Tips on the best wedding photo locations, and how to utilize them for your wedding day

As a newly engaged couple, you are likely wondering how to find the best venue for a creative, modern, and fun New Jersey wedding. It’s also nice when your venue doesn’t end up looking like the same cookie cutter venues that your friends probably got married at over the years. They all kind of blend together. Do you want to shake things up a bit and celebrate somewhere different? Look no further than The Art Factory, in Paterson, a historic location where Spielberg filmed “West Side Story” and Scorsese, “The Irish Man” The Art Factory provides diverse looks, one of a kind backdrops, a blank canvas for your imagination, and endless possible ideas for your wedding photography, all in one location. Here are the best Art Factory photo locations, and how to utilize them for your wedding day, and some additional questions about his team’s approach to weddings! 

What is your absolute favorite spot for wedding photos? 

Can I just say the whole building as my answer. I know that’s not very specific, but I truly find a new favorite or new space, every time our team photographs a wedding or engagement session at The Art Factory. Though if I have to pick, I would say my favorite area in terms of versatility is the cobblestone European Courtyard, outside in the back by the loading dock. You can incorporate multiple buildings, colors, and easily access other popular indoor areas of The Art Factory without having to move very far. This is a big perk because TheArtFactory is a very expansive space that can take some time to fully traverse. So, having the European Courtyard as somewhat of a portal or starting point really helps do a lot in a short period of time, which is so important for weddings that often run on strict timelines. 

I really find the outdoor spaces at TheArtFactory to be enchanting both during the day and especially at night. There is also historic graffiti mural work as well around all areas outside. If you’re into that sort of thing, there is just so much freedom to explore and create! I have a friend named Christian who is deeply interested in the history of Graffiti art, and he was mesmerized by how many big names have created murals at TheArtFactory.

Our cinematic night images on the fire-escape in the European Courtyard are synonymous with our brand now. This fire-escape (notably featured in Spielberg’s “West Side Story”) is a prime location, because of the contrast between black iron railings and the classic brick building as a backdrop. It’s even more dynamic at night when the inside lights are also turned on. The sense of scale also makes for a stunning visual as the couple becomes an integral part of the architecture, and resulting imagery. 

The “sun room” space adjacent to the International Room has a small outdoor patio that provides an impressive outdoor setting. From a photography perspective there is a strong juxtaposition between the bold burnt-orange brick factory exterior, contrasted against lush greenery of the nature adjacent to it. It’s a really special experience to be able to get a few  outdoor looks, while still having the ability to step inside, and let your imagination wander freely in long hallways, with vaulted ceilings and string lights. 

In close proximity, just one flight down the steps, there is a very feminine aspect of The Art Factory, The Ribbon Room, which is fantastic as a suite for getting ready, or even just as a portrait location. Grand ceiling height windows provide soft natural light which is perfect for hair and make makeup - and for an overall super creative vibe. Just around the corner from The Ribbon Room, there is a lesser known spot, where Steven Spielberg had a movie set built - with white stone floors and columns that opens up back to the great outdoors. On the same floor there are also a plethora of little side rooms that each have their own individual look as well.

Finally, and perhaps the most famous room at TheArtFactory: The Engine Room! It is an absolute must have spot for wedding portraits. It features hundreds of strung together bare lightbulbs and toned brick walls. Additionally (and often overlooked) is the way natural  light comes through the tall windows of The Engine Room. This provides for a very polished, yet industrial aesthetic that is perfect for a dramatic or romantic couples photo against yellow and green brick.

One flight up from The Engine Room, on the mezzanine level you will find an amazing little space with vintage couches and four brick walls that have so much personality in them! The natural patina and wear/tear that has occurred on these walls has taken well over 100+ years to form. You simply cannot create something like this from scratch, it only happens naturally over time. This can also be said about so many areas in The Art Factory, which is what makes it a desirable venue for the discerning artsy couple.

Conversely, most NJ wedding venues are built seemingly overnight, and use wallpapers that look rehashed,  fake plaster columns, and an overall look that can be structurally impressive, but seemingly sterile and “mass produced” versus the authenticity of The Art Factory’s history. Why does this matter to you? Here at The Art Factory, so much of the signature “look” has happened naturally over time. As a result your wedding photographs automatically gain tons of character that simply don’t exist at other “typical” or traditional style ballrooms in other New Jersey venues.

What are the essential characteristics of a successful New Jersey wedding photographer?

There are a lot of folks in the area who are talented technical photographers. They own really nice equipment, and are proficient editors who know lighting, composition, etc... They may even win awards for this operational proficiency, but to me there is a much more significant factor that makes a truly complete and competent wedding photographer. In my opinion, making a strong personal connection with couples is the most important thing a wedding photographer can do. 

Almost all wedding couples are concerned about how they will look in their photos, and how they will feel during the whole experience. It’s not something we do every day, in fact the whole goal is to only do it once right? So much goes into planning a wedding, and practicing to be a professional model isn’t on most people’s lists. If a person looks nervous or anxious in photos, it doesn’t matter how good anyone’s lighting, editing, or camera skills are - they will still look awkward. Folks getting married can often be self-conscious about being photographed, so finding out what’s important to people and what they are concerned about is paramount to being a successful wedding photographer.

When I speak to a prospective couple for the first time, I often ask them why they decided to reach out to me instead of the hundreds of other NJ wedding photographers. I’m not looking for a pat on the back or praise when I ask this question. I genuinely want to know in their own words why they think I can solve problems for them, and help them through any insecurities they may have about being photographed. Building meaningful relationships with couples right from the first call allows me to apply what I’ve learned about them in an artistic way. I look at it as using my camera to translate the details I’ve learned about a couple into beautiful memories. This also engenders a trusting bond between photographer and couple. If someone doesn’t trust me or my team, they probably aren’t going to say yes when we ask if they’re willing to do that famous fire-escape shot at night, step out into the rain, or anything similarly quirky or different. 

What equipment and tools are vital for you to have no matter where you are photographing?

Well beyond our cameras and lenses, my team and I enjoy using all sorts of different lighting modifiers and/or gels. You can see this in a lot of the pictures that we have made here at The Art Factory. Additional lighting can add dimension, or small pops of color. Sometimes I’ll bring a prism, tilt-shift lens, or I’ll even use my iPhone as a mirror to create reflections and special effects. Though I do this on a very limited basis. Especially when working at The Art Factory, I think it’s also important to be somewhat minimalist with photography equipment. I often prefer to use what is already available in what is already such a varied and diverse space. Nearly all of the time, the available sunlight coming through the windows at The Art Factory is quite beautiful, and I feel like you don’t need to reinvent the wheel in those situations. Adding more to something that already has a lot of character can be distracting, or in my view “too much” so to me it’s always about striking the right balance between what’s available and what I might be able to add to any given setting.

What editing software do you like to use for your final photos?

I use a variety of software such as Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. And most of the time we try to keep it simple by “getting it right in camera” so that I have to do a minimal amount of editing. This allows the natural beauty of the Art Factory’s big windows and signature style to really shine in our images. Occasionally I will use some more sophisticated editing tools and techniques for changing the color of a light, or selectively darkening or lightening certain parts of an image, to create more subject isolation. I see this as a finishing touch or a special enhancement for a few photos in a gallery that are meant to standout as extra creative. But it is not something I do for every wedding photo, as it would lessen the overall artistic impact of the effect, and also be distracting for photos which are supposed to be more traditional or structured (eg. Family Formals)

How do you improve and develop your photography skills?

Something that we try to do all of the time at The Art Factory is to give each couple a unique set of images. This is a personal challenge I set for myself, that also helps us deliver more personal images to each wedding couple. Believe it or not, it can be a double edged sword when you get well known for a certain type of shot. The fire-escape in the European Courtyard is a great example. Almost all of our Art Factory wedding couples ask for it, but I try to make  it a little bit different each time. Not only does it get boring for me if I do the same photo or pose every time, I also don’t want any of my clients to feel like they’re getting a carbon copy or exact duplicate of someone else’s wedding photos from our last wedding at the same location.

What I really like about The Art Factory is that it's always changing and growing. This lends itself to my approach very well. I often *have to* come up with something new because the same exact space might not look like it did last time. Which is a good thing! There’s always a new room being renovated, or something being changed, and again - I get bored if I do the same work over and over. 

What professional photographers have influenced your work?

Historically I really enjoy the work of Arnold Newman as he created legendary environmental portraits of famous figures such as JFK, Pablo Picasso, and many different celebrities and prominent people of the time. Newman did this in a way that was not only technically impressive and striking, but each portrait he made tells a person's story. You really get a sense of what each subject was like or what they were known for, by just viewing his compositional and posing choices. He was very strong at not only getting the most out of his subjects (which can be difficult when working with famous people) but also the environmental spaces they were photographed in. I love to incorporate the architectural design elements and historical aspects of the Art Factory into my portraits as well. So while it isn’t exactly the same thing, my work has been heavily influenced by Newman and other environmental portrait photographers like Gregory Crewdson.

And how do you handle a client who has an entirely different vision of what they want compared to what you think would look best? 

This can be a tricky topic for any vendor, but especially for photographers and creatives. We of course always have our own concrete vision and approach. Thankfully because of how clear we are about that upfront and the very detailed information on our website - we usually end up with couples who have a vision that typically is in alignment with our style. Though like I mentioned earlier, I always ask questions like: 

“5… 10… 30 years from now when you’re looking back on your wedding, what are some of the moments you’re going to go back to and remember with your photographs?” 

We also ask couples to share inspiration with us from Pinterest, our own Instagram, or even other images they’ve seen that inspire them. That being said, while I’m happy to take a look at inspiration, I always avoid copying other photographers. That’s boring and unoriginal. We encourage couples to share their vision with us, but then to also trust us to interpret that vision, and put our own spin on it, so they get a series of storytelling images that are uniquely their own.

Among all your work as a photographer, which is your favorite and why?

That’s a really tough call. Personally I have a new favorite image or set of images every season, but there is one fire-escape image I made here at The Art Factory in 2019 that has become a staple of our portfolio. I even have it printed on a big 24x36” metal that hangs prominently in our office. It is one of my favorite photographs, not only because of the dynamic lighting aesthetic and contrasting colors, but I also became really good friends with the couple in this photo! Betsy and Rich had their wedding celebration at The Art Factory in October of 2019. After their wedding, Betsy asked if she could join me as an assistant on a job with my team, and fast-forward a few years later - she has grown into a fantastic photographer herself, and regularly works for our company as a second photographer. So the value is really two-fold here. I made an image that I am visually proud of, but more importantly I fostered an even more meaningful friendship, and found a wonderful person that is an integral part of our photography team now.

What type of environment do you enjoy most as a photographer?

Well I guess it is probably pretty obvious, because our studio office is right here at TheArtFactory, but I just adore industrial settings. I’ve always found the visual elements of old factory buildings to be interesting, but additionally I find the history of the spaces to be equally meaningful. There is really nothing else like TheArtFactory in the area. The way that the patina, textures, colorful paint, exposed bulbs, and more come to life in a space like this, is just so special to me. I can almost feel the stories that took place in each individual room over the years. Spaces here at The Art Factory make me feel very comfortable and happy.

Of course our team is trained to work in any kind of location or venue,  but your typical New Jersey ballroom with fake gold light fixtures, and plaster columns feels a bit stuffy to me. I understand why some people enjoy that vibe, or why they think that sort of environment is more “luxury” but as someone who has always been an artist first, I don’t really feel like I personally fit into a marble ballroom with gaudy excessive decor. Personally I don’t think it leaves much room for autonomy, creativity, or imagination. I’m sure couples getting married at TheArtFactory feel the same way, and it’s often why they end up being such a good fit for our brand, on a personal level. I always feel like I am “coming home” when I’m here, at TheArtFactory, and I hope all of our wedding couples do too!