Melissa Hassey » Engagement

Asbury Park Engagment Portraits!

melissa — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:23:57 +0000

I met Robin & Rob at Kevin & Lauren’s amazing wedding last summer (check out that blog here: http://melissahassey.com/2011/08/lauren-kevins-wedding-at-the-mallard-island-yacht-club/). When they contacted me to photograph their wedding, I was thrilled! That is until about month or so later when I learned that I was pregnant and due just one day after their wedding date. I was SO bummed (about the wedding, not the baby!) but realized that I would have to tell them right away. I wanted to give them plenty of time to find someone that wouldn’t be possibly going into labor during their vows!

Anyway, Robin & Rob took the news amazingly well! I knew that they were disappointed and that my personal life had certainly caused a snag in their wedding plans. Though I would have understood them being angry, they instead were extremely gracious, understanding and excited for me. As a gift to them for their troubles, I offered them a complimentary engagement session. They chose Asbury Park, which I had never been to. I was really excited and the location did not disappoint! I would gladly go back there again in the future.

The two of them are absolutely adorable together as you will see. They are also very easy going and fun! I know that their wedding is going to be fantastic! I am bummed to be missing it….

Thanks for all the laughs yesterday (and the grilled cheese!), Rob & Robin! All the best to you both with your wedding and marriage!

And, yes, I took some liberties crossing out certain words in the mural below, but I like the effect…

A South Philly Portrait Session…

melissa — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:56:09 +0000

Last week I had the opportunity to photograph these two wonderful women! We spent some time wandering their neighborhood of South Philadelphia. I simply love city photo sessions where we just wander the streets looking for pretty textures! There is so much art, so many mosaics and beautiful little nooks to be found at every corner. I hope you enjoy these few!

Wedding Brunch at M Restaurant at The Morris House Hotel

melissa — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:28:47 +0000

As I mentioned, I fell off the blogging wagon some time just before Christmas and am slowly creeping back…. That said, I didn’t want too much time to pass before sharing some portraits of this beautiful couple with you!

Sarah & Nat were married on 11-11-11 and I photographed them the day after when they hosted a brunch at the M Restaurant at the Morris House Hotel. The Hotel & Restaurant is so very lovely and worth checking out if you have the chance. I certainly plan to as the food looked and smelled amazing!

The three of us also wandered over to Washington Square & The Curtis Center for some portraits. It was so much fun to take the “day after” photographs and see the lasting glow on their faces from the day before. They are a kind, fun and artistic couple with a great sense of humor. I feel honored to have had the opportunity to get to know them and photograph them during such a special time in their lives.

Thanks and congrats again, Nat & Sarah!!

Custom Wedding Sign In Album

melissa — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:40:03 +0000

A few months ago I photographed Kevin & Lauren’s Engagement session in Northern Liberties (see blog post: HERE). We had so much fun! For their wedding day, I designed a guest sign in album using the portraits from their Engagement Session. These two are SO laid back and let me surprise them with the album and design on their wedding day. I had lots of fun doing that!

In greater news, I am happy to say that Lauren & Kevin were married this weekend and had the most fabulous wedding!!! I can not wait to blog about it! For now, I wanted to share with you a few peeks at their unique guest sign in album as well as a few pages that were written in during the wedding. (I simply loved seeing people look through it and sign it!)

Oh, Lauren & Kevin, you two are awesome!! Congrats again! Wedding photos to come soon!

The Newlyweds!

melissa — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:35:33 +0000

I am excited to post some portraits of my cousin, Erin, and her husband, Dennis. Erin & I have known each other just about all of our lives… We were born only 28 days apart and spent much of our childhood together. Here’s proof….

Erin & I had lost touch a bit over the years and so I was excited when I was able to catch up with her again recently. She told me how happy she was and that she had finally found “the one”. She truly gushed about him and it was wonderful to see her so happy. I finally got to meet this man of hers just last week and could clearly see that the feeling was mutual between them.

Erin & Dennis eloped together on May 18th…. which I think is wonderfully romantic. Seeing them together is a reminder that sometimes you just know…. this is the person and this is the time.

Dennis left just yesterday to return to Afghanistan once again to serve and protect all of us. Words can’t express my gratitude. Even still, I just wanted to say again, “thank you, Dennis!”.

Though he could have quite easily intimidated me with his knowledge, bravery, life experiences and travel, Dennis was instead casual, humble, down to earth, and also very easy to talk to. I especially enjoyed sitting around the bonfire sipping beers with them both….

Erin & Dennis, I am amazed at your bravery, strength and love for one another. I wish you love and laughter in your marriage forever! Congrats again!!

I love the lens flair/ orb in the above photo. Some people believe that light like this in a photograph is actually the light of a spirit. That Erin is wearing her mom’s engagement ring (where the light is!), I can’t help but think of my Aunt Denise… I am certain that she would be very proud to see Erin so happy.

Events by Sarah Elizabeth Blog Post!

melissa — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:20:01 +0000

I was super excited to see some Engagement photographs that I took of the super flexible and fun, Christy & Nick. Sarah’s blog is fantastic!! She runs an event planning business. The blog is a fun read if you are planning a wedding, want to one day get married, are already married, love going to weddings, or just like pretty things… Seriously, check it out! Here is a snapshot and link to view the post:

http://www.eventsbysarahelizabeth.com/home/2011/4/14/christy-nick-engagement-session.html

Fun Couple in Northern Liberties!

melissa — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:09:03 +0000

I recently got to meet up with Rosario & Javier for a session celebrating their one year anniversary! What a wonderful idea. Not enough couples do this kind of stuff and I think that they should. And… not just to celebrate one year but 2 years, 5 years, 34 years, 50 years, etc… In fact, I think that the more years a couple is together, the more celebration that should be required.

ANYWAY! I had such a wonderful time wondering around Northern Liberties with these two. They were so fun and adorable together. Congrats Rosario & Javier!! Thanks for making my job so simple and such a pleasure.

It was a beautiful evening which made for dramatic shadows….

I can’t take full credit for this next image. I was inspired by another photographer that did this idea of the shadows dancing…though I am not sure who that photographer was. Also, I can’t help but think of Duane Michals’ (a photographic hero of mine!) “Chance Meeting” series too. Anyway, I couldn’t resist my interpretation when I saw their shadows on the wall. A little goofy, I know… but kinda fun, right?

Both Rosario & Javier are Puerto Rican. Rosario is also Mexican. I love that they brought their flags as props. Oh, and they had these cute iphone messages too!

We stopped for some ice cream!

Did I mention that they also like Spanish dancing? Well, they do. They played some music on Rosario’s phone and then worked their moves. It was quite a show! I really enjoyed it!

We also got to play around with my Grandpop’s vintage camera. Javier & Rosario were the perfect mix of fun, romantic and authentic! An absolute pleasure.

Engagement Portraits at the Jersey Shore!

melissa — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:48:03 +0000

Another fantastic couple! I had the pleasure of photographing Anna & Bill last week in Ocean City, NJ. Suitably, the motto there is: “Picture Yourself in Ocean City”. How appropriate.

Anna & I actually know each other through Tyler School of Art where we went to school and graduated together. As Anna is a talented artist and photographer herself, I was, of course, very honored for her to ask me to be their wedding photographer! We decided on Ocean City, NJ for the engagement session. So fun!

It was actually quite a gray and cloudy day with looming rain… though, luckily it did hold off. I actually like a nice cloudy day and luckily so di Anna & Bill. We really had so much fun just wondering the beach, boardwalk, arcade and of course the amusements at Gillians Wonderland Pier.

I am really excited for their wedding at Terrain at Styers this coming September!

I am well aware that I have a tendency to photograph a lot of hands and feet. This session was no exception and so I compiled them all together!

This seagull was just asking to be photographed!

After the beach it was off to fun and games. Literally!

And, yes, I was indeed on the pirate ship with them!

Oh, and I also got to ride the carousel!

Sometimes I just can’t believe that this is my job!

Climbing in trees…. Engagement Session

melissa — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 03:41:14 +0000

So, I recently photographed an engagement session with Christy & Nick. They are getting married this May in Long Branch, NJ. Yay for beach weddings! I am actually going as a guest and can not wait!!

I first met Christy years ago while working at a portrait studio in Marlton, NJ. Christy is an awesome photographer and had come to the studio for an interview. What an interview that was. My good friend, Sandi, and I were feeling extra goofy that day and it made for a very memorable hour indeed. There may have been singing and quite a bit of laughter. Christy was hired instantly. She fit right in and was the perfect addition to our small/ quirky group of photographers and friends.

So, anyway…. Christy & Nick… Nick & Christy….. where do I start??

The best way that I can think to describe them is as flexible, goofy, athletic, sports nuts that both love the beach and are known to break out things like slip n’ slide on a hot summer day or twister in the winter. They are two people that clearly know how to get some fun out of life, laugh and induce laughter often. Yep. I think that accurately sums them up. : )

Needless to say, we had a blast during the portrait session. I got to climb a tree which I try to make excuses to do as often as possible. They got to play in the playground, do headstands, and dip their toes in the Cooper River. Good times indeed. Here are some favorites!

The little girl on the right in this photo was screaming, “EXCUSE ME!! EXCUSE ME!!”. Apparently, adults hanging upside down and preparing to kiss in a playground do not take priority over the kids waiting their turn to use the handlebars appropriately. Fair enough. Haha!

This kid, on the other hand, was quite impressed with their feat….

And, well, just to keep it interesting….

Head or feet first? These are big decisions.

Schultz & White…

Awwwwww…

First they climbed the tree…

It looked like fun…. so I decided to climb too…

Game on!

Head over heels….. buddum ching.

Lastly, we headed over to the Cooper River… People, please know, goose poop is worth cool pictures. : )

And a little yoga and meditation to end the day…

Namaste.

jon & ross engagement

melissa — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:58:21 +0000

so jon & ross contacted me as they were in philadelphia visiting some family (yes…. over the holidays… i told you these posts are overdue!) anyway, i am photographing their boston wedding this november and wanted to get to know them and do some engagement portraits as well. both guys were so much fun and so natural in front of the camera! ross is a ghost hunter. i know… how cool is that?? they wanted to find a cemetery for some photos. even cooler! anyway, we went to Christ church/ cemetery in old city and found that it was closed! it had been raining and apparently they sometimes close for this reason. not letting that stop us we continued on and found a cemetary further south. i had a great time with these two and can not wait for their wedding in november!!

I love how this one makes you think of them looking down into a grave....