NJ photographer – lifestyle portrait photography prices (digital only)

Photo sessions and family photographs are done on location, but can also be done at your home. A photo session on location usually lasts around an hour to an hour and a half. A session at your home would take around 45 minutes to an hour.

Session fee for northern NJ:   $500
Session fee for New York:   $850

This session fee includes an online gallery of about 50 selected images from the photo session. You will receive a gallery where the images can be viewed (but not downloaded.)

You can select any 8 images to be retouched, which you will receive as high-resolution digital files.

(Additional retouched images are $50 per photo.)

Session fees are non-refundable but can be applied to another date if we need to reschedule.  I travel anywhere within a 25 mile radius of Wayne, NJ. Outside of that, a travel fee will apply.

Please contact me for more info and details.

NJ sales tax will be collected on all amounts for work in New Jersey.
All fees are paid in advance.

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Elopement wedding – Brooklyn waterfront & City Hall, NYC — Janine & Dominik

A winter-time elopement wedding! Janine and Dominik came over from Germany with their family, to have their wedding in New York the day before Christmas. We met up very early at the Brooklyn waterfront area for family photos and portraits of the two of them. We got lucky with the weather with a brief respite from the cold, and we could take our time getting lovely photos of Janine and Dominik. After the photo session we took the subway over to City Hall for the wedding ceremony at City Hall. Janine and Dominik, it was a pleasure to meet you and your family. Thank you for having me as the photographer at your wedding. Best wishes for your future together!

I sent a Q&A set to Janine and Domink, and here they are with a few words about their wedding day in New York:

How did you first meet?
-We first met when we were 15 and Dominik had moved from his hometown near Muentser(Münster) to my area near Oldenburg. We have been a couple during my high school time but it didn´t last because I had plans to start studying and to go abroad. I spent a semester in Britain in 2009 and stayed in the USA for 6 months in 2010. During that time we started chatting again and after I came back in January 2011 we hang out together and finally became a couple again and this time for good.

Tell us a little about yourselves, and where you come from.
– We live in northern Germany in Oldenburg, closer cities are Bremen and Hamburg.
I am a high school teacher (though our school system is slightly different) for English and Biology and Dominik is a test engineer for all kind of vehicles. He works for TÜV Nord.
Since I have always loved traveling, we have traveled a lot together in the past years after we had graduated from university. Dominik is still a bit afraid of flying but for me he overcame this. As soon as we get somewhere he can finally enjoy it. In Germany we do sports, visit friends and like to eat in different restaurants. We are also a bit Netflix addicted. Dominik is into mountain biking, climbing and playing computer games. I go to the gym, love cooking, shopping and planning our next holidays. I also travel with friends because as a teacher I have (in total) three months off every year. Experiencing new cultures and learning about them is very important to me and most of the time I get to speak English which is nice because then I don´t only have to use it at school.

Why did you chose New York as the place for your wedding? What did you love the most about it?
– We got engaged in Dubai and have been traveling to and through the US in the last couple of years. So when we decided to spend Christmas with out families in NYC, we got the idea of getting married there. Nonetheless, we want to have a free ceremony and party in Germany in summer 2020. But to be legally married we needed a real ceremony. As an English teacher it is also something I could imagine pretty well and I really loved NYC when I was there in 2010 and 2016. So with our families there and the plans to marry we went for it in NYC. The cool thing about NYC is that it was special and nothing like we have here in Germany where we have already been to different ceremonies at our county clerk´s office. Waiting for 24hours before you can get married is also exciting- plus seeing all the other happy couples waiting.

What was your inspiration to have an elopement wedding?
– One of my friends eloped in NYC two years ago and showed me her pictures and she was really happy with her decision. Our families are pretty small so almost everyone was with us in NYC which made the decision easier. It also seemed rather uncomplicated and easy just to have us and our families around.
Plus it celebrated our memories of traveling through the USA. We have had such a good time as a couple there and so it was like a crowning moment to get married there as well.

What was your favorite moment during your wedding day?
– Taking pictures in such a beautiful setting – with perfect weather for December. The short and funny ceremony when we almost married under wrong names ( my dad filmed all of it….)and later that day when we all celebrated with dinner and cocktails in 230 fifth rooftop bar in one of the igloos with a beautiful view on the Empire State Builduing.

What is one moment that will last you both forever?
The moment we said “I do” to each other while looking into each other´s eyes.

What advice would you give to future brides for their wedding day?
– Stay calm and patient- even if your parents get lost during your photo shooting. Don´t stress about the weather but be prepared- we bought nice transparent umbrellas in case it rains. Also we did everything we could the day ahead e.g. getting a nice bouquet, putting out clothes for the big day….So we could be relaxed on our wedding day.

What’s next on your calendar as a couple?
– The next big moment will be 08.08.2020 when we have our free ceremony and party with all our friends and families around and right after that we are going to fly to the Seychelles for island-hopping, snorkeling and hopefully seeing some giant turtles. This time it´ll be a relaxed honeymoon in the sun.
After that we want to start thinking about moving to a bigger apartment. I will need more place for putting up wedding photographs by then 😀 And who knows, maybe one day we might decide to spend some years living in the USA if we get the chance to.

Janine & Dominik

• For more info about Elopement wedding photography in New York

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New York photo session – honeymoon couple: Angela & Fabio

Angela and Fabio are from Rome, where they were married and then visited the USA for their honeymoon. For their stop-over in New York, they wanted to include a photo session with a distinct New York City feel. Since they only had a day and a half for their visit to NYC, I had to be efficient. I took them to the Brooklyn waterfront because there is the magnificent view of the New York skyline. From there we had various vantage points and interesting spots to take photos of the two of them.

We rained out a bit, as you can see from the rain splotches on Fabio’s shirt … but we still made the photo session count! It was all part of the adventure. During the worst part of the downpour we took shelter under the one arch of the Manhattan Bridge where we continued as the flea market vendors were packing up. We also used the local color like graffiti walls, and the carousel on the Brooklyn Waterfront. And of course, that classic view down Washington Street with the Manhattan Bridge dominating in the background.

A little more about the technical aspects of the photo session – I invariably bring an assistant with additional lighting, to give studio quality lighting on location where necessary. On a grey, rainy day like this the additional light from an off-camera flash, was essential to pop the colors and give some sparkle to the eyes, and life to the photographs.

And of course, it really helps when you have a couple that is fun to photograph, and are easily affectionate with one another. Angela and Fabio, was a pleasure meeting you. Enjoy the rest of your trip here.

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Bethesda Terrace Central Park elopement wedding – Eva & Fernando

Elopement weddings are often a family get-together as well. In Eva and Fernando’s case – one of Fernando’s daughters just graduated in New York, so they decided that since they were making the trip up from Mexico, they they should get married in Central Park while they are here. The other daughter flew in from California for the occasion as well. The wedding ceremony took place at Bethesda Terrace, which with the Fountain, are one of the best known landmarks in Central Park. After the ceremony, we continued with the family photo session right there at Bethesda Terrace. With the romantic portraits, we roamed around the area, exploring nice backdrops for photos.

Eva and Fernando – congratulations! It was a real pleasure meeting you and your family.

• For more info about Elopement wedding photography in New York

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Jake – Bar Mitzvah : Temple B’nai Jeshurun, Livingston NJ

With Jake’s dad being the rabbi at Temple B’nai Jeshurun in Livingston NJ, you would not be surprised to know that is where Jakes Bar Mitzvah took place – including the reception for Jake’s party. I met up with the Gerwitz family a few days before, for family portraits at the synagogue. We did the portraits outside in the lush grounds around the temple, also at the bimah for photos with the Torah.

Jake, mazel tov!  It was a real pleasure getting to meet your family.

• More info: Bar/Bat Mitzvah photographer, New Jersey
• I photograph Bar / Bat Mitzvahs and other events in the northern New Jersey areas of Passaic County and Bergen County and Morris County, and the other areas surrounding that. The NJ towns that I regularly work in as a photographer are: Livingston, Wayne, Oakland, Ringwood, Franklin Lakes, Paramus, Fairlawn, Caldwell, Clifton and Morristown.

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Outdoor family photo session NJ – the Skoberg family

What a delight to photograph kids that revel in the experience of being photographed, and play up to the camera! With this outdoor family photo session, I met up with the Skoberg family at one of my favorite places in New Jersey for an outdoor photo session – Skylands Manor in Ringwood, NJ. The fall colors had just started to show, adding an extra bit of warmth.

Looking through the photos, you will immediately see the energy and warmth of the family, and especially the kids – dancing for the camera, and showing their moves.

Thank you everyone! It was a real pleasure meeting you and spending part of this morning with you.

• More info: NJ family portrait photographer – kids, babies, maternity & family
• I photograph families and kids and events in the northern New Jersey areas of Passaic County and Bergen County and Morris County, and the other areas surrounding that. The NJ towns that I regularly work in as a photographer are: Wayne, Oakland, Ringwood, Franklin Lakes, Paramus, Fairlawn, Caldwell, Clifton and Morristown.

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Jasmin & Viraj’s wedding day  –  Hindu wedding photography NJ

Indian weddings, and specifically Hindu weddings, are always a treat to photograph – they are vibrant, lively events. The many traditions and rituals, as well as the interesting wedding outfits, make for a colorful day. Jasmin and Viraj’s wedding day certainly was colorful and joyous.

The photo at the top shows part of the wedding ceremony under the mandap. The mandap is the stage decorated with flowers and drapes. At the center of this is the agni, a holy fire.

The second photo, completely out of chronological sequence here, is from earlier in the day where Viraj was accompanied by family members to the ceremony site. This procession is called the Baraat. It’s not a solemn affair at all, with everyone dancing and singing along the way.

The third photo shows another ritual which is hilarious – the Jutti Chupai – a wedding prank where a sister in law, along with the bridesmaids, steal the groom’s shoes just before the ceremony. Then after the ceremony the groom has to negotiate and bribe the bridesmaids for his shoes – they eventually negotiate a price amidst lots of laughter and jostling for the shoes.

In the next photo, where Jasmin and Viraj are walking away from the mandap after the ceremony, you can see the cord that is tied around the bride and groom, to signify their unity.

The rest of the photographs here will give a glimpse into their wedding day – from the first look in the hotel lobby, to the final dance at the end of the reception, where they are held aloft by the guests.

Jasmin and Viraj, congratulation and best wishes for your future together!

• See more examples of Indian weddings that I have been fortunate to photograph.

• Please contact me if you would like to know more about my services as a wedding photographer.

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Heather & Sameh – Egyptian Coptic wedding NJ

One of the most interesting and visually compelling wedding ceremonies to photograph, are Egyptian Coptic weddings. As with other orthodox wedding ceremonies, a Coptic Eastern Orthodox Wedding is laden in symbolism and ritual and tradition. The burning of incense, and the adornments with crowns and coats add solemnity to the event. Heather and Sameh’s wedding ceremony took place at St Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in East Brunswick, NJ. The photographs here should give you a  impression of the ceremony.

The Coptic ceremony tends to be longer than ceremonies in other churches, with a set sequence to it:
There are the wedding prayers & hymns  ||  Readings from the Bible  ||  Exchange of Rings  ||  Anointing of the Bride and Groom with Holy Oil  ||  The Crowning & The Blessing of the Crowns.  || Then a part that is often humorous – Admonition from the priest, where he speaks directly to the bride and groom.

After the wedding ceremony we went to a park to take a few photographs of the couple, and then headed to the wedding reception. Their wedding reception was held at The Grove, in the town of Cedar Grove, in New Jersey. It was a wild party with a band playing traditional music.

Heather and Sameh, it was an real pleasure being a part of your wedding day, and being given the honor to photograph your wedding. Best wishes for your future together.

Wedding reception at The Grove, NJ

• Should you want more information about Wedding Photography, or need a wedding photographer in New Jersey, please contact me.

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New York elopement wedding at City Hall – Hailin & William

We met early in the morning at City Hall in downtown New York for their elopement wedding ceremony. The administrative part of Hailin and William’s wedding was fairly quickly because of it being much earlier on in the day. Then we waited to be called in for the ceremony and exchange of rings to make it all official! After the ceremony, we went outside for portraits with their family and close friends. Because of health concerns for Hailin’s parents, we didn’t roam far for the family photos and the romantic portraits. Also, it was really cold out! Fortunately, that entire area has imposing architecture that is quintessentially Gotham-esque New York … and we created some lovely romantic portraits of the couple.

Hailin and William, it was a pleasure to meet you and your family. Thank you for having me as the photographer at your wedding. Best wishes for your future together!

I sent a Q&A set to Hailin and William, and here they are with a few words about their wedding day in New York:

Tell us a little about yourselves, and where you come from.
– We both live in Boston, MA. William works in IT and I am an IT auditor.

Why did you chose New York as the place for your wedding? 
– William was born in, and grew up in New York.

What was your inspiration to have an elopement wedding?
– An elopement wedding is simple compared to a big wedding. Especially because my parents both can’t join due to medical reasons, an elopement is easier to do and based on the photos I’ve seen online it can be sweet too. The most important thing is that we know we want to marry each other and the format of the ceremony/celebration is not the biggest concern. At the end of the day, we are celebrating our love and lifelong commitment to each other!

What was your favorite moment during your wedding day?
– Holding hands with my husband in the city hall in front of family and friends and said “Yes, I do!”

What advice would you give to future brides for their wedding day?
– Don’t stress too much on the day of and just have fun!

What’s next on your calendar as a couple?
– Plan a honeymoon… maybe to Scotland

Hailin & William

• For more info about Elopement wedding photography in New York

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Renu & Selvin – Indian wedding New Jersey – The Venetian, NJ

I love photographing Indian weddings – they are invariably colorful events with many traditional customs, often interwoven with modern customs. And always friendly people. It all adds up making it a fun, if long day, photographing an Indian wedding. Renu and Selvin had their ceremony at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, NJ. Styled to look like the Notre Dame cathedral, it is an imposing church  – beautiful and spacious.

Their ceremony included the traditional elements such as the Blessing of the Thali, and the Blessing of the Manthrakodi – ‘Garment Prayers’. The groom ties the Thali around the bride’s neck, symbolizing their unity and oneness in marriage. The Manthrakodi, which translates into “garment of the prayers”, is given by the groom and draped over the bride’s head. This the bride’s blessing and acceptance into the groom’s family.

After the church ceremony we stopped off at a nearby lake for photographs of the bridal party. Then onwards to their reception at one of the premier wedding reception venues in New Jersey – The Venetian. We photographed all the family groups, as well as the romantic portraits of the bride and groom in the main courtyard at The Venetian.

What made this wedding even more remarkable to photograph, was the gracious nature of the couple. It is always a treat photographing a wedding of lovely people. Renu & Selvin, congratulations, and best wishes on your future together!

• For more information on Wedding photography NJ

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