Tag: NJ wedding photography

Longwood Gardens Winter Engagement Session | Erin and Jay

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bride and groom kiss in the hallway at Longwood Gardens Christmas Spectacular

Usually when it snows, I prefer to stay inside, heated blanket on full blast, hot cocoa in hand, and an endless stream of classic chick flicks on hand.  Say the words “snowy Longwood Gardens Engagement Session” and all those visions of toasty toes fly out the frosted windows.

When Erin and Jay picked an early December date, we never dreamed we would get a chance to capture the first snow of the season.  I am so glad we did and SO happy that Erin is a tough chick who wears her heals and dresses in freezing weather.

We explored the indoors at Longwood Gardens, which was decked to the 9’s for Christmas, yet the crowds could be a bit pushy….. to the point of bear hugging Erin and Jay with shrieks of congratulations 🙂  If you haven’t been to the gardens in a while, it’s worth a trip to check out their renovated fountains— rain, snow, shine, they are breathtaking.

I am just head over heels for these two— and to think, a few years ago Erin and I worked the closing shift at Anthropologie!  I am so glad those late nights folding clothes led to this moment 🙂

Here are some of my favorites!

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The Grove NJ Wedding | Tara and Greg | Allie Skylar Photography

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bride and groom embrace under a chandelier at The Grove NJ

Tara and Greg, what can I say.  Everything about this wedding was magical!  I was lucky enough to tag along with my dear photographer friend, Elizabeth Mae Photography, and we traveled up to Northern NJ for our last 2 weddings of the year.  It’s pretty amazing working with someone the way we do; she assists me, I assist her.  We share a brain and a love for coffee.

Anyway, Tara and Greg were a perfect second to last wedding of the season.  Theirs was the first strictly night wedding I have been lucky enough to photograph, but since their wedding was at The Grove, we had no shortage of amazing indoor spots for photos.

Their lavish Huppah, adorned with delicate white flowers and hanging glass candles, was the perfect stage for Tara and Greg to exchange rings, vows, and the most romantic kiss.  And let me just tell you about their dancing…. Oh. My. goodness.  NEVER have a seen a group of people who knew how to dance with such celebration!  It was quite dangerous at times.

I am so happy to have been able to share in this beautiful New Jersey Wedding.  It is certainly not one I will forget! Continue reading “The Grove NJ Wedding | Tara and Greg | Allie Skylar Photography” →

Wedding Photography Tips : How to Organize Your Clients and Your Business

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I am not organized.  Let me repeat that : I am not organized.  My work space is cluttered, my closet is…. well, don’t open it, and my receipts stay tucked in a box until tax season.  It takes a lot of work for me to be organized, but I know it is a priority.  My clients need to count on me, they need to know that I have information they have given me.  Not only that, they need to know that I know what information to ask them!  ]

Until recently, I as wasting a lot of time sending emails asking for information, then follow up emails asking for more information, etc.  It can be exhausting with so many clients, and I was tired of it.  I started making fillable PDF’s for different topics, and not only do I love it, so do my clients.  It helps me keep everything sorted (plus, I can send the file to my second shooter— bonus!), it instills confidence in my clients, and it leads to a better overall flow on a wedding day.

To all of my fellow photographers out there, don’t reinvent the wheel each time you send out an email.  Here are a few pages from the PDF I send out about 6 weeks before the wedding day.  Hope this helps someone!  Click below to see:

 

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Philadelphia Wedding Photography | Spring Lake Engagement Session | Emily + Will

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spring-lake-wedding-photography-engagement

I crawled out of bet at just past 4 in the morning with heavy eyes.  As I brewed some coffee, gathered my gear, and packed up my car, the moon was still up, the sun nowhere in sight.  As I left Philly behind in my rear-view mirror and coasted towards the beach, I watched as the east coast started a new day.

Pulling up to the shore in Spring Lake, I was speechless at the many Victorian houses, tree lined roads, and friendly early morning joggers.  Already, this day was shaping up to be an amazing one.  And then Emily and Will stepped out of their car.

Years ago I read the book The Awakening.  Now if you have read this book, you know it is not a love story.  It was not the plot of the story that I was reminded of upon seeing Emily’s elegant cream lace dress and Will’s perfectly pressed white pants– It was the details described in the book.  I remember reading that story on sticky summer days, mesmerized by the way the author described the beach (which was a central character in the novel, if you will) and the attire of the characters.  The slow pace of southern life at the turn of the century, the revolution of art.  I remember the way the main character found freedom and inspiration among the shore, how love was a present factor along the crashing waves.  Fortunately, Emily and Will’s is a different love story, even though theirs could crawl off the pages of a classic read.

We spent sunrise, which was extra long and dreamy due to heavy clouds, strolling along the Atlantic, greeted by a lone fisherman and a den of baby foxes.  A quick hop over to Asbury Park Boardwalk and a filling breakfast made this one of my favorite engagement sessions to date.   Continue reading “Philadelphia Wedding Photography | Spring Lake Engagement Session | Emily + Will” →