Cal Landau Photography Blog

Life on Carpe Vita by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach Florida

2011-11-08T06:44:00.001-08:00

Here is a video we made on Carpe Vita on Sunday during a windy day on the lake. The video is part of Marty's Business plan for her graduation as a Health Educator at Hippocrates Institute.

Lisa and Ryan's wedding in Pittsburgh, by Cal Landau Photogaphy, Palm Beach, Florida.

2011-11-02T14:17:00.001-07:00

I never had the opportunity to meet Lisa and Ryan before their wedding, but I knew it was going to be a fun one.
Lisa is from Stephenville, Texas and Ryan was from Pittsburgh and is a Marine as well as his brother and the other groomsmen. Their is something special about a military wedding, it just adds so much, ans their is so much to be thankful for these men. One thing for sure, they were ready to get a little festive at the reception.
The ceremony was at St. Paul in Oakland. After that and few pictures on the steps of the church, we took a short walk to the famous Mellon Institute pillars for more pics. The overcast skies that were soon to become snow clouds, made for some soft beautiful light.
Lisa and Ryan are off to Hawaii for honeymoon. Have fun!!!

Emily and Michael's Ft. Lauderdale wedding by Cal Landau Photography

2011-10-22T06:33:00.000-07:00

It was great being able to photograph another couple from Pittsburgh in Florida. This is getting to be a regular thing and we like it.
Emily and Michael now live in Ft. Lauderdale and we have had a some fun conversations talking about the "Burgh"
As usual, Marty did a fab job of Emily and the bridesmaids hair.
Emily and Michael had the ceremony and reception at the Harbor Beach Marriot in Ft. Lauderdale. The ceremony was supposed to be on the beach, but
40-50 mph winds and driving rain made a change of plans. The hotel made no delay of moving everything indoors.
Fourtunately we were able to get outside during a lull to take a couple pics after we forced the doors open being held clsed by the wind. Thank you Emily and Michael for being such troupers.
The newlyweds are off to Italy for honeymoon and are sending great pictures back.

Luara and Jamie, by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach, Fl.

2011-09-22T07:22:00.000-07:00

It was a real pleasure photographing Laura and Jamie in exciting South Beach at the well known Victor hotel. We had great times talking since Laura is also from Pittsburgh and they were just so easy to be with. Marty did her usual magic making a beautiful bride even more so, not to mention the brides maids and Tiffany's mother, all beautiful. After getting ready in the very large penthouse suite over looking South Beach and the Atlantic Ocean, they moved up to the roof for the ceremony. It was actually very easy to work there with some great angles and of course the Miami skyline. Then a well arranged reception on the terrace. Thank you Laura and Jamie, it has been an honor.

Nicole and Justin's wedding by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach Fl.

2011-08-26T05:46:00.000-07:00

This is a fusion video of my daughter, Nicole and my new son, Justin's wedding in Peacefull Valley in Estes Park Colorado. It was on top of a mountain 10,000 ft. A beautiful setting with perfect weather. The Band is
HOT GAZPACHO, who I used for the sound tract. They are friends of Nicole and Justin and live in Ft. Collins. Justin even took a great turn at the drums.

Beauty Heals, Rachel's make over, by Cal Landau Phtography, Palm Beach, Florida

2011-07-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

Beauty Heals was formed by well known make up artist, Donna Kelly to help women who have had issues with their image. Through proper makeup, hair styling and clothing, she has shown that a complete transformation can be made in looks and attitude.

Hona and Tim by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach Florida.

2011-07-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

Hona and Tim are not only friends, they are also members of the Palm Beach Sailing Club with us. We have had them on our Boat, Carpe Vita and we really enjoy seeing them.
Hona started at the Hilton Garden In in Palm Beach Gardens. Marty did hers and her bridesmaids hair there. We then left for St Patricks for the ceremony. From there we went to MacArthur Park on Singer Island. Inspite of the heat, everyone was fun and had a good time. After a few fun shots, went to the Magestic Princess for a cruise to Jupiter Fl and back, The weather was perfect.
Hona and Tim are off to Alaska for honeymoon.

Tiffany and Chance by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach, Florida

2011-07-27T09:11:00.001-07:00

Tiffany and Chance got ready at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh. Soon they were off to be married at St Epiffamy. From there, we were close to one of my favorite spots to shoot at a deserted railroad bridge on Smallman St near the Strip District. After a fun time with the whole group, we went to Jay Verno Studios for a beautiful reception. Thanks Tiffany and Chance!

Amy and Stephen by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach, Florida

2011-07-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

Amy and Stephen's wedding used all the top venues in Pittsburgh, Pa. They started at the Renaissance Hotel getting ready, then after a few photos in the area, the ceremony was helsd at Heinz Chapel in Oakland. We were happy the rains held as we next went to Carnegie Museum for a fabulas reception entertained by my favorite band, No Bad Ju Ju.

Coral and Louis by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach, Florida

2011-05-30T16:41:00.000-07:00

Coral and Louis met in high school and dated for a while. After they went their separate ways they met again when they started the same day on the same floor of FPL..
Coral got ready at the Frenchman's Reserve in Palm Beach Gardens Florida. It was also the reception site.
It was only a short drive to the St. Patricks for the ceremony then back to Frenchman's Reserve.
Another interesting tid bit was that Coral and Louis took dance lessons secretly so they could surprise their gusets. They did a good job of it.
Coral and Louis are currently touring Italy for their honeymoon and are sending some great picutres back on Facebook.

Petra and Jeff, by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach

2011-05-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

Few things are more fun than a beach wedding in Florida! Petra and Jeff were married at the Sheraton Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. Petra and her family are from Croatia and Jeff is a grad of West Point. We started early since Marty was doing Petra and her mothers hair and makeup. I must say, they looked great all day. We really enjoyed the Croatian tradition of buying the bride and their enthusiasm for soccer. Petra and Jeff are on the way toSt. Lucia on a cruise ship for honeymoon. To see more of our work, go to www.callandau.com.

Chrissy and Brian's wedding by Cal Landau photography, Palm Beach

2011-04-21T16:00:00.000-07:00

Chrissy and Brian's wedding started at Station Square in Pittsburgh.
This was a great day for us since Marty did the hair and makeup.

http://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?ns=1&video_id=W5Y1FvTmTQM&next=%2Fmy_videos

Flying over the water in a Rave Trimaran by Cal Landau Photography

2010-12-13T17:01:00.000-08:00

I have been talking to the owner of this trimaran for months about doing this project. I knew I could do a great video of this Rave foiled trimaran.
What is special about this boat is that when it gets up to speed, it lifts up out of the water on foils, greatly reducing the drag.
I had intended to do some out of boat shooting also, but the high winds and cool conditions kept us from that.
Ihe winds were very unpredictable and gusting to over 25 knots, but Olivier is a fantastic sailor and had us going over wind speed often. It was a real thrill and when we got up in the air, everything got smoother and the wind howled by us.
Thanks for a great time Olivier!

Rave sailing trimaran flying on water by Cal Landau Photography from Cal Landau on Vimeo.

Wirth Monroe Ocean Race 2010 by Cal Landau Photography

2010-12-05T20:10:00.000-08:00

Wirth Monroe Ocean Race started at Ft, Lauderdale and finished at the inlet at Palm Beach, Lake Worth. Sailfish Club has been a sponsor for years and provided awards and a fantastic seafood buffet.
Some of the best sailboat racing teams in the world were there including tp52 team Quantum and Bill Koch's 72 ft T Time.
The second day was 3 races around the buoys on the Atlantic side of Palm Beach and it was a beautiful day for racing.
We took Carpe Vita, our catamaran out with friends from the Palm Beach Sailing Club, and it proved to be a great platform for spectating and photography. I also jumped in the dingy to get a few shots up close and took some video with the GoPro.

Wirth Monroe Ocean Race 2010 from Cal Landau on Vimeo.

Amy and Casey by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach, Florida

2010-10-26T19:03:00.000-07:00

This was my 10.10.10 wedding and it was very special. Amy and Casey had their wedding at Omphoy House in Palm Beach Florida. A great venue on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean. Always my favorite. I must say that they were like working with models as you will see in the Fusion Video. I also have to make a comment on the Rabbi who was very great to work with and funny. Thanks Amy and Casey!

Sarah and Jared by Cal Landau Photography Palm Beach, Florida

2010-10-01T14:32:00.000-07:00

I never had a chance to meet Sarah and Jared before the wedding, but they where immediately easy to work with. Their families where fun and loving.
We started at Sarah's father's beautiful home in Murrysville and the ceremony was close by at Sorrowful Mother.
We then went to the Pittsburgh strip district on Smallman st under an abandoned railroad bridge for some pics after getting off a Molly's Trolly.
The reception was at the Omni William Penn Grand Ballroom., always spectacular.
Thanks Sarah and Jared, have fun in Hawaii!!!

Sarah and Jared from Cal Landau on Vimeo.

Jillian and Yiannis by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach, Florida

2010-09-08T14:15:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, Marty and I did Jillian and Yiannis' engagement portrait at one of my favorite places, Vizcaya in Miami. It was scorching hot and Marty had do do Jillian's hair and make up in a tiny bathroom there. Then we found we had only 45 minutes to shoot. Amazingly, we got the shoot in and we had a great time doing it. I knew then that the wedding was going to be fun.
They got ready at the Biltmore hotel in Coral Gables and Marty did the girl's hair and makeup, then we went to St Sophia for the ceremony and Coco Plum Woman's Club for the reception.
I love cultural weddings, but this one was extra special. Jillian is from Dominca and Yiannis is

Jillian and Yiannis from Cal Landau on Vimeo.

from Greece. What a wonderful experience. Thanks Jillian and Yiannis!

Chrissy and Brian by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach, Florida

2010-08-26T16:37:00.000-07:00

Chrissy and Brian where married at Incarnation Church in Pittsburgh and the reception was at Station Square.
The weather was a little iffy, but in spite of running late at the ceremony, we had time to take a few fun pics and video at the Smithfield Bridge, one of my favorite spots in Pittsburgh.
Marty did Chrissy and her mother's hair and air brush make up, and they looked wonderful.
Chrissy and Brian had many friends from CMU, a great party group at any wedding.
I also loved the mix of Irish Bagpipe at the ceremony and Latin music at the reception.
Thanks Chrissy and Brian!

Allison and Chris by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach, Florida

2010-07-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

Allison and Chris where married at the Mansion at Maple Heights in Pittsburgh Pa. This is a new place for me and I must say it was awesome. A beautiful venue, both inside and outside. I also have to give credit to Le Creme the caterer also. Great work.
Thanks Allison and Chris!

Allison and Chris's Wedding from Cal Landau on Vimeo.

BMW ULTIMATE EVENT, by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach, Florida

2010-07-15T17:36:00.000-07:00

Just before I flew to Pittsburgh to shoot Allison and Chris's wedding, I got a call from a great former client who asked if I was available to shoot the BMW Ultimate Event at Bobby Rahal BMW in Canonsburg, Pa, a couple days late. I said "You Betcha"!
What fun this was. They compared the 5 series BMWs against, same market, Mercedes, Audi's and a couple other cars. I almost bought a car! Check out the automatic parking feature!

BMW Ultimate Event from Cal Landau on Vimeo.

Katie and Karl by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach, Florida

2010-07-14T17:57:00.000-07:00

Katie and Karl had a very unique idea for their wedding. First, they decided to have the wedding on July 4th and they decided to have it on Peanut Island in Palm Beach, Fl.
Having a summer wedding outside in Florida is sometimes a risk with weather, but it is always fantastic.
The forecast was thunderstorms all day but it held as everyone was ferried to Peanut Island. The wedding party and the planner, Stephanie and Devin from Mr. & Mrs. Wedding set up everything in a little over an hour.
I had a great time taking pics at the old Coast Guard station on the island. Then the ceremony was held on the southern edge of the island. The pending storm held off till the last minute, so beautiful.
After a great dinner and great music, the weather got better but foggy, still we able to see fireworks from West Palm.
Great night.
Thanks Katie and Karl!

Katie and Karl from Cal Landau on Vimeo.

Laura and Logan, by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach, Florida

2010-07-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

Laura and Logan where Married at the Four Seasons Resort in Palm Beach Florida. Even though the weather all week was great, wedding morning was another story. 40 mph winds and rain moved the ceremony from the beach to the inside.
Fortunately, The Four Seasons is very accommodating for photography with a couple floors with large windows. I was also blessed with a great looking, fun loving group who took it all in stride.
Thanks Laura and Logan!

Luara and Logan's Wedding from Cal Landau on Vimeo.

Alanda and Pipp, by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach, Florida

2010-06-19T12:01:00.001-07:00

I think you will see in one of the frames on the video, it was an interesting day, the air temp was 98, but it was actually not that bad after the cloud cover and wind came in. It was for me, ideal. Alanda and Pip are from Texas but decided to get married at the Marriot on Singer Island. Professional Event Planning of the Palm Beaches did the whole layout and did a great job with all the challenges. The ceremony was held on the beach and even though it was a little windy, it was perfect light for me to work with. Thanks Alanda and Pip!

Amy and Dan, by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach, Florida

2010-06-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

It was fun to go to Pier 66 in Ft Lauderdale. It is a popular wedding spot, but it was the first time we where there shooting a wedding. Actually, Marty won her first hair design and style award there in the late 70's! Marty of course did all the hair and the girls looked great and where alot of fun and Kylie, their daughter, was a thrill to photograph. Marty and I also agreed that Amy's gown was one of the best wedding gowns we have seen. We really enjoyed the view and all the beautiful people at the reception. Thanks Amy, Dan and Kylie!

Jana and Aaron, by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach, Florida

2010-06-11T15:07:00.000-07:00

We started this wedding at the beautiful Harzell House B&B in Addison Pa. on Old rt 40. A great setting for a wedding. There where a few storms in the morning and then just settled into a slow drizzle the rest of the day. The light was flat most of the time but the colors where great to work with and being able to walk back and forth from the B&B, the church and the reception was a thrill. I wish all weddings could do this. Jana is Marty's niece and of course Marty did all the hair again and the airbrush make up. Jana and Aaron live in Austin Texas. This was a real "down home" feeling wedding and Jana and Aaron looked great. Thanks Jana and Aaron, we had a very memorable time and hope you had fun in Costa Rica!

Alisa and Amato, by Cal Landau Photography, Palm Beach, Florida

2010-06-08T06:48:00.000-07:00

Alisa and Amato got married and had their reception at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh. After the outdoor ceremony the wedding party toughed it out for the walk down to the beautiful Smithfield St bridge for a couple pics. Then it was back to the cool air of the reception and some serious partying. Thank you Alisa and Amato, it was a blast!

Liz and Wes

2010-06-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

After Elise's graduation in Chicago we drove to Pittsburgh and back to Cleveland for Liz and Wes's (Marty's son)wedding. This is the first time I met Liz's family and I must say that I like them as much as Liz. They live in Beautiful Hudson Ohio. The wedding was held at a church in Hudson then we drove to the Arcade in Cleveland. What a beautiful venue for a wedding. It was built in 1890. I was a little jealous of Barb and Steve Barry who photographed the wedding, even though they did a fab job. Liz and Wes are off to Italy for honeymoon. This is the first time I did a complete video with no music, I think it really puts you back at the wedding.

Lindsey and Tom

2010-05-08T18:07:00.000-07:00

What! A surprise wedding? How do you do it? Lindsey and Tom came up with a great idea. Have an engagement party at the Loggerhead Marina in Riviera Beach, and change into wedding clothes during the party. But it's not that easy. They had to have help. They chose Lindsey's mom then they had her uncle take an online officiant test. He didn't even tell his wife! I was there as a photographer they "might" hire for their wedding later. It worked great! The look on everyones face and the screams where worth it. Good job Lindsey and Tom and thank you for letting me be apart of your big surprise.

Caitlin and Austin's Wedding

2010-04-29T03:45:00.000-07:00

What a great day for a wedding, perfect weather and a perfect setting. Caitling and the girls got ready at Catilin's parent's beautiful Vero Beach home. Marty and Chris did all the girls hair and Caitlins makeup. They all looked stunning. The ceremony was at Vero Beach Community Church. There was a cool looking courtyard where we did some great pics. The reception was just as beautiful and we enjoyed a great sunset before the dancing and speeches. Caitlin and Austin are off to St. Bart for honeymoon. Thank you Caitlin and Austin, we enjoyed you and all your family and friends.

Annette and Ricardo's Wedding

2010-04-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

This was truly a beautiful experience on a day that was threatening thunderstorms all around the area. They planned on an outdoor wedding at Annette's parents beautiful new home in Boynton Beach, Fl. All their prayers where answered and in spite of a few drops before the wedding, all was clear with very comfortable weather the rest of the day. This was the first event I incorporated still and HD video and it was a perfect way to record this special wedding. I especially liked Annettes beautiful singing. Thanks Annette and Ricardo, you where great, have a good time in Jamaica! PS: Look at the strings on the harp.

Jessica and Tino's wedding

2010-03-31T15:24:00.000-07:00

Jessica and Tino chose an early wedding ceremony at Corral Gables Congregational and a reception at Rusty Pelican in Miami. The weather in S. Fla has been a little weird but this was one of the most perfect days of the year. The light and dry air was a real blessing for this wonderful couple. Marty did Jessica and her mother's hair in a very short time, and they looked fab. Then Marty backed me up and got some great images. Thanks Jessica and Tino!

Jill and Doug's wedding

2010-03-11T18:00:00.000-08:00

Parking and logistics can be a challenge in South Beach, but it is always worth it.
Jill and Doug got ready at the Clinton Hotel then bussed everyone to the beach at Southpoint. We had to race the light but the scene was beautiful and the weather perfect.
We had to hurry to get the last of the light, but it was easy because Jill and Doug where such naturals and just had a ball.
After the beach we went to Hotel Victor for some fun on the roof.
Thanks Jill and Doug, we had a blast!

Rakhi and Neil's Engagment Portrait

2010-02-25T07:42:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful day this was on Key Biscayne! Rakhi and Neil looked fab and the weather and light was perfect.
We did a little in the Bill Braggs Park, but the lighthouse was my fav.
Check out the one picture on the beach, there is an Osprey in the backgorund who just caught a fish!

Chrissy and Brian's Engagement session.

2010-02-19T13:50:00.000-08:00

Marty and I love to go to South Beach, and best of all we love to shoot there.
We are shooting Chrissy and Brian's wedding in Pittsburgh, but they where in Miami with family and wanted their pictures done there. Sure beats 2 feet of snow!
Marty did the hair and makeup on Chrissy and she looked great.
Can't wait for the wedding!

Caitlin and Austin's Engagement session

2010-01-22T07:11:00.000-08:00

Marty and I drove down to SoBe to meet Caitlin and Austin for their engagement session. They where great looking and fun and after we stopped to have a little wine at one of the restaurants on Ocean ave, we had even more fun! The light improved as the sun was getting lower and they relaxed had much more fun.
I wish we could do this for all our clients, it really helps us get familiar with each other. Thanks Caitlin and Austin, we can't wait for the wedding.

New Years Cruise 2010

2010-01-10T17:22:00.000-08:00

What a fantastic end to the decade! We had Christmas dinner on Lake Silvia with friends Lisa and Gary and Shiela and Chris on their boats. Then we picked up Nicole and Justin and Liz and Wes in Miami to sail to Key West for a New Years celebration which included a Blue Moon! This was a real dream for Marty and I. We are so blessed to have spent such a fun time with all our children.

Jennifer and Drew's Wedding

2009-11-12T14:48:00.000-08:00

Jennifer and Drew were married at the Marriott in West Palm Beach but wanted to get some outdoor photography before the ceremony in Palm Beach at the Four Arts Gardens. What a beautiful place. They are honeymooning in Aruba.

Thanks Jenn and Drew!

Kristin and Jonathan's wedding.

2009-11-11T16:47:00.000-08:00

Kristin and Jonathan were married at Frenchman's Reserve in Palm Beach Gardens. It was a great venue for some beautiful images at the entrance and on the golf course. The ceremony was outside and even though it was a little windy, the light was fantastic. We had a very short time to shoot after but we still got some great images.

Te DJ's where from Entertainment Connections. I must say that they where one of the best DJ's I have ever seen, getting people out to dance, One of the DJ's was dancing on one hand!

Kristin and Jonathan are on there way to Hawaii for honeymoon.

Thanks Kristin and Jonathan!!

Judy and Raymonds wedding.

2009-10-30T13:00:00.001-07:00

Judy and Raymond where hoping for a beach wedding across from the Crown Plaza Hotel in Hallandale, Fl, but a few rain showers in the morning nixed the idea. Still, the hotel Raymond, who is a DJ himself set up under the beautiful Palm trees behind the hotel.
Fortunately it never rained again and we had a little time to do some pics at the Intracoastal waterway while it was getting dark.
Judy and Raymond where great hosts and we really enjoyed the Jamaican music.
Thanks Judy and Raymond!

Ana and Mike's Wedding

2009-10-14T05:21:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful day with great weather in Pittsburgh. Ana and Mike got ready at the Downtown Marriot and the ceremony was at St Epiphany across the street. The light was fantastic and I was able to get a few shots with the red brick church in the background.
After the ceremony, we went to Duquesne University where we where allowed to the gardens and the late afternoon light was perfect.
We then went to The Power Center, a new venue that had a great view of the Pittsburgh skyline in the windows.
Ana and Mike are off to the Turks and Caicos for honeymoon. Have a great time!

Deana and Jim's Wedding

2009-10-02T08:52:00.000-07:00

Just because it's raining all day in Pittsburgh doesn't mean you can't have fun, and fun is what Deana and Jim's wedding was.
The wedding was at their beautiful home in Murrysville, Pa. The crew from "All In Good Taste" did a fantastic job setting up tents, tables and decorations. They also did a splendid job of the food. Dean and Jim also picked one of my favorite bands, "River City Brass Band".
Thank you Deana and Jim, all the best!

Maranda and John's wedding

2009-09-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

Wow, was the weather, locations and Bride and groom great! Maranda and John have a beautiful restored Tudor on S. Aiken in Shadyside, Pittsburgh. Maranda was a thrill to work with and the beautiful open spaces and wood where a dream. After working around the house with Maranda and all the girls we went to possibly my favorite church, Sacred Heart in Shadyside. The light is always perfect, the only problem, the walk down the isle is longer than most honeymoons!
After a beautiful ceremony we went to another classic venue, Pittsburgh Field House in Fox Chapel. With beautiful skies and a great view, we did a few pics with family and bridal party.
The entertainment was provided by the Jason Kendall Band, they did a fantastic job.
Maranda and John are off to Italy on honeymoon. Have fun, take lots of pics!

M J Landau, May 19, 1927-Aug 25, 2009

2009-09-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

I want to say that I lost my mother last week but I didn't. I have her forever in my heart. I know we had similar feelings on life and the world and I know she was ready to move on to what is next. Mom was very alert right up to the last day. One of the last things she said was "I'm tired of this." Her body was letting her down. She chose to no longer go though any support or kidney dialysis. She passed when all of her children where there three hours after I flew in to Pittsburgh. She passed smiling.

Mom was not only one of the countries top painters she was even better as a pastel portrait artist. We tend to take for granted how great the people around us are and I was reminded of her greatness the day after she passed and we where looking through some of her work. I have always said that I missed the gift she had with her eye and hand with a brush or pencil to do her talking. I always tried to do the same with a camera. We both believed that we wanted to show scenes of places we or someone else would like to be or feel.

MJ was a mother of 5, an artist, a councilor and even up to last minute a comedian. When asked if she wanted to be cremated she replied "Not until I'm dead please!"

Thank you mom for all you have given us, I am sure your energy will be in a great place and you will be even happier.

I attached a couple paintings that I have over my desk. I was on the larger boat that belonged to my grandfather in Bimini of which this scene is.

Elizabeth and Alex's Wedding

2009-08-21T13:26:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth and Alex are from Virginia but decided to have the wedding at Elizabeth's hometown of Indiana, Pa. The weather could not have been more perfect.
We started early since Marty did Elizabeth and a couple of the girl's hair. Off to the church on time and it was a beautiful ceremony and Marty was able to get some great shots from the balcony which was beside the alter instead of the back.
After the church we went straight to Indiana Country Club and had fun out on the golf course.
Once inside, I was very happy to see that the band was Matt Ferrante and Modern Times along with singer extraordinaire Leah Boni whose wedding I photographed a couple years ago. This team is one of the top bands in Pittsburgh and they are always fun.
Elizabeth and Alex where off to Aruba the next day!
Have fun guys!

Sara and John's Wedding

2009-08-10T05:54:00.000-07:00

I first met Sara and John at Jennifer and Jesse's wedding a year or so ago. As I have always said, it's great to see familiar people at a wedding.
Sara and John's ceremony was at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh and the reception was at the Renaissance Hotel just a block away. Both are beautiful locations and with the great weather, it made for some fun times taking pictures. The only challenge was the Pirate game. The streets where crowded with fans.
I really enjoyed the classic tuxes the groomsmen wore and Sara's gown that accented her red shoes.
Thanks Sara and John!

Rogers Family

2009-08-02T15:50:00.001-07:00

The Rogers are from Scottsdale Arizona and came to the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach Florida with their very cute kids. Sara had them dressed in bright coral dresses which really stood out in the seascape. One of my favorite images is the one of the two girls on the croquet court posing like the old Three Stooges as "Golf Pros".

The Awtrey Family

2009-08-02T15:32:00.000-07:00

The Awtreys came from Dallas to the Ritz Carlton in Palm Beach for some Florida sun and beach. They said the service at the Ritz was top notch. The weather was a little dark but we still had a great shoot.

Lisa and Derrick's Wedding

2009-07-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

Yes, it was a hot one at the PGA Club in Port St. Lucie Florida for Lisa and Derrick's wedding. Inspite of having to sit in the sun on a 93+ day, no one complained about the heat, even family from New York.

We all Know, marriage is about compromise, but Lisa and Derrick, had it down already. Derrick wanted a beach wedding and Lisa wanted something more formal. The compromise? The guys wore beach sandals! Very cool, especially for Derrick who decided not to wear a cast on his foot which he just broke in 3 places in a jet ski accident.

Traxx Entertainment did the DJ work and the food at PGA was great!

Lisa and Derrick are off to Key West, Dry Tortuga and back to Orlando to take the kids to Disney.

Thanks Lisa and Derrick!

Rama and Fady's Wedding

2009-06-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

Another great Pittsburgh wedding, or should I say New Castle, Youngstown, Pittsburgh wedding. Marty and I started at the homes and did the long trip to Pittsburgh and St. Mary's of the Mount on Mt. Washington. The weather couldn't have been more perfect, but the traffic definitely could have been better. Everyone was a little late. After the wedding ceremony, we had time to do some photography over looking the city and to the traditional Mellon Pillars.
The reception at Station Square Sheridan was one of the most extravagant I have ever seen and included a fabulous dance show.
Thanks Rama and Fady!

Erin and Jason's Wedding

2009-06-25T07:58:00.000-07:00

It was great to fly to Pittsburgh and have great weather two weeks in a row. I met Erin and Jason at Christina and Ryan's wedding last year it was great to see everyone again. Erin and Jason's ceremony was in Mt Lebanon and reception was at the Renaissance Hotel downtown. It was great to have alot of time to photograph at a couple locations in town. They are going to Bali for honeymoon.

Thanks Erin and Jason!

Indira and Giovanni's Wedding

2009-06-09T04:24:00.001-07:00

This is why I love to shoot weddings in Miami. Indira and Giovanni where both beautiful and they where great to work with. As usual, I wish I had more time. The reception was also a mix of great energy and great music. Thanks Indira and Giovanni!

Linda and Justin's Wedding

2009-06-02T13:16:00.001-07:00

Linda and Justin got ready at the Beautiful Westin Diplomat in Hollywood Fl. They then boarded the Grand Floridian Cruise ship for a sunset wedding. In spite of a close call with rain, everything went great including a well timed rainbow. After a great dinner, their friends and family partied until midnight.

Thanks Linda and Justin!

Erin and Jason engagement portrait

2009-05-30T07:07:00.000-07:00

Erin and Jason's wedding is coming up June 20th in Pittsburgh and when I was there last week we did their portrait session which we will have an album for the reception at the Renaissance Hotel. As you can see in the photos we had a great time and they were very easy to shoot. Can't wait for the wedding!

Maggie and Kieth's Wedding

2009-05-30T05:17:00.001-07:00

Maggie and Kieth had their wedding on the beach at Port St. Lucie, Fl. It was a small wedding with friends and family but it sure wasn't boring. The weather forecast was a little unsure, but when everyone saw the massive storm clouds coming from the north, they moved the ceremony to "right away"! The officiant cut right to the job at hand and the ceremony was over fast enough that we had a little time to shoot with the beautiful light provided by the storm.
Thanks Maggie and Kieth!

Alison and Rich's Wedding

2009-05-29T14:45:00.001-07:00

This was a very special wedding. I photographed two of Alison's sister's weddings, Kari and Jodi. I love to do weddings of friends and family of former brides, but the Kroons are a special family and it was great to see them again. It was also great that Marty did some of the girls hair and worked with me shooting also
The ceremony was in Irwin Pa. and the reception was at the Summit Inn in the Pa mountains. The iffy weather made for some dramatic shots overlooking the valley.
Thanks Alison and Rich!

Matisha and Christian's Wedding

2009-05-27T07:24:00.001-07:00

Matisha and Christian, decided to take friends and Family on a cruise to Nassau Bahamas and get married on the beach at Sunrise Beach. There was a real threat of bad weather, but all was well. After shooting on the beach we went to town to make use of the last of the light.
Thank you Matisha and Christian!

Talulah's first swim

2009-04-30T18:08:00.000-07:00

We had no land commitments, so we sailed to Elliot Key for a couple days with Diane and Mike on "Express Mail". We spent 3 days there and it was great to relax and work on albums.

Talula had her first swim here, taught by Skipper.

We sailed back today at 8 knots, great fun.

Lise and Dean's Wedding

2009-04-26T18:51:00.001-07:00

Lise and Dean came from London to have their wedding in SoBe. This was a great format. We started with a meeting at the Delano in South Beach and on Tuesday we photographed them getting their marriage licence. After that, we took them on a short tour of Miami.
They reserved the Penthouse, and the ceremony was held in the room with a beautiful view of the ocean. It took a little while to get permission to photograph at the pool. We where very honored to be their guests.
With a day off to enjoy their first day married, on Thursday they rented a Corvette and we toured Miami and Key Biscayne. We even stopped at "Jimbos".
On Saturday we took them to the airport, and I must say that we will miss them and I hope we can see them again in London or here again.
Thank you Lise and Dean.

Liesbeth and Dean 1st day

2009-04-19T19:13:00.000-07:00

We had a great time meeting Liesbeth and Dean in SoBe tonight. We just had a drink to discuss their ideas for the week. They are from London and we are going to document their week here in Miami including their wedding on Wednesday. We love doing this sort of idea. Tomorrow we are going to get the Marriage License. I will try to keep up with this everyday..

Caley and Michael in Key Largo April 6

2009-04-08T01:43:00.001-07:00

The dress for Caley and Michael's wedding was casual, but bring extra casual clothes!
Caley's family came to Key Largo in their families 1960 bus that they have been using for years to make the trek from Michigan to their other home in Key Largo.
The area was decorated in what is the usual for the Florida Keys, bright colors and ocean decor.
After a beautiful ceremony, dinner was served in one of the over hangs on the property and then the wedding party got onto a sailboat that was anchored just off the property and they all jumped into the canal. But it wasn't long before nearly the whole guest list was in the water! Some where even jumping off the boat house! Great fun. Thanks for a very memorable time Caley and Michael.

Sailing with Cindy and Brett Tyler

2009-03-29T07:33:00.000-07:00

We have been sitting at anchor a little to long and it was so great to sail with good friends Cindy and Brett Tyler. They are not only good friends, they are great photographers. http://www.bretttyler.com/. Of course we spent alot of time "talking shop". We are all very grateful of the wonder full work we have to do.

It was a very windy day, so I put in a reef in the main and we went out on Biscayne Bay for a big dose of fresh air.

Carpe Vita did great, we had alot of fun dicing around with some of the racers out there. Something special about passing race boats with the crews hanging over the side while we where baking cookies in the oven and reeling in a 30+ inch Spanish Mackerel!

When we returned Marty made clam and shrimp Linguini while we had Sushi and grilled Mackerel. . A very memorable day with a few of the "neighbors" Dropping in, including one friend who really dropped in when getting back on his dingy!

Blair and Adam

2009-03-15T15:30:00.001-07:00

A great day in So Fl as usuall. Best of all, the timing for light was excellent!

Talula at the beach!

2009-02-19T17:37:00.001-08:00

Talula went nuts tonight on the beach.

Masters Championship Slide Show

2009-02-08T08:06:00.001-08:00

Palm Beach Sailing Club Laser Masters

2009-02-07T19:39:00.000-08:00

We are members of the Palm Beach sailing club and it has been wonderful spending time with such a great group of adventurous people.
Today and tomorrow they are hosting the Florida Laser Masters Championship. It was a real learning experience for me. I have photographed a few sailboat races, it is so fun with all the compositions, colors and action. This time it was a little different. I spent more time trying to stay dry than anything, but I did get a few fun shots off.
I was on the Safety boat, which is what we did most of the time. Rescue tired competitors who had to take a break from the incredible effort it took to right their boats after flipping over in some very tough conditions. There was a couple times when the Coast Guard, Sea Tow, Towboat US, Sheriff and West Palm Beach Police had come to the scene. Fortunately, we where able to save every competitor situation without their help. Mostly with the help of Joe Fields and his son, Eric. Eric jumped in the water to help 3 competitors recover.
Unfortunately the club lost one official boat due to the rough seas.
I went away from this experience, totally impressed with the tenacity of the competitors and the calm professionalism of the sailing club. I also learned how to balance myself in 6 foot seas to shoot and keep the camera dry while mountains of water was splashing through the boat.

Sample Slide Show

2009-01-31T16:20:00.001-08:00

Francoise and Talula's trip to Key West

2009-01-31T16:10:00.001-08:00

Francoise tells of her charter to Key West

2009-01-31T16:00:00.000-08:00

Francoise is an old friend of Marty's from way back. She is from Paris and here is what she said about our trip from Maimi to Key West and back.
"We sailed the first day to Elliot Key and enjoyed a fantastic sunset all alone. The next day we sailed a very long day on Hawks Channel to Long Key at Channel 5. We spent some of our day learning about Simply Sugar Systems a hair removal product that Marty and Cal are selling.
Marty loves to make people look good and feel good both inside and out. Sharing her experience and knowledge with her Spa and Salon background. She sugared the hair off my legs and did an amazing eyebrow arch and a new updated hairdo to go back to Paris with, I’m so happy.
We anchored as the sunset just south of the Bridge. We waited for low tide to clear the bridge the next day at 2 pm. The anticipation of clearing the bridge was amazing for me. To see us go under with only inches, we were clear and safe. We proceeded north.
It made me realize the importance of the Captain, Cal made me feel secure knowing what ever happened we would be ok. He did what needed to be done, changing the belt on the starboard engine, fixing the jib and main sheet, what ever it took to have us sailing as fast as we could. Most of the time we were going around 4 to 5 knots. That is an important part of being on the ocean and enjoying the experience.
We anchored the next night at Lorelei in Islamorada where we had dinner, listened to island music and had a Margarita while watching the sunset. The next morning because I wanted to see Key West we jumped on 3 buses to get there, but oh, the breakfast with chickens and roosters at Blue Heaven made it all worth it. Talula was so good on buses, she loved Key West and yes people thought she was just the cutest little white fluff ball in town.
We walked down Duval Street, and vistited Archaio Gallery, Marty and Cal photographed Wendy, the owners wedding in 2007.
We went shopping all day and had a drink at Sloopy Joe’s and Margaritaville. What a day, the people we met……….a memory not to be forgotten.
We left the next morning dodging all the lobster pots.
I had a head massage while having a shampoo off the sugar scoop of the starboard side of the boat. It was a relaxing moment.
I loved when Cal navigated through the sand bars and the mangroves while coming north. I loved to see the wildlife here, we saw dolphins by the boat, cormorants on the channel markers, different birds in the mangroves like egrets, blue herons, osprey nests, and pelicans.
We anchored that night at pumpkin key. It was the most beautiful sunset with the moon and stars reflecting in the very still water. That night we had lobster on the grill and champagne with candlelit on the veranda.
While we were sailing Marty and I practiced some Yoga we did Sun-Salutations on the front next to the Sails. What a place to do yoga!!! Marty likes to nurture and make you feel loved.
We arrived back in Miami, sailing for the whole day to Coconut Grove, the weather was so perfect while we had the sun and the wind to sail our catamaran right into the mooring field where we anchored Carp’e Vita.
We went to Key Biscayne to finish the adventure and walked through Bill Baggs State Park. We climbed to the top of the light house, it was just the best view of the whole Miami area When we came back to the boat we stopped and bought snapper at the fishing boats in Crandon Park where I saw my first Manatee(sea cow). We had a squall on our way back to the boat wind and rain so we stayed in for the night and watched movies.
Catamaran’s lend to a very private area to live for a week giving you your own space. It also has an open area to entertain, Carpe Vita is a very nice boat to spend time on.
It was both and happy and sad to have had a fabulous week on the Florida water that I didn’t know before. I’m going home with my mind full of intense feeling of gratitude. The best souvenir."

Pearson Family Portrait

2009-01-26T07:47:00.001-08:00

Pearson-Chandler Family Jan 18

2009-01-21T10:28:00.001-08:00

For those who have followed my blog, you may recognize Karen, Chris and Ella from my "Life on Water" series. They live on their large sailboat in Coconut Grove and they just had another baby, Charlotte.
They asked me to photograph Karen's family and I was blessed to do so. We did the shoot in Deerfield Beach.
Thanks Pearson and Chandler Family!

Introducing Talullah!!!!!!!

2009-01-09T10:41:00.000-08:00

I am sure many of you have had lost something as special as Chloe was to us. We struggled for sometime. Still, we knew that someday we wanted another dog to fill some of the void. Marty and I decided that our Christmas present to each other was going to be another Maltese.

Boy, did we pick a winner. Talullah was born on Sept 26 08 and she is so full of fun and energy.

We are staying at the condo for a week or so, so she get's used to us before we introduce her to the boat.

Talullah is a real ankle biter, really, that's what she is doing now while I try to write this. Looks like I have to spend another half hour playing when I am done here!

Jamie and Eric's Wedding Jan 3

2009-01-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

Jamie and Eric where married at Fairchild Gardens in Coral Gables. It was great to stay on the boat after the New Year party and I could have walked to Mutiny Hotel, where Jamie and the girls where getting ready, across the street from the dingy dock.

The weather was very comfortable and of course the Gardens are beautiful. We had a very leisure time taking a few pics of everyone before the wedding. It was good to do it then since it was dark shortly after the ceremony which was held in a heavy wooded area.

After the ceremony, the partying and dancing started and I was beginning to wonder if they where going to skip dinner! They didn't but they sure got back to the action after dinner!

Thanks Jamie and Eric!

Happy New Year!!!

2009-01-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

We sailed Carpe Vita down to Miami with Elise, Marty's daughter and her friend Stephanie. The conditions where not the smoothest, but there was no complaints. We even caught a Blue fin Tuna on the way. Made great sushi and dinner for 4 for two days!
Last year we met Lisa and Gary on their new Admiral Catamaran in Miami and had a great time. We hoped we would see them again and when they told us they will be in Miami for New Years with a couple other Admiral owners, we couldn't resist.
We rafted our boats together and caught up on the latest. Lisa and Gary's boat was hit by lightning over the summer and ruined the electronics. After a serious amount of money, it is all back together and working great. We also told them we just got another Maltese dog named Talula. We are picking her up on this Sunday. I will post pics.
Marty took Lisa to see the dog the other day at the Doggie place and Lisa fell in love with another Maltese named George. I guess you know what happened, Lisa is on her way right now to pick up George as I am writing this. George will be going to the Bahamas with them when 2 of the Admirals cross on Sunday.
We wish we could be there but we are quite busy and won't have a break for a little while.
The pictures are from the party on the boat on New Years. Also there are a couple pics of Marty doing Lisa's hair and makeup.
Happy New Year!

Marcy and Jared's wedding Dec 27

2009-01-02T08:18:00.000-08:00

I first met Marcy and Jared at Jared's brother's wedding, Sarah and Damon. Both weddings where a hoot. A great sense of humor and just great fun to be with. I love to work with the families of former weddings. It's nice to catch up.

Marcy and Jared's wedding was in Greensburg, Pa. I was a little worried about the weather especially since I was coming from Fla. But I got to spend Christmas with my mother and family and inpite of some nasty weather when I got there, wedding day was a miracle. 68 degrees!

After the ceremony, it became dark rather quickly so we went to a fairgrounds with Christmas lights and had alot of fun making some unusual images.

Marcy and Jared are going to Vegas on their honeymoon. Have fun!!

Jill and Eddie's Wedding Dec 6

2008-12-11T08:06:00.000-08:00

Eddie contacted me a few months back and said they where searching for a photographer for their wedding probably in The Turks and Caicos. Marty and I where super excited, we love the Bahamas but never have been to the Turks. Unfortunately Hurricane Ike made that an impossibility.

Jill and Eddie then looked at Jamaica and The Ocean Club in Nassau where Marty and I where married. That also would have been good since we premised alot of people that we would see them again and haven't.

After considering all those things, Jill and Eddie decided to have the wedding near home at the Vanderbuilt Manson in Oakdale NY on Long Island. We where very happy that they still wanted us at the wedding. Marty and I have never seen anything of Long Island other than the Long Island Expressway. We went a day early and stayed at a bed and breakfast near the coast on Long Island Sound. What a beautiful place! We hope to be able to sail there someday.

One of the things we liked about Jill and Eddie is that they are sailors also and we had a great time swapping stories with them and their guests.

Jill traveled to the Manson in Eddies Father's beautiful Rolls Royce. I thought it was a great restoration, but in fact it was totally original!

It was a bit of a shock to our systems when it got cold on wedding day, but the wedding party where real troopers and did a great job when we went outside the Manson for pics.

Please check out Marty's work, she not only did pictures, she did all the girls hair and makeup.

We hope to get a chance to see Jill and Eddie again sailing!

Thanks Jill and Eddie for showing us a great time and showing the best part of Long Island.

Gonzalez Family Portrait, Palm Beach

2008-12-01T11:05:00.000-08:00

I was contacted by Andy Jr. who wanted give a gift of a portrait session to his parents for Christmas. How nice! They where a great looking family and the afternoon light on Palm Beach was great!n I really like the power of the panoramics.

McKibbin Family Portrait, Boynton Beach

2008-12-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

The McKibbin family live on Hypoluxo Island which is just across the water from our condo. We went to the Boynton Inlet for pictures. The kids are very talented artists, actors and singers!

Fedacsec Family Portrait, Miami

2008-12-01T10:53:00.000-08:00

I photographed Courtney and Joe's wedding a couple years ago in Miami and this is one of the most rewarding things for me when I get to photograph a growing family. I am very blessed to be able to see this and be able to photograph in Miami one day and Pittsburgh or someplace else the next day. What a contrast to the Peck family in Pittsburgh the previous week.

Courtney and Joe ordered a 14x40 Gallery Wrap Canvas that they love.

Peck Family Portrait Pittsburgh

2008-12-01T10:31:00.000-08:00

I photographed the Peck family back in October in Pittsburgh on one of those perfect fall days. The colors couldn't have been more perfect.

Michele has been a hair style client of Marty's for years and is a very good friend also. I must say the kids where a blast with their teasing and jokes.

The Panoramic looks great with the colors.

Christina and Ryan's Wedding Oct 25 08

2008-10-28T12:37:00.000-07:00

It was nice to do a traditional large Pittsburgh wedding. It's often hard work, but alot of fun. Chirstina and Ryan had the ceremony at Heinz Chapel and the reception at Heinz History Center. After the ceremony we went to the Mellon pillars, (I think it was my 5th time this year) and got some great shots before we went into the Strip District. The weather was beautiful, a little cold but the light and the colors in the trees was fantastic.

On the way into the Strip, I found a freshly painted blue building, great fun. After that we went under the railroad tressle and immediately ran into two photographers friends Steve Barry and Chris Gooden. We had a big laugh and talked about what a great day it was.

On to the reception where I found out that No Bad Ju Ju was playing. They are my favorite band. Mark and Sabrina said that they where going to visit us on the Catamaran next time they are in Miami.

It was also nice to work with Gordon Shue Video Productions. Gordon and his wife are very good and a pleasure to work with.

Christina are on their way to St. John. Have fun!

Jennifer and Scott's Wedding Oct 18

2008-10-22T07:09:00.000-07:00

It's great to come back to Pittsburgh when the weather is this good. It was a fall day, very clear and the locations where great.

Jennifer and Scott had their ceremony at Greenstone Church in Pittsburgh. It is one of those classic old churches that that town is famous for.

After the ceremony, we went to Riverview Park and had some fun with the fall colors.

Thanks Jennifer and Scott!

Hema nd Shay's Wedding Oct 5 08

2008-10-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

As any photographer will tell you, the most challenging weddings are Indian Weddings. In spite of the long hours and intense ceremonies, they can also be the most rewarding.

Hema and Shay had a Christian and Hindo ceremony. Shay's father officiated the Christian ceremony.

We weren't able to go far for pictures, but we didn't need to. Everything was at the Omni William Penn in Pittsburgh and there are plenty of opportunities.

Marty helped me with most of this wedding and got some great shots shooting high ISOs during the Hindu Ceremony.

Great fun and great food!

Thanks Hema and Shay!

Renee and Blake's Wedding Oct 4 08

2008-10-09T06:34:00.000-07:00

As you can tell, October is a crazy month for us, flying back and forth to Pittsburgh and with 2 double wedding weekends, but it has been worth it, what a great bunch of weddings.
As last week, the challenge was road closures. Renee and Blake's wedding was at James Center in McKees Rocks. This was Pittsburghs 250 th celebration with fireworks everywhere and many of the bridges and roads where closed. Renee and Blake had hoped to take a limo to a couple spots for pictures, but we soon realize it would be very hard.
I arrived a little early and decided to scout out an alternate location for photography. I was only a mile and a half away up a very steep hill when I found this beautiful carriage house. I knocked on the door of the house next door and this wonderful woman, Mary, greeted me. She was a little surprised that I liked the carriage house and gave me permission to use it and said I could go anywhere on her property including the gazebo and pond. Wonderful!
When I got back, I found all my favorite vendors there. Cheryl Bakin of Parkway Florist, DJ Mark Tishko and Larry Goida as the officiant. What a great day.
We got time after the wedding to go to the site and we had a blast. The wedding party had me laughing the whole time.
There where a few glitches with the hall but it was a fun night.
Thanks Renee and Blake!

Karolyn and Luis's Wedding Sept 27,08

2008-10-09T06:22:00.000-07:00

Karolyn and Luis's wedding had one of those typical Pittsburgh wedding challenges. Yes, traffic and road closures. They got married in Murrysville and the reception was at Edgewood Country Club in Swissvale. Of course the Parkway was closed one way and one lane the other. What a nightmare! They so wanted to go into Pittsburgh to do some photos, but wisely decided to just go for it at the club. It worked out great. There was alot of rain clouds around and occasional showers, but the wedding party didn't care and we had a blast just outside by the course.

One interesting thing about this wedding, I have never seen so many newborns at a reception! There was maybe 6-8 newborns all about the same age. Was this some kind of contest? Ha!

Thanks Karolyn and Luis!

Katrina and Mike's wedding Sept 26,08

2008-10-08T16:36:00.000-07:00

Katrina and Mike got married at Belleield Pres in Oakland Pa. They got ready at the Renaissance in town and it was a bit of a stretch to make in in 30 minutes in Friday rush hour traffic. Every one had stories.

After the ceremony we hit the Mellon Pillars near by and when't back to the beautiful hotel and beat the rain.

Thanks Katrina and Mike!

Chloe April 15, 2000-October 7,2008

2008-10-08T15:46:00.000-07:00

This is the hardest thing I have ever had to right about and I hope I don't have to again.

I am sure many of you that know Marty and I, also know Chloe. In eight years she has almost never been more than ten feet away from Marty. She has spent so much time with us, most of the time in actual physical touching. She was very connected to us, always concerned when thing where hard or good. She always knew how we felt.

She would lay on our baggage when we where packing, making sure she was going to be there. She did what ever we wanted to do and rarely protested.

As many of you know she went every where in Marty's Louise Vitton bag, and was happy to be there because she knew that she would be with Marty. She actually might have enjoyed the game of hiding. She would sit in the bag for hours if she had to.

Many of Marty's clients will remember how she would jump up on their laps while Marty cut their hair. Chloe probably had more air miles than any dog in the world and never payed. Most of the time, the passenger beside Marty never knew there was a dog under the scarf on her lap.

She also has been to some of the best restaurants in the country. She has spent time in grocery stores, doctors offices, lawyer offices with out anyone ever knowing. My favorite times with Chloe was when I meditated on the couch or bed. She would jump up and lay on my lap for most of the time. We enjoyed the quiet together.

Chloe rode in our kayak, she rode on our tandem bicycle and the motorcycle. She just wanted to be with us.

She was famous for the time when we where hit by a large wave just outside the inlet at Ft Lauderdale and she was thrown off the boat in very large seas. Fortunately Marty had just put on her life jacket. We had just dropped the sails to go back into the inlet when she went over. The nightmare came when the engine wouldn't start. As any sailor will tell you, in bad conditions the chances of recovering a man overboard are rather slim.

It was one of the most heart breaking things I have ever felt until yesterday, I didn't think I could retrieve her but there she was on top of another wave paddling and surfing as fast as she could to get to us. I gave alot of thanks when I was able to get her with a boat hook at the last minute. She had so much personality in such a little package.

Yesterday a young man ran through a stop sign in our condo parking lot only a few feet away from us while we where getting groceries out of the car. Chloe was standing there waiting for us and we pray she didn't know what happened.

We love you and miss you Chloe, we hope you felt as much love as you gave to us.

Amanda and James's Weddiing Sept 20

2008-09-22T13:09:00.000-07:00

Amanda and James chose the Buhl Mansion in Sharon, Pa. for their wedding. I have driven by the mansion a couple times but what a treat it was to see inside. I have never seen such a beautifully decorated 20's era mansion. It even had a spa.

It was perfect weather! The ceremony was on the lawn and it was great fun taking pics with the trees in the back that looked like an old painting. The reception was in a tent and the wedding party was energized!

Amanda and James are going to Costa Rica for Honeymoon just like Kathy and Mike. Have fun all!

Kathy and Mike's Wedding Sept. 13

2008-09-22T12:48:00.000-07:00

Kathy and Mike's live in Arizona but had the wedding in Pittsburgh and it was a bit strange because when we where in Fla the week before, we where stressed out about hurricane Ike that could have hit us in Fla but it missed, hitting Texas instead. Here it is a week later and we get hit by Ike in Pittsburgh!

The rains started right after the ceremony, fortunately the wedding party had a great attitude and where real troopers when we where taking pictures around Pittsburgh. We found a great mural on Smallman St and it looked great with the umbrellas. Next we had to find a place where we could take pics of everyone in the wedding party, we found it under the Ft Pitt Bridge with the city in the background. Everyone had fun and never complained about the mud!

Next we went to Heinz field for the reception which is a great place and we even got a chance to go the Steeler Locker room for pics.

Kathy and Mike are going to Costa Rica for their honeymoon.

Faith and Adrain's Wedding Sept. 7

2008-09-09T16:31:00.000-07:00

This was one of the first "Elopements" I have done. Which is interesting, since I have had a few calls this year for the same.

Faith and Adrain contacted by phone and had a plan to keep the event secret up until the last minute. They chose Mandarin Oriental to stay for a couple days and have the ceremony on the grounds. They also chose my good friend Bishop Sean Alexander as the officiant. It was a beautiful day even though Hurricane Ike was lurking a couple hundred miles away and giving us brief squalls.

Thanks Faith and Adrian!

All the best!

Navah and Bryan's Wedding Aug 31

2008-09-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

I never met Navah and Bryan before the wedding, but Bryan and I where in heavy contact for weeks before the weddding. He is the one who updated my new website. By the time it was all done, Bryan and I where very close, and he did a great job. It was great to finally meet him and his beautiful wife to be in person.

Their wedding was at the Four Seasons Hotel in Palm Beach. It was held outside and we where very fortunate to beat some of the bad weather with the outdoor ceremony.

Navah and Bryan where an absolute treat to photograph. I am a big fan of Horst, who photographed for VOGUE Magazine for years and I have always wanted to imitate his work. Something I will never do for any other photographer.

Navah and Bryan had that classic look that would work great for that. We got a couple cool shots, but I must admit that I wish we had alot more time.

Bryan is linked in my Link section.

Thanks Navah and Bryan!

Nicole and Patrick's Honeymoon Cruise Aug 9-16

2008-08-20T07:03:00.000-07:00

I photographed Nicole and Patrick's wedding at the Morning Glory Inn in Pittsburgh on June 28 this year. It was around then we mentioned our luxury cruise that we are going to offer our clients. They were first to take us up on that offer and decided to do their honeymoon then too. They also invited Patrick's twin brother Brenden and his wife Lindsay to go along.

To say it was an entertaining trip is an understatement, The two couples kept us laughing most of the time. From the moment they got off their flight with a bunch of crazy passengers on their way to rehab and the family with metal knives and forks making tuna fish sandwiches. The Joneses got off to an interesting start.

First night we did a little shopping for beverages for the week and we stayed on the boat anchored out from our condo in Palm Beach. For dinner we had a little champagne with Stuffed Clams and Pesto Penne Pasta and a few beers.

The next day we motored down the Intracoastal Waterway to Ft. Lauderdale so everyone could get used to the boat and relax as we looked at the beautiful homes along the waterway. That night, Marty made barbecue shrimp and garlic with basmati rice. After dinner we went to shore and enjoyed a couple cold ones while listening to some great music on the Ft. Lauderdale shore.

The next morning we left early to head out to the ocean and sail south to Miami and Coconut Grove where we where going to anchor for the night. It was a pleasant sail, but the winds where a little light and we had to motor a bit. We dragged a couple fishing lines hoping to catch something for dinner but we didn't. After picking up some fuel, ice and a couple items in Miami, we went to the Grove for the night.

The anchorage was a real treat for the Joneses. A very vivid view of life on the water with all the livaboards living at the anchorage. They enjoyed the way you could dingy in to shore and walk to almost everything you need. That night we had Seveche Tuna appetizer with Grilled Calamari over Olio Garlic Linguine. This was my personal favorite meal, I married one heck of a chef.

We where not in much hurry the next morning so we went ashore and had breakfast at one of the great restaurants in Coconut Grove. We did a little more shopping and once back on the boat, we opened the sails and headed for the Elliot Key. We promised them a night of seclusion, fresh air and beautiful a beautiful sunset. It wasn't totally secluded, we saw another boat less than 2 miles away!

Marty cut Nicole's hair and gave her some hair treatments and gave her a head massage. After some swimming and a couple mixed beverages, we watched the sunset listening to Audio Visions on XM and ate Grilled Sesame Tuna Steaks and salad. We then spent the rest of the night gazing at the stars on the trampoline on the front of Carpe Vita.

The next day we sailed back up to Miami Beach Marina so they could enjoy South Beach. For dinner we had Lobster Reubens with some great wines. Then we walked it off going to SoBe for some drinks and people watching. No better place.

We got up the next day well rested for the sail back up to Ft Lauderdale. I promised them we would see the Gulf Stream. We angled out NE until we where in the Gulf, taking advantage of the 1-2 Kt current. We also had the wind at our behind out of the south so it was a perfect, comfortable sail.

We saw a couple sea turtles and a shark on the way, but we still didn't catch fish again. Just before we entered Ft. Lauderdale, we had a storm greet us. The adrenaline was flowing, but all was good and Patrick and Brenden did a great job helping me with the sails when the wind came up very suddenly.

That night we had alot to talk about. Marty cut Lindsay's hair and did a foot massage. We had Grilled Chicken Enchilades for dinner. We went to shore to get a little entertainment, then when we returned, we invited Mary and Adrian a Swiss couple from the catamaran next to us for a couple drinks. We enjoyed great conversation including how they bought their boat on E-bay.

The next day was an easy motor up the intracoastal again back to Palm Beach.

It was a fantastic trip, and Marty and I had as much fun as they did. We invite all to join us on Carpe Vita. Please give us a call if you would like to join us for a luxury custom cruise and photo session.

The Snyder Family

2008-07-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

Cathy, Mike and Anthony from Pittsburgh came down for a couple days to visit us on Carpe Vita. We took a quick trip down the Intracoastal to Palm Beach and we sailed back. Anthony had us laughing the whole time with his pirate imitations. ARRRR! We spent the rest of the evening looking at the full moon.

Cathy and Mike love to scuba and snorkel. One day we snorkeled around Peanut Island and the next day they took a scuba trip out to one of the reefs offshore. Marty and I watched Anthony while they where out and we had a blast. He did a little fishing and honest, he wanted to "swab the deck"!

Friday night was our night to host the dinner at the sailing club and they where a great help. We made Lobster Rubins and Macaroni and cheese with truffel oil. It was a hit.

Thanks Cathy, Mike and Anthony, hope you can come down again.

Tiffany and Bennie's Wedding July 19

2008-07-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

I met Tiffany earlier this year with her mother Deb at the Lighthouse Point Yacht Club. Marty and I had been at the yacht club a couple times before with our old boat and we did a wedding there almost 2 years ago.
Bennie is stationed in Hawaii and Tiffany has moved there also. Needless to say, they love it there and Bennie mentioned it was much less humid there than Fla.
They didn't get back into the states until the week before the wedding, so we had to hustle to get their engagement portrait done and album printed before the wedding, but we did it. We did the engagement session at the beautiful Hillsboro Lighthouse club. It was great to use the lighthouse, beach and house to work with. I also found that Tiffany was right when she said that Bennie was a hoot! Bennie also had a cast on his leg, no, not a war wound, a basketball injury! No medals.
We started the wedding at Tiffany's parents beautiful home. It had great light and the girls where a blast.

The ceremony ended with the traditional sword salute and pat on the bride's behind!
The day started rather late, so we had to really hurry to get some fun pictures in before the reception. Even though it was late, the reception was hoppin!
Apparently Tiffany and Bennie partied into the morning, and inspite of no sleep, they got their clothes back on to go out in the heat and do another photo session on the beach with Tiffany's Dad's Harley. They are off to Napa Valley for Honeymoon.
Have fun!

Where are we now?

2008-07-05T14:58:00.000-07:00

We are back in Fla. This maybe the final move. After Marty resigned from President at Dessange, we decided to move everything including her parents to Fla.
It was a challenging month or so. We packed everything we owned and Marty's parents into a 27 foot Uhaul truck an 8x12 trailer, and their van. There was no room left, only room to sit or drive. We made jokes about "Loaded up the truck and move to...." all the way down. Couldn't make anything to rhyme to Beverly though!
We are still dedicated to do alot of weddings in Pburgh and all over but we are happy to be in Fla and traveling back and forth.
I am happy Marty is going to be more involved in my business, she is a real asset. We are also going to start promoting family portraits for everyone especially our former wedding clients. Please don't hesitate to call for a portrait session. We are formulating many exciting things to offer and we would love to see our clients keep up with their family history in pictures.
And don't forget that we would love to host everyone on Carpe Vita!

Nicole and Patrick's Wedding June 28

2008-07-05T14:14:00.000-07:00

Nicole and Patrick is another couple that I didn't meet before the wedding. I finally got the chance when we did the engagement portrait shoot in the spring. We had a great time right off the bat.

Before we went out they invited me into the house they are restoring to have a glass of great wine and showed me the work they are doing their selves. Patrick is quite the carpenter and the work is as impeccable as their tastes. The house is a very beautiful and classic brick home on Western ave in Aspinwall.

Their wedding was at one of my favorite places, Morning Glory Inn in the Pittsburgh South Side. The owners, Nancy and Dave, are great friends of Marty and I and it always is a pleasure to see them again. They are the perfectionists as hosts and always please their clients in one of the most cozy romantic places in Pittsburgh.

Nicole and Patrick told me before the wedding that the crowd was going to be a little loud and crazy and they where especially the girls. I guess they where Rugby players in school and they where a riot to watch and hear.

After a very stylish, and emotional ceremony, the guests where treated to the great food and drink offered at the Morning Glory.

One thing I really enjoyed was the "Boat Race", the girls where talking about this all day and I didn't know what they where talking about. I soon found out. It was a drinking contest where 2 lines where formed. You chug 2 glasses of beer, put the glasses on your head and relay back to your teammates. The girls where proud of their undefeated history and they won again against the guys. You can see in the pictures the girls where already in the lead. I went home stinking of beer that night!

We really enjoyed the time we have spent with Nicole and Patrick and they have told us they may be the first to take us up on a Honeymoon cruise on Carpe Vita this fall.

Thanks Nicole and Patrick!

Kent State Reunion June 27

2008-07-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

Many years ago in a far away place, Kent Ohio, I was a struggling Art Major in a very turbulent time. It was a time when parents and their kids didn't see eye to eye and the whole country was more alienated than it is now.

I immediately connected with a group of very talented, loving, crazy, and sometimes more political than necessary group of, dare I say, Hippies!

Excluding the hard times, such as the shootings on May 4 1970 where a few wonderful people where lost in a few moments of alienation, bad decisions and needless battle lines, Kent was a magical place.

We used to go see emerging guitarist, Joe Walsh with The James Gang, 3 times a week for 50 cents. Chrissy Hynde was in my dorm and hung around our group once in a while when she wasn't indulging in her passion for famous rock groups and I would occasionally hitch a ride with Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo) in his Renaut Carravelle without any real seats other than the driver's seat to art class. He was one of the most amazing pencil artists I have ever seen, including the old masters.

These where special times and to see this group for the first time since the reunion in 1985 was something I will always cherish. Over the years I have learned how good my life is and the special people I have known, from this wonderful group of "Old Hippies" to all the wonderful people I have met through my business. Thank you all.

Cheryl and Jim's Wedding June 21

2008-06-26T17:23:00.000-07:00

We are very fortunate to have some great friends and even better we get to go to some of their weddings.

I met Jim many years ago at a BNI (Business Networking International) meeting where we where both members. We both feel this is one of the most important things we have ever done for our careers. I recommend it to everyone who wants to establish a new business or learn how important it is to deliver more than what you promise.

Cheryl and Jim also came to Marty and my wedding a couple years ago.

As you can see, they are very loving and great dancers.

One thing they did was the most amazing Honeymoon idea. Jim told Cheryl to pack for 3 weeks. But didn't tell her where. It was a surprise until the reception where Steven Vance (Strolling Violins) did a presentation like a game show host. It was very well done and a huge success. When it was done, Jim was taking Cheryl to France and Barcelona for a week, a week on a Mediterranean cruise and a week in Jamaica!

Jim, you set some very high standards for the rest of us who want to do something special for the wonderful women in our lives.

Have fun Cheryl and Jim!

Lindsay and Zach's Wedding June 14

2008-06-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

We had an unusual layout and plan for this wedding. Since it started a little late at Heinz Chapel, Lindsay and Zach decided to do their artsy photos before the wedding. It was a good plan since it was raining most of the day except for when we had a light drizzle at the Mellon Pillars.

Mellon Pillars, of course, is very popular on Saturdays. While I waited for the bride and groom, I got a real charge out of 4 different wedding parties and photographers in line to shoot at the front of the pillars. This is a little funny to me since the building has 3 sides and still everyone waits for the front. When Lindsay and Zach showed, we went to the one side and had it all to ourselves.

In spite of this being one of the most photographed places in Pittsburgh and the fact I have been there dozens of times, I still like going there and I feel like I can do something different every time. It was especially easy this time since Lindsay and Zach where so easy and fun to work with. I think you can tell how easy they where by the photos. As always, I wish we could have done more.

After the ceremony, they had the receptions at Holly Cross in Mt Lebanon. This is a great site and best of all, the band was After Dark, who is great and Sputsy was working with them because he was friends of the bride and groom.

Lindsay and Zach are off to St Lucia for Honeymoon. Have fun!

Where are we now!

2008-06-18T08:04:00.000-07:00

We are in Pittsburgh to do 3 weddings. Lindsay Sopher and Zach Senft, Cheryl Esposito and Jim Kaufman and Nicole Terry and Patrick Jones. The day after Nicole and Patrick's wedding we are moving everything to Palm Beach.

Marty has resigned from Dessange Paris, so we are really looking forward to the move. Marty and I have been apart too much this last year and we are looking to a great future in Fla. Still, we have alot of ties in Pittsburgh and a few weddings so we will be going back often.

Before we went to Pittsburgh, we moved the boat to Palm Beach so it will be closer to the condo. We also joined the Palm Beach Sailing Club. http://www.pbsail.org/index.shtml. The members we have met have been a real pleasure. We are looking forward to some great times. We will probably move the boat back to Miami this winter when we are doing weddings there.

The sail from Miami was fantastic. It took 2 days with a stop in Ft Lauderdale. The winds where a little light so we went out into the Gulf Stream which was unusually calm. With 8-9 Kt winds we where moving at 7-9 kts because we where using the 2.5 kt Gulf Steam current.

We also caught a 25 inch Dolphin which was dinner when we got anchored in Palm Beach. It was very tasty!

Marty and I are doing alot of planning on chartering this winter. We will be doing customized trips with options like: gourmet cooking, yoga, meditation, and of course photography. We hope do have as many of our clients as possible so don't hesitate to contact us if you are interested.

LDG is finally in the Kambara Catalog!

2008-05-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

I am so happy the LDG (Landau Design Group) album is on the market. The fasteners are almost done and I hope it is a big success and I hope I can give one to all my clients.
Here is the link to the catalog. http://www.kambara.com/maxima/ubond.php