This Valentine's Day, make a gift of yourself that lasts forever. Your portrait. Not boudoir. Not a pin-up. It's a tasteful, elegant yet sensual art portrait celebrating *you* from G.E. Masana Photographer that depicts your essence. Do it for yourself and/or for the person you love. Invest in a gift of beautify - and art - and love with The Je Te Veux Session {(french for "I Want You"). Each couture portrait session includes a little pampering as a professional hair and makeup artist is provided. Limited sessions are available so please call 646.543.1321 by February 14 to reserve a session and treat yourself.

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I'm so thrilled to have G.E. Masana with me today. He's an amazing wedding photographer who I'm sure you might recognize as I've featured several of his gorgeous weddings and engagement shoots on the blog.

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Breaking News: There's a new definition for "unique": Now it means "Cookie Cutter" and "Copy Cat" - when it comes to your wedding photos.

A popular wedding website recently interviewed a wedding photographer asking how a bride can get "unique" wedding photos from her photographer. The professional's answer may actually shock you. A "must have" shot, she advised, would be to find a "really cool graffiti wall" to "stand in front of".

Really? Isn't this graffiti wall thing a bit overdone by now? Search Google Images for "wedding photos graffiti wall" and it returns 6,940,000 results. That's right - almost seven million of those puppies.

Considering that there are only about two million marriages a year in the U.S. that's a heck of a lot of graffiti themed wedding photos! Not anything I'd remotely call "unique". Would you?

Part of the problem for populating newlyweds’ love nests en masse with these types of wedding pictures is the well-intended but "follow-the-herd" thinking of many wedding photographers today. They're lovely people I'm sure, but maybe they haven't yet come to appreciate what really makes any bride's wedding photography truly unique.

Because if some "trend-of-the-moment" type shot is what they think does it... if that's their best idea, then they're thinking mere "snapshots". It's true that many brides don't particularly care one way or the other beyond that. After all, brides are people too... and people do things like, copy what the next person's doing. Do whatever's "hot" today. That's why back in the 80's lots of brides had the big hair and poofy wedding sleeves. They just followed the trend.

But there are (and have always been) brides (and grooms!) who stand apart and care more about acquiring something far more meaningful for themselves... something truly unique... in their wedding photography.  

For sure, more special than any graffiti wall.  

Which is why I wrote down my 10 essential tips that actually will make your wedding photos unique. I couldn’t stay silent any longer.  

Working with hundreds of brides and grooms as a NYC wedding photographer and seeing first hand what *does* mean something to them has given me insights. True, I also have the advantage of brides writing me on their anniversaries because they wanted to thank me again and tell me how their wedding photos have become ever more significant to them with time - and why that's so. In other words, these insights are time tested and proven.

So I've gleaned tons of aha! moments out of all my experience. And I'm going to share some of those light bulb moments with you.

This is obviously not for everybody. It's insight for discerning couples who seek something more desirable and personalized out of their wedding photos. These tips are anything but routine. You won't see them all mentioned in any wedding magazine... evidently. But they will make a significant difference in your resulting wedding photos - plus they even have a side effect of making your wedding day experience more enjoyable as well! And who wouldn't want that?  

If you're a bride or groom you can grab your personal copy right now. For free. I don't know how long I'll be giving away this information but if you'd like to achieve better, more meaningful unique wedding photography - get your copy now in time to easily put these tips in motion for your wedding.

Enjoy! Click Here For "10 Essential Tips For The Best Wedding Photos Ever"

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New York City Wedding Photographer

G.E. Masana is a nationally published, NYC wedding photographer. Clients have included Vanessa Penna (ELLE), Gaines Peyton (Sears-Peyton Gallery), among many others. His photography has been featured in ELEGANT BRIDE, BRIDAL GUIDE, BRIDE'S and MARTHA STEWART WEDDINGS as well as several international professional photography journals. You can check out his NYC wedding photography blog here.

Today's spectacular wedding was photographed by G.E. Masana Photography and I just love his photographs. The amazingly detailed photos and the texture that is captured astounds me each time I see a wedding by G.E. Today's bride didn't want a cookie cutter wedding and this was definitely achieved. G.E. says the the bride was into all different types of vintagy hand crafted woodwork items that served to decorate the wedding. Oh, and there was also pumpkin ravioli, yum.

I love how G.E. captures the "First Look" of couples. He photographs from afar to capture their "real expressions and genuine emotions". After the first look the bride told G.E. that she wanted to gift her groom with a present. Therefore, this was another "first" moment to capture. The bride had a pocket watch for her groom that held sentimental value and meaning to him. And, here's what G.E. writes about this moment that is best said in his words . . . "This was also a "first". It's not just the "first look" that's significant. Yes, it's significant - but there's other "firsts" that happen throughout the wedding day, aren't there?"

Thank you to G.E. Masana for sharing another breaktaking wedding with my readers today.

Wedding Vendors:
Reception: The Royalton Mansion 
Hair by Michael Kleinman, Metro Modes Salon
Make-up: Shara Strand 
Bridal Gown Designer: Casablanca @ Lillette’s Bridal
Flowers by Wade Bernesby, Spitz & Peck, NYC 
Music by Jay Benci, Party Up Productions
Cocktail Hour Musicians: Brewflies

There's something so special about the photos from G.E. Masana Photography - each photo is a true work of art and it's so much more than just a wedding photo. There's a story that's just waiting to be told in each photo. And, this wedding of Sal and Glenda is no exception, it's just gorgeous. {you can see an engagement session from G.E. that was posted earlier today}

Thank you G.E. Masana for spending today with my readers and sharing your breathtaking photography. To see even more, please visit G.E.'s blog.

Wedding Vendors:
Wedding Photographer: G.E. Masana
Wedding Reception Venue: River Café, Brooklyn NY
Ceremony: Church of Saint Teresa, Woodside NY
Hotel: The London Hotel, NYC
Hair & Make-up: Gorgeous Bride at The Wedding Cafe
Event Coordinator: Luke Vossen for the River Café
Bridal Gown Designer: Valentino Sposa
Tuxedo by Armani
Mantilla (a traditional Spanish bridal train): Pronovias/Saks
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Wedding Jewelry: Tiffany & Co.
Cake: Mark Joseph Cakes
Flowers: Flowers by Giorgie
Entertainment/Music/Design & Lighting: CAZZNY Productions/ Al Castillo, Master of Ceremony
Letterpress Invitations: Smock Co.
Calligrapher: Judy Paulen Designs at Bloomingdales

I've got the perfect fall engagement session from G.E. Masana Photography for you this morning. The photography is beautiful and captures the pure love of the couple Emma and Vincent. The words from G.E. say it best when he describes his photography as it's important for him to get the couple to open up, and "it becomes as if no one else is there but the two of them, amidst the beauty of nature surrounding them. It's about love. It’s a romantic notion. It never grows old, it never dies. It never ceases to captivate." G.E. told me that he thinks "of the long ago photos of Cartier-Bresson and others who photographed lovers on the streets of Paris, beautiful images that capture intimacy and romance in public, and those images are just as compelling to view today as they were then. People in love."

Thank you so much G.E. Masana for sharing these pure and beautiful engagement photos with my readers today. Stay tuned, because G.E. is back a little later this morning with a gorgeous real wedding.