Storm King Mountain Engagement Photos on the Summit
Storm King Mountain Engagement Photos on the Summit
Kate + Shawn
Set amidst the rugged landscapes of Upstate New York, Storm King Mountain provided the perfect backdrop for Kate and Shawn's engagement session. In this blog, we'll explore their thrilling journey as they embraced nature's beauty, scaled rocky trails, and captured moments of love amidst the wilderness.
Embracing Nature's Majesty: Kate and Shawn were drawn to Storm King Mountain's natural beauty. With camera in hand, they set out to explore the untamed wilderness, admiring towering cliffs and sweeping vistas along the way.
Scaling New Heights: As outdoor enthusiasts, Kate and Shawn eagerly tackled the mountain's rugged trails. With each step, they embraced the thrill of exploration, ascending the summit to enjoy panoramic views of the Hudson Valley.
Capturing Moments of Love and Adventure: Against Storm King Mountain's dramatic scenery, Kate and Shawn's love story unfolded. Their engagement session was a celebration of laughter, joy, and tender moments, captured effortlessly by their photographer.
Cherishing Memories Amidst Nature's Splendor: As the sun set, casting a warm glow over the landscape, Kate and Shawn reflected on their day with gratitude. Amidst nature's embrace, they found solace, knowing that their love was as enduring as the mountains themselves.
Ocean View Backyard Wedding Photography in Long Island
Apollo Fields Wedding Photography | Long Island Backyard Wedding | Bellmore Wedding Photographer | Bellmore, NY
Laura and Dimitri’s backyard wedding wasn’t your typical big fat greek wedding, but it had all the hallmarks of one. A kitchen island buzzing with relatives like bees around a picnic blanket, an air of laid-back leisure extravagance, and someone around every corner asking, “do you need anything--can I get you something to eat or drink?” When Heather and I showed up to the private residence on the Great South Bay of Long Island, Laura, Dimitri, and their small big fat greek family were just putting the finishing touches on their backyard wedding celebration.
In Greece, “you invite the whole island,” Dimitri told me. Everyone is family, from the nuclear to the rest of the community, “you put your arm around your third cousin like you would your brother.” I love that. I love the power of extending your family to the rest of the community. There’s such a pride, a comfort, and a peace that lives in the hectic interactions between family members; you don’t yell at people the way you do your family (or at least I don’t), and you certainly don’t love them that way either (well, maybe I do). I have a feeling a trip to Greece is in our future.
Laura casually slipped into her wedding dress in a bedroom at the top of a set of modern floating stairs, waiting for her mom and soon-to-be mother-in-law to help her put on some jewelry for some candid wedding photos. The early evening summer light poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows and Laura’s eyes glinted almost like she knew she would remember this moment. As guests began to arrive, the buzz around the kitchen island picked up to a full swarm so Laura sought refuge in welcoming the rest of her friends and family in the backyard.
Laura and Dimitri held their backyard wedding ceremony in the corner of the yard, using the sunset over the Great South Bay as a backdrop. They had a friend officiate and her words were as simple as they were sweet, embodying an eloquence that reminds you why sunsets are so meaningful; how the sky is but a mix of colors and words of love an arrangement of letters. I understand that many people choose to have a member of their faith or church to officiate their wedding, but I just can’t get enough of the raw emotion and simplicity that a friend or a family member can provide.
Of course, Laura and Dimitri will be hosting a “proper” big fat greek wedding next year, pulling out all stops in East Meadow at The Carltun, but this was a great start. It was a day that represented who they were, where they’re from, and what their family and community looks like. They even had a gyro truck sending the sweet aromas of Greece into the salty Long Island air. Nothing can hold back a celebration of love, especially when you have a whole island in your corner.
Jamaica Honeymoon - Day 4
Jamaican Honeymoon in Negril | Travel Couple | Adventurous Honeymooning | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography
Jamaica – Day 4 ~ 8:00 am, local time
We woke again at sunrise, as the dark turned to light. The breeze from the fans and the sea swirled all around us, stirring us awake. We’ve adapted to a different sleeping schedule here, one that is dictated by the rising and setting of the sun rather than binge watching and rolling over in bed. You get more out of the day living this way.
We started the morning with breakfast at a local restaurant called Sips n’ Bites. It was one of the many colorful open places that lined West End Road with a chalkboard out front that listed their offerings. As Heather and I looked over the menu, a woman came outside to tell us that they only had a couple of the items. It was refreshing to know that they wouldn’t just serve us any old stuff laying around. I stayed within the familiar, ordering curried chicken while Heather tried to order something vegetarian. When our plates came they were heavy with Jamaican staples: festival, their version of a zeppoli; an unripe banana; sautéed greens reminiscent of kale; fried plantains; and rice and beans drizzled with coconut oil. My curried chicken was authentic and succulent while Heather was served something that looked like scrambled eggs. Tougher in consistency, we asked the waitress what it was and she responded that it was either cod, cat, or conk fish and it left our palates puzzled. We later found out it was ackee and salted fish, an acquired taste that we had not yet acquired. It was no problem as we washed it down with the freshest squeezed orange juice that I’ve ever tasted.
We saddled back onto the Vespa and headed towards Pam, Rick, and Steve to do some snorkeling. Right before we boarded the yellow and black boat, a storm passed through, throwing rain sideways beneath all the thatched roofs. After the sky cleared and the sun poked back through the clouds, we were well on our way to the coral reefs with our local guides. Gently coasting on the Caribbean, we peered through the six fiberglass windows on the bottom of the boat, watching sea urchins and starfish live beneath the sea. Once we dropped into the water, I rotated my head to the left and right like a security camera, trying to spot the exotic fish in their natural habitat. I’d been snorkeling in the Caribbean before and didn’t really see anything I haven’t seen before, when a sort of omniscient peace washed over me. It wasn’t about spotting the Moby Dick of the Caribbean anymore, it was just about swimming along, undisturbed, watching life as it unfolded whether I was there or not. I could’ve stayed there all day.
Instead, we coasted back to Rick, Pam, and Steve’s resort, the treehouse, before we made our way to Rick’s Café. Heather and I stopped at another local jerk chicken joint and I had my first favorite food item - jerk sauce - its sweet at the front like mole but packs a much bigger punch after a few seconds. When I’m at a new restaurant, I always sample the sauces on the table before the food arrives. We ordered a light pineapple cole slaw that made the ¼ pound containers from delis back home feel like a heavy glob of old cabbage and mayonnaise. The service was slow but warm-hearted, and I will take a delicious slow meal over a fast fake one anytime. By the time we got to Rick’s the sun had set and the cliff jumping suspended for the day. I wasn’t going to jump anyway, as I had far too many red stripes and pulls from joints to desire to plunge into the water from a fifty foot cliff.
We ended the night at a patio bar called LTC with a bartender called Jason, AKA Big Red AKA Porn Star. He’d gotten that last nickname working at another resort where he’d dance and eventually take his clothes off. He said it was just in his nature, then cackled to himself as if he was a schoolgirl revealing an embarrassing secret. In the comfort of a warm bartender, the company of family, and the cool of a Jamaican night, our minds had no other choice but to enjoy ourselves. It truly is the Jamaican way.
Standley Lake Arvada Photographer
Erica & Matt's Romantic Engagement Session | Standley Lake, Arvada | Colorado Engagement Photography | Adventure Wedding Photographer | Rocky Mountain Photos | Apollo Photojournalism
Erica and Matt had an epic engagement session showered with beautiful golden light. It was a photographer's dream! As I was driving to Standley Lake, I could see the sun getting closer to the horizon and I knew we had timed the session perfectly. We snagged some fun family shots of them with their two children dirt biking, which is one of their favorite things to do together. The kids had a blast and hammed up the camera, making my job easy as we just hung out together snapping pics.
I love when my couples bring their kiddos along to engagement sessions! It makes the kids feel like they are a part of the wedding and they feel like an important part of the family. Plus, the pics are so cute! After we did their lifestyle shots, the kids ran around the lake and Erica and Matt changed into their formalwear. Her red dress was the perfect pop to the dramatic landscape.
I just adore the emotion and movement in these photos! I look at their gallery and I feel like I really know who Erica and Matt are just by the love they have for each other, and the sweet way that they play with one another and how happy their kids are.
We had such a great time enjoying the beautiful views while the sun set, and I got to snap away while Erica and Matt loved up on each other. I always encourage my couples to take advantage of an engagement session, even if they don't feel like they "need" it, it's a great chance to get in front of my camera and gives them a chance to feel comfortable working with me. Plus, I think it's actually really fun. My couples will often tell me before our session how they don't like having their photos taken, or that they feel awkward in front of the camera, or they promise me that they are un-photogenic.
One of my brides for this season gave me a half-smile and just said, "good luck" to me when she got in front of my camera for her engagement photos. I love a challenge, so I secretly got really excited when she thought she wouldn't look good in any of her pictures. My favorite part is delivering the galleries and then getting their feedback. "Oh my god, I don't know how you did it", she exclaimed! "I'm speechless".
Hearing that kind of excitement from clients who don't think they photograph well is what I love so much about my job. Everyone deserves to have photos that they love and are proud of!
Colorado Adventure Photography: Erny Photo CO | Apollo Photo
Location: Standley Lake | Arvada, CO
Guanella Pass Campground Wedding Photography in Colorado
Emily & Ole's Wedding In The Woods | Colorado Campground | Apollo Fields Photojournalism
Emily & Ole's Wedding In The Woods | Colorado Campground | Apollo Fields Photojournalism
DIY RUSTIC WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY | CAMPGROUND INTIMATE WEDDINGS | ADVENTURE PHOTOGRAPHER ERNY PHOTO CO
Emily and Ole had a laid back wedding at the Guanella Pass Campground this past July. Celebrating with close family among the aspens and evergreens, their Colorado campground wedding was nothing short of perfect.
During the ceremony, Emily read from her own personal journal, opening up her heart and sharing her intimate thoughts and feelings from when she first met Ole.
And I couldn't help but notice the leaves she had tucked inside her journal pages, dried out and preserved for years to come. As a nostalgic person myself, this made me love being a part of their day even more.
And then I found out that Emily's bouquet, in all of it's beauty, was the dried version of the very first flowers Ole ever gave her. It turns out she had been saving them for this very day. I can't even put into words how amazing that is and how much I adored it!
After the wedding, we drove up to the top of Guanella Pass for some intimate couples portraits of just the two of them. As soon as we arrived, you could see Emily and Ole relax. It was obvious that they felt most at home in the quiet of the mountains. Mt. Beirstadt stood tall in the background, which while unplanned was also awesome since that was one of the first 14ers Emily and Ole ever climbed together.
This was their perfect wedding. From the do it yourself touches, to the breath-taking views, to them including their adorable French bull dog, Winston, and his adorable red bow tie. If they could do it all again, I'm not sure they could do it any better.
Emily and Ole's Colorado Campground Mountain Wedding
Photography: Apollo Photo
Journalism: Apollo Journalism