I'm so excited!!!

There's so much new and exciting going on at Ann Marie Somma Photography this year...I just can't keep it all to myself any longer!!! I'm working on launching two new sites...it's time portraits got their own space...my current site is getting a little bit crowded (next year I'll also be adding sites for ADK fine art prints and Seniors...I'd like to do it this year...but there's just too much going on...I'm overwhelmed)...

Also new for this year, I'll be using a new album proofing system that will allow me to share your album design with you in an awesome slideshow and will allow for you to give me instant feedback on individual pages!!! I'm also switching hosting partners...I'm done with Pictage (so any Pictage credits included in packages already issued will be replaced with studio credits)...the billing system sucks and the products are outrageously priced...I'm not 100% sure where I'm going yet...But the prints and gallery wraps at Collages.net were just awarded Hot One Awards for 2008 (I'm sure none of you know what that means....but it's kind of like the Academy Awards for all things wedding photography related)....

My new site most likely isn't going to feature slideshows within the site...I'm undecided on this as of yet.....My options are to have slideshows within the site that can be burned to DVD here at the studio if you so desire, uploaded to iPods, blackberry's etc (but not the option to purchase from the site or email to friends) or have slideshows that will be featured in the blog and will allow for you to purchase a copy for yourself and email the slideshow to friends all from within the slideshow itself!!! I'm undecided...which one would you guys prefer??? Leave a comment!

Real Moments - Friend and Family Captured!

As a recent potential client pointed out (and I totally agree), my online portfolio doesn't contain enough real moments captured of friends and families at weddings....I guess when I was putting the portfolio together (which I update all the time) I was thinking to myself that no one would want to see these because they wouldn't know the story behind each one...so they'd be wondering who those people were..but potential clients do want to see them...and I still want to tell the story behind each one...after all, that feeling that you get...when all of your loved one's reunite to celebrate with you...that fealing makes your wedding day so incredibly special....and creating honest images of those moments is a big part of what I do....so here's a few of my favorites....

This is one of my all time favorites of the parents of the bride sharing a dance.....

















and the mother of the groom seeing the bride for the first time in the dressing room before the ceremony...
























this bride really wanted a shot of her with all of her girlfriends...I just love how happy she is to have them all around her and when I see this image, it reminds me of that same feeling I felt at my own wedding!

















at weddings, love is infectuous....

















































I have no idea why....but I can't resist capturing your friends and family capturing their own favorite images of the day....


















and sometimes I get caught ;-)
























Throughout the coctail hour and reception, I float around capturing guest having fun together, sometimes when they see me they get together and pose...some photographers hate this...but I don't mind at all...I can't tell you how many times I've had people tell me...that's the nicest shot we've had of us in a long time....

















































































































I just adored this old couple...they had such young hearts!
























I love this image because you can just feel how excited everyone is to get their own picture of the 'first kiss'....

















This bride told me this was one of her favorite images....It was taken while she stook next to her new husband and she and her bridesmaids wrapped thier arms around eachother while they watched a slideshow the bridesmaids had prepared of the bride and groom growing up...

















And here is one of that same bride walking from the ceremony to the reception as all the guests followed her lead....When I see her face in this image...I'm reminded of how happy she was...and this one is special to me because this bride is my sister in law, and I couldn't have asked for anything more for her on her wedding day (on a side note...I made her bouquet...didn't I do a fabulous job???) ;-)


















And then of course, there is the party....

This little girl danced, danced, danced all night...and I couldn't resist taking pictures of her...


















I keep coming back to this one...and for the longes time I couldn't figure out why...and then it hit me...this mother just looks so proud to be dancing with her son!

















more party fun....

This is one of my favorites....it's a shot of all the bridesmaids dancing with the father of the bride...I spent a lot of time with this family...and it was so clear to me how much all of the brides friends adored her father...this image reminds me of that....

And this may be my favorite father/daughter image of all time....

I'm working on a several new websites to debut in the summer....mine is starting to feel very crowded...I need a wedding site, portraits, seniors and adironack fine art prints...anyway....when the new site is up, I'll be sure to include a gallery of real moments!

NY Wedding Affair

I just got back from the NY Wedding Affair sponsored by Well Wed Magazine , which I am very proud to advertise in (the only place I currently advertise) and I can't say enough good things about this bridal show...actually, I don't even want to call it a bridal show....it was the event of the season! For anyone that didn't make it this year, put this on your must-do list for next year. Well Wed is by far, the most elegant publication for the New York area, and the vendors that advertise in their pages are by invitation only, so you can be sure the vendors you are investing in are top notch! I didn't get a table this year (they were all sold out....so maybe next year), but I inlcuded some postcards in the wedding library....did you see me there??

I was also really excited to meet the other photographer's in the area and introduce myself. I have to say that for the most part, other photographer's are so warm and supportive. You would think that the competition would make us all cut-throat, but it's not like that at all. It's more like a community of truly giving people who all share a similar passion....I think that's what's helped wedding photography bloom from the posed pictures of yester-year to today's photojournalistic sytle. My own wedding photographer, Rae Barnes has been so supportive! She's always open with tips and advice, lessons learned, and good chats....not to mention that when I second shoot for her not only do I have a blast, but I learn so much! Well, today I met Alisha Clark and Luke Walker and once again, I was blown away by how warm and welcoming they were. These two took time out of their day packed with talking to potential brides to chat with me and show me the amazing products they offer their clients. I didn't realize how much they didn't make me feel like the new kid at school until I got in my car and called hubby on the way home, and the first thing I said was, I met the two nicest photgraphers today! Again, I just feel so lucky to have found my passion and have the chance to be a part of such a great group of professionals!

The Album

Your wedding is unique, a reflection of your personal style...and the album which holds your memories for a lifetime should be also! Each album is custom designed from start to finish to tell your story. Every time you view it, your senses will be alive with the sights, sounds, thoughts and emotions of the day.

I've searched high and low to find the highest quality albums to suit every bridal style and budget. I've chosen my album manufacturer's carefully, looking all over the world to find perfect matches for traditional, modern, rustic, elegant and eco-shic brides, and I can't wait to share them with you. Each day this week, I will be highlighting the albums I've found for each you.

So, what's your bridal style?

The Album | Modern

Renaissance The Book has been proudly handcrafting professional albums in the United States for over 15 years. While their quality is excellent, they've never really had an album that caught my eye....until this year. New for 2008 they have introduced the Mercer book. The Mercer is a fresh and innovative new album which captures the character and essence of SoHo NY, making this the perfect choice for my modern brides. The album is sleek and the full page panoramic spreads are mounted to thin (but sturdy) book bound pages...The front and back cover are fully customizable with your images and a fine selection of silks is available for the binding accent. Sorry, I have no pictures yet...but check it out here... (pages 3 and 4).... I'll post images once I get my studio sample in...

The Album | Rustic

This is my favorite album, and therefore the signature album of Ann Marie Somma Photography. I don't include it in my standard package becuase it is a little pricier, and I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but for the rustic bride this album is truley unique!
Available in a variety of timbers and metals, Seldex artistic albums is Australia's leading manufacturer of custom designed wedding albums and photographic presentation products. For the Adirondack bride who loves nature and wants her keepsake album to reflect the rustic elegance of her wedding day, these albums are perfect...see for yourself....













A variety of timbers and metals is avaialable....I especially love the corrugated metal cover for engagement sessions at apple orchards!




















These albums also have hot options such as gatefold and flip pages....











I should also mention that Seldex albums are not just for the rustic bride. In my opinion, Seldex has not only the largest range of albums and presentation products available, but the highest quality as well! The products are handmade in Australia by qualified tradesmen and your options are endless! These albums are truly top of the line!

The Album | Eco-Chic

Green weddings are becoming increasinly popular. In fact, they have become so hot in this area (Lake George provides a spectacular natural backdrop for breathtaking weddings) that they have made it on the itinerary for this weekend's New York Wedding Affair . To complete your eco-chic wedding, I have found an eco-friendly album that who's quality rivals that of the competition. After all, you spent countless hours making your wedding green, shouldn't your keepsake album be more eco-friendly also? Finao ONE albums, are flush mount albums with attitude. Exquisite quality combined with fabulous leathers and options like a Simply Canvas or Perspex (your image your image etched into metal) cover enable each bride to truly customize her own, all for ONE price. In addition, you'll fall in love as soon as you open the box.... The packaging for ONE is completely "green", which scored huge points with me. The One books are wrapped in a heavy sheet of handmade paper made from recycled pineapple leaves. The ribbon is handmade from recycled Mulberry leaves. It's red in the picture but will be black shortly. Ok, enough talk...here's some pictures from the Finao website...


The awesome packaging...

















































Your choice of a rounded or square spine...

Your choice of standard or ultra-thin pages...

The perspex cover (your image etched into metal)

and a canvas cover..

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I can't wait for you eco-chic brides to get these!