Serendipity Lake Wedding Photography in Windham New York

I recently photographed a wedding at Serendipity Lake House in Windham. It’s a beautiful spot that once served as a sort of campground and cross-country ski area. Today, it is being transformed as a rental and DIY event space. You rent it. You run the show.

Of course, If you’re planning this sort of party- rent the space and do it yourself, you won’t go it alone. You’ll be hiring a professional or two to do things like cook the meal or capture the photography.

It’s less unusual, as the years fly by, to connect with a couple to discuss their photography needs electronically – and not meet until the wedding day.

When I entered the world of wedding photography I’d say I met with 8 out of 10 couples ahead of time in person.

There were the occasional ‘out-of-towners’ that were tying the knot in the Catskills and found www.catskillsphotographer.com or the Adirondacks, where they spotted my www.adirondacksphotographer.com,and we ironed out all the relevant details online.

But more often than not if say a wedding was in the couple’s neck of the woods in Hudson, NY or Albany, we would meet at or near the planned venue to discuss the details.

These days, 80 percent or more of the couples I photograph meet with me online. Folks are busy and I understand. The internet is convenient and it’s become common place to meet over a screen or even simply text and phone calls.

Whether photographing a proposal in a fishing hole or a lake side wedding, I love what I do.

Afterwards, when a bride emails to say “They look absolutely amazing! They’re so wonderful, they really capture the day,” well you can imagine how that makes me feel…

That’s what Hannah and Kurt said about their wedding photos a day after delivery.

Hannah had found me online, and explored my social media footprint as well – asking when we talked ‘Do you rent sound equipment?,’ having spotted some instagram posts about concert work.

I do. I’m not a DJ, per se, though I have DJ’d some non-wedding events. I’m more of a sound engineer going back to my days on stage and in the studio as a musician and running a record company. These days, I handle concert and corporate sound when I’m not behind a camera or keyboard.

I delivered and set up the sound for Hannah and Kurt’s wedding before starting in on photography, then packed it up and out at the end of the night when the party was over.

Their playlist was loaded on the bride’s phone, and a seamless backdrop of jazz for the cocktail hour then classic and contemporary hits to dance to was delivered via my PA.

I actually did the same thing for my own wedding, though I played the afternoon’s music from a USB memory stick. Lots of options out there.

Toasts were delivered from the requested microphone ready near by.

As a sometimes sound man, none of this is meant to diminish the work DJs do. I worked with a terrific fellow from Woodstock soon after at the same venue. (More about that event next time.) But occasionally, what’s sometimes called an ‘iPod’ wedding is all you want.

Hannah and Kurt’s wedding was actually a celebration following nuptials the previous fall. While her mother officiated a ceremony beautifully, the day did not include formal first dances or planned events other than toasts during the party that followed.

Sometimes simple works, like handling your wedding photography and sound through the same media services company.

“Everything was so perfect and you were fantastic to have at the event,” Hannah included in her email.

Looking for an easy-going photographer who also happens to handle sound for live events?

How serendipitous that you should find this post!

Let’s chat about your next event. Whether it’s a wedding, a reunion or a surprise proposal, I think you’ll be glad we did.

You can email, or text: 845 430 4030 to get started, or even dial that phone to chat!  I look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks as always for reading,

Jonathan Ment Photography