CITY LOVE : CAFETERIA

I haven’t wanted to live in the city my entire life, it is more of a desire that developed over time.  I grew up in the small town of Kingsport, Tennessee, where the mountains are endless and people you don’t even know will smile at you when you walk down the street.  When I was 13 years old, I got some news that would change my life forever. 

I was walking out of my basketball game for the Ross N. Robinson Indians.  Our team had just won and I had scored $5 from my parents for fouling out of the game.  I was shy as a child and mom and dad were always encouraging me to “get in there and be more aggressive!”  As we climbed into the car with my little sister Ali, my Dad said, “Girls, I have something very important and exciting to tell you.  We are going to be moving to Singapore at the end of the year!” My heart quickened and I got that excited/nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach.  I was excited about the chance for adventure that living in a new country would bring, but nervous at the same time because I didn’t know what to expect.  I will never forget that night.

A year later we moved to Singapore.  A year after that, we moved to Tokyo, Japan for my first two years of high school.  I immediately fell in love with the big city!  The freedom, the energy, new places to explore around every corner, I couldn’t get enough!  When we moved back to the states, I was happy and sad all at the same time.  I was glad to be back with my friends and enjoy some good ol’ American food, but at the same time, I missed the fast paced lifestyle of the Asian culture. 

When I graduated college, I knew I wanted the chance to experience everything a big city has to offer again. I made the move to Madison, NJ, just 25 miles outside of New York City and to say I like New York is the understatement of the century!  I can’t get enough of this amazing city!  I enjoy exploring new places and experiencing new things, whether it is a Broadway play or a delicious restaurant.   I want to share with you my favorite finds, so I have decided to start blogging about my “City Loves” every Friday.

This week I want to share one of my favorite spots for a weekend brunch.  The restaurant is Cafeteria.  Cafeteria is located on 17^th street and 7^th avenue, in the heart of Chelsea.   It has a totally fresh vibe that makes you feel important and right at home, all at the same time.  They are known for serving American comfort food in a unique way and are frequently visited by celebrities like Blake Lively and Emma Stone.  My favorite dish is the lemon ricotta pancakes, but I would also recommend the buttermilk waffle with berries and cinnamon cream.  Both are DELICIOUS!  A few of their other specialties include their macaroni and cheese and their blackberry lemonade.  Next time you are in the neighborhood, try it out and let me know what you think!

Enjoying a delicious Sunday brunch with my sister Ali at Cafeteria.

HAVE A FABULOUS FRIDAY!

CITY CHIC NYC ENGAGEMENT : ALI + NATHAN

It could have been the red dress, or it might have been the good-looking khaki suit.  Maybe it was the two photographers snapping away at the beautiful couple strolling hand in hand in Times Square.  Either way, it was obvious to everyone around that Ali and Nathan were special.    As Nathan spun his beautiful fiancé into a dip kiss, a man standing by approached the couple and ask with excitement in his voice, “Are you on The Bachelor?!”

Ali and Nathan may not have gone on national television to find love, but their story is just as romantic.  Nathan met Ali when he was a sophomore in high school.  Right away, he knew she was someone he wanted to get to know better.  Besides being beautiful, Ali was smart, confident, and an amazing tennis player.  Nathan quickly caught Ali’s eye as well.  As a football player and a total gentleman, Nathan was every girl's dream guy.  It was the summer before senior year when they started dating.  Both were available, and Nathan took a chance and asked Ali out to dinner and a movie.  As you can probably guess, Ali accepted and so began their love story.    

Ali and Nathan grew to be very close.  When the time came for college, Nathan chose to attend East Tennessee State University, while Ali accepted a tennis scholarship to Georgia Southern University, seven hours away.  It takes complete dedication, trust, and a lot of communication to make a long distance relationship work for four years.  Through many trips back and forth from Tennessee to Georgia, and an unlimited text-messaging plan, Ali and Nathan fell deeper in love and established a relationship based on true understanding and respect for one another.  They are planning on tying the knot next June and I couldn’t be happier for them!

I am so excited to present the second installment of Ali and Nathan’s engagement session, “City Chic”!  I love the outfits the couple chose, especially for this location.  Here is a closer look into our time in Times Square.

The spaces between my fingers are right where yours fit perfectly.

We made sure to arrive to Times Square early, when we knew the light would be good and the crowds would be small.

I loved the way these cute red tables complimented Ali's dress.

This was the moment right before Ali and Nathan were mistaken for the newest Bachelor couple.  Looking at these two, it is easy to understand why this assumption was made.  

Ooh la la!  Thanks to my second shooter Mekina Saylor for capturing this steamy shot. 

Being in a long distance relationship for four years, Ali and Nathan are very comfortable communicating by telephone.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." -1 Corinthians 13:13

I was absolutely in love with Ali's chic Nine West heels.

Ali and Nathan ended their Times Square session exactly how they started it, hand in hand and totally in love.

DREAM ENCOURAGERS

It started out with a walk and two cups of Rita’s ice cream.  Mekina and I were preparing to attend a 4^th of July BBQ with my 10:10 group of The Life Christian Church.  My 10:10 group is a weekly devotional meeting based around the book TEN, written by my pastor, Terry Smith.  I was telling her a little about the book and the group so she would feel up to speed when she met everyone that night.  I began by explaining how much the book and my group had supported me in going after my dream of becoming a wedding photographer and Mekina started to open up to me about hers.

For as long as we have known each other, Mekina and I have been talking about weddings.  Not just as a passing subject, no, we talk for hours upon hours about weddings!  For Mekina, it has always been this way.  Even as a little girl of five, Mekina could be found orchestrating thumb weddings in her free time.  At 15, she would stay up late designing wedding dresses, sketching design after design.  Now, at 23, Mekina dreams of owning her own wedding planning company, with incredibly unique ideas that I believe could help revolutionize the industry as we know it.

With such BIG dreams it is easy to start questioning, is this really possible for me?  That is where I think “dream encouragers” enter.  Dream encouragers ask, what are the steps you need to be taking now to make your dream come true, and how can I help support you in this process.  They are always there pushing you to step outside of your comfort zone with reassurance that if you keep moving forward your dream can become a reality. 

Mekina is just one of my many dream encouragers.  So far, we have worked together on four shoots now, Lori + Ashley, Ali + Nathan, Kelsey + John, and Kelli + Brian (Brooklyn Bridge, coming soon).  Mekina acts as my second shooter, but more importantly, as a stylist.  Her input on use of props like the brelli, ice cream cones, and balloons are a huge part of what makes our shoots unique and I believe any bride would be lucky to have her guidance on planning their special day.  Together, we are always challenging each other to step outside of the box and I think that is what makes us such a great team, and dream encouragers for each other.   

Here are a few pictures of Mekina I snapped after an off broadway play we attended last Saturday.

 Isn't she breathtakingly BEAUTIFUL?!

HAMPTONS HAPPINESS : KELLI + BRIAN

It was a perfect evening.  The summer sun was warm but there was a slight breeze blowing through the air, making it a beautiful night for a walk in the Hamptons.  Kelli and Brian made their way down to a private beach in Montauk, a small surfer town at the very tip of Long Island, NY.   As the sun slipped behind the soft pink and blue clouds, Kelli and Brian reminisced about the very beginning of their relationship, almost two years ago.

It was New Years Eve in New York City and Kelli was out at M2 Ultra Lounge with her girls friends, ringing in the new year.  As midnight drew near, Kelli picked up her phone and dialed Brian, informing him that they would be going out on a date when she returned home to Tennessee. A small decision that would effect both of their lives greatly.  A few months went by, and in May, Brian called Kelli to take her up on that date.  Kelli's vivacious personality and total love for living life to the fullest quickly drew Brian in, and soon, they were an item.  What followed can only be described as a whirlwind romance.  These two compliment each other perfectly and have been enjoying one adventure after another ever since.

Last week I had the honor of photographing Kelli and Brian in the Hamptons.  Here are a few of my favorites!

We started off at the beautiful house where Kelli and Brian vacationed during their visit.

Kelli felt like a total princess as Brian helped her slip into her gold heels.

Kelli and Brian stopped at an adorable candy stand on the way to the beach for a sweet kiss.

Kelli, you really are SO beautiful.

Kelli and Brian are the type of people that just make fun happen.  They can bring life into any situation!

Kelli and Brian swore up and down that they had never modeled before, but I'm not sure I believe them!  You guys just look TOO GOOD! 

"Two souls with but a single thought, two hearts that beat as one." -John Keats

As the sun started to set, Kelli and Brian sat down to take in the beauty together.

I will end this post with a sweet embrace.  As the sun slipped below the horizon, Kelli and Brian breathed a sigh of happiness, soaking in the beauty that only comes at the end of the day.

TRIBECA ENGAGEMENT : ALI + NATHAN

It was 6:00 a.m.  The low hum of the engine and the sound of Taylor Swift filled the car as Ali and Nathan drove into New York City.  Ali's white, Honda CRV was packed with a change of clothes, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and purple gatorade.  The time had finally arrived for their engagement session; first stop, Tribeca.

Nathan pulled the car to a stop on Staple Street and looked around at the historic residential neighborhood with stone paved streets.  As the sunlight filled the small alleyway, Ali glanced at Nathan with excitement and appreciation in her eyes, it was time to begin.

I am super excited to present the first installment of Ali and Nathan's New York City engagement session! As you know from their sneak peek, Ali is my younger sister and Nathan is my future brother in law.  These two love me so much that they were willing to spend six hours in front of my camera!  Since we were able to get so many great shots (Ali and Nathan know how to work it!) I am going to present their photos in three separate posts, Tribeca, Times Square, and Central Park.  I hope you enjoy their first look as much as I do!

We started out the day on Staple Street in Tribeca.  I absolutely love the contrast of this beautiful couple against the graffiti on the street! 

As we continued down the street, we came upon this massive door.  I really like the "larger than life" feel it gives Ali and Nathan.

Looking good Nathan!

I am obsessed with this 1907 pedestrian walkway connecting these two buildings.  Small alleyways, tucked back in the nooks and crannies of the big city, are my favorite. 

The love these two share for each other could be seen in the sweet glances they gave each other all day.

While walking around, we stumbled upon "will you marry me" written in chalk on the sidewalk.  It served as a perfect reminder of Ali and Nathan's own engagement this past Spring, when Nathan proposed to Ali with a large sign posing these exact words.

What a SPARKLER!  Great job Nathan.

I will end this post with a sweet kiss on Collister Street.  Be on the look out for Ali and Nathan's second installment, Times Square, coming soon!