Mommy and me and me | Photoshoot with my kids | NJ Family Photography

I had the pleasure of having some photos taken by my AMAZING assistant Gina Del Russo!!! Being a mom and having a business can make life extra hectic!! So a planned photoshoot is almost impossible! Once I realized I had some free time I seized the moment!! AKA threw this task on Gina last minute LOL- which she was very willing & excited about (hence why she’s the best!) I picked up my son from school with Anna, we walked home, got changed quickly (you could imagine how that went) and headed to Veterans Park which is right near my house. We met Gina there and all walked towards the playground. My baby girl Anna absolutely loves the swings & she was sooo happy that we were there! After some fun on the playground we headed to the fountain. On our way there we stopped at this awesome rusty bridge where Gina captured some more totally cute shots of us. When we got to the fountain the sun was setting so beautifully over the trees. I don’t know how Gina did it, the kids were moving around like crazy and I was throwing a lot of information at her haha but she did an incredible job! I even had her take a few of me alone to update my headshot and she was cracking up about how I “knew all the poses” LOL. After telling people how to pose so many times I guess it just comes naturally :P

I am absolutely in love with these photos Gina captured of us!! They tell so much of who I am when I’m with my kids- and who we are together! Benjamin is the sweetest boy and a bundle of energy all the time! He has been wiggly since the very first time I saw him on an 8 week ultrasound! The tech said they don’t usually even move around at that point yet LOL. Anna is so sweet and spunky! Her little personality is really staring to shine through and she has us all laughing at the cute things she says and does. I thank God for these two precious gifts every day and am so blessed to be their momma. I added some blooper photos at the end as well because I want to convey that the reality of having these photos done was not easy the entire time! We had some challenging moments on top of all the fun we had, but that’s what makes life LIFE. 

I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do :)

The Channel Club Monmouth Beach Wedding | NJ Wedding Photography | Christina + Ryan

Christina + Ryan had the most gorgeous Fall wedding on the water! Their wedding was at the beautiful Channel Club in Monmouth Beach. The forecast called for rain but after a little morning shower the weather cleared up and we had blue skies and an amazing sunset! I was SO excited for this wedding all year. I met Christina and Ryan through Ryan’s sister Lauren, whose family have been dear clients of mine for many years. I first met Lauren when I photographed her baby girl’s newborn session 4 years ago and it was beyond sweet to see all the kids in the wedding party as the flower girl and ring bearers! This day was just amazing. The Channel Club has the best bridal suite that was perfect for all of the details Christina had. All the girls were in the most adorable robes and Christina looked absolutely stunning in her dress from Barefoot Bride. Marissa spent the morning with the guys and got some fantastic shots of them getting ready. One of the coolest parts of the day was definitely when the boys took a boat over to the venue! Once the bride and groom were ready it was time for the first look which we were able to do it on the dock. It was just beautiful :)
As soon as we started their portrait session it reminded me of how much I LOVE photographing this couple. They are just so natural and look so darn cute together! You can see their adorable Sandy Hook Engagement session here. We had such a great time with the bridal party and family for more portraits and then it was time to get ready for the ceremony. One of my favorite parts of the day was taking the couple out to do some sunset photos on the dock. The sky had turned an orange pink color and it was breathtaking! After an awesome cocktail hour it was time for the reception and the party was on! The DJ had the music pumping ALL night and the dance floor was beyond packed. My team actually had to squeeze through people at some points to get in there haha! That’s how you know it’s a good party. They also had a smoke machine which gave it an even more epic feel. Ryan + Christina danced the night away with their family and friends and it was THE BEST! It was such an honor to be apart of their special day and I am so happy for these two.

Congratulations Christina + Ryan :)

Enjoy the photos!!!

Photography: Amanda Dolly Photography
 Amanda Dolly
Marissa Lambert
  Nikki McBride

 Ceremony/Reception: Fred The Channel Club

Florist: Thomas Dean’s Flowers

Hair: Amy Sorelle Salon

Makeup: Kelly Sorelle Salon

DJ: Rob This Is It Entertainment

Cake: Bovella’s

Invitations: Basic Invite

Wedding Dress: Castle Couture

Bridesmaid's Dresses: Barefoot Bride

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Warehouse

Colors: Navy Blue

Theme: Coastal/Rustic

Sandy Hook Engagement Session | Elyce + Matt

Elyce + Matt are such an awesome couple! They are high school sweethearts (just like me and my husband!) and they got engaged on the beach (just like me and my husband lol) at sunrise! As I talked more with them we found that there were many similarities in our stories including the fact that we live just a block away from each other! I met up with Elyce + Matt at Sandy Hook on a cool Autumn evening. The light was just gorgeous for photos! We started by exploring the bayside and found some really awesome and unique spots. We even got some amazing sunset photos on the bridge right at the perfect time. I had such a blast with these two! They are so easy to talk to and they made the whole session super relaxed. The way they smile and laugh with each other is so adorable! I cannot wait for their wedding in 2020! 

Congratulations Elyce + Matt!

Enjoy the photos :)

McLoone's Pier House Wedding | Maura + Chris

I don’t even know where to begin with this one! Maura + Chris’ Fall wedding at McLoone’s Pier house was absolutely incredible. It was such a joy-filled day from beginning to end. Maura and her bridesmaids got ready at her parents house. The girls had the CUTEST pajamas to get ready in and they made for adorable photos! Maura looked breathtaking in her gown from Belle Bridal. I literally couldn’t stop taking photos of her! Chris and Maura had a beautiful ceremony at Our Lady Star of the Sea, which is one of my favorite churches in the area, and also happens to be walking distance to their reception at McLoone’s! This was a really fun bunch to work with and we had a lot of fun on the beach taking bridal party photos. Once it was time for bride and groom portraits these dark clouds started to roll in and made the sky look dramatically beautiful. The florals by Amber & Earth were incredible and the decor Marua + Chris chose was just perfect for their beach wedding. The way these two looked at each other throughout the day was truly beautiful to witness. Their love and excitement to be married and be surrounded with their family and friends was so evident. The reception was a ton of fun and the dancing never stopped. I feel so blessed to have such amazing couples to work with. It was such an honor to capture Chris and Maura’s wedding day! 

Congratulations you two! Enjoy the photos :)

Photography: Amanda Dolly Photography
 Amanda Dolly
Jessica Halas
  Gina Del Russo

 Ceremony: Our Lady Star of the Sea

Reception: McLoone’s Pier House

Florist: Amber & Earth

Hair: Allie Krug Craft House Salon

Makeup: Annie Cose Craft House Salon

DJ: Elite Entertainment

Photo Booth: Pop Shop Photo Booth

Cake: Chocolate Carousel

Invitations: Minted

Bridesmaid's Dresses: Belle Bridal

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Warehouse

Colors: Neutrals, soft grays + whites

Brooklyn Engagement Photography | Laura + Matt

Laura + Matt’s engagement session was so much FUN! I love all of the cool places I get to travel to for sessions and this was definitely one of my favorite so far! I was quite proud of myself for not only driving to Brooklyn alone but for actually doing a good job parallel parking. It’s the little things in life lol. The minute I met this couple I felt super comfortable with them, like I’d known them for ages. We had such a great time walking around and finding fun and interesting spots to take photos. These two are so cute together and we were all laughing the whole session :) After we took some photos in beautiful Prospect Park we walked over to Laura + Matt’s favorite restaurant for some coffee and got some awesome photos inside at the bar. I LOVE doing this kind of thing. We finished up the session by getting some photos with their adorable cat Sunshine. I can not wait for their wedding next year at The Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank NJ.

Enjoy the photos!!

Union NJ Newborn Photography

I shot this couple’s wedding in 2016 and now they have a baby!! It’s my favorite to photograph newborn sessions for past brides & grooms- I love seeing the growing families! Baby Madison is sooo precious and she was such a good girl during her session! We were able to go outside for some photos which was pretty cool! I loved all the cute outfits Holly had for her little one. Her + Anthony were looking snazzy themselves!! I hope to photograph this sweet family again in the future!

Asbury Hotel Wedding | Stephanie + Bill

I am so excited to share Stepanie & Bill’s wedding!! It was such a beautiful day and it was my first time ever photographing at the Asbury Hotel! We started in the morning as Bill and Steph got ready with their family and friends. We then headed over for a beautiful ceremony at one of my favorite churches, St. James Church, in Red Bank. Afterwards we got to do photos on the beach and boardwalk in Asbury Park. The colors of the dresses, tuxes and florals went perfectly with the beach! Everyone was joking around and laughing as we did family and bridal party portraits- it was so fun! We even got to snap a few quick pictures with the couples dog! Once portrait time was over we headed to the Asbury Hotel for cocktail hour. Bill and Steph hired an amazing band that played through cocktail hour and the reception. They were SO good and kept the dance floor going all night. Some guests even skipped the formal dance floor and made their own right in front of the band, concert style haha. This was such a fun wedding! Congratulations Steph & Bill!

Enjoy the photos :)

Photography: Amanda Dolly Photography
 Amanda Dolly
Marissa Lambert
  Nikki McBride

 Ceremony: Msgr. Philip Lowery St. James Church

Reception: Amy Floss The Asbury Hotel

Florist: Cindy Hubeny

Hair: Stephanie Higgins

Makeup: Jackie at Hot Mess Studios

DJ: Captain Eric and the Shipwrecks

Cake: Ayca Antoinette's Boulangerie

Catering: Kelsey Forsyth at Mumfords

Invitations: Amy & Matt Invitations Ink

Bridesmaid's Dresses: Bella Bridal

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux

Colors: Blush, cream + mint

Theme: Beach Boardwalk

Spring Lake Engagement Session | Gina + Nick

Gina and Nick are one of those couples that I could take photos of all day! They are both so sweet and have smiles that are contagious! I had a fantastic time with these two in Spring Lake earlier this year for their engagement session. These two are just naturals and the love that they have for each other really shines though! It was such a gorgous day and we had fun walking around the park as passersby wished their congratulations to the happy couple. The beach is always the perfect spot to end at as the colors are so beautiful! I can not wait to capture their wedding day at the Channel Club next year!!!