www.heidibenjamin.com

Michael + Kate | Brooklyn | E-Session

Heidi — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:43:01 +0000

Kate is my adorable assistant who, many people, think is my twin sister. I really just blame the fact that we both have dark hair and bangs but hey! I’m not complaining. Look at her! Michael is pretty cute too

I met them on a pier in Red Hook, Brooklyn which was so so lovely. Their session happened to fall directly after a very rainy cold day. So, the sun on my shoulders, breeze in my face and the Statue of Liberty in the distance was a heavenly. I have spent a lot of rainy days in NYC. I don’t know what I ever did to her! Thank you for the break. Maybe it was to apologize for the INSANE traffic jam i got trapped in on the way there.

This is a very special collection of images.

I can’t wait for your wedding day!! You are seriously the best ever!

-H

James + Christine | Central Park | E-Session

Heidi — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:10:36 +0000

I had the honor of spending a rainy cold day in Central Park with James and Christine. They are quite lovely and we had a lot of fun. I can’t wait for their wedding which is being held in the Finger Lakes this fall !

I not only photograph people in love but I am also a duck whisperer. I somehow managed to get this duck to follow me around the fountain… and bam!

I can’t even handle how beautiful….. ah!

Kate + Michael | Teaser!

Heidi — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:16:45 +0000

BABY ON BOARD!

Heidi — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:30:18 +0000

This is my friend Sarah. She is Prego.

I know you don’t normally see this kind of stuff on my blog but it was too beautiful not to share.

I can’t wait to meet baby Jake in just a very very very short time!

-H

Featured Creative Genius: Amelia McDonnell

Heidi — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:30:42 +0000

I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to call Amelia McDonnell my friend. She is a wonderful, talented and a DROP DEAD gorgeous human being. I know I sound super cheesy but, I don’t know any other way to put it. Amelia’s cup of tea is illustration work . She is phenomenal at it. She brings so much of her own personality to everything she does. I admire her work and wanted to share it with you.

Amelia created the buttons on my website and even made me my very own portrait for my bio section.

Upon request she does portraits and other custom work.

She created the most adorable 2012 SAVE THE DATE portrait for clients of mine! They used it on their cards (see below)! Looking for something different and one of a kind? Please, check this girl out!

contact information:

website: www.ameliannemary.com
fb: facebook
email: ameliannemary@gmail.com

How did you get started in the illustration field?
Drawing pictures was my favorite thing as a kid and I always looked forward to art classes in school. Besides working with animals, there was never anything else that made sense to me as much as making art. Nothing brings me as much joy as creating things. I love to tell stories, make funny looking animals and sweet images that make people giggle and smile. Drawing and imagining is what I do best. I cannot imagine any other life for me.

What is your process when working with clients? Can you run us through a typical job?
Every job is about creative problem solving. Someone comes to me with an idea, but they don’t rightly know how it will look when it is tangible on paper. My purpose is to translate their thoughts into images, add in something quirky from myself, then make it real for them. A client is most often presented with a choice from a few different thumbnails of ideas from me, we discuss them, pick what’s best and I’ll come back to them with color, corrections or whatever else is requested. The best part is when your client is happy, delighted and surprised by what’s been created.

What is your creative process?
Everything is work for me, but that is not depressing or scary in anyway! I love what I do, so everyday is a dream. I am always looking at things: people on the street, cute doggie noses, pictures in travel magazines, art in museums, images online, movies on the big screen. All of those things plague my brain until they are somehow translated to an idea that reaches paper.

What was one of your favorite assignments?
I’m in my final semester of school, and the most recent assignment I received is called “the Dream project”. Basically we are allowed to create a series of images that work as a part of a larger idea. It can be about anything at all! I am always making lists of ideas or sketches of thumbnails for things I want to draw, so this was just an opportunity to finally bring to life something that had been sitting in some stack of paper under my desk.
This time I am working on double portraits styled after early daguerreotypes, of people and their dogs. I love drawing animals, especially dogs, so this will be a lot of fun. Each of the people will resemble their doggie partner and vice a versa. I am excited to create and mold each of their characters and give life to their stories.

Describe your work setting.
Sometimes I do something really bad, and draw or paint on my bed. I read somewhere that you are never ever ever supposed to do work on your bed, it is bad for your sleeping habits or something. My desk is topped by a cork board with post its all over it, some outlining the steps to a project I’m working on, some are grocery lists and some are thoughts I had to jot down not to forget. It’s important to keep yourself surrounded by images and things that inspire you, so pasted on the wall are pictures created by Mary Blair, Alice and Martin Provensen, Beatrix Potter etc. I get really weird about things being in the right place, so before I sit down to work on something I always end up doing a reorganization and straightening up of things, otherwise I can never concentrate.

Do you ever have creative slumps? What do you do then?
Of course, that terrible feeling happens to everyone, in creative fields or not, where you just don’t know what to do anymore. There are not many other feelings worse than that. If I’m feeling like I’m at the bottom, I usually take a shower. For some reason all my good ideas come to me in the shower, or on the bus/train somewhere. That’s why its always important to have a pen and paper handy. Don’t let those thoughts go to waste!
Looking at work that inspires you always help, go see a pretty movie, walk through a beautiful park, look at paintings in a museum. Nothing is created in a vacuum, all of our good ideas come from somewhere!

What has been inspiring you lately?
I am having the best time ever at the New York Public Library Picture Collection. There are shelves and shelves and folders and folders of any kind of picture you can imagine. They have a great resource of dog images too! Most separated by breed. As well as their website that contains all kinds of cool old portraits of people from the 17th and 18th century. The clothing and hair do’s of those individuals are so curious and full of opportunities.
I really want to get more hands on with my work, creating my own fonts and letters and exploring paper cut images as a choice of media as well.

Any advice for others who are pursuing creative goals?
Do what makes you happy. If it doesn’t make you happy, don’t do it!
Life is small and weird and individual happiness is just as important as it is for world wide happiness. Don’t you remember those posters in your elementary classrooms, “Smiles are contagious” ?
But seriously, creative work is hard, it taxes your brain, your self esteem, your whole being! Always strive for something new and better. Keep learning and always have fun.

-H

Lake Placid, New York | Up in the Woods

Heidi — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:00:22 +0000

I was lucky enough to escape the world for two wonderful days of bliss. I was in dire need of some r&r! Sometimes I forget how important it is to take some time to myself. I had this place in my mind…a place I really didn’t think existed. Well guess what? It does! Only 2.5 hours away from home. A REAL MIRACLE!

I managed to find the most perfect little cabin hideaway. Sitting on 1,000 acres inside the great Adirondack State Park in Upper Jay, New York. Just 20 short minutes from Lake Placid which prior to this trip, I had never been. Living in Upstate New York has it’s perks. Especially when you live so close to something like this place.

We arrived on Friday evening and it was pitch black. Luckily, I thought of this prior and brought along my flash light! I was surprisingly spooked when we first pulled up. It was sooo dark and quiet! Don’t get me wrong, I love the outdoors and camping. It just felt strange to be in an unfamiliar place with only the moonlight and my tiny LED flashlight leading us up the driveway.

We awoke on Saturday morning to a dusting of snow that had covered the woods throughout the night. Truly making this place even more dreamy. Usually, here in New York, winter is ROUGH but this year we haven’t seen much snow come through. It was nice to see… even if I don’t particularly enjoy an abundance of it.

Both mornings we made an epic breakfast on the most BEAUTIFUL stove I have ever laid eyes on. Honestly, cooking is a trade I need some practice at but, even I could admire the greatness it was. This thing was life changing! After breakfast we set out on a hike to explore the park. We walked for what seemed like hours with hopes of reaching the top of uhhhh… something. No such luck. It really just came down to us walking trails endlessly and me falling through what seemed to be, a very large mud puddle that had frozen over. Oh! And of course taking a bazillion photos.

After our hiking adventure we took a trip into Lake Placid to check it out. Such a lovely little place. Although it was FREEZING we walked up and down Main Street checking out some of the shops while we waited for our table to open at the Lake Placid Brewery . Which we were super pumped to check out! We ordered WAY too much food and indulged in some yummy craft beer. Mmmmmm….

Sadly on Sunday we had to depart. It was hard to do after such a relaxing weekend. I think shockingly, the best part of the entire mini vacation was the lack of cellphone service and internet. Just like the rest of us… I struggle with a slight technology obsession. I swear, if I don’t have my iPhone lighting up my face I just don’t feel right. I am constantly instagraming, tweeting..whatever. It was nice to have that option just completely removed for a few days. It is important to embrace the beauty that is around you. Life is too short not to open your eyes and notice it.

We noticed while packing that, the table some of our things were resting on, had names engraved in it. We added our initials, joining the others who have also had the opportunity to enjoy this magical universe.

On our way home, we stopped at this crazy waterfall lookout. We were not dressed appropriately for the bitter temperature but, we braved the cold and had these special ice treads put on the bottom of our shoes. I was wearing fashionable boots! I’m a total dummy! In my defense… I wasn’t expecting this spontaneous stop on the ride home. We ventured down the path anyway (we are risk takers). The first thing we saw was a series of steel bridges. Some of them were very steep and covered in ice and snow! The bridges were so high up! I am not afraid of heights but I wasn’t feeling exceptionally warm and fuzzy on them.

I got some great pictures at the risk of my hands going numb.

When we got back inside where it was nice and toasty they had a hot chocolate station waiting for us. I was REALLY happy to see that. Our faces were bright red from the cold wind. It was worth it though! The view was unbelievable. No regrets!

I hope to get back to the cabin next winter. A tradition in the making if you ask me!-H

Siobhan + Eric | Fort Orange Club | Albany, NY

Heidi — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:24:49 +0000

Siobhan + Eric : Preview

Heidi — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:56:21 +0000

couldn’t possibly feel any better about my first wedding of the year.

-H

2011 | two thousand and eleven in review

Heidi — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 07:13:56 +0000

Wow. Okay, this is it.

I am going to be completely honest with everyone. This year has been both a struggle and a dream come true. When the ball fell on New Years Eve this past January I was surrounded by my closest friends in an Albany apartment. In that moment I would have never thought so much would change from that moment until now. I started the year off with a slow crawl that turned into something closer to a frightened fetal position. I was broken, tired and alone.

It took a few months but I started feeling exceptionally motivated and recharged after some rather large hang ups. It wasn’t long before I was getting back on my feet and making some big moves.

Photographing love is the only thing I want to do with my life. It is my energy source. My work brings me to life. I have met so many amazing people this year. I consider each and every one of you my friends. I am completely honored to have documented a historic part of your lives. I cannot thank you enough for allowing me to do so.

I can’t lie to you and say that looking at my schedule between August-October didn’t scare the hell out of me. I had no idea how I was going to accomplish what I had staring back at me within my calendar. I know many of you are aware that I am a one man band but I still get inquiries where the bride/groom are rather confused when I pick up on the other end of the telephone and it isn’t some robotic recording. Hi! It’s me!

Photographer. What does this mean? Well, let me set the record straight briefly. The term photographer does not mean that we run around with cameras on our necks for a few hours and send you the pictures when we get home. We only wish! Photographer also means the following titles in our world… secretary, accountant, photoshop guru, blogging extraordinaire, photoboother, weight lifter, seamstress, marketing master, design specialist, prop creator, vagabond, tech support, customer service, googlemaps expert and the list goes on. Maybe some aspects aren’t as fun as others but I wouldn’t trade anything for the world.

My 2012 resolution is to separate my work and personal life a bit more. To spend more QT with my friends and family. To leave some breaks in my schedule to adventure and document my life as well. This year as the clock strikes midnight when i look around I will be surrounded by some of the most beautiful humans in the world. Old friends and some new! The people currently in my life make me so incredibly happy and grateful for their company and friendships. I will begin my year positive and in a wonderful place thanks to them and all of you!

Thank you all again for a fantastic year.
2012 Brides and Grooms I hope you are ready.
I cannot WAIT to work with you and blow your wedding out of the park!

Happy New Year.

Forever Gratefully Yours,

- H

{Al + Matt } Married!

Heidi — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:30:50 +0000

Hello! It has been a little while. It is nearly 2012. Can you believe it?! It has been such a crazy year. I am compiling some of my favorite images from 2011 and can’t wait to share them all with you! I hope that each and every one of you is enjoying your final stretch of December. Which, for me seems surreal.

Anyway, onto the important stuff!
You might remember Alison and Matthew from their e-session back in September.

One of the BIGGEST reasons I am a strong supporter of engagement sessions is the pre-wedding friendship you can establish with your bride and groom. I had so much fun with these two. They are wonderful people and we had a ton of great laughs. The anticipation of shooting their actual wedding was killing me after hearing all their great plans!

and here we go….

LADIES FIRST!

I really enjoyed all the matching slippers!
Passing around the custom interactive HB guestbook

Now the guys….
How great are the ties?! Love me some Etsy goodies!

You can never go wrong with a school bus as transportation.

Check out this rendition of a backyard wedding…

I think these could be used in the 2012 Fall JCrew. What do you think?

Party time!

oh wait…… small break from party time…. this is happening!

The fireworks display was incredible!

ok… and we are back to are regularly scheduled program…

I leave you with a Father Daughter high five!

Q&A’s

1. What was the most memorable part of your day?

both: Having our friends and family there to celebrate and party with us – and these people knew how to party!

Al: How awesome my mom looked, my dad’s and my awesome high five during the ceremony, the risotto bar, and the amazing rendition of Broadway’s ”Oklahoma” late night.

Matt: Getting ready with the groomsmen, the short and sweet ceremony featuring fun music, the kick-ass fireworks, barely making it in time for the bus to the hotel at the end of the party.

2. What was your favorite purchase?

both: The groom and groomsmen’s ties, beer coozies, and fireworks!

3. Where did you find inspiration?

Al: Pinterest, Style Me Pretty, our awesome friends’ weddings

4. How did you meet?

We met through friends in Saratoga and were friends for a while before we dated.

5. Plans for a honeymoon?

both: We went to St. Lucia for 10 days and lounged on the beach and it was excellent!

Thank you both for allowing me to document your wedding.

Also a big special thank you to Miss Stamas who assisted me on this glorious day!

-H