I always encourage my clients to come up with ideas for pictures – the best ideas really do often come from you guys! Emily and Seth had this idea of doing their first look with both standing next to each other with their eyes closed.. and then turning around to look at each other in the mirror. What a fun idea!

We then ventured outside to brave the cold for their bridal portraits.. Emily and Seth you guys were so awesome in your willingness to do this!

The beautiful ceremony started..

OK. So for their grand entrance to the reception, Emily & Seth did something that none of my clients have ever done. You see, Seth has a twin brother and he’s the best man. THEY DID A SWITCHEROO (and not told me beforehand!!!) and no-one realized it, including this poor photographer. Seth’s brother was the one introduced with Emily! Look at the picture on the right once some people started to realize what was going on… LOL.

And right away the real Seth cartwheeled into the dance floor! At this point I was as stunned as everyone else and almost missed the shot completely, but managed to get Seth’s red socks LOL!

Seth and Emily, you guys are such a fun couple and it was an honor for me to be able to capture your special day. What a great way to start the year with such a great wedding! I wish you both the best in everything, and a wonderful marriage filled with many adventurous flights together!

At the beginning of the year my wife and 18-month-old son traveled out of the country for a couple of months. This gave me my only opportunity to do house projects this year so I took on painting our home and remodeling the kitchen a little. In January I flew out (in the middle of a snowstorm that involved me getting to JFK only to see the terminal shut down and I had to sleep on the floor by the parking garage!) in January and spent a few weeks with my family in Indonesia as well.

Early in the summer we received the news that Winny is expecting our second child! We are thrilled, the pregnancy is doing very well, and the baby is due this March. This is such a fun time as several of our good friends are all also expecting, thus we often had gatherings in our home where all the ladies present were pregnant!

In November I attended a workshop that changed my career. I was re-energized, challenged, taught, and encouraged. I met many, many amazing photographers whom I can proudly call friends and mentors. If you are a photographer and are looking for that next step to improve your skill, I highly recommend it. Their next workshop is in March and it will be even better than ever!

As soon as we got back from our overseas trip, our photography business started picking up again, culminating in a whirlwind 2-month period during October/November where we did about 20 shoots in a 2 month period. This forced us to became even more efficient in our editing, as we strove to deliver images consistently and quickly. One of the instructors at Genesis, Tony Hoffer, taught that we photographers should always examine our own work and strive to improve on it instead of always looking for inspirations from others. So at the end of the year, after 15,000 images have been delivered to clients, I thought it would be fun to create a ‘Best of 2011′ slideshow as we celebrate the beginning of what should be our best year yet! If you have a high speed connection, don’t forget to watch it in HD!

We really owe all of you family, friends, and clients a huge debt of gratitude for the amazing year that we had. Thank you for all your support, kind words, and most importantly for trusting us in capturing your most important day of your lives. 2012 looks to be an even better year, and we hope you will continue to walk on this journey with us! Cheers!

I still remember the first day I met Lesmana. It was at Soekarno Hatta International airport, September 2000. I was a scrawny kid from a small town far away, on my way to the States for the very first time to attend college in Pensacola, FL.

I didn’t know anyone, but I knew that there were many others that were to depart on the same flight as me. Lesmana wore a blue shirt (its weird the things you remember after many years) and was waiting in line for our immigration papers. I was behind him, and I asked if he was going where I was going, and our friendship started.

We both studied Computer Science and shared many classes together.  On weekends, we walked together to Chinese buffets around school because neither of us owned a car. We played basketball every Saturday. Throughout college, Lesmana was always a good friend to me. We both graduated in 2004 and went our separate ways.

I received a phone call a few months ago. It was Lesmana. He was getting married and he wanted me to shoot the wedding. I was delighted – what a privilege we photographers have to be able to document our friends’ most important day of their lives.

Lesmana & Yuli, thanks so much for the opportunity to hang out with you guys and shoot your wedding. And HAVE FUN IN HAWAII!!!!!!

Now on to the pictures – enjoy!

This is my son Jackson, meeting Kaitlin for the very first time, bonding over Barney.Kaitlin’s parents are our good friend from college as well, and our weddings were a week apart.

This year’s November has brought lost of surprises, many of which have to do with just how nice the weather has been. It is as if the trees waited for November to come before they decide it’s time for their leaves to fall. It is as if the Sun waited for November before peeking it’s warm face on a weekend.  Yep, Laura & Eric couldn’t have asked for a nicer November day. Their wedding was as perfect was the weather that day, celebrated among happy families and friends. As they ring their wedding bell to start their new life together, here’s hoping that their marriage will be filled with beautiful days such as this!

Ah, first look, how I love thee.

I couldn’t help but to laugh and smile when these two shared their story in our pre-wedding meeting at our home. As I was celebrating Kristi & Patrick’s beautiful wedding day ( they seriously couldn’t have asked for a more gorgeous November day,) I soon realized that they were truly meant for each other. Patrick & Kristi, thank you so much for sharing your beautiful story with me. It was truly an honor to capture your special day! Enjoy these images!

I seriously couldn’t remember when was the last time I had a Bride that smile and laugh so much – it was so infectious.

Check out these incredible details!

First look… never fails to be my favorite part of the day.

Adam & Valerie’s wedding is a long time coming for me because they have booked me well in advance. We finally got a chance to meet each other a few months ago and the long awaited day finally came. It was a beautiful fall day in Maryland, just as beautiful as their wedding was.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of the day. I had such a great time especially during their reception, because Adam & Valerie certainly know how to PARTY!

Michael & Jenna, thanks so much for having me to capture your special day. I enjoy working with you guys so much, and enjoy some of my favorite images of the day!

By the way, sometime during our engagement session this past spring, Amy blurted out that she was having twelve bridesmaids.  To which I said, bring it on!

“Trust.”

That is the answer to a question I was often asked during my client meetings, and that question is: “what is the one thing that you need from us so that you could do your job the best you can?” There’s nothing that could impact your pictures more than trust. I need you to trust me. I want to share this because I feel that Sean & Melissa, just like all of my other couples, trusted me completely throughout their wedding day, and it helped immensely in allowing me to freely capture and interpret their beautiful celebration.

So basically you have a couple who hopelessly love each other so much that it literally mesmerized me, trust me so much that they let me do whatever I need to do, AND give me as much time as I need? Let me just say this has been one of my favorite weddings to date. And here are some of my favorite images.

We in the East Coast area have had a really wet few months. Sean & Melissa’s wedding day was no exception, with threatening clouds hanging around all day with occasional drizzles.. but Sean & Melissa were more than willing to take pictures outside. They had their first look outside Melissa’s parents home.

Guess who have been watching?

We then head out to a playground nearby to take pictures with the guys.

A few moments before the ceremony..

After the ceremony we head out to Reading Public Museum for some Bridal Party portraits..

And finally some pictures at Stoudburg Village.

It was then time for P-A-R-T-Y! And those of you who know Sean & Melissa know they know how to party!

But before the party started.. some heartfelt moments..

Sean surprised his mom by pre-recording the song  ’Unforgettable’ that they danced to..

Party was led by the always energetic and fun Teacher’s Pet, who’s actually related to the family!

Sean & Melissa, I want to thank you once again for having me. You guys are a such a special couple, and I am humbled and honored to have been the one to capture your special day!