BEAUTY AT OUR LADY OF VICTORY

Our Lady of Victory, aka, the Basilica, is an amazing church to photograph a wedding at. Everything about it screams beautiful. It is almost impossible to get a bad shot there! Everyone anticipates the Bride walking down the aisle as an amazing shot. I agree, but I also love the shot of her walking down, but from behind.

Neal was at the front of the aisle as Jenna and her father walked down the aisle. I am always in the back with the Bride and Bridesmaids before they walk down, documenting all the nerves. Jenna was nervous, but her sisters and father had her laughing and smiling. At one point, there was so much talking the organizer at the Basilica had to tell us all to be quiet. I guess you could say the nerves passed at that point.

It was Jenna's time! Before walking down, I always make sure the dress is perfect if nobody is there to do it. After a nice fluff of the dress, it was go time. The doors opened and Jenna and her dad started down. I always keep a little behind and crouch down, so I am not in Neal's photos in the background. I love this shot because you get to see the back of Jenna's amazing dress coupled with the beauty of the Basilica. There is so much detail in the ceiling, statues, and alter. You can see it all in this image. Another nice thing is the entrance was really bright from the sun. So, when the doors opened for Jenna to walk, there was enough light coming in from behind to light them up. 

Simple. Elegant. Beautiful.

-Danielle

Buffalo, NY Wedding Photography by Neal Urban Studio

Buffalo, NY Wedding Ceremony - Our Lady of Victory in Buffalo

Buffalo, NY Wedding Photo Session - Niagara Square

Buffalo, NY Wedding Reception - Statler City

THE GROOM AT OLD FORT NIAGARA

Last week we showed you a beauitful image of a Bride (Dana) at Fort Niagara. Here is fantastic image of her Groom (Chad) in his solo!

Their images were done at Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, NY. Like I mentioned before, we love shooting here. There is so much history brought into every shot. We can always find locations to do things with the men or the ladies.

For Chad, we found a room that had an amazing old fire place and chair. There were windows to the side, but they didn't let in as much light as the other room Dana had her image in. This was perfect for Chad. We needed to give him a more manly scene. Next to the fireplace was an old, ornate, wooden chair. He actually took it upon himself to sit there while we were scoping out the scene. He did a great job because that's exactly where Neal wanted him. We asked him to sit how he normally would if he was just hanging out.  A casual male cross of the leg! It fit him perfectly. Chad was cracking jokes the whole time too. He had so much commentary during all the photos. But he could be serious right on que when we needed him to be. Neal asked for him to look toward the window and all talking and jokes immediately stopped from him. This shot also had that old vintage feel to it. It turned out really nice for Chad.

The posing for the guys is usually a lot more simple than for the ladies. Most of the time they do not want to be in pictures. Luckily with Chad, he was all about being center stage!

-Danielle

Fort Niagara Wedding Photography by Neal Urban Studio

Lewiston, NY Wedding Ceremony - First Presbyterian Church of Lewiston

Niagara Falls, Wedding Photo Session - Old Fort Niagara

Buffalo, NY Wedding Reception - Classics V

SURPRISED RING BEARER!

I mentioned earlier in the week, I would take us back to The Hawkesdene House in Andrews, North Carolina. Here is why!

We loved this ring bearer. This little guy was such a character during the entire day. But the ceremony was the best. Before the ceremony, the Bride Alissa, gave the ring bearer a little pep talk. She said all you need to do, is take this box with the rings and bring it down the aisle. Sounds simple! He did a great job! Both of the ring bearers did a great job!

During the ceremony, the little guys started to get a bit restless. They were standing up the whole time (it was a quick ceremony though) and it was chilly out. I was focused on Alissa and Kyle (Bride and Groom) and Neal was documenting the guests. I took a quick look to see where he was, and noticed his camera focused on the little ring bearer. He was starting to open the ring box. His look is priceless in this sequence. Of course the real rings, were not in it. The Best Man had those. But there were 2 rings in the box for him. You can see him peaking in, almost like he knew he wasn't supposed to open the box. It was so cute. It was during the vows, so Alissa and Kyle didn't see what was going on. But all of the guests noticed and started to laugh. This caught the attention of the Bride and Groom and they joined in the laughter. You can also see in the image, his brother had the job of holding Alissa's bouquet. He was swinging it around like it was a toy!

This is another case where having two photographers is a bonus. One of us focusing on the action and the other the reaction. 

-Danielle

North Carolina Photography by Neal Urban Studio

Hawkesdene House Ceremony/Photo Session/Reception - The Hawkesdene House, Andrews, North Carolina

Raleigh NC, Videography - Heartstone Films

ANNIVERSARY SHOOT AT THE CHIMNEY BLUFFS PART 2!

My image! This was one of the only shots I got to take on this adventure. I knew there was going to be alot involved with this shoot and I would mostly be assisting Neal. No problem!

I knew my opportunity had arrived when Neal needed to take a moment to find the perfect spot to put Vanessa and Anthony. I wanted to give them something a little different, knowing Neal's main focus were the Chimney Bluffs. (The Bluffs are a natural landscape along Lake Ontario. They are referred to as earthen spires).

The sun was still a little high in the sky for anything dramatic, but I could play with a silhouette! I had them pose on the opposite side of where the Bluffs were. They are almost framed in by the tall tress. The sun was pouring through and Lake Ontario was glowing. I asked Anthony to almost go in for a kiss and naturally Vanessa picked up her dress and leaned back, taking Anthony with her! Beautiful! And that was it! Neal was calling for us because he found "the spot". Haha. I was still very happy that I at least got one image for the couple!

-Danielle

Rochester Wedding Photography by Neal Urban Studio

Rochester Wedding Photo Session - Chimney Bluffs State Park

ANNIVERSARY SHOOT AT THE CHIMNEY BLUFFS!

Vanessa and Anthony are back! Our famous Disney couple has done it again! 

Their anniversary was in April and we asked them if they would like to do an anniversary shoot. They were thrilled! However, we needed to tell them our idea of a two hour drive to the Chimney Bluffs in Wolcott NY. We wanted to take them there because they are very daring and are always up for any ideas we throw their way. Because it was a bit of a drive, I told them I would make a small picnic to bring before the shoot! I think that was the kicker! We all met at Neal Urban Studio and we were on our way!

I had already discussed outfits with Vanessa and Anthony. They needed to be super dressed up and very classy. She showed me what they had and it was perfect! Finding the Bluffs wasn't as easy as we thought. It is actually Chimney Bluff State Park. We didn't realize how large the area was. But looking at a park map, we finally found where we needed to be. We had a quick bite, Vanessa and Anthony got dressed, and Neal and I geared up. Time to hike! I warned the couple to bring comfy shoes because there would be some walking involved. A little more than anticipated, but they were troopers.

Finally!! We made it to the Bluffs! They were in site after walking through a ton of little bugs. And now to find the best vantage point for the shot! We could all tell by the way Neal was staring at this cliff, that would be the spot. We slowly walked Vanessa and Anthony to the edge of the cliff. And yes, they were really standing on the edge. We had Vanessa change into her heels when she got into position. Neal would be shooting from the complete opposite side of where they were standing. So, I was to be the go between for communication. After a little bit of yelling back and forth, we were almost there! Vanessa has a background in dance, so she knows how to pose. We told her exactly what we were looking for and she took it from there. She was directing Anthony as well, which was perfect. We didn't really need to make any adjustments.

The clouds were rolling in and the sun was setting. And it was getting cold.... But look at those colors in the sky. Vanessa couldn't have picked a better dress. That bold purple complimented the sky so well. Anthony looks great too of course! They did a fantastic job! And we could not thank them enough for hiking up to the Bluffs with us. This image turned out amazing and it was time to head home!

What will our next adventure be with these two???

Check in tomorrow to view one of my images from this shoot!

-Danielle

Rochester Wedding Photography by Neal Urban Studio

Rochester Wedding Photo Location - Chimney Bluffs State Park

VINTAGE BRIDE IN NEW JERSEY!

Happy Anniversary Kelly and Dean! We shot their wedding in 2013 in New Jersey! It was such an amazing wedding!

We actually did not meet the couple in person until their wedding. But that does not stop us from trying to create a bond with the couple before their wedding. We do this through skype, facetime, email, and phone conversations.

I love the getting ready part of the day. It's crazy, hectic, and tons of fun. I really enjoy capturing all the details and getting really creative with them. While doing that, Neal figures out the best place for the Bride to get in her dress and for portraits. Kelly got ready at a private brownstone in Hoboken, NJ. If have you ever been there, you know the parking is insane. Parts of the streets are color coded and we had no idea what they meant. We definitely thought we were getting a ticket or a boot! But the show must go on!

When we walked in, the greeting was amazing! Hair and makeup was being done everywhere. And of course the main spot Neal wanted Kelly's portrait was in that room! Surprise surprise! Once all the ladies were ready, everything was cleaned up and ready for Neal. Kelly had a beautiful flowing dress and we wanted to take advantage of the train. There were huge shuttered windows that were letting a ton of light in. We had her pose facing outside and gently opening the shutters to reveal the light. We asked her to look to the side and down a bit, so you could see the profile of her face. A beautiful pose. Neal shot this image with a little silhouette in mind. Not too dark. You can see the details in her dress and her face. When everything ties in together, a vintage and timeless pose was created!

-Danielle

NYC Wedding Photography by Neal Urban Studio

Hoboken Wedding Ceremony - Our Lady of Grace 

Photo Session in NYC - Pier a

NYC Wedding Reception - Waterside Restaurant

Sorry for the long blog post today, but this is also a very special day to us. We also celebrate our anniversary today! To my husband, Neal.... You are a wonderful man. You are the most creative and thoughtful person I know. You have taught me many things as I have to you. You have inspired so many people to follow their dreams as you did. You are very determined and never give up. I have watched you grow into the wonderful man you are today. You have made me a stronger person and I thank you so much for that. Never change who you are. I am so happy to be your wife and I love you more than words can say! Happy Anniversary Neal!

-Danielle

WEDDING AT STATLER CITY

Statler City is a wonderful venue for a wedding reception. The rooms are beautiful to hold your special day in! This reception was located in the Terrace Room. There are massive windows along the entire back wall of this room. 

We always arrive at the reception before the guests start to arrive to get shots of the room. They always look better with no one in them to get all the details. We also like to have the Bride and Groom back to freshen up and have a few drinks! While shooting the details, Neal asked if I could grab the Bride and Groom really quick for a shot before anyone arrived. There is a Bridal suite off to the side, so it was easy to find them. To the back of the room, there were giant statue type columns in front of one of the windows. The windows had interesting curtains and drapery. There was also a giant chandelier hanging from the ceiling. What a great spot for a photo!

Let's bring in the newly married couple. Instead of having them look at the camera, we decided to go with a more artistic pose. We posed the Bride with her back to us, with a slight profile of her face. Then brought in her Groom facing her. We had the Groom bring in his wife just a little. Then had her drop her bouquet to her side. Neal needed a tiny bit of fill light besides the light coming from the chandelier. We wanted a nice glow on them, but keeping a elegant overall feel to compliment the scene.

You can see the giant smile on the Groom's face as he looks at his wife. And even though you cannot see the Bride's entire face, you still see her happy reaction from the side. The couple almost looks like statues waiting to go in for a giant kiss! And don't worry, they did go in for a kiss right after this shot!

-Danielle

Buffalo Wedding Photography by Neal Urban Studio

Ceremony- Christ the King Chapel

Photo Session -  Canisius College

Buffalo Wedding Reception - Statler City

Buffalo DJ - Signature Entertainment

LOVE IN Avalon Country Club WINE CELLAR!

How much more romantic can you get? A Bride and Groom having a special moment in a wine cellar!

This wedding reception took place at Avalon Golf and Country Club in Warren, Pennsylvania. What a beautiful club. The grounds were amazing. The inside of the club was just as beautiful as the outside. Right upon entering, Neal and I took a quick walk around the main building, while the reception room was getting its final details. We came upon a small wine cellar. We definitely needed to do something here with the Bride and Groom! Before even attempting anything, we asked the staff if it would be ok. No problems there!

Toward the end of the reception, we took the Bride and Groom away for an end of the night photo shoot. We went right to the wine cellar. Instead of placing them in front of the wine rack, Neal wanted to get fancy. So, we placed them in a corner of the room. We asked the Groom to go in for a kiss or to whisper in his Bride's ear and see what happened. He must have told a joke because the Bride started laughing right away. We asked them to keep doing the same thing, but had the Bride close her eyes. Their interaction continued to be great.

Now all we needed was to brighten up the corner a bit. We needed more light on the couple and we wanted to brighten up the wine rack as well. We set up multiple flashes to help with that. Neal got his camera lens really close to the side wine rack and shot straight on at the couple. This helped to get the side wine rack in the shot. Even though it is out of focus (purposely), you can still see it in the foreground. 

This is a romantic and fun shot all in one! The Groom is trying to have a nice sensual moment with his new wife and she is laughing! It is all tied together in a romantic setting!

-Danielle

Pittsburgh Wedding Photography by Neal Urban Studio

Ceremony - High Street Community Church, Conneaut Lake PA

Photo Session and Pittsburgh Wedding Reception - Avalon Golf and Country Club

Engagement with the Buffalo Mansion Homes

We bring you an engagement shot today from the Delaware Park area in Buffalo!

This couple was from out of town (Bride originally from the area). This was our first time meeting the couple in person as well. They were only in town for one night for their shoot. Delaware Park and Albright Knox Art Gallery are prime locations for engagement and wedding photos. There was actually a small wedding having their photos done at the same time.

We wanted to make sure we got some images that really stood out. Right from the start Neal and I completely clicked with this couple. They were being silly and having a lot of fun. It definitely didn't feel like a first meeting for us. We worked around the Albright Knox Art Gallery for a little while and headed into the park for a bit.

We then headed down the road a bit where there are a ton of amazing mansions. Neal wanted to get an artistic image with the couple in front of one. Decisions decisions on which one was best. We took a llittle stroll passed a few and Neal came to a halt. Bingo! He found his mansion! There was a nice iron gate with some stone lions protecting the entrance. We wanted to make sure we got at least one of those in the image.

The couple was placed to the left of the gate. We wanted the Bride to be to go up and embrace her Groom to be! Then go in for a kiss! We learned earlier in the shoot that the Bride to be was a dancer. So, when she embraced her fiance, she naturally kicked up her leg. We didn't even need to ask! It looked great!

Neal was shooting from the middle of the street of course. Besides holding some lighting, I was on car patrol. Right as Neal was clicking away, someone pulled in the driveway. I thought we were done for it and would need to move. Luckily, the driver just waved to us and drove to the back. I guess we picked the right mansion!

-Danielle

Photography by Neal Urban Studio

Photo Session - Deleware Park, Albright Knox Art Gallery area

WEDDING REFLECTIONS AT HAWKESDENE HOUSE

We love working with reflections. They can add such beauty to a photo. So, why not see it in double!

We traveled to the Hawkesdene House in Andrews, North Carlolina for this wedding. What an amazing private mountain estate, located near the Nantahala National Forest. They can accommodate small weddings and guests can stay right on the grounds in either the main building, or small cottages. 

This image was taken in one of the suites. There were huge doors that lead to a balcony off the room. We originally weren't paying attention to the giant mirror on the wall when we started. We wanted to take advantage of the doorway and drapery with the light coming through. Our first thought, was it could be a great silhouette shot. As Neal was taking those shots, I was looking for another angle and noticed the Bride and Groom in the mirror. I told Neal to stand where I was and see if we could do something with the reflection. He loved it. It is so great to find different shots within the same areas or poses. We could keep the couple exactly in the same pose as we did for the silhouette. We just needed for them to take a few steps over.

Now, the tricky part. We wanted them to stay naturally backlit from the doorway. However, this made the front of them a bit dark. It looked really nice though. We did try to add in some light on their faces, but it was super hard for me to not be in the mirror. We took a quick look in the camera to see the difference between the two. Neal and I both agreed on liking the first image without extra light better. We also loved that in the reflection, you can see light rays coming in behind the Bride! That definitely brought a more magical feel to the image!

When Neal first took this image he knew right away that the final result was going to be in black and white but the purple hue from the curtains gave this image a very unique tint so he thought it was best to leave it in color!

Stay tuned in the next few days for another image from the grounds at the Hawkesdene House! 

-Danielle

Destination North Carolina Photography by Neal Urban Studio

Andrews, NC  Wedding Ceremony & Reception - Hawkesdene House, Andrews, NC

Videography - Heart Stone Films