Holiday season Is in full Swing

I have had the most wonderful year, and I hope you have too. I’ve been taking more family photos than ever, and my heart is full. Thank you all for entrusting me in your heirloom pictures.

Here are some recent holiday family pictures I’ve taken: Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, and even a golf course in Los Angeles with furry babies. I really want to do another Hanukkah family portrait, across from (and in front of) the Plaza Hotel at Grand Army Plaza where the World’s Largest Menorah will shine bright.

There’s still time to take holiday pictures, edit, and print them up in cards or framed prints. If you’re a New Yorker, you know how we do, last minute and fast. Message me to book, but don’t wait.

Family portraits, an art in and of itself

I used to specialize in weddings, editorial portraits, and headshots and I still definitely do those, but family photography has naturally risen to the top. I have been doing portrait photography and it’s grown through referrals. For many years I photographed the Hamilton Park Montessori school— I called photo days Blossoms because we shot during peak flowering tree season. Now, I’ve moved to Manhattan and the possibilities are truly endless. I understand the importance of family pictures, not just when your babies are small, but as they grow older as well.

Thank you for a Wonderful Year, and Happy holidays, everyone!

Fall Senior Photos NYC

I never use Chat gpt, however tonight I decided to test it out. I asked for a Nora Ephron-style passage based on my latest Central Park grad photo shoot. Here it is. What grade would you give it?

Some stories begin in January, but this one starts in the fall, on one of those suspiciously warm New York days when the park smells like leaves and pretzels and possibility. She doesn’t graduate until January, but the light was too good to wait, and honestly, New Yorkers have never been known for patience.

We began in her house where I set up a studio. Her cat, small and sweet, was the perfect supporting character.

Then out we went into the park, which was showing off with every warm shade of fall. The kind of day where the leaves look painted on, the sun is soft instead of bossy, and people stroll like they’ve forgotten they have anywhere else to be. As an aside RIGHT NOW, Central Park to me is the most beautiful place on earth.

She climbed up onto the magnificent Manhattan schist—like every true New Yorker has done at least once—and sat with the billionaire’s row skyline standing guard behind her. She looked right at home, as if the city were a familiar friend rather than an architectural brag.

We made our way to the Cop Cot—(or maybe another little spot that looks just like it?) — always charming, always slightly lopsided in the best way—where the vines curled just enough to make the whole scene feel quietly cinematic. Then we wandered to Frederick Roth’s incredible Balto statue, standing there as steadfast as ever. The graduate felt compelled to pose next to it. It really felt especially fitting for a future vet-science grad: an animal cast in bronze, a symbol of loyalty and endurance, posing beside someone who plans to dedicate her life to creatures who can’t speak for themselves.

And at the end, there was one last frame: a bonus shot with her dad, our driver for the day, the silent anchor who shepherded us from spot to spot with a smile. It was a tiny moment, warm and simple, the kind you almost miss if you’re not paying attention. I never forget to take pictures with the parents if they’re around because these photos end up being the most meaningful as the years go by.

I was in an Art Show!

I was in an art show! A street fair on East 91st Street, just a few blocks from Museum Mile. I got accepted on the Friday evening before the event — just two days to prepare — and I’d never done a street art show before. I needed plastic sleeves, backings, cardboard corners… fast. I realized the best way to get what I needed in time was to walk the neighborhood frame shops. To my relief, I found kind people willing to sell me supplies at Amazon prices or less — and with smiles and encouragement.

As you can see, I need a larger space, a tent with shelves, a gallery, something, to hold all of my things.

I only had 6 feet across and brought way too many prints. My table and chairs were borrowed from a neighbor, and I brought Halloween candy for visitors. I ended up eating them for breakfast and lunch. I’ve been in a lot of shows over the years, but there was a very long gap. My last show was called Essential and it was a group show in a space in Chelsea. Since then I had a baby, moved three times, had a 9-5 during COVID, and have been ramping up my weddings, portraits, and headshots. I was doing a lot of art reproduction for companies such as Gagosian Gallery, Southeby’s and the Hall Art Collection. My work was published in some books. But now after 14 years, I was able to present my art to the world again.

It was so gratifying to have people really look at my work — not just glance, but stop, flip through, connect. I ended up selling a record number of photographs.

One person lingered over my coastal California series and said, “You’re speaking my language,” before buying a print of two surfers watching the waves at dawn in Half Moon Bay.

Another woman picked up a cityscape and told me she’s an art collector. She insisted I sign it.

I was exuberant. Creating art is at the heart of my existence. When people connect with it and choose to hang it in their homes — it feels like I’m contributing to the world in the way I’m truly meant to.

Another highlight is that I got to know a woman picking out a necklace from a vendor next to me. I’m kind of obsessed with color analysis so it was really fun for me to determine she was a bright winter and really needed to get the green necklace. She turned out to be a Tribeca gallery owner. After she picked out the necklace she took a long look at my collection and took my card.

NYC Headshots

Sometimes you do a headshot and have a special bond with the subject. This young actor - and singer and dancer - had something special. There was an energy, passion, intelligence, and nuance that was shining through. I know that this incredible human will soar.

My FIRST Wedding

I’m so excited to be getting back into weddings. I did one last year and am starting to book them for 2026. One is in the Picnic House in Brooklyn and I’m so excited. The one this week is at City Hall. Classic. There’s not much better than wandering around downtown doing wedding pictures. And then there’s Central Park, which is always so swoon.

REACH out to me

I know most of you personally. Reach out to me and let me know how you’re doing! I miss hearing from you.

The Conservatory Gardens are so swoon, and open after renovations!

THAT tree.

First of all, I need to preface this post by saying, always go to the Central Park dot org, not dot com page to get your info about the park. Second of all, I’ve done a ton of destination weddings in Central Park’s Conservatory Garden, but since it’s springtime, I thought I’d feature this one.

The Road Less Traveled

Most tourists go to the portion of Central Park below 96th Street. However, if you have an extra day and want to explore further, go where the tourists rarely venture, to the Conservatory Garden located at 104th and 5th. It’s such a zen place, complete with a crabapple allée as they call it — they even make crabapples sound fancy — an epic entry gate called the Vanderbilt Gate that I just want to hug; an English Garden on the south side (my favorite and featured in the pictures on this post); a beautiful fountain in the Italian section and otherworldly floral displays and statues on the north side, the French garden. It’s like visiting Europe without the lines at the airport.

Weddings in Central Park can be chaotic. Have you ever seen lines of brides on a weekend at the Bow Bridge? I have. This place is a quiet, tucked-in oasis. As my teen would say, it has Max Aura.

Renovations are Done

The Conservancy has just finished a massive renovation. Restoring fountains, freshening up the landscaping, and making everything fresh and new. I just wrote to them to confirm they’re booking weddings. I’ll update this post if I hear back, but I think it’s a go?

May favorite spot is the Burnett Fountain, located at one end of a water lily pool in the Conservatory Garden’s English-style garden. “The Burnett Fountain is a memorial to the children’s book author Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849–1924), known for her novels The Secret Garden, Little Lord Fauntleroy, and A Little Princess.” It’s on the south side, and it’s where a lot of couples have their ceremony because of many things, but especially THAT gorgeous tree, pictured above. A lot of people love getting married under a magestic tree.

To be honest, most of the weddings I did there were destination weddings, of couples traveling from abroad. Since fewer people are traveling to the US these days, I really hope locals will discover this little gem of a wedding venue.

These Guys Owe Me Pictures!

I photographed my dear groom Carlos and his husband at the garden, and I only have a few pictures — long story. I asked for more, and he promised he’d send them to me. For now, voila! Carlos and I share a love for Gloria Estefan and he’s just a wonderful person. Full gallery coming soon I hope. These are also wonderful because the officiant is one of my favorite people, Reverend Annie.

Okay, here’s the rat story

I always like to add a little story. When I first moved into my apartment building again, I saw a creature out of the corner of my eye when I was working on a swivel chair. It was a rat, or a mouse, but I couldn’t tell. Then the next morning, my son screamed while in the bathroom. Like squealed. He said it was a rat, or a mouse. And it ran into the heater area. I called the troops, and they did a search and seal, and left a lot of toxic-smelling glue traps. After a short time I couldn’t bear to see a rat, or a mouse, die in a glue trap, so I tossed the traps.

A few days later, I donated a rolled up futon mattress to someone. I left it outside at 11PM — a minute before the receipient’s arrival — because I didn’t know the person who was picking it up. He texted me and said he couldn’t take it, “because there was a rat, or a mouse, on it.”

And so that is how we evicted the rat — it was a rat, probably an adolescent — without harming him, and we had a little roommate hiding in a futon for a couple of days. And there is my fun New York story that only the people who read to the end will get to read. I know a lot of you have a New York story. Care to share?

Maternity photos

My full-on documentary style comes to the fore when I photograph pregnant women. I tend to use my vintage cameras with gritty film and black and white. It’s just what inspires me. I have a ton more of these, but of course this is all I can find at the moment. Are you a mom to be? Do you want me to photograph you in a soft, but real way? Contact me! This gallery is so special to me.

Shakespeare Garden Central Park

Do you love Central Park? I wouldn’t be surprised if you have never seen the Shakespeare Garden. Go visit! Can’t visit? Then check out this lovely wedding I did a while back with Peter the wedding officiant!

Maternity pictures with clothing, and . . . New Camera!

I got a new camera! If you’re interested in geeking out with me, message me and we can discuss. I’m sooo excited. Oh! and here are some more maternity portraits, these outdoors, fully-clothed, in Central Park on the Bow Bridge, Reservoir, and on a big rock in Central Park.