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Hiking to Great Heights for Proposal Photography above Windham New York

By Jonathan Ment Photography The lure of the mountains here in our part of the Catskills has always been strong for a Catskills photographer. Their beauty is one of the things that drew me here to make my home.    And as a photographer, they never disappoint. For so many day trippers and weekenders, they’re a reason to head to the country. Some folks are obsessed with climbing to the top of as…

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Photographing Family Fun and S’more(s) in Windham

Photographing Family Fun and S’more(s) in Windham By Jonathan Ment Photography Jeff reached out to book a photography session for his extended family. They would be gathering in an AirBnB in Windham and wanted some candid coverage and planned portraits with parents, siblings and children. These sorts of sessions are generally driven by one person and the conversation leading to the booking…

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Photographing an Off-Grid BabyMoon in Hunter New York

By Jonathan Ment Photography “I’d like to have some portraits done of my wife and our dogs,” said Bill, as we discussed a photography session.   Bill and Georgette, from Connecticut, were headed to the Catskills for a sort of ‘mini-babymoon’ along with their two rescue dogs, Bailey and Mattie. With the baby due in just four weeks, this might be the last getaway for a while.  They had an Airbnb…

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The Professional Difference: Photographer for Your Once in a Lifetime Event

By Jonathan Ment Recently a prospective client called to discuss what they had in mind for photography. The family would be gathering for a celebration in Tannersville, a combination coming of age for one and family reunion for all.   Milestones  – a 90th birthday celebration and gathering, a young person coming of a certain age, a family expecting a baby in the near days – these are examples…

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Photographing Exteriors for Real Estate Listings

Photographing Exteriors for Real Estate Listings By Jonathan Ment Jonathan Ment Photography doesn’t operate a walk-in photography practice. I’m not paying rent on a main street studio where people can wander in off the street and have their picture taken. This sort of studio still exists on some level, but in the age of selfies the novelty of having your picture taken in a storefront studio is…

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Family Reunion Photography Around 90th Birthday at Winter Clove Resort in Round Top

Two 90th Birthday Sessions in Two Weeks!

By Jonathan Ment It was a dark and stormy night… Actually it wasn’t so dark, and the early January storm hadn’t rolled in yet when I pointed my and car and camera lenses in the direction of the historic Winter Clove Resort in Round Top, near Cairo, NY in the Catskills. The session was initially described as a family reunion. The reason for the gathering was two-fold. It was also mom’s 90th…

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Photographing Cindy, Robert and Maple at a surprise proposal in Windham

By Jonathan Ment When it comes to booking photography for weddings, there are more mothers, or mother’s-in-law, arranging the specifics than men. Proposals on the other hand? Often a different story. While I have been contacted by the occasional friend or sister (link) It is generally the ones doing the asking and in more traditional pairings, more often than not, it’s a guy. Often that first…

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Photographing 90th Birthdays Never Gets Old

No really, photographing 90th birthdays never gets old!

By Jonathan Ment It has been said “Good things come in threes.” When it comes to booking photography sessions, I’d add or twos or fours or ‘mores’ … Recently I photographed a pair of 90th Birthday celebrations, first at a rental house in Prattsville, NY and soon after another at a resort in Round Top near Cairo, NY. These added to the 90th birthdays I’d captured a few months earlier. Perhaps…

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Photos with sons and dogs in Windham New York

By Jonathan Ment Nora reached out like other clients do. She asked if I took family photos or portraits. She asked if I was available a particular weekend or a range of dates Of course I do, and I was available for at least part of her window of opportunity. After we booked, we had to make adjustments but we made it work. No problem. “I always take pictures of my sons,’ she said, adding “but…

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Bar Mitzvah Photography in Tannersville NY

By Jonathan Ment Obscured To Respect Privacy Among the subjects I have the pleasure to photograph, at least in recent years, is the occasional bar mitzvah. For those who don’t know, it’s a coming of age celebration marking a lad’s 13th birthday. Some young women celebrate their Bas Mitzvah, but not generally in the orthodox Jewish community. The bar mitzvah is generally comprised of a service…

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Family Photos for Father’s 75th in Windham New York

Some thoughts on a recent family photo session.

By Jonathan Ment Photography Grace reached out like others do, through the contact link at catskillsphotographer.com, to ask if I take family portraits. Of course I photograph families. Her family would be gathering in Windham for a little fun and fall foliage planned around her father’s 75th birthday and they wanted some photos to remember the weekend by. I always like to know about how many…

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Photography Around Second Avenue in New York City

By Jonathan Ment Photography I have a number of photography sessions coming up including a coming of age celebration in Tannersville, NY and a smaller 75th Birthday gathering in Windham, NY and I will likely share details about each in the weeks ahead. This week, on a rare day free of other responsibilities, I am making time to share some photos I collected this summer. More will follow in the…

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Photographing Your Surprise Proposal in the Catskills

When it comes to once-in-a-lifetime events, experience counts! (See what I did there?)

By Jonathan Ment Photography I enjoy being a proposal photographer as well as a wedding photographer. It’s that once-in-a-lifetime event before the bigger once-in-a-lifetime event and all those that follow. From the simple to the complex, it’s a chance to be on the ‘inside,’ staking out a location ahead of your arrival to capture the surprise. While the scenarios vary, the essence is the same.…

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Returning to Kaaterskill Falls to Photograph Engagement Portraits

Fun to catch up with a couple months after the proposal for engagement photos or later on ... the wedding day. Love in all seasons.

By Jonathan Ment I met Jarold and Genesis for the first time in March. It was going to be a big day for them!. He would be asking for her hand in marriage. On bended knee he produced the ring and she was completely surprised. Jarold had created an incredible ruse here, working on her the entire weekend leading up to this point. Since he knew I’d be waiting when they reached the observation…

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Proposal Photography Near Hunter Mountain

By Jonathan Ment Joe found me on Yelp to ask if I photographed proposals and while that platform can be a little troublesome (he said my initial reply ended up in spam!) we did connect rather quickly. Joe and his beautiful lady Hayley had planned a weekend getaway and he had big plans for how to make a special occasion (we never take a vacation, she said when we met) even more special. It was…

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Photographing a Proposal at Awosting Falls Minnewaska State Park

By Jonathan Ment My first photography session at the Minnewaska State Park took place at the top of the park beside ‘Lake Minnewaska.’ It was early fall and was for a surprise proposal. Pinning down the exact desired location with Nick was a little tricky. Somewhat humorously, we kept in touch from the moment he and Casey parked while he settled on a spot and advised of his proximity. Casey…

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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…