When Stacey and Wes first arrived for their initial meeting the first thing that I said to them was “I recognize you guys”. Stacey and Wes got a referral from one of our spring 2013 brides, but I knew I had met them before. After a few minutes, we figured out that not only do we share some close friends, we actually spent some time with them this past summer in Sea Isle. It turns out that Stacey and Wes actually met in Sea Isle City on 49th street. So, there wasn’t a more appropriate place to do their engagement photos than right where they met. These two were so great in front of the camera that I felt like we were working with models. What you can’t tell from these photos is that it was absolutely freezing outside. It was literally in the 40′s, and I was cold in a sweatshirt. They were such good sports about the cold too. If it hadn’t been so cold out, we could have shot with these two all night. I can’t wait for their wedding later this year!

The best part about shooting this wedding for Kristen and Bryan is that I felt like we have known them for years. Bryan’s quiet composure is a perfect match for Kristen’s spunky personality. Kristen had a few one-liners on her wedding day that have made me laugh for days afterwards. The ceremony took place at the Cathedral in the Woods in Medford Lakes, NJ followed up by an awesome reception at Luciens in Berlin. These two were so much fun to be around, that you could even find Austin and I doing some dance moves with them at the reception. I am so glad that Kristen and Bryan chose us to be part of their day, and I’m sure we will be seeing plenty of them in the future because of the friendship we have developed. Kristen and Bryan, I hope that you guys are down there enjoying the sun and the sand on your honeymoon!

You may recognize this couple from our 2011 blog posts… It was so great to see Kristen and Shane again!

Well, here we are back in the swing of things, and I have to say that it feels so good to be kicking off our wedding season. There was no better way to start our 2013 Weddings than with Karyn and Jeff. Karyn and Jeff got married at the Marriot in Princeton, NJ. They are one of the most fun couples that we have ever worked with and we still get to do another shoot with them after this! Karyn and Jeff are a super cute couple with a love for animals and an undeniable love for each other.

Karyn had given me a key to her room so I could get some detail shots before she got back from the salon. Well, as with most weddings, Karyn’s hair appointment was running a little late. So, if you are ever wondering what your photographers may be up to while you are at the hair salon here it is:

We may have raided the basket with the props for the photobooth:

Karyn and Jeff, I hope that you think this is as funny as we did!

Ok, so now… onto the good stuff…

Happy New Year! So, after a little Holiday break over the last couple weeks, we are back to the grind at Issy Schmid Imaging. Congratulationss go out to all the newly engaged couples over this Holiday season! If you sent an e-mail or inquiry in the last two weeks it will be responded to within the next 48 hours. I hope that you all had a great Holiday, and are ready to kick off another great year. I have so many exciting weddings and great couples to look forward to in our 2013 wedding season. I’m excited to shoot at some great new locations, but most of all getting to know our 2013 brides and grooms as we get ready for their special day.

Just for fun.. here is our crazy Christmas card that we sent out this year…

We had so much fun on this shoot, that I wish we would have had started earlier in the day. We shot this fall themed after-session (previously known as a Trash the Dress shoot, but people are scared of that title) amoungst pumpkins and vineyards. Krystal is a natural in front of the camera, and I couldnt wait to get her behind my lens. I love after sessions, because they are relaxed, fun, and allow me to just be creative. Krystal was up for anything, and I am really excited about the shots we got that day.

As a wedding photographer, I get to witness and experiance real life love stories. Kristine and Blake’s love story is one that you think only exists in romantic comedies. Kristine, from South Jersey and Blake, from Indiana met in Nashville while on vacation. Three years later, Blake got down on one knee in the same bar where they met in Nashville. Blake and Kristine are effortless as a couple, because it’s just right. Spending the day with them on their wedding, felt like we had known them for years. We actually met Kristine and Blake when Kristine was a bridesmaid in one of our favorite couple’s wedding, Julie and Todd. It was great to see Julie and Todd again who have since welcomed a new baby boy. I’m not sure what it is with this group of friends, but they sure are great in front of the camera. Blake and Kristine were once again… effortless. The photos of them just came together perfectly, and I can’t be more excited about it. As soon as I saw the location, my head started spinning with ideas for their photos, and Kristine and Blake brought the ideas to life… This wedding was held at Kristine’s parents house in Mullica Hill, NJ. When I pulled up to the house, I was blown away. We could have photographed there for days! Every photo you see here was taken right on or around their property. The outdoor ceremony was held in the front yard in front of a gazebo and pond followed up by a great tent reception. Kristine’s dad even had a fire going out back. Both Kristine and Blake’s families were so welcoming and so much fun to be around. I am grateful to have met everyone at this wedding, and Kristine and Blake for choosing us to be part of their amazing day.

Just in case you were wondering…. Here are a few things that I’m working on….

Kristine and Blake’s Amazing Backyard Wedding:

Krystals Fall Themed After Session:

Also, we dont see a lot of baby sessions on this blog, but for my baby photo lovers I have baby Vinny coming this way.

Stop by soon to see all the latest stuff…

Sometimes you get a chance to meet those couples.. you know, the ones who are great people individually, but even better when they are together because its just right. Well, Jen and Rich are one of those couples. We met these two a while back at Joanna and Rich’s wedding. I actually met Jen at the rehearsal dinner for that wedding, and we hit it off right away. We knew that these two were genuine people, and we are so happy that we got to be part of our day. The ceremony and reception were held at one of my favorite venues, Running Deer Golf club in Pittsgrove, NJ. What makes this venue so great on top of the beautiful location and reception room is the great people that work there. The ceremony was incredibly personal which is my favorite kind of ceremony to watch and photograph. I love that they were able to write their own vows to each other, and while they said them they held onto a stone. I learned that day, that holding a stone during marriage vows was where the term “set in stone” was from. When it was time to party.. our bride was leader of the pack. Jen can get down on the dancefloor, and her excitement radiated through the whole place. This was such a perfect fall wedding day, and I hope you two are enjoying yourselves on the other side of the world in Australia. Please pet a koala for me!

I can’t even tell you how much I had been looking forward to this wedding. I met Chrissy and AJ when they were recommended through some friends, Nicole and Harry, that I have known since I was a kid spending my summers at the Jersey shore. We have had the fortunate chance to get to know Chrissy and AJ pretty well before this wedding, so I was looking forward to all the details, not to mention this was my first beach ceremony. We have shot engagement sessions and portraits on the beach, but I have always wanted to shoot a beach ceremony. They had perfect weather, bright blue skies, and friends and family spilling out tears of joy. Speaking of tears, these two were so proud of themselves for not crying at the ceremony. Well, all that changed about 5 minutes into the reception. AJ started singing the words to their first dance song “Just the way you are” by Jason Mraz, and it was over. It was an emotional occasion between them, and while the rest of the room may have disappeared to them in that moment, we were all feeling it. I had to wipe the tears away from my eyes, so that I could see through the camera lens. It was the best first dance I have ever witnessed… true, raw, emotion. AJ had given us the heads up that he could, and would be performing the entire dance from Michael Jackson’s Billy Jean. As great as it was to photograph, I am kind of jealous that I didn’t just get to sit back and watch. DJ Anthony Passante of Dinardo Brothers kept the dance floor packed all night. I love photographing a reception with great dancing, laughter, and people having an amazing time. I look back on this wedding and think about the awesome venue, perfect beach ceremony, crazy dancing, details, and photos captured, but most of all, I am grateful for the people I meet along the way. Chrissy and AJ, thank you for choosing us to be part of your day! We are so glad to call you our friends.

Ceremony- Brigantine Beach, NJ
Reception- Seaview hotel and Golf club -Galloway, NJ

They wanted to make sure we got a shot of the 4 of us together…
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