What to Expect at your Engagement Photo Session
engagement session | engagement photo tips | apollo fields | jillian&ryan’s engagement session
What to expect at your engagement session
Newly Engaged? Congratulations! Your engagement begins the beautiful journey towards a lifetime of love and commitment. As you embark on this new chapter, capturing your hearts as a watermark of the new adventure ahead for you to cherish as you head towards your new forever is a special moment in time. Knowing what to expect before your engagement photo session can help you feel more at ease when getting in front of the camera.
Planning
As you begin planning for your engagement session, share your vision, ideas and any locations that hold sentimental value for you as a couple. We will always offer guidance, suggest locations and help you plan but we love to hear what is important to you first and foremost.
Atmosphere
Our engagement photo sessions are all about capturing the natural and authentic love between you and your partner. You should always expect a relaxing atmosphere where you are free to be you and express your love free of judgment! Candid moments, laughter and loving glances are just a few of our favorites to catch on film during our session!
Outfit Ideas
Adding variety to your session with multiple outfits is a wonderful way to change it up during your session. This gives you options for different looks or vibes if you are stuck between two different moods for your session bring both!
Mother Nature
Always be prepared for any weather conditions. For example, preparing for rain whether you still want to shoot outside or have a secondary location in place in case of non-cooperative weather conditions. Embracing the weather will always add a unique touch to your photos.
Embrace the Feels
Let all of your emotions roll. Allowing yourself to sink into the moment and let yourself feel the love, the excitement and the wonder of your future ahead creates stunning photos that feel less staged and flow with overabundance of authentic, real love.
Conclusion
Like Jillian & Ryan (the couple featured in the photos below), your engagement session should be the first celebration of many moments to come. Bring your hearts, your smiles and the love you have for one another and let us create photo magic for you to cherish for years to come! If you are newly engaged and looking for your wedding photographer we’d love to be friends! Inquire with us today!
Long Island City Engagement Session
engagement session | engagement photo tips | apollo fields | Amanda and matt’s engagement session | ny photographer | photography tips | long island city
Long Island City Engagement Session
Congrats on your engagement! As you start the planning process for your wedding day, choosing the perfect location for your engagement photo session may feel a bit overwhelming. If you are looking for a unique and captivating backdrop and you live in or are wanting to travel to the New York area we love suggesting Long Island City as a wonderful option.
Urban Elegance with the View
Long Island City boasts a spectacular cityscape that will elevate your engagement photos. Choosing to shoot within the most coveted golden hour will create pure photo magic. The breathtaking views against the backdrop of the city will create an enchanting atmosphere that perfectly represents your love story.
The Couple
Amanda and Matt chose to take their engagement photos at Long Island City and we couldn’t have been happier! It was the perfect surroundings that fit their personalities. With epic views, backdrops and hitting golden hour just right we could not have picked a better spot to capture the love between the two! With candid moments galore we had issues picking just a few photos to spotlight below but we did our best to showcase their hearts and love for one another!
Conclusion
The magical canvas of Long Island City for Amanda and Matt’s engagement photos, blended urban sophistication with nature’s tranquility. The diversity and picturesque views drew out authentic charm and gave their photos a unique essence about them just as their relationship is uniquely beautiful. As you embark on your journey towards your wedding day make sure to enjoy every step along the way!
If you’re in the planning process of your wedding day and looking for a photographer we would love to talk! Contact us today for pricing and more info!
NYC Bridal Shower at Bottino Restaurant
NYC Bridal Shower at Bottino Restaurant
Hosting a bridal shower at Bottino Restaurant in New York City is a wonderful choice that combines elegance, delicious cuisine, and a vibrant city atmosphere. Here are some reasons why Bottino is an ideal venue for a memorable bridal shower.
Stylish and Chic Setting: Bottino Restaurant offers a stylish and chic setting that sets the perfect tone for a sophisticated bridal shower. The restaurant boasts a contemporary yet warm ambiance, with its modern decor, exposed brick walls, and cozy seating areas. The aesthetic appeal of the venue provides a beautiful backdrop for your celebration.
Delicious Culinary Experience: One of the highlights of hosting a bridal shower at Bottino is the opportunity to indulge in their delectable cuisine. The restaurant features a menu of innovative Italian dishes made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. From homemade pastas to mouth-watering seafood and flavorful desserts, your guests will be treated to a culinary experience they won't forget.
Central Location: Located in the heart of Chelsea in Manhattan, Bottino is easily accessible for both locals and out-of-town guests. Its proximity to popular attractions, shopping areas, and transportation hubs makes it convenient for attendees to travel to and from the event. This central location also provides plenty of opportunities for pre- or post-shower activities, such as sightseeing or exploring the vibrant city streets of New York.
Accommodations for Large Groups: Bottino offers spacious private event spaces that can accommodate large groups for a bridal shower. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or a larger celebration, the restaurant can cater to your needs. With flexible seating arrangements and a dedicated event staff, you can ensure that your guests will have a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
Professional Service: The staff at Bottino is known for their attentive and professional service. From the initial planning stages to the execution of the event, the event coordinators at Bottino will work closely with you to ensure that every detail is taken care of. Their expertise and commitment to customer satisfaction will give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on enjoying the special occasion.
Hosting a bridal shower at Bottino Restaurant in New York City will leave a lasting impression on both you and your guests. With its stylish setting, delicious cuisine, convenient location, and dedicated staff, Bottino provides the perfect backdrop for a truly memorable celebration.
Mount Lemmon Elopement in Tuscon, Arizona
Mount Lemmon Elopement in Tuscon, Arizona
Jo & Javier
Eloping on the mountaintop of Mount Lemmon in Arizona is an incredible choice for couples seeking a breathtaking and intimate wedding experience. Here are some compelling reasons why this location is perfect for an elopement ceremony.
Natural Grandeur: Mount Lemmon is renowned for its stunning natural beauty. As you exchange your vows on the mountaintop, you'll be surrounded by panoramic views of rugged canyons, lush forests, and majestic cliffs. The dramatic landscapes provide a sense of awe and a picturesque backdrop for your wedding photos, capturing the essence of your love and commitment.
Secluded Serenity: Opting for a mountaintop elopement ensures a sense of seclusion and privacy. With the vast expanse of nature around you, you can truly immerse yourselves in the moment, away from the hustle and bustle of traditional wedding venues. The tranquility and peace of the mountaintop create an intimate atmosphere for you to declare your love and devotion.
Adventure and Romance: Choosing Mount Lemmon as your elopement destination adds an element of adventure and romance to your special day. Scaling the heights of the mountain together symbolizes the challenges and triumphs you'll face as a couple. The adventure of reaching the top and experiencing the breathtaking views creates a shared memory that will last a lifetime.
Weather and Seasons: Mount Lemmon offers a variety of weather conditions and seasonal changes throughout the year. Whether you're dreaming of a springtime ceremony amidst blooming wildflowers or a winter wonderland elopement with snow-covered vistas, Mount Lemmon can provide the perfect backdrop for your desired season and climate.
Celebration in Nature: Eloping on Mount Lemmon presents an opportunity to celebrate your love in harmony with nature. The vibrant colors, crisp air, and gentle breeze create a sensory experience that will enhance your wedding day. As you exchange vows under the open sky, you'll feel a profound connection with the natural world and the beauty it offers.
Remember to check permits and regulations for hosting an elopement ceremony on Mount Lemmon, as well as consider safety measures and accessibility for you and your guests. With thoughtful planning and the natural splendor of Mount Lemmon, your elopement will be a truly magical and unforgettable experience.
Maternity Photos in Northport, NY
Maternity Photos in Northport, NY | tips for maternity photos | ny photographers | maternity photos
Congratulations! Your newest addition will be here very soon and we know you are so excited to document that beautiful baby bump. As you prepare for your Maternity Photo Session, we wanted to share our top tips to prepare!
What's the Vibe & Where are we going?
Figuring out the location is determined by what type of vibe you are wanting to portray within your maternity photos. Are you wanting the beach? Then a boho or beachy vibe might fit well, if you’re planning a studio shoot, something more glam might be the better look for the space. Once you have decided on a location and theme, let us know so that we can give you ideas and scout out good photo op spots within your preferences.
Be Gentle With Yourself
Your body has changed a lot these last few months as you are creating a literal human being, so remember to be gentle with yourself. We promise we are here to showcase your beauty and will be the mirror for you to see yourself in this new stunning light! Your baby bump is beautiful and deserves to be documented.
What About the Outfits?
Yes we said outfits, with an “S”. Bringing more than one option for photos will allow you to have a variety of vibes, color palettes and style. Can’t decide between the red or blue dress? No problem, bring them both. We love helping you find the perfect look for your maternity photos so do not hesitate to reach out to your photographer beforehand to see if they have any suggestions for outfits. Our biggest tip?? Wear something that shows that bump off mama!
Include your loves
Including your partner, children or even pets into your session will add another layer to your photos. They help encapsulate the excitement of your newest little one coming so soon! We love seeing the dynamics of family and love portrayed as we capture these special moments together!
Don’t forget!
It is important to celebrate these moments of anticipation and excitement as your motherhood journey is about to start a new chapter and we feel so lucky to get to be a small part of your story!
Standley Lake Family Photos in Arvada Colorado
Standley Lake Family Photos in Arvada Colorado | Family photos | Planning Your Next Family Photo Session
As summer is coming into view, family sessions are starting to pick up. Being the parents of a growing family we know the feeling of wanting to freeze time, slow down, and enjoy these stages just a little longer. As photographers we know that family sessions can be stressful. Capturing photos of our children (especially little ones) can quickly turn from calm moments of adorable little smiles into pure chaos if we don’t come prepared. We decided to share our best tips for preparing for your next family photo session, making sure it is an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Choosing the right outfit
Everyone has their own personality and style. Our tip for avoiding the matchy matchy 90’s trend for family photos is to coordinate your family’s outfits. Use a color palette and general theme or vibe to help keep the feel of your photos cohesive and looking beautiful. Ensuring your kiddos clothing is comfy and easy for moving around will keep them happy and comfortable for much longer during your session.
Kids Will Be Kids
Kids love exploring, being silly and moving around endlessly. Sitting still is their worst nightmare! So asking them to sit still for an entire session is a recipe for disaster, instead allow them to roam free. This will help them settle into a new surrounding and the photo opportunities are endless when kids are at play. Stop and smell the roses, let the candid giggles and smiles organically happen and thus create photo magic.
Plan Ahead with Your Photographer (timing, location, poses, outfit ideas)
Discussing with your photographer your children's temperaments, naptimes, ideal timelines, expectations, photo inspiration you’ve seen (we love to see your pinterest boards!), outfit ideas and anything other burning questions you may have. Preparing for everything before hand allows your photographer time to plan a perfect timeline and photo schedule for your session to capture the best moments of you and your family.
Bring Incentives
Sometimes you need your bargaining chip when sessions go longer than your child's attention span. Make sure to bring:
Snacks
Favorite Stuffy
A New Toy
Bubbles
All of these will help diffuse a meltdown and add great moments for candid shots!
Relax and Let Chaos Happen if It’s Going to Happen
If chaos happens, enjoy it. Don’t let frustration get the best of you! Children are unpredictable, life is unpredictable and we are all just rolling with the punches. If things don’t go as perfect as you had envisioned they would go, don’t be so hard on the imperfect moments. Embrace the unplanned, not so perfect poses as sometimes these wild and crazy sessions turn out to be the most cherished photos. Let the stress roll away and relax into the fun of the session!
At the end of the day
A successful photo session is where we are able to capture the love, joy, and memories for you and your family to enjoy for years to come.
Farm Engagement Session with Horses
Farm Engagement Session with Horses
Helen + Sam’s Engagement
Having your engagement session on a horse farm can be a truly enchanting and unique experience. The majestic beauty of horses combined with the rustic charm of the farm setting creates a picturesque backdrop for your photos. Here are a few reasons why a horse farm engagement session can be an unforgettable choice.
Natural Beauty: Horse farms are often nestled in scenic locations surrounded by lush green fields, rolling hills, and picturesque landscapes. These natural surroundings offer a visually stunning backdrop for your engagement photos, creating a sense of romance and tranquility.
Symbolic Meaning: Horses symbolize strength, grace, and a deep connection with nature. Including these majestic creatures in your engagement photos can add a symbolic touch, representing the strength and beauty of your relationship. Horses' gentle and kind nature can also symbolize loyalty and trust, qualities that are essential in a successful partnership.
Unique Experience: An engagement session on a horse farm offers a one-of-a-kind experience. It allows you to interact with horses, feed them, and even ride them if you desire. These activities can create fun and candid moments, adding an element of spontaneity and adventure to your photos.
Versatile Settings: Horse farms often provide a variety of settings for your engagement session. From rustic barns and stables to open fields and flower-filled paddocks, there's no shortage of options to choose from. Each location can bring a different mood and feel to your photos, making them all the more special and diverse.
Personal Connection: If you or your partner have a special love for horses or if you grew up around them, a horse farm engagement session can have a personal significance. It can evoke nostalgic memories and create a deeper emotional connection with the photos, making them even more meaningful.
Remember to communicate your vision and preferences with your photographer to ensure they capture the essence of your relationship and the unique atmosphere of the horse farm. With the right planning and creativity, your engagement session on a horse farm will undoubtedly result in stunning and unforgettable photos that reflect the love and joy you share as a couple.
Venue: Sunnyfield Farm in Bedford, NY
Terrence Takeover | Farm Dinner at Honeymoon Acres in Ramsey, NJ
Apollo Fields | Best Wedding Photos | New York Wedding Photographer | Long Island Wedding Photographer | New Jersey Wedding Photographer | Honeymoon Acres | Ramsey, NJ | Terrence Huie | Writer
How does a guy go from surviving on late night halal to cooking and hosting multi-course farm fresh dinners? From “extra white sauce, please” to garnishing butter-poached scallops with pickled apple and fennel? I’m convinced cooking wasn’t part of my DNA until the first time Heather and I made fresh pasta together in Harlem; and I don’t think Heather knew of her penchant for hosting until we held a casual picnic with a few friends shortly thereafter. But now looking back at our almost ten-year path to this pilot dinner at our family farm, every step of the way falls into place like silverware surrounding a place setting.
Heather and I first met in 2014 while shaking light pink cosmos in neighboring restaurants on the Upper West Side. Ever since then hospitality has always been and always will be a through-line for everything that we do. Being three-deep at the bar while the expo machine cranks in the background was the training ground for the weeds that we now navigate in our everyday lives. Whether it’s meeting the demands of our two under three, being the steady rock for our couples who just need to take a deep breath, or serving 20 guests five courses–we will always hold the line.
The orange wax cascading down the side of the candle is reaching the point of splashing onto the champagne colored tablecloth. Dessert is about to drop with a chilled amaro-coffee cocktail. I’m trying to call words to the forefront of my mind but only see a faucet running with a sink full of dishes that we need to turn.
“First off, I want to thank you for coming…” I begin.
My mind is black like the trees all around us.
“I also want to thank Heather, who always keeps me reaching…”
Still blank.
“When I think about hosting dinners I think about how I get into a flow state, how the whole world shrinks down to your candlelit faces, like nothing else exists.”
A spark is happening.
“And it makes me think of the phrase, “the grass is always greener,” how you know, a lot of us are always looking to the future or the past, and we fail to appreciate what is right in front of us. Well, I just wanted to say that if you look beneath your feet right now, the grass is pretty fucking green, so here’s to that. Cheers everyone!”
My mind is still empty as I scurry back to the house to start firing the dessert course. Orange wax is all over the table.
Our guests are wiping whipped cream from their mouths and it’s our first opportunity to sit down and pour ourselves a drink. I guess not much has changed since our bartending days yet everything has changed. I can trust Heather to make sure things never stay the same and she can trust me to make them feel like they are. It’s our secret sauce. Photography, dinner parties, we are the same people we have always been and always will be–and we will always keep reaching. I will never stop crushing a styrofoam container packed with halal but it’s no longer necessary for my survival.
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.
Three Tips for Finding Your Perfect Wedding Photographer
apollo fields | wedding photography | elopement photography | best wedding photos | ny wedding photogrpaher
Congrats on your engagement! As you begin your wedding planning journey, we have compiled our top tips when searching for your wedding/elopement photographer! With so many options, how do you choose the perfect photographer for your wedding day? Don’t worry we’ve got you!
Venue: Water’s Edge, Centerport NY
Tip #1- Connection
When looking for the perfect wedding/elopement photographer, you should consider your personalities, interests, and values. Knowing who would best suit you and your significant other will help you narrow your search. Are you fun, loud, and extremely extroverted? A photographer who can encapsulate your energy would be a wonderful fit. Or are you introverted? Finding a photographer who understands boundaries but encourages you to come out of your shell could be a perfect fit. Take time and search through multiple portfolios to get a sense of their style and creative approach. Ultimately, trust your gut and choose a photographer whose work inspires you and who you would feel most comfortable with!
Tip #2 - Budget
Setting your budget and sticking to it is extremely important when wedding planning. So, knowing your budget that you are allotting for photography will help narrow down the list for you and your other half. Make sure to check and see what is included in the pricing packages. Ensure that you will be receiving everything you would like in the pack you choose. Inquire about your photographer leading up to and on your wedding day. Check to see if they include engagement sessions, travel fees for certain areas, and more. Photos last for a lifetime, becoming like artwork for our life’s stories. When it comes to photography for your wedding, your forever, ensure you are budgeting enough to receive top-tier photos that you will love to look back and reminisce on for years to come.
Tip #3 - Timeline
Asking your photographer what their preferred timeline is for photos as lighting is a very important piece of the puzzle. Knowing what types of photos you are hoping to capture will help your photographer know the timing required for your wedding day. Create a timeline between you and your photographer making room for golden hour photos, sunset ceremonies, or hiking in areas before dark.
wrapping up
Finding your dream wedding/elopement photographer doesn’t have to be hard when you keep these tips in mind. Once you find someone that you think may be a good fit, we suggest booking a call to chat with them face to face…or screen-to-screen, to ensure the vibes match. Getting to know your photographer over more than just their portfolio will help you choose the best fit for you. Cheers to your engagement!!
On the lookout for your wedding or elopement photographer?
Contact us today we would love to talk with you!
Small Business; Big Family Values
Apollo Fields | Best Wedding Photos | Long Island wedding Photographers | New York Wedding Photos | New york Wedding Photography | Small Business Owners | Northport, New york | Terrence Huie | Writer
Capa on my shoulders, Oli strapped to Heather’s chest, we enter the same woods that I used to explore as a child. We’re looking for deer, for frogs, or anything that rustles in the leaves. We pass places that carry snapshots of memories in my mind when Capa decides to let out a coyote howl–awooooo–we all take a turn. We are a wild pack of animals.
It’s times like these that soften the bags under my eyes, the shade of the trees allowing me to open my eyelids a little wider. For all of the blurry hours of the day these minutes are crystal clear. Heather tells me to cling to these moments when things get hard; it’s too easy to let them pass.
All of a sudden it’s the weekend and Heather and I are in the middle of a dance floor, revolving around a mother and son as they cling to each other, and I catch a glimpse of a tear streaming down Heather’s face. She never used to cry during parent dances, but things are different now. Now she sees Capa or Oliver in a suit and she imagines looking into their eyes. I can’t help tearing up either.
And this is how most weeks go for us. We bounce between day care, grocery runs, engagement shoots, weddings, scheduling meetings, and the occasional jaunt in the woods. Weekdays and weekends are indistinguishable save the tuxes, white dresses, epic dance parties, and champagne toasts. Have you ever wondered why they say someone with a watch is “keeping the time” when you can’t really keep it at all? You can only really keep time to the point of telling it, at that specific moment, on that specific day. Thus, it is up to us to keep what was happening in that moment as time moves forward.
Walking in the woods will always remind me of the time before we had Capa and Oliver, when Heather and I explored trails from the Rockies to the Adirondacks. It’s what makes it so special when we get to share it with them, leading them along the path of our values that we’ve been trailblazing since we started dating in 2014. It’s been a steady climb from bartending to starting our own business, from date nights in Manhattan to hosting dinners at our homes in Colorado and Long Island. It’s helped us realize that we will always build upon who we are to figure out where we are going.
And at this point in time, we are a pack of wild animals. Sometimes we wear hiking shoes, other times we wear our precious Sabah’s, but you can catch us howling in the woods or on dance floors alike. Our next chapter will have us tying our aprons behind our backs again, so stay tuned, stay hungry, and stay wild.
Top Five Tips for Engagement Photo Outfits
apollo fields | engagement photos | wedding photography | elopement photography | best wedding photos | ny wedding photogrpaher
Yay! Congratulations on your engagement! As you begin planning your engagement photo sesh with your favorite photographer, we have some awesome tips to keep in mind while planning what to wear!
Venue: Water’s Edge, Centerport NY
Tip #1 - Wear something that makes you feel like YOU!
Your engagement photos are a reflection of you and your significant other's style. When choosing outfits keep in mind your personal preferences to ensure that you and your love are feeling confident in what you choose to wear!
Tip #2 - Bring at least TWO outfit choices!
Being able to switch it up during your session not only gives you more photo opportunities but also will give you an option if you’re just not feeling the first outfit you bring! Knowing that you have options will help our perfectionists out there feel more confident that they made the right choices when there are options to change it up if it doesn’t feel right at the moment.
Tip #3 - The Matching Outfits is so the 80’s
Although we LOVE a good 80s throwback, one thing we feel should be left there are the matching couples photos. Finding a way to ensure you don’t clash with each other's outfits is important. We suggest choosing color palettes that complement each other for example:
Florals with neutrals
Pastel Blues with Cream
Whites/Cream with Black or Tan
Tip #4 - Plan for the Season
Planning for the season that you will be taking your engagement photos, will help you make sure that you are dressed appropriately for the weather! Here in New York, we see it all, so make sure you aren’t wearing a sundress in a snowstorm. We have had couples brave the elements and the photos are gorgeous, but it’s more your personal preference.
Tip #5 - Incorporate your Children or Pets
When incorporating your children and/or pets we suggest bringing someone to your session that can help look after them while you are taking your couple photos! Having a helping hand allows you to focus on looking beautiful and capturing your love on film!
wrapping up
From seasons to color palettes your photographer is there to help you find the perfect session to represent your story! Remember to be true to you and your photos will be ones you cherish forever!
On the lookout for your wedding photographer?
Contact us today we would love to talk with you!
Terrence Takeover - 2023 Wedding Season Check-In
Apollo Fields | Best Wedding Photos | New York Wedding Photographer | Long Island Wedding Photographer | Terrence Huie | Writer
By the end of every single day, my t-shirt looks like a Jackson Pollock painting. An orange-yellow smear of baby food and boogers up by my shoulder, a splattering of red marinara sauce across my chest, and a living museum of the day's activities everywhere else. Taking it off and throwing it into the hamper is the closest thing I’ll come to feeling like an athlete anytime soon. Part badge-of-honor and part a symbol of parental sacrifice, I throw myself on to a bed that has never felt so good.
The funny thing about my tattered shirts is that they are the perfect representation of what it’s like to become a parent–not only from a literal perspective—but also an analogy for my physical, mental, and emotional self. Everyday there is a messy confluence of factors that prod at various vulnerabilities: whether it is shifting my identity as a professional or creative to a parent; my parents exhibiting some benign (or malignant) behavior towards my children that triggers something about my experience as a child, or how each of Heather and I’s individual lives and relationship as a whole take a back seat to the family’s immediate and ever present needs.
We are fortunate enough to run a business that allows us to be present in our children’s lives, but it isn’t always easy for us to draw that line in the sand. I have a predisposition to overcompensate for the lack of attention that I got as a child, and Heather has a predisposition to provide for them as her family struggled in her youth. It is a cruel joke that parents are forced to grapple with these psychological hurdles when we are operating on the least sleep we have gotten in our lives–but I suppose true comedy is all about timing.
This entry is less about complaining about being a new parent and more about recognizing the framework of parenthood and setting up a plan for success. We will always have a pile of laundry to get to and no amount of detergent in the world will rid us of the stains. My generation is operating with a different relationship to work than our parents, where more often than not both parents are working. In our case, at least early in our 2023 wedding season, Heather is handling the business side while I am staying home more with the kids. It isn’t a clear 1:1 division of labor but we recognize that it is important for both parents to put on the other cap, realizing sides of their identities before they are lost in the maelstrom of parenthood. Sometimes time feels like a paradox, where days pass in a blur but every minute is a struggle, or “how they grow up so fast” but it feels like no time has passed.
There is no universal advice to offer new parents as every situation is unique, but here are a few observations. Right now, Heather and I only know how tired we are when we get good rest, when the bags under our eyes sag a little less. That means all of the other times we are operating on a razor slim margin, meaning that when one of us gets sick or our car winds up in the shop for a week, there will be blood (So that’s what that stain is). There is no way around parenthood, the only path is through it. The ultimate struggle is that if you don’t enjoy it then you are ungrateful and will regret it five or 10 years from now.
The best anecdote I heard to combat this is to pretend that you’re 80 years old and laying in a bed and you get to warp back in time to this particular time, where both kids are crying, or you’re trying to navigate a dirty diaper, and that there is no other place that you’d rather be. It sounds like a hypothetical platitude but it has helped me this week, and I hope it helps you.
Southward Ho Country Club Wedding Photos
Kayla + Jonathan
Apollo Fields | Long Island Wedding Photographers | Best Wedding Photos | Southward Ho COuntry Club Wedding | Bay shore Wedding Photographers
Some say rain on your wedding day is good luck, but what happens if it rained during your engagement photos too? Is that extra good luck? Like when a bird poops on your head? I’ve always thought that saying these things are good luck is just our way of being a supportive friend/spin doctor rather than an indication of actual good things to come. That’s because I’m a strong believer in making your own luck; in choosing a good partner to weather the storm so that when good things actually do happen it just seems like they’re an added bonus. Kayla and Jonathan are the epitome of this kind of mindset.
Fire Island Engagement Photos
Capa and I were actually supposed to tag along for Kayla and Jonathan’s awesome engagement photo shoot on Fire Island, but because of the aforementioned weather they pushed up the start time. I missed out on a windy boat ride across the Great South Bay and oysters at one of our favorite restaurants, but Kayla and Jonathan rolled with the change of plans. They enjoyed showing Heather a couple spots along the boardwalk and had no problem going with the flow. All in all, the weather held off, but this is the kind of happiness that arises when you have a supportive partner rather than one who demands uncontrollable circumstances to bend to their will.
The Nostalgia of Your First Kiss
Kayla and Jonathan decided to have their first look underneath the tree where they each had their first kiss in 6th grade (!!) in Kayla’s backyard. What a wonderfully romantic idea! It immediately flew me back to the memory of my first kiss: the nervous jitters, the thinking back to the countless movie scenes where a group of teenage girls sit on a bed and gossip about who-is-and-who-isn’t a good kisser, and of course, having no actual idea of what to do. Kayla and Jonathan remember missing each other’s lips (lol) but knew better than to come back to their respective friend groups and say that it wasn’t totally awesome. The icing on the cake is that it was a dare (of course it was). Mine was too!
Robert Moses Beach Wedding Photos
Following their church ceremony in Bay Shore, Kayla and Jonathan and their wedding parties hopped on a bus for some photos at the beach. The weather luckily held off for a few hours in the middle of the day to do ALL family and wedding party formals and their romantics before the rain resumed. This is the kind of flexibility from Kayla and Jonathan that lended to their wonderful wedding celebration. They could’ve easily gotten down on their luck and let it dampen their day, but instead they made the most of what mother earth gave to them and had the best time. Their amazing friend groups did too!
Southward Ho Country Club Wedding
Kayla and Jonathan held their reception at a local country club to emphasize the importance of their Bay Shore roots. One of the things they were most proud of was the seating chart and details that they DIYed from recycled oysters! We love when our couples take the time to leave their fingerprints on the celebration, even if these projects typically take a lot of it! They had a great live band and the food and staff were fantastic. Never have I ever seen a fresh mozzarella bar but oh man was it delicious. We can’t wait to meet up with them for the gallery reveal which will definitely involve oysters as long as it doesn’t trigger some DIY PTSD!
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Southward Ho Country Club | Bay Shore, NY
Sunken Meadow Pavilion Wedding Photos
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Gina + Peter
It’s funny how every growing family finds their little nook to get away from it all. Many times it’s a lake house or cabin in the woods that the family has been renting for generations. Other times it’s a landmark of mom and dad’s relationship that brings them down memory lane.
For my family, it was Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a wind-swept peninsula an hour-and-a-half drive from Boston. Its cozy cottages, relaxing beaches, seafood restaurants, and family-friendly establishments makes it a destination for the entire New England area. I always thought that the vibe was remarkably similar to the north fork of Long Island, not too far from where my grandmother lived in Wading River. This notion was driven home when I walked into the house that Peter grew up in Patchogue, where his mother warmly greeted me in the sunroom of her adorable colonial-meets-beach style home.
rom-com Relationship Origins
The story of the first time that Gina met Peter sounds like it is straight out of a rom-com: Gina was babysitting and went into a pizzeria that Peter worked at and the little one she was caring for ordered an eggplant Parmesan slice. Peter couldn’t believe that was what they wanted because he still didn’t like eggplant, and offered them a free slice of pepperoni on the house. There wasn’t any monumental shift in the kid’s palate but both Peter and Gina knew that there might be something between them.
Fast forward a couple years when they’re coincidentally both working at a restaurant in Patchogue. Peter comes in to meet up with one of their co-workers when they see each other and remember one another from the pepperoni/eggplant encounter. They wind up going on a beach date shortly thereafter and both show up to work one day rocking the same sunburn. They didn’t care about everyone knowing that they were dating but this totally blew their cover.
The Incredible Lightness of Being (In Love)
I never read the Milan Kundera novel of the same title minus the parentheticals, but I couldn’t help but notice the lightness of Gina and Peter’s relationship. It was clear in the way that their body language relaxed as they approached one another, folding together not only physically but socially and emotionally as well. You could tell that they were on the same wavelength, like they perpetually living in the “honeymoon stage.” You might think that every one of our couples behaves like that on their wedding day, but not quite like Gina and Peter.
Heather and I’s Relationship Origins
Coincidentally, Heather and I met at hospitality jobs also. We worked across the street from each other in 2013 at neighboring restaurants on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. People always find it romantic when I tell them that story, but it wasn’t until after getting to know Peter and Gina’s relationship origins that I began to understand why. I think it’s the idea of an organic, budding romance in the age of dating apps; how of the many relationships that come from working in the hospitality industry—where workers more often than not are in transitory parts of their lives, and people are growing into or building towards the next stage in their lives—that the idea of two people happenstantially meeting to come together and grow together seems improbable. That the odds say most paths diverge.
For Heather and I it adds to the strength of our relationship. We were talking about it the other day and it’s like we were building a foundation even though we didn’t know it. And every subsequent year or period of growth we were building on top of that. It would follow then, that we, and Gina and Peter feel lighter, because rather than building separate foundations we were building on the same one. The higher we go, the lighter we feel.
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Sunken Meadow State Park Pavilion | King’s Park, NY
Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill Mansion Wedding in Tarrytown, NY
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Nick + Carly
Fate is a problem for me because I believe in the power of our choices. I believe that it is our responsibility to put ourselves in positions to make good ones, and to learn from our inevitable bad ones. But sometimes the universe throws things like Covid or wild fires at us and our future is determined by forces out of our control. Nick and Carly’s decision-making and execution in the planning of their wedding showed that despite what fate had in store, their choices on how to celebrate their love would prevail.
The Storytellers NYC Wedding Band
Nick and Carly are one of those couples that can fit in with any crowd: class it up, dress to the nines, and listen to some world class jazz, or smash plastic pitchers on the dance floor—they take whatever the world gives them. Their wedding band, The Storytellers out of NYC, brought the effing house down. Carly’s dress and bright blue Manolo Blahnik shoes, Nick’s custom suit and Del Toro loafers—they were dressed to kill. RIP dance floor.
Trusting Your Upstate New York Wedding Photographer
Perhaps the most refreshing and empowering trait Nick and Carly showed on their wedding day is how much they trusted us. Whether it was for first look, family formals, or bridal party shots, we gave them options in terms of backgrounds, lighting, and locations, and they thought about it, discussed what was important to them, and then put the ball right back in our court. We will never under-appreciate this trust because it helps us do our job and will always produce a better product. We understand that our roles as photographers can be more advisory, contingent with what our couple wants, but to not only feel seen and heard, but encouraged and deferred to, fostered a beautiful relationship that made their wedding an absolute joy to document.
How to Choose the Right Partner
And it all comes down to the choices that we make. Not just for your wedding, but for the partner you choose and the life that you choose to lead. My brother was recently surprised when I told him that I was vetting Heather from our very first dates. Not just what does she like or what we have in common, but how will she behave in a tense situation, or what kind of mother she will be. You know, the small stuff. I just didn’t see a purpose in dating if I wasn’t looking for indicators of long-term personality traits. I knew I wanted a family some day, and while I enjoyed dating in NYC, I was constantly marrying short-term fun with long-term goals. I think I was sold the first time I saw Heather playing a silly game with a kid in a brewery. You just have to be looking for the things that you care about.
Or in the very wise words direct from Nick’s vows, “I chose you in New York when we first closed down our favorite little East Village bar…Here we are, more than seven years later and I choose you today. I promise to choose you again tomorrow. And I'll continue to choose you every day for the rest of our lives. You're my best friend Carly, and I love you.”
Vendors
Photography | Apollo Fields
Venue | Tappan Hill Mansion | Tarrytown, NY
Band | The Storytellers | NYC
Floral | Forever in Bloom | Kisco, NY
Dress | Country Way Bridal | Haddonfield, NJ
Shoes | Manolo Blahnik
Suit | Enzo Custom | Philadelphia, PA
Shoes | Del Toro Shoes
Watch | Omega Speedmaster
Rings | I.D. Jewelry | Diamond District | NYC
Invitations | Minted | Paper Source
Shuttle | Red Oak Transportation
Lake Tahoe Engagement Photos
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Hannah + Bobby
I’m a simple man–give me sunshine to soak in, mountains to stare at, a body of water to throw myself into and a local beer. If you put me in an infinite loop of those things you might not see me until my hair is gray. So when Hannah and Bobby told us that they wanted to travel to California for their engagement photos in Lake Tahoe I started packing before I bought a plane ticket. I knew it was going to be a place I loved before I even set foot there, kind of how I feel about Bend, Oregon.
Lake Tahoe Engagement Photos
Hannah and Bobby are one of those couples that make you question your adventurous spirit. They’ve championed the sky by diving out of planes, the sea by delving beneath the surface, volcanoes with their sturdy strides, and I’m pretty sure you give them a rocket and outer space is next. Hannah and Bobby have a story for every natural setting out of your earth science textbook. It was so fun getting to know them as we explored Lake Tahoe together, 191 square miles (!!) of mountain adjacent aquamarine waters.
The W Loft Brooklyn Wedding Photos
I’m not exactly sure what color the East River is, but I’m not jumping in there anytime soon. That being said, it does provide its own juxtapositional beauty in the foreground of some of earth’s most beautiful man-made mountains. The skyscrapers of Manhattan have the same capacity to inspire as the Sierra Nevadas, especially from the vantage point of The W Loft in Brooklyn. I was just talking the other day about the strangely comfortable feeling you get when you gaze upon a mountain range, allowing the immensity of its presence to make you feel small. Maybe it’s because mountains can’t move fast enough to crush you, or that they provide a grandiose depth of perspective to your eye, but I can’t quite get at the heart of that feeling.
Epic Engagement Ideas
Okay so when I said before that Hannah and Bobby conquered volcanoes, what I meant was that Bobby proposed to Hannah on an active (!!) volcano in Ecuador. What an absolutely epic and absolutely mad idea! Not to mention that the day Bobby planned to do it he came down with an intestinal infection known as Montezuma’s Revenge. Most people would’ve pushed the proposal to another day or settled for a more modest location–but not Bobby. Everything about Hannah and Bobby’s relationship makes me think of the quote that I thought was Bob Marley’s but is apparently credited to Roger Miller: “some people feel the rain; others just get wet.” Some people go through life, but people like Hannah and Bobby live it.
Surround Yourself With Those Who Inspire
As I enter my mid-30’s I can’t help but constantly assess what is and what is not serving me in my life. Lucky for me, I married Heather, a partner who in more ways than one brings me back to a healthy default. For example, we signed up for a CSA program that brings fresh produce every week from the North Fork of Long Island to our doorstep. We got a membership at a local gym with a daycare to incentivize exercise. But perhaps most important is our business where we meet like-minded inspiring people like Hannah and Bobby. Our social and professional web continues to grow outward and I will never take that for granted. Especially when I have the time to kick back and take in a view of a mountain range or skyline of skyscrapers.
NYC Marriage Bureau Wedding at the City Clerk Hall
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Jess + Yi
City hall weddings will always have a place in my heart for their simplicity. Some of the couples who choose this option still host a larger celebration, while others are just happy to get a couple handfuls of friends and family together to enjoy a night on the town. It doesn’t even have to be New York City to enjoy that kind of intimate celebration. It’s the same kind of vibe of hosting a dinner party at your home.
NEw York City Wedding Photographers
When Heather and I lived in New York we didn’t tap into our love of hosting yet. I guess we were too busy taking care of people at our respective bars while pursuing our college degrees. It wasn’t until we moved to Colorado that we started putting together curated dinners where we would invite people who didn’t know each other to meet and share a meal. There was something wonderfully simple about it. I know a lot of people who get anxious at the idea of company, but I remember one particular dinner of ours when we didn’t have enough silverware for everyone! Instead of feeling ashamed we just asked the couples at the table to share. That has since become the dinner our friends talk about the most often.
New Jersey Wedding Photographers
And that’s the beautiful thing about focusing on the people rather than the things—whether we’re talking about a wedding or a dinner party. The right people can make anything work, but the right things might not meet expectations. It takes a good partnership to arrive at good decisions, big and small, the first of which is commonly either a big move or planning a wedding. It’s kind of like the “take a road trip” test with someone you’ve been dating except times 1000. Ever since we hosted that first dinner party we’ve never looked back at any of our decisions—instead—we pass the fork back to one another when we share a meal. It brings us back to that party and always brings us closer together.
The Vanderbilt Museum Wedding and Engagement Photos
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Brittany + Bryan
Despite growing up 15 minutes away from the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium, the first time I visited the beautiful, sprawling property in Centerport, Long Island, was a couple years ago. I was taken aback by the charm of the mansion’s Spanish revival architectural style; the cobblestone roads, ceramic rooftops, and clearly mediterranean influence. All over the house are the spoils from the Vanderbilt’s worldwide travel: from a hand-crafted imitation of Napoleon’s bed, to ornate mantlepieces and boathouses, and perhaps most surprising—their extensive collection of taxidermied animals that is truly only trumped by the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. I didn’t even mention the fun-for-all-ages planetarium.
Engagement Photos at Vanderbilt Museum
All of the beautiful architecture makes for the perfect location to for your engagement photos. The architectural style makes it feel like you’re not on Long Island anymore, but the rolling hills and lush green trees overlooking Centerport Harbor bring you right back. You can even turn the session into a date night where they host a series of events, one of which Heather and I got to attend (a modern version of a Shakespearean play).
Centerport Wedding Photographer
Centerport is the perfect example for how easy it is to miss out on what’s right next to you. It’s a quaint residential neighborhood with winding streets and steep hills that feels secluded even though its just off of 25A, one of the busiest local roads. It celebrates it’s private and public beaches, looking out onto it’s own harbor just like so many cove-y towns of the north shore. As much as we love to hop on planes and explore the world it’s always nice to just climb into the car and show the kiddos the beauty around us.
Water's Edge Winter Wedding Photos
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AlexANDRA + BryaN
I never thought of it before, but a wedding is like a home. It is a place to celebrate the people you love with food and drinks, complete with little pieces of yourself scattered about like clues to your soul. Some weddings are sterile like condos with uncomfortably modern furniture, while others are welcoming like old homes with large wooden tables and smooth wooden benches. You know as soon as you walk in, right after you hand your coat to the host or the coat-check, what kind of experience you’re about to embark upon. Well Alexandra and Bryan’s wedding at Water’s Edge in Centerport, New York, was the kind of celebration where you have to wait ‘til the next morning for the candle wax to dry, because no one was blowing out any candles any time soon.
Centerport Wedding Photographer
Shortly after moving into their early 20th century, 1,200 square-foot house in Centerport in 2017, Alexandra and Bryan started becoming obsessed with local history. They became increasingly involved with the Greenlawn - Centerport Historical Association and knew that they would want to keep their celebration as local as possible. Enter Water’s Edge, the historic Thatched Cottage seated on the edge of Mill Pond with a brand new lease on life. It was the perfect place to celebrate their love and it was just a stone’s throw away from their front door.
Water’s Edge Wedding Photos
When you walk into the foyer of Water’s Edge, the clean white marble and large spiral staircase harkens back to the glam ballrooms of the Gatsby era. The decor is modern yet timeless, and the various spaces allow for customization to your heart’s content. Alexandra seized this opportunity to celebrate her love of F. Scott Fitzgerald and imprinted the beautiful blank slate with impressions of her home on every table and in every corner. Vintage books with beautiful blue bindings beneath every dried floral centerpiece, a one-of-a-kind dreamy moon-themed photobooth, and matchbox and candle wedding favors that were both cute and functional. There were no design pages left unturned.
Personal Wedding Vows
Coming from a writer who couldn’t quite get the right words for his own wedding vows, I couldn’t advocate more for speaking about your love at the altar. Just like everything else in life, it’s less about what you say, and more about how you say it. Bryan decided to use Alexandra’s name as an acronym and to use every letter to symbolize something meaningful about their relationship. Alexandra decided to quote a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald depicting the responsiblities of marriage. In my experience as a wedding photographer, your wedding day is a sort of dress rehearsal for the rest of your relationship, and when things inevitably go wrong, how do you handle it? Well when the brakes of the special-ordered vintage car smoked and caught on fire, Alexandra and Bryan rolled (literally) with the punches and embraced the change rather than fought against it. Something tells me that these two will be loving each other for a long, long time.
Inviting Us into Your Home
When we said our goodbyes to Alexandra and Bryan at the end of their wedding, it was like embracing guests at the end of a dinner party. You want the candles to keep burning, the cocktails to keep stirring, and the laughs to keep going. That is what is undoubtedly the best and most rewarding thing about our jobs as wedding photographers. To develop relationships with people like Alexandra and Bryan who would rather build a longer table than a higher fence. In a home and a life like the one they’re building, it’s no surprise that their benches are smooth with the company they keep.
Vendors
Photography: Apollo Fields
Venue: Water’s Edge
Flowers: Hydrangea Home
Photobooth: PicPerf Photobooth, Jenn and Laurie, 917-301-4974
Cake: Dortoni's
Music: Absolute DJs
Guestbook: FeteFone
Wedding band (Alexandra): Erstwhile (created by Erstwhile)
Engagement ring: Erstwhile (vintage)
Wedding band (Brian): Rustic & Main (whiskey barrel, mahogany, rose gold in lay)
Suit: Men’s Warehouse
Dress: from BHLDN FiDi in Manhattan, shoes from BHLDN website (Rachel Simpson)
Transportation: MV Limosines
Invitations & Menus from Paige & Co (UK) - Moon & Stars suite
Make up - Erica Heras
Hair - Danielle Cosmo