Category: Wedding Photography

Rhinebeck Wedding Photography

I had the great pleasure to photograph the wedding of Suzanne and Michael Ettinger, at their beautiful home in Rhinebeck, NY. The way I came to know Michael, and to be his wedding photographer is one of the lucky stories in my professional life. Two years ago I had an exhibit of my work at Cinnamon Indian Cuisine in Rhinebeck. It so happens that Michael is a regular customer and friend of the owners, Shiwanti & Chaminda Widyarathna. Michael was about to open up a new office of Ettinger Law Firm in Southampton, Long Island. He was looking for artwork that had a cohesive look and theme, and made the delightful choice to have my photographs in every room of their beautiful offices.
This past winter, I was exhibiting at Chaiwalla, the wonderful tea house in Salisbury, CT. One afternoon I dropped in and owner Mary O’Brien told me that my lawyer friend had stopped in with his fiancee. That led to me getting to document their lovely wedding, with fantastic food from Cinnamon, of course!
Their plan was to have the ceremony underneath the large portico at the side of their home. This was a situation that presented the technical challenge of how to get better light on my couple positioned under the deep shade of the portico. I fretted about this a lot as there was no easy place to put additional strobe. Well it turned out that it was super hot–too hot to have people sitting in full sun. All the worrying I did about how to light them, and how to set up the groups outdoors was a big waste of energy because we ended up having to do the groups indoors, and the spot for the ceremony had to be under a canopy. I hope that I have learned the lesson not to obsess about things that haven’t happened yet!
I love photographing what really happens in life–the challenge of capturing real moments. I loved Suzanne and Michael’s unflappable ability to roll with what came. They look cool as can be, which they truly are!

wedding photographer Rhinebeck

 

We were planning to do the group photos outside, but it was too hot, so we quickly found a place to make it work inside

We were planning to do the group photos outside, but it was too hot, so we quickly found a place to make it work inside

Rhinebeck wedding photography

 

 

Rhinebeck Wedding Photographer-12

Food and settings by Cinnamon Indian Cuisine in Rhinebeck

Food and settings by Cinnamon Indian Cuisine in Rhinebeck

 

I love when a group photo shows people truly laughing. What did the bride's brother-in-law (standing next to me) do to make them laugh so hard?

I love when a group photo shows people truly laughing. What did the bride’s brother-in-law (standing next to me) do to make them laugh so hard?
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Hudson Valley wedding photojournalist B. Docktor specializes in capturing the spirit, emotion, and love of your wedding. Straight wedding, gay wedding–I’d love to photograph your wedding day and make images that will be cherished for generations–please call me at 518-329-6239.

wedding photojournalist

 

 

 

 

 

Marriage Equality

Susan & Julie got married last weekend! I’m so glad that my friend Susan agreed to write this post, and tell a bit of their story. Here it is:

As children, neither of us would have believed that in our 50s, we would find our hearts in a person from another country. As little as five years ago, neither of us would have believed that Marriage Equality would have evolved to a place where we could legally marry each other.  And yet, here we are, two women from the United States and Australia, standing in one of the prettiest places in God’s vast sanctuary, pledging to respect, love, comfort and honor each other as wedded partners-in-life.

We are not home-free (so to speak) yet.  Until DOMA is repealed, or until immigration laws change, Susan is still not able to sponsor Julie for a permanent residency visa (Green Card).  Same-sex bi-national spouses still wait for this right, among others, that are granted to heterosexual couples, but that are denied to us. We trudge back and forth between the US and Australia every 90 days, so that we do not breach any immigration laws.

We had decided to cast our luck to the heavens and plan an outdoor wedding in the middle of March. Kind of crazy, given that we live in New York State, and that our March weather is totally unpredictable, don’t you think? But Lady Luck was with us on our special day, and the sun broke through the canopy during the ceremony.

We chose B. Docktor to memorialize our ceremony for a number of reasons. First, and foremost, she is our friend. She is located in the Hudson Valley, where we live, and where we chose to marry. Because of the time of year (cold!), and because of the distance from many of our biological family members (Australia!), we wanted someone to capture our joy, our tears, and our happiness. Having seen, firsthand, B’s work, we knew that we could trust her to be the eyes for those who could not attend.

marriage equality photo

marriage equality photo

marriage equality photo

marriage equality photo

B was “along for the ride” when we came to the New Forge State Forest to locate a small, intimate, flat place in which to have our ceremony.  She captured our excitement on that cold, icy day in February with candid photos that really show us having fun.  On our wedding day, even our pets were involved in the pictures (no, we didn’t make them ring bearers!).

NY gay wedding photo-8

marriage equality photo

Getting married takes quite a bit of planning, even if there are only five people at the ceremony. Working with B Docktor wiped a potential stressor OFF the list. We loved her energy, her absolute unobtrusiveness during the ceremony, and her respect for us, both as clients and as friends.

NY cat photo

We are thrilled with our pictures, as are our friends and family.

We wait, with bated breath, and with fingers crossed, to be considered “normal” people and “normal” spouses – hoping that all three of the United States branches of government will soon agree that same-sex couples are deserving of liberty and justice for all.

Hudson Valley wedding photojournalist B. Docktor specializes in capturing the spirit, emotion, and love of your wedding. Gay wedding, straight wedding–I’d love to photograph your wedding day and make images that will be cherished for generations–please call me at 518-329-6239.

New York Gay Wedding

It’s always an honor to be chosen as someone’s wedding photographer–such an important life event! But it’s an especially sacred honor to photograph the wedding of friends. I always aim to get gorgeous and happy images of the special moments that really tell the story of the day. And I always hope to be a calm and loving presence in the midst of what can be a whirlwind of a day. The wedding of my friends Amma & Alice allowed me to fulfill both of those intentions. This NY gay wedding was a wonderful celebration of their 22-years together.

MA gay wedding

It was an outdoor wedding with a tent, and the day brought the not uncommon weather challenges–inside or out? We had beautiful sun as the family and friends gathered, and then it rained just as we were to start the ceremony. This requires a lot of flexibility and being able to go with the flow! We did that! I especially love the photo that shows the expressions of their families as they kiss. It was a beautiful wedding that had humor and so much personal style in the way they told of how they got together. Terrific toasts from family and friends that testified to the strength of family and their many happy years together.

MA gay wedding

Berkshires gay wedding

Berkshires gay wedding

The joy that is so apparent on everyone’s faces was a pleasure to behold, and it makes me happy to have made my friends a wedding album to bring back the emotion of that day everytime they pick it up. Alice’s daughter said, “the images, and the attention to design detail on every page is stunning–I’ve never seen an album like this!” Alice said that she’s not usually happy with images of herself, but that in addition to capturing the spirit and esssence of the day, these photos made her feel beautiful. Music to my ears. 

Berkshires gay wedding

 
 
MA gay wedding
 
Berkshires gay wedding
 
Berkshires gay wedding
 
MA gay wedding
 
NY wedding photo
 
MA gay weddingHudson Valley wedding photojournalist B. Docktor specializes in capturing the spirit, emotion, and love of your wedding. Gay wedding, straight wedding–I’d love to photograph your wedding day and make images that will be cherished for generations–please call me at 518-329-6239.

Gay Wedding Photography New York

Last month I photographed a beautiful and fun wedding at the home of Jason & Simon in Hillsdale, NY. Simon is from England and they had family and friends from all over the world, which made it really special. Plus a beautiful old home, dashing dalmations, a beautifully decorated tent designed by Jason and executed by Mezze & Wildflowers, flowers by Wildflowers of Great Barrington, food by Mezze Catering. One of those days where the weather threatened to make things difficult, and everything turned out great. Recently we did a session of the boys at home and got some beautiful, more intimate, natural portraits of this great couple and their pups. Whenever possible I love to do what is commonly called an engagement session (that word makes no sense for the gay couples I have been photographing who’ve been together for many years–we need to coin a new name). These sessions at home, or at a location that has meaning for the pair allow us to capture more intimate and relaxed portraits that make for a fuller story in their wedding album. And their pups! Obviously we couldn’t get shots like that on the wedding day. Fun!

 

Hudson Valley pet photographer

Hudson Valley pet photographer

 

Hudson Valley wedding photojournalist B. Docktor specializes in capturing the spirit, emotion, and love of the time of your life. I’d love to document your wedding day and make photos that will be cherished for generations–call me at 518-329-6239.

Gay Wedding Photography in the Hudson Valley

 

Since the legalization of gay marriage in NY, I am very happy to be doing gay wedding photography in the Hudson Valley! I met Dan and Tom last year when I was one of the artists on the Roe Jan Library Art Studio Tour and they came to visit my home/studio. I saw them again when I was photographing the library’s gala event last summer, and I was thrilled when they asked me to photograph their wedding at the unique Club Helsinki in Hudson. They had a very simple ceremony and luncheon with their families, and it was just lovely.

I wanted to be able to capture more of them as they really are together, so I was delighted that we were able to make some pictures at their beautiful place a few days before the wedding. I always hope to make photos that show something real about the feelings between people. Thank you Tom and Dan, for letting me be your witness.

gay couples photography

Click any photo to see my wedding portfolio

 
gay couples photography
 
gay couples photography
 
 
wedding at Club Helsinki, Hudson NY

Click any photo to see my wedding gallery

gay wedding photography
 
gay couples photography
 
Hudson Valley wedding photojournalist B. Docktor specializes in capturing the spirit, emotion, and love of the time of your life. I’d love to document your wedding day and make photos that will be cherished for generations–call me at 518-329-6239. View wedding portfolio here.

Gay Wedding Photography in the Hudson Valley

I photographed this gay wedding in the Hudson Valley last year, and I wanted to share it with you all as wedding season is coming upon us. No, this certainly doesn’t look like your usual wedding! Like many of the gay weddings that I’ll be photographing this year, the couple has been together for a long time, and getting married was not an option in NYS until last year. Lauree and Sarah’s wedding was as natural and beautiful as could possibly be. Lauree is a photographer herself, and knew that my photojournalistic style of shooting would make for at-ease, natural pictures that show their love in a totally authentic, real way. I love to capture what’s really going on in the moment, and to show the spirit and emotion of the day. It was very moving to be in that beautiful place above Lake Minnewaska, which is such a meaningful place to this couple, to see mother nature do her thing, and to witness the deep love between Sarah and Lauree. What an honor, to be able to document all that!

lesbian wedding photography in NY

Click on any of the photos to see my wedding portfolio

 

lesbian wedding photography in the Hudson Valley


We knew that rain was a possibility, but our check of the weather made it sound like we’d be fine til after the ceremony. Sure enough, soon as we got out there to the cliff above Lake Minnewaska, it poured like crazy. Luckily, Lauree’s mom had a big umbrella. It made for a most memorable time, and a few fabulous images!

lesbian wedding photography in the Hudson Valley

lesbian wedding in the Hudson Valley

 

lesbian wedding in the Catskills

I was hovering on the edge of wet rocks to get this shot of the ceremony with the beautiful sky that showed up after the rain

lesbian wedding in the Catskills

lesbian wedding in the Hudson Valley

Hudson Valley wedding photojournalist B. Docktor specializes in capturing the spirit, emotion, and love of the time of your life. I’d love to document your wedding day and make photos that will be cherished for generations–call me at 518-329-6239 and view more photos here.