Current updates on Buffalo, NY photographer Lindsay DeDario's photography musings

Jan 22 2025

Hotel Lafayette Wedding in Buffalo, NY

Just a “swanky-Hawaiian-Jewish-formal” wedding at the Hotel Lafayette in Buffalo, NY to warm you up on this snowy, snowy January day. Is “swanky-Hawaiian-Jewish-formal” a theme, you ask? It is now. 🙂 But first, some history –

Around 2019 I began taking a smaller amount of weddings each year in an effort to have more time to feel personally connected to the clients I serve, and really give each event the attention it deserved. Working with couples like Nick and Sam is a great reminder of how rewarding that move was.

From our initial meetings to their engagement session, to grabbing beers at our local pub, Essex Street, to reconnect and go over all their details and dreams for their wedding day – I walked in to this wedding feeling like I really knew these people. When folks ask how it’s possible to photograph weddings over and over, this is how – I connect to the people and their story. I genuinely care about them and as a result, really care about their pictures. I can look forward to editing for countless hours because I’m happy see these happy faces again. A client, Emily, from earlier this season sent an email saying:

“I don’t know how you replicate this effort for literally every customer. You’re a rock star”

That felt good. But I’m not a rock star, I just work really, really hard. Because I care, and because I love making important pictures for good people.

ANNNNYWAY, without further ado – this one started with me visiting Sam and her crew at the Marriott Lecom Harbor Center in Buffalo. Our second photographer, Robyn, popped in to visit Nick and company in and around home.

bride has makeup applied and hair touched up before wedding at Marriott Lecom Harborcenter

bride smiles for bridesmaids cameras while getting ready for wedding at Marriott Lecom Harborcenter

Onward to the Hotel Lafayette in Buffalo where both the wedding ceremony and reception were hosted.

Nick and Sam had the WINDIEST wedding day. We made the *quickest* attempt at pictures outside, but lilies started breaking and it was game off. Fortunately, the Crystal Ballroom inside the Hotel Lafayette worked like a charm.

Wedding ceremony time! Nick and Sam utilized the Golden Ballroom at the Hotel Lafayette for both their ceremony and reception. This meant the crew from Classic Events, and the planning team from Here and Now Events, would have a quick turnover during cocktail hour. But that’s why you hire the pros. <3

The portraits were kept to a minimum for this wedding. Nick and Sam didn’t want to miss their party, and also… it really was SO WINDY. Fortunately the Hotel Lafayette and adjacent Lafayette Square offer plenty of quick and easy wedding photo opportunities so we were able to pop in and out in no time.

Wedding Reception time inside the Golden Ballroom at the Hotel Lafayette! Can you believe that gorgeous turn over?

Nick and his a capella group performed a number for Sam and it was actually like… really, really good. I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. Nick brought the house down!

Many thanks to Nick and Sam for having us document your wedding day at the Hotel Lafayette in Buffalo! And thank you to all these venues and vendors who helped make the day so great!

Wedding Event Planner: Here and Now Events

Bride Preparation: Buffalo Marriot at Lecom Harbor Center

Groom Preparation: private residence

Ceremony Venue: Hotel at the Lafayette

Portraits: Hotel at the Lafayette

Reception Venue: Hotel at the Lafayette

Catering: Classic Events

Hair + Makeup: Elle Air

Florist: Kathryn Rose Floral Design

Bakery: Fairy Cakes

DJ: Whirlin’ Disk (Jordan)

Musicians: Rich Hill (guitar)

Second Photographer: Robyn Buyskes

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Apr 22 2025

The Gallagher Barn Wedding Photography

There are few weddings I walk away from with a greater picture (pun intended) of exactly what the couple is all about. Emilee and Ryan’s wedding day was filled with so many personal touches. From pranks and competitions to tear-filled sentimental moments and SO, so much laughter, the couple’s personalities truly came through in SO MANY different aspects of this day. Add to all this character the scenic backdrop of The Gallagher Barn for the wedding photography, and you have the makings of a very memorable celebration.

We started the day in the historic home on the property at The Gallagher Barn for the “getting ready” photography. Both Emilee, Ryan, their parties, kiddo and even dog were able to utilize this beautiful space.

There is such a wealth of perfect spots for wedding photography at The Gallagher Barn, but for the first look we kept it simple (and shaded) right in front of the house. June 22nd is basically the second trickiest day of the year for pictures, as the sun sits right over head for much of the middle of the day. Lucky for us, The Gallagher provides a ton of options for couples who need their pictures completed in the afternoon.

From the house we ventured to this great little nook on the side of the barn for some additional wedding portraits. I could have played around in this space all day!

Time for the wedding ceremony in this perfect little pavilion built behind The Gallagher Barn!

Emilee and Ryan incorporated so many personal touches in to their ceremony. From inside jokes like arranging for Ryan’s achieving sister (also the officiant) to receive medals all the way down the aisle, to a guest vote to determine who is funnier, Emilee or Ryan, to a stop watch timer for the vows, the personality was endless. They even added a bit of Buffalove to the wedding ceremony by diving through a folding table together. Go Bills.

Finally time for some wedding reception photography inside The Gallagher Barn!

10/10 love the staff at the Gallagher Barn for many reasons, not the least of which is their help organizing the sparkler exit. These can be a hot drunky mess, and a little terrifying beside an old wood barn, but this crew kept it cool.

Many thanks to Emilee and Ryan for having us photograph this super fun wedding. And to all the great vendors who made it what it was –

Wedding preparation, ceremony, portrait and reception venue: The Gallagher Barn

Second photographer: Jackie Connor

Hair and MUA: The Scenic Salon

Bakery: Paula’s Donuts

Catering: Zambistro

And if you love a good collection of barn wedding photography, make sure to check out this one next!

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Feb 27 2025

The Terrace at Marcy Casino Wedding in Buffalo, NY

Sara and Andy’s wedding at the Terrace at Marcy Casino in Buffalo was one of my favorites to photograph last season. They integrated so many subtle nods to a lot of meaningful aspects of their lives – from the Jewish traditions at the ceremony and dinner (they met at a Jewish camp as kids!), to the tributes to Sara’s mom who had recently passed, to little hints of New Orleans (where Sara lived previous to Buffalo) which were sprinkled through Sara’s beaded earings, the use of purple gold and green in the decor, and of course through the oversized, Mardi Gras parade ready flowers in the portrait station. As someone who often “winters” in New Orleans and considers it a second home in many ways, it always warms my heart to feel a little bit of “the big easy” here in Buffalo.

Sarah and Andy got ready for the wedding at the Curtiss Hotel in downtown Buffalo. The rooms here are dark and cozy, and the rooftop REALLY shines for portraits.

When your friend loves you this much…

Meanwhile, second photographer Mark was over in Andy’s room. His crew got fresh cuts and shaves from Jonny the Barber. The use of the headlamp made me endlessly happy.

Sometimes second photographers deliver gems I don’t even know how to thank them for. This groomsman portrait below is certainly one. Thanks Mark.

Sara’s dress from Unbridaled in New Orleans featured a convertible skirt that let Sara air out the limbs and show off her platforms all day long. I was obsessed with her whole look.

The flower girl employed an interesting method to try to see her special wedding day eye shadow.

The groomsmen were able to grab a quick game of shuffleboard before the first look. Vue on the Curtiss Hotel rooftop is a delight in both form and function with it’s good time activities and great views.

The space might be tight on this roof deck, but the views of downtown are just unparalleled.

We made a quick stop for a few portraits of the wedding party at the recently restored and beloved lion mural on Delaware Ave. The lion is considered the “grandfather” of Buffalo murals as it was one of the very first in the city!

At last we arrived at the wedding ceremony and reception location, the Terrace at Marcy Casino in Buffalo!

The Terrace at Marcy Casino in Buffalo is one of my favorite wedding venues if for no other reason than the myriad of close by locations for pictures. It makes my life so easy. <3

There are a variety of really beautiful options for outdoor ceremony locations at the Terrace. The patio over looking Hoyt Lake is a popular one for obvious reasons – what a lovely view! Depending on the time of year though and the direction of the setup, it can be harshly side lit. This can create harsh shadows and leave one side of the wedding party looking right in to the sun. Fortunately for us, it was cloudy for a good portion of the event, so it wasn’t as much of a hurdle as it could have been.

Kristi at Wild Blossom Hollow created this floral masterpiece in record time. The Terrace had another event right before Sara and Andy’s wedding, so the set up was super rushed. And it still looked so incredible!!! This is why you hire the pros. Kristi is the best! (:

Signing of the kehtubah!

Sara and Andy invited a big group of family members to collectively read the Seven Blessings during the wedding ceremony. It was so sweet to see the couple surrounded by so much love as each person took a turn reading a portion.

One of the tributes to Sara’s mom, was tucked in to the wrapping of the tallit. This tallit was Sara’s moms prayer shawl. This tradition serves as a reminder of the love the couple is surrounded by, so it felt extra fitting.

Last but never least, the stomping of the glass! Mazel Tov!

When the ceremony ended we made some pictures using the AKG as a backdrop. This is literally just a 90 degree turn from the ceremony space. So convenient!

Wedding reception time!

Parent dances are always emotional – but the feelings are always amplified when a parent has recently passed. So hey, dance with the whole family you have while you can. Father-daughter-sister dance. (:

DJ Yama, y’all! A female DJ is hard to find. I was SO excited to see Kieta (DJ Yama) in this vendor lineup!

And now for one of the CUTEST wedding portrait station setups we’ve done to date, complete with New Orleans float caliber giant purple flowers!

Last but certainly not least – a big shout out to the wedding planner, Syrie and her team from Social Maven pictured below! I work with Syrie often and always know my photographer eyes will be very happy when they see her work.

Many thanks to Sara and Andy for having us document your wedding day at the Terrace at Marcy Casino in Buffalo! And thank you to all these venues and vendors who helped make the day so great!

Event Planner – Syrie Roman/Social Maven

Bride Preparation: The Curtiss Hotel

Groom Preparation: The Curtiss Hotel

Ceremony Venue: Hoyt Lake – The Terrace at Marcy Casino

Portraits: Vue at the Curtis Hotel, Lion Mural, Albright Knox and Hoyt Lake at Delaware Park

Reception Venue: The Terrace at Marcy Casino

Hair + Makeup: Salon-a-Go-Go

Bride’s dress: Unbridaled New Orleans

Florist: Wild Blossom Hollow

Officiant: Cantor Barbara Ostfeld

Bakery: Sweet Em’s

Transportation: Buffalo Valet LLC

DJ: DJ Yama

Photo “booth”/ portrait station: Lindsay DeDario Photography (me!)

Second Photographer: Mark Duggan

If you’d like to see more wedding photography fun from the Terrace at Marcy Casino in Buffalo, check out these links:

http://dedario.com/blog/marcy-casino-wedding-photography-buffalo/

http://dedario.com/blog/terrace-marcy-casino-rose-garden-wedding-photography/

http://dedario.com/blog/wedding-photography-marcy-casino-buffalo/

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Jan 24 2025

Buffalo History Museum Wedding

Heather and JJ created an atmosphere that was romantic, formal and fifty shades of fun for their Buffalo History Museum wedding. It had to be the darkest, dreariest of all fall days, but the vibes were nothing but elegant and cozy inside the museum.

Speaking of vibes, on three separate occasions in recent weeks, the topic of “atmosphere” came up with prospective wedding clients. One couple, both architects, mentioned that one thing that set my work apart for them was the attention to the ambiance of the entire scene, not just the action of the couple. They specifically cited another photographers work whose first dance images were great action shots, but had the dj and their speakers loud and proud in the background, rather than the architecture and guests.

<Gasp>

After I got over their delightful level of visual literacy, I reflected on this and first thought about the way I approach lighting a space. I always mention to couples that they’ll spend a ton of time thinking about the mood of their wedding, from the colors to the lighting to the florals, etc. I want those sensory elements to be felt in the pictures. I’m not going to walk in to a candle lit reception with a bunch of my own lighting and completely change the scene. Just as I’m not going to slap a cheap filter on to your timeless heirlooms. I’m will honor the vibe you’ve thoughtfully created and only enhance the scene with my lighting and editing wizardry.

It also got me thinking about framing. When this couple mentioned how the first dance pictures framed the couple beautifully within the architecture my thought was, “but of course!” It feels like common sense to me. I forget how much I’m truly considering with every picture I make. But one of my favorite things about being a wedding photographer is walking in to a space and seeing a giant puzzle for me to solve. Great wedding photographers have to be great all around photographers. From still lifes to portraits to candid moments to landscapes and architecture, the good ones can do it all really well. And moreover, they can do it FAST under pressure. It’s NOT fun for most photographers. It’s VERY fun for good wedding photographers.

Enough words on atmosphere. Let’s SEE the photography from the gorgeous scene Heather and JJ created for their wedding day.

But first, a few from their family homes where they got ready. Heather put on her dress in her childhood room! How special is that?

Given our rough weather day, the cover of the portico at the Buffalo History Museum was a savior. We were able to utilize the space for the first look and all of the portraits. A few puddles were about our only concern.

The original location for Heather and JJ’s wedding ceremony was the gorgeous lawn of the Buffalo History Museum. Unfortunately, the bad weather confined us to the Portico Gallery… which is basically a nice basement with pretty columns and approximately 570 spotlights on the ceiling. We make lemonade around here though and worked with what we had. Believe it or not, most of the lights are photoshopped out of these pictures. Yes… that’s right, there are way more than what you see. It’s a wild amount of light in every imaginable direction. But that’s why you hire the pros. 😉

After the ceremony, guests ventured upstairs to the Buffalo History Museum’s portico for the wedding cocktail hour.

This separation between cocktail hour and reception is the delight of photographers. We love an opportunity to photograph the details of your fabulous space *before* the guests show it their love. Rest assured, your Auntie WILL come in and hang her magenta cardigan on her chair and inspect all the place cards around hers first though. EVERY. Single. Wedding. <3

On to the State Court Room and Mezzanine at the Buffalo History Museum for the wedding reception!

Many thanks to Heather and JJ for having us document your wedding day at the Buffalo History Museum! And thank you to all these venues and vendors who helped make the day so great!

Bride Preparation: private residence

Groom Preparation: private residence

Ceremony Venue: Penfold Portico Gallery at the Buffalo History Museum

Portrait Location: Buffalo History Museum

Reception Venue: State Court Room, Mezzanine and Portico of the Buffalo History Museum

Hair + Makeup: Michelle Saffron, Marisa Borello Beauty

Florist: Flowers Etc.

Catering: Tappo at the Museum

Bakery: family and friends

Strings: Vibrant Strings

Band: Alex MacArthur and her band

Second Photographer: Jessica Ahrens

If you or someone you know is interested in wedding photography services, let’s chat!

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Dec 29 2024

Niagara Falls Fall Foliage Engagement Photography

With the loose location request of “trees and fall foliage, not opposed to waterfalls/water” in mind, Anh and Brian had given me the perfect parameters to take them to one of my favorite places for their wedding engagement photography, Niagara Falls, NY! Niagara Falls might seem like an obvious place for wedding/engagement/proposal pictures, but honestly, it’s really underutilized! This is especially true of the Niagara River Gorge. The Niagara Gorge puts on an incredible show each fall. The wide range of tree varietals in the gorge provide these warm foliage tones, and contrasted with the blue-green water, it’s such a SCENE. Add to this all that cozy late day sun light, and you’ve got the makings of a really special session.

With such a photography setting in place, all we needed was love (and a skilled lady with a camera, of course! ;). If I do say so, we all delivered with these engagement photos. I love having these opportunities to really get to know couples before the wedding day.

Can’t wait to see these two in front of my camera again next year for their wedding at The Sterling!

I always ask the couple if they’re afraid of heights before we visit this super special spot. This location is a bit precarious. If heights aren’t an issue though, it offers one of the best views in the city of Niagara Falls for engagement photography.

People always ask how I find my favorite locations, the answer is simple – I GET OUT OF MY CAR. I’ve found so many incredible places by hiking and exploring on my bike. Location scouting is one of my favorite things to do in my down time. It seems wherever I adventure, I picture an imaginary client in each scene. It’s one of those things about having a job that you truly enjoy. It’s hard to “turn it off” when you’re not working. But if my job is going to be both a blessing and a curse, I’m sure glad the curse is SO. FLIPPING. PRETTY!

Wondering what the view is like from the bottom? Check out the photography from this Niagara Falls wedding engagement proposal at the base of the Niagara River Gorge in Whirlpool State Park!

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Photographer & Photojournalist – Buffalo, NY – Weddings, Portraits, Brand

Hotel Lafayette Wedding in Buffalo, NY

Onward to the Hotel Lafayette in Buffalo where both the wedding ceremony and reception were hosted.

Many thanks to Nick and Sam for having us document your wedding day at the Hotel Lafayette in Buffalo! And thank you to all these venues and vendors who helped make the day so great!

The Gallagher Barn Wedding Photography

Time for the wedding ceremony in this perfect little pavilion built behind The Gallagher Barn!

Finally time for some wedding reception photography inside The Gallagher Barn!

Buffalo History Museum Wedding

<Gasp>

Enough words on atmosphere. Let’s SEE the photography from the gorgeous scene Heather and JJ created for their wedding day.

After the ceremony, guests ventured upstairs to the Buffalo History Museum’s portico for the wedding cocktail hour.

On to the State Court Room and Mezzanine at the Buffalo History Museum for the wedding reception!

Many thanks to Heather and JJ for having us document your wedding day at the Buffalo History Museum! And thank you to all these venues and vendors who helped make the day so great!

Niagara Falls Fall Foliage Engagement Photography

Can’t wait to see these two in front of my camera again next year for their wedding at The Sterling!

Wondering what the view is like from the bottom? Check out the photography from this Niagara Falls wedding engagement proposal at the base of the Niagara River Gorge in Whirlpool State Park!

Featured: Engagement Photography at City Hall and Tifft Nature Preserve

Engagement Photography at City Hall and Tifft Preserve in Buffalo

Featured: Wedding at Knox Farm, a WNY Wedding Venue

Small Wedding at Knox Farm, a WNY Wedding Venue

Outdoor Finger Lakes Wedding at The North Farm in Geneva, NY

Wedding Engagement Photography Portraits in Buffalo, NY

Onward to the Hotel Lafayette in Buffalo where both the wedding ceremony and reception were hosted.

Many thanks to Nick and Sam for having us document your wedding day at the Hotel Lafayette in Buffalo! And thank you to all these venues and vendors who helped make the day so great!

Time for the wedding ceremony in this perfect little pavilion built behind The Gallagher Barn!

Finally time for some wedding reception photography inside The Gallagher Barn!

When your friend loves you *this* much…

At last we arrived at the wedding ceremony and reception location, the Terrace at Marcy Casino in Buffalo!

Signing of the kehtubah!

Wedding reception time!

Many thanks to Sara and Andy for having us document your wedding day at the Terrace at Marcy Casino in Buffalo! And thank you to all these venues and vendors who helped make the day so great!

<Gasp>

Enough words on atmosphere. Let’s SEE the photography from the gorgeous scene Heather and JJ created for their wedding day.

After the ceremony, guests ventured upstairs to the Buffalo History Museum’s portico for the wedding cocktail hour.

On to the State Court Room and Mezzanine at the Buffalo History Museum for the wedding reception!

Many thanks to Heather and JJ for having us document your wedding day at the Buffalo History Museum! And thank you to all these venues and vendors who helped make the day so great!

Can’t wait to see these two in front of my camera again next year for their wedding at The Sterling!

Wondering what the view is like from the bottom? Check out the photography from this Niagara Falls wedding engagement proposal at the base of the Niagara River Gorge in Whirlpool State Park!

Featured: Engagement Photography at City Hall and Tifft Nature Preserve

Featured: Wedding at Knox Farm, a WNY Wedding Venue

Outdoor Finger Lakes Wedding at The North Farm in Geneva, NY

Wedding Engagement Photography Portraits in Buffalo, NY

When your friend loves you this much…