The Big Apple is our backdrop for this shoot with Ryan & Xavia in Times Square, specifically.  I would have been tickled to just photograph all the lights and glitz of 42nd street but give me an awesome bride & groom and that just kicks it up a notch!  We hit the empty streets of Long Island at 2:30AM for a cruise down to Times Square to capture Broadway’s lights with a few less people in the way.  The streets were empty except for a few taxis and New York’s finest so we had the whole place to ourselves.  Say it with me now – Awesommmmme….. A big high five to our couple for allowing us to capture them on a shoot of a lifetime!  A few pics from our 3am excursion:

“One Happy Island”, that’s what they call Aruba. I can see why with so many things to see it is just a phenomenal place to photograph. Aruba really is unique as a Caribbean island with cactus, ruins, Divi trees and white sandy beaches – a combination you will find nowhere else! I would go to Aruba just to photograph the ruins, the crashing waves on the windward side and the white beaches of Eagle Beach. Now, give me a couple of beautiful people and that is just the cherry on top! We joined Jeff & Jing in Aruba for their wedding at the Westin where their wedding was going to be right on Palm Beach. Before their wedding though we headed out to photograph all around the tiny 19 mile island of Aruba. Our first stop was at the Alto Vista Chapel that sits high on a mountain top that gives a tremendous view of the entire island. After photographing there for a bit we headed down the dirt roads toward the rough side of Aruba where the waves constantly pound the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Jeff & Jing were willing to do about anything as we perched them on the edge of cliffs with waves crashing all around them. The Natural Bridge provided a quiet place for a few shots as we continued our 4-wheel drive trek through the outback of Aruba. The Bushiribana Gold Smelter Ruins gave us a great view of the Atlantic and the crumbling rocks of the ruins provided a very unique backdrop. Before we left we made sure to build a wishing rock tower in island tradition. While there was much to see on the windward side of Aruba we raced the sun back to the other side for some shots with the white sand beaches that Aruba is known for. Jeff & Jing were up for a roll in the surf so we kicked off our shoes for an Aruban “trash the dress” shoot! Before we dove in though we made sure to find the famous Divi trees on Eagle Beach for a couple of photographs.

Destination wedding photography can be a real challenge with the travel and logistical issues but people like Jeff & Jing and locations like Aruba make it so worth while. All in all the day of photography was a boatload of fun as we explored Aruba with our good friends and got to know them and the island a whole lot better!

Stay tuned for wedding pics!