The bride and groom had literally just exited the church when the skies opened up and it began to pour. I knew they didn’t want to have a receiving line but they were trapped at the church entrance and, if they stayed there, it was going to happen - like it or not. I pointed to the front porch of the clergy house, looked at them and said, “Race you!”. I ran backwards shooting them the entire way and grabbed this shot just as the umbrella came down. Planners scramble for cover in the background.

What is Brian’s response to the flower girl saying, “We can’t take a photo now, my brother is getting his pants fixed!”

The antique limo carrying the bride, groom, and me to the reception died about 10 blocks from the Waldorf. The driver made a call and said he could have a backup in 15 minutes, which was about all the time I was going to have with them for photos before the reception began anyway. I told the driver, “Never mind, I got it” and stepped out and hailed two pedicabs, putting the bride and groom in one while I hopped in the other. I had my driver circle them for photos as we drove north to the Waldorf. When we made the turn on Park Ave, I asked the groom if he wanted to pedal his new wife the last 1/2 block himself.

I’m walking with the bridal party towards The Plaza and the Bride asks me if we can take a shot in the Apple Store. My eyebrows go up as I ponder what the Apple Store on 59th & 5th will be like in the middle of a Saturday afternoon and what my chances are of getting anything usable in the 10 seconds we will have before we get chased out. “Sure, why not?”, I said.

I walked over to the glass block and pointed down into it. “Walk down the stairs, when you get to the bottom, turn around and come back up. When you get to that step there, look up.”

We did that shot so fast that nobody noticed her - not even the people on the staircase next to her.

My hope is that I bring a little something more to the wedding day than just a camera. My goal is to help get you and your friends to be your ‘best selves’.

Me: ‘Of course you can. You just stand right here in the middle and when I say “JUMP!” you jump up as high as you can, ok?’ Then, ‘ 1-2-3-JUMP!”

She jumps. I shoot.

Smiling Flower Girl: “That was fun!”

Me: “I think so too! Thanks for your help!”

If the sun goes down at 4:30 pm you can’t rely on daylight for your epic wedding portraits. Not a problem. On our walk from Grand Central to Cipriani 42 I grabbed this shot in the middle of 42nd street while my 2nd photographer ducked behind them with a flash. Cue the taxis and the Ugg boot girl.

It had rained all day and it was getting late but partway through the cocktail hour I checked the radar and saw a break coming. I asked the couple if they’d give me 10 minutes. I threw them in my car and we drove down the road to this spot for a handful of shots just as it cleared and the sun was setting. Wedding photography is also about knowing how to read weather radar.

Just after I took this shot, I calmly asked the bride and groom to step out of the car. Really.

I like to connect with the ‘important’ kids at the wedding so they act like themselves in front of the camera. This liffle flower girl and I had had plenty of fun moments earlier in the day. She began looking bored during the signing of the marriage license so I thought i would prompt a more photo appropriate expression by sticking my tongue out at her. I expected a smile but got this reaction instead. Worked for me.

A non-English speaking relative of the Bride who had come from China for the wedding had been silently shadowing me with his camera a good portion of the day. He was super quiet and reserved but when i saw this light moving behind him late in the evening I got him to strike this Stayin’ Alive move without uttering a single word. At that point, I guess he trusted me.

This further supports my theory that a flower girl or ring bearer can do no wrong when coming down the aisle. No matter what happens, it is perfect.

Noel and Doug picked this location for their wedding because it had an epic view of a lake and mountains from this porch. On the day of their wedding, the view was nothing but fog. I had them sit here for a moment thinking that I could take a shot to show them that even though they didn’t get what they planned for, what they had was beautiful.

When you're walking in the shoes of both the bride and the mother… One of my faves.

I mean, how often can you find a dining room table long enough for an apostles-worth of bridesmaids?

At some point I just started looking at interruptions as opportunities.

I said, “You guys wanna kiss for a photo?” And the flower girl and ring bearer started going at it. Priceless.

To get this shot, I was riding backwards in a kiddie plane without a seatbelt and trying to steady a long zoom lens and looking through a viewfinder while spinning in circles in reverse. I got the shot. But had to sit down for a minute afterwards until the nausea passed.

Going for something different (but what, I have no idea) since 2003.

When a couple hires out a place like Wolffer Vineyard, I figure that rules like these don’t really apply to you.

This little guy wandered right into the room while I was taking shots of the ladies. His mom apologized. It was all good by me.

OK, I admit it. I put the dress up there knowing that she wouldn’t be able to reach it to get it down. But I asked her to come over and take the dress down herself anyway. How else was I going to get this ballerina on pointe?

One of my first engagement sessions. We were done and walking back to a place in Tribeca and this construction crew was out front. I told them to hop the caution tape and kiss.

The processing and dutching look a bit dated, 17 years later, but therein lies the spark that helped me define my approach to photography.

A-list Bands have tons of super strict rules about photographing them at private events… You’re only allowed to photograph during the first 3 songs; you can’t use flash; you can’t be up front, etc. etc.

I find that if you’re respectful and not annoying you can usually do most anything. I photograph the set list they tape to the stage so that I’ll know when last song comes on and I can get my couple to hop up on stage for a kiss. By then everybody’s cool.

I often get asked if I’m annoyed by everyone having a phone nowadays. It doesn’t bother me at all - it’s part of our culture so I’m happy to document it. Asking a bride to do something for you and your phone is another matter. (This shot ran in the New York Times with an article in which I was interviewed on this very subject.)

I caught him sneaking another bite after everyone else walked away from the cake cutting.

I took this couple to a kids’ amusement park. I’d put them in one ride while I got in another car and shot backwards over my shoulder while the ride spun us in circles. (Yes, it was extremely nauseating.) But I got this photo. What I love most about it though is that it shows you how small the ride was. Look at her knees!

I was actually packed up and leaving the wedding when I came across this moment outside the ballroom. Worth putting my kit back together for it though.

Anticipate, Prepare, & Hope - That’s how photographers spend much of their mental energies. You see something you think might happen, you work your camera’s settings and focus and framing to take advantage of this yet unknown event and you hope that something interesting happens. I had shot what I had wanted of this couple when I see this boy up in the distance. I’m not sure what I might get but I move my focus point to him and hope that he gives me something. Just as he was about to pass the couple he glanced sideways and I snapped. For me, that shot embodies on many levels what I love about Central Park - there’s always good people-watching… and watching people people-watching.

I don’t generally go for posed photos like this but I just couldn’t pass up this opportunity with Shannon looking so monarch-like and Julian and his groomsmen being just the right number of people. At Castle on the Hudson.

This was definitely the hardest I’ve ever had to work to catch the ring bearer in focus. The rings are on the owl’s ankles at this Harry Potter themed wedding.

This is just the beginning. To see what 3 nights of late night St. Barth revelry looks like check out the featured wedding. (But only the “postable” stuff is there…. ha!)

Everyone’s eyes following the popped champagne cork outside the church.

This is what I got in response to the question, “How does it feel to have your brother getting married?”

It so perfectly captured each of his 5 sisters’ respective relationships with him.

I whispered to the groom that I think he was supposed to sign on the other dotted line. The rest of the day went perfectly.

We knew that Jenna and Jeff were going to throw a blowout. We weren’t aware that pies would also be thrown.

Love that you can see that the punchline went over the flower girl’s head.

The firefighters were kind enough to let me set up this group in front of the firehouse. But the truck was so far back that it was in the dark. I don’t know where I got the cojones to ask if they wouldn’t mind starting up the truck and pulling it forward a few feet for us, but I’m glad I did and that they were so kind and willing to oblige us.

This sweet couple came to the US to have me take wedding photos. I thought it would be cool to give them a real piece of New York to take back home with them.

Her feet needed a break. I suggested this bench.

I was so wrapped up in aligning this shot just so that I didn’t even notice the ring bearer was still in the photo. When I saw him I was about to ask him to step out but I shot this first. It was pretty perfect with him.

This photo looks so set up. It’s too perfect.

The truth is, we were doing family formals in the next doorway over and the bride’s mother had left her glasses in the lobby. She asked that we stop while she ran in and got them, so the bride stepped away to rest her her feet for a second. I saw her sit and begin watching her family. I quickly hustled over to grab a shot. The scene literally lasted a few seconds before her mom came back out and we continued with the family photos.

… You Can Always Control How You See Things
Even in the most difficult moments, there’s touching beauty to be found in human interactions.

Michael is such an amazing guy. His new wife needed help with her shoes before their big entrance. The touchups using the iPhone with the rabbit ear cover? Priceless.

I shoot their girls every summer out at their house in the Hamptons now.