wedding Archives - Brayton Photography

Proposal – Bolton Landing, NY

June 6, 2018 | Leave a Comment

A proposal!! In Bolton Landing, NY!!

Rob and Gabriela met as kids and dated in high school. They have been together for 10 years! Rob wanted to capture the moment he proposed to his sweetheart during their weekend getaway to Lake George. We decided to turn it into a mini engagement session after the big question!! How many chances do you have to professional photos taken at a castle was Rob’s feelings! And this view!! *Sigh… Rob spoke of Gabriella and all that she has done to love and support him over the years through life and as he has grown his business. Gabriella commented that he was her best friend! Marrying your best friend, now that we can get behind! The day was perfect and the love between these two was palpable. I can’t wait for you to see the rest of the memories that we captured! Enjoy this sneak peek!! A big thank you to the Highland’s Castle for this amazing scene and all your help!

Hallowedding – Glens Falls, NY

December 5, 2017 | Leave a Comment

I didn’t know the term Hallowedding existed but now I can’t stop using it. This Halloween wedding was perfect! The bride and groom, the bride especially, love Halloween! Although this holiday fell on a Tuesday this year they decided to just go for it and I’m so glad they did! For a couple that thoroughly enjoys the Halloween season, an anniversary on Halloween couldn’t be more right! In brainstorming the feel that Jon & Alicia wanted, we talked anywhere from cute and fall to blood and guts. They decided they wanted scary but dark woods scary. Thinking of The Nightmare Before Christmas movie and characters, the decided to skip the actual characters but to shoot for the same feel as the movie, that moody, dark feel.

Jon & Alicia live in Glens Falls and their life and friends are in Glens Falls, NY. Although the capital region has incredible wedding venue’s they knew we needed something unique and right in Glens Falls if possible. Easier said then done as there aren’t many venues in the town itself. What was found had just the right feel, size, fun, and location! The wedding took place on Halloween at the Charles R. Wood Theater in downtown Glens Falls, NY.

Alicia and her bridesmaids sisters got ready right at the Wood Theater in the Green room. Short of a red carpet, they each had their own personal backstage vanity to prep and prepare for the big day. Hair and makeup for the girls was done by MUA Tina Felton and could not have been more gorgeous.

This stunning dress came from BHLDN and was made by designer Needle and Thread.

In order to capture the gorgeous light on this fall day, Jon & Alicia started their day with a first look at Bay Street Cemetery. Yes, you read that right, a cemetery! There were so many gorgeous spots that didn’t look like a graveyard and then we were also able to create some images to fit with our Hallowedding theme. I have known Jon and Alicia for several years. While Jon is a kind, happy guy, he’s not a smiley one. What a treat to see his genuine smile and excitement at seeing his bride for the first time!

This incredible chalk drawing was done by a talented member of the Wood staff who volunteered to draw it on the theater’s over-sized chalkboard wall. Amazing, isn’t it!?!!

The couple sealed the deal right up on stage! With the help of incredible designer Kim Sheffield and the Wood’s very own Lighting and Theater expert, Eric Potter, a haunted wood scene was created. As there was nothing traditional about this wedding, the couple opted out of the traditional walk down the isle. Instead they entered towards each other from the wings of the stage to dramatic music played by Mr. DJ , Brian Pincheon. All this was accompanied by a 5 foot skeleton at the piano. 😉

After a short and simple ceremony exchanging their vows the party began! The delicious Halloween themed party food was catered by Samatha’s Cafe and Catering. With their expertise guests were treated to delights ranging from cheese brains and monster eggs to Thai noodles without anyone being any the wiser to the large number of tasty vegan options!

There games were designed to represent an abandoned carnival. Along with the many games guests had, a photo booth, and dancing to keep the party going! Alicia and Jon were so much fun and so easy to work with. Alicia chose some really cool things like the Pick Your Poison sign for the bar as well as the coffin ring box. Alicia also knew she had to have a candy bar! I think the candy bar, one of the bride’s biggest request as it was Halloween, stole the show! It was a huge success!! From the little details to the big ideas it was so amazing to watch the dreams and vision of this bride and groom come together.

This wedding was extra special. I took on a roll above and beyond what I normally do. I have a better appreciation for now for wedding planners! Although, it’s not what I do or plan to do in the future what a treat it was to see the wedding world from a different perspective. Such a fun creative experience. We are so grateful for the other vendors and all their support and advice during this! Thank you as always to the amazing Erin Brisbin of Erin Marie Photography for all her help as our second shooter and valuable team member. We couldn’t do what we do without you!!

Enjoy more images by watching their custom slideshow designed especially for their Wedding Premiere Night!

Hot Air Balloons Engagement Session

October 11, 2017 | Leave a Comment

When Ashley contacted me wondering if we could take their engagement pictures at the Adirondack Balloon Festival, I knew we had to make it happen! The hot air balloons are so gorgeous and so much fun! It was also a great way to get Ashley and Drea’s son involved. Perfect combo! With the unseasonably warm weather we decided to shoot for a morning take off at the Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport. Luckily it was cool enough that the already planned outfits would still work. This amazing family got up, found out they had no hot water, and still made it for a sunrise engagement session as the hot air balloons took off! Aaaamazing! We walked a lot to find the right spot but luckily between that and the hot chocolate everyone was able to warm up. No one’s lips were purple for any pictures and the smiles we captured are priceless! We cannot wait for their wedding next year! To find out more about the hot air balloon festival right in our own backyard check out the Adirondack Balloon Festival website here!

Adirondack Engagement Session

July 18, 2017 | 1 Comment

This was the most perfect Adirondack Engagement Session in Hadley, NY. Lynne was so prepared and had a very clear idea of what she wanted. Steve was a good sport! They were so much fun together, laughing and enjoying their time despite the crazy bugs! I had not met Lynne and Steve in person until their engagement session. We have of course talked several times over the phone during their winter in Florida. I knew I would like them but I had no idea how much. We had so much fun!! Thank you again and again to my assistant and second shooter Erin Brisbin of Erin Marie Photography!

Surprise Engagement – Bolton Landing, NY

July 12, 2017 | Leave a Comment

Tim had everything planned out well in advance. He took a day off from work without her knowing and drove all the way upstate to get the lay of the Highlands Castle. He wasn’t even going to let the rain stop him from proposing to his amazing girl outside overlooking the lake. We wanted to be there early so my assistant and I stood in the rain while Molly got ready for “brunch” and then went on a super romantic scavenger hunt around the Castle. We waited and as we waited we watched the storm and the rain, and the fog lighten and lift. It was truly a miracle. We got the most amazing view and couldn’t have asked for better clouds! Molly was so happy she couldn’t say “Yes!” fast enough. After the incredible surprise proposal we walked around the Castle grounds and photographed the two of them. They didn’t stop smiling and laughing! That’s a perfect way to go into marriage! Congratulations Tim and Molly and thank you to Jon at the the Highlands Castle for being such an amazing host!

To top it all off we got to come back that very evening and surprise Molly AGAIN! We brought the dessert of their choice and presented this beautiful couple with memories they can treasure forever! Scroll all the way down for the full custom slideshow we created just for them!

Anniversary Photo Session – Saratoga Springs, NY

May 11, 2017 | Leave a Comment

Today these two celebrate their anniversary. I know I’ve mentioned it before but Anniversary Photo Sessions are fast becoming my absolute favorite type of session to photograph. As we go through life it changes us. Life is hard. But life is also good and joyful. In order to get through we need people that we can laugh with, grow with, cry with, and possible even yell with. When I photograph couples that have been married for several years or dozens I can see them seeing each other in such a different way. They see the years of ache, the years of laughter. They see the bad and the good, the messy, and the complicated in each other.

Marriage is work. My Mother-in-law always quotes Mignon McLaughlin when she says, “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” My wish for all of us is that our lives and marriages will be filled with kindness and joy! I know this couple certainly made me laugh as we captured them during a sunset outside their home in the Charleston, South Carolina area. They were good sports as I made them answer questions and do silly things to bring out their true smiles!

5 questions for your Wedding Photographer

March 7, 2017 | Leave a Comment

5 questions to ask your wedding photographer

Image of team member Erin doing whatever it takes to get the shot!

Last time we talked about the 3 essential questions every couple should ask their wedding photographer. You can check out that article here. If you don’t ask anything else you’re probably still doing pretty good. But there are still other important questions. Hopefully your photographer will tell you how it works (they are the expert) but there are a few things you should make sure that they cover. While brainstorming for this article I came across a post titled “38 things to ask your photographer”! Wow! 38!? If you have to ask your photographer 38 specific questions then please run and hide..that photographer is not doing their job! I’m going to start with 5 follow up questions – 5 logistical and important things to know before hiring your wedding photographer.

What is your shooting philosophy? I often have brides on their initial phone call tell me they like photo journalism. But when I ask them more that’s often not really what they want, they just heard that term somewhere. More then getting an industry buzz word ask them how they approach the day. I have worked with photographers who are ONLY in the background. They are there to observe and document only. I’ve worked with others who control the environment of every shot and start essentially “training” the bride from the first email. We often tell people that we are there to document the day, not to insert ourselves in it. That being said, the mother or aunt of the bride doesn’t want to look 10 pounds older and 10 pounds heavier; people don’t often know where they are supposed to be especially for family formals; and sometimes drunk groomsmen just need more direction! We will chat and laugh with you but we don’t want to be in the way. We will help everyone look their best in what time we have and we will make sure that when you look back at your family formals you are thinking how much you love your family, NOT how much you wanted to strangle Uncle Filmore. We are the experts. We will guide and direct where needed but we will not take over. Find the photographer whose shooting philosophy matches the feel of what you envision for your day.
What’s your backup plan? Often photographers are sole proprietors, meaning it’s just them. Do they have a plan in place for if they break their leg or get into a car accident?
Do you have multiples of your equipment? I don’t generally encourage asking about equipment. I don’t care what kind of equipment the DJ uses to play his music as long as it sounds good. You shouldn’t care (unless maybe if you’re a photographer yourself) what type of camera your photographer uses. But you might care if they are new to the game, only have one camera, and don’t use a second shooter. Cameras are technology and equipment. Pure and simple. They will fail. They will have quirks. You have the right to know if they are prepared for things to go wrong. You could ask the photographer how many weddings they’ve shot and how long they’ve been in business but I truly believe that information is that you’ll know how truly PREPARED your wedding photographer is.
How involved are you in the planning process? Every couple will have a different need here. We generally help with a lot of details so that the time schedule goes as smoothly as possible. Also, when all is said and done all that is left are the images of your day. We don’t want you to miss a single image. We don’t want you to look back and say, “I wish I had a photo of x and z.” Will your photographer help plan the timeline and photo list?
What should I expect after the wedding? We’ve all heard horror stories of it taking 6 months to get the wedding images back or the worst ones where the couple never hears from their photographer again! Chances are if the photographer has a clear answer for you of what to expect and how the process works after the wedding then they will be there and ready to take care of you when you get back from your honeymoon.

Anything you would like to add? What was the most important thing you wanted to know when you were interviewing wedding photographers?

Please let us know if you have any questions!

3 Essential questions to ask when choosing your wedding photographer

January 26, 2017 | 4 Comments

I love this time of year of year because I get to talk with newly engaged brides and find out how they fell in love, walk them through a detailed timeline, and just help them sort through the most important factors in choosing their wedding photographer. Do you know the 3 most important things when choosing a photographer for your wedding? Each couple is unique but there are 3 things that I tell every single couple.

These 3 things are the most essential questions to ask yourself when your wedding photographer; the person or persons who will capture the memories of this day and turn your love story into heirloom art. There are of course other logistical questions to ask which we’ll get into in a later blog post but these are the big ticket crucial items.

Do you love their style? Photography is many things. It’s technical. It’s emotional. It’s a business. But most importantly it is a form of creative expression. It is ART. Any photographer that is charging for their services should have a set style. They can customize to your particular loves but they are an artist and will (or at least should) have a distinct style. It should be consistent in the work you see. You should be able to know that what you see on their website will be consistent with what you will get. You have to LOVE it. It needs to speak to you on a level that makes your heart feel the way you feel when you look at your fiance and imagine why you have to spend the rest of your life with that person! When all is said and done the photographs are all that’s leftover after the celebration.
Do you like the photographer? I have referred brides to other photographers knowing that our personalities wouldn’t mesh well. Your photographer, no matter how unassuming they are, will be with you all day long. On The. Most. Important. Day. Of. Your. Life. If they get on your nerves do you really want them there while you’re getting ready to walk down the aisle?
Do they offer an experience that fits your needs? Photography studios are businesses. They have business plans and business models. Just as you wouldn’t go to Walmart for a high end sweater and incredible customer service you wouldn’t go to Nordstrom’s for a quick t-shirt for a weekend painting job!

How much service and help do you want from your photographer? What is their business model? We really focus on the service and creating an incredible experience. Other photographers will show up, take some photos and hand you a disc at the end. What are you looking for? What do you plan to do with your images? What do you want to get out of the images and photographs from your wedding?
These are the 3 most essential items to ask when choosing your wedding photographer! Leave a comment with your thoughts or drop us a line with any questions!

Best!

~Krystal & Dan

Engaged in Glens Falls, NY

January 3, 2017 | Leave a Comment

I got a message from these two while they were out at school. They were engaged! Woohoo! Travis has been in front of my camera many times before but I had only met Kristen a couple brief times. They had even had engagement pictures taken in Arizona. But she wasn’t in love with them. They didn’t feel real. Well we got to have the most amazing “REAL” session!! It was freezing and these two are so acclimated to the warmer areas of the country now that we had to be creative to keep Kristen from shaking right out of her boots. Thanks to Minky Mink and Spot Coffee! And yes we even made it to Target! Thank you Travis for playing along! Kristen, you are truly a beautiful woman and I can’t wait to see you shine at your wedding and in whatever you choose in the future!

Gorgeous Backyard Wedding – Saratoga Springs

September 20, 2016 | Leave a Comment

Kate and Tom have been together for I believe 14 years. There love is deep. It’s comfortable and it’s strong. I new from the first conversation that I was going to like Kate. She is kind, strong, and organized. Neither Kate nor Tom had any desire to be in front of a large group of people. They celebrated their love and their union in their backyard right here in the Saratoga Springs, NY area. And what a gorgeous backyard wedding it was! We had the most incredible day. Before the ceremony they took us to their spot. A place they take their fur babies to walk and enjoy Upstate New York. The bridge was perfect, the weather was perfect, the union was perfect. There’s nothing we love more then seeing two amazing families officially become one and what an honor it was to be document this day for them!

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