Alissa and Scott got married at Bridgewaters. Just a few months ago I photographed their engagement shoot at 5 Pointz in Long Island City. They have known each other for about sixteen years, but it wasn’t until the age of sixteen that they started to become close friends. On the day of the wedding Alissa even showed me a picture from her prom and pointed out Scott. She explained that they were not romantically together at that time, just friends. It was funny to find out on their wedding day that Scott wasn’t the one who took her to the prom.
When it was about time to apply to colleges, their parents decided that they should apply to the same school. But, fate had decided otherwise. Alissa wasn’t accepted to the same school as Scott, and their paths were separated. She stayed local and went to school in Manhattan, and through the time apart they lost touch. Then, five years later they were both living in Manhattan and happened to bump into each other at a bar. Their rekindled friendship quickly changed in to a relationship. They moved in together in Brooklyn where they made a home along with Mango, their precious pug who is very much a part of their family.
On the wedding day, in the taxi on the way to their first meeting, Alissa told me that she kept a letter for years that Scott mailed her from summer camp. When I heard that, I was so touched. It made me think that it’s an amazing thing that they have known each other for so long. The path that life took them on and their story are so amazing.
What I love about weddings is that I get to know not just the couples, but also their family and friends. I always learn so much more about the couple through what I hear from those close to them. I always like to listen to the parents’ funny stories about their childhoods, about what they like and don’t like. This time I found out that when Scott was little he had an imaginary friend who went everywhere with him. The friend finally disappeared when his little sister came into the world, how cute is that! I learned that Alissa loves fashion, and I think that just by her choice of a Monique Lhuillier wedding dress shows her exquisite taste. The proof of how much she likes fashion is also evidenced by the amount of effort she put into the styling of their engagement shoot. I just hope Scott can be forgiving that I convinced Alissa to buy some very expensive shoes to match her dress. ;)
While her father made the toast, I couldn’t help but feel a small tear welling up in my eyes. He mentioned the photos from the engagement shoot. He was looking for me and thanked me, and said that looking at the photos made him cry because he realized how much love Alissa and Scott share. His words are the reason why I do what I do. Being a photographer is not just snapping a shutter and knowing the technical aspects of the camera. Being an artist is having a “why”, knowing the reason why I take those pictures. I feel so fortunate that I get to share in these moments with my couples, to be right there as they experience and encounter love on such an incredible level.
It was a true pleasure for me to photograph Niki’s and Massimiliano’s American celebration. They originally met each other in 2006 and every milestone in their journey together was obviously so important that Niki recorded the very date they decided to move to NY as well as even the precise date they signed their joint lease. (I, on the other hand, have trouble remembering how many years I have been married ;) )
Niki and Max were actually married in Italy, and naturally wished to continue their celebration with their friends and loved ones here. Max is originally from Italy and his parents both flew to to attend their celebration.
There is something very special about celebrating in a museum atmosphere. Whether it was the magnificence of the Metropolitan Museum , where we took the couple portraits, or later in the more intimate Neue Galerie, which hosted the celebration, the air is permeated by a sense of timelessness, admiration, and beauty. The art and objects were acquired and displayed with great effort and connoisseurship and their architectural settings are equally captivating. It reminds me that in a relationship we need not put eachother on a pedestal, like an Egyptian limestone or a Viennese bronze, but a strong commitment is something, like a fine piece of art, to be kept and treasured.
We had planned the shoot at the Met beforehand and had all spent some time to tour the various rooms. Niki and Max both have a great love of art history and it was easy to get inspired. Massimiliano is, in fact, a very talented photographer himself, so he has a great deal of artistic sensibility. It was fun to get to know them before the actual day, and we ended up having a lovely coffee together at the Cafe Sabarsky at Neue Gallery.
In photography, and especially in NYC with its myriad restrictions on shooting, nothing seems to go completely according to plan. Despite receiving prior permission to shoot at the Met, on the actual day itself, a guard stopped and told us we were not in fact allowed to shoot.
Luckily, we persisted with the conviction that nothing was going to interfere with our shoot on a splendid and important day, and eventually we overcame his objections. Perseverance and love do go hand in hand.
by admin