This past weekend we met up with Kaitlin and Jeffrey in Highland Lake, NY to do some portraits along the lake. After we got some of the more traditional shots out of the way, we decided to turn up the fun factor using a trampoline in the neighbors yard. My only instruction to the couple was to have fun. The following shot was the first (and my favorite) from a series of Jeffrey.

More to come soon!

Yesterday turned out to be the perfect day to get married! All week, the weather channel was calling for rain and thunderstorms to show up just in time for the “I Dos”. Thankfully, as the weekend go closer, the storms disappeared off the radar and things shaped up to create the perfect wedding day!

Before they head out on their honeymoon to Bermuda, we wanted to give Justin and Brenda a quick sneak peek of one of their beautiful wedding images! More to come soon!

Wanting to do something different and unique for their engagement session, we decided to take a road trip and visit them at their home in Long Island. The best part of this decision was the fact that they lived a very short walk away from the beach and just up the road from beautiful downtown Babylon.

When their day finally came, it couldn’t have been any better – bright, beautiful blue skies with a few clouds and warm, summer-like weather! As things got underway, we walked up and down the shoreline, joked around, let them sneak in a few kisses and then surprised them with a little request – to get into the very cold water! Like two excited little kids, they accepted and we captured some incredible shots.

After getting the images we wanted, we headed back to the house so Mike and Michelle could get cleaned up before we headed to downtown Babylon for a quick stop in Argyle Park and then a stroll down main street. We made a few stops along our walk into alleys, store fronts and even a little outdoor cafe.

We ended the day with a trip to their local Sushi restaurant for some good food and the chance to wind down and talk more about their big day in August at The Tides in North Haledon, NJ. Having photographed Laurel and Patrick’s wedding there back in 2008, we can’t wait to return and get some awesome shots with Mike and Michelle.

Here are some of our favorites from their engagement session!

Recently, Loretta photographed a Portrait Session with Sammi, a Minisink Valley High School Senior. Normally, our work flow takes a few weeks to get everything processed and ready for the final sales session. To our delight, we received the following review from Sammi even before she’s had the opportunity to look at her images …

I just recently had my senior portraits done with Wanamaker and  I loved the fact that the pictures were more along the lines of what I wanted to do. It was so much fun laying in the grass then getting covered in it, climbing logs, taking pictures with my guitar! Everything was just simply amazing! I honestly hope to find a million more reasons to work with Wanamaker again. I guarantee I will and cannot wait for it to happen!

This is a great example of why our clients love us and continue to come back and ask that we capture their life in new and exciting ways!

As a thank you, here is one of our favorite images from the session as a sneak peek for you!

Our first stop of the day was to the Jeffery’s house in Yulan, NY for some early morning shots of the groom and guys getting ready. With everyone still recovering from the night before, we decided to hang back a little and let them forget we were there so we could capture those special “guy moments”! Once they were all ready to go, we took them outside, in between the bursts of rain, to grab some big group shots.

Once we captured everything we wanted, our next stop was a few miles up the road to where Kaitlin and the girls were getting ready – a beautiful house with an endless number of rooms and windows in all of the perfect places. Utilizing almost every square inch of the house and all the available light possible, we finished up with Kaitlin and provided her with some limo service to a second location for some additional shots with friends and family. From there, it was on to St. Anthony’s Church – a place we have been and are scheduled to be a few more times this year!

After a beautiful ceremony, we traveled down some incredible country roads on our way to the Villa Roma in Callicoon, NY for their reception. On the way, we stopped at the Stone Arch Bridge in Jeffersonville for some couple and group shots with the wedding party. We decided to photograph the group first so we could get them back on the party bus and really focus on Kaitlin and Jeffrey.

When we finally arrived at the Villa Roma, we were greeted with some incredible renovations. We later found out that Kaitlin and Jeffrey’s wedding was the first reception to be held at the newly updated venue. It was the perfect place for what was incredible wedding with a huge turnout at the reception!

Here are some of our favorite shots from their wedding day!

Last night was the commencement exercises for the Minisink Valley Class Of 2010! Looking back, it feels like just last week was the beginning of football season. As we listened to the speeches and watched the smiles on the graduate’s faces, we couldn’t have been more thankful to have shared their last year together! We would like to wish all the graduates the best of luck as they enter an entirely new world!

Graduation Gallery Access

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Their engagement session started out on the Hawk’s Nest along the Delaware River in Sparrowbush, New York. With the morning sun not having crested the mountain, there was a bit of a breeze along the rock face that gave us some challenging shots with blowing hair. As the two began to warm up to our cameras, we moved on to the Elks Brox Memorial Park overlooking Port Jervis and Matamoras, Pennsylvania. Though the drive took for what seemed like forever, the view was absolutely perfect. The rest of their session took them to the tracks near Eddy Farm, a quiet little park and a side lot next to the Erie Depot.

Once everything was done, we finished the engagement session with a few cold drinks, sandwiches and stories from “back in the day”! With their July wedding fast approaching, we even discussed some of the last minute details of what to expect when the big day finally arrived!

Photographing their wedding is going to be a lot of fun and we cannot wait for it to come! Check out some of our favorite shots of the engagement session!

Originally, we wanted to announce the winner on June 1st, but were so backed up with work that we missed the deadline by a long shot! Needless to say, we decided to wait until the middle of the month for the announcement! After throwing all of the names into a hat and mixing them all up – we have picked our grand prize winners …

~ Roseanne And Carlos – Middletown, NY ~

Congratulations to the both of you! We cannot wait to capture beautiful memories of your romantic flight!

With the sun having just set behind the trees and the stars making their way out, Minisink Valley started their warm-up routine with a quick run and some midfield stretching. As they started practicing, I thought it would be a good idea to find a spot on the field where I could grab some closeup shots of the team. Unfortunately, I found out that I needed to move because there were too many lacrosse balls whizzing past me – and you certainly don’t want to get hit with one of them!

Just before the start, Loretta and I swapped out our lenses and found good spots to shoot from. I settled back into the same spot as the first game and started shooting away. Before the end of the first quarter, Minisink and Warwick had traded goal scores back-and-forth a few times – by the end of the half, Warwick would have a lead that they would maintain until the end.

It was sad to see Minisink’s season end before they could reach the state level games, but we did get some great action shots of everyone! Check out some of our favorite ones from both sides …

Just before the half of the game prior, I figured I would “warm-up” my lacrosse photography skills and take some shots of the James I. O’Neill vs Red Hook game. Making sure I was out of the line of fire, I found a spot alongside Red Hook just off the field that was perfect for most of the action.

Here are some of my favorite shots from the game!

If you are interested in seeing more images, contact us and we’ll setup a special access gallery for you!

Up Next: Minisink Valley vs Warwick …

Now, I know that I may not be what you would consider old. Having only a year left before my 10-year high school reunion may not seem that long ago – but a quick visit to any recent prom will certainly change that thought! All kidding aside, it was so much fun to be able to attend this event. From the staff to the administrators and the students, everything was perfect and it seemed like the night ended before it should have!

Last year, I was unable to attend the S.S. Seward prom because we had a wedding booked where I was the primary photographer. Though the Tropical Paradise theme worked well, this year was done as a Masquerade. Many of the students came dressed to match and there were some awesome masks made for the prom king, queen and court.

We’re already looking forward to what next year will bring! Until then, enjoy a few shots from the night!

Prom Gallery Access

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I love photographing the younger kids because they put so much heart and soul into playing the game – and it shows in the images we capture!

During an extended break around the middle of the day, I decided to head up to one of the games to grab some action shots before the next team arrived for their portraits. I found my spot on the sidelines with the players and caught some warm-up shots of both Warwick and Minisink.

With the next team starting to arrive, I could only stay for the first half … but was able to get some really cool shots …

Baby Jack was born to Tim and Mandy of Eldred, NY on March 2, 2009 and I had the privilege of photographing his first session. As I always say, the baby runs the show – and boy was this the case. We had so much fun and I cannot wait for his next session!

Local Photography Studio Gives Couples Hot Air Balloon Rides

Westtown, NY, April, 2010 – Couples who are engaged to be married may say they feel like they are floating on air. Starting in April, Wanamaker Photography has teamed with Above The Clouds, Inc. to give prospective brides and grooms that actual experience.

Couples looking for exceptional wedding photography can engage Wanamaker Photography for their special day and they will receive a complimentary hot air balloon ride from Above The Clouds, Inc. in Orange County, NY.

In addition to the balloon ride available to all couples who take advantage of this exciting opportunity, Wanamaker Photography will also award one fabulous grand prize. A lucky couple will receive a documentary of their balloon ride by two photographers and a brag book so their journey will live on in their memories.

Many people have never been on a hot air balloon ride and we thought this was a great opportunity to let couples know what it is really like to ‘float on air’,” said Loretta Wolff, photographer and manager of Wanamaker Photography. “Above The Clouds, Inc. offers a fabulous experience with breathtaking views.”

This unique opportunity is only being offered from April 1, 2010 until May 31, 2010. The grand prize winner will be drawn and announced on June 1, 2010.

Starting at the end of last year, we began splitting apart our portrait business (Wanamaker Photography) and our sports business (Wanamaker Sports Photography) into two separate identities. This included new logos, websites and a new marketing plan. Things worked out so well that we began receiving a lot of requests from new sports leagues, expectant mothers and newly engaged couples. Things were so successful that we have been doing nothing but catch-up lately! On top of that, we’re having our home office remodeled – so it has put us in a slightly discombobulated state!

Since the beginning of the year, we’ve photographed some incredible sessions and really want to get things posted – but just haven’t had enough downtime to get it done. However, we are making it our goal to get caught up on both blogs by the first week in April – so keep checking back for some new images!

Heidi is very fun and I had the pleasure to work with her and her Mother. I packed up the mobile studio and headed over to her mom’s house in Westtown, NY. I set up in her basement and the three of us got some ideas together. I originally went over there to take just the standard yearbook photo but Heidi has a bright and bubbly personality so her session didn’t stop there. We grabbed a bunch of great shots! Enjoy!

When it came time for their engagement session, the biggest challenge for us was to get Kaitlin and Jeffrey to be comfortable in front of the camera since neither likes their photo taken. This is a great time for the couple to see how we work and it gives us the opportunity to find their comfort level before the big day.

After feet of snow had fallen just a week prior, we had a perfect day for their session – while it was a little cold, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Starting things off, we stepped outside into their backyard for a couple “warm-up” shots of them in a setting they were familiar with.

Once we knew that they were comfortable with the cameras, we headed down the street to the Yulan Baseball Park for some cool and fun shots of them in the snow. We even suggested a snow ball fight – which they loved! Since Jeffrey is the Assistant Fire Chief for the Yulan Fire Department, this was a great location – especially with a nice big sign in the background!

Keeping that thought in mind, we headed down to the firehouse to get  a little grungy. We decided to have Jeffrey dress up in his fire suit and we used the two trucks as the perfect backdrop for Kaitlin’s “hero”!

Before closing out the session, we stopped by BVH, a local bar that the two spend a lot of time at – Kaitlin works there and Jeffrey spends time visiting her. Closed to the public for another few hours, it gave us the chance to hang back and create some intimate portraits of the two of them just being themselves.

We are really looking forward to their wedding at the newly renovated Villa Roma in New York!

As the players entered the court, we saw an immediate difference in the intensity of the team. They seemed to run faster, shoot farther and jump higher – so we knew that it was going to be a good game. Having seen us work during the JV game, they decided to goof off/show off a bit for us – which led to some really good shots.

When the game started, we found it hard to keep up – as they would move from one basket to the other with incredible speed. Add to that the shouting from the coaches on the bench and you could almost feel like you were at an official NBA game.

With a few hundred shots captured by the half-time, we decided to pack up and head out for the night. Here are a few of our favorites …

Brittany and I had a blast. We started out at her house in Slate Hill on her back patio. It took a little warming up but Brittany was a natural. She is very photogenic and we took a ton of photos in many surrounding areas. We rode around her parent’s property in a golf cart to different locations including the pond behind her house that had some beautiful stonework. We also noticed a lot of other areas including the wooded area next to the pond where I fell into a hole while trying to show her a certain area that would look awesome for photographs.

Before it got too dark, we went next door to an old, grungy church building where we created some fun shots with the old door and the paint-peeling walls.

To end the session, we headed inside for a mini studio session to finish off with the traditional drape pose and some photos with her sisters. We shared a lot of laughs. Enjoy the photos.

Not wanting to setup and tear down equipment like last time, we decided to forgo strobes and instead push our new camera to see what it could produce with its incredible low-light capabilities. We also decided to experiment with its hi-def recording abilities in order to create a fusion slideshow when we were done. Needless to say, the camera performed amazingly!

For most of the game, Loretta and I sat tucked in a door frame at the far end of the gym. Due to its small size, we didn’t have many places to go where we could get good shots and not get run over by one of the players or hit with a wild ball.

Here are a couple of our favorites from the game …

At the end of the JV game, we decided to stay a little longer and grab some shots of the Varsity team. A post with those images is coming soon!

I turned everything off, reset the camera and changed my settings for the best! Having not photographed a basketball game in over two years, I was a bit rusty with the first few shots – hands covering faces, bad timing on throws … you name it and I caught it. However, it didn’t take long for me to get back into the rhythm of things and capturing awesome shots.

Unfortunately, because the lighting in the gym was horrible (like most of the school around the area), the raw out-of-the-camera shots aren’t the best looking and need to be lightened up a bit. However, after breezing through my shots from the game, here are a couple of the ones that I liked the most!

If you want to know when the rest of the images go up, send us an email or become a fan on our facebook page!

On Sunday, I was a little leery of the weather we were supposed to have but I packed up the studio and headed up to their home in Middletown. Ashley has a unique style and as I was really excited to work with her to get the portraits that she dreamed of.

Her one request was that we had to create a portrait with her and her favorite car – the old style Volkswagen Beetle. We really had a great time with this and got some really great shots. We then went back to her parents house and scouted other locations like the great flower gardens, an old swing set and various other places around. It was an awesome session! We had a blast!

Recently, we received a testimonial from them, recounting their experience with us …

Planning a wedding from Tennessee to New York is not an easy task, and trying to find a photographer who can meet with you on your few trips home was a challenge. However, Loretta and Chris made themselves available to our schedule, had great ideas, were low key during the ceremony and came through with glorious photos. So many great ones that it is extremely hard to choose our favorites. We appreciate all they did for us and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for an amazing wedding photographer!