Emily & Augie’s Engagement Photos in Brooklyn Heights

emily & augie’s engagement photos in NYC | brooklyn heights, bk | apollo fields wedding photography

The night before our trip to Colorado a couple weeks back, Heather and I met up with one of our September 2019 couples, Emily and Augie, at their apartment in Brooklyn Heights. It was supposed to be an early evening where we all get to know each other a little bit but ended with each of us telling story after story over a few glasses of wine and laughing all the way until midnight. #noregrets. What this quintessential New York City night made clear to us (other than that Emily and Augie’s wedding is gonna be dope AF) is that whether we are in New York or Colorado, we are always finding couples who are trying to surround themselves with nature. 

    When we first stepped into Emily and Augie’s penthouse apartment we were greeted by white walls that opened the space up with light as a breeze came in through the patio door. After a warm welcome and quick tour, we stepped out onto their serene terrace where vine ripe tomatoes, basil, thyme, and grapes grew in raised garden beds, thriving on a custom irrigation system which Augie built himself. He also re-floored the entire patio with a clean wooden farmhouse look to replace the rubber mats that should be kept on NYC playgrounds. He said it was the hardest math problem he’s ever done, lol. We really admire when people have the skills and ambition to take on DIY projects like this! As we lounged and spoke about our love of nature and photography, their two dogs ran between our legs and teased one another with their toys and we were well on our way to a wonderful evening.

    In a kind of afterthought, Emily and Augie told us we can climb a metal ladder that reaches to the roof for a view of downtown Manhattan. If you’ve seen the pictures, this was a massive undersell. It was like saying, “you can go look at piles of dirt and trees when you drive on I-70 through the Rockies.” The view from their private rooftop is what people dream of when they rent their first basement shoe box apartment in New York City. They have an unobstructed view of the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, downtown Manhattan and the Freedom tower—they could be running a tourist attraction for crying out loud—and it was all an afterthought. They were so much more excited to talk about their dogs, pluck a grape, tomato, or a leaf of basil, and hand it to us rather than boast a view they could charge admission for. Just thinking about the humility and priorities of these two makes us so grateful to be their wedding photographers! When they eventually joined us on the rooftop they didn’t even think we’d snap pictures of them up there, which was equal parts dumbfounding and endearing.

    After we climbed down and our jaws returned to their natural resting position, we made our way to their favorite local Italian spot, Noodle Pudding. With each of us coming from our respective quirky families we exchanged stories in a friendly one-upping of “you won’t believe this,” covering everything from barroom stories, to trusting strangers, and wedding planning. The food spread included some of the freshest caprese salad I’ve ever tasted, fried zucchini, some true Brooklyn homemade lasagna, and a couple of glasses of house red to wash it all down. When we all finally threw in our white handkerchiefs we were all full, happy, and ready to call it a night, although I’m pretty sure we all had a story or two left in each of us.

    Whether our couples are from New York, Colorado, or somewhere in between, we find that most of them are trying to surround themselves with something green. I’m not talking about money or the famous Colorado herb but something that brings them back to nature. While it is obviously much easier in Colorado than New York, Emily and Augie have shown us what can be done even in the concrete jungle. 

Photography: Apollo Fields

The many faces behind Apollo Fields

Terrence & Heather here, the passionate creatives behind the pen and lens. This photo is from when we got married in October 2018 and is a wonderful representation of our relationship! Click on the photo and drop us a line, 2020 is booking up FAST!

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Sage & John's Engagement Photos in Downtown Northport

Sage & John's Engagement Photos in Downtown Northport | Long Island Engagement Photography | Apollo Fields Weddings

It was so much fun to capture Sage and John’s engagement in our very own hometown— Northport, NY. The downtown area really comes alive in the summer with tons of families and pups hanging around the docks and little main street shops. This couple is so sweet and down to earth that this setting was perfect and we really lucked out in terms of light for the night!

I loved getting to spend the evening with them, despite being covered in poison ivy (and literally running out of urgent care for our session!) and their company actually made me forget that I wanted to crawl out of my own skin! We popped up and down the main street area and caught the docks for a beautiful sunset on the water. After our shoot, we were able to grab a beer at our favorite local brewery, Sand City and chat about everything from commuter life on the island to wedding planning.

We’re so excited for Sage & John’s wedding in just a few short weeks and cannot wait to capture all of the amazingness then!

Enjoy their engagement pics below:

Mercie & Dan’s Rollins Pass Engagement Shoot in Nederland, CO

Mercie & Dan’s Engagement Session | Rollins Pass Nederland, Colorado | Mountain Engagements | Apollo Fields

As night gave way to day, rays of sunshine swept away the shadows on the trees, lifting golden purples and greens to contrast with the muted blue sky. The morning chill still lingering in the air brought our breaths and bodies closer together as our reflections shivered upon the reservoir’s still surface. Movements warm our bodies just as emotions stir our souls; and there’s always that one look during these engagement sessions that reveals this inward dance in the eyes of our couples—a sort of intimate revelation—that leaps from their irises like the first light over a dark horizon. 

Mercie and Dan were first set up in high school and their relationship still shines with an optimistic and exuberant young energy. Bolstered by their strong and confident characters, it’s hard not to be enamored by the story of how Mercie asked Dan to prom by spelling it out in sushi at Dan’s first experience with the Japanese culinary tradition. Cuter still is how Mercie doubled down on this romantic gesture when asking Dan to marry her! (If that doesn’t immediately make you think of a scene in a romantic comedy I don’t know what does.) Their happiness during their engagement shoot in Nederland was as palpable as the smiles on their faces. Kind of like what Dan said about the first time she told Mercie she loved her (at prom), “[the words] just sort of fell out of my face.”

Bearing witness and documenting relationships like Mercie and Dan’s is just one of the many reasons why Heather and I love running Apollo Fields. Whether it’s the privilege of connecting with such loving people, or appreciating a love in an idyllic yin-and-yang, conditional-meeting-unconditional balance that serves as a reminder for Heather and I’s own symbiotic relationship, or perhaps the most practical and paramount point— what these photos mean to them. Around every corner of every moment of these engagement sessions are parts of life to be appreciated. We promise to never to forget that. For our sake—and for Apollo Fields’ sake.

Mercie and Dan aren’t sure where or when they are going to get married, but we hope to be there. They’re moving to California in a couple months and we’d follow them coast-to-coast, hell maybe even continent-to-continent if they asked us. We’re so excited for them to start this next journey together and know that they have all of the support they will ever need.

Sometimes in life you take leaps and sometimes you take bruises. “You learn to figure things out,” Mercie said, “I am who I am through trial and error.” I believe that the freedom to explore the world inside and outside ourselves is the key to finding enduring happiness and supportive partners. By staying close to home, or refusing to acknowledge the movements of the emotions inside our bodies and minds, our worldviews become myopic and close-minded. Learning to take risks and choosing to be brave opens an entire world of experiences, so if you’re looking for that little push—just remember—that first light is just on the other side of the dark horizon.

Here’s to you Mercie and Dan!

Colorado Engagement Photography:

Colorado Wedding Photography | Apollo Fields

Naomi & Johnny's Virginia Engagement Session at Noland Trail and Oozlefinch Brewery

Naomi & Johnny’s Engagement Session | Oozlefinch Brewery | Noland Trail | Norfolk Virginia Engagements | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography

It’s no secret that we love to travel! It’s one of my favorite things about the business so we always jump at the opportunity to shoot destination engagements and weddings. Throwing the dogs, cameras, backpack of clothes, and a board game or two in the back of the car and hitting the road is what we do best.

We got the chance to shoot Naomi and Johnny’s engagement session in Norfolk, VA because they are air-force and have been stationed in separate states. Naomi is currently in Colorado and Johnny is in Virginia, and this was going to be their last weekend together before their wedding in May so we cruised down the east coast to meet up with them for a rainy afternoon. We began the session at Noland Trail which is where they got engaged (fittingly enough it was also raining that day) but we could only stay for a short amount of time before the weather really moved in.

So off to Oozlefinch Brewery we went! We were so excited when they suggested this location because we’re totally craft-brewery people and were already mapping out our brew tour of the east coast :) The beer was all amazing and we gladly enjoyed a few flights together. It was great to hang out with them, snapping pictures, chatting about how they met, and wedding planning. We’re shooting their wedding in May at The Pines at Genessee in CO which we’re really excited for! We are also looking forward to recognizing a few faces in the crowd since Naomi is the cousin of Dylan (one of our 2017 grooms) and how we originally met this fun couple!

Virginia Engagement Photography: Apollo Fields

Locations: Noland Loop Trail, Noland News Virginia | Oozlefinch Craft Brewery, Hampton VA

Anna & Jeff's Colorado Engagement Session at Mount Falcon

Anna & Jeff’s Engagement Session | Mt Falcon Engagements | Morrison, Colorado | Red Rocks Photography | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers

I’m so excited to be working with Anna and Jeff because they are both outdoorsy, laid back professionals who are very much so our ‘vibe’ of people! I first met them through a dear friend, Kerry, since they had just relocated from the East Coast to Colorado for work and were recently engaged. Anna was in the beginning phases of wedding planning so we were chatting about some of my favorite venues in the mountains. They were between Colorado and Maine and of course, I was down for either location!

They ultimately decided to have their wedding in Maine at the Granite Ridge Estate & Barn in Norway, Maine which was a totally win-win for us! We love barn weddings and I’m a huge fan of Maine :) so we jumped at the opportunity. But I still loved the idea of doing an epic Colorado mountainy engagement session to represent the different parts of their lives, so in December, we set up an awesome photo sesh at Mount Falcon in Morrison, Colorado.

I love this location because it’s easy to get to, puts you right in the mountains, and you have Red Rocks Amphitheater in the background. Red Rocks was one of the big things that ultimately drew us to CO so I just love everything about the energy there. We met up and Anna and Jeff had such an awesome energy together that I immediately knew we’d be a great fit. They are a lighthearted and easygoing couple, but we were quickly able to connect about our mutual friends and East Coast boarding school life. They both transplanted from Taft School which was part of the same New England consortium that I was a part of in high school (I went to Ethel Walker for four years in addition to working for a boarding school so I can totally relate to this industry!)

This engagement session was so much fun because they had such a great time hiking and hanging with each other in the mountains while the sun set. I loved wrapping up the weekend with these guys and I am so excited to shoot their wedding in just a few months!!!

Photography: Heather Huie for Apollo Fields
Location: Mt. Falcon | Morrison Colorado

Callie & Tyler's Top Of The Rock Couple's Session in NYC

Callie & Tyler | Top of the Rock NYC | Central Park New York | Rockefeller Center | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography

I’m really excited about this session for a lot of reasons but I think the biggest reason is because it really represents both of the worlds that I love – skyscrapers and mountains – since Callie & Tyler came out from Colorado to visit NYC for their anniversary! It was so fun to connect with them in the city and get to show an awesome CO couple this city that I love so much. Callie is also a wedding photographer in Colorado and runs Callie Riesling Photography. She loves to travel and has a great blog of her own about all of the places that she goes for work and play with her family!

I was so excited when I found out that they would be in NYC at the same time as me. We chatted about their itinerary and decided that we would begin the afternoon skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park and then head over to Top of the Rock for golden hour. This was the perfect blend of iconic New York without being too touristy for me and it seemed to match their styles, too.

Callie and Tyler both love skating but are used to wearing hockey skates so they had me laughing when we first began since (I didn’t know this) regular skates are different than hockey skates, so they told me that they might be super clumsy on the ice and hanging onto each other to avoid falling. Well, of course they got out there and still looked like champs, so I was happy to be on the sidelines because I would have definitely been eating the ice if that were me!

Then we walked down to Rockefeller Center and headed up to the observation deck at Top of the Rock. Our timing was perfect because the sun was just beginning to set and the golden light was approaching. It was cloudy and we didn’t get a true “golden” hour, but the light was super soft and dreamy and the city was pretty magnificent anyway! We got to watch the sun set and the city lights all begin to turn on while snapping photos away in one of NYC’s best locations. A perfect end to a session, I’d say!

I was so happy to spend the afternoon with this couple because we immediately clicked about the wedding industry, Colorado life, and the contrasts and similarities with NYC. It was great to show them around my city for a bit and play tour guide since I’m so used to seeing New York from a local’s point of view now that I forget sometimes how amazing it truly is.

New York City Photography: Apollo Fields

Locations:
Top of the Rock | NYC
Central Park | NYC
Rockefeller Center | NYC

Giveaway – Who's Got Cute Grandparents?

Giveaway | Grandparents Session | Apollo Fields | New York, NY

I’m a sucker for stinking cute grandparents who are still in love. Or at least still like each other… Or at least are good at pretending. Even if they are grumpy, I think there’s something special about capturing well-seasoned marriages as well as ones that are just beginning. Let’s celebrate these relationships that have withstood the test of time!

Apollo Fields has been toying with the idea of adding on Golden Anniversary sessions where we treat the matriarchs and patriarchs of your family like a freshly engaged couple, except we want to really uncover their marriages and the stories that they have to tell. We will casually interview them about how they met, the adventures of their lives, the hard times, uncover what it is that kept them together… the secret sauce, if you will.

I bet that most people don’t really know as much about their own grandparents as they think they might. We will archive their stories in both photos and words and make a beautiful album that will stand the test of time. I really believe that these stories are worth uncovering and preserving, and the photos will be irreplaceable.

We’re in search of the perfect set of grandparents with a good story to tell to get this bad boy rolling! Do you have a set of super cute old people in your life? Enter them in our giveaway to win one free complimentary session! Rules below:

1. Must be within one hour of NYC (or willing to pay for travel)

2. Must be available for a session before April 15

3. Must comment on this blog post with your nominees and a little write up about WHY these old lovebirds are worthy :)

How sweet are these lovebirds?? Enter NOW!!

Matt & Kerry's Engagement Session in Boulder, CO

True Friends - Matt & Kerry’s Intimate Engagement Session in Boulder, Colorado

There are many different types of friendships. There are your drinking buddies, your work acquaintances, your lifelong second grade secret holders, and your intimate bonds with your significant others. There are exchanging “hello’s” on the street with strangers and there’s giving your time to the elderly or relationships that require a bit more patience. In every type of friendship there’s always something to learn—but even more important—there’s always something to be grateful for. This post is dedicated to our friendship with Matt and Kerry, who helped see us through the most difficult time of our lives.

As you may well know, in the beginning of December 2018, Heather was diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy. I received this news through the speaker of my iPhone while nervously pacing in our cozy kitchen in East Northport, NY, while Heather lay alone, sobbing in a hospital bed in Westminster, Colorado. I immediately began to book a flight the next morning to be with her, to console her, and to just hold her and tell her everything was going to be all right. But two people (among others) were there before I arrived—Matt and Kerry.

Prior to receiving the news that day, Heather snapped an engagement session of Matt and Kerry at the feet of the Flatirons in Boulder, Colorado. Let me first say that Heather and Kerry go way back—they taught and mentored students at a fancy art school together in the Hamptons over seven years ago—and it’s crazy to think how friendships can evolve so much over time. But back to the sunshine, the smiles, and the genuine happiness that lived in their unsuspecting eyes during their intimate engagement photography session in Colorado.

Matt and Kerry never could’ve known the confusion and worry that whirled about Heather’s mind as she snapped away behind her Nikon camera. They never could’ve guessed that they were about to prove their stripes as people in the next few weeks. All they were probably thinking about was how most people feel during photo shoots—awkward as fuck—yet just like the mountains in the landscape behind them, the solid character that roots each of them to the earth—knew something was up.

Without hesitation or reservation, they opened their doors for Heather to stay as long as she needed. We weren’t sure if this process would be a week or a month—but it didn’t matter. Matt and Kerry couldn’t see anything but a friend in need, and they were prepared to help in any way that they could. We wound up staying at their place in Boulder for about a month as they left for a holiday trip, and our only responsibility was to take care of their plump orange cat, Nerboo, who kneaded our legs like an angry Italian baker with unforgivingly sharp nails. Matt and Kerry had no other expectations except to provide us with a private space to work through this unpredictable and unimaginably difficult time.

Their friendship, among many others of ours in Colorado, has stretched our understanding of relationships to new heights. Matt and Kerry gave their home to us without expectation, reservation, or judgment, teaching us what true friendship looks like. It was a trust fall in real life. And they caught us. I will never forget that and I will forever be grateful. This one is for all of you out there who have sturdy hands and are always waiting to catch someone. We love you all like true friends, Matt and Kerry.

Contact us to set up your own engagement session!

Engagement Photography: Apollo Fields

Jamaica Honeymoon - Day 5

Apollo Fields Photojournalism | Wedding Writer | Destination Wedding Photographer | Jamaica Honeymoon | Farm Wedding Photographer

Jamaica Honeymoon – Day 5 ~9:40 am, local time

Day five of the honeymoon felt like the first step back towards the Montego Bay airport and our beloved animals that wait for us back in New Jersey. As the trip comes to a close, I sink just a little deeper into my lounge chair, holding onto the sunshine and the view of the sea for just a little longer. Six days is a healthy length for a trip where lounging is the default, any longer and you might get a little too used to it.

We’ve taken a dip off the cliffs every morning we’ve been here, partly because it’s available, but mostly because it takes the edge off the heat. You kind of form this relationship with the water in tropical climates, using it as a sort of reset button for your body to reach a more comfortable operating temperature for the next few hours. The residual salt in your hair clings to your follicles like a natural hair product, maintaining its shape while the wind blows through it bringing salt crystals back to the sea from whence it came.

One of our hosts, Tom, recommended a local lobster joint, Sips n Dips, for the freshest catch in town for lunch. We strolled up around opening time and were greeted by an elderly man who’d informed us it’d be about 40 minutes. He spoke with the familiar island intonation, carrying a nonchalance as relaxed as the wind and waves. In Jamaica, you either embrace the speed or hurriedly wait, because the beach doesn’t differentiate between footprints in the sand. Heather and I welcomed the idle time, knowing the service industry well and the importance of proper food preparation. When our cook/server came by with our tray of fresh lobster, we started by prying the tails out with our forks, eventually resorting to our fingertips to finish the job. At one point I looked down at my hands and wondered how people keep this operation clean in white tablecloth restaurants and thought that beneath the shade of a tree is the better place to be.

Climbing back onto the Vespa and pulling out onto the main road, we coincidentally caught Pam, Rick, and Steve cruising by. We decided to take a ride up the coast a bit to see some more of the island but it didn’t last long as every hundred feet past the last Americanized resort the road turned into a minefield of potholes. Driving a Vespa with Heather on the back was like having a computer update you with every potential danger in the area: “You’re going too fast, but don’t hit that pothole, wait, watch out for that sand patch!” All the while the wind moves past us keeping us cool and comfortable.

We stopped at Rick’s Café on the way back, the tourist trap of tourist traps in Negril. Large, fake stone patios, a big stage, one of those rectangular picture frames that you can stand in and more overweight white people than a Red Lobster in Texas. Institutions like these undermine the culture in which they operate when people travel hundreds of miles to have a chicken club on the cliffs of Negril.

Of course it’s a choice and risking your hunger on unfamiliar cuisine creates a risk for a rumbling stomach, but I can’t help but think when I visit these places that this is what’s wrong with our culture. Heather and I have already made the mistake twice: once in the Dominican Republic shooting a wedding and the other time in Cancun, where you experience such an Americanized version of a country that it’s offensive to even say that you visited it. I guess places like Rick’s are inevitable in highly trafficked vacation spots, but it does both of our cultures a disservice with their sheer existence.

Everyday of my life I want to make a connection. Whether its person-to-person or person-to-culture, connections are bridges of understanding that can conquer ignorance one experience at a time. A relationship with the water and the wind will sweep us into a more united future much quicker than any resort or tourist trap ever could.

Jamaica Honeymoon - Day 4

Jamaican Honeymoon in Negril | Travel Couple | Adventurous Honeymooning | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography

Jamaica – Day 4 ~ 8:00 am, local time

We woke again at sunrise, as the dark turned to light. The breeze from the fans and the sea swirled all around us, stirring us awake. We’ve adapted to a different sleeping schedule here, one that is dictated by the rising and setting of the sun rather than binge watching and rolling over in bed. You get more out of the day living this way.

We started the morning with breakfast at a local restaurant called Sips n’ Bites. It was one of the many colorful open places that lined West End Road with a chalkboard out front that listed their offerings. As Heather and I looked over the menu, a woman came outside to tell us that they only had a couple of the items. It was refreshing to know that they wouldn’t just serve us any old stuff laying around. I stayed within the familiar, ordering curried chicken while Heather tried to order something vegetarian. When our plates came they were heavy with Jamaican staples: festival, their version of a zeppoli; an unripe banana; sautéed greens reminiscent of kale; fried plantains; and rice and beans drizzled with coconut oil. My curried chicken was authentic and succulent while Heather was served something that looked like scrambled eggs. Tougher in consistency, we asked the waitress what it was and she responded that it was either cod, cat, or conk fish and it left our palates puzzled. We later found out it was ackee and salted fish, an acquired taste that we had not yet acquired. It was no problem as we washed it down with the freshest squeezed orange juice that I’ve ever tasted.

We saddled back onto the Vespa and headed towards Pam, Rick, and Steve to do some snorkeling. Right before we boarded the yellow and black boat, a storm passed through, throwing rain sideways beneath all the thatched roofs. After the sky cleared and the sun poked back through the clouds, we were well on our way to the coral reefs with our local guides. Gently coasting on the Caribbean, we peered through the six fiberglass windows on the bottom of the boat, watching sea urchins and starfish live beneath the sea. Once we dropped into the water, I rotated my head to the left and right like a security camera, trying to spot the exotic fish in their natural habitat. I’d been snorkeling in the Caribbean before and didn’t really see anything I haven’t seen before, when a sort of omniscient peace washed over me. It wasn’t about spotting the Moby Dick of the Caribbean anymore, it was just about swimming along, undisturbed, watching life as it unfolded whether I was there or not. I could’ve stayed there all day.

Instead, we coasted back to Rick, Pam, and Steve’s resort, the treehouse, before we made our way to Rick’s Café. Heather and I stopped at another local jerk chicken joint and I had my first favorite food item - jerk sauce - its sweet at the front like mole but packs a much bigger punch after a few seconds. When I’m at a new restaurant, I always sample the sauces on the table before the food arrives. We ordered a light pineapple cole slaw that made the ¼ pound containers from delis back home feel like a heavy glob of old cabbage and mayonnaise. The service was slow but warm-hearted, and I will take a delicious slow meal over a fast fake one anytime. By the time we got to Rick’s the sun had set and the cliff jumping suspended for the day. I wasn’t going to jump anyway, as I had far too many red stripes and pulls from joints to desire to plunge into the water from a fifty foot cliff.

We ended the night at a patio bar called LTC with a bartender called Jason, AKA Big Red AKA Porn Star. He’d gotten that last nickname working at another resort where he’d dance and eventually take his clothes off. He said it was just in his nature, then cackled to himself as if he was a schoolgirl revealing an embarrassing secret. In the comfort of a warm bartender, the company of family, and the cool of a Jamaican night, our minds had no other choice but to enjoy ourselves. It truly is the Jamaican way.

Jamaica Honeymoon - Day 3

Apollo Fields Destination Wedding Photographers | Negril, Jamaica | Honeymoon Adventures

Jamaica – Day 3

Sunday, November 4th, 2018 ~7:35 am, local time

Another morning waking to the ebbs and flows of the Caribbean Sea.  There’s something about the sound of waves crashing that lures your mind into the rhythm of nature, reminding you that everything that comes will also go.  The whitewater that sprays into the air, jettisoning from the sharp rock face, shows no concern for my presence, or for any of the other creatures that cling to their cratered homes on this violently-formed beautiful façade.  Yet it’s these wall-dwelling sea creatures — these Jamaican mussels and crabs — that taught me that we need to carve a small niche for ourselves, where we can brave the onslaught of life’s elements,  if we want to survive in this otherwise unforgiving world.    

We took a right out of Sundown Villa this morning for the first time on our Vespa, passing Rick’s Café among the other horribly named Americanized resorts like ‘The Palms’ and ‘Lover’s Paradise” as the wind whipped around our bodies on our way to a place called “Barney’s Hummingbird and Flower Sanctuary.”  Heather clung to my back like a baby koala as we veered off the pavement onto a dirt road, her lips stammering through the worried words of her mind like mental pot holes.  We passed a man walking down the road, sharpening a machete and were reminded of our cab driver who told us that all the goats that roam the island are owned by someone — and if you were to say, pick one up — you will find yourself on the wrong end of one of those blades.  We swerved around the man and slowed as we approached two large, faded green doors that hung on rusted hinges.

“Hello!” Said a thin pale-skinned old man donning a worn trousers-and-suspenders outfit as he swung the gates open.  “Welcome to my hummingbird and flower sanctuary. I am Barney, the proud German-Jamaican-English owner of this place,” he added.  As he led us through the narrow walkways of his garden, the flutter of hummingbirds moved all around us, kind of like the sound of tiny handheld toy fans.  Palms and large leaves hung down as geckos and other insects fed from the vibrant pink, red, and yellow flowers that boomed in contrast to the blue sky.  Barney gave us all tiny bottles with punctured red caps that dripped with sugar water to lure the hummingbirds in.  We held our outstretched arms in the air, mimicking the branches that reached over the garden’s pathways, hoping that the birds would come feed from our “flowers.”  Patiently walking around, the birds began to trust us one at a time, holding fast in midair right in front of our faces, mother nature’s natural helicopters, hovering in place, wings effortlessly flapping seventy times a second.  Barney grinned a grin that only a hummingbird expert could grin, or maybe it was because of the six-pack of Red Stripe.

Eager for local cuisine we stopped just up the road at a place called Just Natural Veggies.  Simple enough, I thought.  From there we ordered rum punch, a vegetable plate, lobster salad, sweet potato and plantain, and a bean and rice burrito.  As we walked to the side of the restaurant we followed a path into the jungle, tables and chairs scattered about like a diner inside the woods.  There were checker board tables that used plastic bottle caps and Red Stripe caps as checkers and each table had an orange bottle of locally made hot habanero hot sauce.  We ate our freshly made dishes in the middle of the jungle, no one around but the smiling faces of the restaurant, who laughed and joked as they set down our plates.  They could’ve been feeding us fried gecko for all we knew as we sat mesmerized in this restaurant that made rustic concepts back home look like four-star hotels.  In the jungle and of the jungle, we walked out of there happy and full.

There are niches to be carved, if only we are wise enough to see them.  These experiences will stick to my heart like the geckos on the flowers and the mussels on the rock wall.  As the trip continues, I can only hope to unearth more things that I can learn from and grow closer to carving out my own crater I can call home.   

Jamaica Honeymoon - Day 1

Westmoreland, Jamaica | Sundown Villa | Honeymooning | Apollo Fields Photojournalism | Blog

Jamaica, Day 1

Friday, November 2nd , ~ 8:09am, local time

I woke up several times to the luminescent glow in the sky of a Jamaican sunrise, stirring to the sounds of life’s reawakening to the smell of fresh fires and morning birds.  Looking out onto the rigid horizon, my view was divided in two — the sky and the sea — one blue, darker and in constant motion, while the other floated in its own lightness.  The semi-frequent car horn blared from the street, bringing me back to the march of civilization that we thought we left in New York.

Hungry, I waited as Heather ruminated on her back in a lounge chair.  She stared at the same dialectic view, but I know her eyes told her a different story.  She saw the way the light struck the different crests of the ocean, the way it played with the rocks, creating shadows and depth as geckos crawled between the dark and the light.  She heard the birds and the cars but she reached another plane of mind by sheer will, wrestling her otherwise purposeful mind into a peaceful submission.  It took a bit of effort, but she got there, perhaps reaching an even more placid mental state than my own.

Most things are competitions for us and why would relaxation be any different.  I told her while I was reading Shantaram that it seemed a task for her to sit still, that she should go start breakfast because 1) I was hungry, and 2) I thought that it would provide her productive mind with something to do.  She disagreed, saying that it wasn’t difficult, that she found no trouble or resistance in the open space of an unoccupied mind, but I could see the struggle.  The struggle of a relentless spirit meeting no opponent, of a force pushing forward to find no resistance, where effort was not rewarded but yielded to.  What does a warrior make of passivity on the battlefield where victory reveals nothingness?  Where there is no one to fight and nowhere to go but inside one’s heart?  I imagine the war is explosive and silent.  I’m just happy to see her relax.

I don’t know what to expect from our time in Jamaica, safely tucked into our Airbnb on the cliffs at Sundown Villa, somewhat immersed in the culture while staying at an arms length.  Before we arrived, dad and others preached caution, forewarning danger, but our host, Nadine, exudes nothing but the warmth Americans have come to expect from Rasta and Jamaican culture.  Clouded in the smoke of ganja, I hope to brush shoulders with locals and eat from their authentic tradition, whether from the street or between the walls of celebrated staples.  I hope to return to the States revitalized and hungry, rejuvenated yet ready to begin the search for our new home. 

Lizzie & Rob's Fun Engagement Session in New York City

Lizzie & Rob | Harlem Engagement Session | NYC Engagements 

When you walk in New York City you get lost in the crowd, paradoxically providing you an opportunity to assert yourself as an individual.  The sheer population density of the five boroughs is a marvel to contemplate, a frustration to endure; it is your license to be loud and a soundboard for your creativity.  Some perish in the gutters while others shine on Broadway, but it all comes down to your will and the company you find yourself in.

Rob & Lizzie find themselves in good company.  They act and play and laugh. They smile. They bring happiness to others at Touch Performance Art. They're just another couple faces in the NYC crowd but they stand out because they use their freedom to perform the dialogue in their hearts.  You can’t fake that kind of happiness.

Heather and I met not too far from where Rob & Liz’s engagement pictures were taken, but for months we shared the same sidewalks as strangers.  Close proximity doesn’t promise connection, you have to seek it out for yourself. I remember the first night I got Heather’s number she almost walked away from me in shy embarrassment, but I didn’t let her get away.  I yelled “your phone number would be great for something like that” after she turned her back when I told her that I’d love to see her again.  Happiness like Rob & Liz and Heather & I have is a reward for our respective self-expressions.

  When I think of love I think of two people who can’t help being themselves, embracing the most positive sides of their identities and celebrating them.  When we shoot a wedding it is clear as day which couples have this brand of relationship because their vibes reverberate through all of those in attendance.  It all stems from an honesty to themselves and each other, asserting their identities as individuals and as a couple.

New York City can make you or break you but it’s obvious that Rob & Lizzie will make it.  They are the walking paradoxes meandering through the collage of people crowding the sidewalks of Manhattan.  They are the ones smiling and laughing, working hard and loving harder.

These guys didn't miss a beat.  We popped a few beers and brown-bagged them in the park.  They brought water guns, bubbles, and a lasso.  Rob successfully lassoed Lizzie on his first try... did I mention they are performers?  It's SO MUCH FUN to photograph people in the entertainment industry.  They weren't shy or bashful, rather they were animated and theatrical and treated their engagement session like the biggest performance on Broadway.

We wrapped the session under the NYC lights in Harlem, dancing into the headlights of the traffic, with people buzzing by and taxis nearly running us over for their epic dip under the bridge.  We even ran into a mutual friend on the street!  It was in every way the best that New York has to offer, and reminded me of why this city will always be my city.  

NYC Engagement Photography: Apollo Fields

Carline & Scott's Garden of the Gods Engagement Session in Colorado Springs

Carline & Scott’s Engagement Session | Garden of the Gods | Colorado Springs, CO | Apollo Fields Wedding Photography

Garden of the Gods is not only a popular destination spot in Colorado but a great and iconic place to do your engagement photos! This sweet couple lives near CO Springs so they are lucky to have Garden of the Gods practically in their backyard and it was the perfect place to shoot.

Terrence and I actually first visited here when we were touring Colorado with the idea of potentially moving there. I got tipped off by my dentist in NYC to visit there because he had tons of huge printouts of the landscape there in his office. While I was getting my teeth cleaned, I was staring at the beautiful Red Rocks up on the walls and had casually asked afterwards where they were taken. He told me about the park and I let him know that we actually had a trip planned out there later in the month and the rest was history!

It’s so crazy to imagine how all of those things eventually led to me shooting at that same place years later. It almost felt surreal! I loved shooting these guys there because they had such a fun and flirty vibe. Scott has two kids from his first marriage and they wanted to incorporate them in some of the shots which I love. I think engagement sessions should represent your lives, whether that means kiddos, pups, sports, whatever! It was also fun watching his two teenagers make faces every time Carline and Scott kissed so naturally, I couldn’t resist!

The photos feel so undeniably “Colorado” to me and I love how their personalities really shined in these dramatic landscapes! Another big plus about this location is that it’s PERMIT FREE which is a bit of a rarity in CO. I love all of the red rocks, rock faces, mountain ranges, and big blue skies that this location boasts and would love to find another great reason to shoot there! I can’t wait to shoot Carline & Scott’s wedding in the summer of 2018 at Lake Grandby!

Colorado Engagement Photography: Apollo Fields

CO Springs Engagement Location: Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

Erica & Matt's Romantic Engagement Session at Standley Lake

Erica & Matt's Romantic Engagement Session | Standley Lake, Arvada | Colorado Engagement Photography | Adventure Wedding Photographer | Rocky Mountain Photos | Apollo Photojournalism

Erica and Matt had an epic engagement session showered with beautiful golden light.  It was a photographer's dream!  As I was driving to Standley Lake, I could see the sun getting closer to the horizon and I knew we had timed the session perfectly.  We snagged some fun family shots of them with their two children dirt biking, which is one of their favorite things to do together.  The kids had a blast and hammed up the camera, making my job easy as we just hung out together snapping pics.  

I love when my couples bring their kiddos along to engagement sessions!  It makes the kids feel like they are a part of the wedding and they feel like an important part of the family.  Plus, the pics are so cute!  After we did their lifestyle shots, the kids ran around the lake and Erica and Matt changed into their formalwear.  Her red dress was the perfect pop to the dramatic landscape.  

I just adore the emotion and movement in these photos!  I look at their gallery and I feel like I really know who Erica and Matt are just by the love they have for each other, and the sweet way that they play with one another and how happy their kids are.  

We had such a great time enjoying the beautiful views while the sun set, and I got to snap away while Erica and Matt loved up on each other.  I always encourage my couples to take advantage of an engagement session, even if they don't feel like they "need" it, it's a great chance to get in front of my camera and gives them a chance to feel comfortable working with me.  Plus, I think it's actually really fun.  My couples will often tell me before our session how they don't like having their photos taken, or that they feel awkward in front of the camera, or they promise me that they are un-photogenic.  

One of my brides for this season gave me a half-smile and just said, "good luck" to me when she got in front of my camera for her engagement photos.  I love a challenge, so I secretly got really excited when she thought she wouldn't look good in any of her pictures.  My favorite part is delivering the galleries and then getting their feedback.  "Oh my god, I don't know how you did it", she exclaimed!  "I'm speechless".  

Hearing that kind of excitement from clients who don't think they photograph well is what I love so much about my job.  Everyone deserves to have photos that they love and are proud of!  

Colorado Adventure Photography:  Erny Photo CO | Apollo Photo

Location:  Standley Lake | Arvada, CO

Eve & Bobby's Cherry Blossom Engagement Session at City Park in Denver

Eve & Bobby's Cherry Blossom Engagement Session | City Park, Denver | Spring Engagement Photos | Colorado Wedding Photographer | Apollo Photojournalism 

Eve and Bobby and are fun loving couple who are able to roll with the punches.  They wanted their engagement session to be outdoors and since they live close to City Park in Denver, shooting there seemed to perfectly reflect their lifestyles.  They are laid back and go-with-the-flow, which was great when the weather was freezing cold, overcast, and rainy on the day of their engagement session.  

Rescheduling wasn't an option, so we crossed our fingers for a break in the weather and met up in the park.  I'm so glad we did, because the shots are so beautiful!  It never warmed up and the sun never poked through, but you can't even tell in the pictures.  And we had the cherry blossoms all to ourselves, an almost unheard of luxury this time of year because their season is so short.  

This was my first cherry blossom session that I have done and I was surprised by how much I love the color palate.  I am usually more drawn to earthier tones than pastels, but I found that Eve and Bobby's outfits worked so well with the setting that I really enjoyed the pinks, whites, yellows, and light greens of the grove that we shot in.  

We moved quickly through the session because the skies kept threatening a harder rain, and with frozen fingers and no golden light to play with, I wanted to get these lovebirds back in their warm car as quick as possible!  They made my job easy because they have such a great balance of playfulness and tenderness.  They were just as happy to be dancing under the trees as they were to cuddle up with each other and have a quiet moment together.  

Peaking at my viewfinder on my camera and I knew that despite the weather (and the cranky geese) we had some gems to work with!  I was so excited to get home to warm up and offload all these beautiful pictures from their engagement session.  I'm so excited to shoot their wedding this season!  

Denver Engagement Photographer:  Erny Photo CO | Apollo Fields
Wedding Coordinator:  Jennifer Wetterlin | Denver Event Pros
Location:  Denver, Colorado | City Park

Jenny & Tara's Epic Mountain Engagement Session at Pikes Peak

Jenny & Tara's Epic Mountain Engagement Session | Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs | Denver Engagement Photographer | LGBQ Weddings 

I was so excited when I first heard from Jenny.  She is friends with Lindsey, one of my beautiful brides from 2017 and happened to be looking for a wedding photographer when I delivered Lindsey's photos.  She loved them and immediately reached out to have me photographer her own wedding!  So much of my business is word-of-mouth and I am so grateful for my awesome couples who refer me and connect me to their other awesome-couple-friends.  

I met up with Jenny and Tara and immediately clicked with their fun personalities, and the sweet way in which they interact with each other.  They have a great energy, and I knew right away that I wanted to be their photographer.  They must have felt the same way, because I asked them at our meeting, "Do you ladies have any questions?" and they seamlessly responded with, "How do we book you now?"  Love it!

They initially weren't looking for an engagement session, but I'm so glad that they decided to do one because look at how epic these mountain backdrops were!  A photographer's dream.  I had never been to Pikes Peak before, so I was just in awe of the landscape the whole time.  We caught golden hour (my favorite!) just in time before the park closed.  Literally, they were closing the whole roadway up for sunset and we were being swiftly shuffled out of the park by the time we had captured every last golden ray that we could!  

They also brought their three children and new puppy along for the shoot.  I have quite a few couples that have children and while it might not seem obvious at first to have them present for engagement photos, I feel contrary to that old-fashioned traditional expectation of what it means to be an engaged couple.  Marriage is about partnership and family, and if kids are already part of that equation, I feel like they should be included in some of the pictures.  Oh, and if you have a cute puppy too... that doesn't take any convincing!  We are animal lovers to the core, and have an impossible time keeping our composure around tiny pups.  

Colorado Adventure Photographer:  Erny Photo CO | Apollo Photo

Location:  Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs 

Our Engagement Session

Our Engagement Session | Arvada, CO | In-Home Engagement Photos | Apollo Fields Wedding Photographers

Ever since we got engaged, everyone has been asking "who is going to be your photographer!?" And rightfully so... We are lucky to have so many photog friends that this is simultaneously a hard and easy question to answer!  I wanted something more intimate and laid back than traditional engagement photos for us to have so it only felt right to do an in-home session with the lovely and talented Sarah Valencia Photography.  

We met Sarah briefly in Kansas City while visiting friends, and she was coincidentally moving to Denver.  Her style is both engaging and unobtrusive.  We spent most of the time just lounging around and laughing with each other.  We casually made dinner and ate together and Sarah snapped away as we just played games, cuddled with our pups, and cracked a couple beers.  It goes without saying that we highly recommend her for her personality, aesthetic eye, and charming company.  

This type of engagement session felt super personalized and unique, which is why we both really enjoyed taking the pictures.  In every way, it reflected our relationship: cozy, fun, sentimental (I could go on-and-on)!  Without getting too sappy, our everyday life is so good, and these pictures represent all of that for me.  We have this balance that just seems to work.  I'm lucky...

We've also created this home together, and the reality is, we're not going to be here forever.  In fact, if all goes as planned, we'll be moving on sooner-rather-than-later from this little cottage that we have been renting for the last 1.5 years.  We have hopes to purchase our own place and big dreams to fill for our next home.  But in the meantime, this little cottage on Cody Street has become so much our own and I love that these pictures tell our story of us in our home that we have created.  

When we first moved into this house, it was blue.  The window frames were also blue.  And the inside walls?  Bright blue.  We quickly got hold of some paint and rollers and repainted every square inch of the house.  It then began to fill up with quirky second hand pieces of furniture that we renovated.  And then it began to fill up with plants, photographs, memories, and eventually more pets.  

So now what?  We are keeping wedding planning simple, heartfelt, and wholesome.  We aren't cluttering our plans with tons of vendors, unnecessary purchases, or timelines.  We are, however, looking to spend real quality time with the people we love the most.  We want to share adventures and dances with them.  We want to laugh and love alongside our friends and family and can assure you that we will be having fun the whole time. 

Love,
Heather & Terrence

PC: Sarah Valencia Photography

Kerry & Patrick's In Home Lifestyle Engagement Session

Kerry & Patrick's Lifestyle Engagement Photography | Sloans Lake, Denver Colorado | In Home Session | Apollo Photo

In home engagement sessions are definitely some of my favorite to shoot!  As much as I love the dramatic landscapes and nature sessions, there is something so intimate about being invited into a couple's home that they have created together and really seeing the inner workings of their daily lives and love.  

It’s also a nice chance for couples to get in front of my camera.  It definitely helps to ease some of the camera-shyness that most people feel before your wedding day.  Plus, I love the chance to spend a little more time with my clients before their big day, too!  As much as I love outdoor sessions, Colorado mountains, hiking and adventure sessions, I am equally as excited for lifestyle sessions.  I get to hang out and snap away while they go about their normal routine, whether it’s cooking, cuddling up on the couch, going on a dog walk, or clinking their glasses to a great day.  

Lifestyle engagement sessions also make for great save the date cards.  To me, the most important part is the feeling of candid and natural moments, even if we have intercepted a little with our posing expertise.  

Kerry is sweet and accommodating, and Patrick is composed and easygoing.  Their rescue pup adores them, and the whole time we were there never took an eye off of them.  Playing fetch in the backyard, going for a leisurely stroll near Sloan Lake, and hanging out in the spring sun were so easily woven into their engagement session. 

I’m so excited to shoot their wedding in May at Skylight in Denver alongside Lindsey Bartell.  This new venue boasts a modern urban architectural design with tall whitewashed brick walls, exposed ceilings, floods of natural light, and geometric pops with classic flair.  Working in such a new space is exciting because it really is a blank canvas, which is one of the big draws that the venue boasts.  They let their couples bring in their own vendors, and they get a full 24 hours to party as late as they want and not worry about cleanup that same night.  

Since moving from New York City, I rarely get to photograph in urban settings anymore!  I do prefer rural country weddings, but it will be a fun chance to get back into a city environment for their wedding.  I do love the neighborhood that Skylight is nestled into:  Denver's Sante Fe Art District, with loud pops of colorful graffiti, funky coffee shops, and busy streets.  

Kerry & Patrick's Lifestyle Engagement Session | Colorado Wedding Photographer | In-Home Engagement Photography

I love shooting in home engagement sessions because they are intimate, personal, and always tell such a great story about the couple.  When couples such as Kerry and Patrick welcome us into their home, we get to see the space that they have created as their own. 

As much as I love outdoor sessions, Colorado mountains, hiking and adventure sessions, I am equally as excited for lifestyle sessions.  I get to hang out and snap away while they go about their normal routine, whether it’s cooking, cuddling up on the couch, going on a dog walk, or clinking their glasses to a great day.  It’s also a nice chance for couples to get in front of my camera.  It definitely helps to ease some of the camera-shyness that most people feel before your wedding day.  Plus, I love the chance to spend a little more time with my clients before their big day, too!

Most couples are engaged for around a year, and these photos are a sweet momento from that time in their lives which seems to go so quickly in the midst of all of the wedding planning, booking vendors, guest lists, timelines, and all of the other fun – but sometimes stressful – parts about planning the ceremony and party exactly the way you want it. 

Kerry is sweet and accommodating, and Patrick is composed and easygoing.  Their rescue pup adores them, and the whole time we were there never took an eye off of them.  Playing fetch in the backyard, going for a leisurely stroll near Sloan Lake, and hanging out in the spring sun were so easily woven into their engagement session. 

Lifestyle engagement sessions also make for great save the date cards.  To me, the most important part is the feeling of candid and natural moments, even if we have intercepted a little with our posing expertise.  

I’m so excited to shoot their wedding in May at Skylight in Denver alongside Lindsey Bartell.  This new venue boasts a modern urban architectural design with tall whitewashed brick walls, exposed ceilings, floods of natural light, and geometric pops with classic flair.  Stay tuned for pictures of their wedding in just a few weeks!

Engagement Photography:  Apollo Photo
Lifestyle Photography:  Eden Photography

Nicholas & Eden's Surprise Proposal and Engagement at The Glen Eyrie Castle

Nicholas & Eden's Surprise Proposal and Engagement Session | Glen Eyrie Castle | Colorado Springs | Destination Engagement Photographer | Fairytale Proposal | Apollo Photo

Talk about rolling out the red carpet for an epic proposal! This beautiful Castle in Colorado Springs is a super popular attraction for visitors, but because of its fairytale aesthetic, it is also a great place for the kind of proposal that is sure to land a big “I SAID YES”.

Nicholas was so sweet about his plans to proposal to his beautiful girlfriend, Eden. He didn’t miss a beat! They are a great couple from Florida and were visiting Colorado on a vacation. Nicholas wanted to do the proposal towards the beginning of their trip so they could celebrate the rest of their vacation, so this evening they had fancy dinner plans which got Eden to dress up and look her best — without knowing — exactly what for!

The Glen Eyrie Castle staff was great to work with, as well. They had the back patio set up with a beautiful rose petal staircase, a private table with a little bubbly and flowers set up, and best best view. Nicholas had arranged for a private violinist to play their favorite song and a dove release for the big moment. I was tucked away into the corner snapping my heart out and just loving this moment as it unfolded. As soon as Eden came walking down the stairs, I think she had that is-this-really-happening face and before she knew it, Nicholas was down on one knee!

Of course, a big “yes” came next and this happy couple celebrated away! Eden’s best friend had also secretly flown out for the big moment and unveiled herself to join in the well-wishes. We were able to make the most of this epic moment and beautiful evening to capture some great announcement photos and I hope that this fun loving couple will always remember the fairytale proposal that evening when they look back on these beautiful pictures!