Jennifer Allis Photography Blog

Patrick + Rachel at Grace Baptist Church and Pearl Street

2012-01-04T11:12:00.000-05:00

Patrick and Rachel were wed on December 23 at their home church in Tonawanda, NY, with the reception at Pearl Street Grill in Buffalo. Kevin and I are so blessed to be the photographers of choice for the engaged couples of Grace Baptist Church. They are some of the most wonderful couples we get to work with.

The ring-bearer, getting the finishing touches from his mom. :)

Preparation:

Kevin caught this sweet moment between the ring-bearer, flower-girl, and Joe.

This is my favorite shot of their "first-look."

Shea's in downtown Buffalo can't be beat for their opulent furnishings.

This is on the steps of Buffalo's Historical Society.

Now, to the ceremony. I adore the emotion on Pat's face as he first sees Rachel walk down the aisle.

Locking eyes. I just love LOVE!

Their kiss:

Walking out to snow!!

I am really happy with how their family photos turned out. They had decorated the altar with beautiful Christmas trees. They look fabulous without taking focus off from the people being photographed.

SPEECH!!

First dance:

Dancing the night away:

I love hearing your feedback on our facebook page.

Aaron + Michelle = ENGAGED!!

2011-12-12T12:07:00.001-05:00

Aaron and Michelle came to Gasport for their engagement photo shoot. Although the temperature was only in the 20s, we had fresh snow and great attitudes. So, we ROCKED it!

And, look at how beautiful they are!!

I'd love to hear from you on facebook!

11-11-11 : William + Danielle

2011-11-14T11:13:00.001-05:00

William and Danielle were married on 11-11-11. We took some images between the ceremony and reception at Outwater Park in Lockport.

Congratulations, William and Danielle!!!

John + Ryann : Engaged

2011-11-12T19:00:00.001-05:00

I LOVE this couple! They are amazing and gorgeous, both inside and out.

And, without further ado: some of the hottest photos I've ever taken:

Facebook is the place to go to tell me what you think!! :)

Todd + Rachael: couple session at Akron Park

2011-10-25T15:26:00.000-04:00

Did you know that Akron Park hosts numerous high school cross-country meets every fall? Me neither, until this past Saturday. I arrived at 10am for an engagement session, with plans to go home before my next session, at 3pm in the same place. When I arrived, there were kids everywhere! Cars filled normally empty parking lots. I was drawn to the action. After my first session, instead of going back home, I stayed and watched races. There is something exhilarating about watching the heart of those kids tested. I clapped, shouted, and encouraged as they ran by, muddy and focused. I bought a bowl of chili, a cup of hot chocolate, and some homemade banana muffins from their booth. Now, THAT is a fall Saturday! The final race ended at 2:45, which gave me 15 minutes to warm up and gather my thoughts for Todd and Rachael's session. This is the result:

What fun!! Thanks for viewing!

Becker Farms with Brian and Ryan: Engaged!!

2011-10-24T12:27:00.002-04:00

I had so much fun with this fall engagement session with Brian and Ryan. We went to Becker Farms on a day that it could have rained at any time. We were blessed to capture some really great storm clouds sans the rain!!

I really get the best clients!!

I love this image for its typical fall weather capture:

In the apple orchard:

Pumpkins, too:

And, straw bales, lastly:

Come on over to my facebook page to talk about this!

George + Nicole at First Congregational United Church of Christ and Mendon Golf Club

2011-10-19T12:40:00.002-04:00

For October 8 in Rochester, NY, George and Nicole had a balmy wedding day. The temperature neared 80 degrees! Fall colors were just coming on, and we made sure to capture some.

Their church, in Fairport, NY.

Nicole, dressed, ready to go:

Accessorizing:

Nicole and her mom in the limo:

This little guy was so pleased to be photographed! He wanted me to be sure he made a magazine cover. Well, I can only do so much, so here's your moment of fame. ;)

At the altar:

George, showing off his new bling:

What a kiss! George had to hand off his glasses to his best man for this "you may now kiss your bride."

We went along the canal for photos. Check out these posers!

I think I could photograph George and Nicole all day. They're naturals.

Their grand entry into the reception:

First dance:

Catch!

Please feel free to leave comments on facebook. George and Nicole, congratulations!! May your beautiful day be followed by many more!!

Jeff + Lindsey, A Maine Wedding

2011-10-11T12:43:00.001-04:00

I flew out to Maine last weekend for this beautiful, rustic wedding in Waterford at the Bear Mountain Inn.

The bear and moose signs are for real out here. It just added to the aura. :)

Lindsey's preparation:

Her beautiful dried flower bouquet:

The ceremony was held on a deck with this amazing view:

When someone mentioned that there was a boat available, we were on!!

After the photos outside, we went inside for the reception. Jeff's brother gave the toast:

Then a little cake smear:

And, this last photo was the grand prize. We had many outtakes because the heart wasn't right. Or we were standing too close to the fire and the smoke was clouding our vision. Or we were getting light leaking into the image from surrounding light sources. Finally, after about 30 minutes and a huge group effort, WE GOT IT! Lightpainting on the shore in Maine!! I'm pretty sure we all agree it was worth it. (It WAS, right, Jeff? Lindsey? Wesley? Kyle? Anyone??)

If you'd like to let me know what you think, please join the discussion on Facebook.

Brian + Laura at St. Gabriel's and Millennium Hotel

2011-10-10T16:46:00.000-04:00

Brian and Laura's wedding was the day after my birthday (29th, if you must know ;). And, what a fabulous day it was! We had rain off and on all day. The best part is that it was "off" during their outside photos. Whew!!

This is one of the many beautiful details from their day - the wrap on her bouquet. Shout out to Blossoms N Treasures for the fabulous flowers!!

The ring bearer, all ready to go. Look at those eyes!

Here she comes:

Brian and Laura's priest, Father Dan has a wonderfully exuberant personality!

Laura was instructed to show the congregation Brian's ring:

We found this blessed grove of trees to keep everyone dry through the few sprinkles we had during their outside photos:

We've been asked to do some "fake peeing" photos before. But, um, there is nothing fake about this one:

When we asked Laura to put on Kevin's shoes and trek out into this muddy field with Brian, she said she should win the "Most Daring Bride" award. So, Laura, here it is, just for you:

We were so enamored of these chair covers. They made every chair look like a Lazy Boy.

The bridesmaids were asked to say something on Brian and Laura's wedding video. One of them burst into spontaneous song. I'd LOVE to see that video!!

The bride and groom had their first dance choreographed. It made an impression!!

Lots of dancing at this party:

Can you believe I didn't eat A SINGLE ONE of these??! I could almost lick my screen right now.

This is a view of the bouquet toss that we don't normally get, but I love it! Kevin has such a knack for catching the peak action.

Join in on the discussion of these photos on facebook.

Todd and Rachael - married at Third Presbyterian Church and Hyatt Regency

2011-09-19T18:36:00.000-04:00

Todd and Rachael's wedding was at the beautiful Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester, NY. These are some of our favorite images from their day.

Rachael, preparing:

A flower girl getting lip gloss, while the other flower girl looks on:

Inside Third Presbyterian (yeah, it's THAT beautiful):

Kiss in the limo:

The lovely ladies:

And, handsome gents:

Simplicity = black and white + holding hands + wedding ring

Leap of joy in downtown Rochester:

I love Rachael's smile. She lights up the crowd!

Romance:

She got him!

Fun times!

Bouquet throw:

Meet my October 8 bride, Nicole (she put forth serious effort to catch the bouquet - AND this photo was taken before she lost her shoe!):

All of their images will soon be available here.
In the meantime, feel free to leave us a comment on facebook. Thanks!

In from Colorado - the new Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Steffl!

2011-09-08T18:03:00.001-04:00

Jesse and Wendy now live in Colorado, but came to Buffalo for their wedding at Brierwood Country Club in Hamburg.

If you're familiar with our work, you know we love photos that tell stories. Check these out!

I kind of LOVE this - rings on the buttons of her dress:

Photos at the Historical Society:

So, here comes the entrance into the reception. Everyone was ON their game!

Such fun!! More of their images will be available here soon. Until then, feel free to leave your thoughts on facebook. :)

Krishna and Erica are wed at St. Martin Lutheran Church and The Tuscarora Inn

2011-09-07T16:04:00.002-04:00

It was so hot for Krishna and Erica's wedding day! But, everyone had fabulous attitudes, which made for fabulous images! Here are some of our favorites:

Look at those cheeks:

The beautiful bride:

At the altar, with a curious ring-bearer:

I LOVE this moment with the groom's parents after the ceremony:

Outside the church:

This is a labyrinth in the church's courtyard that the bride's father made!

At Delaware Park:

A yogurt toast:

The beautiful Tuscarora Inn in Lockport:

The bride's dance with her dad:

The groom with his mom:

And, with his niece:

They are FAMILY!!

The groom teaching the crowd Bollywood style:

All of their images will soon be available here.
If you'd like to leave comments, you can do so on my facebook page.

Introducing: the new Mr. and Mrs. James Olinger!!

2011-08-29T13:22:00.002-04:00

Jim and Jess were married at her Grandparent's centennial farm in Millville, NY. The reception was at The White Birch in Lyndonville.

Perfect day + outside ceremony = mmm, mmmm good!!

Jess grew up a tomboy. You wouldn't know it by this gorgeous dress!

Here she is - keepin' it real. High heels? NO WAY! Tube socks and boots under her dress!

She's lovely just as she is.

A little last-minute adjustment for Jim:

Real apples in her bouquet! Since they both work on orchards, it was a perfect choice!

The wedding was held under God's canopy.

Serious amounts of tears were spilled during this wedding!

I had to include this as one of my favorite groom + flower girls photos of all time!

The whole gang!

And, then, just Jim and Jess:

These trees are over 100 years old. I think they deserved the spotlight here.

Off to the reception!

First dance:

More tears:

Ahhhh, check out that sunset!

Dancing!

Jim and Jess, we were so honored to be a part of your day! We pray God's BEST for your marriage. Be blessed!

Newton and Jamila - Married! At Downtown United Presbyterian and the Inn on Broadway

2011-08-29T13:00:00.000-04:00

We went to Rochester, NY for Newton and Jamila's wonderful wedding!

Can't go wrong starting the day with prayer!

FAB - U - LOUS!!

Outside of the church:

She's beautiful! And, the really wonderful thing is her groom knows and appreciates her beauty!

The fellas:

Outside of the reception:

SPEECH!!

Seriously. How delicious is this?

I love how we captured her mid-bounce, with hair in the air!

Dance!

Serious effort was put into catching the garter!

Newton and Jamila, CONGRATULATIONS!!! We pray that your fabulous day is followed by MANY MORE!!

Engaged: Nate and Brittanie!

2011-08-25T11:51:00.000-04:00

These two are adorable! I love photographing cuddly, sweet, fun couples. We went to Olcott's Krull Park for their engagement session.

What do you think? Let me know here. :)

Barker Senior Tony

2011-08-25T10:59:00.000-04:00

Tony's relaxed senior portrait session was on the waterfront at the end of Quaker Road in Barker.

Leave comments here. Thanks!

RoyHart Senior Ryanne

2011-08-25T10:48:00.000-04:00

This session was AH-mazing! The day had been stormy, and was clearing up just in time to get a great sky background. Ryanne, her mom, and her sister, were up for anything. We had so much fun!

Please tell me what you think here. Thanks!!

Barker Senior Morgan!

2011-08-25T10:35:00.000-04:00

Morgan made my job easy! She's beautiful, sweet, and ready to graduate!! We did her session at Olcott in the evening.

She's fabulous, huh? Talk about it on my facebook page. :)

Kevin and Kelly's wild, awesome day!

2011-08-22T13:28:00.001-04:00

Kevin and Kelly were married at the Forest Lawn Chapel. For their reception, we went to the Lake Erie Italian Club.

One of my favorite details from the day: the blue dresses and yellow sunflowers:

The groom checking over his shoulder to see if "anyone has reason to object":

Photo booth fun:

This cake smash is another of my favorites from their day. This is my view (she got him good):

And, check out Kevin's view (a great reason to have 2 photographers cover a wedding day):

Check out the reaction and the cameras ready to get the groom smashing the bride:

And, then, it was time for their first dance:

They had these glow rings that Kevin and I noticed at the same time. We both quickly changed our cameras to "drag the shutter", thereby showing more glow and movement:

Serious dancing!

Glow-ring in the mouth:

Really, really fun! To leave feedback, go here. Thanks! I love hearing what you have to say!

Jeff and Lindsey's engagement session!

2011-08-11T16:10:00.000-04:00

Jeff and Lindsey are living in North Carolina and getting married in Maine this fall! For their engagement photos, we were able to visit the location of their first date and where he proposed: Niawanda Park in Tonawanda, NY.

I like how the wood grain grew around the shape of her engagement ring. ;)

Fun on the deck

I heart this one!

We finished off with an ice cream cone at Mississippi Mudds:

You can leave feedback on facebook. Thanks!!

Courtney and Joe's wedding at Grace Baptist Church and Lockport Canalside

2011-08-11T15:43:00.000-04:00

Kevin and I LOVED photographing Joe and Courtney's wedding. Just beautiful, as is their relationship.

O.K., soooo, I love this image on several levels. First of all, look at the concentration the 2 bridesmaids are putting into helping Courtney with her dress. Do you recognize the bridesmaid in the black? We photographed her amazing wedding last fall. (See it here.) Aaaaaand, we will be photographing the bridesmaid in white this winter. How cool is that? We love being the go-to photographers for this group of friends!! :)

Her aunt's reaction:

And, Joe's look is priceless:

Giving Grandpa a hug:

You can see here why we don't mind photographing in this church: awesome light, coming in from both sides of the pews, gorgeous woodwork, and the people are amazing, inside and out.

Just married:

Bubbles!!!

The Lockport Canalside has a wall of windows, as seen behind the couple. It makes for just fabulous light. This image was during the toasts:

Courtney found this rockin' site just up the hill from the Lockport Canalside to take pictures. I was thrilled with it, so I thought I'd share a few from here:

Last, but not least, the bridal party squished into the photo booth for this shot:

Sooooo, whaddya think? Let me know here. :)

Jason and Julie at Churchill Memorial Methodist Church and Kloc's

2011-08-09T13:00:00.001-04:00

Jason and Julie had a fabulous wedding day, despite the rainy forecast!!

The girls' reaction to seeing Julie ready to go. {{LOVE}}

The fellas are ready:

Their beautiful church:

Bubbles:

On the shores of Green Lake:

Beautiful:

One groomsman makes a BIG entrance to the reception:

LOVE this reaction from the groom:

Their first dance as man and wife:

PARTY!!

Comment on facebook. :)

Patrick and Jessica: Kenmore United Methodist and Ellicott Creek Banquet Hall

2011-08-08T17:25:00.000-04:00

One American bride + one Kenyan groom = one AWESOME celebration!!

Coming up the aisle with Dad:

Gorgeous church:

Leaving the ceremony:

This was at Buffalo Historical Society:

YUM!

When the bride and groom came in, all of the Kenyans sang a traditional song and danced with the bride and groom:

Traditional Kenyan ceremony: the bride and groom are presented with gifts from their family.

Dancing to "Beat It!":

This is a Kenyan dance:

Big smiles from the groom:

Please feel free to visit my facebook page to let me know what you think! Thank you!

Ashley: a beautiful senior

2011-08-05T21:34:00.001-04:00

Meet beautiful Ashley:

When I discover this hay loft, I was like, "OH, YEAH!!" These are my favorite images from the session!

For the record, I love to hear your feedback on my facebook page! Thanks!

Jamie and Dana! Engaged!

2011-07-25T21:22:00.001-04:00

This is Jamie and Dana. We met at Akron Park for their session. I use this park a lot for engagement shoots. And, I always am surprised at how different they all come out! Each couple really adds their own dynamic, which is why I LOOOOOOVE my job!! But, without further ado, meet the soon-to-be-wed couple (and their adorable pug, Bender):

I'd love to hear what you think on my facebook page!

Scott and Tammy Bond are married!

2011-07-18T12:25:00.001-04:00

If you remember the "motorcycle couple," and have been looking forward to their wedding images, your wait is over!

This is the handsome ring bearer, ready for the day.

Dad and bride at the altar:

Bride and groom at the altar:

Bride and groom with flower girl and ring bearer:

The fabulous bride and groom:

They lead a procession of motorcycles out of the ceremony:

Getting ready to return for the reception:

Their rings with some of their favors:

Coming into the reception:

First dance:

Bride's dance with her dad:

The gang:

Cake cutting:

This t-shirt was a momento for all of the groomsmen:

Please let me know what you think on my facebook page. Thanks!

Akron Park: Jason and Julie's engagement session!

2011-07-08T16:43:00.000-04:00

Beautiful and sweet people, Jason and Julie's engagement session was at Akron Park. We went just down the river from the falls. They were willing to do whatever to get the shot! And, we got it!

Please feel free to leave us feedback on facebook. Thanks!

A little-known park in Middleport, NY: Hector and Freddrika's engagement session!

2011-07-07T16:01:00.000-04:00

Hector and Freddrika brought their 2-year-old daughter for their engagement session. Here are a few of my faves:

At Spring Lake Winery: the New Mr. and Mrs. Eric Haley!!

2011-07-05T17:26:00.001-04:00

Eric and Shannon are such a fun couple! Their wedding was at Spring Lake Winery in Lockport, NY. The reception was at the Middleport Fire Hall. Enjoy their images!

One of the ushers and the ring bearer, enjoying the view before the ceremony:

Beautiful location for their ceremony:

Ring bearer, showing Eric and Shannon's wedding program:

Kiss:

Rings:

I can set up a shot, but sometimes, we just have to be ready for anything:

This is more what we had in mind: :)

Awesome car!!

They had a friend come in from New York City to play for their first dance:

Eric's smile is contagious:

And, his dad can dance!

So can Shannon:

Leave me some love on Facebook.

All of their images will soon be available here. Hope you love them!!

Jim and Jess: ENGAGED!!

2011-06-30T14:11:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite parts of photography is SURPRISING people with beautiful pictures of themselves. Really, the beauty is always there. I'm so blessed to be the one who captures it.

I love to hear what you think on my facebook page.

Jim and Jess - we're so excited to photograph your special day!!

Kevin and Katie: engaged and photographed!

2011-06-21T16:44:00.000-04:00

Kevin and Katie met me at Akron Park for this beautiful, relaxed engagement session.

Soooo, what do you think? You can let me know on my facebook page. Thanks!

All of their images will be available in their online gallery.

Cheyenne!

2011-06-20T21:58:00.001-04:00

This gorgeous little girl is Cheyenne. Her parents are good friend of ours. She'll be in a pageant next month and needed some photos to enter the "photogenic" contest. I think she's a shoe-in! ;)

Amazing, isn't she?
As always, please leave feedback on my facebook page. Thanks!

Meet the new Mr. and Mrs. Erric Slack!

2011-06-20T20:57:00.001-04:00

Erric and Kristie were married at Niagara Frontier Bible Church in Lewiston. We went to the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission and Buffalo City Hall for photos in between. Then, we were off to Banchetti's for their reception. Awesome day! A HUGE congratulations to Erric and Kristie!

The bride preparing:

With all of the ladies:

The fellas:

I just loved his look when he saw her:

Kiss from Dad:

Ring exchange:

Bubbles!!

We had plenty of time to make some beautiful images in between the ceremony and reception:

The guys taking a break from photos:

Beautiful couple:

The new couple's grand entrance:

They had slideshows during their first dances:

The bridal party dance from Kevin's perspective:

From my perspective:

Lights courtesy Phenomenon Sounds:

All of their images will be available here.
I'd love to hear your feedback on my facebook page.

Josh and Alyssa at Olcott Beach

2011-06-15T09:43:00.000-04:00

Ahh, what a sweet, fun couple!

Here are a few of my favorite images from our session:

I'd love to hear what you think here.
All of their images will be available here.

Thank you for looking!!

Andrew and Kelly Gorkiewicz's wedding at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Kotecki's Grandview Grove

2011-06-14T14:13:00.001-04:00

Andrew and Kelly's engagement photos were some of my favorites. If you'd like a refresher, they can be seen here. So, I was totally ready for their fabulous wedding this past Saturday. What I wasn't ready for is how hard I'd fall for their family. You'll see.

The beautiful bride:

Here comes the bride:

At the altar:

This is one of my favorite parts of Catholic ceremonies: the bride, groom, maid of honor, and best man all hold hands as the congregation extends their hands and a final blessing is prayed:

How cool is this? Bagpipes to escort them back down the aisle!

Toast on the trolley:

I just love them:

Mostly family bridal party:

Smiles, laughter, love:

Showing off a little BLING!

Bling: take 2:

They came in to the reception to bagpipes, too. And, check out their crowd in the mirror:

I cried tremendous tears to this beautiful father-of-the-bride/bride dance. I wish you all could have been there:

Toast!!

I would love to hear your feedback on my facebook page. (Please?) :)

Soon, all of their photos will be available here.

Engaged: Joe and Courtney!

2011-06-08T15:11:00.000-04:00

Beautiful couple - inside and out! We met at Akron Park for this incredible session. Enjoy!!

You can see more here.

Look who's getting SOOOOO BIG!

2011-06-08T12:12:00.001-04:00

This is precious Ava. I have had the privelage of photographing Ava since she was 3 months old. She is now 18 months old. I got teary-eyed when I saw how much she's grown since her 12 month photos.

She swings.

She climbs!!

She's ready to take on the world!

But, she's still a baby, always a precious gift from God.

All of her photos are available in her gallery here.

World - meet Patrick and Jessica!!

2011-06-08T11:02:00.000-04:00

This wonderful couple chose Akron Park, one of my favorite locations, for their engagement photos. Enjoy!

Their entire gallery may be seen here.

Andrew and Kimberly - Pilgrim Lutheran Church and Sean Patrick's!

2011-06-06T19:57:00.001-04:00

Andy and Kim had a Messianic Jewish ceremony - which I LOVED!! A few of my personal favorite images from their day follow.

Kim's mom watching her prepare:

The bridesmaids and bride leaving the Marriott Hotel for the ceremony:

Their wedding program:

Bride and groom underneath their Jewish wedding chuppah:

Kevin's view from the back of the church:

And, my view, from the front, where the Rabbi gave me freedom to stand:

Man and wife, leaving the church:

The guests threw lavendar at Andy and Kim:

I love Kevin's image, where you can see the guests' faces:

Kim's beautiful smile:

The bridal party rockin' the Historical Society in Buffalo:

I'm loving the guys' reactions here:

And, just the girls:

The lovely couple:

And, here they are enjoying their first dance as husband and wife:

Andy and Kim, CONGRATULATIONS!! What a fabulous day! We were blessed to be a part.

Many more images to come here. Enjoy!!

Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Dusenbury

2011-06-02T11:14:00.001-04:00

Annie and Bryan's wedding was held in St. John's Lutheran Church, with the reception at Michael's Banquet Facility.

Before every wedding, Kevin hangs out with the guys and I'm with the girls. These first two photos show our images from the same time frame, both showcasing arms. It makes me smile to witness the difference in the girls and guys.

Ladies = elegant, poised

Guys = fun, goofy

Look at these beautiful glass windows and doors at the back of the sanctuary! Fab.U.Lous

I snuck up in a doorway off the side of the altar (with the pastor's blessing, of course)

They are superstars:

Coolest kiss-in-the-foyer-after-the-ceremony image!

After the ceremony, they exited to bubbles:

Cool photo location = Orchard Park Country Club

I just had to throw this one in the blog. They are all cousins and had SO MUCH FUN!!

This image proves their stardom:

Bryan and Annie enlisted our help to set up a super-secret cake smash. The unsuspecting maid of honor and best man:

In action:

After that, the maid of honor made a stellar speech that had everyone laughing:

I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek from Bryan and Annie's wedding. All of their photos will soon be available here. As always, I'd love to hear your feedback on facebook. Thank you!

Spring Lake Winery: the stage for Eric and Shannon's engagement session

2011-05-27T15:13:00.000-04:00

Eric and Shannon will be getting married later this summer, and they couldn't be happier! This couple had no problem smiling for the camera. It was the "serious" part that gave them trouble. :)

So fun! Congratulations, Eric and Shannon!

Chris and Tracy in Niagara Falls!!

2011-05-24T15:57:00.000-04:00

Chris and Tracy came all the way from Arizona to hold their wedding in Niagara Falls. Their wedding guests were from all over the country. We had a fabulous day for this sweet couple's wedding!

The mother of the bride helped her get ready:

Leaving the Seneca Niagara Hotel for the ceremony:

The groom, relaxed, just before the ceremony:

The flower girl getting some love from a relative:

This is a view from the side of the sanctuary during the ceremony:

Coming out of church:

We went to Beaver Island State Park for pictures. This is on the clubhouse deck:

Fun bridal party:

The ring bearer blowing dandelion seeds during some down-time:

Isn't she beautiful?

MMMMM . . . Their cake was from Muscoriel's, Niagara Falls' premier bakery:

First dance, accompanied by bubbles:

Fun!

The flower girl and her daddy:

Beautiful wedding! More of their images will soon be available here.

God bless you, Chris and Tracy!!

The Millennium Hotel hosts Tim and Melissa's nuptials

2011-05-24T15:42:00.000-04:00

The weather wasn't a concern for Tim and Melissa's wedding. The were wed at the garden inside the Millennium Hotel.

Kevin took the guys to the hotel pool for some pre-ceremony shots:

Pensive flower girl awaits her turn to walk down the aisle:

Sooo pretty!

From Kevin's view:

Sweet look:

The bridal party:

hehe:

This "frame" was in the hotel lobby. People came out of the bar to watch our photo shoot!

Cake cutting:

I love this image of the toasts:

First dance:

Having fun:

An intimate moment later in the evening:

Tim and Melissa - CONGRATULATIONS!!

More of their images will soon be available here. Enjoy!

Engaged: Newton and Jamila!

2011-05-18T11:51:00.000-04:00

We were so blessed to get Newton and Jamila's engagement session in before the rain came this past Friday!

The rest are from one of my favorite photo locations, along the railroad tracks in Gasport.

I just love Jamila's gorgeous smile! Their wedding is coming up this August. Stay tuned!

Michael and Ashlee Shea

2011-05-17T14:06:00.001-04:00

Mike and Ashlee had a rainy day for their wedding. But, they didn't let that slow them down! Kevin and I had to brainstorm for a portrait location where they wouldn't get wet. I was soooo excited to see the results!

Kevin hitched a ride with the limo driver and got the guys partying before the ceremony. :)

We wanted to take a photo in front of the church with just the guys, but the girls worked their way into the shot!

"I do"

"We did"

The beautiful couple with her parents

Fun group shot (sheltered from the rain)

All the ladies

The gorgeous couple

This tunnel is in Lockport. We've never even thought of using it for photos, until we had to come up with a "Plan B" for the rain. We'll definitely be using it again!

First dance

Lots of dancing!!

Bouquet toss

We have had some fabulous changes to Jennifer Allis Photography this season. Of course, Kevin and I photograph every wedding together. He is a tremendous asset to me and to Jennifer Allis Photography. We discuss what went well, what went not-so-well, and why. We are g.r.o.w.i.n.g. . . I am so excited to see our results continuously improve! You may notice the cool lighting on recent dance floor photos. HUGE upgrade for us! We also have been using lots of off-camera flash. This means prettier and more dimensional images for you.

Mike and Ashlee, Kevin and I are so happy for you and Deklan. God bless your marriage!

All of Mike and Ashlee's photos will soon be available here. Enjoy! And, as always, please leave us feedback on our facebook page. Thank you!!

Scott and Tammy: Engagement session featuring Yamaha!

2011-05-16T12:56:00.000-04:00

Scott and Tammy brought their Yamaha motorcycle to their engagement shoot. These are my favorites from their session.

Very unique. And, very cool. Congratulations, Scott and Tammy!

Engagement session with Patrick and Melissa at Golden Hill State Park!

2011-05-11T14:06:00.000-04:00

I enjoyed everything about Patrick and Melissa's engagement session! We planned it for 7pm, which gave us that sweet light just before sunset. It was at a very versatile location, Golden Hill State Park. They are just adorable, from their fun height difference to the dimple in Patrick's chin. AND they practically pose themselves. WHEW! By the end of the session, I was ALL smiles! So, without further ado, some of my favorites:

I'd love to hear your feedback! You can post comments on my facebook page. And, this is just the beginning! Patrick and Melissa's wedding is coming up this September!

Ryan and Brooke Harms' Wedding!

2011-05-09T17:04:00.000-04:00

Ryan and Brooke's adorable ring bearer getting ready:

Brooke's shoes:

I LOVE this image (from Kevin) of Brooke's Dad pulling back her veil:

Their embrace:

At the altar:

Coming out of church:

We found a secluded bench at Glen Park in Williamsville, NY:

The whole gang, with fisheye lens (I love that lens!):

CUTE flower girl!!:

Ryan and his mom's dance:

Super-fun on the dance floor:

See more of their photos soon here!

Mr. and Mrs. Tim Smith!

2011-05-03T21:28:00.001-04:00

Tim and Dawn had a gorgeous spring day for their wedding!

Dawn's preparation:

And, the flower girl's:

All the ladies:

Isn't she lovely?!

She's sneaking a peak at her husband-to-be during the ceremony:

The bridal party:

Having fun!

Bling, baby!

Reception details:

FIRST DANCE!

Fun on the dance floor!

The groom and his mom:

Beautiful day, beautiful couple. CONGRATULATIONS - Tim and Dawn!!

All of their images will soon be available here. Enjoy!!

Albums!!

2011-04-29T12:01:00.006-04:00

We love Renaissance Albums for our wedding albums!

This is our "Fine Art" album. The material, color, and cover style are all customizable. This one has an ivory silk brocade cover with 3 windows in the front:

This is our "Reflections" album. It features front and back photo covers and seamless panoramic pages:

These are our newest additions: Mini Brag Books. EXACT replicas of your wedding album, they are only 3"x3" and come in packs of 12. They are so much fun to gift to family or bridal parties!

To see these in person, call to set up your appointment!

Engagement session in the forest: Krishna and Erica

2011-04-27T12:27:00.001-04:00

My session with Krishna and Erica was at the end of a rainy day that turned beautiful!

See . . .

These images were taken in one of my favorite spots, The Town of Lockport Wilderness Trail on Slayton Settlement road. It has so much diversity! And, a decades-old oak tree, wooden bridges, and snakes! Oh, my! Stay tuned for Krishna and Erica's wedding, coming in September!

Jamaal and Vanessa are married!!!

2011-04-20T21:48:00.003-04:00

Kevin and I were given the gift of spending this past Saturday photographing Jamaal and Vanessa's wedding. We LOOOOOOVE this couple!!

First, the handsome groom:

They had dancers from their church, New Bethel CME, at their ceremony:

And when Vanessa got emotional in her walk up the aisle, her brother was there for her:

This is the moment just after their first kiss as man and wife:

This may just be my favorite photo of the day. Our new fisheye lens ROCKED their walk back down the aisle:

In the limo afterward (I'm there again, just looking at this image):

A little more fisheye love, this time with the bridal party at the Bausch and Lomb building in downtown Rochester, NY:

Kevin "saw" this image in his mind's eye, and we made it happen. Vanessa, how's this for your "Signature Image"? ;)

Their BEAUTIFULLY displayed cake: YUM!!

Love the snuggles on the dance floor:

These folks can DANCE!

And, last, but certainly not least, Vanessa's brother, Jacob, with in a lil' spin on the dance floor!!

It's weddings like these that make us feel extremely blessed to do what we do. Jamaal and Vanessa, your day was beautiful all the way through. God bless you in your new marriage!!

All of the photos from their wedding will soon be available here.

An Engagement shoot in the snow!! Lockport, NY Nature Trail on Slayton Settlement road

2011-03-10T14:37:00.000-05:00

Meet Michael and Ashlee:

No, she's not as heavy as he makes it look! ;) And, yes, I am super-excited about their May wedding!

I love how kids keep it real!!

Deklan was such a fun addition to their engagement shoot!

Awwwwww

I love these two!!

The perfect end to a snowy engagement shoot!

To see more visit their entire gallery here.

Tis the Season

2011-02-24T18:05:00.000-05:00

This is my season of "Meet and Greet." Truthfully, I love it. I get to meet new people and share with them my passion for photography. (Two of my favorite things!)

Here's how it goes:

1. I get a phone call or email from someone who is looking for a photographer for their wedding. They've usually checked out my blog/facebook/website. They know our work. AND THEY LIKE IT!!
2. Which leads to the second step - we meet face to face. This part of my business is SO MUCH FUN for me! I get to hear their engagement story. They look through albums. We go over the contract and any questions they might have. In general, we establish a relationship. (This is when I start to get EXCITED to capture their wedding and engagement images.)
3. They leave. They talk it over. They email to let me know the deposit is in the mail.

Today, for instance, I met with Adam and Amanda. By the time they left, I was so psyched to shoot their wedding! It's in June 2012, outside, and I would love to be there with them!

So, now is the time that I wait. Let them choose. It's their day. And, ultimately, I want them to have a perfect fit. Whether or not that includes me. But, it's hard to keep from hoping that they'll choose us! I don't know if every wedding photographer goes through these emotions. But, I sure do!

Niagara's Honeymoon Sweets' completely edible chocolate picture frames!!

2011-02-23T17:01:00.002-05:00

Mary Ann Hess of Niagara's Honeymoon Sweets invited me over for tea and to photograph her beautiful chocolates. Now, I'm a chocolate-LOVER, so in my mind, chocolate is functional, but doesn't have to be beautiful. When I first saw Mary Ann's picture frames, I was amazed! They are beautifully detailed. EVERYTHING, including the picture, is edible.

Just look at this detail:

It's so beautiful, you almost don't want to eat it. But, just then you think, "HELLO, it's CHOCOLATE!"

These are 2 frames, dusted with edible "gold" and "silver."

This is a little camera. You can put a photo or logo in the front circle.

I just couldn't get over the depth of detail.

And, this is a finished product. My very own photo in a 5x7 edible picture frame, stand, and camera ornament. (It's sitting on my mantle.) :)

Mary Ann does fabulous work. I will be offering these (she does favors, too) to my clients this year. If you're interested, give me a call!

For those who like to talk GEAR . . .

2011-02-18T11:23:00.000-05:00

Toward the end of last wedding season, Kevin and I made a huge plunge from Olympus camera gear to Nikon. We had been thinking about it, and planned to make the change when wedding season was over. But, then, while photographing a senior in August, my bread-and-butter Olympus lens, the 12-60 f/4.0, BROKE! This just happened to be a Friday evening, the night before a Saturday wedding. I spent the morning calling every camera store in the area, trying to buy or rent a replacement. No one stocked Olympus lenses.

To make a long story short, my friend, and fellow wedding photographer, Kelly Jankowski, lent me her 3rd string Nikon gear. That gave me the opportunity to play with a Nikon for a day. Well, I loved it. By the end of the next day, I had decided to make the plunge. I bought the Nikon D700 body, the 24-70 f/2.8 lens, and the SB-900 flash.

One of my favorite things about the Nikon D700 is the very low noise at high ISOs. Receptions can be DARK!! I routinely shoot at ISO 3200, but can go up to 6400 without worry. And, when there is opportunity to shoot at lower ISOs, I am in LOVE with the absolute silkiness of the skin tones.

We plan to add more lenses and an extra flash this year. I'll keep you updated!

Buffalo's Central Park United Methodist: Abraham and Sarah's wedding!

2010-11-24T17:41:00.000-05:00

Abe and Sarah had a gorgeous fall evening for their wedding at Central Park United Methodist Church.

Speaking of gorgeous-

With her Mom and maid of honor helping her prepare:

And, Abe, with his Dad:

The flower basket:

I can FEEL the anticipation in this image.

Looking from the outside in.

In the foreground is a shawl that was wrapped around their clasped hands during the ceremony.

I just love this detail - a birdcage to hold cards. :)

Oh, what a night!

I love this: Abe's dance with his Mom, while Sarah watches.

Kevin is so proud of this capture! We are SO ABOUT capturing the moment!

All of their photos will be available to view on JenniferAllis.com soon!!

George and Nicole at Golden Hill State Park!

2010-11-23T19:15:00.001-05:00

We grabbed one of the last warm fall days for this shoot! Totally worth it!

Andrew and Kelly's engagement images at Akron Falls Park!

2010-11-23T19:11:00.000-05:00

Fall colors in Western New York + a very fun engaged couple =

This is one of my faves from the session - so sexy!!

If my logo wasn't right over it, you'd see her ring, lol!

Fall color done right by Andrew and Kelly!! :)

A Wedding at Grace Bible Church in Tonawanda, NY: Dan and Amanda!

2010-11-23T18:58:00.001-05:00

Dan and Amanda are two people who everyone would want to call "friend." In fact, at their reception, we sat with a guy who said that Dan is "one of the greatest guys" he'd known. The feelings were mutual about Amanda. They shine brightly in any crowd. And, soooo, it is with great pleasure that I get to write this blog post, complete with some of my favorite images from their wedding day!

She looked amazing, right out of the 1920s.

And, the guys were pretty snazzy, too.

And, I LOVE that LOOK!

Her reactions were beautiful!

Bubbles!

So, Amanda was wiping her lipstick off Dan, and look at the little girls watching.

We went to the Buffalo Historical Society building for photos.

And, then, The Spot Coffee shop.

Isn't she lovely?!

At the reception in the PVT Leonard Post:

Amanda and her mom

Dance, GIRLS!

What a fabulous day, Dan and Amanda! Thank you for making us a part of it!

Cody and Jess are MARRIED!!

2010-11-01T21:56:00.001-04:00

On the way home from my first meeting with Jess, I called Kevin and said, "I just made a friend!" She has a gift of making everyone feel comfortable and special. Then, when we did their "She said YES!" engagement session, they brought their longboards. We had so much FUN! I was definitely looking forward to this wedding! And, it didn't disappoint.

Cody and Jess saw each other before their wedding. What follows is a small portion of their "First Look." It is one of my favorite things to photograph. Although it goes counter-culture, this offers a window of time in their intensely emotional day for the bride and groom to share a private moment, before they have to be "on." This is 3 images in a series.

Because Cody and Jess are non-traditional, I worked it! Pool, anyone? We also took photos in the hotel's laundry room!

Just after their first kiss, they gave each other a big hug. I love the look on her face here!

On the way to the limo:

Their reception was at The Lodge in Buffalo. The owner let Kevin and I up into this private balcony, where we had a bird's eye view of cocktail hour.

Their private table was under this beautifully restored dome.

Catered by Chef Binks, one of Buffalo's finest (and a gentleman, who served the bride himself)!

Look where they stood to throw the garter and bouquet!

They brought in Nitro Magic, who made cream freeze in seconds using liquid nitrogen. Way COOL! And, WAAAAY good!

Jess, at the end of the night. Still as beautiful as ever, chillin in the ladies' room.

Soon all of their images will be available here.

We so enjoyed our day with you, Cody and Jess! We hope you can relive your very special day every time you look at your photos!

Our trip to Binghamton (or, Introducing the new Mr. and Mrs. Liebner)!!!

2010-10-22T22:45:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday, Kevin and I had the privilege to travel to Binghamton to photograph James and Megan's wedding. It was faaaaabulous, Dahhhhhling!

We met Megan at her parent's home. Meet her brother:

And, her Dad:

QUITE the family! We were so blessed to spend the day with them! This next photo is just to prove that I can still take serious photos, lol.

This is the moment in every ceremony that just feels completely surreal. I'm sure it has everything to do with being a parent, myself. But, I can't help but put myself in their shoes here. Yes, she comes in like a rockstar (see the paparazzi?) But, what does THIS moment feel like for mom and dad? I tear up just thinking about it.

Woohoo! The kiss and the reaction in one shot!!

This is called making lemonade from lemons. The church was hosting a pumpkin sale all over the front lawn. But, instead of letting it get them down, the bridal party came up with a very fun photo, using some of those selfsame pumpkins.

I'm totally USING this photo to lead into the next one. Romantic, right?

Then, check out the James' reaction when Megan's veil comes off on his head! Aren't they awesome??!

I could have done this entire blog from their reception images. I LOVE the reactions we caught! But, I will leave you with these final two. First, look at how that dance floor is framed! A photographer's dream!

But, most of the dance floor photos are much more about the style of the dancers than the preparation of the room. Like, this one!!

James and Megan, we had a blast! Thank you for choosing us to photograph your wedding day!

Mr. and Mrs. Dwane Weatherell!

2010-10-18T13:19:00.000-04:00

Dwane and Michelle's wedding was extraordinary in so many ways. As they say, "pictures speak a thousand words," so let's get right to the images!

We met first to do their formal images.

The way the light was falling on this staircase was amazing! The images we took here are some of my favorites from the day!

The bride with the ring bearer. Sweet!

Their ceremony was held outside, and it was full of beautiful moments, like this one:

And, this one, which I'm rarely allowed to get from this vantage point!!

And, then, there were the emotional times with the groom's grandma, who was released from the hospital early to attend her grandson's wedding. :)

Dwane was so grateful!

Michelle's dance with her father.

Dwane's dance with his mom.

The gang!

These are just a few of my favorites from their wedding. The rest will be posted here in another week or two. So, stay tuned!

Todd and Jennifer: A different approach

2010-10-13T17:21:00.001-04:00

For those of you who know our work, you know that we love "catching the moment." In fact, our motto is, "Candid photography for the modern bride." Well, you know that saying about "rules are meant to be broken?" This post is different than usual. Almost all of these images are completely posed. BUT the beauty of it is, they truly capture this bride and groom. Todd and Jennifer's engagement session WOWed me! As soon as they got out of the car, they began to pose. Their designed engagement book is featured in this post. So, on their wedding day, I came EXPECTING!! I even bragged on them a bit to their bridal party. Scoffing abounded. But, the proof's in the pudding, as they say. And I think a few members of their bridal party were surprised as the day went on.

The front of their church had this great entryway.

This one is candid. :)

Mounted police outside of the Buffalo Convention Center, where their reception was held.

In place of a cake, they had this awesome candy station.

Kevin captured their reaction to seeing their candy display for the first time! (Have I mentioned that I LOVE that man??)

Todd and Jennifer, we had so much fun with you on your wedding day. Thank you (thank you, THANK YOU) for choosing us for your wedding photography!!!

Gullo Wedding At Rich's Atrium

2010-10-07T11:27:00.000-04:00

Meet the bride, beautiful Stephanie . . .

And, the groom, handsome Tony . . .

And, their cute little dog, Tyson, who almost stole the show!

Their wedding was held in Rich's Atrium in Buffalo.

It was full of emotion.

Here we are on the stairs

What a gorgeous couple!

Their parents took time to relive some special moments and welcome their new family member.

The bride and groom's first dance

Tony and Stephanie's wedding was the first one that I shot with my new Nikon gear. I am very pleased with the results!! Awesome gear + a gorgeous couple + Jennifer Allis Photography = STELLAR images!!

Ryan and Bethany at Camp

2010-10-06T23:01:00.001-04:00

This bride and groom were super-sweet. I enjoyed my day at Lighthouse Christian Camp in Barker, NY.

Her emotional walk in with her dad.

Him seeing her.

The parents took communion with the new bride and groom. Then they all prayed together.

We had fun on the playground!

Fun afterwards.

We had 5 minutes to do some great beach shots!

On the dance floor

Their families played Pachelbel's Canon for the guests!

It was a joy to be a part of this couple's blessed day. Thank you for the privilege, Ryan and Bethany!