Lifestyle Shoot | MONTCLAIR NJ

Yes, yes I know it has been a while - and MUCH has been happening here. I've been meaning to share this post and finally I have a few minutes.

Gary and Buddhika contacted me about doing a lifestyle shoot, just them - husband and wife. In talking with Buddhika, she asked for some suggestions of places to shoot in North Jersey. The first word that popped into mind was...MONTCLAIR. I know the area well and immediately thought of the rediculously awesome parking deck on Bloomfield Ave, Brookdale Park and just the downtown area itself. A quick side note, try Villa Victoria Pizza right on the corner of Bloomfied and Park - chicken parm pizza is unreal.

Anyway, I wanted to do something cool here...in this cool town. I suggested to Gary and Buddhika that they bring something fancy for one of their looks because the contrast would be awesome on the parking deck.

They arrived and we shot for at least 3 hours, pretty much until I ran out of light and we were all forced to  go home.

I just want to go on record saying that this was one of the best all around shoots I've done. And, I don't mean by the outcome of the images. Yes, I liked how they came out, however, the shoot was just pure FUN the entire time. People usually start out stiff then loosen up once we get going. I think Gary and Buddhika were stiff for maybe one click of the shutter. They came alive so quick in front of the camera and I was so happy they were having so much fun. Great energy = great results.

Here are some shots...

Goodfellas all over again

Beautiful

This shot...and the next are definitely 2 of my favorite.

Smokeshow

Legit

Need to know how to tell someone not to mess with you without even saying anything - refer to this image

"Yes, my husband told you not to mess with us"

Now you're just being cocky

Caught ya!

Love the contrast here, the black dress makes the image

Brookdale Park

Love the suit

Even though the stairwell smelled to the high heavens, this was too good to pass up. Pretty sure Gary is holding his breath here

Reminds me of an old movie

Same here....

Park St in Montclair

Brookdale Park has several trees with couples names carved into them, pretty cool. However, the more I look at this image I can't help but think he's stabbing, not carving haha - just kidding, Gar!

Ever try to balance on a 4ft stone wall that's only a foot wide with one eye closed and the other eye looking through the viewfinder? DON'T

Coffee after several hours of shooting

Coming Home

Many of us have seen the bits on the evening news of loved ones coming back from Iraq or Afghanistan surprising their unsuspecting family members. Saturday, I lived one. I was extremely honored to even be apart of this, let alone photograph it.

I've probably never been more nervous on a shoot and just wanted to make sure I captured some stuff worth keeping - I wanted the images to truly reflect the day and when they look at them 20 years from now, I want them to feel like they did on Saturday.

I realized a few things on Saturday:

One, being that I cannot emotional handle a Marine coming home to his family and watching his daughter run to him. I don't care who you are, if you don't have a frog in your throat - you aren't human. Two, I sat at a local Frozen Yogurt parlor and hung with the family and snapped a few more shots. At one point, I caught the man of the hour, Staff Sergeant A. Kelly, alone with his daughter.

 He sat with her, each just enjoying the other's presence and he kissed her on the head. I realized this day was way bigger than I thought. Here's a guy sitting in New Jersey, eating frozen yogurt with his family at 11 am on Saturday morning - when not even two weeks ago he was in Afghanistan fighting for my freedom. Boggles me. He's a different breed of human being, and I thank him for that.

OOH-RAH

Jen + Bill | NJ Engagement Photographer

Chris, the owner of the Hidden Pond Tree Farm in Mendham NJ was kind enough to let me use his Christmas Tree Far for several shoots the end of 2011 - check him out: www.hiddenpondtreefarm.com - awesome guy.

Anyway, Jen randomly emailed Chris about doing her engagement shoot at his farm - of course being the nice guy he is, he said yes. Being even nicer, he recommended me! So, Jen and I got to chatting and we hit it off and set a date. Let me tell you, Jen and Bill were two of the coolest people, ever! I had a blast with them and hopefully they felt the same. When you click with people everything goes so much smoother, the energy is good and everything become second nature. It was truly my pleasure working with them.

Welp, here we go again | South Plainfield NJ Photographer

Remember about ten minutes ago when I said I didn't like shooting friends, well, here's another. Now, please don't misconstrue what I'm saying. I love me friends, but when I shoot them, it makes me nervous - no clue why. Stick me in a room with Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, Jeremy Renner - I'll work like champion. Put me in a room with an old friend and her newborn son...I freak like a 12 year old girl at a Justin Bieber concert. I don't get it. Anyway, my friend was kind enough to invite me to her house to document a day in their new lives - I had a blast catching up with her and getting to meet their new edition.

Friends + Photographs = Nervous | Voorhees NJ Photographer

One thing that continues to bother me throughout my photographic journey - shooting friends. Something that bothers me a little bit more - shooting my friend's child. And, to throw more salt on the wound, my friend is an artist. I think I guess, as artists, you're always a little insecure about your work. But the fact I was shooting with another artist next too me, I was waiting for her to tell me I was an idiot and that she'd take it from here - no joke. Alas, my friend complimented my work once she saw the images - coming from  a person on the street, it feels pretty good. Coming from another artist, feels even better. SO glad that's over with :) Here are some images...

She's Here! Christina + Tom | Atco NJ Photographer

I remember the first week my wife and I brought our son home.Those first 7 days, plus the 4 days prior we had spent in the Hospital were the most physically and emotionally draining 11 days I had experienced. If you've been through it, you know what I mean. Well, Christina and Tom were at about day 10 when I came to photograph their new edition, Gabriella. They were holding up great and adjusting even better. After a little fussiness, a bottle or formula and some swaddling - she was lights out and I could finally grab some shots of her.


Thanks again to Christina and Tom for letting me into their home to document this special time in their lives.


Here are a few shots:

Family Life: Jess + Chuck | Far Hills NJ Family Photographer

I don't know how they do it, but some how they keep it together. I've known Jess for only a short time and only through her job. That's it. I knew she had a few kids, but you don't quite fully understand until you're right in the middle of it. Me, I have one son - one. And man, since he started crawling/walking I feel like Rocky Balboa when Mick made him chase chickens to get in shape.

Both Jess & Chuck work full time, Jess owns her own business and throw 4 kids in the mix...well, make that 5 kids in the next few months - because there's another little one on the way.  I have to hand it to them - I don't know how they do it.


 Here's some of their shots...