october
14
2011
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
For several years, I have had the honor of being associated with one iconic shot at the New York Public Library. Today, I am thrilled to unveil a new one. I knew that I wanted to infuse high end fashion with an organic backdrop. And with the collaborative effort of
Matthew Robbins Design and
Merci New York, I am so proud of this image and I hope you all love it as much as I do.
october
14
2011
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
Later today, I will finally share the image from my shoot at the New York Public Library. Until then, here is another one of my favorite shots captured in front of the Library. Ciao for now!
Don't forget to check back this afternoon for the final reveal!
october
12
2011
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
I am very excited to share some of the beautiful shots we got during the library shoot.
It took several hours to get set up for the main shot, and I for one, am delighted with the outcome from the extra shots we were able to get. While
Matthew was working on styling the stairs, I had access to a fantastic hair & makeup team and an amazing stylist. We were able to get some extra shots around the front area of the library. Here is a dress by
Claire Pettibone (thanks Claire...)
I'll be sharing the main shot later this week.
october
10
2011
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
A few months ago I received a phone call from the New York Public Library. The library have been using the image below for their own pr purposes for several years now and wanted something more "updated". The directive was to show the front of the building in a similar manner and well, pretty much change the content somewhat.
As this shot has been seen by many and been heralded as one of the most beautiful wedding images by some. So, I was quite nervous about the challenge. Naturally so...
As this was going to involve hiring a model and finding some amazing dresses I enlisted Jacqueline Weppner from
Merci New York who is amazing with anything that involves style. After some back and forth we pulled dresses from
Gabriella Bridal.
In the coming days I'll share the new image we came up with and a bit of the behind-the-scenes look of how we went about creating a new shot for the library, including how we got
Matthew Robbins involved to style the shoot!
Stay tuned.
august
19
2011
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
A very moody image that I shot a few minutes ago during this Friday's Thunderstorm. This is the view from my old studio on 28th Street. We'll be moving in a few days to our new loft on 25th Street which is under one of those water towers, but I just can't tell which one.
august
09
2011
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
The Chateau Marmont served as the inspirational backdrop for this LA shoot. The goal was to infuse mid-century classic beauty with a modern twist. Sometimes the most inspring thing for a photographer is to let the elements come together and capture their collective perfection. And speaking of collective, this was done in collaboration with
Lyndsey Hamilton, who is responsible for all the wonderful details. This shoot is featured at
100 Layer Cake today and we are cross-posting it here.
july
22
2011
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
As this is a hot day in New York and much of the United States, I wanted to share a wonderful summer color palette from a recent wedding. Particularly the choice of colors seems refreshing. Have a great weekend and stay cool!
july
14
2011
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
Rings are as essential to the wedding as are the bride and groom. They are so significant and symbolic that I give a little extra thought when capturing this detail. As they are very small I like to incorporate a nuance of the day's decor in the shot - just to give a hint of the environment.
june
28
2011
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
Ever since I first laid my eyes on this engagement shoot that
Shawn Connell shot last fall, I've been waiting for the right opportunity to feature it. What better occasion than the recent passage of the same sex marriage bill in New York. Mark and Morgan are about the most stylish and sophisticated couple you can imagine with that downtown, urban chic lifestyle. I truly love these images!
We reached out to Mark and Morgan to get their thoughts on this week's historic event and Morgan shared the following, "We're obviously thrilled that it passed and think it's a great reflection of how much progress has been made in the fight for marriage equality ever since we got engaged back in 2009. Even though we had our "legal" wedding ceremony in Boston last September, we consider our October wedding in NY our actual wedding date--we were just a few months ahead of our time! Trendsetters as usual! ;)"
april
27
2011
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
Our featured couple Beckie and Jung embarked on a city wide engagement shoot adventure with photographer Shawn Connell. And they made a rainy day on the Brooklyn Bridge look like fun. The couple has an amazing story on how they got engaged and we are sharing it with you below:
Click on the photos below to see the entire engagement shoot.
Beckie & Jung:
"During our trip to Korea, Jung formally asked my dad for my hand in marriage. Although I wasn't there when he asked the question, I knew that was the sole purpose for the trip. After that, Jung was on a mission to surprise me with a proposal.
Jung had the founder of his company send an email saying that this years company trip was to Punta Cana and that the invitation is extended to family and significant others. At first, I was hesitant to go on a company trip, but I couldn't pass over an "all-expensed" trip to the Caribbean. Meanwhile, Jung was working diligently behind the scenes and making sure all the details at the resort were going smoothly. It never crossed my mind that this was all a hoax!
I was basically fooled until our first night there, when it came time to attend the company gala. I was led to the spot where the party was supposed to take place, and then realized something was off--the beach was completely void of people! Instead there was a pathway of lamps in the sand that led to a single candlelit table by the water. Jung then told me how much he loved me and got on his knee to pop the question. It was the most romantic and intricately planned proposal. And as he had hoped, Jung did end up surprising me after all!"
april
24
2011
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
Traveling to new places is always exciting. From the moment the plane touches down, the local sights, sound and smells penetrate the senses and offer instant inspiration. Make most of the inspiration and have the camera out. iPhones are easier to pack but try to bring a real camera. Yes, Facebook is full of Instagrams and Hipstamatics, photographs in single image galleries with public icons and cool sights, mostly about what’s different. But have you tried roaming the streets and capturing those impressions with a real camera?
As a street photographer you naturally have the aura of the newcomer - the tourist. You can be voyeuristic and have the heightened sensitivity to return with certain images that you might not were you to live there. The camera not only captures the physicality of your environment but something that can't be reproduced - your first impression of that environment.
Go out there in that new place, hang that camera around your neck and roam the streets. Photograph the locals, the sights, patterns and what’s different. It’s amazing how the vision changes within a couple of days and you accept that new place as the new normal.
First Impressions are precious.
"Outside the Grand Bazaar" This image was taken during a recent trip to Istanbul - photographed hours after landing.
november
22
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
We'll be taking a little break from the blog to enjoy our families and focus our energy on cooking. Have a great Thanksgiving, my favorite American Holiday!
november
03
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
This little movie is a condensed time-lapse sequence of the two hour set-up process for the reception at Ellis Island. It is a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on at a wedding venue before the guests arrive, and I think you will be greatly impressed by the amount of work that was accomplished in such a short amount of time by all of the vendors here. It also shows how carefully considered every detail was at this event.
Having an event in a public space such as Ellis Island poses some unique challenges, and this event proved no different in that respect. The reception from the images in my previous post was scheduled to begin at eight o’clock in the evening on Ellis Island, and the venue closed its doors to the public at six o’clock. To document the challenge of setting up and decorating this large space in time, we set up a camera and left it to run for the full two hours.
In order to prevent vendors and the public from accidentally bumping into the camera or knocking it down, we had to stick large Caution signs all over it, but even so, at least one bump occurred. We were also a little concerned about the actual camera still being there after 5 hours, but thankfully we found it all intact with thousands of image frames recorded.
A special thanks goes to Shawn Connell with whom I collaborated on this little add-on project. He worked out all the details and went to the venue ahead of time to set this up.
november
03
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
Recently I had the opportunity to photograph a wedding on Ellis Island, and it was truly one of the most detailed and well-planned affairs that I have been to. The wedding was a bit unusual for us, because it wasn’t actually a wedding in the traditional sense--the couple had already gotten married in a private ceremony several weeks before, and decided that they wanted to focus their time and energy on throwing a fantastic reception on Ellis Island with their friends and family. The result was an all-out party that captured the joy and elation of the occasion.
Due to some unique venue time constraints (Ellis Island is a popular tourist destination, after all), there were a mere two hours between when the venue closed to the public and when the guests began to arrive. So, all of the vendors faced an enormous challenge setting up and decorating such a large event space in time. We were curious to see the quick transformation, so we set up a camera to film the action and let it run for the full two hours. Later this afternoon we will be posting the fascinating time-lapse video sequence that shows a behind-the-scenes look at how perfectly executed this event really was.
The couple has chosen to remain private, but the details of this wedding were so carefully thought out and special that we wanted to share them. I hope you enjoy these stunning images of the celebration on Ellis Island.
VENDORS:
Caterer: Olivier Cheng - he has the best looking wait staff in NYC!
Event Design: Remco Van Vliet look at his fantastic event design at the Met
Lighting Designer: Bentley Meeker who transformed this space.
Band: Greg Denard of GDO Entertainment - I seem to run into Greg a lot at some top weddings... As you'lls see in our little film, he had (almost) everyone on the dance floor!
Furniture Rental by Taylor Creative
november
02
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
Tomorrow we will be posting a beautiful wedding that we shot recently on Ellis Island. It was quite a spectacular affair, and a bit unconventional in the best of ways. Below is an image taken from the bow of the boat that I was on with the couple on our way over to the island. Stay tuned tomorrow for more stunning details of the celebration, and a special surprise we have in store for the bride.
november
01
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
There are a fantastic number of choices when it comes to picking a wedding venue in New York. From immediately recognizable, opulent venues like the Plaza, to more rustic urban settings like the Bowery Hotel, New York is filled with great spaces for a celebration. And of course there’s a reason why Carrie Bradshaw in Sex & the City chose the New York Public Library for her (almost) big day--it’s hard to image a venue grander in scale, more classical in design, more ideally romantic than that. But as you can see in the images below, there are many beautiful venues in New York that offer some stiff competition.
Most people think of the exterior of a building immediately, but for a wedding, the interior space is what counts. Last week I shared some of the classic spots around the city that we have photographed, and this week I want to take you inside for a sneak peek at some of the fantastic indoor venues that our brides have selected. Also of note in these photographs are the incredible feats of interior design and decor accomplished by the amazing event planners and designers that we work with.
Venues / Event Designers from top to bottom:
The New York Public Library / Fete
The Plaza Grand Ballroom / 1st photo Loulie Walker Events, 2nd photo Jillian Nichols
Capitale / Fete
Gotham Hall
The Metropolitan Club / Karen Bussen
The University Club / Molly Middleton Events
The Plaza Cocktail Room / Jillian Nichols
The Metropolitan Club / Karen Bussen
The Harvard Club / Matthew Robbins Design
The Bowery Hotel / Lyndsey Hamilton Events
Capitale / Fete
october
27
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
New York is an inspiring place to be. Artists in fields ranging from fine art, to music and theater, to architecture have paid tribute to this city in their works, and great world-wide art movements like abstract expressionism got their start here. New York is home to some of the finest art and cultural institutions in the world, so it’s no wonder that countless creative icons have been drawn to this place. New Yorkers pride themselves in constantly striving to be the best at everything they do, so there is an energy that abounds in the city that never fails to result in unparalleled productivity and creative insight.
A new book, titled New York: Portrait of a City edited by Reuel Golden and published by Taschen, has just been released, and it is a narrative of life in the city from 1900 to present, told through photographs. I am excited to pick up a copy of the book and see all of the great images taken by photographers and individuals who were inspired by daily life here (click here for more information on the book). As a professional photographer living in New York, I often feel inspired by my surroundings, and am always looking for the perfect shot. This new book got me thinking about the New York weddings we shoot, and how much the city as a location plays a part in the overall story of the day.
The weddings that we photograph for the studio are part of life as it happens in the city. Filled with rich historical significance and iconic architecture, it is a meaningful setting for a wedding, especially for couples who call the city home. When we photograph New York City weddings, we often get access to some of the most fantastic venues and scenic locations, so it’s an opportunity to get great photographs of iconic and special spots. The fast pace of the city lends itself particularly well to the photojournalistic photography style that our studio is known for--great unscripted moments captured against a city backdrop. The photographs below are a sampling of the distinctive places around New York where we have had the opportunity to shoot, and they demonstrate the important contribution of a meaningful environment to the overall narrative. To see more photographs like these, take a look at our New York Weddings gallery.
october
13
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
Fall is in full swing here in the Northeast, and I am looking forward to spending the weekend outdoors taking in the natural beauty of Upstate New York. The changing of seasons always brings a new energy and excitement with it. After an unseasonably hot summer here, the crisp, refreshing fall breeze and the beautiful orange and yellow hues in Central Park and around the city are a welcome change of pace.
Fall weddings are always fun to shoot because of the brilliant colors of the foliage and the muted afternoon sunlight that sifts gently through the trees. Whether you are getting married in a rustic outdoor setting or having a sophisticated city affair, the season can be a great inspiration for wedding colors and details. I hope you enjoy some of our favorite photographs that make us feel inspired by the fall season.
september
23
2010
written by: Molly Dembner
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:25
It's time for the grand finale of our wedding shoe extravaganza, and we've got some stunners to end the week. Jewels, metallics, feathers and tulle--these styles take the cake for elegant, all-out, bride-to-be glamour. There's no question that the wearer of these beauties must have had an extra spring in her step knowing that she was walking on pure perfection! If you're tuning in today for the first time this week, don't worry--you can click here to see our newly minted wedding shoe inspiration board with all of the photographs that you missed. We hope you enjoyed this photo series--feel free to leave a comment and tell us what you would like to see next!
september
22
2010
written by: Molly Dembner
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:26
Think pink!...or pewter. Either way, these gorgeous wedding shoes offer something a little more unique than the usual wedding white. Wedding shoes are a great way to add a pop of color to your ensemble. If you're wearing a long gown, they will peek out from underneath when you walk creating a fun, unexpected detail. These colorful styles deserved--no, demanded--some attention for day three of wedding shoe week.
september
21
2010
written by: Molly Dembner
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:26
It's day two of wedding shoe week here at the studio, and we have even more eye candy for you! Christina, our Photo Editor, has been hard at work sorting through all of our gorgeous weddings and finding the best-of-the-best in footwear fashion. We hope you are feeling inspired to hit the dance floor in one of these dazzling pairs for your big day.
september
20
2010
written by: Molly Dembner
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:26
It's time to pay tribute to something that every bride searches for before her big day...the perfect pair of wedding shoes! Our brides have exquisite taste when it comes to footwear, as you can see from the photographs below. We are working on bringing you a big shoe inspiration board extravaganza, but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy this little teaser of what's to come.
september
17
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:26
As summer begins to wind down and everyone is returning from their vacations, we’ve been seeing lots of great destination photographs. We’ve been busy here at the studio with summer weddings, but luckily our brides have planned our vacations for us in the form of some pretty spectacular destination weddings. Here are some of our favorite off-shore weddings so far.
One of the great things about photographing a destination wedding is that you can get fantastic shots in beautiful locales that you haven’t been to before. It can also be great for brides because instead of having your wedding photographer around for the standard eight hours, they are with you for several days and can capture additional photographs of your friends and loved ones. You will have photographs of your whole vacation together instead of just your day-of celebration.
For brides planning a destination wedding, make sure you hire a photographer that you like for their style and skill, rather than for the convenience of their location. Your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get beautiful photographs of your unique celebration, so it is worth your while to pay travel expenses for a photographer that you know and trust rather than hiring a local wedding photographer sight-unseen. If you choose to bring your preferred photographer with you to a destination wedding, make sure they are comfortable shooting in the location you have selected. They will research the area beforehand for good spots to take pictures, but it’s always helpful to fly them out a day early so they can get acclimated and scout out some good locations to shoot on your wedding day.
These weddings make us want to hop on a plane and enjoy the last few weeks of summer!
august
23
2010
written by: Molly Dembner
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:26
These sunny, citrus-infused wedding details just make us happy. Would you choose cheerful yellow for your wedding?
august
18
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:26
As a bride, you’ve done everything you can to make your wedding day absolutely perfect. You took care of every little detail--or so you thought. Most brides are so busy thinking about the big things (as they should) that sometimes the little things go by unnoticed until it’s too late. As a wedding photographer, I’ve seen everything, and today I’m going to share some tips with you on how to get better photographs of your wedding day.
SELECT YOUR “GETTING READY” ROOM
Whether you are getting ready in your home or a hotel, choosing the room you will be getting ready in will be important to how your photographs turn out. Try to pick a room with big windows that gets lots of great natural light. Natural light always creates beautiful photographs, and windows are always good for framing a subject. Also, think about how many people are going to be in the room and plan the size of your space accordingly. A bigger space gives the photographer more creative options for shots and allows your friends and family members to move around more freely.
DELEGATE AN ASSISTANT
Some of the best photographs come from the “getting ready” process, and one way to get better photographs is by managing the clutter in the room. There are hair and makeup artists, bridesmaids, and family members running around getting dressed, eating, and putting makeup on. It’s necessary so you can’t just stop it from happening. The best way to manage all of this activity is by assigning someone in advance to help keep the room tidy.
For example, most wedding gowns come wrapped in a clear plastic dry cleaner bag to protect them. When the plastic is removed from the dress, your helper can make sure that the bag is either stashed away in a closet for later use or thrown away in the trash bin. It seems obvious, but often the plastic gets left on the floor of the room, creating unsightly background clutter that the photographer will have to shoot around.
AVOID THE MUNDANE
Your wedding day is not just any regular day--it is a special day and every detail should reflect that. While you are getting ready, you need to stay hydrated so you will be drinking lots of water. But, do you want a plastic water bottle with a big label in your photographs? One idea to consider is bringing a beautiful drinking glass so that even if it is captured in photographs it only adds to them rather than providing a distraction. It’s not as ordinary as an everyday plastic water bottle.
Along the same lines, there are other mundane, everyday items to look out for before your big day. For instance, consider the ceremony. Beautiful flowers, gorgeous venue, lovely wedding party. Your officiant approaches the podium and pulls out his notes on--what’s that??--an office clipboard from Staples! It’s something you had no control over, but there it is, in all of your photographs. As a bride, something like a clipboard would be difficult to anticipate, so knowing in advance to ask your officiant if they have something more aesthetically pleasing to read notes off of or providing them with something could make the difference in your photographs of the ceremony.
august
16
2010
written by: Molly Dembner
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:26
Our brides (and planners!) pick some of the most incredibly inventive and beautiful wedding cakes. We wanted to share some of them with you.
july
23
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:26
june
30
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:26
Announcing our website updates next week. In the meantime we have a new inspiration board for you; these are certainly not shrinking violets!
june
24
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:26
While scouting for portrait settings, Shawn Connell and Carolyn Monastra photographed quite a medley of New Orleans' Old World charm. The city was still rosy from it's Super Bowl victory and spirits were high.
Here are some of the "Scene Setter" images captured.
june
16
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:26
We are still doing extensive work on the back end of the website. We will soon be releasing an inspiration section, along with a new-improved way of browsing our portfolios.
Meanwhile, I would like to share the "blue" inspiration board. We've been having a lot of fun with these.
april
28
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:26
We've been working on our own version of inspiration boards and will soon feature them in the Gallery section of our website.
Back at the studio we love collecting the "Best Of" images. Here is a sneak peek of the "white" gallery.
april
20
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:26
The weather is just right...nice sunshine, not too hot and there is this amazing smell of Spring in the air. We've been busy photographing lots of engagement shoots for this year's weddings. Have a look.
Click here to see the full post
february
11
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:26
*Massimo Vitali’s* incredible work is currently on display at [Bonni Benrubi Gallery](http://www.bonnibenrubi.com/exhibitions.php). It is only there to March 6th so if you can get there you should! I am a huge fan of his work as I am sure you will be too.
january
18
2010
written by: Christian Oth
Rendererd at 02/04/12 22:23:26
That is a question I asked myself many years ago as I was getting started in photography. Back then, I was pouring over the mountain of great work, original ideas and then-current work in magazines. As a student I was in awe of what the pros were producing. I was fortunate to study under [Jose Picayo] [1], who by then already had a remarkable career in fashion photography. His opinion was to merely look at fashion shoots in magazines and try to copy exactly those shoots. Copycat? No, not really; as a student I learned that just by trying to copy those images I got inspired, and went off on my own tangent. The logistics of producing a photo shoot and the actual choices that present themselves by just doing it, offered, as I soon found out, infinite ways to be unique. Little by little, I built up my own repertoire of taste and aesthetics. Many times I saw work that inspired me and then when it came to taking pictures of certain subjects, some of those images stayed in my mind, but new possibilities presented themselves by just doing it.
Over the years I have worked for, with, and now mentored some amazing photographers and I have seen this incredible path again and again. Just doing it does absolute wonders. The images are almost always new! How is it possible to surpass the current work now? Just do it - to borrow from Nike's tagline. That, and loud music! Christian Oth [1]: http://www.josepicayo.com/
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