Venue: Kimpton Hotel Eventi
One hot summer Friday evening in July I met Robyn and Mark in their beautiful hotel room at the Eventi Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Robyn and Mark, with family at their sides were busy getting ready. They were about to start their wedding weekend by signing a very important license signifying their marriage through Jewish law and tradition.
Congratulations on the engagement, Chrisoula and Kriton! It was a pleasure to be involved in this special day, celebrating the two of you and your amazing growing (very Greek) families! The Engagement Party was held at the beautiful Dyker Heights Golf Club in Brooklyn, New York. I arrived early to capture the details before Chrisoula and Kriton arrived to their beautiful decorated ballroom.
Once Chrisoula and Kriton arrived, we went outside in to the summer heat to capture engagement-like photos for their save the date cards and wedding registry. Quickly enough guests started to arrive and this engagement brunch started! I’m so excited for this amazing couple as they marry next August in Greece. Take a look at some of the photos from the afternoon above.
Venue: Dyker Heights Country Club
As a Long Island bridal shower photographer, I photograph countless happy moments leading up to the big day. For many couples, I first photograph the proposal, then the engagement party, the bridal shower, the engagement photos, and then finally their wedding. Through this process I get to genuinely know my clients and their families.
As a wedding photographer I capture so much more than just the wedding.
Venue: The Snapper Inn
The Gershom Mendes Seixas Award is bestowed by Columbia/Barnard Hillel on those who have made outstanding contributions to Jewish life at Columbia University and Barnard College. The Columbia-Barnard Kraft center honored Rabbi Michael Paley and Jim McMenamin at its annual Seixas Gala Dinner.
Robert Kraft, New England Patriots owner, was the honorary dinner chair. Eric Goldstein, CEO of UJA-Federation of New York and Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of Hillel International spoke at the event. At the end of the evening, Robert Kraft announced that Jonathan and Jeannie Lavine and family contributed $2.5 million to an endowment fund to support the work of Columbia/Barnard Hillel. In appreciation of their gift, the Executive Director position will now be known as the Lavine Family Executive Director. The Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, a Columbia alum and a friend of both the honorees and of Jonathan Lavine's, spoke via video at the dinner.
The Binhamton University Rowing Association (BURA) and members of the vast Binghamton University Alumni Association cleaned up the East River Park. Volunteers cultivated planting beds along the East River by weeding, mulching, planting native plants and removing invasive plants. The Ecology Center provided all the needed tools and supplies, including gloves. Volunteers should carry snacks and water as there are no food concessions in the park.
Later on in the day, I joined the Alumni of Color Network at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe located on New York City's Lower East Side. There volunteers worked on a series of projects and tasks, such as painting, cleaning, landscaping and organizing.
