I think everyone got caught up in the emotions of the ceremony because the attendants didn’t even let Many and Bekah go for a cocktail/leave the altar- nope. They immediately ran for hugs. And that brought everyone out of their chairs and in line for more hugs.

Then guests were treated to an all white reception and their own cocktail glasses with their guests cards attached. But people had other plans for dancing- instead of staying in the reception area, everyone headed up to the roofdeck and danced it up. It was so dark up there Nasilele and I couldn’t find each other!

With an easy sense of humor, they happily cracked up and I snap-snapped away. It seemed like every time they looked at each other, a smile popped up on both their faces. And I did a double take when Andy showed up with those awesome glasses- they looked exactly like mine before I got my eyes zapped. And it wasn’t just glasses they showed up with- chalkboards, pinwheels, and Andy’s guitar. Who doesn’t love being serenaded in the middle of a park?

Oh- and the whole mathematical code on the chalkboard? Business school equation for why their love works. Yes, we geeked it out.

Rock it!! I love this purple dress for an engagement session. This is Example A of why you should wear bright colors to your session.

I’m a sucker for First Look shots. About 95% of my couples end up doing a first look and I always get a little excited right before that moment. Sometimes there are tears, sometimes people burst out laughing in happiness, but always always there is that moment of ‘omgomgomg look at how hot he/she looks!! I’m so excited!’. And Mandy and Bekah were no exception. So after a few minutes of laughing and hugging, we walked on over to their venue in downtown NYC. Gary’s Loft is just stunning. When I share the details on Wednesday you are going to drool. An all-white new york loft? Yes please! So on our way to the venue, walking mind you, we got some couple shots. I will note that I did really want a classic kissing in the middle of traffic NYC shot. Badly. So I quickly grabbed them, took the shot, and ran back to the safety of the sidewalk only to hear “Who raised you??” from a certain mom who was none too happy I had gone in the middle of traffic. Don’t worry! I kept them safe, moms.

So senior year in high school I met Natalie, my future wife. She went to the top private school in DC where the Obama girls go. All her friends talked about how they were going to Ivy League schools and stuff I had never heard of. I was intimidated as hell. No one I knew even considered applying to schools outside the VA public school system and here were girls who weren’t just going out of state- they were going to places like Yale or Harvard. I felt like vomiting every time one of them asked where I was going to college because I didn’t know.

But Natalie…she was the first person in my life who actually made me feel smart. She saw my strengths and nurtured them. She pushed me to get something I had never even heard of- learning disability testing. I started looking into it and one of the things you have to do is pour over your school records, teachers comments, etc. And there it was…popping up almost everywhere. “This student should be evaluated for learning disabilities.” It was like a punch in the gut. I had to get tested. And I did. I went in thinking I would 100% have a math disability-that’s it. I walked out learning so much about myself and for the first time was told I had several learning disabilities (math included) including ADHD.

WTH? How could I have ADHD? Isn’t that for hyperactive little boys? Do adults really have that? I started reading every single book I could get my hands on and it was like a knob was turned. I just kept crying reading these books. This is me I thought! Literally one book was called “So I’m not crazy, stupid or lazy” and I just felt this whole release. Because that’s what I always felt. Someone had actually said it and then wrote a whole book on it. I literally half-sobbed through the stories of other ADHD adults.

And that’s when my world turned. That one label empowered me to look at everything differently. I could accomplish the same goals, but I had permission to go about them differently. I knew doing things the same way everyone else did just wouldn’t work. Period. And that mind-set allowed me to crack open everything in my life. I don’t have to do it like everyone else. I can go to art school. I can have my own photo studio. I can get married to my wife even if it isn’t legal. Because I can’t go down that beaten path, the world is open.

Being diagnosed with ADHD was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. It made me realize I couldn’t just be like everyone else. And that allowed me to be me. Everyone was nervous- even Natalie – when I started my photography studio. How would I cope with so much responsibility and only me to keep myself on track? But something happened: I loooove running a business. I love talking with my clients and helping them. I get a total high, no joke, from shooting a wedding. I hyperfocus and will edit for hours, totally forgetting to eat. The fact I make weird noises and get so excited while I’m shooting I can’t help but do a little dance or tell the couple how awesome they look is actually an asset. Who knew my inability to put a cap on my excitement (aka make sound effects very very often when posing people; it actually gets people pumped and laughing) would be a big strength?

• In the middle of the wedding season and am trying to keep up.
• Buying my first new sofa, ever ever. And trying not to freak out. We are buying a Crate&Barrel “The Nines” sofa in apartment sofa size
• Happy that all my pets are healthy
• Wanting to finally paint my studio/office pink!
• Thinking about Rosh Hashanah and really wanting to have people over
• Enjoying having all my windows open to the cool night air. And watching the cats go crazy as they survey the New Haven nightscape.

Natalie and I went on a vacation to Maine in late July and I enjoyed it. Which is a miracle because usually after 2 days on vacation I’m thinking “Omg…my inbox is probably full. When I get back it’s going to take hours and hours to do. I have soooo much editing to do…agghhh…I hate vacation, it’s putting me so behind!” In fact, I was so calm and ignoring my emails/work so much Natalie got a little nervous. She kept asking me if it was ok I wasn’t working 2-3 hours a day on my vacation- cause that’s what I normally do. But I’m trying really hard to be able to relax and experience things more. Which is why I only took my camera with me on 1 out of 7 days we spent in Maine.

Mostly we read on the beach as that’s my top favorite thing to do on vacation. We went whale watching and saw giiiiiant fin whales (the second largest whale…freakin huge). We ate lots and lots of gluten free seafood. I fell in love with a small town in New Hampshire called Portsmouth. But mostly, Natalie and I enjoyed being together with no obligations.

First up: Asbury Park NJ Wedding of Sarah and Nicole. You haven’t even seen the ocean couple shots yet!

Next is a New Canaan, CT wedding. Lots of amazing cultural traditions mixed together.

And lastly, a sneak peak of Yarrow and Jen’s wedding at the Hubble Homestead in Vermont. Yes- this is the carnival wedding.

We had lots of fun. I got to hear all about New York and all the people from the wedding the night before. And it was nice to run around NYC without a broken foot like the engagement session. Let me tell you…subways are a bitch with a broken foot. New York needs to work on its accessibility. For reals.