. A healthy relationship really can be the basis for a wonderful life.
They will be getting married at our favorite venue in Maine, Granite Ridge Estate in June 2021. They are planning their wedding in much the same way that they communicated with us and each other during their engagement session. Kevin is the most excited about the flowers and maybe getting a keg of root beer while Kendall gave us a glance and a smile and I could see in a glint in her eye her imagining it all. Knowing the venue and now knowing these two, I know that they will find the same peace that I found in conversation with them that they will find in each other for years to come.
Long Wharf Boston Engagement Photographers
Jessica and Matt's Boston Engagement Session at Long Wharf and Somerville | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography | Massachusetts Engagement Photographer
The “Big Dig” I have against Boston, aside from my predisposition as a New Yorker, is that goddamned Callahan Tunnel. I say this knowing that 1) most Bostonites would agree with me, and 2) I haven't even driven there during rush hour. Other than that, the 3rd most walkable city in the U.S. was a dream to explore while donning a mask on a morning run through the Boston Commons and alongside the Charles River. My admiration continued when we met up with Jessica and Matt in the North End, popping into quirky alleyways and onto cobblestone streets as we captured their undeniably fun and playful vibe.
I’m not sure which I enjoyed more: learning Jessica and Matt’s origin story of how they got to know each other over countless lunches as they worked together; or stumbling across a location where they shot a scene in The Departed. Around every corner there seemed to be a cornerstone of the city’s history or a memory of their budding relationship, turning their entire engagement photo session in Boston into a beautifully light trip down memory lane.
Jessica and Matt then brought us north over the Tobin Bridge to Somerville, a quaint city adjacent to Cambridge where they spent a significant amount of their relationship. Just imagine if Boulder, Colorado came 2,000 miles east or Burlington, Vermont, came 200 miles south-- that’s Somerville. Jessica and Matt amusingly did their best to explain the Davis Square Statues, the strange non-Covid-related mask-donning bronze metal statues stationed around the cozy downtown area (apparently the masks were added after their creation as a result of vandalism). We then grabbed some ice cream and took a stroll by The Foundry on Elm to commemorate the place where they had their first date.
As we looked ahead to their wedding, Jessica and Matt sang their praises to their wedding planner, Liz with Elegant Aura, who is helping them with the fine details of their June 2021 wedding at Granite Ridge Estate in Maine. Lucky for them, Jessica and Matt both have families equipped with skills that will fit perfectly into their day. Jessica’s father runs a prominent catering company in Boston and can turn a skint cabinet into a delicious meal, and Matt’s mother is happy to crush the floral arrangements. It was really wonderful to hear how excited they were to see it all come together.
Whether it's learning a new city or about a new couple, Heather and I are just stoked to be (cautiously) back at it again. We thrive on new experiences and pull on the threads of the stories of our couples that give us goosebumps and bring smiles and laughter to the world. As we move through 2020 together my optimistic side continues to be fed by amazing people like Jessica and Matt who remind me to always keep it light. Here’s to a city I never thought I’d like, a couple whose doing it right, and all of the positive vibes we can send to anyone who has to drive in that god forsaken tunnel.
Haven's Kitchen Wedding Photography in NYC
Laura and Tim's Wedding at Haven's Kitchen in NYC
Bouncing up and down in a crosstown cab, all smiles and sunshine. “I’m gonna destroy this dress—I’ll lay down in the grass, on a New York City bench, wherever!” Definitely not common words we expect to hear coming from a bride on her wedding day—but Laura was and is not your everyday bride.
In fact, everything about Laura and Tim’s winter wedding in NYC was anything but your conventional wedding experience; from only three months of planning to coordinating guests flying in from all over the globe, their heartfelt and absolutely stunning intimate wedding will have us bouncing and smiling in the sunshine for a long time to come.
You may have seen the post about Laura and Tim’s rainy NYC engagement photos, where I explained how they decided to get married on such short notice. If you haven’t, the backstory goes like this: after they got engaged in November 2019, they popped into an antique ring shop to pick out some vintage wedding bands for each other, when they stumbled across a ring with the date “2/22/30” engraved on the inside. They joked about how it would be cute to celebrate this other couple’s 90-year anniversary on 2/22/20 and thought it would end there.
It didn’t.
My experience on their wedding day began in Tim’s hotel room in the wonderfully charming Freehand Hotel in the Flatirons district of Manhattan. With only a narrow window casting sunlight into the room from the alleyway, the mood was calm and dramatic. Tim opened a small care package from Laura containing a pair of goofy socks stitched with images of ramen noodles, a silly black cat pin that read “good luck,” and the real gem of the bounty: a short, heartfelt letter that had a print of Laura posing for one of those awkward glamour shots in high school. In a perfect representation of their relationship and their wedding day, that letter carried as much lightness and levity as it did genuine care and love.
We snapped their first look in the foyer of the restaurant downstairs, occasionally holding the door for hungry New Yorkers that we dare not deprive of brunch. Afterwards, Laura and Tim shared a quick drink at the bar to coat themselves in a thick layer of liquid courage armor before we journeyed to the tourist-heavy Highline in the Meatpacking District for some intimate photos. In the cab we bounced but on the path we strutted, stopping here and there for some authentic New York City shots. As we made our way to Haven’s Kitchen we carried the same casual and light gait that Laura spoke with in her letter to Tim.
Haven’s Kitchen opens into a cozy, chic, cafe in the front, with a clean open kitchen with stainless steel tables used for teaching cooking classes in the back. On the left, a stairway bends up to the second floor with a wooden Victorian-style bannister leading the way. The second floor has a wide open dance floor on one side and a white granite bar and cozy cocktail area on the other.
Adorned into every nook and cranny were trinkets of Laura and Tim’s relationship with an eclectic mix of kangaroos (Tim is Australian), Star Wars references, and other personal keepsakes. Finally, the top floor is a pristinely white, flexible and customizable space that can double as a location for the reception and ceremony. Laura and Tim, with the help of the amazing staff used every inch of this intimate wedding venue in New York City to celebrate their love.
Despite only having three months to plan and execute their wedding, Laura and Tim have shown how a strong couple can literally and figuratively absorb the bumps in the road and come out smiling in sunshine on the other side. They have shown that you don’t have to be conventional and can instead invent tradition or celebrate love in whichever way you see fit. Embrace what the world gives you with an open mind and hard work and love will do the rest.
Enjoy these sneak peeks from Laura & Tim’s Wedding:
Also featured in: Carats & Cake Magazine
The Vendor Team:
Photography + Writing: Apollo Fields
Ceremony + Reception Venue: Haven’s Kitchen
Wedding Coordinator: Irit Oren, Events Service Manager
Officiant: John Heagney - One of Tim & Laura's best friends in NYC
Florist: Dried flowers assembled by Laura and Tim
DJ / Band : DJ Mikey Palms
Cake / Bakery : Billy’s Bakery
Dress : Jenny Yoo
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Suit: Custom Made Navy with llama pattern lining + tailored by Suit Supply NYC
Rings: Hannah Blount + Gray & Davis
HMUA: Drybar + Ryann Jones
Stationary: The Knot with Paperless Post
Heyo! It’s us…
…with our favorite ramen-slurping, kangaroo-tossers! This was the BEST wedding to kick off our 2020 season and we are still raving about how much fun we had with Laura and Tim.
Estancia 460 NYC Engagement Session
Igor and Michelle’s Engagement Photos in New York City | Estancia 460 NYC | Destination Wedding Photographers
There’s something so exciting about moving to a new city that makes you feel like everything is possible. Somehow all of the stresses, restraints, or regrets from the past are quickly forgotten and your new surroundings shine in the sunlight. Igor and Michelle just moved to New York from Los Angeles and before this engagement shoot had never even been to Central Park. I get giddy just thinking about them walking around on the winding paths I love so much. There’s something special about sharing something dear to your heart with others, and Igor and Michelle have an endless amount of avenues and streets and paths to explore. Everything is possible to them.
Igor and Michelle moved to New York with 4-year-old Harrison because Igor was offered the executive chef position at The Standard Hotel in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan. Foodies through and through, they can’t wait to share delicious meals in one of the toughest cities to run a successful restaurant. Partly because rent is so damn high and partly because competition exists on every corner and down every alley—if you’re running a restaurant in New York City you have to be consistent and service-forward. With Igor’s experience at Intercontinental Hotel Downtown Los Angeles you better believe he can bring it.
The other aspect of New York that really excites Igor and Michelle is the architecture. They particularly love to go on architectural boat tours that showcase the history of Manhattan. From the quirky, cobblestone streets of the Financial District to the iconic buildings like the Flatiron or the Chrysler, the structures are almost as unique as the people. Almost.
Igor and Michelle will be getting married in Los Angeles in 2020 and we look forward to getting to know their former hometown. Heather and I love the beach almost as much as we love the mountains, as they provide us the natural sounds that we long for. These are a far cry from the horns and sirens of big cities, and give us an energy that only the natural world possesses. That was a huge reason why we moved to Denver and plan to return one day. I imagine Igor and Michelle will head out to the beaches of Long Island come summer time to fill the void of the west coast.
Everything seems possible when you move to a new place because everything is. Sometimes we forget that when we’ve been in one place for too long, but if you always welcome change you will always be allowing new possibilities. Cheers to Igor and Michelle starting the next chapter of their lives.
As seen in: Popped! Mag
DUMBO Brooklyn Engagement Photos
DUMBO Brooklyn Engagement Photos | NYC Wedding Photographer | Industrial Engagement Session in New York | Apollo Fields
I absolutely love shooting in DUMBO but unfortunately, the secret is out. This spot is incredibly popular for locals and tourists alike, and on a nice weekend during the summer, you can bet it is going to be flooded with people and cameras.
There are only a few ways to make DUMBO engagement sessions feel less crowded and that is either to pick an “off peak” time or to work around less-than-ideal weather conditions. Since Michelle and Rob only had weekend availability and I love to shoot during golden hour, we were braced for it to be SUPER busy down by the water, but ended up getting lucky when a flash rainstorm rolled in and cleared out my favorite spots!
However, most couples that want to shoot there, I do suggest either doing a sunrise session (especially if you want to hit the Brooklyn Bridge because DON’T EVEN TRY for sunset), or heading out during the weekday. Luckily, this spot has ideal light for both golden hours (sunrise and sunset) because of the way the light moves across the city skyline and then glistens over the river. I’m sure that this has leant to part of the popularity of this spot, besides the obvious jaw dropping NYC skyline as your background.
DUMBO stands for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass” and has an interesting history. It wasn’t always the booming spot that it is now, and its seedy reputation does not actually date that far back and did not officially become known as DUMBO until the 1970s. The area was originally a ferry landing before it became a hotspot for the art scene and loft apartments.
Photography: Apollo Fields for Salzman and Ashley