Tracy and Calvin

What a weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you live in NY get in your car, turn west and keep going until you reach the Village of Finesville in Milford New Jersey. You may be saying, "Why would I do such a thing Rob?" Well, I'll tell you why. It's because that happens to be the location of Alba Vineyard where Tracy and Calvin's wedding celebration took place.

Jolene and I met up with Tracy at the National Hotel in Frenchtown, New Jersey. A really cool B&B in a small town, so close to Pennsylvania that you only have to cross a bridge down the street to reach it. As Tracy and her bridesmaids prepared in one room, her soon to be husband Calvin and his groomsmen got ready in another. That room and Nelson........ Nelson is the bother of Calvin, and that's all I'm going to say about that. Those that were there know. Nelson knows, and that's all I'm going to say about that. (Sorry guys, another private joke.)

When everyone was finally prepared it was time for the formal Receiving of the Bride "jep sun leurn." During this ceremony Calvin and his groomsmen had to negotiate with the bridesmaids and then Tracy's mother to see his Bride. It was the funniest thing I've ever seen at a wedding, watching the guys stuffing money in to the red envelopes and sliding them under the door, only to have the women on the other side yell back "Is That All She's worth to You?" With that response each of the guys continued to dig deeper into their pockets. After a while it was very apparent that women held the upper hand of this negotiation, when they finally demanded the men sing "The ABC's." Yes, the very same "ABC's" we all sang as a kid. If someone would have told me in pre-school that this song would serve a higher purpose...... I would not have understood what they were talking about. Witnessing this part of their culture gave us a whole new dimension to the way we've experienced weddings.

Before heading to Alba Vineyard, Tracy requested that we stop at the Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Toll Bridge, which links New Jersey to Pennsylvania across the Delaware River to take some photos. From there it was to the vineyard and the wedding of this awesome couple. There at the top of a hill, with the scenic Delaware River Valley as a background, before family and friends and witnesses, Tracy and Calvin exchanged their vows. I could honestly write forever about this great weekend, but it still won't do it any justice. So I'll close by saying this.

You could ask for a more beautiful day, but I'm not sure one really exist.

Enjoy the photos and the slideshow. And a special Hello to my new best friend Benjamin

A New Begining

It was a little more than a year ago that I met Materia and James. This meeting was triggered by Tanisha and Jared, who's wedding I shot in August of 2006. I was also introduced to Tiara and Mark who's wedding I shot in April of this year. So here I am now shooting the wedding for Materia and James, with my friend James Ravenell manning a second camera.

While these six people may have become linked to each other in different ways, they all have an extremely strong quality in common. Their Love of each other and their families. This is a quality that you have no choice but to notice and respect upon getting to know them. They also seem to have a knack for either making everyone laugh during their weddings or cry. In some cases both. I laughed pretty hard at their weddings and witnessed everyone else cry at times too. I myself have never cried at any of their weddings. Some have mistaken the sweat running down my face on Jared and Tanisha's day for tears, but being outside when it's 857 degrees will have that effect on you.

Staying true to form James had the courtesy to warn me about his approaching speech to his parents. While nearby trees had to be cut down to make tissue for other's, it just so happens that dust kicked up by a passing car outside found it's way into Jericho Terrace, came up the stairs, under the door, across the dance floor and got into my eyes. So here too I can understand why some may have mistakenly thought I was crying. IT'S NOT SOOOOOOO..... It takes more than Materia's beautiful face and James' tear jerking words to make me turn on the water works. You can believe that.

On that note (there must be dust in this room too), I say "Thank You" Materia and James for sharing your day with me.

Check out the slide show.

What's in Your Wallet?

Don't mind the many diverse looks on Chris' face, he loves Monique and will gladly make rabbit ears out of his pockets any day.


And don't pay any attention to the hand she has over his mouth, Monique allows Chris to speak I'm a witness to that. We met up at the South Street Seaport, and with the smell of food in the air, the two thousand, eight hundred and twenty one people in attendance, we had a blast. Great couple, great location and great weather make a serious combination. Enjoy some of the photos and check back soon for a wedding update and slide show.

Renee and Ronald

Ok, we going to try something new. Renee and Ronald took their engagement photos about 2 weeks before their actual wedding day. So I'm going combine the two into this one posting.

A few weeks ago Jolene and I met up with this couple down on the West Side Highway to take their engagement photos. Two weeks later they were married at The Greentree Country Club in New Rochelle. The weather gave some concern at first, but it turned out to be a wonderful day, good thing too since the ceremony was held out side. Throughout Renee's engagement session and wedding day, she kept singing the song "Woo Hoo" by The 5678s, I thought I was going to loose my mind, but I think that was her way of fighting off whatever nervous feeling she may have had. Now thanks to her every time I watch "Kill Bill," or that commercial for a certain phone company that begins with a "V," I'll think of her. Enjoy a few photos.

Check out the slide show!

A few moments in the life of Stacie J.

A little while back I was asked to photograph a dress fitting for World Bride Magazine. My subject for the day was Stacie J, you may have seen her on Trump's "The Apprentice." We met at the studio of designer Junko Yoshioka in Manhattan. There I photographed Stacie J. as she tried on several of Junko's dresses. It was a real cool experience for me, with Stacie being such a natural beauty in both looks and personality. Stacie J.'s makeup artist for the day Hiyiya, happens to be someone I've had the pleasure of working with before, not that she really need any makeup. But I'm just a man, what do we know? The photos have since appeared in the current Spring/Summer 07 issue of Word Bride Magazine.

Did I mention how Beautiful she looked?
If I didn't mention how Beautiful she looked just check out the images below.