The new year just started but I’ve been thinking about my next wedding season for a while now and how I can better serve my clients. This is a tricky thing to think about because I want to create interesting and compelling images that fulfill me as an artist, but yet I want to deliver moving images to my clients that they will cherish. It’s a fine line for a wedding photographer. The best way for me to balance being on that line is too ask myself WHY? Not only is this crucial for the foundation of my business and creativity, but it also helps prospective clients understand where I’m coming from and what they can expect from me. Simon Sineks “Start with Why” Ted talk really opened my eyes to this. There are many, many wedding photographers here in NYC who do what I do, document weddings in a creative, modern and photojournalistic manner. The talent pool is pretty huge and there are new photographer popping up all the time. How do you choose the right photographer? Ultimately, you have to come to that decision on your own. But, I can tell you WHY I’m a wedding photographer which will hopefully give people some insights as to where I’m coming from when I document a wedding and what I can do for you…
Starting with ‘WHY’ in my business – {NYC Wedding Photographer}The new year just started but I’ve been thinking about my next wedding season for a while now and how I can better serve my clients. This is a tricky thing to think about because I want to create interesting and compelling images that fulfill me as an artist, but yet I want to deliver [...] |
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Tags: "New York Wedding photographer", bride, choosing a wedding photographer, couple, dancing, finding a wedding photographer, how to find a wedding photographer, Michelle Hayes Wedding Photographer, modern, New York, New York City, NYC wedding photography, photographer, photojournalist wedding photography, portrait photographer, stylish, wedding, wedding dress, wedding photographer
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Posted in: Tips & Ideas, Weddings |
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Wedding Wire Bride’s Choice – Michelle Hayes Wedding Photography NYCSo this is cool. I won a Bride’s Choice award on Wedding Wire. This means I am in the top 5% of Wedding Pros nationwide! The WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners [...] |
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Tags: "New York Wedding photographer", awarded wedding photographer, excellent wedding photography, Michelle Hayes Wedding Photographer, New York, New York City, New york city wedding photographer, photographer, photography, photojournalist wedding photography, professional wedding photography, quality wedding photography, wedding photographer, Wedding wire, wedding wire bride's choice
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Posted in: Weddings |
So this is cool. I won a Bride’s Choice award on Wedding Wire. This means I am in the top 5% of Wedding Pros nationwide! The WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the organization, the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ are determined solely by the reviews from over 1.2 million newlyweds.
That’s 5 stars across the board baby! Yay me!
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Baby, It’s Cold Outside: What To Wear for an Engagement Photo Shoot in Chilly WeatherGuest post by HautePinkPretty.com The holidays are always my favorite time of year and holiday season equals engagement season. My husband, proposed to me on Christmas three years ago and this past holiday season, I had 8 friends get engaged! Love is in the air Being an engagement veteran (yes, I made that up, but [...] |
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Tags: "New York Wedding photographer", bride, engagement session, Engagement session clothing, Engagement session ideas, engagement session in Central Park NY, engagement session in the Meatpacking District NYC, Fashion blogger, Michelle Hayes Wedding Photographer, modern, New York, New York City, NYC engagement session, photojournalist wedding photography, portrait photographer, stylish, wedding, wedding photographer
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Posted in: Engagement, Tips & Ideas, Weddings |
Guest post by HautePinkPretty.com
The holidays are always my favorite time of year and holiday season equals engagement season. My husband, proposed to me on Christmas three years ago and this past holiday season, I had 8 friends get engaged! Love is in the air 
Being an engagement veteran (yes, I made that up, but we were engaged for almost 2 years!), many of my friends asked me for tips and we frequently chat about their wedding planning updates. Recently, I’ve noticed a recurring theme; planning engagement shoots for the Summer. Although Summer is obviously a great sunny time of year for photo shoots, colder weather is by far, my favorite. Don’t let the cooler (albeit, some places freezing) weather scare you! Lower temperatures allows for my favorite fashionable opportunity – layering and accessorizing! There’s nothing that gets me giddyer than the chance to wear coats, scarves, boots and gloves! What’s great about this is that layering looks amazing on camera. It looks chic and adds that extra eye appeal to your photos.
You can check out how my husband and I approached this for our 1 year wedding anniversary shoot with Michelle last fall here.
Ladies – you can still wear a dress or skirt if you wear it with boots and layer up on tights (I’ve been known to wear 3 layers of tights when it’s 40° F’s out). Layering a sweater or cardigan along with a nice jacket or coat over your look will not only keep you cozy but make your outfit look well put together. Finish off the stylish look with a scarf and leather gloves! There are also some great hat options out there and fuzzy earmuffs in a neutral colour like creme, black or brown can look adorable, too.
Shop: dress, gloves, earmuffs, cuff bracelet, coat, tights, necklace, boots, cocktail ring, eternity scarf
Gentlemen – have you ever noticed how well dressed celebrity guys or male models look in magazine spreads, advertisements and out at events? What stylist are so amazing at for men is layering, whether it’s in cold weather or not. I always think of Steve Carrel in Crazy, Stupid, Love. when Ryan Gosling gives him a makeover and he complains about being drenched in sweat underneath all the layers of clothing but he looks great! See photo of Steve Carrel from the movie post makeover here. Take advantage of this for a photo shoot in chilly weather by wearing and showing off all the layers; under shirt + dress shirt + sweater, vest or cardigan + jacket or coat + tie, optional . If needed, add a scarf wrapped around your neck or draped around your collar, over your shoulders.
Shop: dress shirt, tie, coat, socks, vest, watch, hat, pants, gloves, shoes
Don’t be afraid to accessorize in areas you think won’t be seen on camera! I know that sounds funny, however, you never know when you might unbutton or take off your coat & a nice watch, pretty necklace or bracelet will show attention to detail. If you decide to wear a hat, make sure it’s not one that covers or creates a shadow over your face. A nice driver’s cap, short brim fedora or even a fun knitted beanie for a more casual look would be great. Also, too many patterns or colors might not be ideal since you want to focus the photo shoot on you two as a couple. To keep the outfits interesting, incorporate different textures like cable knit, faux fur, patent leathers and lace!
Hope that helps & congrats on your engagement!
Xox,
An at HautePinkPretty.com
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I’ll be happy when… {NYC Boudoir Photography}I know you are looking at all the beautiful boudoir images out there and thinking “I would LOVE to do that…but not until I lose 5, 10, or whatever number of pounds” Stop that way of thinking right now. It’s that ever elusive when I get “X” I’ll finally be happy. I’ll be happy when [...] |
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Tags: bridal, bridal boudoir, bridal pictures, engagement gift, glamour photography, glamour photos, groom wedding gift, grooms gift, inner beauty, inner confidenc, NYC boudoir, NYC boudoir photography, sexy pictures, what is boudoir, what is boudoir photography?, women's body issues
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Posted in: Boudoir, Tips & Ideas |
I know you are looking at all the beautiful boudoir images out there and thinking “I would LOVE to do that…but not until I lose 5, 10, or whatever number of pounds” Stop that way of thinking right now. It’s that ever elusive when I get “X” I’ll finally be happy. I’ll be happy when I lose 10 more pounds, I’ll be happy when I get that promotion, I’ll be happy when I get my dream job. You get the point. Thinking in the future is never going to allow you to enjoy what you already have right now. It’s also a form of punishment for not appreciating your unique beauty. So how can you stop hating on your body and start feeling the love? To start with, try focusing on what you do like about your body when you look in the mirror today. If you have shiny straight hair then focus on that because there are a ton of people who would kill for shiny locks (yes, my hand is up in the air). If you have full lips then start loving those kissers because there are people who spend a fortune on plumping up theirs for a sad temporary fix. After focusing on what you do like about your body you’ll hopefully begin to relax a bit about what you can’t change at this moment, or not at all, and hopefully you’ll begin to see yourself in a different light. You will be giving attention to all the wonderful things about yourself and you might just change the way you think about your body to reflect a more positive, loving, light-hearted frame of mind. Aren’t we tired of all this negativity towards our bodies anyway?
Here are a few images of the gorgeous Emily who wanted to do a Boudoir session for a while but was hesitant. She mentioned that she was trying to loose a few pounds before the shoot. I finally told her it’s now or never and promised I would make her look good. Remember, we are professional photographers with a keen eye so if something doesn’t look good we’ll know right away. I worked with her in a variety of flattering poses and made sure she felt comfortable every step of the way and looked what transpired! Jaw dropping images that she could not believe were of herself. Emily turned out to be her own super model with unique assets to focus on. Look at her vibrant red hair, her creamy skin and those beautiful blue eyes! Emily told me she cannot stop looking at these pictures of herself and is so glad she did the session now instead of waiting to loose those pesky few extra pounds.
Stop living for future elusive goals of being happy “when”. Be happy about your body NOW and focus what makes you unique! And how can you do that? …
…With a Boudoir Session!
If you’re still on the fence about doing a Boudoir session that’s ok. Just stop thinking this is something you could never do. Start by picking out one thing about your body that you like and start focusing on it everyday. This may seem small and pointless, but it’s a big step in getting away from viewing our bodies negatively.
How to book a session…
Ok so you’re feeling pretty good about taking the next step towards a Boudoir session. What next? You can click here to email me if you are interested and would like to set up a time to speak about your session. You can also ask me more specific questions if you have them.
Boudoir Marathon sessions happen every few months so if you’d like to be notified when the next one is going to happen click here to sign up to my newsletter and you’ll be the first to know about the session and get priority over others. Keep in mind these marathon sessions that I put together will have limited spaces so act quickly.
Click here for some more information detailing what goes on in a session and pricing. If you have specific questions then feel free to email me directly at info@michellehayesphotos.com or give me a call 347.684.1088.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Michelle
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Want to feel more love? Display more pictures!Did you know photographs radiate love? Every photograph radiates energy. Just look at a picture of someone or something you love. This feeling of love is a very high frequency of energy you are emanating out to the world. That’s why I love photographs of people so much. It’s a sure fire way to feel the love [...] |
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Tags: baby photography, enaggement session nyc, energy in pictures, love and pictures, Michelle Hayes Portrait Photographer, new york city lifestyle photographer, nyc portrait photography, NYC wedding photographer, pictures, Portrait
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Posted in: Engagement, Portrait, Tips & Ideas |
Did you know photographs radiate love? Every photograph radiates energy. Just look at a picture of someone or something you love. This feeling of love is a very high frequency of energy you are emanating out to the world. That’s why I love photographs of people so much. It’s a sure fire way to feel the love and who doesn’t want to feel more of that? Have you ever wondered why people display pictures of loved ones or animals at their desks? It’s a little reminder of the love we want to feel all of the time, especially at a super crappy job.
Case in point, when I look at this picture of my beautiful niece my heart fills with absolute love. Now, every time I will look at this pic it will remind me of the time we spent together for a very, very Elmo Christmas.
Here’s another amazing example of love radiating through photographs. My clients, Brooke and Eric, have their Engagement session pics prominently displayed on their bedroom wall. I was so honored to walk in and see these four pictures I took of this lovely couple. But I could only imagine the love they feel for each other, and now their new baby girl, as they look at these pics every time they walk into their bedroom.
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Melissa & Joey Engagement Session – NYCMelissa and Joey came up from Baton Rouge Louisiana for their Engagement session in NYC. They used to live here and jumped at the chance to have pics done around the city when a last minute trip came up. Melissa is also a photographer down in Baton Rouge (you can check out here work here) [...] |
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Tags: "New York Wedding photographer", central park, couple, engagement session, engagement session in Central Park NY, engagement session in the Meatpacking District NYC, engagement session on the Highline Park NYC, HIghline Park NYC, Michelle Hayes Wedding Photographer, New York, New York City, photographer, photography, portrait photographer, wedding, wedding photographer
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Posted in: Engagement |
Melissa and Joey came up from Baton Rouge Louisiana for their Engagement session in NYC. They used to live here and jumped at the chance to have pics done around the city when a last minute trip came up. Melissa is also a photographer down in Baton Rouge (you can check out here work here) and I loved having another set of creative eyes along for the session. We both saw this little grassy hill covered in leaves that was perfect for some beautiful fall shots. Unfortunately, as you will see, it was already being occupied. But that didn’t stop us and we all agreed it added some NYC flavor to the scene.
We started at their old apartment on the UWS, headed over to the park, and then downtown for some more urban shots. That’s one of the things that I love most about this city. You can have a completely different look and feel to your pics during one session. Thanks to Melissa and Joey for this fun session around NYC which reminded me why I love this city so much.
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This year I wasn’t planning on going shopping on Black Friday, but my friends and I decided we wanted to see what all the fuss was about. None of us had ever actually been shopping on Black Friday, but with all the ads that have been bombarding us for weeks we were beginning to feel like we needed to check things out.
Fast forward to midnight at the mall. We went from store to store looking for these exceptional savings on things we couldn’t live without but came up empty. I even noticed some stores had no sales going on whatsoever and there still were massive amounts of people waiting in line. It didn’t make sense. I soon realized we had been duped and we were merely under the herd mentality spell. We thought we should go along with the events of Black Friday because everyone was telling us we should do it and we were lead to believe we’d miss out if we didn’t. I’m pretty sure that was my first and last Black Friday experience.
Now, I have never planned a wedding but I can imagine it can be a lot like the events of Black Friday. There are endless people (internet, tv, magazines, family, friends, planners, your hairstylist) who are telling you from the beginning of the engagement that you will need a lot of STUFF to have a wedding. Everything from the designer gown to the guest favors. I can see where couples could easily fall into the herd mentality and get caught up in the endless planning and purchasing of STUFF for the wedding because everyone is doing it. In addition, I can imagine people feeling awful if they couldn’t afford all of the STUFF for their own wedding, which I’m sure is not cheap when added all up. If you find yourself needing all the STUFF and then feeling bad that you can’t afford it and then feeling bad for wanting it in the first place, it’s ok. It’s just the industry trying to convince you of things that you need in order to have a complete and wonderful wedding. If you want the STUFF, can afford the STUFF, then go for it. Everyone has different wants, needs and priorities. I’m just pointing out that I see couples being bombarded into thinking they need to buy all this STUFF to have a complete wedding and it can stress some people out big time.
As a wedding photographer I am obviously part of the “Industry” and this is how I choose to make a living, but I also don’t feel the need to sell needless STUFF to my clients if they don’t want or need it. My ultimate goal is to help couples execute their idea of a perfect wedding and if that means less STUFF for me to photograph so I can focus on capturing moments between the couple and their family and friends, then I’m all for it. I promise it will still be a beautiful and memorable wedding. Here are some examples of weddings that I photographed this year where the focus was on having fun and enjoying the day with family and friends…
Check out Jenn & Mark’s gorgeous outdoor wedding. I honestly can’t remember if they even had a cake, but I do remember them enjoying each and every guest at their intimate and stress-free wedding. It was like a really cool party that could have gone on all night. (Click on the picture for more pics from their wedding)
Melissa & Rick used a unique venue as a creative backdrop to their wedding day, the Bronx Zoo! It was so much fun to take pics around the grounds of the Zoo. No extra frills and flowers were necessary as we were surrounded by nature, animals, and beautiful buildings. No doubt Melissa and Rick will remember the environment in addition to all that great dancing her family and friends did that night. I will always remember her Great Aunt (the one in the red dress) doing the limbo! She was a fire cracker! (Click on the picture for more pics from their wedding)
If you are feeling a bit blah about all the wedding planning and details check out this blog, A Practical Wedding. It is not just another wedding blog posting pics about gorgeous weddings that are out of your budget. It focuses on meaningful celebrations and doesn’t push the STUFF needed to have a wedding. It’s pretty refreshing even from a Wedding Photographers stand point. I found this Bride’s post Wedding Overexposure about the endless wedding ideas out there that lead to over-exposure not being over-whelmed, pretty relevant.
And finally, here’s proof that I did in fact go to a mall at midnight on Black Friday. As we stolled up at 11:45 we encountered an endless line for Target and Best Buy. Yes, one line for both stores. It wasn’t even a line. As you can see it’s more like people gathering on the other side of the gate in random order…like a herd! We of course gave up because we literally couldn’t find the end of the line. What were we thinking?
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Hey Ladies & Gents it is time to get into some Boudoir posts! This post is to clarify what Boudoir photography is and to give you a sense of what goes on during one of these sessions. It’s not as intimidating as you might think and a lot of women have expressed genuine interest in this type of photography. So, here we go…
Boudoir Photography is back in style and it’s more popular than you might think. This isn’t the bad Glamour Shots of the 80′s. No cheesy boas, no awkward sexy pouts, no harsh glamour lights. It’s about real woman celebrating how beautiful they are through photography. It’s that simple, yet so powerful. Today, it’s all about capturing the essence and beauty of a woman and letting real women be their own supermodel. As a boudoir photographer I strive to highlight what makes each woman unique. Yes, EVERY woman has something special about them but we never focus on it because we are too busy harping on the things we hate about our bodies. Here’s an article that I love which talks about why every woman should do this at some point in their lives. Something to add to you bucket list perhaps?
What Boudoir Photography is NOT:
Boudoir photography is not trying to look like a a size 4 Victoria Secret model in the most revealing lingerie. We all know they do not represent the average woman plus they are professional models who have a team of people making them look good at all times, makeup artist, hair stylist, clothing stylist, lighting technicians, post production editors, etc. Boudoir sessions are not highly stylized productions to market to the world. They are intimate and about YOU. So you can be as sexy and as daring as you want to be or you can can be playful and sweet. It’s all up to you.
Why should I do a Boudoir Session?
Do this as a gift for a significant other for an anniversary, birthday, engagement or wedding present. Can you just imagine his face when he sees these striking pictures of you? An album of your top 10-15 images is all you need for a gift that will be unforgettable. Forget those boring cuff links!
Get a few of your girlfriends together and have a party! Boudoir Parties are a great way to get your girlfriends together for a bachelorette party, bridal party or birthday party. If you have a minimum of 4 people you can have your own Boudoir Marathon session at a great price.
Do this as a gift for yourself, birthday, christmas, graduation, whatever! A Boudoir session is a great opportunity to really feel beautiful inside and out. Not only will you look amazing, but you will feel amazing about yourself. It’s a guaranteed confidence booster! It’s time to stop being so hard on yourself and appreciate how good you look NOW, And the ultimate way to embrace your beauty? Through beautiful images of yourself that will last forever. You can make a small book and flip through to remind yourself how awesome you really are. A perfect reminder that you can go back over and over again for those not so fabulous days
It doesn’t matter who you do it for. Either way, I can guarantee it will be a fun, once-in-a-lifetime, confidence-boosting experience!
What goes on in a Boudoir Session?
A typical Glam session lasts about two hours and I will guide you every step of the way. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to pose or don’t know what you are doing. I have a ton of flattering pose ideas and will help you throughout the session. Remember, I am a professional photographer with a keen eye for what looks good so I promise to make you look amazing! During a Glam session you will have time for 2-3 outfit changes and for a Marathon session 1-2 outfit changes.
Where are Boudoir Sessions held?
Typically a Boudoir session is done at a chic hotel here in NYC. If you do a Boudoir Party with three of your friends you can spend the afternoon in a cool Manhattan hotel. This is a great idea for a bachelorette party or a bridal shower. If you have a specific location in mind we can work together to create your own package.
What should I wear?
This is entirely up to you. What ever you choose you should feel sexy, confident and comfortable in. If you need help in this area a good place to start is a store like Journelle, here in NYC. They have a knowledgeable sales staff who make you feel really comfortable. Remember, you don’t have to wear sexy lingerie if that’s not you. You can wear something like a white button up shirt and stockings if you are a little conservative. If you are more daring then the sky’s the limit! If you have no clue then a black bra and panties work every time. Bring a pair of sexy heals to make your legs look a mile long and some accessories to complete the look. If you don’t have any, don’t worry I have a lot of jewelry in my boudoir collection. We can play around with your outfits to come up with some different looks.
What to do with your images…
So, you have these amazing images of yourself sitting in a folder on your computer and you’re not sure what to do with them. The session will be a great experience in itself, but you’re going to want to do something with these images to keep reminding yourself of how fun it was, how you felt, and how damn good you look ! Here are a few suggestions…
If you are doing this for someone else, you can make a small book out of the top 10-15 images. You don’t need a wedding sized album, you just need a simple and sleek album that can be flipped though easily. This would be a great wedding, anniversary, christmas, or birthday gift. If you are doing this for yourself then you should have a small book made so you can look at yourself in awe any time you want. Another option would be to print out a few and frame them for your dressing area, bathroom, nightstand or any private place in your home. You can do whatever you want with these images, but the point is to get them off of your computer and have them visible in some form so you can appreciate how good you look and to remember how you felt that day.
How to book a session…
Ok so you’re feeling pretty good about taking the next step towards a Boudoir session. What next? You can click here to email me if you are interested and would like to set up a time to speak about your session. You can also ask me more specific questions if you have them.
Boudoir Marathon sessions happen every few months so if you’d like to be notified when the next one is going to happen click here to sign up to my newsletter and you’ll be the first to know about the session and get priority over others. Keep in mind these marathon sessions that I put together will have limited spaces so act quickly.
Click here for some more information about the different sessions and pricing. If you have specific questions then feel free to email me directly at info@michellehayesphotos.com or give me a call 347.684.1088.
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Ava – Baby Photography NYCDid you all know I am a baby photographer too? My website focuses mainly on wedding photography, but my business is growing and expanding to include more areas of photography like baby portraits. I like to call what I do Lifestyle Photography because I’m really capturing important moments of all aspects of life. I love it [...] |
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Tags: baby, baby girl, baby photography, child, children, family portraits, infant photography, kids portraits, lifestyle photographer, Lifestyle photography, Michelle Hayes Portrait Photographer, modern, New York, New York City, new york city lifestyle photographer, New york city lifestyle photography, newborn photography, photographer, photography, portrait photographer, stylish
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Posted in: Portrait |
Did you all know I am a baby photographer too? My website focuses mainly on wedding photography, but my business is growing and expanding to include more areas of photography like baby portraits. I like to call what I do Lifestyle Photography because I’m really capturing important moments of all aspects of life. I love it because photographing more than just weddings keeps things fresh and I get to connect with people in different times in their lives. Take a peak at my portrait section of my website to see more beautiful babies, funny kids, and happy couples!
Little Ava was so much fun to take pictures of and her mom and I really got into dressing her up with some seriously stylish baby clothes. She really is a NYC babe! She is just too cute for words, so I will leave you with images…
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Michelle & Jim – Prospect Park Brooklyn, NY {Wedding}This wedding will go down as my weather miracle wedding of 2011. It had been raining all week and up until the night before the wedding day the forecast called for 70% chance of rain. I had accepted the fact that this outdoor Prospect Park wedding would be indoors and our portrait session in the [...] |
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Tags: "New York Wedding photographer", bouquet, bride, bridesmaids, Brooklyn, Brooklyn wedding, ceremony, couple, dancing, flowers, garden, gown, groom, Michelle Hayes Wedding Photographer, modern, New York, New York City, Park Slope Brooklyn wedding, photographer, photography, photojournalist wedding photography, Picnic House Prospect Park Wedding, portrait photographer, Prospect Park Brooklyn, Prospect Park Wedding, stylish, veil alternative, wedding, wedding dress, wedding photographer
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Posted in: Weddings |
This wedding will go down as my weather miracle wedding of 2011. It had been raining all week and up until the night before the wedding day the forecast called for 70% chance of rain. I had accepted the fact that this outdoor Prospect Park wedding would be indoors and our portrait session in the beautiful park would be scrapped. There was nothing else to be done as you cannot argue with Mother Nature. But we woke up to a day of just clouds and no chance of rain. I thanked the weather gods, grabbed my camera and headed to Park Slope. We were given a free pass for outdoor pictures and this wedding party totally took advantage of it. They were up for anything and it showed throughout the pictures, bridesmaids clubbing the groom, groomsmen flying through the air, dancing like they just didn’t care all while being ‘Razor Sharp’. They were out to have fun. Period. Thanks Michelle and Jim!
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An & Chris – 1st Anniversary NYC {Portrait}An & Chris came out from California and celebrated their 1st anniversary in NYC. We did a little classic NYC shoot which started out at the Gansevoort Park Ave Hotel, then a little street shooting and finally a trip up to Central Park, which is gorgeous this time of year with the changing leaves. I love [...] |
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Tags: "New York Wedding photographer", 1st Anniversary gift, california, central park, couple, Gansevoort Park Hotel, Michelle Hayes Wedding Photographer, New York, New York City, photographer, photography, photojournalist wedding photography, portrait photographer, stylish, wedding photographer
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Posted in: Portrait |
An & Chris came out from California and celebrated their 1st anniversary in NYC. We did a little classic NYC shoot which started out at the Gansevoort Park Ave Hotel, then a little street shooting and finally a trip up to Central Park, which is gorgeous this time of year with the changing leaves. I love how An and Chris coordinated their outfits which made for a very fashionable shoot around this very fashionable city. Come to find out An has a totally cool blog called Haute Pink Pretty! It’s actually a fashion foodie DIY & Beauty Blog so check it out for all things pretty and yummy! Thanks An & Chris for a really fun NYC session!
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Just Livin’ – Brooklyn, NY {Wedding}This picture pretty much sums up the wedding of Michelle & Jim. It was beautiful, fun and the rain miraculously held off so we could take pictures in Prospect Park. I wish I could take credit for this awesome picture but the up-for-anything wedding party came up with the posing idea. “Just livin’…with a bit [...] |
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Tags: "New York Wedding photographer", bride, bridesmaids, Brooklyn, Brooklyn wedding, groom, Michelle Hayes Wedding Photographer, modern, New York, New York City, photographer, photography, Prospect Park Brooklyn, Prospect Park Brooklyn wedding, stylish, wedding, wedding dress, wedding photographer
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Posted in: Portrait, Weddings |
This picture pretty much sums up the wedding of Michelle & Jim. It was beautiful, fun and the rain miraculously held off so we could take pictures in Prospect Park. I wish I could take credit for this awesome picture but the up-for-anything wedding party came up with the posing idea. “Just livin’…with a bit o’ crazy” More to come….
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Alessia – New York Newborn Session {Portrait}I’m known mostly as a wedding photographer because that’s how I started my business. But now I have documented many more events and milestones in peoples lives. I feel lucky enough to be asked to document a special time in a couples lives, but life continues after a wedding, and it gets sweeter and even [...] |
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Tags: "New York Wedding photographer", baby girl, baby portrait session, child, couple, engagement session, family, Michelle Hayes Wedding Photographer, modern, New York, New York City, newborn portrait session, photography, portrait photographer, stylish, wedding, wedding photographer
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Posted in: Portrait |
I’m known mostly as a wedding photographer because that’s how I started my business. But now I have documented many more events and milestones in peoples lives. I feel lucky enough to be asked to document a special time in a couples lives, but life continues after a wedding, and it gets sweeter and even more fulfilling. Just ask Mia and Michael. I documented their fantastic wedding just over a year ago and now I am honored they thought of me to take pics of their new daughter Alessia. In the past year they have moved twice, got a spunky pup pepper, and now they have little Alessia. So far she is obviously the most amazing thing that has happened to them and I’m happy to keep documenting all of the wonderful changes in their lives. I can’t wait to take more pics of little Alessia as she grows.
As I walked into Mia and Michael’s new home I noticed they have displayed a lot of my pictures I have taken of them over the past two years. Their fun engagement shots, their beautiful wedding pics and also when they got their puppy Pepper. My heart was bursting with pride and love and I realized I am much more than a wedding photographer. My business have changed and expanded, just like life. I have morphed into a Lifestyle photographer which is more fitting for what I can do for my clients. What I really do is capture all the events that add love and joy to your life , births, christenings, birthdays, kids portraits, family portraits, senior portraits, engagements, weddings, anniversaries, and whatever moment you may want documented. It really is my honor.
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Nalleli & Mo – Brooklyn, NY {Wedding}The Wedding of Nalleli + Mo Venue Grand Prospect Hall | Hotel Aloft Hotel | Coordinator Nina Mercedes-Markiewicz | Videography Kiss the Bride Films | Makeup Manavi Elite Bridal Artistry | Florist Lucy Wu Floral Design | Officiant Rev. Johnny Erato | DJ EM One | “First Look” location Prospect Park Brooklyn |
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Tags: "New York Wedding photographer", bride, bridesmaids, Brooklyn, Brooklyn wedding, ceremony, couple, dancing, family, First Look, garden, gown, Grand Prospect Hall Brooklyn, Michelle Hayes Wedding Photographer, modern, New York, New York City, photography, photojournalist wedding photography, portrait photographer, Prospect Park Brooklyn, Prospect Park Brooklyn wedding, stylish, veil alternative, wedding dress, wedding photographer
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Posted in: Weddings |
The Wedding of Nalleli + Mo
Venue Grand Prospect Hall | Hotel Aloft Hotel | Coordinator Nina Mercedes-Markiewicz | Videography Kiss the Bride Films | Makeup Manavi Elite Bridal Artistry | Florist Lucy Wu Floral Design | Officiant Rev. Johnny Erato | DJ EM One | “First Look” location Prospect Park Brooklyn
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Melissa & Rick – Bronx Zoo New York {Wedding}Wedding of Melissa & Rick at the Bronx Zoo in New York |
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Tags: "New York Wedding photographer", bride, bridesmaids, Bronx Zoo Wedding, creative wedding NY, creative wedding venue, groom, Michelle Hayes Wedding Photographer, New York, New York Bronx Zoo, New York City, New York City wedding, Officiant Annie Lawrence, photography, portrait photographer, stylish, wedding, wedding dancing pics, wedding photographer, Zoo wedding
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Wondering what to wear to an E-Session?So, you’ve decided to do an Engagement session with your photographer, but now you are wondering what to wear. Any photographer is going to tell you to wear something that you feel comfortable in. Of course that’s obvious as many of you are not going to wear a ball gown and 5 inch heals. But [...] |
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Tags: "New York Wedding photographer", couple, engagement session, engagement session in the Meatpacking District NYC, engagement session suggestions, engagement session tips, fashionable engagement session, Michelle Hayes Wedding Photographer, modern, New York, New York City, NYC engagement session, photographer, photography, portrait photographer, stylish, wedding, wedding photographer
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Posted in: Engagement, Portrait, Tips & Ideas |
So, you’ve decided to do an Engagement session with your photographer, but now you are wondering what to wear. Any photographer is going to tell you to wear something that you feel comfortable in. Of course that’s obvious as many of you are not going to wear a ball gown and 5 inch heals. But what about colors, patterns, or styles? I say keep it simple and don’t go too crazy with current trends. You don’t want to look back ten years or even five years from now and say “what was I thinking wearing that?” If you want to be a little fashionable then choose some interesting jewelry to liven up your outfit. Now, of course you are not the only one in these pictures your fiance will be there too.You don’t want to clash with him or look like you stepped out of a fashion magazine while he is too casual in his everyday jeans. There needs to be a little coordinating with your outfits. This does not mean “matchy-matchy”, but just try to compliment each other. Try wearing the same tones or maybe you can wear a color that accents his shirt. Try to stay clear of complicated patterns in general as it will be distracting in the picture and take away from what’s going on between you and your fiance and the environment. You want to notice the people in picture and not what they are wearing.
Here are a few examples of past E- sessions of mine and what the couples decided to wear. They all complimented each other, no one stood out over the other person, nor did they clash with the environment.
Kerri and Barry had a few outfit changes only because we were shooting right by their office. I don’t normally suggest outfit changes because it takes away from the flow of the shooting and usually there just isn’t a convenient place to change if we are walking around the city. You wouldn’t want to worry about lugging around a heavy bag of clothes & shoes either. They started off in coordinating outfits that completely complimented each other in color and style. She was in a cute blue toned cotton strapless dress that wasn’t too dressy and he matched her style with a blue buttoned up slightly dressy cotton shirt and nice pants. Then they quickly changed into a more casual look of jeans and red, white, and blue sweaters of the same bright hues. Matching hues are important because you don’t want someone wearing soft hues while the other is in bright hues which will throw off the look and feel of the picture. For example, you don’t want to be in a soft pink pastel dress while he is in a deep auburn shirt. The outfits will just be competing with each other leaving the person viewing the image to wonder was this picture taken in Spring or Fall?
Here are Nalleli and Mo who nailed the casual chic look in their E- Session. If you’re not comfortable in any colors then go with black or grey and you can’t go wrong. She has on an easy black dress with pockets and pairs it with a cool chunky metallic necklace and patterned tights as her fashion statement. It’s fashionable, but not over the top trendy. He perfectly complimented her dark hues with a simple dark grey blazer (which match her necklace and shoes) crisp white dress shirt, and dark jeans. Love, love, love them together in this picture. This is a picture which they will look back in ten years and say, “Damn, we looked good!” and it will never be considered dated.
There are many different things to consider and the clothing options are endless, but just remember a few rules and don’t obsess about it. If you obsess about it then you will second guess your outfit choices, then you will be worried about how the pictures are coming out, and I can guarantee you will be distracted in the session. If you are totally stumped just follow these simple rules.
- Stay clear of big distracting patterns.
- Try to coordinate outfits but don’t be “matchy-matchy”.
- Stay in the same hue range with colors.
- If all else fails wear black.
Speaking of well coordinated couples. Did you see the Oscars last night? In no way am I saying you have to look like these ridiculously beautiful famous people, but Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves were the perfect example of a well-coordinated couple with neither upstaging the other. Sure they are very good looking people separately, but together they look smashing in classic black and white and sparkling jewels. Now, he would have look ridiculous next to her if he decided to not wear a formal tuxedo, but he stepped it up to her formal style (black ball gown, diamonds, perfectly coiffed hair and makeup) and he looked like a dashing gentleman. Perfection.
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Easy wedding image displays – Wedding photography tips & ideasToday I got to see a former clients of mine at their home in Manhattan. I photographed Chris and Jane’s wedding last March. I walked in their apartment and my eye went immediately to their hall way wall that displayed their wedding photos. I had never seen my images from a wedding displayed before and [...] |
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Tags: "New York Wedding photographer", bride, Brooklyn, city hall, civil ceremony, collage, couple, digital negatives, flowers, groom, Michelle Hayes Wedding Photographer, modern, New York, New York City, photo display, photography, pictures, portrait photographer, stylish, wedding, wedding albums, wedding photographer, wedding photography ideas, Wedding photography tips, wedding pictures
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Posted in: Portrait, Tips & Ideas, Weddings |
Today I got to see a former clients of mine at their home in Manhattan. I photographed Chris and Jane’s wedding last March. I walked in their apartment and my eye went immediately to their hall way wall that displayed their wedding photos. I had never seen my images from a wedding displayed before and so beautifully! The way they displayed them in a collaged frame made it look like a mini story book on their wall. I was honored that they chose to showcase so many of their wedding day images.
Which brings me to a photography suggestion for future brides and grooms. This digital day of age everyone wants the digital negatives from their wedding day. It’s a good and a bad thing. The good news is you essentially own the digital negatives and you can print as much as you like. The bad news is many couples never get around to doing this so their beautiful wedding images are left on their computer never to be printed and displayed for everyone to see and enjoy. I’m trying to get my couples to order an album from me just so they have something tangible from the day in case they never get around to printing out the images. You may think you would never let this happens but guess what? Life moves on and people get busy promising to one day sit down and order prints right after they paint the living room. If you order an album through me you won’t have to find the time to sit down, design and find a company to order the album. If you can’t afford an album then the next best thing is to get a print credit from your photographer. This will guarantee some images to be printed from the day and from a professional lab. Just try to work with your photographer as soon as you get your final edited images back because the longer you put it off the likely-hood of this happening diminishes… just like trying to paint the living room.
Here are a few pics I quickly snapped of their wall display. I couldn’t resist. You could use one big frame for a collaged effect like this one at Crate and Barrel (which is the exact one on their wall) or you could print out images separately and in different sizes and create the collage on the wall yourself with this set. Either way it’s a great way to finally get those wedding images off your computer and out for everyone to enjoy.
If you are a former bride and groom of mine, or if you just have your wedding images floating around on your computer, contact me and I will help you get them off the computer and onto the wall or on an album to be admired by all! Thanks Jane and Chris for the inspiration!
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What’s an E-Session and do I need one? – Wedding photography tips & ideasAn E Session is known as an Engagement session to us wedding professionals. It’s a portrait session with an engaged couple that happens before the wedding. Some couples choose to take part in this while others do not. You might be thinking I don’t see the need for an engagement session, or it’s just not [...] |
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Tags: "New York Wedding photographer", Brooklyn, central park, couple, engagement session, engagement session in Central Park NY, engagement session in the Meatpacking District NYC, garden, Michelle Hayes Wedding Photographer, modern, New York, New York City, NYC engagement session, photographer, photography, portrait photographer, stylish, wedding, wedding photographer, Williansburg
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Posted in: Engagement, Tips & Ideas |
An E Session is known as an Engagement session to us wedding professionals. It’s a portrait session with an engaged couple that happens before the wedding. Some couples choose to take part in this while others do not. You might be thinking I don’t see the need for an engagement session, or it’s just not in my budget, or my fiance is terrible at taking pictures so no way. But, I’d like to offer up a few reasons why an engagement session might be worth doing.
First of all, it’s a great way to get to know your wedding photographer better. Remember, this person will be with you in close proximity for a good part of your wedding day. Don’t you want to feel more comfortable around that person? And if your more comfortable with that person then you will be more relaxed in front of the camera and that means better, more authentic pictures. During the Engagement session you will be able to see how your photographer works. It’s not exactly like the day of a wedding, but you will still be able to see what kind of shooter they are. Do they fire off a ton of shots at once? Do they take their time and compose the shot? Do they give you any direction? Even if you want “photojournalistic” style of photography for the wedding day there needs to be some guidance given by the photographer. After all, you are not models and you most likely don’t know what angle is flattering or if you are standing in a weird position, or if you stiffen up as soon as the the photographer lifts their camera. A photographer should be able to pick up on all these things very quickly and be able to make tiny adjustments. Of course, this is all very different when the wedding is going on and there are tons of people around you. That’s when we go into event photojournalism mode and start documenting what’s going on instead of making portraits. You see, there really should be a fine combination of both. Everyone wants, natural un-posed images to remind them of the authentic moments of the day, but there should also be some stunning portraits of you and your fiance looking your absolute best with a little help of your photographer keen eye.
Here are a few examples of Engagement sessions I have done with some of my couples. They were all fun, relaxed and we went to some cool places all around NYC. Most couples use their E session images for wedding purposes, save-the-date-cards, sign in guest book, etc. But, wouldn’t it be nice to just have some beautiful, creative, interesting professional images of you and your fiance around NYC?
This engaged couple, Marissa & Ricardo, lived in Brooklyn but were moving to California. We all thought an engagement session around their neighborhood would be a perfect way to remember the city they loved so much.
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I heart NYC – 2010I heart a lot of cities, San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, but New York is my heart and soul. I love living and shooting all around this exciting, challenging and inspiring city. Here are a few of my totally modern, creative, cool, chic, and fabulous weddings and engagement sessions I shot in 2010 in old [...] |
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Tags: "New York Wedding photographer", bride, Brooklyn, civil ceremony, couple, creative wedding photography, engagement session, engagement session in the Meatpacking District NYC, gown, groom, Michelle Hayes Wedding Photographer, modern, modern wedding photography, New York, New York City, photographer, photography, portrait photographer, stylish, urban weddings, wedding, wedding dress, wedding photographer, wedding photojournalism, wedding photojournalist
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Posted in: Engagement, Portrait, Weddings |
I heart a lot of cities, San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, but New York is my heart and soul. I love living and shooting all around this exciting, challenging and inspiring city. Here are a few of my totally modern, creative, cool, chic, and fabulous weddings and engagement sessions I shot in 2010 in old New York. Visit my new website to see more weddings and portraits in fabulous New York!
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Jack & Eric – “We’re already married” session in Brooklyn, NYJack and Eric have been married for 5 years. They were married in Sun Valley, Idaho and even though they loved their wedding photographer and most of the images, they didn’t love some of the images of themselves from the day. By the time they were taking their portraits the sun was going down it [...] |
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Tags: "New York Wedding photographer", bride, Brooklyn, couple, Dumbo, gown, graffiti, groom, Michelle Hayes Wedding Photographer, modern, New York, New York City, photographer, photography, portrait photographer, stylish, TTD, wedding, wedding dress, wedding photographer
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Posted in: Portrait, Weddings |
Jack and Eric have been married for 5 years. They were married in Sun Valley, Idaho and even though they loved their wedding photographer and most of the images, they didn’t love some of the images of themselves from the day. By the time they were taking their portraits the sun was going down it was getting really, really cold. They just couldn’t relax from the cold. Sometimes even the best photographers just can’t win over the elements. So Jack and Eric decided to put back on their wedding attire and take some pictures in the urban setting of Dumbo, Brooklyn.
This session had a very different feel from a wedding day portrait session or even an engagement session. There were no worries about the dress getting dirty, if her makeup was coming off, or if the groom’s boutonniere was on correctly. Most obvious, was the lack of nerves and anxiety because they’ve been through the ceremony and the fan-fare of the big day. The session was fun, relaxing and they were up for anything which I think really shows through in the pictures. I was also happy to be able to give them a chance to do it all over again in a different setting. Thanks Jack and Eric!
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Brooklyn Babes – Kids Portrait Session at Mini Max Brooklyn, NYAs much as I love weddings and have been identified as mainly a “wedding photographer” there is a special place in my heart for portrait photography, especially kids portraits. I love connecting with kids and letting them interact with me as I take their pictures. These days kids are only familiar with digital cameras and know [...] |
As much as I love weddings and have been identified as mainly a “wedding photographer” there is a special place in my heart for portrait photography, especially kids portraits. I love connecting with kids and letting them interact with me as I take their pictures. These days kids are only familiar with digital cameras and know that they can look at the back of a camera to instantly see themselves and they love it. Taking pictures of little kids is so different than taking pics of adults and their honest, expressive, gorgeous faces will always put a smile on my face as I quickly click the shutter button to reveal this….
