Julia & Seaver

Photographing proposals is quickly becoming one of my favorite photo jobs! I love everything about it, from the sneaky plans of the "to be" groom, to the mapping out of locations and places to shoot from, to the stealth behavior I have to use while capturing the moment, as to not ruin the moment!

Meet Julia and Seaver, a couple whose first few dates revolved around getting some ice cream and the good old NYC past time of stoop sitting. There are very few better ways to pass a summer evening in NYC!



After a special dinner they arrived at Tasti D Lite to get ice cream, Seaver cleverly sent me a text message to let me know it was all beginning...



Without even Seaver knowing, I found a location up the street to photograph them walking up 2nd Ave.

Finally the couple is in position, and I was told to be ready when the ice cream was finished...

I crept down the street and hid behind a car on the opposite side of the road. I could see them by looking through the car windows and over the hood of the car parked on their side of the street. The light was fading, and I was wishing the ice cream will get eaten quickly as to not let it get to dark. All of a sudden I hear in a loud and annoyed voice,
" EXCUSE me, what are you doing?"- I turn behind me and I see a man in the front door of his lovely brown stone, obviously feeling suspicious of me ducked in front of his property and maybe even his car! I look and see Seaver and Julia still eating their ice cream. Quickly I crawl over to the man and I explained to him that the couple over my shoulder was about to get engaged and then I crawled away. He smiled and laughed...whew!

Finally the ice cream is finished...



Seaver drops to one knee and asks the question...



Julia admires the ring...



The ring is placed on the finger...



The hug...



And the surprise...out jumps a photographer!! I love the look on Julia's face in this picture!! Pure shock!



Big points for Seaver!



A very happy Julia!



An extremely happy, beaming, and now engaged couple!!

Congratulations Julia and Seaver!!! I wish you both lots of love and happiness!

My New York

These images are some of my latest from my series "My New York". These are images that I take with my little camera as I make my way through my days here in NYC. We have had some stormy weather here, but with that comes some beautiful light!

The man above proudly showed off his signs to me, he had 4 different ones, but the others were much to outrageous for this blog! Even the homeless are having to get more creative in this recession!





I just love how this ray of light was hitting the church and how the rainbow seems to be landing perfectly on it, its almost as if the pot of gold is in there creating this affect!











Now this is cracking me up. It seems that all over Harlem and even in the lower areas of the west side, there are kids signs EVERYWHERE. They are all about smoking!!! The bottom sign is very hard to read, it may have been rained on, but the top one is hysterical! Go kids!

Cory and Rob

Cory's brother, a NYC fire fighter, used to warn her to stay away from firemen. Well, you know a sister hardly ever listens to advice from a brother on men....meet Rob, also one of NYC's bravest, a fire fighter in Brooklyn! Cory works for Project Hospitality and also is a sign language interpreter. What a match!

Although we had to wait out a storm in the rain, when it did let up the the wet trees and the grass made for a beautiful setting.

















Cory and Rob also have matching tattoos, the symbol means "fate that leads to marriage". Oh and by the way, this was not Rob's first professional photo shoot- he was also Mr. July 2008 for the FDNY calendar!!!!

Congratulations to you both!

Dana & Dave!

I met Dana and Dave after taking my favorite NYC transportation, anyone? Yes, the Staten Island ferry.

We had a lot of fun going from one location to another and even getting kicked out of one, because no pros were allowed! I tried to pretend I didn't know how to use my equipment, really work the dumb blond thing, but we still got booted! It didn't really matter because we ended up at the boardwalk where Dave had proposed to Dana and it was wonderful! I loved hearing all their stories about how they met and fell in love!









Dana is a sign language interpreter in training, she is telling Dave " I love you!"



And last, a kiss where they got engaged!


Congratulations you two, you're a perfect match!

Michael Jackson follow up!

The day of Michael's funeral I decided to take a ride back to the Apollo and see if there was anything going on. I was stunned to find 25 yards or so of paper filled with messages for MJ. There was even a plastic tarp placed over the paper that then got signed as well!

It was very touching to see the range of ethnicity and ages that this man and his music influenced. I am sure that that very fact, that his music can bring people together who may not normally be together, was a great source of pride and happiness for Michael.


















And the vendors! 125th Street has become lined with vendors selling everything MJ you can imagine!





..even home made silver gloves!

Michael Jackson

Surely, the death of Michael Jackson will be added to a long list of historic flashbulb memories. "Where were you when Michael died?"

Well I was in Harlem at Dinosaur BBQ having way too much pork and mac 'n cheese than I needed with Greg and a couple of good friends. I was shocked, stunned, saddened and covered with goose bumps as I stood at the bar watching the news on TV with other New Yorkers. I still remember clearly when I was a little girl trying to perfect my "Moon Walk". Our kitchen floor, which was linoleum was perfect for the sliding technique!

After dinner, Greg and I jumped on the bikes to go to the Apollo Theater. There, hundreds of people had gathered to mourn and celebrate the loss and life of this great pop icon.
Forty-two years ago, when Michael was only 9 years old, he and his brothers won the amateur night at the Apollo with "I Want you Back".

In my pictures you will see people crying, laughing, dancing, singing, remembering and some in shock of the current news.

Thank you Michael for the endless great songs, videos and dance moves! RIP













This man was videoing his sentiments on his laptop...you can see me in the reflection...he was at 48 minutes already!