Norah and Nick had to change their plans a MILLION times, and this was not unusual for couples in 2020 during the entire year. They were struggling to figure out what to do, from Glen Sanders to Renaissance Hotel to now to On-site Vendors on a Property that they finally were able to purchase and call their own. The day started with both of them in separate locations, Norah at her Mom’s home in Averill Park, and Nick on the property of where their wedding ceremony and reception would be held. Norah was BEAUTIFULLY beaming, she was excited, but also a little nervous. She was hoping the day would go smoothly, and that everything would work out. Let me tell you that when she told me her plan and everything was thought about, I had NO DOUBTS that things would be fine, I didn’t even give any suggestions because her plan was fool proof. I obviously didn’t say that last part outloud because I didn’t want to be the one to jinx it, but really though, it was unjinxable.

So when we FIRST met, Nick was a bit reserved and I knew that we might have some warming up for the session, but MAN was he completely different come Engagement day! Nick was ready to have some fun and be COMPLETELY INVOLVED in this process and man did he make Norah laugh so hard. The entire time he was energetic and happy and was doing EVERYTHING in his power, to make Norah happy. This man is the real MVP. Norah, this sweet girl with her bright blues and warm smile and infectious laugh is always thinking and planning for other people, and all Nick wanted to do, was do something for HER. This pretty much summed up how I began to fall in love with these two Love Bugs!

Lets talk about these two who were only just a little bit nervous in seeing each other but MOSTLY Excited to be having their first look on the beautiful campus of ColgateUniversity. Also let me tell you that this group… was a PARTY group, they were all ready to have the BEST TIME of their lives. The amount of Shenanigans that were occuring before the first look and during getting ready was just THE most fun I’ve had, and the amount of sentimental moments that was happening through the day was pounding at my heart and I was HERE for it.

When they first reached out, their lives were BUSY they were making a lot of life changes so they were both a little nervous about things going on in their lives and wedding planning - on top of planning for a wedding that is going to be on New Years Eve! These two during their session were not sure what to do, very common with people who have never gotten pictures taken before let alone Engagement Photos so Do not fret! The whole purpose of the engagement session is to get you ready and boy, once they were ready, we had some more fun. Nervously and shyly they held hands and gave peck kisses and laughed because they felt awkward. Then they started getting brave and started teasing each other and making jokes, and of course they were comfortable enough to share intimate quiet moments together while I was snapping away with the camera.

Asheville North Carolina is such a beautiful place, and Hidden River is one of those beautiful venues in this beautiful place. Tanya and Kyle’s morning started low key, and I was able to stay the night before to get myself acquainted with the land and I just couldn’t help but adore the landscape as the sun rose. Since Kyle’s Family comes from the west coast, they got to do a fun family road trip across the country just for the best wedding ever! Even though I got to see Tanya super early in the morning, I was starting with Kyle in the morning with him getting Ready before going to Tanya for her Shenanigans. Kyle and his family were so cute, were super organized for family photos and they just loved being together. Weddings are the best for Family Reunions!

I hope no one is sick of the cold winter yet because we have some hotties warming up our feed today! Tyler and Randy were being silly the entire session and I am hearing Tyler’s signature laugh in my head reverberate as Randy says some SAVORY things into his ear and away from my ear shot. Whatever he was doing, I wanted him to keep going! They just genuinely ENJOYED being in each other’s company and just living life and sharing this life together and I was ALL ABOUT IT. We didn’t have to go too far from Mohonk Mountain House’s main building, in fact we this is part of Mohonk’s trails as part of its Getaway. I’m not sponsored or anything but Mohonk, holla at cha boy! We braved this cold that was easily warmed up by how much snuggling and giggling and body laughing these two were doing, more Tyler than Randy haha!

Karissa is this super chill, down to party, excellent planner and visionary who is extraordinarily smart and compassionate - did I mention she was a teacher? I love all my teachers! They are always the most organized and prepared ;-) John is this kind, soft spoken, means what he says, dutiful and super considerate man who would do ANYTHING for Karissa. He’s such a nice guy, he’s the type of guy who wants the best for everyone, especially for Karissa on her day. Part of his considerateness is that he got White Claws and had it delivered to her room in an ice bucket to keep cool, like... come on how much nicer than to be thinking of making sure you’re soon to be spouse to properly hydrated AM I RIGHT?!

Aneedra and Mark are the type of souls that when they meet, they can not be apart, They energize each other and push each other to be their best. Aneedra the strong, boisterous and highly intelligent women, and Mark the kind, inquisitive and supportive man are two sides of the same coin. Sometimes we forget that people are multifaceted and that when we posses one human trait, we also often possess the other. But enough about cerebral discussions of the human personality psyche and how love binds them (maybe That should be a book title!) lets talk about the amount of FUN we had on the Brooklyn Bridge, at The Brooklyn Bridge Park, and DUMBO.

This week’s blog has been about couples who save each other, and when we talk about couples who save each other, I think of these two love birds who long ago decided to save each other. These two quirky, smart, compassionate and AMAZING people are gaming nerds that are always going to be saving each other in and out of the digital space. There’s a calmness to Alex and an excited Bubblyness’ to Alyssa that when you put these two together in a room, they radiate like magnetic waves in the upper atmosphere. You can tell they are always constantly thinking about the other’s well being, happiness and quirks while also giving each other the space and agency to grow and make their own decisions.

Omg, I love my couples, but THESE TWO? They’re special. I met them at a wedding I was associate photographing for another photographer and Olivia and I, we became best friends from minute 1, and you know how sometimes when you meet a new friends, you just feel this energy that is on the same frequency and you get each other? That was Olivia and I, Energy Twins, Soulmates, Vibing, whatever you wanna call it, we were on the same wavelength. When I got to meet Adam at that wedding, I just saw HOW MUCH Adam makes her laugh, breaks down her barriers, makes her rethink certain things because maybe she’s overthinking things. I could SEE that breaking a mental cycle that traps you was something that Adam does for her and I couldn’t help but feel like, wow these two, I LOVE THESE TWO.

So if anyone knows me, knows that I am on time if not early so I like to get myself presentable and head on out to the venue as soon as possible. Little did I know, that I needed to run an ERRAND this particular day! I get a phone call asking for a favor, apparently… the couple was already at the venue, but the groom forgot his dress shirt in the apartment in Albany. Good thing I was ready to go! So I decided to drop by Downtown Albany and pick up the dress shirt, no fuss, no muss, Thank goodness for good roommates and landlords!

What can I SAY about these two, Quiet, Dry, Witty Humor mixed with Boisterous, Confident and Intelligent, these two love spending their time together making comments, jokes, being silly and laughing. Felicia is so FULL of LIFE, she laughs and is happy and her smile overpowers the sun. Even when making shadows from the sun, you can tell there is laughing going on. Karl is a perceptive and quiet man who loves to surprise people, I was NOT expecting to start off the session so silly, but his ironic and witty self just went ahead and took the leap, and all you could hear was the echoes of laughter from Felica, and we all knew it was going to be a great and FUN day.

Sarah and Tom have been anxiously and excitedly WAITING for this day. I’ve been in constant contact with them the entire time, planning and helping them map out what their day would look like with me and coordinating with other events of the day. Luckily we had the Amazing Alexis who is the Maid of honor and a previous Jay Zhang Photography Bride in the KNOW of how a wedding day goes and she was on top of EVERYTHING. It always helps when your best friend is also experienced, aint that right Alexis?!
When I got there, I could tell there was some nervous energy, and they were grateful I was early (mostly because i’m always anxious i’ll be late, so I show up early!). With that in mind, I started early just so we can get the ball rolling and ease some anxious energy!

Liz and Kyle had a lovely engagement session, I MISS meeting new people (as I’m writing this in 2021 and have not shot many engagements or weddings due to the pandemic). These two are so sweet on each other, they talk softly and gently to each other and whisper silly things. They hold each other close and they support each other in their life goals and endeavors. They make decisions together and aim to be the best team TOGETHER, and with the coming of the pandemic they had the biggest challenging of having to move their wedding date much like many couples in 2020. I can’t wait to see them again because I love me a sweet couple who just love hanging out with each other and being chill while sweetly loving on each other!

Haley and Henry have known each other for a very long time, grew up in the same neighborhood and separated by collegiate endeavors but even distances apart couldn’t separate these two for long before they decided to be with each other again. When I think about these two, I think about two people who have been married for YEARS. The subtle inside jokes, the quirky smirks and side eyes, the reminiscing of when they were kids, the ideas of the future together, these are just a few of the things that make up Long Term Love.

Kristal and Steve have been together FOREVER, and they just can NOT wait to be officially married, but sometimes life takes you in different directions and we learn that there are no set of rules that are made for everyone AND THATS OK. Repeat after me, Someone else’s steps are not the same as your steps in life. Don’t come for these two because LOOK AT HOW FREAKIN’ adorable they are. People talk about the Passion they feel with someone new, but not a lot of people talk about the subtlties of love with someone you’ve loved forever, the freakin’ stupid phrases they say that make you shake your head and laugh, the faces they make when no one else is watching, and the revisiting fun times together that remind you why you two are together. Can we talk about that more? can we talk about how great a team couple’s are when they are together? Because those things are important in love, and in marriage! Kristal and Steve, we are SO CLOSE, I can’t wait to see you two again soon!

Kat and Kevin were WAITING for this day forever! When I got to the room to see Kat, she was glowing, she was super excited and a little bit nervous but the loved ones in her life were more than happy to surround her and remind her that things were going to be great and that today, was going to be AMAZING (spoilers, it was!). She got into her dress that she said felt amazing, and her cute mom couldn’t help but squeeze her cheeks right after! We even did a small first look with her wedding party and the tears had already started. Afterwards I went over to the boys and you could tell shenanigans afoot, but these boys pulled together and we got ready, you could tell there were people who had already been in weddings helping the other boys with Ties and even BOUTINEERS (Usually me or my 2nd photographer is doing this!) NOW we were ready to do a first look!

When I think about Mia and Rob and their engagement session, I think about sweet Mia and her ever protective and loving Partner in crime Rob. Rob is a quiet, fiercely dedicated and secretly soft man who would do anything to protect Mia and make her smile. You can just see it in the way he looks at her, and the way he holds her tightly as if time is fleeting and there is just never enough of it. Mia’s eyes glow every time she looks right into Rob’s eye, there just this little glisten that happens when they talk, and they both speak so softly to each other I can honestly tell you that I don’t know what they’re saying! This engagement session at Mount Greylocke was magical, and the only other thing that made the day more magical was the magic between these two love birds.

A hot summer Wedding was exactly what we needed on this day as the sun beamed on everyone’s excited faces. John in his usual goofy self was so excited to be marrying Sarah today but you could see the little bit of nervousness peek through when he wasn’t focusing on not being nervous. to ease up the getting ready tensions, his side of the party got to play some lawn games and hang out on the property while Sarah also prepared for the day. Did you know she is a jewelry maker? What better way to commemorate the day than by making your own jewelry on your own day. She was BEAMING with beauty, and she was definitely a little nervous about the details of the day and hoping that it just goes well. More importantly, she was excited to see John.

John is silly, quirky, and hilarious; Sarah is witty and observant and kind. These two were flirting and making faces with each other all day, its also a good thing we were able to make some non-goofy faced john photos because he LOVES to be goofy and make Sarah laugh. Sarah’s laugh sure brightens up the atmosphere, which is why John loves to make goofy faces when Sarah is around. In-between these goofy moments though, you have these soft quiet moments that almost seem surreal when time slows down, and the wind softly caresses their cheeks as I tell them to just take one big deep breath.