I love sessions like this. What do I mean? I mean I love sessions that are the best of both worlds. When Melissa and David were deciding where they wanted to shoot we ended up choosing two locations. This allowed us to get the best of both worlds shoot. This is something new I’m offering since its become quite popular in 2010. Its great because its like two engagement sessions in one! Anyway, I’m stoked to share these with you all. I just love everything about these images. The cool thing about this engagement session is the lighting kept changing which made the color change constantly as well. It was kind of like that horse in the Wizard of Oz that kept changing color. Lets just say Mother nature was hooking these guys up. Lets hope July 23, 2011 is like this too!  Melissa and Dave are a fun, fashionable and photogenic couple. We’re glad to be also spending wedding day with them too! So without further ado lets get into this one..

Peace,
JP

Oh hey there… Blog world, meet Melissa and Dave

My cobblestone spot in downtown Albany never disappoints.

Not going to lie, I did have a little challenge on this shoot….

it was hard keeping Dave in the frame sometimes ;) I kid!

The color in her dress was awesome. I love the way it reflected the light.

I love these two side by side. Melissa is working it out here.

The sun was doing fun stuff on this shoot. It was sort of behind some clouds which made me end up with some warm skin tones. Aside from the techie stuff its just a fun shot.

I love it.. soft golden backlight is a gift from Mama Nature!

I love how they’re always smiling and laughing…. ok, off to location #2

One our way there I watched the clouds burry the sun. Another gift because the color in the next 3-4 images was just sweet!

We were planning venturing a little deeper into my favorite field but I head something running around and it scared me a little.

Just awesome. All the color is simply beautiful.

By the time I changed my lens the warm light came back out. Crazy right? Forehead kisses.

Here’s my facebook teaser. My favorite thing about the facebook teaser shots are all the brides (and sometimes grooms) always end up making it their profile picture. It always makes me smile when I get the email telling me they did so.

You can’t beat the character on this barn.

It especially looks good in b&w. Is that “posted” sign suppose to scare me?

Oh yeah!

And now Melissa kills it with the eyes.

look at these too, they’re models disguised as people who happen to be getting married next year.

we’ll end it of course with the one and only “bling shot” how bout that rock?

WOW! Haha, thats all I can say. Melanie had been stressing to say the least on doing a unique and different engagement session. Every time I blogged something out of the norm for engagement sessions I’d hear from her. She wanted to shoot somewhere new, different and fun. I ask ALL my couples to pick a location but 8 out of 10 times I end up picking them. Not with Melanie and Chris, I give them 100% credit on coming up with this one. They did have a motive though, apparently after 9 years of dating Melanie and Chris have traveled quite a bit. I guess their big joke is they’re always jet setting somewhere. So Chris was like maybe we can shoot on a runway. Yeah right, securities so tight you can’t look at a runway. So this concept brewed and I got an email from Melanie suggesting we shoot in an air museum. I was stoked and totally on board for this one. I had a feeling this would make my top 3-5 fav engagement sessions and it did, for me at least. After you all peep the images let me know where it ranks for you. Since this is a museum, you’re not allowed to get in or on the planes, well maybe on one wing (ssssh!). As always keeping with the theme of multiple outfits their clothing choices could not have been better they just went perfect with all the planes. What a great looking couple. We look forward to shooting your April 2011 wedding fo sheezey. Thanks for looking great and being awesome guys. As you all read this I on the left coast chillin in Veags. Glad to have some downtime after that killer July. So on with the post…

Peace,
JP

Although there are no commercial jets here I ask that you please fasten your seatbelt folks as we’re about to take off.

Chris wanted to rock his shades he need’s a scarf too!

and we have lift off!

Hey Mel, go stand over there real quick… you too Chris. Photogs, don’t ya love when that happens? How great do their outfits compliment this plane?

the facebook teaser than sent all Melanie’s friends into a tizzy. I’ve NEVER seen so much reaction to a facebook teaser.

Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve reached our cruising altitude and the pilot has turned off the fasten seat belts sign. (i’m the pilot! haha)

oh yeah… these guys just know how to pose.

I just love this image!

a great b&w

Shooting here was crazy, I was on overload not knowing where an what to shoot next.

Planes really make for great backdrops…

A little Navy action..

Do you think Melanie studies my blog? Chris said she does.

now some Army.

working it out!

I told Chris to spin her since a helicopter spins.. get shot too. Turbulence?

Oh hey there! New clothes..

the butter light came out for a few..

Now the US Air Force.. I like the way she’s looking at him.

hey now!

cuddle time.

The last minutes of sun. I love shooting people bathed in that warm light, its just awesome.

oh there’s that Elario style for ya.

ask for forgiveness not permission….

Sssssh! She’s not suppose to be up there! How I adore these images.

Melanie really knows how to work the eyes in the camera.

nice shot.. we’re starting to make our descent…

so please make sure your seat back and folding trays are in their full upright position. one of my favorite images right here.

this is one of my favs too!

and we’ve landed… ladies and gentlemen, welcome to one of my favorite engagement sessions ever. Where the local temperature is HOT… oh and enjoy my “bling shot” no engagement session is complete without one.

Today’s blog post features Elanie and Dale. These two are getting ready to wed in late October of 2010. Now the same goes for Elaine as did Libby on the last engagement session. Whats that? Well Elaine too is a super duper blog lover too. So this is the “Elaine” thats always leaving nice comments on my posts. Not to be confused with Alayne from Make Me Fabulous who happened to make Elaine fabulous for this engagement session. Great job Alayne. I think all ladies should consider getting their hair and makeup done before their engagement sessions.  Why not? A shoot like this is something you should cherish and show off. So why not do it up? One of my brides Mother’s from April of 2008 said to me “go big or go home” and I just loved that way of thinking and always remembered that saying. Anyway this shoot took place in Elaine and Dale’s neck of the woods in Kinderhook. This is what I call a “guerrilla style” engagement session. No they’re are no monkeys or ape’s and none were harmed in the making of this session either. What that means is we really had no plan. We knew we’d shoot here and there in fields etc but that was it. We drove around and hit up random properties some with permission, some with out. You know that saying “ask for forgiveness not permission” ? Well yeah that was pretty much the theme for this shoot. And no we didn’t have to once ask anyone for forgiveness either. I do think a couple times Dale was a little nervous about crashing some locations though ;) Whatever, we got it done and the images are sweet sauce! I’m looking forward to shooting your late fall wedding. We’re going to knock that one out of the park too!

Peace,
JP

Who’s that?

Oh Elaine and Dale.

I just loved this first little field. Also the hair flower is a great touch.

This is the kind of night you want for an engagement session… and it wasn’t hot either!

too cute.

On the way to another location I asked them if they knew of any good old barns. My timing could not have been better because we were like less then an 1/8 of a mile away from their friends home. Shout out to Krista (I’m told she’s a silent blog stalker) and her cute little dog Mutsu which is the name of an apple and Matsu’s parents happen to own an apple orchard down there. Got all that? So thanks Krista, here’s a photo of your little doggy.

Booya!

Dale brought along some apple crates. How fitting given the location?

I love this one.

A little light snuck thru at the right time.

Trespassing? Maybe…

love this one too.

Come on, does it get easier than this?

Do you think this shot is kinda “corny” haha get it? I’m such a dork sitting here typing this.

Anyway I do love me a nice corn field and some of that good good light.

Then the light got better… and this shot happened. I really do love this one too.

This was yet another non approved property.

I like these two side by side. When they kiss this crazy light appears though ;)

Finally another trespassing spot. How could I not use this? I don’t even know what to say about this damn photo.

or this one.. its just nutty!

but the flare and last seconds of light in this image take the cake.

finally at their home, Dale carved this into their maple tree.

gotta end it up with my one and only “bling shot”… check back in early November for a blog post from their Oct 30 2010 wedding!

Hello there people! Well I got a good one coming at you today. Thats right another hot NYC engagement session. This is becoming quite a trend with the JEP brides. Since most of our b&g’s live away from the area and a lot of those people happen to live either in NYC or the NYC area more people want that NY NY flavor. I love it. It’s great to shoot in new places too. What’s also great? Elizabeth & Adam. Yup, in just 19 days well be heading down to Westchester to shoot their wedding! Why so last minute on the e shoot? Well for starters nailing down a date thats worked for us all had taken quite some time. But a week ago today we finally got on the same page and knocked it out of the park. You might all recognize “Elizabeth” well her name at least. She’s what I call a Mona in the making. Relax Mona, you’re still Mona. What I mean by that is Elizabeth who will from this point on will be referred to as “Libby” comments on every blog I post. She’s a faithful blog lover which makes her awesome. Adam too, is a great guy and very fun. He was all smiles throughout this whole session, even while trying to dodge the psycho bicyclists on the Brooklyn Bridge. Seriously bicyclists, you take your commute too serious and nice helmets too by the way. Anyway Big Joe even ventured down to this session too and we had a blast photographing these soon to be newlyweds. We both look forward to August 21! Thanks for being awesome.

Peace,
JP

Oh hey there!

Just a gritty NY side street.

The great thing about shooting in the city is the way buildings turn into natural reflectors. It’s just awesome.

They know how to ham it up for sure.

Such a great spot outside NY’s City Hall..

How fun are they?

A couple b&w’s

How could we not use this spot?

Look at Libby working the legs.

love. the. light.

Oh yeah. One of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. Also one of the most difficult places I’ve ever shot. Seriously between all the people and the bikes its a tough spot to shoot.

Libby’s in the bike path. I’m surprised some biker didn’t highjack my shot.

I love these two side by side.

LIbby and Adam live on the edge. LOL. I was like “would you mind sitting up here?” to Libby she just hopped right up. I love people who are up for anything!

I think this might be my fav from the whole shoot.

This one’s pretty tight too though.

Come on! I love these damn images!

This is a must get kinda shot if you shoot on this bridge.

Libby is such a poser. She knows how to work the camera.

What a fun couple!

Nothing like a cobblestone side street…

Got flowers?

This is the last light of the day… That low warm July sun.

I loved these doors.

Libby’s blue just screams off that black backdrop.

what a happy couple..

holler at your “bling shot” see you guys in 19 days!