Windham Wedding Photography at Serendipity Lake in the Catskills

I’ve always said I am not a photography factory. Every subject is one of a kind, just like you. And while there are certain aspects of many events that may overlap, the individuals involved make each celebration unique.

I don’t shoot a dozen weddings a month, grinding on Friday-Saturday-Sunday, week after week until I can’t remember where I am and who I have had the pleasure of photographing.

So it’s not often that I return to the same venue twice in a season.

BUT serendipity struck for me this year and I did find myself photographing two very different weddings at Serendipity Lake House above the Town of Windham.

There are benefits to returning to a venue I’ve already worked in. I get a sense of where the light will fall and at what time, where the backdrops are and what other sorts of options are available.

On my first visit, recent rains had made areas of the outside spaces a little damp, but for the second wedding here the interior of the lodge was leaned on more heavily. As it turned out, more recent rains had made those outside spaces a little more damp.

Flexibility is important for an upstate wedding or any major event.

If you’re working at the Plaza Hotel, sure – every detail from the lighting to the layout can be controlled to the n’th degree. There are companies that will ‘design’ your uplighting, downlighting and backlighting.

If you’re in the mountains, beside a lake and beneath blue skies… be ready to expect the unexpected.

I’ve got excellent luck when it comes to weather. I don’t think I’ve had a total soaker in years – and even then, you’d never know from the party that ensued inside what was happening out there.

For Liz and Chris, a lakeside ceremony was key and while guests may have felt, literally, one rain drop apiece, skies held for the duration of their wedding in Windham.

While dinner and dancing happened inside, rather than as planned under an adjacent tent, we were able to capture most of the desired portraits in the various outdoor spaces at the venue.

On my first visit to photograph a wedding at Serendipity Lake House, I provided the PA Rental for the couple to play their own music. This time around I had the chance to work with a Woodstock area DJ, “Diamond Dave” here, and watched as he efficiently set up a wireless (and battery-powered) speaker for the ceremony before moving the party indoors.

Dave was a solid team player, with the two of us checking in with one another throughout the wedding to ensure nothing was missed. Plus, I personally enjoyed the playlist – win-win!

The bridal party, big or small, is usually a close-knit group and this one was no different.

Friends have different traditions and enjoy different things – which could mean a little frisbee golf during the afternoon (that was a first for me behind the wedding photographer’s lens.) I first photographed this sort of thing years ago capturing varsity basketball for a weekly newspaper and more recently at the season opener for the Mountaintop Little league in Greene County, NY.

Like I said earlier … every subject is one of a kind, just like you!

Looking for an easy-going photographer with a background in editorial sports photography? How serendipitous (again!) that you should find this blog…

Let’s chat about your next event. Whether it’s a wedding, a 90th birthday celebration or an engagement session, 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