Brooklyn Waterfront Wedding

Back in September I had honor of shooting the small, intimate nuptials of family friends who had been together for something like twenty (!!) years already. Since this event was a long time in the making, I was hella nervous in the months leading up to the ceremony. This was going to be my first wedding assignment - what if I didn’t measure up? What if I missed an important shot?

My anxieties vaporized as soon as I arrived in the bridal prep suite and started photographing the dress, the shoes, and the perfume in the crisp early morning light. The matron of honor kept things running smoothly and stress-free, and the bride was glammed up and beautifully dressed in no time at all.

This assignment was immensely meaningful to me not only because it was my first project of this much personal life significance to the client, but because the happy couple are the in-laws of my long-term (6+ years!!!) boyfriend’s sister. It was very much a family affair, and I think that the ease, comfort and love that we all regard each other with is clear in the images - at least, to me.

The following: some favorites.

Clutch on chain: Dior.

Dress integrity checks.

There is no wrong way to photograph these shoes.

Hair & makeup by Blushington.

Shoes: Jimmy Choo

The bride giving some serious Old Hollywood vibes.

The soon-to-be weds during portrait sessions.

The groom always photographs with a kind of gravitas.

Groom & stepson.

Best man & matron of honor.

I have a weakness for fall flowers in this color palette.

The city of New York was a damn good backdrop.

The bridge that needs no introduction.

This was everyone’s favorite bridge portrait.

This one has such an air of mystery to it. I just really like her gaze here.

Some of the food was served in a pumpkin. A PUMPKIN.

All smiles everywhere.

Strings Attached

On a rainy spring day this year, I passed through Wales and stopped at Cardiff Violins’ shop in Castle Arcade with a group of friends. It was beautiful, atmospheric, and felt like it had fallen a little outside the normal passage of time. In the best of ways.

Saluda & Environs Photo Diary

My boyfriend's family have a long and storied connection to the small mountain town of Saluda, North Carolina. Every now and then - as we did this past October - we make a trip up there to see the mountain house, grab a bite at the Purple Onion, hike some trails, and take in the views. And oh, what dramatic and moody views those can be:

The mountains in the early morning. Photo by Nathaniel Haley.

Saluda sits nestled between low mountains, their peaks and planes softened by lush foliage that lights up with incredible color in the fall. I believe my boyfriend thinks of Saluda as his wilderness retreat: a place where he and his dad ride motorcycles,  hang out with foresters, and get unplugged for a little while. I think of it as my own artist-retreat-that-never-was -- as if, in another life on another timeline, I am a novelist who churns out her best work while sitting on a hardwood deck overlooking a Saluda gorge.

I lounged around in my trusty LL Bean boots...

And hung out with a pony - and even rode one. (Photo by Nathaniel Haley.)

Though I got a moderate case of cabin fever to show for it, in theory Saluda & its environs are probably best experienced at a slow, flexible pace -- one that lets you befriend the woods and creeks around you. 

To that end we took on the (easiest) 1400-step Chimney Rock trail, explored the paths up and down the family mountain, and made some time for late-night star photography.

The steep steps of Chimney Rock. Photo: Nathaniel Haley.

On at least 3 separate nights, there were s'mores involved.

Night walks with Nathan.

One of my favorite places to linger and shoot photos is the area around the Saluda Grade & Main Street. The Grade is, as the historical plaque nearby likes to remind us, the "steepest standard-gauge mainline railway grade in the United States." It no longer operates, and now serves a second life (in my mind) as an excellent place to sit and enjoy the diffuse and warm late afternoon sunlight the town gets. 

On the Grade. Jacket by All Saints Spitalfields, flannel by Abercrombie & Fitch. Photo: Nathaniel Haley.

The recurring food theme of the trip was beets. I'm not sure why. Maybe they're easily locally sourced? I must've eaten my weight in (very photogenic) beets and kale over the course of the week.

The Purple Onion.

And oh, the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

Photo by Nathaniel Haley.

A trip to the Carolinas is really not complete without taking advantage of the scenic overlooks that dot the length of this iconic highway.

On the last full day of our trip, we hopped down to Asheville to tour Biltmore House, the Vanderbilts' sprawling 19th century estate. 

Apparently it is permanently Christmas there. Either that or the property managers thought early October would be a totally fine & sensical time to whip out the holiday decor. I'm not complaining - greenery and lights pair well with high ceilings and luxurious digs.

What I do take issue with, though, is how unfairly gorgeous the scenery behind the palatial house is. What am I supposed to do with the fact that obscene amounts of money allow people to hoard views like this? It's a good job the estate wound up open to the public, or you and I would live our lives never having the opportunity to see all this:

Photo: Nathaniel Haley.