Sweet Little Bambino

We want to welcome a new baby into this world. His name is Luca Marcello Jondee. He was born on March 11, 2011, sharing the same birthday as my dear husband Scott so we have no excuse in forgetting each year Luca gets older, lol. He breathed his first breath of life weighing in at 8lb 8.2 oz. and 21 inches long so I give his wonderful mom and my very good friend Melina some  B~i~G  props. Here's a little taste from our session yesterday.

Luca Marcello Jondee

This is no "Trash the Dress" Session

Many of you peeps out there who keep up with the modern trends ever expanding in the wedding photography world have come to hear the newer term "Trash the Dress" which implies utter destruction to a most valuable heirloom...the coveted wedding gown. Here is what image might conjure up in your mind when perhaps you may hear those words spoken...

However, Scott and I understand that "Trash the Dress" is not the most eloquently termed name to evoke romantic images in ones mind, such as this one below. 

We WANT to bring out in you longful feelings of "I want that" flooding your brain and so we sat down, with freshly brewed cappuccinos, donned our thinking caps and thought long and hard, and before you know it we came up with a much better name for this amazing session...We call it "The Hangover". What exactly is this "Hangover Session" you may ask? Well, I shall whisper it into your ear...come a little closer...

You like to have fun. Your wedding day  F~L~E~W  by. You want to wear that gorgeous dress again, without a care in the world. Without a time frame to worry your perfectly shaped brows. This is where we come in. We eagerly plan a day and a time. We make you look gorgeous-again-and then...we create magic. It is usually about 2 hours of complete and utter AWESOMENESS. You will have to endure hearing me constantly moaning and oohing and ahhhing and in the end we will have created an amazing portrait session of you and the one you will love for the rest of your lives together on this earth...We make ordinary locations look extraordinary. And most importantly we capture love, your love, and our love, for each other, for what we do, and for being with you. All of that love reflects through. And yes, I happened to intellectually rhyme that with intention ;-)

So for those of you out there, who perhaps did not pick the right photographer for your wedding day and you would like to have some cherished images of you and the love of your life- this is your perfect chance to recreate how beautiful you really are. We have a stylist on hand to primp you up and have lots of fun, because essentially, that is what we are all about. 

Love Letters

Dear Lauren,

The first time we spoke you called me as I was just about to escape the lights and action of Las Vegas and go into cyber sleep in Death Valley. You were my last phone call from the realms of functional  cell phone existence and what a phone call it was! You had me thinking about you the next three days as I climbed stone mountains and traipsed along salt covered sea beds and I looked forward to hearing your happy voice again. You described your wedding plans briefly giving me a glimpse into your Robinhood world telling me tales of elegantly donned ladies walking down grass covered cobblestone aisles with glowing candle lanterns and you how in your hands laced around your fingers would be your grandmother's rosary surrounded by Stefanotis flowers. And as beautiful as I could have imagined it all to be, the reality was even more breathtaking. You created a fairytale at Skytop and I am honored that you loved me then and love me more today. I appreciate the many cards you've sent me since we've met, my favorite being the last, the one where you wrote "How do you thank someone for making your wedding dreams come true? Our pictures are beyond...I can actually feel our wedding every time I look through the photos." So touching. I love that at your wedding you introduced me to your friends and family, not as your photographer, but as your friend. I adore the way you look at my lens, as if you are staring deep into my soul, so comfortably. I treasure your love and friendship and will forever be honored that you chose both Scott and I to capture the love you and Travis have for one another. Thank you. I love you.

I love love.

The "First Look"

Behold BLHDN

An extraordinary website unveiled its online window shops today. It is called BLHDN. Inspired by the Dutch word for “to keep,” as well as countless tales from family and friends of the extraordinary weddings they’d been part of, they began dreaming up something new. Their roots are with Anthropologie, so a passion for experience and creating one-of-a-kind moments runs deep. That is why, we at Dove Photography also must spread the word from our mountaintops and tell you of the beauty that is revealed within the pages of this site. So explore it. Love it. {Be} hold it and perhaps you shall {be} with us as we blissfully gush over your loveliness when you take your first steps down the aisle wearing such fine accoutrements. 


Here are just a few of my favorite things...

Ethereal Monarch Gown

1 Year Anniversary for Steve & Ali at The Brownstone

When I first met Ali and Steve they told me the most important images they wanted captured on their special wedding day would be the 4 foot long sparkler's their guests would be lighting after the conclusion of their ceremony as they exited the church. I can't believe it has already been one year since they said their vows but as we wish them a Happy One Year Anniversary and a congratulations on their soon to be addition to their new family with their first child I say to you "Ali and Steve, Scott and I wish you the very best in your new family and may you have many more healthy happy babies to fill the joyful home you've both made. We love you!"

Happy Anniversary!

I love the excitement in Ali's face...priceless.

The grand exodus!

The Brownstone in Paterson, NJ

La Chic Barn Se Magnifique!

About a month ago I had written a blog about Amanda & Chris and how quickly they had to arrange their wedding day due to family illness (see below). Well, we had the privilege of photographing their chic barn inspired wedding on October 2nd and here are but a few of our favorite images captured on that perfectly warm and sunny romantic afternoon.

I love the timeless feel of these images.

Hands down, this was the funnest group of misbehaved bridal party ever...just look at those mischievous grins!

Look at the romantic pucker on their first dance. I love it when a man holds his woman so tenderly.

How gorgeous is that? L-O-V-E this moment!

Skytop Lodge Wedding Sneak Peek

This past weekend Scott and I spent the weekend with the most amazing friends - Lauren and Travis, who not only stole our hearts from the moment we met, but have since become very good friends of ours who we treasure dearly. They celebrated their beautiful wedding at Skytop Lodge (The Pocono's best kept secret - no longer)  together with a V-e-R-y  fun group of family and friends and an amazing band! I HAD to share this image with everyone as a sneak peek of many gorgeous things to come...

The Hangover Sessions

This is a story about a girl who loves photography and a boy who will do anything to make her happy. This is Chamonix and Jesse. We photographed them for a second time about six months after their wedding for a session we like to call "The Hangover". It is highly recommended to any bride who feels her wedding day has too quickly passed her by and would like to get some more dramatic portraiture of herself and her handsome groom traveling to places she might never dare or have time for on her special day. Our favorite image of the day is pictured below. Looks like a train is coming and Chamonix and Jesse could care less about the impending danger. Love it! Look at the cool calm collected spirit of the both of them. Such perfect models these two. We had so much fun traipsing through abandoned parts of NJ as well as her moms gorgeous home in Asbury. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery. And remember, this could be you too, one day, soon ;-)  

In Good Times And In Bad, And In Joy As Well As In Sorrow

One of my most favorite new bands is called The Xx. I could pretty much listen to them everyday for a month and not get a headache. So when I heard they were playing in New York City this October, WOOOO, I was totally psyched and bought four tickets IMMEDIATELY for Scott and I and our BFF's. Nothing would  stop me from seeing these guys...or so I thought. 

Two weeks ago my phone rang. It was a guy named Chris. What he told me changed everything. Chris recently asked Amanda to marry him. To be his true love forever. Amanda said yes. They set their wedding date for October 2011. Then they received devastating news. Amanda's father was diagnosed with cancer and given three months to live. They did the most loving and logical thing they could-move their wedding date to this October. When you first meet them you know right away, Chris and Amanda are amazing people and of course many of their good friends stepped in to do whatever they could to help plan this fast approaching wedding. They explained to me that it is going to be a small and intimate affair set on the property of a log cabin with 2 horses, a barn, and a perfect fall atmosphere complete with bridesmaids walking down the hay baled aisles donning cowboy boots. Then, more devastating news strikes: her father dies suddenly a few weeks ago. Of course it doesn't stop there. The photographer they had chosen unprofessionally bails on them and with sudden swiftness left there hearts burdened in their outstretched palms, BUT, not for long. This is the part where Scott and I came in. When I heard the compassion and love in Chris' voice for Amanda and then talked with her I was quickly motivated to come to their rescue. Assured that there would be nothing stopping me from photographing their wedding I quickly hopped on board. How could I not be a part of these two most brilliant individuals who love each other so much and though they have experienced the worse possible loss still maintain amazing resilience and joy despite their recent devastation! Wedding vows include the words: "In sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as sorrow" and they have both certainly lived those words true.  I can closely relate to Amanda because I too have lost my father at  age 17 and the pain of his absence never goes away. Walking down that aisle without him was hard, however, one cannot give thought to the loss in that moment. You must embrace the man you walk towards and know that his arms and love will be there to carry you through the times when you miss your father the most. Amanda, I know Chris will do that for you. 

I graciously thank you both for trusting your friends and family when they recommend you call us. And thank you for commissioning us to capture the beautiful memories that will record the precious celebration of your love for one another to all who join you on that day. 

Below are a few shots of our engagement session we squeezed into our schedules in the historic town of Smithville, NJ so that they can have a "Be My Guest" Book for all of their close friends and family to sign on their wedding day.

Though near closing time, they ran the carousel just for us to get this shot.

Yes, its true, Amanda's tongue accidentally touched the KISS record, but it was worth it right Amanda?

This is the back of Smithville Inn, where they were going to be married next year. 

A stolen kiss by the docks at sunset in Smithville under the bridge.

Good Ol' Fashion Pennsylvania Fun

As people brace themselves for the work week ahead and life returns to everyday normalcy I reflect on the day after Labor Day and what it means to me. It happens to be my 12th wedding anniversary (holler) and it reminds me how much I love love. Yes, you read that right. I, Catherine Dove, love love. Yes, I know it rhymes too, lol. But, I have to say I am EXTREMELY grateful to be able to capture and preserve forever peoples most intimate memories of times that will pass but feelings that hopefully will remain.

And so with this thought in mind, I introduce to you very great friends I've recently met and fell in love with myself. They are Lauren and Travis and they are a bowl full of good times. We galavanted all over Pennsylvania from their home town of Nazareth, to the 7-11 where they met and fell in love at first sight, to Travis' mom basement where they had hours of make-out sessions, and finally to Skytop Lodge where they will be getting married next month.  I must confess, it was hard to be serious in the cornfields when all we were doing was laughing. It was more difficult for me to behave with Lauren then when I try photographing my own family especially when she turned the camera on us and decided to snap a few pictures of us in the middle of the shoot! But we managed to pull through and as you scroll through some of the images below you can surely see the passion and love they have for one another. It is always refreshing to spend time with friends who love love. And so Lauren and Travis, I hope you enjoy your first peek at our day together and Lauren you can now stop cyberstalking me and finally enjoy what you know you've been waiting for since the moment I put my camera down at the dinner table. Love you forever! Xoxo

A rifle case in the cornfield, typical moments in PA & Lauren and I showing PA whose boss.

My Favorite Series "Put A Ring On It" dance

"The Spot" where make-out sessions in High School occurred...

Skyland Manor