Betrothed Magazine - March 2020

T H E A RT (A N D H E ART) OF A NEW YORK WEDD ING M A R C H 2020 | VO LU M E 01 | ISS U E 03

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Breukelman Kenneth Gronquist Judson Rappaport Idalia Photography Ann Coen Photography Joy Michelle Photography Par La Mer Photography Timbrel Chyatee Please Don’t Blink Branson Maxwell Photo & Video Vanessa Leon Photography Stephanie Weber Photography Leilani Weddings

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This publication is copyright © Brooklyn Wedding Photo LLC (2020). Do not copy or redistribute without permission. All content is copyright © to respsective authors. Published January 2020. Edited

by Megan Breukelman. Published by Brooklyn Wedding Photo LLC.

I’ve got to say, this is a weird time. Plain and simple, it’s just not an amazing time. With the coronavirus/COVID-19 quarantines, there are weddings being postponed and cancelled, and heartbroken couples who were looking forward to their big day.

For vendors, it’s also hard - there are celebrations being postponed and there’s uncertainty in the air. Freelancers aren’t quite sure what the next step forward is, and there’s not really a clear path forward.

We’re all taking it day by day.

One thing we can appreciate is love.

There is so much love out there right now.

Love for our fellow human beings who are all doing their best to get through the day.

Love for others when they are hurting.

Love for others when they are ready to commit the rest of their lives to each other.

There are so many kinds of love that are being displayed, and that is something we’re hoping to connect with in this latest

issue of Betrothed Magazine.

If you’re nervous about the path forward, whatever the position your in, there are tons of people who are willing to chat. Willing to help. There are resources for you. The most important thing is to keep lines of communication open with others in this very isolating time.

We want to be positive. We want to be uplifting. We want to be a light in people’s lives. But we also want to be realistic in the sense that things are really hard right now for all of us.

Let’s take our time and get through this day by day. Talk about how you’re feeling. If you’re scared, or lonely, or however you’re feeling - talk about it with those you love.

MEGAN BREUKELMAN

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Seaside Elegance

REAL WEDDING

PHOTOGRAPHY Ann Coen Photography VIDEOGRAPHY Tony Coon Films HAIR & MAKEUP Beach House Spa BOUTIQUE RENTALS Rustic Drift INVITATIONS Calla Aniski of Perchal Fibers RECEPTION VENUE Hotel LBI CEREMONY VENUE Waterfront Park in Ship Bottom, NJ FLOWERS Eastlin Floral Design DRESS Limor Rosen XO Collection from Flowers by Melinda BOAT Custom Gentleman’s Runabout Built By Sam Donato GROOM’S ATTIRE Sink R’ Swim Men’s Shop SHOOT STYLING Calla Aniski and Ann Coen

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ANN COEN PHOTOGRAPHY HOTEL LBI & WATERFRONT PARK SHIP BOTTOM, NEW JERSEY

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STYLED SHOOT

Emilio & Christian

JUDSON RAPPAPORT TOP OF THE ROCK NEW YORK, NEW YORK

PHOTOGRAPHY Judson Rappaport

Written by Joy Michelle of Joy Michelle Photography.

All photography by Joy Michelle.

5 THINGS EVERY BRIDE LOOKS FOR IN A PHOTOGRAPHER Brides and grooms are actively looking for photographers for 2020 & 2021. You might be wracking your brain for ways to find wedding photography clients, but before you start to panic, let’s take a quick step back and assess what brides really WANT and how you can be the one to give it to them.

SHE WANTS IT TO BE CUSTOM

She picked the perfect gown, venue, and band for her big day. The ring has been designed just for her, and her stationery is one of a kind. Each vendor is a piece of the puzzle for her to craft the wedding she’s envisioning. Nearly every detail is something personalized to her and her Fiance which is why it’s not surprising she wants photography to be unique to her as well.

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Find ways to cater to each individual bride through multiple collection options, an A La Cate menu, and unique products for each bride’s needs and taste. While you may have set collections, you can give her options for making her photography coverage feel custom by allowing her the option to add on an album, wall art, or a photo booth. This is a great opportunity to showcase your brand and what makes you unique. If an album feels too boring to you, consider wooden print boxes engraved for each couple.

SHE WANTS IT TO BE SIMPLE

She wants quality, yes, but more than anything she wants it to be simple. So while you might think she cares about the high-resolution image size and full-frame camera body, just remember she cares more about how easily she will get the images into her hands. This is where you want to check for potential pitfalls in your overall experience. Be sure your image delivery process is user-friendly and simple. If you help your clients create a timeline, make a template for this so that it’s as few steps for them as possible.

SHE WANTS AN EXPERIENCE BEYOND IMAGES

It’s not enough anymore to just take quality images. That’s assumed and expected. These days, couples have more choices than ever when it comes to hiring a professional photographer for their wedding day and one way you can position yourself above the rest of your peers is to craft an unforgettable client experience.

I think of the client experience in three parts: before booking with you, after booking with you, and after the wedding day.

Map out the steps your client takes while working with you and ask yourself if you’re really giving them an exceptional experience. One easy way to give them an instant feeling that you went above and beyond is to always underpromise and over-deliver. Underpromise in the number of images you deliver, or the time it will take you to edit the images.

When it comes to the wedding day itself, there are endless opportunities to serve her and make her life easier and the wedding day more enjoyable. One thing I remind my self is that while I am the photographer - no job is beneath me on the wedding day. I will help in any way possible.

After the wedding day is over, it’s important to remember the experience isn’t over! You have what I like to call the 24-hour Golden Window where the images you took are prime for sharing!

The sooner you share the images after the wedding day, the more likely they are to be shared by guests and vendors as well because the event is still fresh in their minds.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW YOU’VE GOT IT COVERED

Again, we’re not just talking about images here. Sure, you should have that backup camera and battery ready to go, but what this really means is that you need to guide her

through all those overwhelming (and not fun!) details that go into a wedding day. Details like timeline creation, knowing the best times to do portraits, what to wear for engagement photos, and somehow wrangling Uncle Al into family photos.

As a photographer, it’s important for you to remember that your future brides have parts of the wedding day that she is worried about and losing sleep over. Be the solution to that problem. The sooner you can position yourself as the solution to what she has been thinking about and worried over, the sooner you will stand out from the competition.

SHE WANTS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AROUND YOU

With so much dreaming, planning, and money that goes into just one day, it can be hard to relax and really be present as the bride on the wedding day. On top of that, it’s not easy to feel like yourself and to be comfortable when you have someone you barely know with a camera pointed at you all day. That is why it’s imperative that learn to draw out the best in our clients and help people feel at ease as we photograph them.

The best way to help your brides feel more comfortable while being photographed is to work with them before the wedding day at an engagement session. This is very truly like a practice run for them to get comfortable in front of the camera and see how you work.

The more time and effort you put into getting to know your bride, listen to her wants and needs, and build a relationship, the better your connection will be with her on the wedding day. One way you can get to know your brides better is through a questionnaire.

By starting here, with the desires and needs of your bride, you will be better suited to market yourself effectively. Once you have gone over these 5 areas in your own business, share with the world what makes you custom, or how you make it easy for brides and so on. You may be surprised to find these simple steps are often overlooked and therefore will help you to stand out to brides.

JOY MICHELLE IS A MARYLAND-BASED FINE ART WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER. SHE EDUCATES PHOTOGRAPHERS ON BRANDING AND MARKETING THEIR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESSES ON YOUTUBE, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM AND MORE. LEARN MORE AT JOYMICHELLEPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

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Jisette & Robert

REAL WEDDING VANESSA LEON PHOTOGRAPHY BLUE HERON PINES GOLF CLUB EGG HARBOR CITY, NEW JERSEY

PHOTOGRAPHER VANESSA LEON PHOTOGRAPHY WRITES...

Meet Jisette, a tenderhearted advocate and educator of Special Needs Children and her groom, Robert, fun-loving outdoorsmen better known by all as Bear. These two embody the idea that opposites attract in a heartfelt, joyful, and inspiring way! Check out the photos from their Romantic Country Club Wedding at Blue Heron Pines Golf Club in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey.

INVITATION DESIGNER Elli TUXEDO & MENS ATTIRE ChazMaTazz DRESS STORE Castle Couture MAKEUP Kiss the Bride Hair & Makeup Design FLORAL DESIGNER Pocket Full of Posies Florist EVENT VENUE Blue Heron Pines Golf Club PHOTOGRAPHER Vanessa Leon Photography

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ENGAGEMENT

Sunday Kind of Love

BRANSON MAXWELL PHOTO & VIDEO PRIVATE RESIDENCE NEW YORK, NEW YORK

PHOTOGRAPHER WHITE POPPY WEDDINGS WRITES...

For this snowy winter elopement in the woods, we decided to use an alternative to the white wedding dress and emphasize the contrast of dark and moody toned decor and florals in white snow.

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Villa Del Sol Style

STYLED SHOOT STEPHANIE WEBER PHOTOGRAPHY VILLA DEL SOL DESTINATION: FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA

PLANNER LEILANI WEDDINGS WRITES...

When envisioning the design for this shoot, we were deeply inspired by the Spanish flare and vintage feel of Villa Del Sol, truly a hidden gem in the heart of Fullerton, CA. We wanted to create a Spanishthemed styled shoot with a romantic twist that evoked emotion and made you feel as if you were transported to an entirely different country. We used the venue’s lush greenery as the framework with copper details and bright florals to complete the romantic mood.Our models had the best time drinking champagne out of vintage coupes and lounging on the intricate balcony that wraps around the entire venue. The extravagant flower crown and brightly colored lip on the bride coupled with the groom’s crisp casual look was paired perfectly with two alpacas (of course, with flower necklaces to match!) to transport you to a Spanish paradise.

EVENT DESIGNER Leilani Weddings HEIRLOOMS & EXTRAS Lace Byrd MAKEUP Flawless Faces CAKE Sam Samm Custom Cakes TUXEDO & MENS ATTIRE Friar Tux DRESS DESIGNER Tara Lauren OTHER Alpacas & Beyond INVITATIONS Hungry Heart Ink SIGNAGE Olive Mint Shop LINENS BBJ Linens DESIGN & DECOR Adore Folklore EQUIPMENT RENTALS Found Rentals FLORAL DESIGNER Bloom Theory Design CINEMA & VIDEO Foolishly Rushing in RECEPTION VENUE Villa del Sol PHOTOGRAPHER Stephanie Weber

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Romantic Greenhouse

STYLED SHOOT PAR LA MER PHOTOGRAPHY BEARDSLEY ZOO BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT

PAR LA MER PHOTOGRAPHY WRITES...

I’ve been lucky enough to work with a bunch a vendors this year that truly believe in sustainability and authenticity. With this shoot, we wanted to focus more on highlighting unique bridal looks and give brides to be inspiration to think outside of the box when planning their wedding day. We also wanted to keep it authentic to what each of these vendors represent and our hopes that the bridal community moves in a more sustainable direction.

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CATERER Tea with Tracy DRESS DESIGNER Lotus Threads DRESS STORE Julie Allen Bridals SPECIALTY FOODS Noteworthy Chocolates EVENT VENUE Beardsley Zoo JEWELRY Wander + Lust Jewelry CALLIGRAPHER TS Calligraphy FLORAL DESIGNER Gaze Garden Floral BAKERY Sunnyside Sweet Shoppe LINENS The Bayith DESIGN & DECOR Together LLC MAKEUP Eye for Beauty CT PHOTOGRAPHER Par La Mer Photography

STYLED SHOOT

Modern Romance

PLEASE DON’T BLINK THE EXCHANGE JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY

PLEASE DON’T BLINK WRITES...

This styled shoot was so fun to put together. Being from Lancaster, PA, there are an abundance of rustic weddings, so we thought it would be fun to collaborate on a modern wedding set at a new rooftop bar. We set the scene as a couple that was eloping, and then celebrating with plenty of cocktails, food, and their closest friends. We used a bold autumn palette and lots of dried flowers to create this look.

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BAKERY Kristenbakes EVENT PLANNER Miss Lyss Planning LINENS Special Occasions JEWELRY Wilson Estate Jewelry HAIR The Charlee Salon EVENT DESIGNER Timbrel Chyatee EQUIPMENT RENTALS Caroline’s Rentals & More RECEPTION VENUE The Exchange INVITATION DESIGNER Shindig Bespoke FLORAL DESIGNER Fulton Street Flora PHOTOGRAPHER Please Don’t Blink

Mariella & Ryan

REAL WEDDING IDALIA PHOTOGRAPHY ART FACTORY WEDDING PATERSON, NEW JERSEY

PHOTOGRAPHER IDALIA PHOTOGRAPHY WRITES...

Mariella and Ryan both grew up on the East Coast but they were coincidentally in Barcelona at the same time. Mariella was lounging by the pool of her hotel Facetiming with her family when Ryan saw her from his balcony and knew he had to meet her. As he approached, he overhead her conversation. As someone who values family, he was impressed with how close Mariella seemed to be with her family. He knew he had to introduce himself to Mariella, and when he did, it was the start of something truly special. Mariella and Ryan’s relationship developed and last October, Ryan popped the question while they were in Portugal. My husband Jay and I had actually just returned from Portugal a couple of months before after our Babymoon and I remember Mariella had asked me for recommendations for their trip. Little did she know that Ryan had every detail planned out for the perfect trip and an unforgettable proposal. He took Mariella completely by surprise by proposing on a secluded beach on the southern coast of Portugal and it was absolutely magical.

Fast forward ten months and Mariella and Ryan’s wedding day arrived. Pretty quickly, I’d say! When Mariella told me they wanted to get married less than a year out I wondered if they could pull it off. Most of our couples plan their wedding twelve to sometimes twenty-four months out but these two just couldn’t wait to say “I do”!

Luckily, they were organized, focused, and had a team of loved ones to help them make it happen! Not only that, but they did an amazing job with their wedding design. They chose Art Factory Studios as their wedding venue and went with an industrial chic style that came together amazingly.

If you’ve never been to the Art Factory, you’re in for a treat. This is by far one of the most unique venues I’ve ever been to. The venue is a large complex of 19th century historic industrial buildings and is a perfect location for an offbeat wedding. Mariella and Ryan worked closely with their design team to create an event that is truly one of the most unique weddings I’ve had the privilege of photographing.

MAKEUP ARTIST Rebecca Lee Artistry LLC BEAUTY Voa Salon DRESS STORE BHLDN FLORALS Ninsar Project & Glenn Allen CATERER Frungillo Catering LOCATION The Art Factory PHOTOGRAPHER Idalia Photography

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SUBMIT TO BETROTHED We’re accepting submissions for our 2020 calendar year! To be considered, you must be a wedding professional with the rights or permissions to the photos you are submitting.

We are accepting content from the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania areas.

Love is love - we are proud to accept submissions from all types of marital celebrations.

Betrothed is about the art of a New York wedding – for all.

FIND BETROTHED

Instagram @betrothedmagazine Facebook /betrothedmagazine betrothedmagazine.com

SUBMISSIONS

info@betrothedmagazine.com Find us on Two Bright Lights

This publication is copyright © Brooklyn Wedding Photo LLC (2020). Do not copy or redistribute without permission. All content is copyright © to respsective authors. Published January 2020. Edited

by Megan Breukelman. Published by Brooklyn Wedding Photo LLC.

THE ART (AND HE ART) OF A NEW YORK WEDDING B E T R OT H E D M AGA Z I N E .C O M