Eric Foley Photography

Bye Bye Blogger, Life Goes On :)

2009-08-13T23:36:00.003-05:00

I would like to announce that the blog of Eric Foley Photography has officially moved to it's new home on Word Press. The new address is http://blog.ericfoleyphotography.com/ just click on the link and I'll see you there! Don't forget to become a fan and update your RSS feed.

http://blog.ericfoleyphotography.com/

Lindsay & Zak, Getting To Know You Session, Hillstead Museum, Farmington,CT.

2009-08-03T06:48:00.007-05:00

Meet Lindsay and Zak! We spent the late afternoon exploring the awesome grounds of the Hillstead Museum in Farmington, CT. The Hillstead has a colonial New England feel that I can relate to from living in Colonial Williamsburg, VA. We were there at just the right time to take advantage of that beautiful golden light.

Next Up: Sarah & Kurt's Heritage Vineyard Wedding!

The only thing missing is the banjo!

I couldn't get enough of that light reflecting off Lindsay's red hair.

As I was taking this shot, I suddenly found myself singing......The hills are alive.........with the sound of music.

Zak busting out some yoga, I think?

Thanks Lindsay and Zak for a great time! See you August 22nd!

Courtney and Marie's Brooklyn Getting To Know You Session

2009-07-31T08:27:00.015-05:00

Meet Courtney and Marie. Courtney and Marie live in Brooklyn so when they asked to have their getting to know you session in NYC, I was all about it! It was great because Marie was our personal tour guide, she knew all the cool spots. We capped off the shoot with an awesome lunch at a Turkish restaurant and of course, the Brooklyn Bridge.

Thanks again guys for an awesome day, I had a blast! Marie, I will be taking you up on that personal tour very soon :)

Next Up: Lindsay and Zak, getting busy at the Hillstead Museum.

You just have to love the back drop on this one.

Meet Courtney

Meet Marie

A few classic bridge shots

Jennifer and Scott Getting To Know You Session, Harkness State Park

2009-07-28T12:44:00.008-05:00

Meet Jennifer and Scott! We spent the day down in Waterford (my home away from home) at Harkness Memorial State Park. This is by far the most elaborate, elegant, fun and diverse place to photograph in CT. You get the beach, with or with out the rocky coast, the French and Italian gardens, the huge mansion and of course the 200+ acres of land. It's a great place for a getting to know you session or a wedding!

Next up: Courtney and Marie's Brooklyn Love! You don't want to miss this one fo sho!

I absolutely love this boardwalk.

This is me standing about 10 feet in the air defying my fear of heights.

Gotta love sea grass.

Here is a small example of that 200 acre feild. I love this image.
Thistles everywhere.
Oh and not to forget the really cool vines everywhere too.

Thanks again guys for hanging out. looking forward to the big day only 46 days away!

John and Andrea, Married!

2009-07-22T22:09:00.019-05:00

This past July 4th was celebrated by the beautiful wedding of Andrea Kenney and John Steady. John is a fellow photographer so I Had to make sure I brought my A game. Sure it was a little added pressure, but I knew this wedding was going to be fun. The drinks were flowing and the sun set was to die for. The rolling landscape made for some great images too.

Thanks again to Nikki Nicole and Caitlyn for shooting this one with me.

I had to use the July 4th theme!

Three generations.
The Beautiful Andrea!

Mr. John Steady
They had this crazy hay field right next to their house so we had to get bizzy in it ;p

Nikki was all over that ice cream truck and all in my shot!

This next batch was in the corn field right across the street from their house. I couldn't get enough of that light!

Andrea's daughters and their friends posed for a few as well.

This little one is too cute!

Introducing the first official photo booth from Eric Foley Photography (Beta edition). I've been planning to do the photo booth for a while so we decided to break it out for John and Andrea's wedding. This is a great way to really add a super fun element to your wedding. Not to mention your guest will be talking about it for months after the wedding. I've got a few cool ideas that I will be experimenting with for the next few photo booths so keep a look out.

Me photo bombing

Liz & Lynn, Married!!!

2009-07-20T12:01:00.013-05:00

Meet Liz and Lynn,

All I have to say is this was one crazy party! We had a great time from start to finish, from the salon (Tracey & Co.) to the reception. We even got to hang out with some past clients as well who had a big surprise (in the oven!) Thanks Liz and Lynn for letting us be a part of your beautiful day, we appreciate it.

A big thank you to Nikki Nicole and Caitlyn Bouchard for shooting this one with me!

Okay, Lynn was smiling so much I had to ask her to stop just so I could get a serious face :)

This one is in the elevator on the way to the big show. Can you see me?

Here the craziness is just beginning.

Okay, the Marriott didn't have much to offer but the business park across the street had this huge rock formation. I had to get busy on the rocks;)

The first dance.

Some wild dance shots, thanks to some gel filters.

This is Laura and Steve, my 2008 New Years Eve couple, also friends of Lynn and Liz. They announced that they were expecting! She said 5 months, I said 5 weeks at best:) Congratulations guys!

Getting to Know You! Bridget and Tom, New Haven

2009-07-13T20:56:00.007-05:00

Meet Bridget and Tom!

Awesome couple #107 and counting! Again, I can't say it enough, I love what I do! I got to spend the greater part of the day walking around New Haven, sneaking into Yale, photographing two great people in love and enjoying an awesome dinner with them. Bridget is a true sweetheart and Tom, well he works at ESPN, HELLO! As if I needed more reason to like the guy. Anyone who knows that much about sports can hang with me anytime.

And besides, he's a Detroit Tiger fan. You have to sympathize with the guy. LOL!

Getting to Know You Session, Jamie and Keith

2009-07-08T22:45:00.004-05:00

Meet Jamie and Keith!

All I can say is YES, I love what I do and I'm doing what I love! Capturing beauty, creating art and documenting life in real time. Jamie and Keith were a blast to shoot and very cool in front of the camera whether they knew it or not. We spent a few hours walking around Hubbard Park in Meriden, CT. Unfortunately we couldn't make it up to the castle because the road was closed and it was a 2 or 3 mile hike. It doesn't sound that bad but we were losing light fast :( However, we found some other great locations.

Next up: GTKYS Bridget and Tom

Enjoy!

Heather and Mike, Engaged!

2009-07-06T20:56:00.005-05:00

Okay, time to play major catch-up! The 4th of July weekend was crazy to say the least. I hope everyone was safe! Get read for some serious posting in the next few days.

Meet Heather and Mike. We started their getting to know you session at wickham park in Manchester only to get POURED ON. Then we got kicked out of the park by a 17 yer old kid with a Yogi Bear Park Ranger Badge on. Gimme a break dude! Seriously, this guy was screaming at us like we were his step kids. I was about to take my belt off and give him something to cry about. But anyway, it finally stopped raining so we stopped at a random spot in East Hartford and took advantage of an old gas station.

Next time I'll bring my picnic basket for the park ranger and make sure I bring a pacifier.

Up next, Jamie and Keith's GTKYS.

Mike rocks out in a band as if you couldn't tell.

This is my fave of the day!

Dyan & Jeremy, Fenway Freak out!

2009-06-26T23:17:00.011-05:00

Okay, so this shoot had a big swirly circle around the date on my calendar for two reasons. One because I couldn't wait to work with yet another one of my awesome couples and two, because our final destination would be none other than Fenway Park! I could go on for hours but seriously, I need to get some sleep.

If your interested in doing a one hour private photo session inside Fenway Park with the run of the house (except inside the dugout), be sure to contact me and we'll set one up asap.

Our first stop, my back yard. Dyan and Jeremy wanted to grab a quick shot with their dogs, so of course we did. What you don't see in this shot is my dog going crazy behind the back door trying to get out to play.
Then we arrived in Boston and hit the T where the three of us looked like we just arrived in the country because we couldn't figure out how to get the right ticket. We just hung out while I grabbed a few candids on a very shaky train.

This was probably the only wide shot I got without someone giving me a weird look. Chill out people!
Then we hit the harbor.

Last but not least, Fenway! We started at the Monstah then worked our way around.

Jeremy, like my self, is a huge Sox fan. I wasn't sure how this shoot was going to go down, I was worried that I would be too excited. It took me a minute to take it in then I was fine.

Is there a better view???

On top of the Sox dugout.

Pedroia is the man!

This was the higest point in the park. The luxery box of course.

Check out the name below the sign.
Thanks for an awesome time guys, see you soon!

Rachel and Kevin, Aqua Turf, Southington, CT

2009-06-24T22:17:00.008-05:00

Meet Rachel and Kevin. You might recognize them from their steamy hot getting to know you session in New Haven HERE.

They got married at the Aqua Turf in Southington. The Aqua Turf always presents a challenge for me because I've been there what seems like a 100 times. The challenge is not shooting the same thing twice. I usually try to take a non-conventional artistic approach with each wedding there.

Thank you again to Missy Vandermause and Caitlyn Bouchard for shooting this one with me.

Enjoy!

Teri and Tom, Amarante's Sea Cliff New Haven

2009-06-19T19:54:00.033-05:00

Meet Tom and Teri, these two drove in two days before the wedding all the way from Ohio. That's crazy! Anyway, we had a beautiful day down at Amarante's Sea Cliff with an awesome sunset. Good food, good music, a beautiful couple and an awesome wedding, you can't ask for much more.

Not to mention, a two week honeymoon in Hawaii! I'm still jealous.

Meet Max, one chilled out dude. He was always ready for his photo opp.

Conventional thinking would say run and find some shade. I say let's shoot directly into the sun!

Meet Ava, she stole the show and knew it too.

I really would've like to know what she was thinking here.
With these next few we shot against the sun using a gold reflector to fill in the light and balance that golden warm feel.

These next two are an example of one pose shot two different ways in seconds.

I had to get some of that light on those rings too.

We stepped out for a minute to cool down outside and grab a few night shots. I love how the grass is highlighted on the side of this next one.

Thanks again Tom and Teri! you guys were AWESOME!

Tracey & Mike The Cascade, Hamden, CT

2009-06-08T21:28:00.024-05:00

Meet Tracey and Mike! This was one of those weddings where you wish you were a guest so you could just let it all hang out. Talk about a good time, to say the least it was a blast. I first met Tracey at a bridal show in 2008 and since then, she has been nothing less than a sweetheart. Of course the minute I saw her on the big day she got on my case about the maple syrup I made and forgot to bring her. No worries Tracey, I promise next year;) Mike was cool as the other side of the pillow, not to mention a Fireman from New Haven.

I wish you guys all the best and look forward to seeing you guys again soon! Congratulations!

Another special thank you to Missy Vandermause and Caitlyn Bouchard for shooting this one with me.

I was so excited when I saw this shot! Loved it!
The beautiful Tracey!

Mike's first look at his soon to be wife.

These two were too cute to pass up.

I showed Mike this image on the back of my camera and he said "it looks like a Hallmark card" I was hoping for Martha Stewart Weddings;)

Seriously?
This party was definitely rockin!

Carolyn & Drew Hartford, CT (The Bond)

2009-06-02T21:30:00.031-05:00

Okay, so now I'm back on track from a whirlwind of weddings the last eight days that brought us to Hartford, New Haven twice then Stafford Springs only to end up in Southington. Thank God gas isn't $4 a gallon!

Enter Carolyn and Drew, the first of four. These two were awesome, Carolyn was beautiful and elegant and Drew, a true gentlemen. They chose City Hall for their pictures so having never been, I was super excited. I have always heard how beautiful it is and it didn't disappoint. It's almost sensory overload when you first step inside. Very over whelming to say the least.

Once we conquered City Hall, we headed over to one of my favorite reception sites, The Bond. The Bond fit Carolyn and Drew to a T and I think we did a great job of Capturing their beautiful day.

A special thanks to Missy Vandermause and Caitlyn Bouchard for shooting this one with me. You guys are awesome, seriously!

Some intense getting ready shots from the salon.

We made a quick stop by the hotel where the guys were hanging to grab a few shots. Here is one of Drew.
What an amazing dress, that's all I can say.
The Bride and her sister.
The bride and mom, now you know where the beauty comes from :)

St. Peter church in West Hartford was all about eye candy.
I love the intensity of this image.
You know I have to roll around the floor at least a couple times to get dirty. Anything for the shot.

On to City Hall!
Classic was the theme here. You couldn't help it.

This session turned out very romantic. I love this image.

On to the bond.

The best man had everyone cracking up, including me.
Get ready for some first dance love!

They ended the night with none other than "sweet Carolyn" Bah Bah Bah
Thank you again guys for letting us be a part of your beautiful wedding.

Carolyn & Drew {Just A Taste}

2009-05-24T11:29:00.002-05:00

Just a taste of whats in the kettle! I have two back-to-back weekend weddings in a row so there will be plenty of blogging love going around very soon. This was a shot I took at City Hall in Hartford, CT last night. I can't wait to share the rest with you and tell their story.

Have fun in Greece Guys!

Sarah and Kurt's Harkness/Mystic Connection

2009-05-14T21:15:00.016-05:00

Meet Sarah and Kurt! Last week we spent a few hours down at Harkness Memorial Park taking in the beautiful day. Harkness is such an amazing place, a photographer's and bride's dream if you will. My one complaint if any is that it is so big (200 acres) it can take all day to hit the whole park. We decided to take the short route then head over to Mystic for a quick session and an awesome dinner at Rice, Spice, Noodles.

These two were tearing it up the lens all over the place. Here's a few from the day.

All my Brides have been rockin the shades lately! I'm loving it though!

The famous draw bridge of Mystic.
Sarah was a magnet to the beautiful golden sun light. I'd say she wears it well :)

I love Sarah's eyes in this one.
Okay, so I told Sarah I thought she looked like a young Meg Ryan. C'mon, seriously!
Kurt looking all stellar.
Gotta love the shades.

Rachel & Kevin, New Haven Style (this ain't no Pepe's either)

2009-05-03T22:59:00.021-05:00

1st off let me say Kevin and Rachel totally blew it up! 2nd, New Haven is really really my new fave place to shoot. I'd give you a 3rd but I don't have anything left at 12:14 am, sorry.

As the story goes, I first met Rachel and Kevin last year and from the first minute we started talking, we hit it off. When Rachel told me her and Kevin were Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Eagles fan, I almost hit the floor. I thought I was the only sucker in CT to like both of those teams.

So last week we headed down to New Haven to do some exploring and we came across some awesome graffiti. I have so much respect for these artist (when it's done tastefully of course) for there precision and creativity. So naturally, you know we had to get down with some of that. These two were total rock stars to say the least. We had a blast and ended the shoot with a great dinner at Bentara. Looking forward to the wedding guys, can't wait!

Next up: Foley family day in Mystic.

Rachel really worked this whole shoot begining to end!

Kevin was cool as a cucumber.
Exibit A. Rachel can hardly keep a straight face.
This is one of my faves of the day.

This was back dropped by a really cool rusted metal wall. Don't worry, we all got tetnus shots after the shoot.

Exibit B. Rachel still not being able to keep a straight face.
Rachel workin the "wind" Good job Kevin!
The look on there faces really makes this image. I think anyway.

Meet Kim, Shane, Hannah and Austin

2009-04-29T21:34:00.016-05:00

So this was the first of it's kind for me. Kind of a "hybrid" shoot if you will. In that I mean this was a family and a Getting to know you session combined into one. What a blast! Not only was it a gorgeous day down at Harkness Memorial Park, but these guys were awesome and so much fun too! It was fun being able to goof off with Hannah and Austin for a few rounds and act like the fifteen year old I really am then turn it on when it was time to get serious for Shane and Kim. How hot are they!!!

Thanks for a great time, can't wait for the wedding!

Next up: Rachel and Kevin's ridiculously hot Getting to know you session in New Haven.

Loving the purple theme they went with.

C'mon seriously? How PHlipping cute are they!
A little mom and dad time:)
This shot was taken on top of a seven foot high wall. It looked allot more dangerous than it was so the kids were a little nervous. I told them we were going to do a Spider-Man shoot. I think they rocked it!
Super hot Kim!

You just have to love the genuine smile on a child's face. There is nothing more beautiful.

A little family surf.
One of my faves of the day below!

What an awesome day, thanks again guys!

Rebecca and Victor, Married!!!

2009-04-23T21:12:00.034-05:00

Okay, this may just be my longest post ever so go get some popcorn and sit tight!

Dr. Mel's forcast: Rain through the morning and letting up around 1-2 pm.

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's just say it didn't stop raining until the last hour of the wedding. But I'm here to tell you it did not matter. Sure Rebecca was a little bummed at first, but who wouldn't be? Once we got going though, Rebecca and Victor totally blew the Water View off the chart.

Rebecca is one of the sweetest, most sincere people I know and I was honored to be able to capture her natural beauty. Not to mention, that Victor, a doctor, was the most easy going and relaxed you can be. A true gentlemen that was only concerned about his new wife's happiness and well being.

A special thanks to Nikki Nicole and Caitlyn Bouchard for team shooting this one with me. We had an awesome time. We got sooo many ridiculosly awesome shots, if I could I would post the whole wedding, I would. I hope these will do!

Next up: Kim and Shane's Family/Getting to know you session.

I love these two shoe shots! The intensity of the framed flower in the 1st one and the lighting in the 2nd give me chills.

The beautiful Bride!
I got all crazy on this wedding with silhouetting, there were opportunities everywhere.
This is one of my most fave moments of any wedding. The first time he sees his wife to be walking towards him.

I love the rim lighting in these next two. I think it really emphasizes the moment and really makes you feel it.

Umm, paging Dr. Mel?
I thought we would have a little fun so we got all wet, sort of. They had an awesome sense of humor for this one.
This next image is getting sent directly to the lab to be transformed into a 20x30 gallery wrap. Pronto! My fave of the day for sure.
You know what's next right?
A little first dance, off camera magic. Lovin it.

Victor performing baby got back with his ladies.

This little one's name is Keegan, just like my son. My son Keegan and I actually met him randomly at a park in Newington last year with his mom, the bride's sister. How crazy is that?
Okay so it finally stopped raining so we went back out right before the end of the day to grab a few dry shots.

Aislinn's 1st Birthday!

2009-04-21T21:51:00.016-05:00

Here are a few images I took at Aislinn's 1st birthday party. I really can't believe she is one already, where did the time go. I think with all of life's crazyness, if you don't stop and look around, you could miss all the important things in your life. I appreciate my Aislinn, Keegan and Erin and love them more than words can describe.

I never take them for granted.

Next Up: Rebecca and Victor, Married!

Sure the party was for Aislinn but Keegan had all his boys and girls there too!
Erin taking control of extinguishing the flame
I can only think what's going through Keegan's head at this moment "if she doesn't hurry up with that cake I'm gonna eat it for her"
Hats off, time to get crazy!

What cake? I didn't see no cake? LOL!

Poppa Shawn having fun at baby girls expense.
And Great Grandpa too.

Getting to know Andrea & John

2009-04-20T19:04:00.012-05:00

Last week, Andrea, John and I spent a few hours walking around New Haven and of course Yale. I have to tell you though, when we were walking through Yale, I felt like I was at Hogwarts. Unbelievable to say the least. I think if I could do it all over again I would give Yale a shot. We had a great time and thanks to John's keen sense of direction, we found a few cool spots.

Here are a few shots from the day.

Next up: Aislinn's 1st Birthday

The architectural design at Yale is nothing short of AMAZING!
Here we infiltrated the famous Yale Green swing for a few.
There's something about a swing that just puts you right back as a kid.
I love Andreas engagement ring, those sapphires are beautiful!
I think this is my fave shot of the day. Okay, set it to 1/15 and stay still!!!

I stopped in this coffee shop for a minute and as I was walking out I grabbed this shot. And to my surprise, I didn't get any weird looks:)

Alexandrea (The Entree')

2009-04-14T21:17:00.014-05:00

I had so much fun with Andi, Ken and Alexandrea I had to do another post. This shoot was, sort of, experimental for me if you will. I usually don't do much studio lighting photography but it's something I have wanted to do more of and this gave me the perfect opportunity. Most of these were shot with a simple off camera flash, shoot through umbrella and an over-sized reflector.

Thanks for a great time guys!

Next up: John and Andrea's New Haven "getting to know you" session.

Meet Alexandrea ! (the appetizer)

2009-04-05T21:54:00.010-05:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure of photographing the family of Andi, Ken and newly arrived Alexandrea Walpurgis. Andi is a fellow photographer so when she asked me to photograph her newly expanded family I was honored to.

Here are a few to hold you over till the entree'. I have so many awesome images to share so check back soon.

I Love Me Some Martha!

2009-03-30T21:15:00.003-05:00

So a few months back Martha Stewart weddings emailed me and asked to use an image for their winter/spring edition magazine. Needless to say, I was super siked!!! This was my first MAJOR publication so I of course agreed :) To say I was flattered would be a major understatement. It's quite funny given my background in the culinary arts that I would end up in her magazine for photography. Back when I was a student at Johnson & Wales everybody used to hate on Martha, I guess it was the thing to do in the industry. Me on the other hand, was the exact opposite. Before I even stepped foot in J&W I religiously watched Martha's cooking show. I learned alot from her so I have always had grande respect!

Funny how things turn out. I have always been good friends with KARMA ;)

Meet Luna!

2009-03-20T22:22:00.011-05:00

Meet the newest member of the Foley family! Luna is an 8 month old pure bred Vizsla, a what?????? Pronounced Vee - shla. Her descent is from Hungary. She is a cousin of the Weimaraner. I have always had a Vizsla growing up and all I can tell you is these dogs are awesome. They are extremely loyal, protective and human like. I have been waiting for years to get one and now with the new house, the time was right. Luna's dad was a show dog and won best Vizsla in show at the Westminster dog show in 2008. How cool is that!

If you are looking for an awesome dog that is great with kids check them out.

Meet Liz and Lynn!

2009-03-16T22:10:00.016-05:00

Okay, so I have totally neglected this blog for the past few weeks and I sooo apologize to the blog world. Please forgive me:( Since my last post, we have added a dog, started the studio renovation, indulged (or obsessed) in my new found hobby of making maple syrup and started planning for Aislinn's 1st birthday WooHoo!!! So I guess it was all for good.

Anyway on to the show! Meet Liz and Lynn, my 1st "getting to know you" session of the year. We were blessed with what I think was the best weather of the year so far, so we trucked around H-town and took advantage. I'd have to say, I have lived in CT for 24 of the 33 years of my life and I have never realized how much Hartford has to offer. We had an awesome time with Liz and Lynn exploring some of the nice and not so nice we could find.

I also want to thank my new assistant Caitlyn for doing an awesome job and getting her photog on. Caitlyn was a bride of mine in 2008 who will be assisting and training with me for 2009 and beyond. I will give her a formal introduction so you get the scoop! Enjoy!

Off Camera Flash Sally and Patryk

2009-02-26T21:50:00.008-05:00

Okay, I forgot to post a few killer off camera flash shots I grabbed from Sally and Patryk's wedding so I wanted to share. I get allot of emails from other photographers asking me how to go about using the off camera flash technique so I thought I would share a few tips.

- I always start with my flash(s) set at manual 1/8 power to start and then adjust from there. I use a Canon 5D, 3 - 580 EXII flashes (one on my camera with a diffuser attached) plus 3 - Pocket wizards w/ light stands.

-The first thing I always try to do is grab a test shot with the available light so I can adjust the power on my flash(s) and camera settings. Use your assistant or 2nd shooter if available.

- Once you find your correct settings it's really all technique and creativity from there.

- Make sure your subject is in between you and your flash. The tricky part for the rim lighting effect is making sure you can't see the flash in your viewfinder. It's best for the flash to be either behind your subjects head(s) (about 10 feet) or just out of the frame in your camera. Although, sometimes you can get some really cool effects with the flash directly in your sight. It's all relevant to your style and the "look" your going for.

- Sometimes to make it easier, I will set up two flashes to offset the couple dancing and hit different angles (can be tough when they are moving quickly). Of course the slower they dance the easier it is to track your flashes and place them where you want in your frame.

- And last but not least, be creative! Put the flash or flashes all over the place. On the floor, 10 feet in the air or even across the room. It's all trial by error from there.

Here are a few from my last wedding.

Here the flash was on the ground pointing up towards heads.

Here the flash was about 10 feet behind the brides head.
Here the flash was just out of my frame on the floor which allowed the cool burst effect.
This one broke my own rules with the flash directly at the top half of the frame. I love this one because of the light shower effect.
Again, just off the outside of the frame. This gives an awesome light streaking effect.

I enjoy using the flashes to give the dance shots life and to create atmosphere. I think it works.

Eric

Foley Farms Maple Syrup = mmmmmmmmmmm!

2009-02-24T23:36:00.004-05:00

As some of you already know, we bought a new home this past December. One of the coolest things this home has to offer is a 1/3 acre yard with a handful of sugar maple trees. And you know what comes from sugar maple trees right? Maple syrup!!!!!! So I took some tips from my good friend Gabe who taps his trees in Tolland and gave it a whirl. Needless to say it was nothing short of amazing!! I guess it gave me a sort of "primitive" sense of accomplishment (or something like that????) to utilize mother nature in her purest form.

I'm still collecting sap so I can have enough to throw a Foley Farms French Toast party featuring my wife Erin's famous pumpkin french toast. Seriously, so stay tuned! The one draw back is that it takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 cup of syrup. That's right! 40 to 1, and now you now why the real stuff is sooo expensive.

Check it out! 1st batch = 2 1/2 cups

XL Center - Hartford Bridal Expo! 2.22.2009

2009-02-15T22:43:00.003-05:00

I will be attending the Hartford Civic Center (XL Center) this Sunday from 11am to 4pm.

I have 4 tickets available so if your interested in going and would like to save the 10$ bucks, shoot me an email asap! Come down and say hello and check out all the stuff we will have on display.

Hope to see you there!

The Cascade - Sally and Patryk!!

2009-02-10T22:05:00.018-05:00

Welcome the 2009 wedding season! Congratulations Sally and Patryk! This was a great way to start off 2009. This wedding was awesome in so many ways I can't even begin to explain. Okay, so of course I'm not going to leave you hanging like that. 1st off, my girl Sally is from my home town of Hard Hittin New Britain so you know she's cool. 2nd, I went to school with her sister Concetta, who almost killed me because I couldn't remember her (it's been a loooooong 16 years). And 3rd, she had her whole family flown to the states from the old country (my families native land, Sicili). It doesn't get much better than that :)

Oh, by the way, Patryk is an awesome guy too! Seriously! I'd have to say, these two are my most laid back couple of 2009 (so far?) Sally was a true BRIDE CHILLA and Patryk was like "what ever". We had a great time and I know they did too.

These 1st four are taken at the Salon Medusa in W.Hartford. Wow, this place was screaming with color. I fely like I was inside a comic book. Very cool.

So I guess this was Medusa?
When I look at this image I hear Jefferson Airplane ringing in my ear.

The Groom.

They had these awesome individual wedding cakes for their guest, how cool.
I just love the texture overlay combined with the patter on the wall.
The beautiful bride!

This ring shot was taken on top of a piano with a christmas tree behind it. Love the lights!

Laura and Steve....Happy New Years Wedding Part 1

2009-01-30T21:54:00.015-05:00

Okay, so everything is slowly getting back to normal. Yes we are still living out of boxes and bags (which I can't tell you how crazy that drives me. Those who know me well know I am very particular about my stuff) but it's all coming together. As much as I thought buying a house in the winter was crazy, I couldn't imagine what it would have been like doing so in the middle of the wedding season.

Anyway, introducing one of the first couples of the new year, Laura and Steve! Two of the coolest cats I've met in a while. They had to be that cool because it was like 6 degrees at their wedding at the Pond House in West Hartford. We were running in and out of the Pond House in between shots just to stay warm. Needless to say, I think Laura made Steve, Craig and I look like wimps. She totally toughed it out while I was looking for every excuse to warm my bald head.

There where so many awesome shots we grabbed so I will post more later. And you know there is going to be more off camera flash :)

Another special thank you to Craig Freeman for shooting this one with me as well.

I used a custom white balance for the tungsten lighting on this one. Some times my 5D over compensates for the lighting but for this one I think it came out pretty cool.

It wasn't hard making Laura look beautiful. She pretty much took care of that naturally. I love this image, it reminds me of a European fashion magazine ad

Steve had such a great, natural smile. How in love are they!

I was Impressed with the Pond House decor. They had quite the winter spread.

Back From The Dead!

2009-01-25T16:32:00.002-05:00

Finally!!!!! Internet is back up and we are ready to roll! I have some back posting to do so sit tight. I have two weddings coming up including a winter new years night wedding.

Almost there!

2009-01-16T15:40:00.003-05:00

Okay, so this whole moving/transition into the new house is for the birds! We are still staying at the in-laws place so we can straighten things out. Right now I have bathroom stuff in the basement, bedroom stuff in the kitchen and things that will eventually end up in the attic in my living room. So to say the least, we are still moving. On the brighter side, tomorrow night will be the first night we officially stay at our new house.

The cable is hooked up and the studio renovations are in the works! I will be completely up on line tomorrow and ready to handle business as usual! Can't wait!

Please Bare With Me :)

2009-01-11T21:13:00.004-05:00

As some of you already know, my wife and I just bought a house in Unionville, CT. That being said, I am going to be without internet service until Thursday. I will be checking my email and blogging from my in-laws house until then. We moved during that ridiculous snow storm on Saturday so we pretty much just dumped everything in the new house.

I will tell you this, I don't plan on moving EVER AGAIN!!! And if I do, you better believe it will be in a house that we have built new. That means no painting and no fixing up before we move in. Oh yeah, and we are going to hire Mayflower movers too!

So please, as the title states, bare with me until then. BTW, the new house is also going to be the home of my new studio! It has a separate entrance, vaulted ceilings and it's completely enclosed. It's about a 12x20 space, I'll keep you all posted!

IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!

2009-01-08T21:16:00.002-05:00

Finally, after months of weddings (26 to be exact), e-shoots, kids, procrastination, technical difficulties and just a plain ole' lack of time, the new and improved Eric Foley Photography website is live!

I have to thank my wife Erin for dealing with me and supporting me (as she always does) while I stressed and stressed over the site since May. I am completely relieved and can now, hopefully, get some sleep. I'd also like to thank the Livebooks crew who did a great job on the site (especially Sherwin, Jericho and the rest of their awesome customer service team).

Click on the link to see the site! www.ericfoleyphotography.com

Kristen and Mike - Via Candace Jeffery

2009-01-03T00:03:00.022-05:00

I got to hang out with one of my good friends Candace, from Candace Jeffery Photography last week. We hit up H-town for a crazy chilly e-shoot with Kristen and Mike. Here are a few images I grabbed. She also took a ton of shots of me in action so click here if you want to check them out.

Here is a shot I grabbed of Candace getting busy.
You could just see the love on their faces

I call this image "American Love" Notice the U.S. Flag?

I love this image with the texture accept for that damn yankee hat!

When I told them to jump in front of the bus they looked at me like I was crazy. Hey, at least it wasn't moving.

More crazy lights from Constitution Plaza.

Salvatrice and Patryk - Hartford's Frozen Tundra

2008-12-29T20:51:00.015-05:00

I don't know what it is but my last handful of shoots have been in re-dunkulously frigid conditions. As much as I love winter, there comes a point when my brain freezes and my fingers get so cold I can't press the shutter button. I've actually taken a picture with my nose, seriously! I know, I'm soooo multi-talented :p

Anyway, Salvatrice and Patryk bared the cold to truck around H-Town for their "getting to know you" session. We had a great time that included getting kicked out of the state building, another tradition I started last year. Every time I shoot in Hartford, I get kicked out of a building for "trespassing". Go figure! Maybe I should make a check - off list or something? If you know of any cool buildings in Hartford you would like to get kicked out of let me know. We'll set up a shoot and have some fun!

I call this next image "Alien Obduction"

Mr. Keegan's Quotes Of The Day

2008-12-27T22:52:00.003-05:00

Well it seems that 3 years old is the official age when your child will say just about anything in any situation. Keegan's vocabulary is vastly growing and becoming more intellectual by the minute. It is quite entertaining so I thought I would share a few quotes he dropped on us today.

1. "Daddy, I don't like monsters, I just like pigs" O.K, that totally had me like, huh???

2. As he was taking a bath with mommy while she was washing his hair he said "mommy mommy, I got pepper in my eyes" (in a whimpering voice)

3. As we where driving home from best buy tonight, we were listening to a Sesame Street DVD. He told me 'daddy, Cookie Monster is better than you" WHAT THE F#$%! What did I ever do to deserve that???

Anyway, it's all quite entertaining so I thought I would share.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

2008-12-25T10:36:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday. Eat, drink and be merry :)

Kristen & Brandon Part Two

2008-12-19T20:19:00.013-05:00

Well 1st I have to apologize to my wife Erin for totally leaving her out of the part one post. I must of had a senior moment. Now I will spend the next week or so trying to get out of the dog house.

Goal #5 of 1001: Shoot a wedding with my better half. Erin came along to help out and get a taste of the wedding photog scene. She was rockin the reflector and poofing dresses. She was a natural.

Here is a pic Craig shot of us while Kristen and Brandon were thawing out in the limo bus.

Yes, I did try this cake and yes, it was delish!
Okay no surprise, I was abusing my back lighting. I tried to mix it up a bit so I moved the flash around to get different looks.

Notice the flash on the floor. I love how it illuminates everyone behind them.

laying on the floor looking up, trying to get a cool shot without getting beer & wine spilled on me.
C'mon, you have to hit this mirror up if your at The Bond.
This elevator shot is too hot! I love the mood and reflection from the stainless steel.

Kristen and Brandon (pre - Bond) Part One!

2008-12-15T09:25:00.029-05:00

If Kristen and Brandon's wedding was a novel, it would start something like this:

It was a cold frosty day, one November 22nd. The wind, sharp as a blade, slicing through the very souls that joined them. Birds covered in ice, dropped out of the sky. It was so cold you could hear the whispers of Jack Frost as he gave you his best Antarctica impression. As they bared the extreme, only they on this day emerged, Kristen and Brandon. Man and Wife.

In other words, it was cold as S%@#!

Any way, this is part one of a two part post. the reason being is there were just too many images I wanted to share with everyone of this great day! Kristen and Brandon were absolutely AWESOME! They braved the weather as they suffered me dragging them in and out of there cushy heat infested limo bus. Thank God for that bus:)

Part two will consist of the reception at The Bond in Hartford. My new fave place to shoot. the list just keeps getting longer. Another special thanks to Craig Freeman for helping out and putting up with the extreme conditions.

The weather: 16 degrees with 31 mph gusts of wind. Wind chill was 7 degrees. Ouch!

I love this shot. I think it's hinting of whats to come.
Sometime images just present themselves. I placed the shoes down to look around the room for a shot and as I bent down to pick them up I saw this one just looking at me:)

The girls in these next two were too adorable. I must have at least 2oo images of just them!

Kristen's infectious smile:)
This one was just too hot to pass up!

This little guy has his own photo shoot too.

And the party bus!
I was holding on to the ceiling rail standing on the seats. Just trying to get a steady shot.
I think everyone did there best not to look like they were freezing in these next few. Great job guys and gals!

Note the jacket, fashionably warm!

England or Hartford?

I think I will use this as a magazine add.

Rich and Jen - Sneak Peek in Va.

2008-12-11T22:16:00.008-05:00

A few weeks back I had the AWESOME opportunity to photograph Rich and Jen's wedding in Richmond, Virginia. My good friend and fellow photog Craig Freeman came along to help me out. I have sooo many great images I just wanted to get a few out for yall to see:) (I can say yall because I lived in Va. for 8 years) The wedding was at Maymont Park in Richmond. It was a great experience to shoot a southern wedding, it was actually quite different from the fast paced CT weddings.

I also did a quick urban maternity shoot of my Sister-in Law that I will post soon!

Enjoy for now, more to come!

The warm and cozy 75 degree sun flare, in November? Gotta be Va.
I couldn't get enough of this reeediculous back light from the sun, you know I had to get some of that!
In this image, I was running along side of the horse buggy. Of course I was looking at them while I was running. I recall the one thought that kept running through my head was "please don't hit a tree or step in a ditch" I made it out okay:)

This next image may be my fave of 2008!
And the first dance!

Getting to know Rebecca and Victor!!

2008-12-04T23:52:00.010-05:00

Okay so Rebecca and Victor may just be the sweetest couple I have ever met! Their cute mannerisms remind me of the foo-foo things my wife Erin and I do when we are all lovie-dovie. Okay, I'll wait if you need to go and barf for a minute, I apologize :) Just kidding. They are both in the medical feild so time was of the essence and the weather was getting worse.We had to move quick but we had a great time in Lyman's Orchard, Durham, CT.

Well the only thing that went wrong on the shoot was just after the first image was taken in the post. What you dont see in the rolling hills -o- apple trees is a crazy looking dude walking towards us with a shotgun in his hand. Thats right people, a shotgun! I froz up for a second as I evaluated the scene and my heart started racing. Rebecca and Victor turned towards me with that deer in the head lights look and started walking. I took a few steps towards the guy as he said "you got a permit to be here?" Thats when I realized he was wearing a bright orange vest and camoflage. Okay, at that point I exhaled realizing he was a hunter and not some pyscho that was going to kill us. How were we supposed to know that Lymans opens the orchard to turkey hunters after the last apple harvest? It's not every day that a guy jumps out of the trees with a double barrel.

So I guess alls well that ends well! Enjoy the shoot

Happy Holidays from the Foleys

2008-11-29T21:19:00.002-05:00

Eric, Erin, Keegan, Aislinn and Auggie the cat:)

Kristen & Brandon in Guilford,CT

2008-11-28T23:59:00.013-05:00

Right before all the leaves disappeared, Brandon, Kristen and I took a trip down to Guilford for their getting to know you session. Besides the 50mph winds, I'd say the weather was just right! There aren't too many places like Guilford around CT. It gives you that quintessential New England feel and the shore line all in one. We had a blast just hanging around the town green capped off by visiting the shore. As you can see, they know how to work it!

Kelly and Matt: Married - Aquaturf Part 2

2008-11-17T22:39:00.010-05:00

Introducing Kelly and Matt. This was the second wedding of a back to back at the Aquaturf in Southington. We had a beautiful day and an even better night that capped off an awesome reception party and lots of good food. Oh yeah, did I mention, the Aquaturf and the Farmington Club are my favorite places to do weddings? The food is phenominal! For real.

Kelly and Matt, you guys were awesome. But you already know that!

I love the chapel at Chote school. It's so New Englund.

O.K. these last two were processed while I was listening to darkside of the moon by Pink Floyd. As if you could'nt tell.

Meet Stephanie and Will!

2008-11-15T21:34:00.014-05:00

I had the pleasure of hanging out with another awesome couple of mine for a getting to know you session in Stamford, CT. Stephanie and will tie the knot next October. I can't wait, I just love fall weddings! These two had this subtle, innocent look that looked awesome with the sun shining through the trees in the background. As you can see, we worked it quite often. Looking forward to the big day guys!

Marissa and Don!

2008-11-07T22:43:00.019-05:00

Meet Marissa and Don! This was the first of two in a back - to - back at the Aqua Turf a few weeks ago. It's always a challenge to shoot the same place twice in a row. It really makes you think out of the box to make each wedding unique.

Marissa, as you can see, was a beautiful bride. She was a natural at working the camera and I think it shows. As for Don, or as I call him "The Don" was totally debonair, not to mention a hilarious guy as well. Don is also starting up a wedding videography business so if your interested, let me know.

Thanks again guys and congratulations!

Back in Virginia!

2008-11-01T21:49:00.003-05:00

Well it's 10:54pm and I just got back in my hotel room at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond Va. This was my first "destination" wedding outside of Mass, NY, and RI and things have gone great so far! I can't wait to post some images from Rich and Jennifer's wedding, I think we got some great images. Another special thanks to Craig Freeman for making the trip with me. He and his wife celebrated their 5 year anniversary today except he was with me. What a trooper! I can't thank him and Kari enough!

There is allot to be said for "destination" weddings, they are fun and certainly exciting to say the least. The one and only downside to a "destination" wedding is that I am seriously missing my family. I can't wait to give them all a big squeezy hug and kiss when I get back. I would like to thank you Erin, for taking such great care of Keegan and Aislinn while Iv'e been gone. I miss and love you guys soooo much! Daddy will be home tomorrow!

Love Me,

Tarah & Jeremy: Goodwin Hotel, Hartford!

2008-10-26T16:24:00.015-05:00

Meet newly married Tarah and Jeremy! They were married at one of best hotels in CT. the Goodwin in Hartford. This was an incredible wedding as most are at the Goodwin that had an amazing reception with the most amazing light show I've ever seen (see last image) put on by Correlation Productions.

We did not have much light after the ceremony so we hit the streets, which I thought worked out pretty well. It was fun to mix some off camera lighting with the ambient lighting of the city.

Another special thank you to Craig Freeman for team shooting this one with me!

Carl and Jennifer....The Harkness Mansion!

2008-10-16T21:15:00.015-05:00

We had the great opportunity of photographing Carl and Jennie's wedding at the one and only Harkness Mansion. This is in my top three favorite places to shoot a wedding in the state of CT. Jennifer was stunning in her dress and Carl, to take a phrase from Stuart Scott "he was as cool as the other side of the pillow"! I could have shot their bridal portraits all day, it was that much fun!

I want to say a special thanks to Val McCormick for driving an hour to team shoot this one with me!

Congratulations again Carl and Jennifer!!!!!

Sangita & James....Via Steve DePino!

2008-10-13T20:54:00.010-05:00

A week or so ago I had the opportunity to team shoot with Steve DePino for one of his awesome weddings. Sangita and James had a Hindu and Catholic ceremony that was incredible. There were so many vibrant colors and happenings, it was almost sensory overload. Not to mention, an absolutely hot couple too! Here are a few images I grabbed.

Married! Caitlyn and Randy

2008-10-07T22:32:00.022-05:00

This wall was inside Caitlyn's moms house, I just love the color and texture. I knew Caitlyn would burn it up!
I thought I would give the groomsmen tux some love!
Randy Getting all Suave'

This church had a walk around isle that allowed me to get this angle I don't often get during the ceremony. The priest was all for it.

These guys set the tone for the party. I want to thank the tall guy in the back for holding my sign up! Way to support the cause man:)

Tall hay grass field + low golden light + hot couple = Awesome images

I love this image. You can really feel the true love they have for each other.
It would not be an Eric Foley wedding with out some back lighting during the first dance. I love this because I can challenge my self to try different variations for each wedding, and they look cool too!

I had the pleasure of photographing Caitlyn and Randy's E-shoot in Cape Cod earlier this year. It is a place where we both share many nostalgic memories so I knew from our experiences, we were going to have fun on their wedding day. Their willingness and personalities made this shoot most enjoyable. I'd like to wish you both life long happiness, peace and love together:)

Congratulations!!!!!!

The Berkshire Harvest Festival

2008-10-01T20:07:00.003-05:00

Yes ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to announce that fall is here! (at least for me) This is by far the most wonderful time of the year. Pumpkins, warm apple cider and fritters, Foley-iage, the smell of wood burning, that fresh chill in the air and last but not least, our family tradition 3 years and counting of attending the Berkshire Botanical Garden Harvest Fest in Stockbridge, Mass. If you are a true "New Englander" then you have to check this out! It is great fun for the whole family, especially the little ones. Stockbridge is where the famous Red Lion Inn is, where Norman Rockwell created a few of his master peices.

I strongly reccomend going this weekend if your looking for a nice scenic drive and getting away from the daily norm. It is only a hour or so drive from Hartford I believe.

Times: This Sat. and Sun. 10:am - 5:pm

Click here for the info and drop me a line if your going! Id love to see you there!

This image was taken in Washington, CT last fall while leaf pepping!

Shawn and Melanie!!! The Aquaturf

2008-09-24T21:46:00.025-05:00

O.K so for Melanie and Shawn's wedding I got it started with the shoes. I went a little crazy but I had a blast shooting them.

Melanie's mom was overflowing with beautiful smiles all day!

The beautiful bride Melanie!
This was Melanie's Grand Mother. I think I found my 3rd shooter, she was rockin a Canon with the 36mm 2.8 lens! How adorable is she?
Shawn the groom.
The girl cheezin it up is Jen, from Jen and Ted's wedding. She is best friends with Melanie.
Craig Freeman got this sultry image, very nice!
We had to fight off a few down pours but it certainly did not phase their spirit.

Backlighting the first dance of course!
Once the lights went down, it was all party!
When the rain stopped we ran outside to catch this one and take a breather.
Congratulations Melanie and Shawn on a beautiful wedding and a beautiful marriage!

Senior Vogue Portrait Sessions - 1st Edition!

2008-09-13T23:32:00.022-05:00

Introducing my first senior portrait session! I will be calling this venture of my photography biz "The Senior Vogue Sessions". I have wanted to do it for quite some time but with the wedding season so busy, it had to take a back seat. I want to offer a different take on senior portraits, something a little more edgy with a fashion overtone. My new website will hopefully be launching by mid-October and will feature a gallery solely dedicated to seniors. I will also have a blog especially for seniors as well. Stay tuned, I'll keep you posted!

Anyway, meet Sarah and Nicole, two sisters from New York who came over to CT to have their senior portraits done. We walked the streets of Middletown and found some great spots to shoot. I just love M-Towns urban feel! We came across some cool alleys with crazy light and a train bridge that will be seeing more of me in the future. Sarah and Nicole definitely knocked this shoot out of the water! We had a great time shooting their session and can't wait for the next.

Congratulations girls and good luck this year!

Carl & Jennie "Too HOT To Handle"

2008-09-08T22:13:00.010-05:00

O.K. need I say more? These guys were the true essence of a term I usually don't use, ROCKSTARS! Carl, Jennie and I wandered around Middletown for their engagement session hitting some really cool spots. We were lucky enough to be there at the same time as the Main St. Bike Festival (which was absolutely rediculous if your the Harley type). There were Harleys as far as the eye could see! Carl and Jennie were down for anything so I knew we were going to get some great images. If you like the urban stuff you definatley have to check M-town out. Needless to say, They fed my creativity with their willingness and we had a blast!

Pete and Jocelyn @ The Riverview

2008-08-31T00:17:00.025-05:00

Money, it's gotta be the shoes!If you feel the love throw your hands up!

Jocelyn has such a great figure and the dress compliments nicely.

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Pete and Jocelyn had the best party favors I've seen yet! They made custom labels with there own quotes, flavors and pictures and used Avery's soda from Hard Hittin New Britain.

This is my fave of the whole set! It's so personal and romantic.

This one left me speechless. I don't know what they call that dance, I must be getting old?
Of course my favorite back lighting, I have to plug this one in, I just love the colors and flash flare!
Pete and Jocelyn are good friends of mine so I knew this wedding was going to be crazy!! Jocelyn has such a beautiful classic look and Pete, well he's a ham:) Pete is the kind of guy who will do any and everything for you. Everybody needs a friend like him! P & J's wedding was even better because we had 2 1/2 hours to shoot portraits, a photographers dream! ATTENTION ALL BRIDES TO BE: give your photographer as much time to do wedding portraits as possible! Why would you try and squeeze decades of future memories and family keepsakes into an hour or less?? Love your Photographer!

A special thanks to Missy Vandermause for team shooting this one with me. You are a trooper girl!

Thanks again Pete and Jocelyn for a great wedding and a great time!

Jen and Ted Hot off the stove! Villa Rosa!

2008-08-20T21:40:00.023-05:00

I actually ran and jumped 10 feet high to put those shoes up there! And if you believe that....
I had the pleasure of having Matt Wagner Team shoot with me for this one. Here below is one of many great shots he hit off!
Ted is too cool!
I love this shot. The emotion of dad giving his daughter away makes me think of that day when my daughter Aislinn gets married.
Thanks to Matt for lending me his awesome (and next lens on my list to buy) 16-35 L 2.8 for this groomsmen shot!

O.K. so you should know by now I am addicted to back lighting my subjects for the first dance and parent dances. It just seems to add life and spark to the images. It also makes a great canvas for some cross processing too!
Bride and her dad!
Groom and his mom!
I can just see this image as a huge gallery wrap in there living room. Love it!

Well I usually start my post off by telling you how cool, awesome and laid back the bride and groom of the moment are so I was going to try and say something different. Problem, it's the absolute truth! I can't help it. I guess I am lucky because I have met so many great people and every one is just that cool. Every night I come home from a wedding my wife poses the question"so how were they?" and I always say"they are the kind of people I can see becoming friends with" it's redundant but 100% true.

Anyway, Jen and Ted were no different, these guys were great! They put on a great party and had a good crowd to go along as well. This is one hot couple to say the least. Jen and Ted were just at Melanie and Shawn's wedding this past week (coming soon) so we indulged in a friendly shot of tequila before the night was through. That's just how we do! Considering they just came back from their Mexican honeymoon.

I look forward to seeing you guys again soon! Thanks again for letting me share your beautiful day with you both.