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Welcome to the Ciao Bella Studios Blog | Rochester NY Wedding Photography
Ciao! Welcome to the Ciao Bella Studios Blog! Here is where I’ll be sharing important news and amazing love stories.
Be sure to check back often!
Finding the right wedding photographer for YOU!
- You're engaged! It's incredibly exciting, everyone is congratulating you and then they say 'When's the big day?'. Oh my that's a loaded question, isn't it? Because now you need to start thinking about all that big stuff, all those big budget items that, once you start looking at it all, are going t[...]
Buffalo History Museum Wedding, Buffalo, New York
- Sometimes everything comes together perfectly. Like when you are referred to a couple by a friend and they turn out to be absolutely perfect. When you find people that are deeply in love, creating a fun and beautiful celebration in a place they spend a lot of time in, surrounded by people who love [...]
Intimate Highland Park Wedding, Black Button Distilling SURPRISE Reception
- Yes, you read that properly. One of my favorite couples wanted to have their wedding completely reflect who they are, and for them that meant hosting a SURPRISE wedding! Amanda and Todd are amazingly fun, love to host parties for their closest family and friends, and could not imagine having a bi[...]
Rochester New York Engagement Sessions: The Art of Making You Feel Love
- Engagement Sessions in Rochester, New York Engagement sessions, I love them! I love when my clients are able to take a bit of time out of a busy year planning their wedding and just enjoy each other for an hour or two. I love when they make it truly unique to who they are as a couple. I love gett[...]
Finding the perfect dress. Your wedding photographer goes wedding dress shopping!
- My fiance' Dave, and I decided well before he proposed that we would absolutely be getting married in the mountains in Colorado. I mean, who wouldn't want to get married there! It's so stunningly gorgeous! We both love the mountains. The colors, the air, just the feeling of being surrounded by such [...]
What do you get when you combine Boho Chic with a Military Wedding? Perfection.
- I had the extreme honor of photographing a Naval Wedding with a bride completely rocking that Bohemian vibe. This wedding had everything I could ask for, bridesmaids completely in the moment, a gorgeous couple, amazing details, and of course love shining through all day long. Th[...]
When a dancer falls in love...Love and Joy in Rochester, New York
- Krista and Josh were a joy from the moment we met. They were both filled with a love and light that just emanated from them. As with so many of my grooms, Josh said he wasn't really into photos, but he planned their engagement session with vintage bikes, and outfits to match. We had an absolute blas[...]
Joyful Wedding Photography at The Beal House in Victor, New York
- The Wedding Couples I love to work with are people that value the relationships they have with each other, their friends and their families. Brides and Grooms that want to create their own traditions, and don't need to follow the rules. I'm inspired by couples who are present in the moment, not look[...]
Some of my favorite Rochester, New York wedding vendors. Also known as 'How to have an awesome wedding!'
- As I start planning my own wedding (I STILL can't believe it!), I realize how difficult it is to choose vendors. I'm lucky in that I know so many amazing vendors locally, but we aren't looking locally, so what do you do?! I always help my couples pick out an amazing team for their wedding day. Havin[...]
Photographer of Love and Joy in Upstate New York. Why I choose to photograph one of the wildest rides of your life.
- I've been a photographer for quite some time now, 13 years to be exact. I have photographed squishy, squirmy babies, lovely glowing mommas, silly children, intensely fun high school seniors, crazy lovely families, gorgeously fierce women, and couples in love. My business has transitioned from o[...]
DIY wedding, Kitten Heels, a stunning bride, and a handsome groom. A Rochester, New York love story
- Cate and Nick. Nick and Cate. What can I say about these two? I am fortunate to become friends with so many of my clients. And it has been my great joy to get to know these two. They are two of the loveliest, sweetest, funniest, most adorable people I have ever had the opportunity to meet, let alone[...]
A Little Magic, Two Gorgeous People, and So Much Love. Same Sex Backyard DIY Wedding in Rochester, NY
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Ciao! I’m so excited that you’re here! So many people already know me as Ciao Bella Boudoir, a business I’ve owned since 2008. I also was co-owner of Hanlon-Fiske Studios, shooting weddings since 2009. In 2016 I launched Ciao Bella Studios and I couldn’t be more excited! Under Ciao Bella Studios I will be continuing to photograph gorgeous weddings, fresh and lovely newborn babes, and amazingly fierce boudoir. These things are food for my soul. I can’t express how much joy I receive from each and every one of these shoots. I am one lucky girl!
I have worked with so many amazing people over the years, and 2016 was no different. I’ve always told my clients that it’s the relationships I build with my couples that allows me to create magic. I now have friends all over the world, friends who let me into their lives for one of the most important days of their lives. A major bucket list goal is to travel the world. I’ve had invitations from lovely souls in Switzerland, London, Berlin, Nice, Las Vegas, Santa Fe, Carolina; this goal is closer all the time! Wouldn’t it be incredible to line up weddings in each of those locations? YES!! Make some magic happen!
One of my amazing couples is Kyle and Stephane. When I first heard from Kyle, he sent me a link where I would get to see Stephane propose! How amazing is that? Even more amazing? Stephane proposed while they competed on Italy’s Got Talent. Seriously? I cry every. single. time. (Yes, I may have watched it a few times :)) The biggest part of this wasn’t that it was on the show, it was that Stephane dared to propose to Kyle when Gay marriage was not legal in Italy. Their very public engagement was part of a HUGE push in Italy to legalize same sex weddings. On June 5th, 2016, Gay marriage was officially legalized in Italy. So when Kyle and Stephane were married in Pittsford, New York this past September, it was also legally recognized in Italy! How amazing is that!
So now that you’ve dried your tears of joy from watching that proposal, on to their gorgeous wedding! Kyle and Stephane did everything with the help of their families. Their wedding was in Kyle’s aunt’s backyard. They spent a ton of time cleaning up a wooded area by a stream, creating PURE MAGIC! I’m not kidding, the light made me tingle. Every shot I took had this pure magic to it that is indescribable. Since I can’t find enough words in the english language to do it justice, see the photos below!
Every detail was perfect. They chose to decorate with a simple geometric white theme with touches of greenery. There were lawn games for family and friends to play during cocktail hour.
Kyle and Stephane got ready together, dressing in completely matching suits. Who looks this good in a suit, let alone BOTH looking this good in the same suit?
The ceremony? Perfection. You didn’t think I was exaggerating that magical light, did you? Goosebumps. Kyle and Stephane created that arbor themselves with potted plants and twinkly lights, this is my favorite ceremony site to date!
Remember those suits I mentioned? Can’t you just feel the love they share? Look at the way Kyle looks at Stephane! I didn’t pose these two, they were so natural and comfortable in front of the camera. Have I mentioned how lucky I am?
And finally their reception. Such a blast! The clear topped tent was overflowing with love and joy. And again, you can feel it just from the photos. This is why I do what I do. This is why I consider myself incredibly fortunate every day.
A HUGE thank you to my partner in crime, Jen Waldow! She has been my rock over the last couple of years. I am SO excited to move forward with her as my second!