TRENT BAILEY PHOTOGRAPHY | NYC WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER & FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER WHO BRINGS A VINTAGE EDITORIAL STYLE TO NEW YORK WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY » Trent Bailey Photography is a NYC Wedding & Family photographer who brings a timeless vintage & modern editorial style to New York Wedding Photography. He is frequently commissioned as a Manhattan Wedding Photographer and Manhattan Family Photographer but is available to photograph weddings and families throughout NYC.

I read this quote this morning and I could not let the day pass without sharing it with you guys.

“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.”

I know without a doubt there is no way I would be the person I am today without the influence my Dad has had on my life.

Today I just want to say Thank You Dad for believing.

Here is a shot of my wonderful parents on their most recent visit to NYC.

From the first time I stepped onto this amazing island of Manhattan, more commonly referred to as New York City, I WAS IN LOVE!  My first trip to NY was July 2001, the summer after my freshmen year of high school.  I instantly felt the connection with the hustle and bustle, street noise and sirens, and knew I’d one day be back.

I was blessed to be able live and intern in the city for two summers in college.  The summer of 2007 Dara (my girlfriend at the time) also lived in Manhattan; she was attending FIT while I interned at a magazine.  That was one of the most memorable summers of my life. Our love for each other and new york city continued to grow, and it was that summer that we both knew we would be returning not for a short visit, but as to stay full time as New Yorkers.

Yesterday, my beautiful wife and I celebrated our one year anniversary with NYC.  It has been just over a year since we left all that was familiar & comfortable.  We traded in a 3 bedroom home with a yard for a 450 square foot studio apartment with a wonderful view of the building’s wall next door.  We left behind our cars and are now proud owners of a monthly unlimited metro card.  We really do miss our family and friends, but are having a blast making new ones. However, with those sacrifices comes the privilege of calling this magnificent island of Manhattan HOME.

If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere. That’s what they say…here’s to the journey

Today is the day…24 years ago my best friend, my wife, my number one fan, Dara came into this world and really made it a brighter place.  I wrote a really long blog post but decided against it.  Instead I’m going to keep it simple (and hopefully sweet).

Dara,

I finally know where I’d be if you weren’t in my life (permanently stuck at a red light; that’s an inside joke that has alot to do with me never paying attention at intersections).  But I’m not.  I’m blessed to spend every day of my life with you.  Sharing our dreams, making memories of the beautiful moments in life, laughing at some of the not so beautiful moments, and cherishing every single second.  I love the way you hug me when you walk in the door.  I love the way you encourage me to be my best.  I love the way you are just you, never trying to be anyone but Dara.  And you do that so well.

Today I celebrate your birth.  Everyday I celebrate your life.  I love you endlessly.

Dara is my constant inspiration.  She gives me ideas, shows me editorial spreads in her fashion magazines, points out killer locations for shoots, supports me in my quest to be the best photographer, husband, son, friend, and person that I can be.  It is always a blast to work with my beautiful wife, to collaborate, and it is even better when I get her in front of my camera.  Here is a highlight from our walk on Sunday morning at South Street Seaport and by the Brooklyn Bridge.

Happy Birthday Dara!

Today I celebrate the last day of being in my early twenties…..tomorrow morning, I’ll be waking up as a 24 year old and officially be in my mid twenties.  Think about it:  20-23 is your early twenties, 24-26 is mid twenties; and 27-29 is late twenties.  I know everyone must be on the edges of their seats wondering what I’m doing to celebrate this momentous last day of my early twenties.  Well my friends, I’m working, sipping on lemon water, and maybe reading two magazines that came in the mail for me yesterday.

I’m also patiently waiting on my wonderful parents to arrive in the city.  They are flying in from Houston for the weekend, and I couldn’t be happier.  I haven’t seen them since Christmas (which seems like FOREVER ago).  I’m a huge momma’s boy so I can’t wait to see her and cannot wait to see my dad on his first trip to NYC.

Happy weekend to everyone

This morning, I woke up to continue a project that I have been working on for my church Apostles Church.  I’m part of the photo team and was excited to photograph Tom’s baptism this Sunday, and even more excited to shadow Tom at work.  He is a doctor in the EMERGENCY ROOM of a Brooklyn hospital.  It was such a blessing to follow Tom and also shoot in the hospital (something that takes lots of sweet talking, permissions, consent forms, and a few more jumps through hoops).  These photos are going to be part of Tom’s video testimonial at church.  For now I put together a little video of my own, but hope to show you the finished product.  It’s low quality, but will have the HQ version uploaded as soon as it is finished processing.  Enjoy!

Also, tomorrow I am going to be heading home to my wonderful home state of LOUISIANA!  I’m excited to see friends, attend two weddings, shoot lots of portrait sessions, a bridal session, and a HUGE HUGE HUGE shoot that has been on my brain for so long!

Details and and all those hot images will be put here first!

These photos have been living on my hard drive for far too long…68 days too long!

I’m not sure about you, but NYE has always been a let down.  You have Halloween, Thanksgiving and then the weeks of Christmas celebrations filled with parties, shopping, gifting, and travels to see loved ones. Then New Years Eve comes along to rain on me parade and tell me it’s ALL OVER!

This year was different.  I had a beautiful date, dressed in a vintage sequined dress, and a killer place to celebrate 2009 & bring in 2010!  One of my friends threw a great PARTAY on her rooftop, and rented out the lounge at the top of her apartment building, overlooking a new york staple, the beautiful Empire State Building!

We had so much fun with friends, and met some great new friends.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE…on march 11th.

How can I even begin to talk about how much this one person has influenced my life?  She has been with me since day one, eagerly awaiting my arrival with so much anticipation and on April 17^th, I blessed her with my presence .  She was ecstatic to ride home from the hospital in the back seat with me, proudly wearing her “I’m the big sister” shirt.  My sister Candice has been an amazing person to share so many life experiences and learn so many valuable lessons from.  Today she turns 28.  I am so proud of her and she is so proud of me.  We were raised by two loving parents who always loved us, never compared one to the other, and encouraged both of their children to follow their passions wholeheartedly.  Candice has done that!  She is living in HER home state of Texas (I’m always going be a Louisianian), happily married to her love, and passionately teaching history in Jr. High.  Talk about shaping lives and changing people’s perception of the world through her teaching and coaching.  Another minor change in my sister’s life has been her weight loss.  Candice has shed 125 pounds and Dave has lost 190 pounds.  They look like different people to say the least!

Candice, I want wish you the happiest birthday today, but I also want you to know that I celebrate you everyday for all you have accomplished in 28 years, your influence on my life and so many others, your big sister advice, and loving heart.

Love,

Your Baby Brother

Photo on the right taken by: Melissa Key

Photo on the left….just cute

Here are a few I shot of Candice & Dave when I was home for Christmas.  The light was fading and we had just a few minutes, so we will be having another session next time we are together.

Had to get a quick one of our awesome mom & dad….they pretty much rock!

WOW….this southern boy was not ready for the winter in the Northeast.

Not.At.ALL I just saw last night on the news that this February was NYC’s “SNOWIEST” on record. EVER. Meaning the city got more snow this February than it’s ever had in any February.  What a way for winter to welcome us to the North.
I joke about it, but I really do love it.  Friday we had so much snow and the city was absolutely beautiful.  Now I know you’re saying, “Didn’t he JUST post about the snow?”.  Yes, I did.  That was the last blizzard….these are from the newest blizzard. And this time I was prepared with a full battery, so no excuses!

NYC is getting back to normal.  The snow has melted into a brown slushy mess and the hidden puddles are no fun to step into (especially if you’re wearing suede boots while on a date with your wife), so I wanted to post these from Friday to remind me of the snowglobe that is the Northeast!

This is just outside of our apartment on Wall Street…looking down at Trinity Church

I’m not a history geek, but I think it’s beyond cool that I get to walk past the spot that George Washington took the oath of office as our first president.

The gates around the cemetery at Trinity Church.

The cemetery has so much history with members of the continental congress, congressmen, members of the Astor family (some who passed away on the Titanic), writers, artistists, and also has the oldest marked grave in New York City dating back to 1681.

We had to take a starbucks break to warm up!

We made it to my favorite spot in the park!

These are the steps that lead down to the Bethesda fountain…everyone just slid down, because of all the snow!

Have I told you how much my wife LOVES THE SNOW?  Her face lights up like a little kid!

I love this one…the reflection on the tiled ceiling

and these two:  love the silhouette and my favorite of the day is the one of Dara on the right!

SNOWFLAKES!

Dara took these of me….It was a cold bench!

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!

I recently purchased the Instax 210 Instant Film camera.  I have been wanting to get an instax for awhile to switch it up a little.  I cannot wait to incorporate the instant film into more of my work and future sessions.

This is a shot that I took yesterday on 34th Street and 8th Ave on my way back to the subway from picking up my business cards (I cannot wait to show you my cards and some other things I’ve been working on).   The sun was setting on the Empire State Building and this is what came out of the Instax.

You can purchase an Instax at Unique Photo

Instax Camera Photo Courtesy of Unique Photo

After moving to another side of the country, Dara and I wanted to be able to connect with a church family.  I’ve attended the same church back home in Louisiana for most of my life, and know how important it is to have a church family (miss you guys at Amite FUMC).  We have really enjoyed attending Apostles Church; they offer two services on Sundays:  one on the Upper East Side at 10:30am and the other in Union Square at 7pm.  One way our church desires to tell the story of Jesus at Apostles Church and in the City of New York is through the photography team.  I am so excited to be able to serve on the team and recently shot some during the services at Union Square.

On our way home from church I snapped these two: