• LIVE, LAUGH & ALWAYS PHOTOGRAPH.

How often do you have an opportunity to assist a film photographer??  Not very often!  One of the HUGE benefits of being a part of the photographers community is the chance to work with other great photographers you might otherwise meet, and I was able to do this over the summer.  There was a message posted in one of our groups for assisting a film photographer, Rebecca Yale, just before the 4th of July this summer down in Newport (which I have loved ever since my bridesmaids took me there for my bachelorette party two years ago, but I’m sidetracked…..).  Rebecca reached out to me via email, and I was really excited for the opportunity.  She’s established herself in New York City, and it was honestly a little intimidating at first!  I knew that I could learn a TON from Rebecca but one mistake could cost an entire roll of film.  I can’t imagine having that happen to anyone’s wedding, and I had only handled film a few times before with my father’s camera.

Fast forward to the weekend of the wedding, and Rebecca and her second shooter Julieanne met up with me in Newport.  We had dinner at the Spiced Pear, and it was really nice to be able to get to know them a little.  The next day was the wedding, so we got ready and had lunch at 22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille.  We talked about how the day would go, and as we did they both gave me some tips on shooting in general as well as how to run a more focused styled shoot.  After lunch we made our way to the venue, and the day could not have been any more perfect.  Sean and Melissa’s wedding was beautiful ocean front wedding at Belle Mer, and after seeing some of the photos on Style Me Pretty I felt even more honored to have been part of that day.

Thanks to both Rebecca and Julieanne for taking time out to teach me that weekend, and Rebecca in particular for the opportunity to work with you.  I have a styled shoot on my goals list for next year, and would be happy to help hold your dress to get “THE shot” anytime (long story, but well worth it!).

I’m always looking for new adventures.  You can follow my previous adventures with this hashtag #jenarayaadventures.

xoxo Jen Araya

 

2015-09-24_00012015-09-24_00022015-09-24_00032015-09-24_00042015-09-24_00052015-09-24_00062015-09-24_00072015-09-24_00082015-09-24_00092015-09-24_00102015-09-24_00112015-09-24_00122015-09-24_00132015-09-24_00142015-09-24_00152015-09-24_00162015-09-24_00172015-09-24_00182015-09-24_00192015-09-24_00202015-09-24_00212015-09-24_00222015-09-24_00232015-09-24_00242015-09-24_00252015-09-24_00262015-09-24_00272015-09-24_00282015-09-24_00292015-09-24_00302015-09-24_00312015-09-24_00322015-09-24_00332015-09-24_00342015-09-24_00352015-09-24_00362015-09-24_00372015-09-24_00382015-09-24_00392015-09-24_00402015-09-24_00412015-09-24_00422015-09-24_0043

comment
  • September 29, 2015 - 8:02 pm

    Rebecca Yale - Such a pleasure to have you by my side!!! Love the photos and thanks for all of your help! Couldn’t have done it without you!ReplyCancel

Share to FacebookPin Site ImageTweet This Post

comment
  • September 17, 2015 - 1:29 pm

    Annie - The before & after photos look great! Congratulations on three years!ReplyCancel

Share to FacebookPin Site ImageTweet This Post

What could possibly make a New England summer wedding better? At a  yacht club and of course Jill and Rob’s love for each other.  Rob & Jill met each other in the big apple, New York City.  Rob took Jill out to a restaurant and the rest was history.  It was something about that first date when you know, you know.  I don’t know about you guys but New York City to me is INTIMADATING!  We photographed their engagement shoot in NYC and we had so much fun walking around the city.  At the end we went made the trek back to the restaurant they had their first date.  It was incredibly sweet.

Jill and I went to the same high school and even played high school soccer together.  We won’t mention how many years ago that was (wink wink).  Jill and Rob were so comforting throughout the wedding process and offering us food during the day.  When I arrived at the hotel the beautiful bride was getting ready and it was a RELAXED environment.  We had thankfully incorporated a lot of time for details and getting ready shots so I was not worried.  Jill and Rob opted for a first look and I’m so incredibly excited they did.  It was something that they both needed.  It was a sweet intimate moment, and something I recommend to all my couples.  I feel like it’s important to have that moment alone together, and try to make sure it remains a special quiet time with just the bride and groom.

Jill and Rob said I do in front of friends and family.  It was a sweet ceremony celebrated with lots of dancing and good laughs.  The Danversport Yacht Club is a beautiful wedding venue with lots of areas to photograph.  As we were taking bridal party group shots along the water, my second shooter Ryan noticed that there was a gate down to the boat slips but it was locked.  Shout out to Ryan for having the idea to see if we could get down there.  I shouted to the people on one of the docks and they said yes absolutely.  Even better, they invited us to come onto the bow of their boat.  WHAT?  OK!!!  We got some AMAZING group shots and bridal portraits.  It was awesome!  #EPIC.

Jill and Rob it was a true honor, I’m still so excited and happy for you both!  Whenever I come and visit NYC I will be reaching out to you to stop by and say hi!  Enjoy being newlyweds and cheers to many years of happiness.

Xoxo Jen Araya

2015-09-02_00012015-09-02_00022015-09-02_00032015-09-02_00042015-09-02_00052015-09-02_00062015-09-02_00072015-09-02_00082015-09-02_00092015-09-02_00102015-09-02_00112015-09-02_00122015-09-02_00132015-09-02_00142015-09-02_00152015-09-02_00162015-09-02_00172015-09-02_00182015-09-02_00192015-09-02_00202015-09-02_00212015-09-02_00222015-09-02_00232015-09-02_00242015-09-02_00252015-09-02_00262015-09-02_00272015-09-02_00282015-09-02_00292015-09-02_00302015-09-02_00312015-09-02_00322015-09-02_00332015-09-02_00342015-09-02_00352015-09-02_00362015-09-02_00372015-09-02_00382015-09-02_00392015-09-02_00402015-09-02_00412015-09-02_00422015-09-02_00432015-09-02_00442015-09-02_00452015-09-02_00462015-09-02_00472015-09-02_00482015-09-02_00492015-09-02_00502015-09-02_00512015-09-02_00522015-09-02_00532015-09-02_00542015-09-02_00552015-09-02_00562015-09-02_00572015-09-02_00582015-09-02_00592015-09-02_00602015-09-02_00612015-09-02_00622015-09-02_00632015-09-02_00642015-09-02_00652015-09-02_00662015-09-02_00672015-09-02_00682015-09-02_00692015-09-02_00702015-09-02_00712015-09-02_00722015-09-02_00732015-09-02_00742015-09-02_00752015-09-02_00762015-09-02_00772015-09-02_00782015-09-02_00792015-09-02_00802015-09-02_00812015-09-02_00822015-09-02_00832015-09-02_0084

comment
Share to FacebookPin Site ImageTweet This Post

I know Jason, or “Jay Cole” as his friends call him, from high school.  We met sitting right next to each other in Spanish class with Senora Alberini and I always valued our friendship.  Jason and Sara met while working at a bookstore in the mall, and soon discovered that they shared a love of History.  Their relationship blossomed from there, and Jason went out of his way planning to take Sara to a historical house to propose, but Sara had other plans.  She threw Jason a curveball and he needed to adjust the plans.  In the end he proposed to Sara at home which was sweet and intimate.

Their love for History meant it was appropriate for them to get married at the Longfellow’s Wayside Inn in Sudbury, MA.  If you have not visited you’re missing out as it’s the oldest operating inn, on one of the oldest commissioned roads, in the US.  It’s a historic landmark and well known in the Metrowest area of Massachusetts.  You can check out their website here.

What a fairytale moment for Sara and her dad to be taken to the Martha Mary Chapel by horse and surrey carriage!  The ceremony was romantic and intimate, and made their wedding day so special.   Jason first saw his beautiful bride walking down the aisle.  After the ceremony and being pronounced husband and wife, a colonial militia gun salute was set on the front lawn of the chapel.  Jason and Sara also had more fans and visitors of the Wayside Inn watching them.  We made our way over across to the street to The Grist Mill.  Usually at this time of the year it’s filled with a lot of people wanting to take family portraits or photographers capturing wildlife in the area, but that day the odds were in our favor.  There were barely any visitors and the sun started to peak through the trees for some AMAZING bridal portraits.  Each and every small detail that day like the type of flower in Sara’s bouquet, to the paper flowers in the centerpieces, to the gun salute was well thought out.

After the portraits were done Jason and Sara danced the night away with family and friends.  I can’t thank them enough for allowing me to be a part of their special day.  It was a true honor and I will always appreciate the friendship we have.  I hope you enjoyed your honeymoon in Hawaii!!!

Xoxo Jen Araya

2015-08-26_00012015-08-26_00022015-08-26_00032015-08-26_00042015-08-26_00052015-08-26_00062015-08-26_00072015-08-26_00082015-08-26_00092015-08-26_00102015-08-26_00112015-08-26_00122015-08-26_00132015-08-26_00142015-08-26_00152015-08-26_00162015-08-26_00172015-08-26_00182015-08-26_00192015-08-26_00202015-08-26_00212015-08-26_00222015-08-26_00232015-08-26_00242015-08-26_00252015-08-26_00262015-08-26_00272015-08-26_00282015-08-26_00292015-08-26_00302015-08-26_00312015-08-26_00322015-08-26_00332015-08-26_00342015-08-26_00352015-08-26_00362015-08-26_00372015-08-26_00382015-08-26_00392015-08-26_00402015-08-26_00412015-08-26_00422015-08-26_00432015-08-26_00442015-08-26_00452015-08-26_00462015-08-26_00472015-08-26_00482015-08-26_00492015-08-26_00502015-08-26_00512015-08-26_00522015-08-26_00532015-08-26_00542015-08-26_00552015-08-26_0056

comment
Share to FacebookPin Site ImageTweet This Post

Two years ago today I was getting my hair and makeup done with my bridesmaids.  We rented a huge house so everyone could get ready in one place, guys downstairs and girls upstairs.  One of the many memorable moments that day was when Sean came upstairs to see me blindfolded.  It was so exciting to see him walk into the house knowing that we weren’t going to see each other until our first look.  He looked too cute, and happy to be with the guys golfing that morning.  While getting ready we were listening to music and laughing and having fun.  The song we had chosen for the last dance of our night came on.  I was of course like “ahhhh this is our last song tonight”, being a girly girl.  Little did I know that when I was getting into my wedding dress that the same song came on again.  We all said this is a sign!  It was similar to a sign I had when Sean and I were broken up and I reached out to him months later.  One of the best decisions of my life!

Music has always played a big part in who we are, and this song coming on was just one more reminder of the special moments we’ve shared.

Our first look couldn’t have been anything more special.  When I arrived at the Scituate Lighthouse Sean’s back was facing me.  It was a moment that we have waited our whole lives for.  I felt amazing and beautiful, and I couldn’t wait for him to see me and hug him when he was standing only ten feet away from me.  We said I do with our toes in the sand at Humarock Beach.  I’ve grown up going to this beach my whole life, it just felt right to say our vows in this spot that we both love.

Everything on our wedding day was amazing, and I cannot believe it has been 2 years already.  Look where we are now.  I thought we were always strong but didn’t realize how much stronger we can get.  Sean, I will always continue to communicate and make sure to put you first and make time for us.  Sometimes it’s a struggle for me while having a photography business, but it is always something I will work on.  Thank you for laughing with me and my quirky jokes.  I will try not to answer your questions with another question!  I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us.  We are just getting started with our life together.  I want to never take a second of our life granted!  Here’s to a thousand more years together.  I love you!

*All photos were taken by our amazing wedding photographer Trevor Dayley

 

View More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandsean

www.trevordayley.com

View More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandseanView More: http://trevordayley.pass.us/jenandsean

Our 1 year anniversary picture

Our 1 year anniversary picture taken my the talented Shannon Cronin.

I love you Sean!

xoxo Jen Araya

comment
Share to FacebookPin Site ImageTweet This Post

« Previous Next »