1st place in the Musicians and DJs Category

11th Place in the Mobile Devices Category

20th Place in the Details Found category

Although the above images took the prize, here are more worthy photojournalistic moments that are equally as awesome!

Photography is usually not permitted during the ceremony if it is being held in a temple.  Some families opt to have a mini session before the ceremony begins. In other cases the ceremony is performed on location of the party itself and for those the entire ceremony is photographed.The party is just plain AWESOME!  It’s very much like a wedding.  The free spirit of the 12 and 13 year old kids is infectious and before you know it the adults are out on the dance floor shakin it to Gaga and Black Eyed Peas.  It’s just so much fun! The decor of this event was stunning, thanks to uber talented event planner Nancy from N Event Productions.

Family Session Location: Central Park
Party Location: Gustavinos
Planner: Nancy Olecki -Nancy(a)neventproductions.com 347.723.1881

Check out what Amy and Jeff had to say after the wedding. We just love getting letter like this!  Thank you guys!

“What is so special is that your photographs really brought back amazing memories, exactly what great pictures should be able to do. When looking through the photos, the emotions, joy and love of that day all came flooding back to us. All our family and friends have so far shared the same sentiments. We are so lucky to have worked with you. There were even times when we were looking at them, when we asked ourselves… was this all really our wedding? Those people really looked like they had a blast at this wedding!!!

Amy & Jeff”

Ceremony & Reception: Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown NY
Floral Design & Lighting & Decor: Diana Gould
Reception Music: Big Ric Rising
Hair: Fine Artistik Salon in NYC
Shoes: Jimmy Choos
Dress: Pronovias

We just cannot believe that it is the year 2012! How did this happen? It seems that our wedding which was in 2005 was only a heartbeat away. Yet during that time so much has happened. We moved out of Hoboken, became suburbanites with the purchase of our first home, added our beloved pup Maggie to the family, traveled to various hot spots around the world, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who is now TWO, and of course we are celebrating our 7th year in the business.  So how is it that our wedding seems only a heartbeat away when all of this has happened? It just goes to show you how important and memorable your wedding day is. We are honored to capture these memories for so many people, our wonderful clients! We can’t thank you enough for your ongoing support and love for our photography!

If you haven’t seen it yet, here is our 2011 Holiday Card.  I had to share it because I kinda LOOOOOVE IT!!!

And here are some photos of us taken on Christmas Eve! We rarely have pictures of ourselves so I had to post this phenomenon!

Best wishes to you all for an amazing, happy, peaceful, love-filled year!

Sincerely,
Brooke and Eric Lagstein 

Couple Builds Their Passion For Photography Into Business
By Lynn Bruggemann

For Brooke and Eric Lagstein, film is not the only thing that develops in a darkroom. As undergraduates at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the couple spent hours watching their photography come to life along with their relationship.

The Wyckoff residents took that love of photography — and each other — to launch Be Creative Photography. The couple’s work focuses on capturing life’s joyful events like births, families, engagements, weddings and religious celebrations.

The couple is known for their “celebration of life” style photography. Brooke is responsible for infants, while Eric handles weddings and families.

“We photograph people experiencing true emotions and authentic moments in their lives,” said Brooke.

It was the Lagsteins’ families, in particular their grandfathers, that ignited their interest in photography. Eric told Patch he and Brooke were both given cameras by their grandfathers. The cameras are kept on display in their office for inspiration.

“I grew-up in Mahwah and Eric in Oakland, and we are very family-oriented,” said Brooke.

Be Creative Photography has received national recognition. Eric’s photographs have received awards and accolades from the Wedding Photojournalist Association.

Brooke was hired to photograph Broadway actor and former Wyckoff resident Constantine Maroulis’s newborn daughter Malena. The photos were featured in People magazine’s March 25, 2011 celebrity baby feature.

Brooke recommends Valentine’s Day to parents looking for an excuse to get photos of their children and the Lagsteins offer the following tips for capturing the kids at their best:

1. Choose the time of day that your children are the happiest. Make sure they are well fed and well rested. They will be more likely to play along.

2. Put on your own silly face or get a friend to do something unexpected standing behind you. Kids will really laugh and look directly at the camera. Their smiles will be authentic and real.

3. Capture your children engaged in everyday things like doing their homework, sitting on a swing, playing their instrument, reading a book with their dad. This is a great way to preserve the memories of what your child enjoys and who your child is at that stage of development.

4. If you want to capture your child in a natural landscape like the beach or a field, choose dusk or dawn. This is the most flattering light and it will enhance the mood of the photographs.

5. Fill the frame. You want the subject to take up most of the view finder. Get closer to the subject rather zooming in. Especially with digital photography this will help preserve the quality of the image.

For more details visit www.becreativephotography.com