A Wedding at Home in Hudson, NY
When Nichole, a bona fide bad-ass National Geographic photographer, reached out to ask me about photographing her & Zelalems’ wedding, I screamed inside. To have someone with her background choose me was intimidating at first, but that melted away once I realized what an honor it was.
I usually get the opportunity to zoom with my couples before booking to ensure that we all vibe well, but Nichole was on assignment deep in Africa with no wifi capable of video. The only way to communicate was by sharing voice memos back and forth via WhatsApp. It was a human exchange I'll never forget. Getting a voice message from her was like receiving a letter from a pen pal. Hearing her share stories with me is how I got to know her, hear about Zelalem, and get a feel of their wedding day.
Although they live in Africa full-time, Hudson Valley will someday be their home. The house they bought in Hudson many years ago is occupied by local artist friends, who graciously gave them the keys for the week so they could host their wedding there. The vibe was relaxed & easygoing. An elevated summertime backyard wedding with a blend of American and African friends and family, great food, lots of laughs, and one helluva dance party.
shot by Chellise on a mix of digital & 35mm film
