Tatiana Valerie featured on MSN
Exciting News! I’m thrilled to share that I’ve been featured by MSN as one of the
“Top 10 Photographers to Follow in 2024”!
This recognition reflects years of dedication, capturing timeless, emotional moments for couples around the world. Thank you to MSN for the honor, and to all my clients and supporters who inspire me to create unforgettable memories.
🔗 Read the feature: MSN Top 10 Photographers to Follow in 2024
Thank you for being a part of this journey!
The article can be found here.
5 Helpful Tips for Beginner Photographers
There’s a lot of pressure to take a great picture, but it doesn’t have to be that way. As a beginner photographer, you’ll just need the right tools and tips to help you get started. If you’re looking for some guidance on how to capture your life in photos, here are five helpful tips:
1. Understand your camera
We all started somewhere! If you are embarking on an exciting journey of becoming a professional photographer, congratulations! It is a very thrilling and rewarding career but keep in mind that it may take you some time to get where you want to be.
Before you start taking photos, it’s essential to understand how your camera works. Take some time to read the manual, learn about the different modes and settings, and practice adjusting them. Knowing how to control your camera will give you more creative freedom and help you capture the shots you want.
Here are three things you probably want to do first:
- Understand your camera.
- Learn to use the manual and understand all of its functions.
- Familiarize yourself with all modes, settings, and lenses that come with your camera.
2. Use natural light before you invest in professional lighting
The best kind of light is the one that doesn’t cost a thing.
Natural light is more flattering, it’s free and it’s more forgiving than flash. It also allows you to take pictures at any time of day without worrying about running out of batteries or recharging your flash unit. Natural light gives you more interesting shots too because it casts shadows on your subject in different ways throughout the day–this adds depth and dimension to an image that can’t be replicated with artificial sources (or even by using natural ones later on). Practice to get the result you want with natural light. Try taking photog in different times of day. Do you nitice how the colors change in the morning, afternoon, and right before sunset? Practice to position your subject in the most flattering light. Try getting exposure right on manual settings.
Pro tip: Lighting is one of the most critical factors in photography. As a beginner, it’s best to start with natural light as it’s readily available and easy to work with. Try shooting during the “golden hour,” which is the hour after sunrise or before sunset when the light is soft and warm. Avoid harsh midday sunlight, as it can create unflattering shadows and make your photos look flat.
3. Pay attention to composition
Composition is the art of arranging elements in a photo to create an aesthetically pleasing and balanced image.
As a beginner photographer, you should practice composing your shots carefully. Start by applying the rule of thirds, which involves dividing the image into thirds horizontally and vertically and placing the subject at one of the intersecting points. Experiment with different angles, perspectives, and framing to create visually appealing images.
Compositional elements include:
- The rule of thirds – Imagine your frame divided into thirds horizontally and vertically, then place your subject on one of those intersections (see below). This helps create an image that isn’t too centered or overwhelming for the viewer’s eye.
- Leading lines – Lines that lead into or out of the frame can help direct attention toward or away from certain parts of a photo, as well as add depth to an otherwise flat shot. Pay attention when taking photos at night–often times there will be street lights that act as leading lines!
- Framing – Use objects in front of you like trees or buildings so they frame what’s behind them! For example: take a picture through glass doors at night so only part of yourself shows up but everything else outside looks amazing because it’s lit up by street lights.
4. Practice, practice, practice
Practice is a great way to improve your photography. It will help you understand the camera better, and it will also help you understand how to use natural light. Practice also gives you an opportunity to learn composition, as well as gather feedback from others who see your photos. Finally, practice is important because it allows us to repeat what we’ve already learned in order to become more proficient at our craft.
Photography is a skill that takes time and practice to master. Take your camera with you wherever you go and challenge yourself to shoot in different environments and lighting conditions. Experiment with different techniques and settings, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Learning from your mistakes is an essential part of the process.
5. Gather feedback and repeat
Finally, seek feedback from others to improve your skills. Share your photos with friends, family, or online communities and ask for constructive criticism. You can also attend photography workshops or join a photography club to meet other photographers and learn from them. Use feedback to identify areas for improvement and set goals for your next shoot.
If you want to become a better photographer, you need to learn how to take criticism. In order for people to give feedback on your work, they have to see it first. So make sure that every time you show off your photography skills or post something online, there’s also an invitation for comments and critiques.
When someone gives you feedback on something in your photos (whether it’s technical advice or just general thoughts), listen carefully instead of getting defensive or arguing back right away–they might have valid points! Take the time necessary so that when someone gives you advice about improving their technique with lighting equipment and other factors involved in creating great shots like composition and angle choices among other things then try implementing these changes into future shots before deciding whether or not they were worth following through with based upon how well they worked out after doing so.”
In conclusion, photography is an enjoyable and rewarding hobby that anyone can learn. By understanding your camera, using natural light, paying attention to composition, practicing, and seeking feedback, you can develop your skills and create stunning images. Remember to have fun and enjoy the process!
We hope these tips have helped you get started on the right foot. Remember, it’s all about the journey, so don’t worry if you feel like you aren’t perfecting your craft right away! The most important thing is to keep practicing and having fun with photography as much as possible–and we’re sure that once you do, your pictures will reflect that enthusiasm in no time at all.
Lavish garden-themed winter wedding at the Art Factory, Paterson, NJ
This incredible wedding that my team had the pleasure to be a part of in January 2022 was definitely one for the books. It was themed as a lavish green garden and it is kind of ironic that it took place on the coldest and snowiest day of the year. Katie and Jeff had a lavish wedding ceremony during sunset. The ballroom where the ceremony took place was warm and decorated in lavish greenery and flowers while the loud wind gusts, snow and very cold temperatures outside reminded everyone that it was still winter.
The wedding was themed as a lavish green garden and it is kind of ironic that it took place on the coldest and snowiest day of the year in January 2022.
We’ve captured countless unforgettable moments, but one wedding in particular will always stand out in our memories – the blizzard wedding of 2022.
When we heard that Winter Storm Elliott was headed our way, we knew we had to take precautions. Despite the venue being just 18 miles from our studio, we opted to stay in a nearby hotel to ensure we could get there safely. And boy, were we glad we did! The storm dumped up to four feet of snow and caused widespread chaos throughout New York State and beyond.
But we were determined to make it to the wedding, no matter what. With our trusty videographer Alex behind the wheel of his 4×4 SUV, we braved the treacherous roads, averaging just 6 miles per hour. We even witnessed a car slide right in front of us – it was a nerve-wracking experience to say the least!
Thanks to our quick thinking and Alex’s heroic driving skills, we arrived at the venue 1.5 hours before our official start time. We were thrilled to see our industry friends Ingrid and Gloria from EverAfter Events already hard at work, ensuring the day would be a success.
With our trusty videographer Alex behind the wheel of his 4×4 SUV, we braved the treacherous roads, averaging just 6 miles per hour. We even witnessed a car slide right in front of us – it was a nerve-wracking experience to say the least!
The wedding was themed as a lavish green garden and it is kind of ironic that it took place on the coldest and snowiest day of the year in February 2022. Katie and Jeff had a lavish wedding ceremony during sunset. The ballroom where the ceremony took place was warm and decorated in lavish greenery and flowers while the loud wind gusts, snow and very cold temperatures outside reminded everyone that it was still winter.
The couple’s cake was also very unique and beautiful. Three sweet tiers masterfully designed in rustic style were decorated with elegant fresh flowers.
The couple and the guests were drenched in greenery. The centerpieces of the cocktail hour were suckling pig roasted right at the venue and a custom ice sculpture.
The bride and groom wanted to create a unique experience for themselves, their families and friends by creating an enchanted forest atmosphere, so they drenched their guests in lush greens and flowers. The cocktail hour centerpieces — suckling pig roasted right at the venue! — and a custom ice sculpture- were a huge hit!
The after party was epic! The special guest was a New Jersey Devil himself! Maybe not what you think, it is Jeff’s favorite ice hockey team.
The party was held at the Art Factory in Paterson, NJ which was an eclectic and unique location for their celebration. We had access to all their different areas from the ribbon room, to the bar area, to the ceremony room and the ballroom.
In the end, the blizzard wedding of 2022 turned out to be a stunning celebration of love, despite the challenges. And we were honored to be there to capture every precious moment. So if you’re looking for a wedding photographer who will stop at nothing to give you the perfect memories of your special day, look no further than our talented team!
Event Professionals:
Venue: The Art Factory Paterson | Planner: Ever After Events | Tableware & menus: Willow and Sage Catering | Photography & Video: Artvesta Studio | Makeup: Makeup by Danielle Arci | Hair: Hair by Casey Veda | Event Painter: J Howard Studios
5 Tips on Becoming a Better Wedding Photographer
Wedding photography is a tough business, but it’s also full of opportunity. If you’re looking to make a name for yourself as a wedding photographer, you’ll need to learn from the best and practice constantly. That said, here are some tips that will help you make it in this competitive industry:
1. Build your technical skills:
As a wedding photographer, you need to have a solid understanding of camera settings, lighting, composition, and post-processing. Take the time to learn and practice these skills regularly to improve your craft.Practice is the key to improvement. If you want to be a better wedding photographer, then practice shooting in low light and at night. Practice shooting in different environments and at different times of day. Practice shooting at different locations as well!
It’s easy for us all to get stuck in our own comfort zones when it comes to photography (and life), but if we want our work or abilities as photographers or people who love photography and are passionate about it all around us in general–not just weddings–to grow and improve then we need to step out of those comfort zones every once in awhile.
2. Develop your people skills:
Wedding photography involves working with clients, wedding party members, and vendors. You need to be able to communicate effectively, put people at ease, and build rapport quickly. Practicing your interpersonal skills will help you build a good reputation and ensure that your clients are happy with your work.
Attitude is everything. If you’re the type of person who gets down on themselves, or if your attitude is negative, it will show in your photos. Keep an optimistic outlook at all times!
Don’t let a bad experience get you down; learn from it and move on.
Ask for help when need be; don’t be afraid to ask other photographers for advice or critique (and don’t take their advice personally). Also, it’s okay for friends/family members not being photographers themselves to do test shots with their phones–they’ll still give valuable feedback on things like lighting, composition etc., which can be just as useful as having an actual photographer there helping out!
Don’t be afraid of taking risks either: try different things with composition or lighting styles until something clicks!
3. Invest in quality gear and learn from other pros:
Having good quality camera gear can make a huge difference in the quality of your photos. While you don’t need to go out and buy the most expensive equipment, investing in good lenses, a sturdy tripod, and a reliable camera body will help you produce high-quality images.
There are a lot of great ways to network with other wedding photographers and get feedback on your work. One of the best ways is to join a community of like-minded people who share their knowledge and experience in order to help each other improve. You can find many such groups on social media, but you’ll also find them at conferences and workshops, or even just by asking around at local events where photographers might be present (you never know who might know someone!).
If you want to learn more about how wedding photography works from someone who has been doing it for years, seek out mentors who are willing to share their knowledge with others–and don’t forget that there are plenty of online resources too!
4. Build a strong portfolio:
Your portfolio is the key to attracting new clients and establishing yourself as a professional photographer. Make sure your portfolio showcases your best work, and includes a variety of shots that demonstrate your range and style.
When you’re first starting out as a photographer, it can be hard to know where to begin. There are so many skills that you need to develop in order to become better at your craft–but where do you start?
The best thing that you can do for yourself is to learn from others and practice as much as possible. Study other photographers’ work, see what they do well and how they do it differently from other photographers. Then try incorporating these techniques into your own style of shooting weddings (or whatever else).
You also need practice shooting weddings yourself! It sounds obvious, but the more time spent behind the camera at real events will help build confidence and improve technique over time–and make sure that when we get into editing later on this list of five tips for improving wedding photography skillset becomes easier for everyone involved!
5. Keep learning and evolving:
Photography is an ever-evolving field, and it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques. Attend workshops and conferences, follow other photographers on social media, and continue to learn and grow in your craft.
In conclusion, if you want to become a better wedding photographer, there are a few things you can do. First off, practice! The more you shoot weddings and portraits, the more experience you will have under your belt. Second, study the work of other photographers–both professionals and amateurs alike. You never know what tips or tricks could help make your photos even better than before. Finally, network with other photographers so that they can give advice on how best practices would work in their own lives as well ?”
Starting your wedding photography career? Hey, I’m Tatiana, a wedding photographer based in New York City capturing love since 2004 and I’m here to help you start your journey! Leave me a comment below or shoot me an email at artvestastudio (at) gmail.com
Speak soon!
A Rustic Barn Wedding at Gedney Farm, The Berkshires, MA
love stories are always unique and beautiful in their own way. Max and Jessica’s love story is no exception. They met in July 2019 when Max’s boss, Drew, introduced them. Despite Max’s initial reluctance, they hit it off and began dating. Fast forward to a year later, the couple exchanged vows in a picturesque wedding ceremony in the Berkshires. In this blog post, we’ll take you through their love story and their magical wedding day.
Max and Jessica knew they wanted to get married in the Berkshires because it holds significant memories for both of them.
Max went to camp there, and Jessica’s family has a home close to Gedney, the venue they ultimately chose. As soon as they walked into the venue, they knew it was the perfect spot for them. The venue encapsulated everything they loved about the Berkshires- beautiful nature, awesome food, and a warm, welcoming vibe.
Planning: After being engaged for a year, Max and Jessica spent ten months planning their wedding. The couple put in a lot of effort to ensure everything was perfect. The result was a beautiful, well-planned wedding that reflected their personalities and love for each other.
The couple’s wedding ceremony, the chuppah, was a poignant moment that brought tears to everyone’s eyes.
The Ceremony: The most memorable part of their wedding day was the beautiful vows they exchanged under the chuppah. It was a poignant moment that brought tears to everyone’s eyes. They also performed Valerie, a soulful song that added to the already magical atmosphere.
Max and Jessica’s love story is a testament to the fact that love finds a way, no matter the circumstances.
Conclusion: Max and Jessica’s love story is a testament to the fact that love finds a way, no matter the circumstances. Their wedding was a beautiful affair that reflected their love for each other and the Berkshires. We wish the couple a lifetime of happiness and love.
Event Professionals:
Venue: Gedney Farm | Photography & Video: Artvesta Studio |
New York City Central Park Engagement – Fayth & Bob
New York City is amazingly beautiful during the fall. The leaves are turning colors and the weather is so perfect. Central Park is one of the most beautiful places in New York. It’s a place where you can have fun and relax with your loved one, or get some work done.
I love to take engagement photos with couples in Central Park. There are so many pretty locations in this urban oasis! Look at these photos, Belvedere Castle, Bow Bridge, Bethesda fountain. Also, 5th Avenue and Plaza Hotel – the two iconic NYC locations – are right outside of the park’s South East entrance.
The park also has many other lovely attractions that you can use for your engagement photo shoot, including cafes, benches, little ponds, statues and even a waterfall. In this article we will cover some of the best locations for an engagement photo shoot in central park.
Belvedere Castle
The Belvedere Castle is a castle in Central Park in Manhattan, New York City. It was built from 1869 to 1873 by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. The structure was designed as an observation tower with views of the surrounding terrain and city, but also features Tiffany stained glass windows and murals by artists including Thomas Wilmer Dewing.
The castle sits at the highest point on its east side, near where East Drive enters Central Park West. Its south face overlooks Conservatory Water (also known as Turtle Pond), while its north facade faces North Meadow/the Ramble.
Bethesda Terrace
Bethesda Terrace is a beautiful place for an engagement photo shoot. The terrace overlooks the central park lake and it’s a popular wedding venue, so you can expect to see lots of brides taking photos there. If you want to capture some amazing city skyline shots, this is your spot!
The Boathouse
The Boathouse is great for engagement photos because of its views. The restaurant has a beautiful view of the lake, which makes it a perfect place to take pictures if you’re looking to capture some natural light. If you want to get some cityscapes in your photos as well, head over to their rooftop bar where you can see all of Central Park and beyond!
The best time for an engagement photo shoot at The Boathouse is between May and September when there aren’t many tourists around; however, if you’d rather shoot during winter months (when there are fewer crowds), then January through March would be ideal since it gets dark earlier than other seasons do so that means more time for shooting indoors before sunset hits.
Bow Bridge
Bow Bridge is a small bridge in Central Park, and it’s a great place to take photos. It’s particularly nice at sunset, or in the fall when all of the leaves are changing colors. If you’re there in winter, you can get some really great shots with snow on the ground or ice covering the water below.
Fifth Avenue in Manhattan
Fifth Avenue is a great place to get photos of the city. It’s lined with trees and other greenery, which makes it a beautiful spot during the day and night. There are many famous landmarks along Fifth Avenue, so you can use them as backdrops for your engagement photos.
The Plaza Hotel
The Plaza Hotel is a luxury hotel located on the southeast corner of Central Park. The hotel was built in 1907 and was a gift to the city by developer Harry C. Brown.
The Plaza offers several different packages for couples who want to get engaged at their venue, including an engagement photoshoot package that includes two professional photographers for up to six hours, digital images from your session and prints of your choice after delivery, as well as other add-ons like stationery design and custom frames for your photos (starting at $1,200).
5 Tips on Planning the Perfect Christmas Marriage Proposal
Christmas is often a popular time for couples to get engaged due to the festive atmosphere and the opportunity to celebrate with family and friends.
Christmas is a time for celebrating love and creating meaningful memories with loved ones. If you’re considering proposing to your significant other on Christmas, it can be a romantic and memorable way to ask them to spend the rest of their life with you. However, it’s important to plan ahead and make sure that the proposal is a surprise for your partner. In this article, we’ll provide tips for proposing a marriage on Christmas, including how to plan ahead, consider your partner’s preferences, make the moment meaningful, and get creative. Whether you’re planning an intimate and private proposal or a grand and elaborate gesture, these tips will help you plan the perfect Christmas proposal.
Here are the top 5 tips to plan a perfect Christmas engagement:
1. Plan ahead
Proposing on Christmas can be a romantic and memorable way to ask your partner to spend the rest of their life with you. However, it’s important to plan ahead and make sure that the proposal is a surprise for your partner. This might involve coordinating with family and friends, or finding a special and private location to pop the question.
2. Consider your partner’s preferences
Take the time to think about what your partner would enjoy and appreciate. For example, if they’re not a fan of public displays of affection, a more intimate and private proposal might be more suitable. On the other hand, if they love surprises and grand gestures, a more elaborate proposal might be in order.
3. Make it meaningful
Christmas is a time for celebrating traditions and creating meaningful memories. Consider incorporating elements that are meaningful to both of you into the proposal, such as a song or a special piece of jewelry.
4. Consider the timing
While Christmas Eve or Christmas Day might seem like the most obvious time to propose, it’s important to consider what will feel most comfortable and special for your partner. Maybe they would prefer a proposal on a quiet morning walk, or perhaps a cozy evening in front of the fireplace.
5. Get creative
There are endless ways to propose on Christmas, and getting creative can help make the moment even more memorable. Some ideas might include hiding the ring in a Christmas ornament, creating a scavenger hunt with clues leading to the proposal, or incorporating a Christmas carol into the proposal.
With these five tips in mind, you should be well on your way to planning the perfect marriage proposal. Remember to consider your partner’s tastes and preferences, make it personal and meaningful, and be sure to put some thought into the details. And most importantly, don’t forget to let your love and excitement shine through. With a little bit of planning and a whole lot of love, you can create a proposal that will be remembered for years to come. Good luck!
Top 6 Tips for a Stress-Free Summer Wedding in New York
Wedding Season is Here
The summer wedding season is officially here! Summer temperatures in New York City can reach 90°’s (the hottest summer temperature ever recorded in New York City was 108°) It is essential to know that although summer weddings are incredibly romantic, such hot temperatures can cause some real discomfort to you, your wedding professionals, and your guests. Being considerate (read being well-prepared) is key. Proper preparations are especially important for an outdoor wedding.
From abundant shade and hydration stations to appropriate summer bride and groom attire, in this article we are covering the most important things to consider when planning and outdoor summer wedding in New York. We have compiled expert tips of the pros you’ll want to follow to ensure your guests enjoy your special day, too!
Here are the top 6 tips to plan the best outdoor wedding for your guests:
1. Pre-ceremony refreshments
While your traditional glass of “welcome” champagne is always tempting, keep in mind that for the next hour, your guests may be under the scorching summer sun. Try opting to serving non-alcoholic drinks as pre-ceremony refreshments instead.
Cold water, iced tea, fruit and mint-infused water, lemonade – keep your guests thirsts quenched and their well-beings in mind and hydrated. There will be plenty of time to pop the bubbly later!
2. Shade
If you can host your wedding ceremony in a shaded area or under a plethora of trees, it will probably be a good idea to do so. Otherwise, don’t forget to provide parasols and personal fans (wedding programs make great fans!) for your guests. You may also want to provide sunscreens, sunglasses and hats depending on the wedding style and length of the ceremony.
3. Timeline
To avoid the mid-afternoon scorching heat, begin your ceremony later in the day such as around 6PM. A later time will provide a more comfortable environment and save your guests from sunburn and heat exhaustion.
Remember, sticking to the timeline will help to keep your guests happy and comfortable. You never want to make your guests wait too long. They are excited to share your day with you and the more comfortable they are during your wedding ceremony, the more energy they will have to keep your dance floor lit during your reception!
4. Seats
Even if you host a short and sweet 15 – 20 minute ceremony and opt for a non-seated arrangement, plan ahead for your elderly guests and pregnant friends. In extremely hot weather, even 5 minutes standing can become challenging.
Seats matter, and not only the quantity but the type of seats as well. For example, metallic chairs are great and may look pretty in the pictures however, for obvious reasons, chair cushions are a must.
5. Pests
We love summer weddings. And so do bugs! Be sure to ask your venue about their pest control schedule. You may also want to provide travel-sized bug spray for your guests if your ceremony runs long.
Also, talk to your florists as they can suggest some specific flowers that help to keep the bugs away!
6. Sunglasses
Help your guests to be more present and comfortable during your ceremony by providing them with sunglasses and protecting their eyes from direct sun light. Those glasses can also double up as souvenirs and keepsakes of warm and lasting memories of your wedding day.
Following these simple steps will most definitely enhance your guests’ experience at your wedding. With so many significant details to keep in mind, planning your own big day can get overwhelming. When it feels like a little bit too much, try reaching out to your local event planners for help.
Thank you to Olha Barabash at Sense of Moment for contributing her knowledge and expertise to this article.
Featured venues: Ravel Hotel Events, Queens Botanical Garden
Photography: Tatiana Valerie, ArtVesta Studio
Tatiana Valerie featured on MSN
On Wednesday, October 27, 2021 Tatiana Valerie’s photography was featured in New York Post. The newspaper gave an extensive overview of castles and manors of Westchester and Long Island. The photo highlighted in the article features the couple, Stacey Phillips and Brian De Santo whose wedding Tatiana photographed in 2018 at Castle Hotel & Spa.
The article can be found online and in print.
LUXURY FAIRYTALE CHRISTMAS WEDDING AT LOTTE PALACE NEW YORK
Picture an iconic hotel that has been home to some incredible dignitaries and celebrities in the heart of New York City and you’ve got the Lotte New York Palace.
This hotel is stunning all year round! The landmark Villard Mansion with its gold-drenched ceilings and marble columns as well as the grand Madison Ballroom are dream locations for a luxuriously romantic fairytale.
Lotte New York Palace hotel has one of the most beautiful and recognizable Christmas trees in New York City.
The Palace hotel has one of the most beautiful and recognizable Christmas trees in New York City. A 35-feet tall tree all decked out and shining brightly in the quintessential courtyard of the hotel centrally located on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, minutes away from some of the most revered attractions such as Central Park, Rockefeller Centre and Radio City Music Hall.
The fairytale started with the dress by Galia Lahav, an amazing crown and oversized veils from Bridal Styles Boutique.
And who doesn’t know Radio City Rockettes from NYC’s Christmas Spectacular? They surely added a burst of color and cheer to the festive occasion! An extra special act from Cirque Central, ‘Confetti Bubble Beauty’ brought this magical Christmas scene over the top. This performance could add a unique visual element to any wedding!
Our fairytale continued inside the Palace as event designer, Eva Madeleina created a magical, enchanted garden-like atmosphere with flowers and greenery. Clear Chiavari chairs with hunter green cushions for the ceremony perfectly completed the light and airy look to balance out heavy christmasy greens.
The lounge areas were given a fairytale makeover with a Tuscan Rose sofa and an armchair and a gold glass coffee table so that the guests could feel like royalty.
To add a classy audible dimension to the ceremony, we invited NYC’s most fashionable and chic Jazz duo, Acute Inflections to perform for the couple and their guests.
It is absolutely possible to have a chic dream wedding even in the times of COVID and technology is definitely on our side to virtually connect with the loved ones on such a significant day.
It is absolutely possible to have a chic dream wedding even in the times of COVID and technology is definitely on our side to virtually connect with the loved ones on such a significant day.
The new virtual trend of hybrid weddings became very popular and in high demand among those couples, who don’t want to postpone their nuptials due to the pandemic.
The new virtual trend of hybrid weddings became very popular and in high demand among those couples, who don’t want to postpone their nuptials due to the pandemic.
Even though the traditional Christmas colors are red, white and green, our event designers incorporated blush, white and gold to create the romantic, fairytale vibe. The laser-cut menus and blush charges with gold edges matched the romantic, luxury wedding theme perfectly.
Since current health precautions encourage everything contactless, we asked a talented calligrapher Joanne Day to create a grand escort card mirror featuring the New York skyline and some traditional Christmas accents.
The gorgeous centerpiece of the reception was the dessert table featuring delicious cupcakes, sweet cookies and stunning tiered wedding cake from ‘A Simple Cake’.
The shoot was a spectacular, fun team project where all participating event pros gave every little detail the attention it deserved.
We featured two very different couples as our wedding models to showcase multiple dimensions of the space and incorporate different personalities and vibes.
The first couple, Anastasia and Thiago, are classic and elegant heroes of this visual winter fairy-tale. I captured some black and white and some available light images to showcase the ambiance and the vibe of the rooms.
Hybrid wedding virtual wedding projector screen
Lotte_Palace_Christmas_Wedding
Lotte palace luxury wedding christmas madison ballroom
Christmas luxury wedding at lotte palace new york
Our second couple, Joshua and Faith, helped me create eye-catching, playful images that are full of glam and character. This feather accented fanciful wedding gown was perfect for the chilly winter weather and the chic, dramatic look we were going for.
Lotte_Palace_Christmas_Wedding
Bold and charismatic couple Christmas wedding
Event Professionals:
Venue: Lotte New York Palace | Planner: Best Venues Group | Décor: Eva Madelina | Photography: Artvesta Studio | Video: ET Weddings | Rentals: Glam Party Rentals | Dessert Table: A Simple Cake | Makeup: Namani MUA | Hair: Dida Hair And Makeup | Jewelry: Bridal Style Boutique | Bridal Gowns: Bridal Reflections New York | Models: Anastasia , Faith Amber , Joshua lhila | Jazz Duo: Acute Inflections | Talent: Cirque Central | Calligrapher: Joanne Day Calligraphy | Menus: Ceci New York | Tux: Robbie & Co
A Foodie Wedding at The Upper Story in New York City
Everyone always wants something different, but what does that really mean for a wedding? By its very nature, weddings are imbued with tradition, rituals that make a wedding a wedding. Having said that, is there a way to personalize a wedding so that it feels authentic and reflects the couple who’s getting married? In essence, the inspiration behind this styled shoot was just that: how to take tradition and make it unique.
We wanted a Parisian-inspired theme for this New York City shoot. In New York City, the possibilities are endless but for every wedding, you must prioritize the things you think are most important. This couple would be all about the food, and so started with a venue that they knew could provide the delish meal that all their guests would appreciate. The next big-ticket item was the flowers. We wanted lush, lively, unique arrangements and chose a color palette to reflect the mood we aimed to achieve: lavender and ivory with gold accents. The French plates on the sweetheart table provided just another touch of class.
The stationery provided a warm winter feel with the lavender-velvet look that was used on the invitations and the menus. The main dinner table had a full, table-length ivory lace overlay. The clear chargers, purple candles, and gold vases were all carefully chosen to help enhance the dining experience.
For a smaller space, we didn’t want large, traditional gowns, but wanted to add a little classic touch with the veil. Traditional bridesmaids’ dresses didn’t fit the bill either, so we went with shorter dresses with elaborate detailing.
Every element, from the centerpiece down to the cake was carefully selected to provide a classic yet modern twist to a traditional rite of passage.
Venue/Catering: @upperstoryny |Photographer: @artvestastudio | Cinematographer: @firstandlastproductionsllc | Floral Designer: @glamurosa.designs | Planner: @wedding_md_ny | Stationery/Calligraphy: @g.c.lettering | Attire: @henry88designs | Hair: @instaglam83 for @glass_slipper_wedding | Makeup: @artistrybyjeanna_ | Cake: @sugarfetishcakery | Accessories: @alyson_nicole_ | Rentals: @chargedupeventsnj | Arch Rental: @partythemes973
Bride and Groom Models: @theadrianacabanas, @lloverafraank | Bridesmaid Models: @nasthya_arandatv, @_completebeauty | Groomsmen Models: @officialgerardocaballero, @iamjoelramirez
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The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
The Upper Story Wedding NYC
Tatiana Valerie on Fox 5 News’ family segment
On December 18th, 2019 Tatiana Valerie was featured on Fox 5 News’ Family segment where she was sharing her tips and tricks on creating the best family photos for the holiday season. Sometimes it is tricky to get kids to look into a camera but the task is not impossible. It requires a bit of creativity and… a cartoon playing on a screen placed directly above the lens. The main trick is to keep the kids full, well-rested and entertained! Watch the segment to learn more!
Styled luncheon at MiMA, Manhattan 2019
In the beginning of May 2019 Tatiana Valerie at Artvesta Studio and Raul Gamboa at Food Design Conceptual Events collaborated on creating a styled shoot that would showcase and capture the elaborate culinary creations of Raul’s company and would also entertain a handful of top NYC event professionals.
“If we are going to prepare delectable meals for the shoot, maybe we could invite our close industry friends to enjoy them?”, said Raul. This is how the idea of a styled luncheon came to life. The rest is history.
I reached out to Olha at Sense Of Moment for help with brainstorming. The task we faced was exciting! We wanted to create a small and intimate event where our guests could relax, enjoy some gourmet dishes and reconnect while sharing that unique experience.
The event was going to take place at a private event space on West 42nd St. That alone presented a challenge because of the space’s non-commercial nature and therefore limitations. For instance, Olha’s signature design style incorporates candles but the building did not allow using any kind of candles under any circumstances.
The project seemed to be growing bigger and more complex every day, but everything worked out picture-perfect! Kudos to our wonderful event partners:
Photography: @artvestastudio | artvestastudio.com
Culinary experience: @foodesign_ce
Design and coordination: @senseofmoment.ny | foodesignce.com
Florals: @threenotchflorals | threenotchflorals.com
Stationery: @icandothat_design | icandothatdesign.com
Cake favors: @mydaughterscakes | mydaughterscakes.com
Rentals: @broadwaypartyrentals | broadwaypartyrentals.com
Linens: @bbjlinen | bbjlinen.com
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Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
Styled luncheon at MiMA organized by Tatiana Valerie
A Walk Through The Woods winter styled wedding shoot at Intercontinental New York Barclay
It all started with an idea. An idea about a perfect wedding in winter wonderland.
Cold months weddings in New York City are not as popular as summer or fall ones but Diana at Diana LaMer Events wanted to challenge that stereotype with breathtaking designs and magazine-quality photographs.
A winter wonderland “Walk Through The Woods” styled wedding shoot matched Intercontinental New York Barclay ballroom’s decor perfectly: the grey and blue-ish motifs got our team’s creative juices flowing.
After a million of back-and-forth texts, emails, and Instagram messages, Diana came up with a mood board that was uniquely fresh and exciting. The under-saturated look and cool white balance were the things that I was, literally, shooting for. Most of it was post-production but I am a Photoshop ninja so the challenge was accepted!
And all the hard work paid off. We received a full-page editorial feature in Sophisticated Weddings magazine’s 2019 Volume II!
Huge thanks to all the wonderful event professionals, who contributed their talent and time to create and capture the magic!
Planning: @diana_la_mere_events | Photography: @artvestastudio | Stationery: @cecinewyork | Cake: @cakes_by_nicolle | Rentals: @partyrentalltd | Jewelry: @david_bader_ny_diamonds | Florals: @floraliesevents | MUA: @shesaidyesbeauty | Venue: @interconbarclay | Bridal gown: @kleinfeldbridal | Groom’s tux: @theblacktux | Bridal gown: @reemacrawedding | Bridal gown: @carolinaherrera | Linens: @nuagedesignsinc
THE GALLERY
Intercontinental Barclays New York Luxury Wedding
Intercontinental Barclays New York Luxury Wedding
InterContinental New York Barclay
InterContinental New York Barclay
InterContinental New York Barclay
InterContinental New York Barclay
InterContinental New York Barclay
InterContinental New York Barclay
InterContinental New York Barclay
Kelsie & Noah’s Summer Wedding at Ravel Hotel, LIC
Sweet young couple Kelsie and Noah joined their hearts in a lush wedding ceremony on July 13th, 2019 at Ravel Hotel located in the trendy Long Island City, NYC. It was such a delightful, happy, and fun day! Everything was just perfect and I am so excited to share these photos! The couple’s precious fur baby Ellie deserves special credit for being the exclusive ring bearer!
Here is the couple’s story:
Kelsie & Noah are both acappella nerds and met in their post-collegiate group, Blackout. One day Noah took Kelsie back to the place where they met, the place he auditioned for the acappella group and popped the question!
From the bride & groom:
We wanted our wedding to be formal but we asked our guests to lean towards colorful attire! Kelsie bought her dress at Sarah Seven and Noah got his tux from Indochino. Both of our shopping experiences were incredible and we highly recommend both places!
Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding?
For the most part, our ceremony and reception were secular. We did, however, incorporate a chuppah into our ceremony. During our reception, we had Noah’s grandfather cut the challah and our whole party danced to the horah!
What is your best memory from your wedding?
Kelsie surprised Noah by getting up with the band and singing Noah’s favorite song. We also were blown away by all the love and excitement when we entered our reception for the first time!
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
Use a day-of planner, whether it be a friend or a professional. Having someone else to take care of about all the crazy day-of mishaps will give you a chance to relax and enjoy the day before it all flies by.
What gifts did you give to your bridesmaids and groomsmen?
Kelsie gave each bridesmaid a matching set of pajamas, a travel carry-on bag, and a few other fun little things like monogrammed tumblers and tote bags with the wedding hashtag that Kelsie handpainted.
Noah gave each groomsmen monogrammed cufflinks and a bottle of their favorite liquor.
What were your gifts for one another?
We gave each other the trip of a lifetime, a safari and beach trip in East Africa!
What was your ceremony entrance song?
Crazy in Love – Jay Z and Beyonce
What was your first dance song?
Perfect – Ed Sheeran
Vendors:
Photography and Videography: ArtVesta Studio
Florals: FLO NY Events
Venue: Ravel Hotel
Wedding dress: Sarah Seven
Groom’s attire: Indochino
Jaden’s New York City Bar Mitzvah – Hornblower New York
The Earth Day 2018 was celebrated by many but it was especially festive for Jaden’s family and friends. April 22nd was also Jaden’s very special birthday, he became Bar Mitzvah and his parents threw him the best party ever — a beautiful and fun river cruise on Hornblower’s Hybrid yacht. Surrounded by family and friends, Jaden, his family and friends enjoyed stunning views of Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline while munching on delectable foods and sipping yummy drinks. It was definitely a grand and FUN party to remember!
BrideLux 2019 at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London, UK
The extravagance of BrideLux 2019 at Intercontinental Barclay hotel in NYC inspired me to attend their next event in London. From the newest trends in bridal fashion to the most elaborate chef’s desert creations, finest champagne and authentic French macarons, lavish floral arrangements, inspiring table settings and elegant entertainment, BrideLux was a luxury wedding planning dream.
At the event, I had the pleasure of speaking with a few remarkable local event professionals including Tina Patel. She is the owner and creative director of Sugar Box Events, a boutique company specializing in creating custom desert walls for weddings and events.
Tina’s main inspiration is her clients themselves. Her company offers countless desert options that are incredibly intricate and customizable to the event’s color scheme and theme as well as clients’ cultural backgrounds.
BrideLux is an amazing platform that allows individuals in the event planning industry to connect with top luxury event professionals from around the globe. Participating in a BrideLux event is truly a unique and valuable opportunity. I have had the pleasure of being a part of a BrideLux event in the past and I am excited to have the chance to participate in more of these events in the future.
In addition to providing a way for professionals to network and exchange ideas, BrideLux also offers a range of resources and tools for those planning luxury events. From expert insights and inspiration to exclusive product demonstrations and vendor showcases, BrideLux has everything a luxury event planner could need. Whether you are a seasoned pro or just starting out in the industry, BrideLux is a must-attend event for anyone looking to elevate their event planning skills, enrich their professional network and gain industry knowledge.
Event photo gallery:
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
BrideLux London UK Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
ArtVesta Studio is featured in New York Weddings magazine 2018
We are beyond thrilled to announce that our work was featured in the Fall 2018 issue of New York Weddings magazine as a full-page editorial.
Keisha and Liz’s epic love story deserved to be told to the world and I am so thrilled that it will forever remain on the pages of this iconic publication.
Click HERE to read Liz & Keisha’s wedding feature on our blog.
Dani & Yaw’s celestial wedding at Midtown Loft & Terrace, NYC
At the end of July, I had the pleasure of photographing not just an elegant and magnificent but celestial wedding of two beautiful people, Danielle and Yaw. It was a quintessential city wedding with the bride and groom getting ready at The Marmara hotel located steps away from their wedding venue, the Midtown Loft and Terrace.
The Marmara Park Avenue’s spacious terraces feature the breathtaking views of the Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, and downtown Manhattan.
Dani was walking on the stars in her dreamy and floating Pnina Tornai dress and her classy see through Christian Louboutin stilettos adorned with crystals. Dani’s outfit made her look like an angel enveloped gracefully in the clouds. To finish off the look, Dani’s glittering headpiece really made her Queen of the Stars.
It was such a beautiful and dreamy wedding, quite literally because this WAS, indeed, Dani’s dream perfectly executed in one memorable night.
I asked Dani to share their love story with me and it is as beautiful as this charming couple!
Yaw and I met officially the last week before our college graduation. I was a transfer student, so we almost graduated college without meeting one another. The last week of graduation, Yaw threw a party for the graduates and I accompanied a mutual friend to his party. We met that night, we became friends and soon after a couple. We dated throughout our 20’s, separating once for about a year and a half and then we found our way back to one another. Shortly after our reconciliation, surprise we were pregnant! Yaw took me to Paris for my 30th birthday and proposed to me by the Eiffel Tower and I said yes, of course. Then we saved for our wedding and on July 28th, 2018, I married my best friend!
New York fashion week preview at The Ravel hotel
On the eve of the New York bridal fashion week, October 3rd, 2018, event professionals community had a big celebration at the luxurious Ravel hotel in Long Island City. The elaborate celebration featured exquisite gowns by Kleinfeld Bridal, Pnina Tornai, Randy Fenoli, Jaclyn Jordan, Sarah Jassir, Designer Loft, Yumi Katsura, and Galia Lahav. The after party at the reception room of the hotel was so much fun and some might even call it over the top! The abundance of delectable foods and beverages, top-notch bar staff and DJ made it the party to remember for the crème de la crème of the New York event industry folks.
As always, the room was full of familiar faces…some of them were VERY familir, such as Randy Fenoli, an American television presenter and fashion designer who is mainly known for his work on Wedding Dresses and his own TV Show Randy’s Wedding Rescue and Say Yes to the Dress.
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The Practical vs The Traditional. The First Look at a Wedding.
Wedding traditions often times will come in conflict with capturing the most important posed photos at a wedding, such as family pictures, bridal party pictures, and couples portraits.
If you follow strictly with tradition, the most important shots happen right after the ceremony because the first time the bride and groom see each other is during the ceremony.
The challenge with the traditional way is organizing group photos when everyone is already tired, hungry, and don’t look their best any more. Sometimes it is impossible to hunt down all the family members for the pictures as they are already enjoying the food and drinks at the cocktail hour, all scattered around.
The solution to this often overlooked problem is simple – the first look!
First look is a moment staged by a planner and a wedding photographer for the bride and groom to see each other before the ceremony.
The first look is a very romantic and emotional moment that is not only very special for a couple but it also helps to save a lot of precious time and give the couple peace of mind. Instead of taking couple’s portraits, family photos, and bridal party photos after the ceremony, when everyone is tired and eager to eat, drink, and party all these important photos are taken care of right after the first look, when everyone is still enthusiastic and looks fresh.
First look is the answer to a no-stress pre-ceremony photo shoot … and you will be able to swing right into the cocktail hour, have your first drink, meet and greet your guests minutes after you say your “I do’s”
ArtVesta Studio is a Yelp All Star!
I am so honored to receive this prestigious Yelp.com award. ArtVesta Studio is one of the 17 hand-picked businesses in NYC that have received this recognition in 2018. Thank you, Yelp!!!
Enchanted forest-themed wedding at Tribeca Rooftop, NYC
Candice & Drew’s enchanted forest-themed wedding at Tribeca Rooftop, NYC was truly magical. The loving couple radiated happiness, love, and joy on their special day.
Being allergic to flowers, Candice requested a no-flowers wedding bouquet. “No flowers – no problem!”, Said Rachel Cho at Rachel Cho Floral Design and created this masterpiece featuring succulents, air plants and cacti!
From the couple:
How did you guys meet?
Drew and I met on an app called coffee meets bagel. We talked before we met but on December 6th we met at The City Bakery. We went for hot chocolate on a cold wet day. The huge marshmallows on top of the hot chocolate are covered in powdered sugar so if you aren’t careful sugar goes everywhere. Let’s just say Drew was not careful. I’m pretty sure he got it up his nose in his hair. He laughed it off. Really didn’t even care. After that broke the ice we had an amazing time. We both knew that date that this was different. In January one of my dogs passed and drew was there helping me take care of the other dogs and me. This was the moment I knew I loved him.
What is the most memorable date you had?
Drew’s favorite date of all time was our first real going out to dinner date. We went to The Red Cat. We were seated in a back corner booth where we sat next to each other. Which is very romantic, unless the people across from you are drunk and trying to ask a million questions about our date. We were laughing about it. Drew said that night we really connected.
When did you know that Drew was the one? How and when did Drew propose?
We talked about wanting to be married and the whirlwind romance we were (are) having. On Saturday before Mother’s Day we went out with my parents, I had a work trip scheduled that week and Drew was leaving right after I got back. My parents we’re going to be away for a while so Drew got my dad aside and asked permission and he said my mom has to say yes and so do I. So then on our walk to Eataly he told my mom what dad said and she agreed. We get sat down at a table and before the wine was served my dad blurts out, “apparently drew wants to marry her.” To my mother. The entire lunch we talked about wedding and planning a wedding that I wasn’t even proposed to yet. After lunch we are walking home and I get a group text from Drew’s Dad: Let us know when it’s official so I can welcome her into the family. When we got home I said hey if everybody knows I want to know too. And he said but I was planning a huge proposal and I said I don’t need one. So on the couch with the dogs Drew got the ring and started to cry and I laughed and said yes. It wasn’t the big proposal but it was perfect for us.
How long did it take you to plan your wedding?
We planned our wedding in 6 months. While I opened a store, we adopted a dog (Willcox), and we started trying and got pregnant. I only recommend it if you have a little help. My friends all got involved and were so helpful. Once we had the major pieces in place everything else totally came together. I also had a dozen Pinterest boards to keep all my ideas on.
Photography: ArtVesta Studio
Wedding Coordinator : Erganic Design
Floral design: Rachel Cho Floral Design
Venue, food & beverage: Tribeca Rooftop
Hair: Janeaa Jennings
Make Up: Jade Staton
Ceremony, Cocktail, Dinner/Dancing Music: Element Music
Photobooth: Shake and Share Media
Stationery : Minted.com
TATIANA VALERIE AT ARTVESTA STUDIO IS FEATURED IN SOPHISTICATED WEDDINGS MAGAZINE – SPRING 2018 ISSUE.
Thankful to the Sophisticated Weddings editorial team for featuring my photography in their Spring 2018 issue
Pnina Tornai 2018 Bridal Runway Show
This year’s Pnina Tornai 2018 Bridal Runway Show was spectacular. Lots of glitter! Some amazing form-fitting gowns combining sheer and open areas with pretty and elaborate lace.
The full, princess gowns had the audience in awe. Take a look for yourself! What is your favorite Pnina Tornai 2018 gown?
Independence Day inspirations – styled shoot by Colin Cowie
If you are thinking about celebrating the 4th of July with your friends and family, take a look at this independence day photo shoot we styled for this very occasion.
We covered everything from the overall motif and vision, to the invitations, to the table settings, the signature drink, cupcakes and flowers that embrace the very spirit of the day.
Colin Cowie brought his signature style and vision to pull this whole event together. His close collaboration with everyone and attention to the finest detail brings a level of panache that is so quintessentially classy to the whole affair.
Engaging invites, featured by The New York Times, devised this innovative Independence Day themed shoot by providing custom-made interactive invitations. Engaging Invites incorporates people’s favorite video or photos into a slideshow invitation, an innovation that brings a next level of personalization to any invitation!
Alchemy Fine Home did a fabulous job bringing together a classic table setting that incorporates the colors of our flag while creating room for all of the amazing goodies to come.
Cream Blossoms brought delectable, unique floral cupcakes that are to pretty to eat. BUT those fluffy, moist cupcakes filled with blueberries and topped with heavenly edible buttercream flowers were simply too good to resist!
Spring & Social provided the stunning table florals incorporating red ranunculus, white peonies, and blue sea hollies. The floral artist masterfully played with soft pastel colors and the assertive red to perfectly blend them into elegant fragrant harmony.
The Grand Bevy, the guru of spirits and signature cocktails, provided the signature refreshing cocktail:
1.5 oz Rye Whiskey
2 oz Hibiscus Tea
0.5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
0.5 oz Blueberry syrup
1.5 oz Blueberries (muddled)
Fresh Mint
Fresh Tarragon
Cheers!
And last but not least, Tatiana Valerie at Artvesta Studio documented the shoot. Please enjoy the photos and the video and Happy 4th of July!!!
Miriam & Adam ~ Central Park Engagement
Meet Miriam and Adam, a happy couple, a genuine example of happiness and being in love. Witnessing and capturing the joy of the true love makes me happy. Please enjoy the couple’s love story.
Adam and I first met at our Rabbi’s house about 10 years ago. Adam came sporadically to religious events, while I attended every single one. From the moment I saw Adam, I fell in complete love with his charming smile and his sweet disposition. He was the first one to always offer the Rabbi’s wife help around the kitchen and house. Over the years, our interactions never went beyond a shy smile and a quick hello.
Adam was extremely shy growing up and later recalled how he watched me out of the corner of his eye, never mustering up the courage to talk to me at length. About 3 years ago Adam and I reconnected at our Rabbi’s house once again, after not really seeing each other for a few years. We started hanging out in a group of friends, and we quickly found out how much fun we had while in each other’s presence.
Our friendship developed over the years, while our teenage feelings of adoration became deeply rooted respect, devotion, and mutual understanding. Adam first asked me on a date on February 14, 2016, not realizing it was Valentine’s day! We cooked an elaborate Thai themed dinner that took us 4 hours to prepare and then got dressed up to enjoy our beautiful creation. Loving each other and each other’s wonderful families came so naturally to us so on August 24, 2016, Adam proposed. Knowing how much I adore hiking and nature, Adam took me on a beautiful hike in Northern NJ and proposed to me at the top of the mountain.
We are so grateful that we have reunited and reconnected after all of these years after we had time to grow and mature into the people we are today. Every day is an incredible day because I have Adam in my life; we inspire each other to grow spiritually, expand our cultural/artistic horizons, and cultivate our foodie repertoire.
Location: Central Park
Artvesta Wine & Cake Social at Panache Bridal NYC
Another fabulous Artvesta Wine & Cake Social! Woo Hoo! Thank you everyone for being a part of ArtVesta Wine & Cake Social 2017. Let’s keep in touch and as always we would be thrilled to collaborate with you on any interesting and exciting projects. See you next time!
Read about ArtVesta Wine & Cake Social: TheWeddingSocial.org
Artvesta Wine & Cake Social | April 6, 2017
Artvesta Wine and Cake Social – April 6th, 2017
Spring is in the air and the wedding season will be in full swing pretty soon! We are inviting event planners, brides-to-be, and other industry insiders to join us for an intimate evening of quality one-on-ones while enjoying fresh mouth-watering cake samples, delectable wine, and gourmet hors d’oeuvres.
April 6th, 2016 | 6:00-9:00PM
Panache Bridal New York
545 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022
There is going to be a little something special for everybody!
For brides-to-be:
Artvesta Studio has eliminated all that stress and has hand-picked event professionals that come highly recommended in the industry. They will devote their time to discuss your wedding details with no rush or pressure.
For industry insiders:
Artvesta Wine & Cake Social is a great opportunity to meet new people, discuss exciting industry trends and ideas and make lasting connections.
Space is limited, register now. This intimate affair is not to be missed!
Artvesta Wine & Cake Social Video Invitation
Read more about ArtVesta Wine & Cake Social: www.TheWeddingSocial.org
Sophisticated Weddings Launch Party 2017 + Bridal Reflections Grand Opening event
Last Wednesday, February 15th we had a pleasure of photographing a fabulous event organized by Sophisticated Weddings magazine — one of the best resources for everything bridal in New York City and Bridal Reflections bridal salon — the international destination for the finest bridal fashion in New York. This event was attended by all the who’s who of the NYC event industry and featured many talented event industry professionals. ArtVesta Studio sponsored photography coverage of the evening. The guest of honor was one and only Galia Lahav, a celebrity Israeli designer with over 30 years of fashion experience and over 3 million social media followers.
It was a fun night! Enjoy the photos!
Photography: Artvesta Studio Photo booth photos: Shake and Share Media • Furniture & Rentals: Ruth Fischl Props and Furniture Rentals • Lighting: Power Posse Productions • Floral Arrangements: Designs By Mark Masone • Catering: Food in Motion • Music: 45 Riots • Wine Tasting Bar: Brooklyn Winery • Rosé: Whispering Angel • [Wedding] Cake Tastings: Madison Lee’s Cakes & Ron Ben-Israel Cakes • Candy Buffet: Treat Me Sweet • Macarons: La Maison du Macaron • Photo Booth: Shake and Share Media • Sweepstakes Sponsors: Tacori Engagement Rings, Wedding Bands and Jewelry & TWO by London, and The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale
All event photos by: ArtVesta Studio
Editorial Feature in Sophisticated Weddings Magazine 2017
Tatiana Valerie’s two editorial features in Sophisticated Weddings 2017 issue. Available at a newsstand near you or www.sophisticatedweddings.com
Nora & Ronen ~ Studio 450, NYC
Nora & Ronen’s beautiful and fun modern Jewish orthodox wedding was held at Studio 450, a trendy venue located in midtown Manhattan. The couple’s young love and authentic beauty is reflected in every embrace and kiss. What a cute pair of true loves! Nora has a sophisticated, yet innocent, classic beauty you would expect out of a medieval princess. Ronen’s confident, wide smile can light up any room and any crowd. It was such a pleasure working with these two beautiful loving people who are starting their life together as a married couple.
Engagement at Hunter’s Point Park, LIC ~ Queens, NY
It was a very exciting day today!
Parth wanted to propose to his girlfriend of 6.5 years and he reached out to me for help. We found a perfect location and a perfect time of day for the moment of their lifetimes. She said YES! Congratulations, Ankita & Parth!
Damien and Leilani ~ The Marmara Park Avenue, Midtown Loft & Terrace
Capturing couples’ happiest moments makes me happy. Every moment has its own beauty and this wedding of a New Yorker, Damien, and a native Alaskan, Leilani, was truly unique and magical. The day tastefully incorporated elements of both cultures, celebrating the beautiful blend of traditions.
For the union of Damien and Leilani, both parties got ready for their big day at the Marmara Hotel in New York City. The Marmara is one of the best known luxury hotel chains in Turkey. Its NYC branch is located on East 32nd Street between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue. A spacious terrace of the hotel, which shows the gorgeous backdrop of the Chrysler Building, was the perfect place to start the day. Though it was marginally cold out, the couple braved the chill to take their photos on the outside terrace of one of the hotel’s suites.
The harmony of the happy couple matched the synchronicity of their chosen accessories. Both the groom’s boutonniere and the bride’s bouquet matched in rich color and paid homage to bride’s home state of Alaska. The groom’s boutonniere had a cute addition of a Ruffed Grouse’s feather, the most predominant bird in Alaska. The bride’s bouquet incorporated a strip of fur wrapped around the flowers. Both unique additions alluded to hunting, which is a significant part of the Alaskan culture.
From the hotel, both parties moved on to the Midtown Loft & Terrace at 267 5th Avenue where they held an outdoor ceremony incorporating some Jewish and native Alaskan traditions important to the bride and groom such as breaking a coconut by Leilani’s dad and breaking the glass by Damien. It was a beautiful ceremony taking place under an arch covered in burgundy and golden flowers. Those warm and welcoming tones were carried through to the reception, along with rich turquoise, to create an intimate and elegant reception atmosphere.
It was a fun and lively party, especially with the addition of the lifting of the chairs, another Jewish tradition. It was also an emotional evening at times with some touching moments such as parents’ dances and speeches by members of both sides of the family. The night ended with an available-light photo of a romantic kiss between a newly wed husband and wife, with the background of a lit up Empire State Building.
Mother & Daughter photo Shoot in Central Park
This is why I love my job! I just had a fabulous Mother – Daughter photo shoot with Jennifer and her lovely daughter Serena.
Meet Serena 2 years and 11 months old and this my interview with this lovely little lady:
What’s your name? – Serena
What’s your mommy’s name? – Jenn! ( same like aunt Jen)
How old are you? – 3
When is your birthday? – 10 o’clock in the morning time
How old is mommy? – 3
How old is daddy? – 4
What’s your favorite color? – Blue!!!
What’s your favorite food? – Broccoli and carrots
Who’s your best friend? – GiGi!
What’s your favorite cartoon? – Ariel
What’s your favorite movie? – Tapunzel
What’s your favorite song? – Belle and Beast song, I love Allll the princesses mommy!
What’s your favorite animal? – Probably… Pluto
What are you scared of? – ::whispers:: the monsters
What makes you happy? – YOU! You make me happy mommy!
Oh the joy and the smiles on this little model’s fase, they made my day!
Amber & David ~ JW Marriott Essex House NYC
JW Marriott Essex House is a truly quintessential location for a perfect Manhattan wedding. This luxury iconic NYC hotel set in an art deco building is located just steps away from Central Park and Columbus Circle. Choosing the perfect venue for their wedding, the couple did many site visits and almost chose a venue in Long Island but then realized they ultimately and truly wanted a Manhattan wedding. The decor on the walls looked like a dream when they first walked in. It was a dream that came true!
Amber and David’s, my picture-perfect couple, met online. Here is their love story.
How and where did you and David meet?
We met on OKcupid. Our first date was on Valentine’s Day.
For how long have you been dating?
We have been dating for three years before we got engaged.
How and where did he propose?
The proposal was so wonderful! He surprised me by taking me to dinner and then he proposed near riverside park by the water. Then he took me straight to his rooftop for a party and surprised me with all my friends and family.
What did you envision your wedding being prior to planning?
I envisioned my wedding to be opulent, elegant and sophisticated with a touch or romance. I wanted the style to match the look of the magnificent chandelier in the exquisite ballroom. A Star studded event with endless dancing!
What was your color palette and your style vision?
My color palette was soft pinks and whites to go along with the stunning gold ballroom.
What unique elements or DIY details did you include?
We had a sculptural manzanita branches display with pale pink dendrobium orchids in a draping style hung with bubble glass candle holders above the seating arrangements. Something very special to me was that my 15 year old poodle (I got her for my Bat-mitzvah) was able to be in my bridal suite getting ready with the girls and taking photos with us. She wore the most adorable dress in silver to match my bridesmaids’ Alfred Sung gowns. We also had the presidential suite in the hotel with a wrap around balcony, I had a huge after party outdoors!
What was your favorite moment? Your favorite crafted detail?
When I sang “Dear Future Husband” by Meghan Trainor on stage in front of everyone and then jumped into the arms of my new husband standing in the crowd. That was by far my favorite moment. Everyone was in shock and I felt like a total rock star! One crafted detail that pops in my mind was during my parents welcome speech my Mother displayed a large picture frame with a photo of me sky diving 15,000 ft high to show how proud she was of me.
Tell us about your flowers, your gown, your favors, your cake, etc.
My bouquet was GORGEOUS. Cascading white phaleonopsis orchids. It is in the process of being preserved. The chuppah was filled with white, ivory and pale pink peonies and roses. The aisle hurricanes were gorgeous too, to match the chuppah.
My gown was designed by Romona Keveza. It had the sophistication of Grace Kelly. It was form fitting with soft ruching. Mermaid style, off the shoulder with a pearl coloring. My favorite part was the sequined lace at the bottom edges setting it apart from any other gown in similar style. My cake was stunning. L’esti’s specializes in cakes and hand painted a 5 tier white and gold cake with pearls and flowers on the top to match the room. My first look was so romantic. We had a red velvet horse and buggy pick me up to do a photo shoot.
One of my favorite details was hiring our Cantor- Shimon Craimer to sing popular tunes in Hebrew as we walked down the aisle. His voice was hauntingly beautiful and romantic. The crowd was captivated by his talented singing and the unique traditional aspects our Rabbi Exler helped us create during our ceremony from start to finish. Even my Bedeken before I walked down the aisle was so special to me.
What is one piece of advice that you could give brides-to-be?
Always make sure that you have more than one person come to your last fitting so that multiple people know how to bustle your gown. But most importantly, try not to let ANYTHING bother you that day. Brush it off.
Slideshow ~ Amber & David’s Wedding at JW Marriott Essex House NYC
Dress- Romona Keveza (from Bridal Reflections)
Shoes- Valentino
Venue- Essex House
Photographer- Artvesta Studio
Florist- Quatre Coeur
DJ (band)- Veronica Martell
Caterer – Northern Valley Affairs
Videographer- Sunnyville Films
Invitations- Invitations Plus (Crane & Co.)
Cake- L’esti’s Desserts
Lighting- Luminescence
Rabbi- Rabbi Steven Exler
Cantor- Shimon Craimer
Photo Booth- The Bosco
Hair & Makeup Team- Betsy Elisa Inc.
Sweetheart Table Linen- FloraRosa Design
Dance Lessons- Fred Astaire
See New York. Celebrate Dad with Hornblower NY!
Look what I found in today’s “AM New York”! My photo of Hornblower’s Infinity is a centerpiece of Hornblower’s Father’s Day ad. See New York. Celebrate Dad with Hornblower NY!
Contact Hornblower’s Event Specialist Margaret Stapleton today to inquire about booking a Father’s Day cruise on a Hornblower Yacht : (973) 477-1740 | [email protected]
Catherine and David. Carlton hotel, St. Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University, and Midtown Loft & Terrace
“Love doesn’t make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” —Franklin P. Jones
Life is such a wild, unpredictable adventure. No matter how much we plan, it has this way of surprising us—sometimes with bumps in the road, but often with the most beautiful, unexpected moments. One of those moments? Meeting the person you’re meant to spend your life with. At first, you don’t know it’s them. It just feels like another ordinary day. But before you know it, they become the center of your story.
Some of the most incredible moments in life are your college years and the joy of newlywed bliss. When those two worlds come together, it’s pure magic. That’s exactly what happened for Catherine and David. Catherine, a Belgian bride, and David, her Greek-American groom, first met at Columbia University as grad students. On that first day, there was no sign they’d one day walk down the aisle together. But life had other plans, and here they are—starting their next “first day” as husband and wife.
For their wedding, Catherine and David’s immediate family stayed at the elegant Carlton Hotel, where I began capturing their special day. My first shots focused on their gorgeous details—the accessories they would wear as they got ready to say “I do.”
One of my favorite moments from the morning was when David and his groomsmen gathered for a fun, quirky shot in the hotel’s Broadway Dive suite. It perfectly captured their energy and excitement, setting the tone for what would be an unforgettable day.
Catherine and David’s love story is such a beautiful reminder that life’s most incredible surprises come when you least expect them. And when they do, they have a way of turning life’s ordinary moments into extraordinary memories.
The styles selected by the bride helped set the stage for the design of the festivities. The bride brought a lovely custom-made wedding dress from Belgium and went even more multi-cultural with her shoes, which were purchased in Paris, France. One of the more unforgettable accessories worn by the groomsmen were their colored socks, which coordinated to match the colors of their wives’ dresses.
With a warm and sunny wedding day greeting all guests in attendance, the weather helped reflect the mood of utter happiness and love, allowing for many smiles to exchange and spread the good cheer. The wedding ceremony itself took place at St. Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University. This beautiful chapel acts as a venue for hundreds of religious and campus events each year. Performed according to Greek tradition, during the wedding ceremony the couple exchanged Stephana crowns, to important cultural symbols that each had been handed down for generations.
Reception time!
Photography: ArtVesta Studio | Wedding planning & day-of coordination: Allie Levine Events | Getting ready: Carlton hotel | Ceremony: St. Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University | Reception: Midtown Loft & Terrace | Reverent: Mary-Rose Engle
Amber & David ~ South Street Seaport Engagement
South Street Seaport is one of my favorite locations for an engagement or a wedding photo shoot in New York City. The area is very charming and full of character. It features some of the oldest architecture in downtown Manhattan and includes the largest concentration of restored early 19th-century commercial buildings in the city.
Despite a very cold day we had a wonderful photo shoot. The courageous couple graciously posed for my camera trying to ignore the wintry gusts of wind. Scrolling through the online preview gallery a few days later, we all agreed that the result was well-worth it!
Amber and David’s, my picture-perfect couple, met online. Here is their love story.
How and where did you and David meet?
We met on OKcupid. Our first date was on Valentine’s Day.
For how long have you been dating?
We have been dating for three years before we got engaged.
How and where did he propose?
The proposal was so wonderful! He surprised me by taking me to dinner and then he proposed near riverside park by the water. Then he took me straight to his rooftop for a party and surprised me with all my friends and family.
Why did you pick Essex House as your wedding venue?
We did many site visits and almost chose a venue in LI but then realized we ultimately and truly wanted a Manhattan wedding. The decor on the walls looked like a dream when we first walked in.
Amber & David’s Engagement Photos
Artvesta Studio won The Most Popular Photography Studio in New York award!
Artvesta Studio won The Most Popular Photography Studio in New York 2016 award by the Wedding Industry Experts!
Thank you so much everyone who voted for Artvesta Studio! We came in first in New York City, first in New York State, and 14th Worldwide!
Sails of love on Hudson River – Karen & Vipul’s wedding on Hornblower’s Infinity.
As a professional photographer, I must say that wedding photography takes me to a place that leaves me absolutely smitten with my craft…and of course with the lovely couples that I am honored to capture in these photos.
Today, I am sharing the humble love story of bride and groom, Karen and Vipul – a love story that truly set sail for eternity from the moment they said, “I Do”.
On a beautiful and sunny New York day, the two were joined in the hands of marriage in front of their loved ones by the captain of the ship. Fusing the traditions of generations past with their own traditions to build on today, this adorable couple celebrated their love in a unique blended Indian and American wedding. The ship was docked for this moment and later set sail for an eventful reception on the bay.
The pop of colors draped across the ladies of the wedding are known as sari, while the gentlemen were tastefully suited up in their very best. The bride’s bouquet was a refreshing and robust bundle of peach and deep pink roses, light green orchids, blue lisianthus, yellow freesia, and bright pink alstroemeria. A true Indian wedding as like many other cultures is not complete without a delicious spread of tasty morsels to munch on. At Karen and Vipul’s reception there was a delightful array of traditional Indian dishes such as: Saag Paneer, Chicken Makhani, Chick Pea Cake, Khasta Alootikki Chole with Pindi, and Basmati Rice. Whilst rejoicing in smiles and laughter for the couple’s celebration of their love, guests took in views of the majestic sites of the Statue of Liberty, Freedom Tower, and the legendary Manhattan skyline.
And as every story only gets sweeter, this special day couldn’t have been completed without the bride and groom’s traditional fondant wedding cake, simply designed with a cascade of fresh flowers.
From the bride & groom – Karen and Vipul:
We met in the mid 90s at our first job out of school. Keeping in touch throughout the years, Vipul was single and partying for a while and I was in a relationship until 2012 – this is when I moved to Hoboken and reconnected with him. We started dating almost right away – he’s the most thoughtful and selfless person I know. He is also the smartest person I know, which is incredibly attractive to me. So, I fell in love with him for so many reasons. I can go on! We started dating in Fall of 2012 and got engaged in January of 2015 while we were on vacation in Aruba – we went there for New Year’s Eve and my birthday which is on January 2nd, 2015 and got engaged on January 1st, 2015. Vipul proposed to me on the beach in Aruba. It was incredibly sweet.
We started planning the wedding in March of 2015. Vipul had the idea of getting married on a boat in NYC because he grew up in Hoboken and went to high school in NYC so the area is near and dear to his heart. When we had seen the Hornblower Infinity, we were both instantly sold! It was amazing! we went on a ‘test’ cruise and it was absolutely beautiful. The scenery, the atmosphere, the quality of the Hornblower amenities were all amazing. We booked the boat and all of the vendors that John Barrall suggested were amazing! We got the venue in the Spring and I started meeting with vendors in April/May…And this is when we met our incredible photographer Tatiana Valerie – we loved her right away!
We booked the honeymoon to Mauritius and Maldives in March and sent out the save the dates in June.
Our honeymoon was absolutely amazing. The wedding planning was really from March through September – yes September! We had found out that we couldn’t get officially married on a moving vessel, so we actually got married before the reception as well. We got officially married on August 8th, 2015 and the reception was September 26th, 2015. My nieces and nephew were the flower girls and ring bearer. Neither of us are planners and we we left a bunch of stuff until last minute but it all worked out perfectly. We wanted both of our parents to be part of the day so we had a dance with each parent which was so awesome. The wedding day itself was so much fun! We really enjoyed the day!
I would recommend to anyone all the vendors that John Barrall suggested. John at Hornblower himself was wonderful and such a pleasure to work with! Tatiana Valerie, our photographer, Deborah at City Sweets and our florist in Hoboken Flowers By Diane were all amazing.
The party was incredible, everyone had so much fun!
Contact Hornblower’s Wedding Specialist John Barrall today to inquire about having your wedding on a Hornblower Yacht : 646-576-8410 | [email protected]
Hotel: W Hoboken
Ceremony & Reception: Hornblower Infinity
Cake: City Sweets & Confections
Flowers: Flowers by Diane
Photography: Artvesta Studio
What makes great wedding photography
What is great wedding photography? Is it the perfectly posed photo that captures a couple’s brightest smiles and star-struck gazes of true love? Is it the candid photo of the two caught in the act of being their goofy, down-to-earth selves? Better yet, what is great wedding photography in the perspectives of the photographer and those who are photographed? How does that saying go…”A picture says a thousand words.”? That’s right, photos are like works of art that are interpreted in the eye of the beholder. We all see the same thing, but at our own angles.
Today, we hear from a professionally photographed bride paired with my own thoughts on what makes great wedding photography.
From Photographer (Tatiana):
What do you see when you look at a wedding photo? Excellent lighting, ideal composition, great direction. That’s what you see when you look at these photos. What my clients see transcend the beauty of these photos, they relive the meaningful moment captured in that image over, and over again – the photos are alive and have breath, they will live on and on, through memory. To capture these once-in-a-lifetime shots for my clients, I need to understand who they are as a couple and what is meaningful to them. I have to be present and listen to exactly what it is that these smitten couples are communicating to me and capture that at the moment it happens – it is not orchestrated, it is organic. I have to be intuitive and feel connected with the couple to deliver meaningful photographs that tell the couple’s story in the most perfect, natural way.
Story behind this photo: This is the bride and her 12-year-old maid of honor. The bride and the groom are high school sweethearts. They started dating when their maid of honor (groom’s sister) was born. The age of their love story equals to the age of this lovely girl on the right. The two girls symbolize the beautiful pinnacle moment of this relationship. The light and the skyline ahead symbolizes the bright future ahead. I strive to capture photos that captures my clients the way they see themselves. Photos, that reflect the very essence of my clients’ most memorable moment.
Both the bride and the photographer agree that great wedding photography results from a connection between the photographer and those who are being photographed. An unspoken understanding between the photographer and the couple combined with the photographer’s skill to beautifully capture meaningful moments creates magic – exceptional wedding photography that keeps bringing to life every treasured point in time over and over again.
Celebration of love and equality at MAD, NYC
This beautiful and long-awaited celebration of true love and equality lit up festive lights for the couple’s family and friends at Robert restaurant, on October 11th, 2014. Ricky and Seth, two beautiful souls, united in a marriage at the New York City marriage clerk’s office a few days prior to their MAD (Museum of Art and Design) reception.
Ricky and Seth’s love story is very inspiring – It was truly meant to be! It all started in 2001 when Seth and his best friend were going to spend some time off in Provincetown, but for some unknown reason, their train got stuck in the middle of Connecticut and clearly they were going to miss their way to Provincetown that day. All of a sudden Seth said, “We should fly in!” and they did! They rented a tiny plane and had made it in that night. This is where and when Ricky & Seth met.
Being a wedding photographer is a special privilege. I feel very fortunate to be able to witness and capture the most festive and happy moments of peoples’ lives – The timelessness of a couples’ love for each other gives me the inspiration to be able to do so. Get out your tissues and prepare yourselves for a tear jerking devotion from Seth to Ricky.
You are my husband because you love Barbra Streisand as much as I do. You believe that doing things like taking photos of the Freedom Tower as it was going up every few days from the same spot across the city was an important and valuable thing to do, and it absolutely is. If I sniffle, you will volunteer to go across town to eat chicken in a pot at a 2nd avenue deli. You like what you like because you like it, and not because you are supposed to like it. And because there is no-one else I would rather spend the rest of my life with, rather grow old with, listen to Barbra Streisand with, and watch James Bond movies with…I love you with all my heart and I cannot imagine spending the rest of my life together with anyone else.
It has been a long time coming for same-sex couples in the United States. Yes, New York was the largest state to allow gay marriage back in June of 2011, however this was not the case for many other of the nation’s states. This could have proven to be the battle of a lifetime for gay couples and their supporters – One could still argue to this day, who has the right to tell you that you cannot marry the love of your life? At the end of the day, isn’t love the one constant that we’re all searching for to make us whole? With mountain moving abilities of same-sex couples and supporters of gay marriage, some four years after New York was legalized, the rest of the nation united in one of the most significant civil rights events that the world has ever witnessed – The legalization of gay marriage across all fifty states on June 26, 2015. There were eyes from across the globe that lit up with inspiration and souls filled with the spirits of eager same-sex couples flooding the courts to make it official. It was truly a celebration for the American people, and I got to capture one of the country’s greatest love affairs: The story of Ricky and Seth.
Why a Couple Should Hire a Professional Photographer for Their Wedding Day
Photo by ©Tatiana Valerie
Planning a wedding can be a daunting task as every decision is like a building block that you will eventually solidify as an event of a lifetime – One of the most important days of your life, your wedding day.
Hiring a professional photographer to capture every memorable moment of your big day can require hours of research, but it will prove to be well worth it when you’ve yet again “found the one”. Take it from the words of a self-planning bride herself, Meredith from Texas, USA shares with us her sentiment on who, what, when, where, and why she chose a professional photographer for her big day.
Q: What is your vision for your wedding day?
A: Well let’s start off by saying that my vision includes absolutely no rain, plentiful sunshine and a ton of love in the air. Other than marrying the love of my life, the thing I’m most excited for is seeing all of our family and friends together. I anticipate a ton of laughs, very little stress and an all around beautiful day.
Q: What has been the most memorable or eventful time during this process of your wedding planning?
A: The day we got engaged! That was the best day. It’s been a whirlwind since then and has been surprisingly non-stressful.
Photo by © Tatiana Valerie
Q: Do you feel that choosing the perfect photographer for your big day is an essential? What if you had to go without one…how would you feel?
A: Yes! The photos from our wedding day will last forever. Making sure we had the perfect photographer was very important to me. I can’t imagine not having a photographer on that day. Those photos will be cherished forever. We are spending as much on our photographer as we are spending on the dinner for 250 guests. It was THAT important to me.
Q: Rewind back to when you were a little girl…did you always picture your dream wedding to become what it is now? What are some similarities and differences?
A: Well, when I was little, I thought I would be married at the age of 18. I’m thankful that it took me another decade to find my prince charming. He was worth the wait! I never really planned out my wedding in my head – other than knowing it would be a giant party – and a giant party it will indeed be!
Q: What’s some advice that you’d give to a “bridezilla” during the wedding planning process?
A: This should be one of the happiest days of your life. If you’re stressed, just keep that in mind and remember to breathe. The day will come and go so quickly. If you’re being a bridezilla, are you really going to have fond memories of your big day?
Photo by © Tatiana Valerie
Q: Does your fiancé feel as strongly as you do about capturing those once in a lifetime moments?
A: He LOVES good photography. Since seeing how the engagement photos turned out and how much they already mean to us, he is 100% on board with having a great photographer at our wedding.
Q: Tell us how everything will unfold on your big day!
A: The entire ceremony and reception will be at my fiancé’s parents’ property on Onion Creek in Driftwood, TX. They have thirty-eight acres of Texas Hill Country land, so we won’t be short on space! There will be approximately 250 guests. The ceremony will be fairly simple and will take place by the creek on property. A good friend is marrying us and all of our immediate family will be walking down the aisle. Thinking about the moment that I walk down the big stone steps to “At Last” by Etta James gives me chills (good chills!) every day. After the ceremony, everyone will walk up the stairs to the reception area. They will be greeted by hill country views, a mariachi band, a giant white tent, dance floor, a hog roast and plenty of local beer and wine. The speeches and dance will begin at sunset and we will party and dance the night away while drinking champagne and eating ice cream cookie sandwiches (We decided on this instead of a wedding cake). Guests are invited to camp at the property (Seriously, we already have RSVPs signed up to camp out). The party likely won’t stop until the next night!
Q: Do your parents or in-laws have wedding photos halfway as beautiful as your engagement photos?
A: To be honest, I haven’t seen many wedding photos from our parents weddings. The photos I have seen are mostly ‘staged’ photos of all the family together – which are still wonderful to look at.
Q: If there was a fire, and you had to choose 3 things to take with you….would your wedding photos be at the top of that list? Why or why not?
A: Not just wedding photos, but all of my photos would be at the top of the list – after my dogs, of course.
Q: You mentioned that you must have a photographer but not necessarily a videographer… Why is that?
A: I will still be looking to secure a videographer for the wedding – but a photographer is much more important to me. Am I going to watch our wedding video every day? No. Will I see our beautiful wedding photos around our house every day? Yes.
Photo by © Tatiana Valerie
Q: What feelings would exude from you, after viewing the most absolute perfect wedding photo (yours or someone else’s’)? Feel free to be as sappy as you’d like.
A: Upon seeing our engagement photos, I cried, a lot. They were all happy tears because the photos meant so much to me. When we first see our wedding photos, I expect the same reaction – times ten. I will probably be smiling for days and showing them off for years.
Q: When you see bad wedding photography, what are you thinking about?
A: It shocks me when a bride and groom don’t realize how important wedding photography is. I knew a girl that got married a few years ago and she didn’t hire a photographer for her wedding. She said “everyone can take pictures with their cell phones.” I just about died.
Q: Photos/photography has been around for ages…painting portraits, film cameras, black and white photos only, then color photos, digital cameras, and now cameras in our phones that we can instantly print out at any local drugstore – Do you feel the significance and cherished quality of true photography has dwindled throughout time? Do you have actual photo boxes or photo books?
A: I think that there is an even greater appreciation for good photography these days. There are so many mediums for photos to be seen by so many people. I still print a lot of photos and keep them in photo albums and photo boxes. Eventually, digital photos will likely be a thing of the past – and I would hate to not have all those great photos in hand.
Q: You’ve taken on photography before…as a photographer and being the person being photographed…what tips would you give someone who is searching for the perfect wedding photographer?
A: Find someone that will truly understand you and your fiancé’s relationship. The more they get you, the better the photos will be. Do not be afraid to tell your photographer what you envision. A good photographer will take your advice and use their skill to build on your vision and make it better than you ever imagined. Trust your photographer. Sometimes you may feel silly taking a photo using their direction, but the outcome of that photo could be amazing.
From the lady of the hour, and like many other soon-to-be-married brides, hiring a professional photographer for your wedding day is one of the single most important aspects of planning your wedding. After committing to your chosen photographer, you’ll be counting down the days to when you can flip through the pages in your wedding photo book and swoon over the sweetest day of your life.
Kayla & Joe’s Photo Shoot in Florence, Italy
On May 23rd, 2015 I had a pleasure of photographing this beautiful and loving couple — high-school sweethearts Kayla and Joe. American natives, they are currently living in Florence as Joe was offered a 1 year fellowship to continue his specialized research with a lab at the University of Florence.
I was so fascinated with their story that I asked Kayla to share it with me and I would like to share it with the world!
How and when did you meet?
We met in 2007 when we were both still in high school. Joe winked at me in the lunch room and it was love at first sight… or something like that. Joe was the goof-ball, older Senior that was off to college, and I was a goody two-shoes Sophomore. We dated for 3 years long distance while Joe was in college, but as he started to engage more in his Physics degree (who would have thought for the class clown!) and I went to college in Minnesota, we decided to go our separate ways. We were apart for 2 years and it was great for us to have our own college experiences. He came to Minnesota in 2011 to complete his Masters’ degree; we reconnected then and have been dating ever since. A few years really helps you grow up! We graduated from undergrad/grad school at the same time, and moved out to Seattle to pursue our respective careers. He is continuing on his education with a Ph.D. at the University of Washington in Biomedical Engineering, and I was working in HR at Amazon.
If you don’t mind, can you please tell me again what brought you both to Florence?
Joe was offered a 1 year fellowship to continue his specialized research with a lab at the University of Florence. It was offered only a few weeks before they needed him to start, but we decided to go for it. While I enjoyed my job back in the states, I felt like I was missing something while trapped in my office cubicle, and I knew we could make it work. After a few short weeks, and many, many hours of paperwork (and bottles of wine), we were living in Florence. He’s now working with a lab at the University, and I’m leading bike and wine tours throughout Tuscany and teaching English as a foreign language. I got the better deal out of the move, if you ask me!
What is your favorite aspect of living in Italy?
The wine and pasta, of course! All kidding aside.. we enjoy the simplicity of life. Nothing is rushed (including paperwork!), no one glorifies the concept of busy, and quality family time is a priority. We’re very used to convenience back at home, and it was an adjustment to go to six different stores before we could find the household “essential” we were looking for. However, now we’ve come to love that aspect because with it comes the simplicity and appreciation of everyday life in Italy. People take their time here and are very present in each moment. Families spend hours eating dinner, and you can still spot the Italians admiring the beautiful the country they live in. It really doesn’t get old. It’s a simple life here, but it is so beautiful.
How long are you going to stay there?
We arrived in February of 2015 and we’re going to stay until at least April of 2016. We’re still at the beginning stages of the move, so our return date could adjust based on Joe’s research progress. However, staying here legally requires a lot of paperwork, so we will only be able to stay as long as Italy allows us.
Do you think you learned something or took something away from your experience living in Italy?
We learn something every single day, even if it’s just another word in Italian. Living in a foreign country is the most amazing and exhausting thing we’ve ever done. Every single day we’re amazed by the beauty of this country, and every single day we come home mentally exhausted. The language and culture differences are always noticeable, regardless of how long you’ve lived here. However, the language is beautiful and the culture is precious and one we’ve learned to appreciate. The quality of life is the main focus here, and something that we often overlook back at home. It’s very easy to get sucked into the daily grind, and we hope to bring back the new mentality that Italy has given us. Our outlook on what is important has shifted. That doesn’t mean we won’t be working long hours once we return, but it does mean we will appreciate the little things just a little more after living here.
Why did you want to have professional photos of you in Florence?
Florence is a place that will always be special to us. After living here for 4 months, we realized that we didn’t have a single picture together while exploring these streets that have become our home. We often grab our morning coffee at Volume, go out for dinner near Santo Spirito, and bike across Ponte Santa Trinita to get home. We now have wonderful pictures in all of these places. I wanted to look back on our year in Florence and have nice pictures of us that came from someone with an eye for photography and not from a selfie stick. These pictures have not only captured this city, but have also captured where we are at in our relationship/lives. This was a big move for us, one that has brought us closer and made us stronger, and now every time we look at these pictures we can always remember the dolce vita di Firenze. 
©2015- Tatiana Valerie, Artvesta Studio
Our Process
Artvesta Studio – is an award-winning photography and videography production company based out of Manhattan. In this video we are explaining our process by breaking it into seven key touch points.
To ensure our team has everything covered, we break our typical photo project into 7 key touchpoints:
1) Initial consultation, concept design
2) Contract signing. A deposit is required to book your date.
3) Family photo combinations planning
4) Location scouting and the day-of logistics planning
5) Optional Pre-wedding photoshoot
6) Wedding photoshoot
7) Post production, album design and printing
Artvesta Studio’s Process
Meet Tatiana Valerie at ArtVesta Studio
Tatiana Valerie at Panache Bridal NYC
Behind the scenes — posing the bride & groom
Behind the scenes — fashion shoot for Panache Bridal and Sophisticated Weddings magazine
Give us a call or email us if you have any questions or to schedule your free consultation!
[email protected] | 212.300.3897
13 Questions about wedding photography
1. Should I hire a professional wedding photographer or relative/friend?
While you may feel comfortable with a relative or friend to capture your big day, a professional photographer possesses the technical mastery of shooting, logistics and time constraints. Experienced photographers will work with you, understand the vision of your event, and then capture your most precious memories without getting swept up in the celebration, lose entire segments of your wedding or forget backup equipment. If a relative or friend shoots your wedding, he or she is more likely to get caught up in the celebration and miss important shots.
Professional photographers anticipate and capture the most expressive split second at the exact time. They know how and when to crop the picture to highlight an important detail and keep all the other elements in the background. Professional photographers can also preserve all the details in a picture and keep all the important objects in sharp focus. Most importantly, experienced photographers can make your event look magnificent regardless of your wedding budget.
2. What is a proof?
A proof is a low-resolution digital image or small-sized print. Photographers do not retouch all the pictures from their event shoots. Instead, they print or create a low-resolution version of all “open eyes and in-focus” photographs for a customer to view and then select a handful of the best pictures for further post-production and larger prints.
Artvesta Studio is committed to ensuring the high quality of proofs… read more>>
Artvesta Studio won The Knot Best Of Wedding 2016 Award!
Artvesta Studio won The best of Weddings 2016 award by TheKnot.com. We are so proud and thankful to all our wonderful clients for helping us win this prestigious accolade!
Stephanie and Matt’s Victorian garden – inspired wedding at the Metropolitan building
Like many tech-savvy Millennials, Stephanie and Matt’s love story started on OkCupid. Stephanie stole Matt’s heart the minute she walked into the bar for their first date. Her radiant smile lit up his heart immediately and the two lovebirds became inseparable. Two years later, the couple got engaged and married shortly after. In an elegant and intimate wedding with relatives and close friends, Stephanie and Matt exchanged vows at the Metropolitan Building in Queens on October 2, 2015. In 1980, interior designer Eleanor Ambos bought the building for storage and as a space for skilled artisans to set up their studios. This remodeled and re-purposed industrial building’s high ceilings allow for plenty of overhead room. Its large windows allow ample soft day light to enter into the rooms, and its impressive collection of vintage eclectic props provide a unique creative environment.
Tatiana and her team arrived early on site to capture the beautiful decorations and floral arrangements designed by industry friends Stacy Crowe and Joseph Ortiz from FLO NY Events. Tatiana’s recent trip to Florence, Italy has inspired her to build a museum inspired set-up to showcase the bouquets of gorgeous brides and bridesmaids.
Tatiana was very excited to discover that the Metropolitan Building was fully equipped for unleashing creativity at all ends. The possibilities of staging and styling unique shots were endless. Despite the rain, the bride and groom had a perfect indoor photo shoot location for portraits and family photos.
In her vision, the rustic green elevator door creates a perfect contrast for neatly arranged white columns that would display the elegant florals. With some extra time to spare before the bride &and groom’s arrival, Tatiana and her assistant retrieved seven display columns from the mountains of vintage props scattered around the building. After a few minutes, a “florentine” floral display was assembled and camera-ready.
The event floral designs provided by FLO NY team were remarkable. The company’s “day of” crew was headed by Stacy and her partner/lead designer Joseph They were joined by their events coordinator, Caroline, and their design assistant, Beto. The entire team was committed to creating the most extraordinary evening.
Stephanie met Tatiana and Stacy at Artvesta’s Wine & Cake Bridal Social a few years ago. The talented pair have worked on several projects together at venues across New York City. After cultivating a friendship aside from their professional relationship, Tatiana and Stacy were ecstatic to team up for Stephanie and Matt’s vintage-themed wedding.
The Victorian garden – inspired floral seamlessly matched the color scheme of classic whites and natural green elements with some soft blush hues as accent colors.
Overall, the wedding concept was developed by the bride. The venue coordinator’s insight and Stephanie’s experience in the industry (Stephanie is a professional event coordinator) equated to a fine -tuned design plan. FLO NY team advised the bride on what seasonal blooms would work best with her vision. The vintage books paired with past generation photos was the perfect touch. This was truly a collaborative creative effort.
One of the highlights of that magical day was when the the flower girl expressed second thoughts about walking down the aisle a few minutes before the ceremony. In a full-on protest, she plopped down on the floor and began her costume change. Everyone jumped in with various motivational tactics. These candid “behind the scenes” family moments are precious and illustrate how the big day can bring out the best energy.
It’s so rewarding to create memorable weddings with other skilled and dedicated professionals. While the atmosphere is usually intense, the outcome is always spectacular. There’s much effort that goes into wedding planning but it’s all well worth it.
Photographer: Tatiana Valerie, Artvesta Studio
Catering company: LCI Caterers
Floral design: FLO NY Events
Shoes: Betsey Johnson
Venue: The Metropolitan Building
Cake: Dee’s Desserts
Artvesta Studio presents custom leather wrap albums
NEW item! Artvesta Studio’s leather wrap albums! Order today!
Starting January 1st, 2016 Artvesta studio will be offering premium custom crafted leather wrap albums. Contact us today to order your custom, unique and distinctive piece of art. Leather wrap albums make perfect gifts! Call 212.300.3897 or email [email protected] for more information.
My Secrets to a Flawless Bridal Getting Ready Photo Shoot
I was recently asked by Brides.com to share my secrets to a flawless wedding getting ready photo shoot. Here are my eight tips that will help to get the best getting ready photos.
As a former corporate employee, I treat every wedding as a complex project where every element depends on advanced planning prior to the Wedding Day. With more than 12 years of hands-on wedding photography experience, I believe that pre-planning helps all the major players of the big day – including the couple, bridal party and immediate family members – stay on schedule and get better quality photographs.
Here are my top tips on achieving better getting ready photos:
1. Ask your hair and makeup artist for the estimated time needed to complete your wedding day makeover. Add 30-40 minutes to their estimate and be prepared for anything. There are always unexpected things that will get in the way including an urgent phone call, an important missing item, or a friend who wants to congratulate you early. This all adds up and consumes precious time. Don’t be surprised or frustrated by it; just plan for it. …read more
Menagerie Presents: Tatiana Valerie
Meet founder of Artvesta Studio, Tatiana Valerie. Tatiana has over 10 years of experience in photography and has been featured in a number of fashion and wedding outlets, including Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, InStyle, Style Me Pretty, and more. She’s a women on a mission to break outdated stereotypes about wedding photographers.
Meet: Tatiana Valerie
Photography is a passion that has brought so much inspiration into my life. I had the fortune to capture some breathtaking sights: from the majestic blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef to the grandness of the Great Wall of China to the elegance of Eiffel Tower.
I have also had the opportunity to share a few precious moments with a whole range of diverse people: from farmers to politicians, from fashion models to famous figure skaters, from Wall Street bankers to non-profit lawyers.
What brought you to the wedding industry?
During my journey, I discovered that nothing was more emotionally rewarding than photographing people’s most joyous moments. That’s why I love weddings. It is where I capture the moments that represent true beauty in our lives: the loving glimpse of a father as he gives his daughter away or the tears in the eyes of the bride and groom when they take their first kiss as a married couple. Preserving the fairy-tale magic of a wedding day is what I enjoy most.
What is your favorite moment at a wedding?
I really love the first glimpse between a couple and the overwhelming joy experienced in that moment. To capture such a raw moment is extremely emotional and rewarding for me.
What is the best part about your job?
Meeting amazing people, witnessing some of the most beautiful moments in their lives, and telling their stories. When the wedding and the celebrations are all over, I get to provide them with something they get to relive together over and over again in the photos. Those emotions and the stories I capture for them in their photos are never-ending.
Where do you draw inspiration from when preparing for each wedding?
I draw inspiration from the couple themselves. I really like to get to know my clients and get in sync with them. What are they like? Are their personalities bubbly or more reserved? I watch them interact and notice those sweet tiny moments of when they really connect. This is what inspires me the most and that is what I want to capture! No couple and no wedding are ever alike.
Share something that is unique to you and/or your business.
I care about natural beauty, realism and I am extremely detail-oriented. I like carefully observing people and noticing what unique traits make them attractive. I believe that everyone is beautiful and it is up to a photographer to notice, bring out, and capture those characteristics. I always ask myself, “What angle, lighting, and emotions will make the most impact and tell the right story?” I think every artist is unique in their ability to sense, conceptualize, and capture emotions and beauty.
I also host a semi-annual Artvesta wine and cake tasting social each year to bring together friends in the industry and meet newly engaged couples. We just had our most recent event this November.
Read this interview with Tatiana Valerie on Menagerie.me
Contact Tatiana Valerie
Artvesta Wine & Cake Social – November 18th, 2015
Huge thanks to all our AMAZING guests who came in and supported us at our 10th Wine & Cake Social! I hope you had a good time and made some great connections. Let’s stay in touch!
Here are some fabulous photos from the event. Debora Lauren’s mix and match cupcake bar was definitely the hit of the night! She presented four moist, mouthwatering flavors: Prosecco (my absolute favorite) Pistachio, Pomegranate, and Chocolate. The frosting choices of Chocolate, Vanilla, and 3-berry were phenomenal! To make this sweet deal even better, there was a wide selection of crunchy, gooey, and chocolaty toppings… oh my! …read more
Tatiana Valerie at Artvesta Studio is featured in New York Weddings magazine – Winter 2016 issue.
In the midst of my busiest month of the year I finally got to purchase a new issue of New York Weddings magazine ~ Winter 2016. Delighted and honored to be featured in the editorial section of the issue!
Sarah and Rossi’s New York City Elopement
Sarah & Rossi eloped to New York City in early September 2015. We had been corresponding with Sarah for over a year prior to our meeting in New York on their wedding day. What a sweet and beautiful couple they are! I immediately noticed how Rossi’s calm demeanor perfectly balances out Sarah’s vibrant and bubbly personality. They were clearly a match made in heaven. Fascinated and infatuated with the pair, I asked Sarah and Rossi to share their love story with me and with the world.
1) How and when did you meet Rossi and when did you both understand that you were meant to be together?
We met in college, Rossi was playing at a college gig that night and the time didn’t suit me and the girls. So I marched up to him & told him to play later……. but then I didn’t turn up in till well after his gig was over. Oops! BUT… Rossi says for him it was love at first sight (such a cutie!) …read more
To read the full story of Sarah & Rossi and view more photos from their wedding click here >>>
The Knot Gala 2015
Tatiana Valerie and DJ Johnny Stuart at The Knot Gala 2015
The Knot Gala is the most extravagant and the most anticipated party for event industry professionals that takes place at The New York Public Library at Bryant Park, NYC every year. This year’s event was a true extravaganza with fantastic food, delicious drinks, and great music. Here are some photos from an attendee (yours truly) Tatiana Valerie at Artvesta Studio. Photos were taken with my Nikon D700, 50mm 1.8 lens, NO FLASH so please forgive the quality of the photos. I had so much fun capturing some cute photo-journalistic moments! …read more
Behind The Scenes of a Professional Wedding Photographer
Photography is my biggest passion and nothing can stand in my way when I see “the perfect shot” and attempt to capture it (getting the perfect shot is often strewn with hurdles!) Every successful effort and every beautiful photograph brings me a tingling feeling of joy and satisfaction that, I must admit, is addictive 🙂
I love great team work when the goal is to be not just efficient but also effective. It makes things run so much smoother and produces wonderful collateral benefits such as freed-up time or great behind-the-scenes photos!
Thanks to my wonderful assistant Mariana for taking this amazing behind-the-scenes shot of me photographing a wedding dress at Metropolitan Building in Long Island City a couple of weeks ago.
Yelena & Alex’s Wedding in Dominican Republic
Jet-setting Wedding in the Tropics
This is a story about Yelena and Alex, two jet-setting New Yorkers who held not one, but two ceremonies — a New Year’s Eve wedding in New York City and a summer wedding in paradise in the Dominican Republic.
Yelena is studying to be a doctor in Atlanta and Alex is a businessman. He moved down to Atlanta temporarily just to be with his beautiful and talented wife to be!
Their love story started at their mutual friend’s birthday party where they first saw each other. Alex was smitten by Yelena’s beauty at first sight. However, he tried his best to hide it by giving her a hard time asking tough questions. Yelena took a bit of convincing, but a year and a half later the delightful couple had an elegant NYC city hall wedding on NYE to make their relationship official.
Despite the NY ceremony, Yelena and Alex wanted a destination wedding and the religious ceremony at The Paradisus Palma Real in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Yelena and Alex took the term fun summer wedding to the whole new level by jetting their entire family and closest friends from all over the world to the gorgeous Caribbean island. Their pre-wedding “White Party” was jam packed with super fun activities such as dancing and singing on the beach, while enjoying some of the region’s finest food, hand-made cigars, and signature drinks.
The wedding was a flawless and elegant affair that started with a cocktail hour on the main terrace of the all-inclusive five-star Paradisus Palma Real resort, following by a Jewish wedding ceremony at the garden and reception at the wedding pavilion.
I started my day a few minutes before 1 o’clock with photographing some behind-the-scenes of hair & makeup, details, and preparations. Both bride’s & groom’s hotel rooms had gorgeous ocean views from their oversized balconies and I was delighted to take advantage of the exotic marine backdrops by snapping some portraits and family photos.
My favorite moments of the weddings were the first look, the first kiss in the end of the ceremony, horah dance and lifting the Bride & Groom on the chairs, and always emotional parents’ dance.
This destination wedding was a real trip to paradise and I wish I could turn back time to re-live it all over again.
A fairy-tale wedding in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Photography: Tatiana Valerie
Videography: Emiliano Rosemberg at Tripic One Studio
Hair & Makeup: Krystie Ann
Catering, venue, cake: Paradisus Palma Real, Punta Cana
Shoes: Sergio Rossi
Dress: Vera Wang via Saks 5th Avenue
Mc& DJ: Irina Gleyzer & Arthur Marants
Artvesta Studio won The Most Popular Photography Studio in New York Award – Wedding Industry Experts 2015
I’m incredibly excited to announce that we have won “The Most Popular Photography Studio in New York” award by the Wedding Industry Experts. The Wedding Industry Board announced the winners on June 16th, 2015.
We are 1st in New York City, 1st in New York, 1st in United States, and 10th Worldwide. (WEDDING INDUSTRY EXPERTS 2015 AWARD RESULTS)
The Wedding Industry Experts Awards were started in 2012 and are now the largest popularity competition for Wedding Professionals & Businesses worldwide. There are 82 categories and entrants compete for city, state, country and international levels. Most votes in a category & location wins.
I am so thankful to everyone who supported and voted for me in this competitive endeavor.
Sincerely,
Tatiana Valerie and the entire Artvesta Studio team.
Kayla & Joe’s Photo Shoot in Florence, Italy
On May 23rd, 2015 I had a pleasure of photographing this beautiful and loving couple — high-school sweethearts Kayla and Joe. American natives, they are currently living in Florence as Joe was offered a 1 year fellowship to continue his specialized research with a lab at the University of Florence.
I was so fascinated with their story that I asked Kayla to share it with me and I would like to share it with the world! Read more…
To read the full story of Kayla & Joe and view more photos from this photoshoot click here >>>
Andres and Jessica’s Wedding at The Water’s Edge, NYC
“When I first brought Andres home – keep in mind we were only 17 years old – he showed up to pick me up in a cowboy hat, leather cuffs and a cut-off shirt. My mom was terrified and kept asking me if he was dangerous and saying “please tell me you don’t like this guy!” I assured her that he was harmless and from then on, he slowly crept into her heart”- Jessica
Jessica and Anders were married April 12th 2015 and met October 4th 2005. Both moving from Florida to New York together their story is anything but your typical high school sweetheart story. Jessica coming from a Jewish American family and Anders Catholic Columbian their wedding was a magnificent fusion of cultures… Read more>>>
A City Hall Wedding on December 31st, 2014 in New York City
This couple is very near and dear to my heart, Yelena and Alex. I was honored to photograph the City Hall wedding of these beautiful people — beautiful inside and out… read more…
Tokyo – November 2014
One of the highlights of my year 2014 was my trip to Seoul, Korea and Tokyo, Japan. It took me a while to sort out all the photos I took during the trip. This trip was a great opportunity to learn and experience new things and destinations so I decided to share what I learned, hopefully it will help someone to plan a better trip to Tokyo. Read the full post…
Artvesta Wine & Cake Social — Another Wonderful Event for Industry Friends!
A few days ago we hosted another Artvesta Wine & Cake Industry Social for our industry friends and brides-to-be. What an awesome and fun event it was!
Thank you everyone for coming and making my 9th Wine & Cake Social so amazing! This time we had a truly spectacular team of event professionals… read more…
To read the full story and view more photos from Artvesta Wine & Cake Social click here >>>
Sweet cute fleeting moments.
Those sweet cute fleeting moments now will be remembered for many years to come!
Amy’s Manhattan Baby Shower – preview
A few days ago I had the pleasure of attending and photographing my friend Amy’s baby shower. Amy’s family lives in Michigan so her first baby shower was there. I only attended her Manhattan party and I cannot wait to share these beautiful photos with you! Read more>>>
To read the full story and view more photos from this baby shower click here >>>
Pearl and Michael’s Wedding in Montauk, NY at Sole
The Couple:
Pearl is a professional model, a dancer, and a singer and she was a lead performer a Hairspray musical in 2006. Michael owns a media production company. They met on a Hairspray tour in 2006 in Atlantic City where they spent nine weeks playing…. read more
To read the full story and view more photos from this wedding click here >>>
Cold day warm memories — The Cloisters at Sea Island, GA wedding
On a cold day like this (right now it is 15F/-9C in New York) I cannot help but think of this wonderful destination where our clients took us last fall, The Cloister at Sea Island.
Stay warm everybody and have a wonderful day! Off to a shoot…
To read the full story and view more photos from this wedding click here >>>
Artvesta Studio won The Knot Best Of Wedding 2015 Award!
Artvesta Studio won The Knot Best Of Wedding 2015 Award! Thank you so much to all our clients!
Seoul, Korea – The First Look
I am so glad to be back home after traveling to Asia for almost three weeks! Here is my first look and my first photo of Seoul, Korea.
Tatiana Valerie’s Photography is featured in New York Weddings Mazazine 2015
I am so excited that New York Weddings magazine gave me a full editorial spread in their Winter 2015 issue!!! Thank you, New York Weddings Magazine!
Artvesta Studio featured on Style Me Pretty.
I am so thrilled that my photography has been featured on Style Me Pretty today!
To read the full story and view more photos from this wedding click here >>>
The Knot Gala 2014
The Knot Gala is the most extravagant and the most anticipated party for event industry professionals that takes place at The New York Public Library at Bryant Park, NYC every year. This year’s event was designed by Jes Gordon and inspired all five senses which means lots of texture paper flowers, a scent bar and even an amazing hanging food forest…. read more>>>
Yohaidy Pichardo, Tatiana Valerie, DJ Johnny Stuart
To read the full story and view more photos from The Knot Gala 2014 click here >>>
Rain or Shine – Wedding in Montauk, NY at Sole
The Couple:
Pearl is a professional model, a dancer, and a singer and she was a lead performer a Hairspray musical in 2006. Michael owns a media production company. They met on a Hairspray tour in 2006 in Atlantic City where they spent nine weeks playing.
The Proposal:
Michael proposed a few years later when they finally had a weekend that they could spend together in New York. They were visiting their friend Christopher, they rented bikes and rode all around the city. During a brunch together Michael asked his friend to take a photo of Pearl and him. Michael had not just a camera but also Pearl’s ring in his pocket and it all worked out perfectly because Christopher documented how Michael got down on his knee to propose to Pearl and she said YES!
The Wedding:
In the perfect storybook fashion, Pearl and Michael held their wedding in the Hamptons keying in on the recent 1920’s revival.
Pearl and Michael’s wedding was designed and inspired by the opalescent 1920’s beach town wedding. Great Gatsby vintage chic, the Hamptons charm, and the Brooklyn hipster style were blended perfectly into a beautiful intimate celebration.
Even though the day turned out rainy, a few spatters did not make it even a bit less perfect. The couple picked The Montauk Point Lighthouse as a “first look” destination and the location could not have been more perfect — the scenery of the place is breathtaking! The Montauk Point Lighthouse is the fourth oldest active lighthouse in the United States and in 2012 it was designated a National Historic Landmark.
The ceremony and reception took place at the garden of Sole Hotel & Resort under a tent. The highlight of the reception was bride’s bouquet toss. The bride’s gay single friend decided to participate and try his luck along with “all the single ladies, who put their hands up” and he was the one who caught the bouquet!
The wedding was a lot of fun and was a beautiful beginning of Pearl and Michael’s new life as a husband and wife.
From the photographer:
For a photographer shooting in the rain is always tricky. I had to bring three camera bodies and six various lenses with me and carry them in my camera bag at all times to make sure that I always have dry and working equipment. Having sufficient backup photo equipment is crucial for a wedding photographer because weddings have very structured timelines and there is no second chance to re-take the photos.
An amazing iPhone app called Dark Sky worked great for predicting short 5-minute “no rain” windows of time allowing us to plan our “between the pours” ventures outside for taking photos.
Great shoot overall but it required a lot of planning and preparations. Congrats once again, Pearl and Michael! May you be showered with limitless love and happiness for many happy years to come!
Photography: Tatiana Valerie, Artvesta Studio
Flowers: FLO NY Events
Rings: Custom Made by Laura Lobdell
Venue: Sole East, Montauk, NY
The Bride & Groom and The 3 Monkeys
This wedding was very New York City and so much fun! The 3 Monkeys, a spacious and charming, gastro-style craft pub with a lounge-y feel hosted this intimate afternoon wedding. Who said that a wedding needs to be fancy? Great friends, great beer, great city — the combination of the three is a great recipe for unforgivable memories!
To view more photos from this wedding please follow this link >>>
Where fashion and wedding photography connect
This elegant vintage 40’s inspired wave hairstyle was created by Amy Klewitz, a talented New York City makeup artist. One of the biggest fashion trends of 2015 is 40’s pinup style translated into modern day sex symbols. Gorgeous, independent, and powerful women, who are not afraid of emphasizing their gentle feminine qualities.
Photos that tell a story.
I love when a photo tells a story. This is one of my favorite pictures from Jen and Michael’s wedding. I asked the bride to share what was going on at that moment when the picture was taken:
“This is when Roz took a picture on her cell phone. She said to please get next to my Dad so she can have a picture of both of us. When I got next to my Dad for the picture I started to cry and that is when her cell phone picture got snapped! In your picture is when we were laughing at how the other picture came out.”
Anniversary Video for Candace & Tyler
One of my favorite couples, Candace & Tyler had a destination wedding in New York in September 2013. Their Central Park ceremony was absolutely magical and their reception at Mondrian Soho was a lot of fun. I managed to shoot some brief video clips along with professional photos and last night I created an anniversary video for the lovebirds.
This was the couple’s response:
“We are so touched that you thought of us Tatiana At ArtvestaStudio you don’t even know how much this means to us. Thank you for being such a complete part of our incredible moments.”
I am so glad that my plan worked out well and my work brought some joy to the two of them! Happy Anniversary dear Candace & Tyler!
To view more photos of Candace & Tyler’s wedding please follow this link >>>
A Happy bride by Tatiana Valerie
Sharing one of my favorite photos from yesterday’s wedding photo shoot. I call this photo A Happy Bride. This is a great example of my signature technique — guided photo journalism.
Guided photojournalism means that I preserve the natural candidness of the scene but I do not normally shoot fully candid. I guide my clients into the right situation that gives a great starting point for the further natural flow that accentuates their positive sides. This way I make sure that the resulting images look not only natural but beautiful and flawless.
The bride looks caught up in a happy moment but, believe it or not, this photo is fully posed!
Jenn & Michael’s Wedding Day
Jennifer and Michael’s wedding day was long awaited and very much anticipated. I loved working with the couple in May 2014 during their cherry blossom engagement photo shoot in Central Park.
Below is one of my favorite photos from the wedding. I took it while laying down on the ground with my camera facing upwards. Good thing I had a new dress to change into before the reception started; the “down-and-dirty” approach got my clothes pretty dusty!
A fresh and innovative entertainment solution for Jen and Michael’s wedding was a same-day-edit photography slide show. My assistant and I were screening the couple’s engagement and WEDDING PHOTOS! Yes, you read it right! Photos taken just minutes ago were professionally showcased on a portable screen.
It was a great wedding and I look forward to publishing Jen and Michael’s story on my blog in a few weeks!
Cherry blossom engagement photo shoot in Central park
I cannot wait to photograph this loving couple’s wedding in a few hours! I had so much fun during our engagement session back in May. I am sooo excited for you, dear Jenn and Michael!
How to Submit a Wedding Announcement to The New York Times
A few days ago I had the pleasure of photographing a happy couple for their wedding announcement in The New York Times.
I had to do some research on the subject before planning our photo shoot. As it turned out, submission requirements and guidelines are very specific but not that complicated.
Here are five most important things you need to know before submitting your photo:
1) Remember to deliver requests for marriage or commitment announcements at least six weeks before the legal event
2) Register and log in to your account on https://myaccount.nytimes.com/
3) Make sure that your photo, information, and write-up are ready and meet all the guidelines
4) Remember, couples posing for pictures should arrange themselves with their eyebrows on the same level and with their heads fairly close together with plenty of space at the top and sides of the couple’s heads.
5) The Times does not charge for publishing these reports, but space is limited and they do not guarantee publication.
And we made it to The New York Times! A printed wedding announcement was published on Sunday, October 5th in Sunday Styles section.
Schedule your own NYTimes weddings photo session, contact Tatiana at [email protected] or call 212.300.3897
Tatiana Valerie’s Photography in Times Square, NYC!
Last evening was super exciting for me — I experienced what it feels like to see my photography displayed on a gigantic street-corner billboard in Times Square. This wonderful digital showcase and the global art competition was a part of Art Takes Time Square project by See Me.
A few words from the event organizers: “Art Takes Times Square scoured the globe for today’s greatest creative talents to identify one artist whose work will be displayed in a massive exhibition on the glittering screens of Times Square. Tens of thousands of artists joined this international phenomenon, contributing works that received over 2 million page views through the course of the competition.”
Three of my photos were selected to be displayed on a 23-story-high billboard, replacing Samsung’s ads for one hour. A great “THANK YOU” goes out to my dear friend Amy Kathuria at MeToo Cakes for taking that photo of me! (I usually stay behind the camera… but not this time!)
Anniversary Photo Shoot in Central Park
It is never too late to have a fun photo-session with your loved one. My friend Amy and her husband Vik recently celebrated their 9th Wedding Anniversary. The couple initially eloped and had a Hawaiian beach wedding (fun, right?!) They skipped over the whole engagement process, which means hey had no engagement photos. Now they have some great anniversary pictures instead!
Amy and Vik said that this photo shoot made them feel ten years younger as if they were a newly engaged couple.
Would you like to schedule a professional photo session? Ring me up at 212.300.3897 or email me at [email protected] today to discuss! I would love to capture your happiness and beauty!
Long exposure photography at wedding reception.
Good afternoon, dear friends and followers! I hope you had a great weekend! I am sharing another example of “painting with light” photography. This photo was made at an intimate wedding reception while the guests were enjoying their main course. My camera was set for long exposure to make sure I had enough time to “paint” the red heart with a red pocket flashlight and get out of the picture to capture the room’s ambiance.
Editorial Fashion Photo Shoot for Olga Kvitko Couture.
A structured bustier with lace up back, polka dot French tulle over silk organza with silk satin border. Olga Kvitko head piece and skirt.
The photo shoot took place in Hoboken, NJ — a lovely and charming town right across from Manhattan. I love the blue and dramatic sky is in this photo.
Princeton Club of New York – Zeta Psi Founders Day – New York 2012-2014
On May 31st, 2014 I photographed The Third Annual NYC Zeta Psi Founder’s Day Banquet in celebration of Zeta Psi’s Founding 167years ago. Hosted by Zeta Psi NYC Regional Alumni Wine Club (RAWC), the event was held at the prestigious Columbia University Club of New York (in residence of the Princeton Club of New York).
This is my third year photographing this event and it has been wonderful watching it grow. Events like this are always full of great interactions and I always do my best to capture at least a few great photo journalistic shots.
Events 2012, 2013
Event 2014
Photo above: due to a very limited space, I had to utilize my fish-eye lens to fit all 120 people into the photo!
I always take a lot of traditional shots, “table shots”, photos of details, and a few photo journalistic photos to fully preserve memories of an event.
Photo below is from the Founders Day celebration 2013. The two brothers are looking at printed photos from the 2012 event and sharing their memories. My mission is accomplished.
Special thanks to Stephen Halperin for putting together such a fantastic event and for making me a part of the celebration.
Ryan & Craig – a Fun Wedding at Robert restaurant in MAD – teaser
Ryan and Craig’s wedding proposal was very simple and very true to their personalities. They are both in the entertainment industry and both lead very busy lives… read more
To read the full story and view more photos from this wedding click here >>>
Artvesta Food & Love Event at Spoon
Another wonderful Artvesta event sponsored by Spoon Caterers & Events took place on Tuesday, June 24th.
Huge thanks to everyone, who helped us make our Food and Love event a success!
The highlights of the night were:
– delicious hors d’oeuvres from Spoon Caterers
– yummy in-house-made lemonade from Spoon
– live percussionist’s music enhancements
– awesome raffle prizes
– cute gift bags for every guest
Artvesta Studio Won “The Most Popular Photo Studio in New York” Award – 2014!
Hello everyone! I’m incredibly excited to announce that we have won “The Most Popular Photography Studio in New York” award by the Wedding Industry Experts. The Wedding Industry Board announced the winners on June 15th, 2014.
I am so proud and thankful to everyone who nominated me to this award, supported and voted for me in this competitive endeavor.
We are also among Top 5 Most Popular Photography Studio in the United States and Top 10 Most Popular Photography Studio – Worldwide.
It has been a great privilege to serve you, our dear clients. Thank you for your loyalty and your appreciation. We love you!
Sincerely,
Tatiana Valerie and the entire Artvesta Studio team.
Artvesta and Spoon Catering Food & Love Bridal Social
06/07/2014
Artvesta Studio is bringing you another fantastic event. Come join us for an intimate evening of great organic food, live music, great wine, and quality photography.
See you there!
Waterside restaurant, NJ – a fairy-tale wedding of college sweethearts.
A fantastic, fairy-tale wedding of Jessie and Sasha at Waterside Restaurant & Bar in New Jersey. This time I worked with Gary Flom, a very talented photographer based out of Wayne, NJ.
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