When Jessica and Andrew got engaged, they knew that for their wedding there was no place like home.  Jessica grew up on her family’s horse farm in Brookeville, Long Island, and the couple realized that the lush green lawn and white picket fences would provide the perfect setting for an outdoor celebration.  With the help of top wedding planner Joann Gregoli, they were able to transform their farmyard into an elegant and romantic venue.  In keeping with their surroundings, the table settings and floral bouquets were a mix of organic plants and vegetation--pristine white flowers, purple kale, and vibrant green succulents, with tall canopies of golden branches interspersed throughout.  Guests unwound to the smooth, upbeat melodies of a 1920‘s style jazz band or snapped candid pictures with Polaroid cameras placed around the venue.  A softly draped tent kept the setting intimate, while twinkling lights stretched above.

These images were captured by Sue Kessler, and they show Sue's expert eye for cropping the subject just perfectly.  Sue focused on the beautiful details of the bride's dress and her radiant smile in reaction to her bridesmaids, while also cropping out any background distractions or clutter in the room.  Although both of these photographs are beautiful on their own, the narrative that they create when placed side by side brings out more meaning in each of them, making them complimentary to each other.  Recently I wrote about the benefits of juxtaposing images, and Sue's photographs are a great example of what can be gained by creating images that compliment one another.

A photograph shares similarities with an impressionist painting--it can be indexical or suggestive of an idea or subject that the photographer wants to highlight.  Focusing on the shape of an image can be a beautiful and interesting way to offer an impression of a subject, instead of taking a more straight-forward and obvious shot.     

For example, if you’ve ever made shadows on a wall with your hand, you know that sometimes the suggestion of a shape is more visually interesting than the thing itself.  As a photographer, it’s necessary to pay attention to light, and as a result I always notice shadows that could be distracting in a photograph.  However, sometimes making the shadow the subject of the photograph can create a dramatic and intriguing impression of a person or object.  A silhouette of a bride can be very striking because the shape of the veil, profile and gown are instantly recognizable.  Taking texture and form out of the picture isolates the shape, and creates a very powerful yet simple image.  Similarly, including shadows cast by the subjects can give the image an introspective or reflective quality, and heighten the significance of the action taking place in the photograph.  It’s important to look for different view points that reflect your unique take on something familiar.

For an engagement shoot with this cool New York couple, Michael Falco wanted to photograph them in an environment that would reflect their unique sense of style.  In true New York fashion, they each wore distinctive black and white cocktail attire--a quirky plaid tie and fedora for him, and an edgy party frock and sky-high heels for her.  Using the city as their backdrop, they started off in the streets of Soho, pausing in front of historic spots like Fanelli's Cafe for a quick kiss.  Michael included great little details in the background, like the bikes leaning against the iron-front buildings and the cafe sign to convey a downtown vibe.  Although the area was crowded with shoppers and pedestrians, Michael used a long lens to get in close and create an intimate feel, while cropping out unnecessary distractions.

Both of these photographs are included in our portfolio series because they each represent portraits that show the subject in their environment, and they use creative framing to direct focus.  In the first photograph, the bride and groom are framed neatly by the window of the old fashioned checker cab.  Including part of the car in the photograph gives the couple context and helps tell the story of their day, instead of simply showing the couple posed against a nondescript background.  The lines of the car and the orderly rows of black and white squares provide the perfect border to direct attention inward.

Similarly, the second photograph depicts the expressions of the parents of the bride in the context of the wedding ceremony.  This intimate portrait was created by keen observation and astute awareness on the part of the photographer.  The focus of the photograph frames their faces, while their distinctive glasses also help to draw attention.

The concept is simple and brilliant--beautiful dresses at a fraction of the price: Rent the dress instead of owning it. If you haven't heard about it yet, let me be the harbinger of good news: RentTheRunway has arrived!!! 

Recently I shot a wedding at Ellis Island that was a top-knotch event. Senators, even our own governor were there. Yet in the hallways I could hear how women rented the dress for the evening instead of owning it. I wish we had something like this for us guys  (tuxedo rentals notwithstanding)

Anyhow, Shawn and I shot their latest campaign which can be seen on the new  RentTheRunwayWeddings site. Please register!

Today we are thrilled to announce a new collaboration with several of the most respected and revered names in the wedding industry.  Launched by my good friend Lyndsey Hamilton, the new partnership, called The Collective, includes New York and L.A. based event planning firm Lyndsey Hamilton Events, Christian Oth Studio, Matthew Robbins floral and event design, Ceci New York couture invitation design, Belle Fleur New York, and Marcey Brownstein Catering.

"Our goal with 'The Collective' is to offer clients the unique opportunity to have our favorite and most recognized industry partners to produce the luxury wedding experience" says Hamilton.  We are excited to be a part of a partnership with some of the most creative minds in various fields and are honored to be included in The Collective, as each of our partners in this venture represents the top talent in their respective field.  Click on the link below for a  sampling of some of the real weddings that our studio has worked on with each of the partners in The Collective.  We look forward to many more to come.

Last night marked the 100th anniversary of the New York Public Library, and to celebrate this monumental landmark event, they hosted a resplendent gala. Our studio was asked to be the exclusive photographers for the evening, and we were absolutely thrilled to accept.  We have had the pleasure of photographing numerous weddings and events at the New York Public Library throughout the years, and its classic gracefulness and grandeur makes it one of our favorite iconic New York places.

To add to the historic nature of the event and kick off the party, a classic jazz band in full flapper-era attire serenaded guests with upbeat melodies.  Giant candelabras lit the room, while literature and the constellations were projected onto the ceiling.  An original mock up of the building, which opened to the public in 1911, sat front and center.  The event was catered by Peter Callahan, one of New York’s finest chefs, and guests enjoyed everything from tuna tartare to sweet desserts served in champagne glasses.  The food was artfully presented and appealed to all the senses--a perfect presentation.  As the evening wound down, we reflected on the success of the party in honoring what was truly an historic occasion.

I hope you enjoy the photographs from this wonderful event.  

Thanks to Lis Pearson from the NYPL for hosting such a great event. 

Loved the food from Creative Edge, Peter Callahan, Glorious Food & Sonnier & Castle

and the incredible band Carte Blanche

Let’s get down to basics and talk about the "Normal" lens.  The 50mm is called that because it captures the world as the human eye would see it.  It’s the simplest lens for lens-makers to build, and because of its efficient design it tends to create the sharpest images, particularly with the more powerful versions.  But enough with the technical details--it’s the actual perspective of the lens that makes it both difficult to master and extremely rewarding to use.  

For example, it can be difficult to photograph landscapes because it doesn’t draw in the edges of the image the way a wide-angle lens does.  It doesn’t have the zooming capabilities of a telephoto lens, so it requires that you are close to your subject (which can be a challenge depending on the subject).  However, it is certainly one of my favorite lenses, and if I had to choose just one lens for street photography and capturing mood images, this would definitely be the one.

The reason I like this lens so much is because it takes skill and discipline to learn how to use it, but when you do, the results can be amazing.  There is no wide-angle distortion or compression effects like a telephoto lens would create, so it challenges me to take more artistic images that focus on interesting composition and subject matter rather than relying on special effects.  It requires that you invoke your skill as a photographer to create a great image because the photograph will be clear and devoid of any distracting effects.  There are certainly appropriate uses for wide-angle and telephoto lenses, but for most occasions I prefer the crisp, natural images produced by the basic 50mm lens. 

Below are three images I shot in the aftermath of the last snowstorm two weeks ago in upstate New York using a 50mm lens. I thought I would post these as it is such a snow day in New York. 

This photograph was taken by Meredith Davenport as the bride was getting ready.  Although there are several other people in the background of this image, the dramatic spotlight puts the focus completely on the bride.  Meredith took this shot through the reflection in the mirror, and was able to perfectly capture this behind-the-scenes moment highlighting the bride before her big event. 

Christian Oth Studio is proud to announce that we have been selected as The Knot Best of Weddings Winner for 2011. This prestigious award is presented annually to those wedding vendors whose commitment to excellence ranks them far and above their peers as rated by the brides.

What a great way to start off the year!

A photograph is in many ways a combination of keen observation and imagination on the part of the photographer.  Great photographs are not only a reflection of the events or objects/ subjects a photographer is seeing, they also tend to be a result of the photographer’s relationship to the subject.  

A photographer needs to be tuned into what is important to or about the subject--who they are, what they are doing, and how they want to be perceived.  When photographing a dynamic event, these observations often have to be made very quickly in order to catch the subject at just the right moment.  It’s similar to the role of a film director interpreting a character, only the action is happening in real time so decisions about what to focus on must happen in an instant.  It helps if you have the opportunity to get to know your subject before an event- having a great rapport helps immensely. That’s why I always encourage couples to schedule an engagement shoot before their wedding.

At the same time, the photographer is also interpreting what they are seeing and creating their own unique perspective on the subject.  Photographs used to be thought of as a strict documentation of reality, but in fact, how a subject is portrayed has always been dependent on the photographer’s interpretation.  Being creative in photography often means taking something familiar and showing it in a different light.  This is where the photographer’s eye comes in.

photo by Mike Falco

Yesterday we shared a peek inside the winter issue of Martha Stewart Weddings featuring this classic city wedding shot by Shawn Connell, and today we have even more photographs of this gorgeous celebration.  Angela and Eric, a New York couple, planned this absolutely timeless affair.  With a nod to tradition, the bride wore her grandmother’s beautiful wedding gown from 1944 for their ceremony at the elegant Cathedral of St. Patrick on Fifth Avenue.  All-white accessories and decor like the bride’s elbow-length white gloves, large round balloons and table centerpieces made from frothy cotton and hydrangeas delicately accented the winter season. 

I hope you all had a very happy new year!  2011 is shaping up to be a great year for the studio already--the talented editors over at Martha Stewart selected this beautiful wedding shot by Shawn Connell for a feature in their winter weddings issue.  We are so honored and excited to see the photographs in the magazine, and of course we would like to thank Eric and Angela (the bride and groom) for letting us share their beautiful celebration below.  I hope you enjoy the feature, and stay tuned for even more photographs of this wedding tomorrow.