Hudson House

Do the first look on the terrace

The terrace faces lower Manhattan with nothing in the way. Mid-afternoon in winter the light goes soft and grey, which flatters a white gown and keeps the skyline sharp. In summer, hold it for the last hour before sunset.

Three portrait spots, zero travel

A green velvet curtain, a clean white paneled wall, and the wooden staircase that lets a train and veil run the full length of the frame. We shoot all three in twenty minutes between the first look and family photos.

Wait for the windows

The ballroom runs floor-to-ceiling glass along the water. Once the sun is down, the whole city is lit behind the tables and the dance floor, so we keep one camera on the room and never gel the windows out.