Tag: philly photography

Tana and Bart’s McCloone’s Pier House Wedding | Long Branch Wedding | Allie Skylar Photography

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light and airy NJ wedding photography at ocean place resort and spa

All in all, 2017 was amazing.  I had some of the best weddings, worked with the most amazing couples, and grew in a way I never thought possible.  The end of the wedding season was an all out sprint, with the addition of family sessions and trying to balance some sort of personal life (hahaha yeah right…).  I can’t imagine a better place to spend the last wedding of the year than the beach.  Sure, maybe not when it’s freezing, but as far as a state of mind, it was the ideal place to wind down.  So thank you Tana and Bart…. not only for being two of the kindest people, but for giving me the opportunity to enjoy the magic that only the ocean can give.

Due to the early cold that hit the shore in November, Tana and Bart opted (wisely) for an indoor wedding, portraits and all.  Their first look was in the Ocean Place Resort, on the Mezzanine high above onlookers.  We roamed the halls of the resort and found tucked away spots for portraits, never lacking any light on the gloriously bright day.  I’m not sure if I have ever seen two people so effortlessly happy!  Looking at their photos, I can almost hear Bart and Tana giggling.

After portraits, we hopped down the boardwalk (hopped…. haha….. battled the gale force winds!) to McCloone’s Pier House for the ceremony and reception.  McCloone’s Pier House in Long Branch is one of my favorite wedding venues!  It sits out over the sand, reaching towards the Atlantic, surrounded by some of the nicest strip of boardwalk New Jersey has to offer.  They have an effortless way of bringing the beach indoors, down to the littlest detail.

I’m pretty sure the glass windows were vibrating as Tana, Bart, and their loved ones danced and celebrated.  A nightcap with pizza and faces tired from smiling, and the last wedding of 2017 is going down as one of the best.

Here are some of my favorites!

Continue reading “Tana and Bart’s McCloone’s Pier House Wedding | Long Branch Wedding | Allie Skylar Photography” →

Holiday Gifts for the Photographer in Your Life

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‘Tis the season of giving!  It’s always nice to spread some holiday cheer to people who are especially dear to you, like your photographer!  While you might be tempted to send them a photo album of the photos they took for YOU, or reminders of due dates, here are a few better ideas.

 

non-photography relater gifts to get your wedding photographer

The Farmhouse at Peoples Light Wedding | Jillian and Evan | Malvern Wedding Photography

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As the night came to an end and I drove away from the twinkling cafe lights at People’s Light and theater, I remember thinking to myself, “That was just lovely and perfect.”  Jillian and Evan and their team worked incredibly hard to craft the perfect day, and it went off without a hitch.  Even the weather!  I am so incredibly lucky to worm with couples who are kind and loving and joyful.  Jillian and Evan are what made their day so memorable, and there wasn’t a dry eye to argue.

Jillian, oh sweet Jillian.  When you meet her, you just instantly adore her.  She’s basically everything I am not; graceful, poised, and soft spoken.  I envy some of her many qualities.  And her DRESS.  Let’s add brave, confident, and drop dead gorgeous to the list.  And then there is Evan.  I can’t imagine a groom smiling more on his wedding day.  From start to finish, there was a grin pasted on his face.  You could see just how excited he was to marry his soul mate.

After vows and rings were exchanged, we headed to one of my favorite venues, the Farmhouse at Peoples Light and Theater.  The ivory hues were accented with garlands of eucalyptus and lush, bold flowers.  Moving toasts, wild first dances, and the most insanely amazing dance choreographed to Grease (as in Lightning), and the real celebration began.

I couldn’t be happier or more honored to have been a part of Jillian and Evan’s beautiful day.  It was in a word…. perfect. Continue reading “The Farmhouse at Peoples Light Wedding | Jillian and Evan | Malvern Wedding Photography” →

Bloomsburg’s Barn at Boone’s Dam Wedding | Celia and John | Pennsylvania Wedding Photography

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In the peak of Autumn, Celia and John stood in front of the Barn at Boones Dam along fishing creek, read each others vows, and passed their wedding rings to each guest.  With a romantic, sweeping kiss, they celebrated their love in front of their family, friends, and children.  And never have a seen a happier couple prance down the aisle, husband and wife.

Our morning started out with quiet cuddles, naps, and bottle feedings.  Celia and John’s day was about more than just the two of them- it was about their small family of 4.  Father/daughter and mother/son dances were shared through generations so that Cam and Marlowe could dance with their Mom and Dad, and mid ceremony, the cutest wedding crasher crawled into Celia’s arms, flashing his smile (and pull up) to the guests.  Bridesmaids held gorgeous hand crafted bouquets and the occasional toy car.  I’ve never seen a group of people love on two kids so much, and in turn, love on Celia and John.

The Barn at Boones Dam was cozy and inviting, decorated in lace and elegant warmth.  As guests danced the night away, there was no lack in community.  Celia and John have weaved their love through the town where their love began, and as John’s best man stated, it isn’t odd to be walking with John down Main Street and hear people yell from passing cars, “Hey!  John Gray!”  You get back what you put out, and John and Celia were surrounded by warmth and love.

I have loved watching this family grow over the past year.  I can’t wait to see where the future takes them! Continue reading “Bloomsburg’s Barn at Boone’s Dam Wedding | Celia and John | Pennsylvania Wedding Photography” →

How to Find Self Worth Apart From Your Small Business | Living Outside the Algorithm

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I curate my social media content to only show the best of the best from my life.  You see wedding photos from sprawling fields, sweet families laughing together, and newly engaged couples giggling to the point where their noses wrinkle.  You don’t see the stress of bills, the countless turn downs, the 2am editing sessions.  We are used to seeing the filtered lives of others, and yet we don’t even realize it.  It’s so easy to compare ourselves, our real, true, messy, hidden, selves, to the seemingly perfect lives of others.  And it isn’t healthy.  Sometimes I like to look at my Instagram of Facebook because it looks better than I know my real life is.  Owning a Small Business can be very tough on self worth since what we produce is very personal.  If people aren’t booking, it means we are not worthy.

Social Media is a necessary evil for small business owners as a platform for marketing.  But the line between marketing and self worth has begun to blur.  Likes and Shares become personal— your post only gets 100 likes, and someone else has 1000.  That clearly means your work is terrible.  If your work is terrible, you are terrible.  Do you see how dangerous this can become?

Deep down, we all know that multiple factors impact how many followers/likes/shares you get.  The ever changing Algorithm is possibly the most annoying.  Wherein exposure used to be organic, now what we see had been perfectly curated by computers so we see what technology thins we want to see (I searched for baby clothes ONCE for a friend and now every Facebook ad is about pregnancy, babies, and IVF…..Back off Facebook!).  If someone doesn’t like or comment in the first minute, your post won’t have much success.  On Facebook, 5% of my following seeing my post, yet I get a “free” $10 from Facebook to advertise each day (which I do not accept….because I know it’s a can of worms).

So ask yourself…. If you as a Small Business Owner put so much self worth in what you create, and an Algorithm determines the results (for good or bad), how can we create some distance and still feel fulfilled?  I love what I do and I feel fulfillment in what I create—- and I will not deny that it feels amazing when a post gets a positive response!  If I posted something because it was worthy to me, how can it remain that way despite social media feedback?  Keep reading, because I have some tools for you. Continue reading “How to Find Self Worth Apart From Your Small Business | Living Outside the Algorithm” →