The E: Tara & Raj

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Tara and Raj will be getting married at the beautiful Jag Mandir Island Palace in Udaipur, India, in February 2008. After months and months of emails and phone calls, it was great to finally meet both of them for an engagement shoot in Manhattan's TriBeCa area, with dinner afterwards. I love So Cal, but it's always so much fun to shoot in new cities. This couple had the smoldering thing down, and I'm really looking forward to shooting their wedding in a few months.







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Harshna & Mihir

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Harshna and Mihir were married at the Greentree Country Club in New Rochelle, New York. Since it rained on their wedding day (see previous post), the couple dressed up again a few days later so we could do some shooting in Central Park and Times Square. Hershie and Mihir were both incredibly good sports when they had to change clothes in their car while it was parked in front of The Dakota. I love the photo of Mihir hailing a cab while putting on his tie as Harshna tries to finish getting dressed in the street, since we were losing light and my "hurry hurry hurry!" was no doubt stressing them out. In fact, cabs became a theme, as I made them run in and among them in Times Square, prompting a chorus of cranky honking. Vendor links coming soon.



















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A Soggy Big Apple

Thursday, September 27, 2007

I haven't blogged for a while because I've been busy shooting in New York. Harshna and Mihir were kind enough to fly me out to shoot their wedding, and I found out that they were great sports when an unexpected thunderstorm pounded down on us while we were doing pre-ceremony group shots. It was raining so hard that we got caught outside for a good long while before we could figure out how to get back in. I ended up using my Westcott strobe umbrella as shelter for my gear and Harshna. Tracy Toler from Maia Studio, who second shot the wedding for me, ran outside to help me cover my gear and got this great shot of us trapped under the umbrella. The entire wedding eventually got moved inside, though the decor had to stay outside. I'll blog the wedding soon, but for now, I thought everyone might like to see the before-rain and a-few-minutes-later shots.

Harshna and Mihir got dressed up again on Monday so we could take some fun portraits without rain, and I was amused beyond repair when Michael McGlone -- star of the Ed Burns films "The Brothers McMullen" and "She's the One" -- walked by us in Central Park, and agreed to pose for a photo. How did I coax him into it? By using the tried and true, "Hey, guy from Brothers McMullen! Would you take a photo with my bride and groom? Their wedding got rained out on Saturday." I felt silly afterwards, but he was really nice about it.

I also did a great engagement shoot in TriBeCa with Tara and Raj, who will be getting married in Udaipur, India, in February. It was great to finally meet them, and they were amazing to work with. A big thanks to my friends and colleagues David Mielcarek and Thomas Geist for tagging along on the engagement shoot (which I'll blog soon). And a big thanks to my good friends Cliff Mautner and Susan Stripling for trekking to Manhattan to hang out with Digital Wedding Forum Founder Jeff Caplan, So Cal photog Britney Alves and a host of other fab photogs.

And a special thank you to the talented Monika Broz, who kindly hosted me for two days while I was in town. Monika is super creative and has a marvelous eye, and is also a good mom to Munk, the adorable Boston Terrier that she rescued.

Under gray and cloudy skies:

A few minutes later, under my Westcott strobe umbrella:

With the actor Michael McGlone in Central Park:

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Amy & Jim

Friday, September 14, 2007

Amy and Jim were married in a lovely garden ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton in Pasadena. Jim spent the day sending people to surprise Amy with gifts, including a beautiful bouquet of roses with a note, and later, during portraits, a gorgeous bracelet from Tiffany's. It always touches my heart when a groom wells up as he sees his bride come down the aisle, even if they've already seen each other in a first-look. Amy and Jim were just adorable together, and both sets of parents were bundles of fun. Coordination by Jennifer Gordon at Kissing Kismet. Floral artistry by Ariel's Flowers. Dj services by Afterburn Productions.


















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Michele & Sean

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Michele and Sean were married at South Coast Winery in Temecula, which boasted 111-degree temperatures during the outdoor ceremony. The blend of Indian and Asian traditions made for a beautiful day, and Michele and Sean were particularly thrilled when Paramahamsa Sri Nithyananda Swami graced their wedding with his presence. The heat was so extreme that both Sean and his brother spent the entire reception in their kurta pajamas (see last photo in this blog entry). Coordination by the fabulously talented Sonia Sharma. Floral artistry by Ambiance Designs. Hair & Makeup by Shellena Couture Bridal Services. Video by Reel Life Pictures. Lighting by White Wedding Day Events. DJ services by Tom Yang and Roo Park. With second shooting by Yoshi Morimoto.



















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An Exquisite Event Bridal Show

Monday, September 03, 2007

Andrena Photography will be exhibiting at the "An Exquisite Event: Your Wedding From Beginning to End" bridal show at the Hotel Roosevelt on Sunday, September 9th. The brainchild of well-known wedding and event coordinator Nikki Khan, this event will boast some of the best vendors in the wedding industry, as well as a fashion show. Tickets are $20 online at the An Exquisite Event web site or $25 at the door. Hours will be 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. World-renowned event planner Preston Bailey will present and host a Q&A after the bridal show ends. Advance tickets for this unique public appearance are $75 per; tickets will not be sold at the door. For more information, or to buy tickets, be sure to visit the An Exquisite Event web site.


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