A Walk in the Park

January 1, 2016Leave a comment

Seeing that Mother Nature is in complete denial of the latest solstice, I thought I’d bring things back to those warm lingering summer nights in the city. One of my all-time favorite spots to relax and hit the pause button in my busy life is Fort Greene Park. The lighting on those September evenings is prime for portraits, and was the setting for some fun headshots testing out my new camera (Sony RX1R). We began our shoot in a lovely Clinton Hill backyard (wish it was mine, what an oasis!). Quick tip: look for places with even shade coverage so your subjects don’t have to squint. It’s also great to use the setting sun as a natural backlight.

Enjoy, and happy new year to you all! I’m so excited to show you what I have in store in 2016.

x emily

A Glamorous Grand Central Affair: The Wedding of Grace & Patrick

August 9, 2015Leave a comment

It’s wedding season! EEEEEEEEEE!

~Saturday, July 18, 2015~

I had the privilege to document the totally glamorous wedding of Grace & Patrick this past July. The setting(s)? The posh, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, followed by the glammed-out Oyster Bar, then the ever-so-opulent Grand Central Station, to the streets of Gowanus, and finally down to the pearl of Brooklyn: Gowanus Loft. Twelve hours of non-stop love and celebration, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Grand Central Station, where bride & groom will say I DO in just a couple short hours!

All photos shot from my ever-so-faithful Sony A99 SLT with Carl Zeiss f1.4 50mm and f.2 16-28mm plus funky f2.8 12mm fisheye. I used a bounce flash only here and there during the reception, otherwise everything uses available light (my fav!).

The ceiling is breathtaking… next time you visit, re!ember to LOOK UP!

If you’re getting married, and considering the getting ready, and first-look shots, I HIGHLY recommend arranging for your photographer to capture them. These moments are key in narrating the story of any wedding…

The amazing Grace

Patrick Jr. + Patrick Sr.

Our Bride

Our Groom

She’s getting excited!!

Final details…

Grace putting her shoes on to go and get the groom down the hall :)

Getting ready to meet that groom of hers!

Handsome groomsmen!

Cheers!

I especially loved the reactions Grace and Patrick had when they first saw each other. First Look Shots are really the best!

They’re really too cute 🙂

Cocktail Hour took place at Grand Central’s Oyster Bar. Just a quick stroll from the Waldorf Astoria, so I took advantage of the glowy afternoon light in the city on our walk over.

The ceilings in the Oyster Bar created a super classic, romantic vibe. The Bride & Groom greeted close friends and family for the first time of the day…

My favorite mother-son photo!

It’s wedding time! THANK YOU APPLE STORE for letting us gather on your mezzanine and THANK YOU GRAND CENTRAL STATION for letting us take over the central terminal. Because we did 🙂

Wow – what a feeling to have the entirety of Grand Central Station pause, become nearly silent, and witness Grace & Patrick exchanging their vows. It felt like the entire city turned out for these two love birds. Who wouldn’t?

Now for… THE RINGS!

And then they said “I DO!” Cue the tears, where are my tissues?! Grand Central lit up in a roar – it was ridiculously amazing to hear hundreds hundreds of voices rally in celebration! I absolutely love mom & dad’s expressions in the next photo.

And now for my favorite series of group photos of all-time. Grand Central Station is super crowded, so we knew there would be challenges with managing the crowds, corralling the wedding party, etc. But we managed to pull it off!

The fresh-off-the-press newlyweds!

And then just some of the two lovebirds, before we depart for the festivities in Brooklyn!!

Ok, time to go!

Patrick whisks his bride away, and off we go to… Gowanus.

That dress though…

When guests arrive at their destination in Gowanus, they’re greeted with a full brass band. Because it’s essential to parade around the neighborhood to celebrate!

And after parading around Gowanus for a bit, it’s time to party at The Loft!

Gowanus Loft, in all her glory, was brimming with light for the reception. We danced, we ate, we laughed, we sang, we cried. Bust mostly, we laughed 🙂

Amazing art installation pieces by Sarah Brook

A special thank you to Grace & Patrick for including me on their incredible wedding. I had the absolute time of my life and was reminded why I love wedding photography so much. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and joy.

Geology Rocks: A Trip to Enchanted Rock

March 5, 2015Leave a comment

Great news! I’m starting a new job next week as a Senior Project Environmental Scientist, meaning you can expect more exciting reports from the field as I take NYC by storm in the coming months!

With impending full-time employment looming in the near future, I naturally took a trip to the lovely state of Texas to visit my awesome siblings. They’re in San Antonio – a city with more Walmart’s and HEB’s per capita than anywhere else in the world, but also home to an incredibly rich history and vibrant culture unlike any other city in the south. Oh, and AMAZINGLY authentic barbecue!

The reason I visit San Antonio at least 2x per year – my hilarious family!

My latest discovery in the San Antonio region is Enchanted Rock. My brother and sis-in-law had visited a half-dozen times, and were more than happy to take the geologist of the family (aka me!) along for the hour drive this past trip.

There she is! Enchanted Rock. Humans for scale.

Here she is in all of her geologic glory – Enchanted Rock! I had to keep my siblings in the frame so you could get a grasp of it’s size.

I’m totally in my element here at the base of the trail…

Enchanted Rock stands 425 feet above the base elevation of the park, and is 1,825 feet above sea level. According to Texas Parks & Wildlife, climbing Enchanted Rock is like climbing the stairs of a 30- or 40-story building. The meandering route my sister and I took in-between taking selfies broke things up nicely, and was a leisurely little climb. Wear good shoes!

Geology Lesson 101: Around 1,000,000,000 years ago, magma rose from beneath the Earth’s crust and pushed up the overlying rock surface. The magma then cooled VERY VERY slowly and turned into a granite dome/ pluton/ batholith (take your pick!). The overlying sedimentary rock crumbled away over millions of years of chemical and physical erosion – Granite is a very hardy rock and is able to “weather the storm” against erosion, and that’s why it’s here today!

From below, looking up.

Enchanted Rock is just the tip of the iceburg – it covers an area appx. 62 square miles with most of it remaining underground. Maybe in a few million years we’ll be able to climb on more of it!

My brother Edwin and wife Jenna run up the rock face like it’s no big deal.

Another neat thing to note about Enchanted Rock is that it’s technically classified as an exfoliation dome – it’s not completely immune to erosion, and it can be seen breaking apart in many areas similarly to the structure of an onion.

Exfoliation: We all benefit from a bit of some!

Why does this happen? Well, after the overlying sedimentary rock eroded away from the surface of the granite dome, it began to expand just a little bit due to the lack of pressure bearing down. This expansion caused fracturing of the granite along its “curve”, resulting in a “peeling away” appearance. Enchanted Rock continues to exfoliate today!

My sister Amanda looks like she’s on the surface of Mars (except the sky would be a more hazy-brown color!).

So if you’re looking to get out of the city (that is, San Antonio!), I highly recommend a drive to Enchanted Rock. The drive itself is almost surreal: beautiful winding roads through hills, endless acres of woods, vast grazing fields home to many happy cows, and even a couple wild bobcats (!).

View looking down: vast open landscape of central TX.

And the vistas from the top of the rock – so gorgeous and expansive! I especially loved the mini oasis that grew in the center of the dome… it’s incredible how resilient nature is and how determined some species of plants are to live!

Little sister, little oasis.

The climb is very kid/ dog/ family friendly. If you have bad knees, the walk down could be a bit intense without hiking poles. And definitely don’t roll or run down unless you don’t mind seriously busting your face open! I took my sweet ol’ time and soaked in the warm sun as much as possible.

Climbing the mini rocks is safe though! The granite had excellent traction!

Ah yes, another week done, making the start-date to the next chapter even closer. Sure, I won’t have endless open days to hang out with family and waste away on my Netflix queue, but I’ll definitely have a more structured life/ routine! Stay tuned for more lady-engineer-scientist adventures from NYC… I’m so excited 🙂

All photographs taken with my Sony A99 Full Frame SLT Camera 🙂

Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2015February 13, 20151 Comment

Spread some love, eat some chocolate, indulge today (and everyday for best results).

Oh, and buy those red lacy panties for yourself. Wear them on a Tuesday.

Ten Things I Learned Living on a Tiny Island

January 29, 2015January 20, 20153 Comments

This past fall, I found that living in social isolation (on a 15-square mile island) with nothing but a good book and long hours of work will really force you into a state of introspection. Add that to 2 months of living back home in Brooklyn with loads of free time, and you’ve got a pretty excellent elixir for reflection.

Clouds over Cayman Brac.

What did I discover?

1. I accept who I am: my strengths, weaknesses, and I have so much to offer the world.

2. Humans are a social species. We need a tribe. It may change from time to time, expand and contract – but our inner desire to connect with others is directly linked to our natural ability to love others.

3. The core of my tribe is my family. And I ride the ebb and flow of its continual expansion and subsequent waning.

4. Loss is an essential part of the Human experience. It reminds us that we are not in control and must press on forward: continue living and thriving. If we don’t, the world will leave us behind.

5. Heartbreak is inevitable. There are many forms, but ultimately it strengthens the heart, mind, and soul. It should not be avoided, for evasion means you are not living life to its fullest – you are closing yourself to experience and growth.

6. You are your best advocate. You know who you are, what you stand for, and what is best for you. The only person truly looking out for your best interests is you. Others will eventually learn to know the needs and ways of your heart, but until then, you know best.

7. Do not seek approval and love from others in order to be happy. Does this dress make me look fat? I feel like all of my friends have forgotten about me. I just want to be in a relationship with someone. I need his love to feel happy, secure, and complete. Stop. If you read Lesson 1, you already accept yourself. It’s hard, and will never be easy. But you’re worth it. You will always have YOU.

8. You need to do something. Humans are built to survive, and in 2015, that means work. You will always find a way to complain about your job, where you live, who you work with, etc. But we need to continue enriching our lives. Our brains, bodies, and inner beings were not built for stagnant waters. That makes for an early grave.

9. Find balance in all you do, and establish priorities – and accept that they will change with time. What is important to you? What is truly essential in your life right now that serves the highest levels of your inner happiness? (Right now, mine are finding fulfilling work that satisfies my desires to make New York City a cleaner and healthier place to live, continue to open my heart again to love and trust in that love, balance the material necessity of a healthy paycheck with the wishes of using that monetary resource for experiences to enrich my life and the loves of my life.)

10. Change is the truest form of the Human experience. With all the lessons learned (above), you will be a champion of yourself with the ability to live and breathe in the flow of life. Accept change. Embrace change. It leads us closer and closer to the ultimate lesson of life: Transformation.

Live, Breathe, Transform, Transcend.

-This post is dedicated to my dad. Today would have been his 70th Birthday. His passing was the deepest form of loss I have experienced thus far in my lifetime, and I am truly grateful for the love and memories my dad and I shared. Thank you, dad, for giving me life and the inspiration to make it a great one. I love you, to Pluto and back.

Happy Birthday Daddy

Tuesday Inspiration – Happiness

January 20, 2015January 20, 20151 Comment

“No single decision you ever made has led in a straight line to where you find yourself now. You peeked down some roads and took a few steps before turning back. You followed some roads that came to a dead end and others that got lost at too many intersections. Ultimately, all roads are connected to all other roads.”

-Deepak Chopra

Footpath on Cayman Brac

I am entering my second month of unemployment, or what I’d like to call “fun-employment”. Don’t feel bad for me – it was a path I chose for the well-being of my body and heart, and I took all precautions in preparation for the monthly income drop.

It’s been an incredible experience to literally hit the pause button on life, to reconnect with myself, and deepen relationships with the ones I love. I have also learned a few important lessons on happiness…

My friend Keino and I on Cayman Brac’s bluff edge.

You know how all philosophers, prophets, and parents say, “Happiness comes from within”? We hear this over and over again, and with such repetition we often accept it with blind faith as we trudge through our everyday lives. We allow ourselves so few opportunities to actually experience this inner bliss, so much so that we ultimately forget how to recognize it when it’s staring us in the face. The straight A’s, the fancy apartment, the fat bonus, the dozens of friends, the luxurious vacations, the handsome boyfriend, the newest iPhone, the size 2 dress… We’re still unhappy.

Carib Sands Dock, Cayman Brac

I’m not perfect, and have just skimmed the tip of the iceberg on tapping into this inner resource of happiness. It’s taken me 25+ years, a few broken hearts, hopping the globe from the Caymans to Iceland to Morocco, living on a relatively excellent paycheck to having $2.00 to my name, and feeling completely alone in the wilderness to realize that happiness can really only be expressed. Not ours for the taking and holding inward, but truly reaching from within ourselves and giving it back to others. It’s as if we’re each holding a little sun within ourselves – a bright resource that regenerates over and over again. The more we give, the happier we are. It’s a pretty simple science.

Growing, Giving, Happiness.

It’s just not easily duplicated because of all the superfluous garbage in the material worlds we live in. Add an inner frustration to the mix as we perpetually put ourselves down, saying we don’t deserve happiness for all the terrible things we’ve done… What have I done to deserve this? Exist. Don’t let the question be, Why Me? – More like, Yes, Me!

Be Happy 🙂

There are many paths I have yet to take, but having come from one that was equally as exciting as it was intensely challenging, I’m ready for what lies ahead. I’m thinking of going back into the environmental field – whether it be working at a consultancy or state department, you can’t take the science out of me 🙂

Besides, I’m fully entitled to change my mind at any moment in time and hop onto another path! I just have decided to chose happiness over all. And the next time I’m feeling down, it’s time to take a good look at myself in the mirror and truly ask why. Life is pretty simple, and I truly believe we are all predisposed to living in a state of bliss. Again, I’m far from perfect, and the occasional trip to Anthro and frequent bowl of ice cream can bring some (temporary) happiness.

Be calm, be happy my friends!

-ps this entire post is my way of procrastinating in preparation for my interviews this week… back to it!

Brooklyn Bridge Park Head Shots

December 20, 2014January 28, 2015Leave a comment

From looking at the amount of outdoor photo sessions I’ve had, you could say I’m in denial that it’s late December. Granted, these photos were taken this past November, when you could be caught outside in a non-sleeping bag type jacket.

Miss Jordan Rose needed some updated head shots as she finishes her final year at Circle in the Square Theater and I was lucky enough to be in town 🙂 Our last session was shot in my home studio and the great outdoors of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This time, we opted to change up the backdrop just a bit and headed over to the Brooklyn Bridge park in DUMBO.

Oh, and we totally lucked out with the current installation of Tom Fruin’s Stained Glass House sculpture. An stunning yet subtle backdrop for Jordan’s bright blue top.

For a cooler, more monotone look, we ventured over to the park’s famous carousel. The inner child in me is still dying to go for a ride ~~or two~~. Good thing it was closed for the day…. the grey granite steps above provided just enough texture for the casual look we were going for.

And if you recall from our earlier shoot this past January 2014, red is a fantastic color on Jordan (actually I can’ think of any color looking bad on her…).

Jordan is so photogenic and comfortable in front of the lens, she makes my job look easy 🙂 Now for some fall colors, we combined a bright purple top with a warm wooden door on our way out of the park.

I am always looking for fresh faces and talent to photograph. Don’t let the winter blues deter you from stepping outside to show those pearly whites! If it’s too cold, we can always find a neat cafe/ library/ shop in Brooklyn or the city 🙂

Happy Photo-ing!

Day at the Zoo!

December 17, 2014December 18, 2014Leave a comment

Ok, ok so I just posted a couple of these on my personal FB page, but here’s the rest of my favorites from today’s adventuring.

Family time is the best time 🙂 I’m spending the week down in FL to escape the NYC early winter blues and to squeeze in a much-needed visit with my sister and her sweet family. My nephew Tucker, is turning 4 in March (seriously, where does the time go?!) and I couldn’t resist bringing the good glass out for our trip to the Lion Country Safari today.

There were macaw’s…

And zebras…

Lions too!

Merry-Go-Rounds with Giraffe’s…

And giraffe’s in real life 🙂 They are my absolute favorite!

Being an aunt is pretty awesome/cool/sweet 🙂

This is Cupid. Totally handsome and charming.

Tucker loves time with Grandma Louise! And Camel Rides!

Total cuties!

My favorite of these two… looking out for the flamingos.

Group shot (plus an excellent photo-bomber). Love you guys so much!

Family Portraits in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

December 15, 2014December 10, 2014Leave a comment

The best clients are sometimes your first clients. Julie and James responded to an online posting for my photography back in the summer of 2012 for their small intimate wedding in Bay Ridge. They were my very first wedding, and I think I was more excited than nervous to shoot their intimate gathering. You can see their photos in the Wedding portion of my portfolio.

Flashback! Julie + James circa 2012 🙂

Fast-forward two years, and I receive a lovely little “hello” from them in my inbox one November morning… No longer just Julie and James, but Julie, James, Ryan, and Luke!! The boys, ages 2 and 1, with those bright blue eyes that melt the hearts of any human being, were totally rambunctious and so much fun to photograph.

A helpful tip for anyone photographing toddlers – keep that shutter going constantly and get on the floor to be eye-level with them (still working on my technique as always!). Below, Luke on the left, Ryan playing with dad on the right. It’s hard not to fall in love with these two hunks!

And of course, I had to sneak a few shots of the two love birds, now mum and dad. Still as much in love with each other as on that summer day in 2012 when they said “I Do”…

With two wiggly toddlers, snapping the perfectly composed shot is not always easy, so that’s why we improvise as photographers. Their beautiful home in Bay Ridge boasted a chandelier from the early 1900s, which doubled as an excellent setting for my favorite candid close-ups of the family.

This last one has everybody’s face in it! Christmas card, anyone? Next, we took advantage of the warm-ish weather and strapped on everyone’s shoes for some outdoor shots. I absolutely love shooting outside (especially under the lovely overcast skies we had that day) and kids do the cutest things when they play! Like gazing at me for a split second with bright googly eyes while piled in a heap of leaves…

Or looking off into the distance while planning their next mischievous scheme…

Or taking an impromptu geology lesson from Dad.

Having had enough of the leaves and rocks, we headed down the street (literally 4 houses down) to grandmas! I can only imagine how awesome it is to have grandma, aka drop-of-the-hat babysitter steps from home with two little ones. Less of the “Over the river and through the woods,” and more like, “Down the five doorsteps and ten steps away, to Grandmother’s house we go!”

Luke and Ryan clearly led the way, too. I can’t get enough of the look on their little faces when mum and dad called for them…

By this time, the little ones were quite over-energized by being at grandma’s that our attempts to take some additional group shots were more candid than expected. I still think it totally captures the family dynamic of giggles and laughter 🙂 Oh well, we tried!

Although grandma’s was fun, it was time to head home for a late morning snack. But before we said our good-byes, I captured a few more shots in their sweet little cul-de-sac (I had no idea these little oases existed in Brooklyn!).

And as the holiday season comes and goes, and despite the cold days that lie ahead, remember the warmth of family in your heart. I am so honored to have been the Lanigan’s photographer for the second time, and look forward to many more family shoots with this gang!

Rough Seas, Final Days on Cayman Brac

December 11, 2014December 10, 2014Leave a comment

Before I dabble too deeply into my 3-month hiatus from society in the Cayman Islands, (it included a bit of construction oversight, management of a farm, little sleep, constant movement, alarms 6-days a week at 4:55am, and epic sunrises) I’ll share a few photos captured from my last day on the island.

It’s been a week since I’ve returned home to Brooklyn and I am still processing the entirety of the experience.

Inner-growth, isolation, meditation, endless work, introspection, and endless papaya.

More stories to come, the most exciting of which is happening in the present moment. Home.

Emily & Camera

{ Candid. Artistic. You. }

A Walk in the Park

A Glamorous Grand Central Affair: The Wedding of Grace & Patrick

Geology Rocks: A Trip to Enchanted Rock

Valentine’s Day

Ten Things I Learned Living on a Tiny Island

Happy Birthday Daddy

Tuesday Inspiration – Happiness

Brooklyn Bridge Park Head Shots

Day at the Zoo!

Family Portraits in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Rough Seas, Final Days on Cayman Brac

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Happy Birthday Daddy

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