• welcome to the ayres photography blog-site!

    If you're looking for creative wedding or portrait photographers with a fresh perspective on the art of photojournalism, then you're in the right place!

    No matter what the occasion, we specialize in capturing emotion with our cameras; and, (most of the time) we can do it without anyone even realizing we're there! The results are natural, relaxed looking photos that reflect the true essence of who you are.

    So, make yourself comfy, and take a look around the site...if you think of any questions while you're browsing, please click the "contact" button to send us a message - we'd love to hear from you!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

joanna + nathaniel

The best weddings are always the ones where the bride and groom are so much in love, you can literally feel it in the air. It seems like the sun is shining and the birds are singing just for them. They can’t stop looking at each other, and they smile through their entire ceremony. I know that sounds like complete and utter cheesy fairytale nonsense, but I swear to you, it really does happen sometimes – and when it does, I fall in love with love all over again, each and every time.

Joanna and Nathaniel are one of those couples. Their love is contagious, and their wedding day was absolutely beautiful. They wanted their ceremony to be intimate, so they got married right in the backyard of Nathanial’s family’s home, surrounded by their closest friends and family! It could not have been more perfect. :)

tea length lace wedding dress hanging from a patio roof with a patch of blue sky in the backgroundJoanna gets ready for her big day!
black and white wedding photo of a bride curling her eyelashes
black and white wedding photo of a bride having her updo sprayed with hairsprayShe had her grandmother’s wedding ring sewn into her dress for good luck!  What a cool idea!
a bride getting ready for her wedding ceremony has her grandmothers ring sewn into her dress
a wedding bouquet of Gerber daisies
a bridesmaid walks down the aisle at a backyard wedding in Hamburg NYJoanna and her dad make the walk down the aisle!
the bride and her father walk down the aisle at a backyard wedding in Hamburg NYBen got right behind Nathanial to grab this shot of Joanna’s entrance – great capture, Ben!  Love it!
black and white photo of a bride being escorted down the aisle by her father at a Hamburg NY wedding ceremony
a groom says his vows while placing a ring on the finger of his brideI love the look on Joanna’s face…”you’re mine now, bi-aaatch!”  HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!  Sooooo cute!
a bride looks happy and determined while placing the ring on the finger of her groomToward the end of the ceremony, Joanna’s maid of honor read Dr. Suess’s “Oh the Places You’ll Go.” Out of all the weddings we’ve been to, we’ve never heard that done as a reading before; it was absolutely perfect!
a bride looks lovingly at her new husband during the reading of Oh the Places You'll Go
hamburg wedding photographers capture a bride and grooms first kiss
a newly married couple walk back up the aisle together at a Hamburg NY wedding ceremony
black and white wedding photography of a bride and groom exiting their backyard wedding ceremonyThe cake cutting…
close up of the hands of a bride and groom as they cut their wedding cake…and Nathaniel’s face post-cake smash!  LOVE it!
black and white wedding photography of a groom with frosting on his nose after the cake smashThen, we were off to do some portraits of the bride and groom with the ultimate wedding photo prop – a classic, cherry red Chevy!  We knew that the car would look awesome in pictures, but we didn’t really know how awesome until we saw it with our own eyeballs.  WOW!  We’re pretty happy with the way these turned out.  ;)
a bride and groom pose next to a cherry red classic 57 Chevy
black and white wedding photography of a bride and groom posing next to a classic 57 ChevyYay, super shiny red paint!!
close up photo of the fin of a classic 57 Chevy with the bride and grooms reflection in the cherry red paint
close up detail shots of a bride and grooms reflection in the side of a 57 Chevy
black and white intimate wedding photography of a bride and groom in the front seat of a 57 ChevyI didn’t have a chance to grab a shoe shot before the ceremony, but these shoes are too fabulous for words; so, this shoe shot will have to do.  You guys both look smokin’ hot! ;)
close up detail wedding photo of the brides colorful wedding shoesJoanna, you should probably take up modeling…just sayin’…
black and white wedding photography of a bride and groom sitting in the front seat of a 57 Chevy
close up detail wedding photo of the brides colorful shoes and the grooms black Vans slip onsL-O-V-E this shot!
black and white wedding photography of a bride and groom in the side mirror of a classic car used as a prop for wedding portraitsWe wrapped things up with a little wedding party action!a small wedding party posing in front of a classic carI wasn’t joking when I said “action!!” Can you guess how happy we were to get shots of a wedding party bouncing on a trampoline? Pretty happy. ;)
action shot of a small wedding party jumping on a trampoline

Joanna and Nathaniel – thanks so much for choosing us to be a part of your wedding day! You two are such a great couple, and we really enjoyed working with you! :)

Wendy - As much as the red of the car is awesome, I love the black & white of them leaning against it! Plus, that shoe shot out the window is awesome. :)

OHAHA PHOTOGRAPHERS - These are so fun! Gotta love the ones in the car! Great job!

chris - WOW!

Ayres Photography - Thank you for being such a fun, awesome couple! :)

Joanna - These photos are amazing. A million times more then I ever imagined. I can not wait to see the rest of them. Thank you for doing such an amazing job!

shauna + jay

Another beautiful, sunny Saturday, spent with another amazing couple!!  Shauna and Jay are such awesome, laid back people.  After we got to know them a little bit during their engagement session, we predicted that their wedding day would be pure fun from start to finish, and we couldn’t have been more right! :)

I started out the day with Shauna and her girls, for a little “getting ready” action…

black and white photo of a bride having her necklace fastened by her bridesmaid
buffalo ny bride walking down the stairs in her parents house on the way to the wedding ceremony…and Ben met up with the guys at Trinity Church to grab some pre-ceremony groomsmen shots!
gorgeous color photo of Trinity Church on Delaware Avenue in downtown Buffalo NY
black and white wide angle photo of the groom and his groomsmen at Trinity Church in downtown BuffaloTrinity Church is an absolutely gorgeous place for a wedding ceremony.  They’re not very “photography-friendly” – no flash allowed!! It was no sweat, though…we love a good challenge!

A gorgeous ceremony shot taken by Ben from up in the balcony!  Yay, Nikon 200mm f2!!
bride and groom saying their vows on the alter of Trinity Church in BuffaloIt seriously is such a beautiful church…
wide angle shot of Trinity Church taken during a wedding ceremony
black and white wedding ceremony photo taken in Trinity Church without flash
a bride and groom light their unity candle during a wedding ceremony at Trinity Church
black and white photo of bride and groom looking at each other in Trinity ChurchOkay, I totally love this.  I almost always include a shot of “the kiss” in every wedding blog post; but, this shot (immeditately following “the kiss”) totally wins the prize for adorable-ness.  Have you ever seen a happier bride and groom?
bride and groom laughing right after they kiss at the end of their wedding ceremony

I’ve said it before, but I’ll happily say it again – Pearl Street Grill & Brewery does an AMAZING job with weddings. We’ve shot enough receptions there to know that it’s one of our favorite reception spots in all of Buffalo. The staff is great, the food is delicious, and the general atmosphere is totally unique and low key at the same time.

three layer wedding cake with white chocolate shavings topped with fresh flowersAnd, of course, they have the coolest beer taps EVER.
close up shot of wedding rings on a beer tap at Pearl Street BreweryShauna and Jay’s wedding party was ALL ABOUT having fun!  They were great!  ;)
black and white wedding photo of bride and groom and their wedding party on the balcony of Pearl Street Brewery
bride and groom and their wedding party on the balcony of the Pearl Street BreweryShauna even looks adorable with cake smooshed in her face…now, that’s talent!!
a bride and groom cut their cake at their Pearl Street Brewery wedding receptionTwo fabulously hilarious speeches…
the maid of honor toasts the bride and groom at their Pearl Street Brewery wedding reception
the best man toasts the bride and groom at their Pearl Street Brewery wedding reception…and a super cute first dance as husband and wife!!
a bride and groom share their first dance as husband and wifeL-O-V-E this shot!!
a groom dips and kisses his bride during their first dance in Buffalo NYLove this one, too!!  Jay’s face is priceless!
the groom makes a happy surprised face at his bride during their first dance at Pearl Street Brewery
close up detail photos of handmade wedding favors and champagne being poured into a glass
close up details of wedding cake place cards guest book and candle centerpiece
night wedding photography of Pearl Street Brewery in downtown Buffalo NYNEWLYWEDS!!!  I love how happy Shauna looks in this shot.  :)
black and white candid wedding photo of bride and groom dancingThe dance floor was bumpin’ all night long!
candid wedding photo of a bride dancing with her bridesmaids and friends
black and white candid wedding photo of a bride dancing with her new sister in law
candid wedding photo of a groomsman and his date dancing at a Pearl Street wedding receptionWe managed to grab these two social butterflies just long enough to get a few night portraits on the Pearl Street balcony, and I’m SOOOOO glad we did!
close up portrait of a happy bride and groom at their wedding reception
night portraits of bride and groom laughing and holding each other
evening wedding photography bride and groom on the balcony of Pearl Street Brewery using colored back light
unique wedding photography of a bride and groom framed in circles

Shauna and Jay – thanks so much for choosing us to capture all the fun and excitement of your wedding day! You guys and your friends and families are all amazing people…we had a blast! We wish you all the best! :)

OHAHA PHOTOGRAPHERS - new york has such beautiful churches for sure! we’re shooting out in new york again this week and are so excited to shoot in one of those churches. Beautiful job!

Wanda - What beautiful shots of a wonderful couple. Nicely captures the love and fun this family has.

chris - I’m really impressed with the church shots. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be told at the last minute that you can’t use lighting, but as usual, you came through and all photos are beautiful.

Mom and Den - Looking at these wonderful pictures makes us feel like we are reliving the moments of your wedding day all over again. What a great feeling. The photographer has some really creative and unique shots of the two of you. BEAUTIFUL!!!

Shauna - Amazing pictures!! You captured so many of our favorite moments- Thank you so much for everything!

kristen + brian

“A man travels the world in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it.” – George Moore

I definitely love Buffalo. It’s a wonderful city, and I’m very proud to say that I live here; but, my heart belongs to Utica, NY – the city where I was born and raised. Being able to shoot a wedding in Utica was an amazing experience for me. Going back to places that I’ve seen all my life, familiar Utica landmarks, and looking at them now through the eyes of a photographer was pretty incredible. It’s so funny…growing up in a city as small as Utica, I couldn’t wait to move away, to see and experience what I thought were bigger and better things and places. But the older I get, the more I realize, that Utica – the quirky little city where I spent most of my life – is actually the one place that really feels like home. I love the places, the people, the food…but most of all, I love how much I feel like myself when I’m there.

Kristen and Brian are an incredible couple. Everything about their day was perfect, and we enjoyed every minute of it! I started out the day with Kristen and the girls at Hotel Utica.
a gorgeous wedding dress hanging in the mezzanine of the Hotel Utica
bridal shoe shot taken on the mezzanine of the Hotel UticaKristen and Brian’s daughter, Abby, was a very important part of their day.  She held the prestigious title of “mini bride!”  These are her darling wedding shoes.  :)
a beautiful fine art shot of flower girl ballet slippers
a Utica NY bride gets ready for her ceremony in the Julian Suite at Hotel UticaAbby was less than thrilled about me sticking my camera in her face, but she did allow me to capture a few shots of her getting ready for the big day.  I love this one!!
the daughter of the bride and groom gets her hair done before the ceremony
the bride to be puts lipstick on her flower girl
getting ready photo of a bride putting on her dress before the wedding ceremony
the aunt of the bride puts on her pearl necklace before her wedding ceremony
gorgeous bride puts on her wedding jewelry in preparation for her wedding ceremonyKristen’s sister helps her put on her garter…
getting ready photo of the maid of honor helping the bride put on her garterBen grabbed this great shot of the boys right before they hopped in the limo to head over to the church!
the groom and his groomsmen pose for a pre ceremony photo in New York MillsAbby the mini bride and the other wedding kiddos were anxious to get the show on the road!!
pre ceremony photo of the flower girl and the ring bearer peeking through the church doorsBrian and his best man, waiting patiently for Kristen to make her walk down the aisle.  :)
the groom and his best man wait patiently for the bride to walk down the aisle at a wedding ceremony in Utica NY
the flower girl and the ring bearer walk down the aisle at a Utica NY wedding ceremony
the bride and her father make the walk down the aisle at St Joseph St Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Utica NY
wedding photography of a bride and groom exchanging rings during their Utica wedding ceremony
the bride and groom seal their vows with a kiss when the priest said you may kiss the brideAren’t they a STUNNING couple??  Seriously…AMAZING!!!
the newly married couple walks back up the aisle after their Utica NY wedding ceremony
a bride and groom greet their daughter after their wedding ceremony After the ceremony, we headed over to Hotel Utica.  K and B’s wedding party was fabulous!  For such a large group, in 97 degree weather, they did remarkably well.  Great job, guys!
photo of a very large bridal party crossing the street in front of Hotel UticaThe mezzanine area of the Hotel Utica is perfect…
a bride and groom kiss for a wedding photo on the mezzanine of the Hotel Utica…as is the lobby, or grand foyer, or whatever it’s called.  LOVE this shot!!
wide angle photo of a bride and groom standing together in the lobby of the Hotel Utica
A classic Utica mural across the street from the hotel…
a utica bride and groom pose for a photo in front of the sunburst mural in downtown UticaThen, we headed over to the beautiful grounds of  The Masonic Home for a few more wedding party shots.  This was one of our favorites!
wide angle bridal party portrait taken at The Masonic Home in Utica NY
bride and groom pose for a portrait in front of the fountain at Masonic Home in UticaBen grabbed this shot while I was busy setting up the wedding party for another one.  I am totally IN LOVE with it!!

Ben is awesome.  :)
black and white close up photo of bride and groom kissing under the brides veilThere were a TON of amazing details at this wedding, (and you all know how much of a sucker I am for the details), so here are few of my fave detail shots.
wedding detail photo collage with a focus on all things pink
wedding cake detail photo 
An adorable first dance…
the bride blows her guests a kiss during the first dance
black and white close up of the bride and groom embracing during their first danceAfter their first dance, Kristen and Brian both took a turn dancing with their daughter.  It was just the sweetest thing EVER!
the groom does a special father daughter dance with his young daughter
the bride does a special mother daughter dance with her daughter
The kids at this wedding had a separate room all to themselves! I went in to check it out, and ended up finding inspiration for an awesome ring shot in an unlikely place.
fine art wedding ring photo using a crayon box as a background
I heart this so much…
the groom removes the brides garter during their wedding reception at the Hotel UticaTotally action packed bouquet/garter toss shots…the flowers got major air!
a bride tosses her bouquet at her wedding reception in the Hotel Utica ballroom
the groom tosses the garter to a group of single guys at his wedding reception at the Hotel Utica
great action shot of two little flower girls dancing at a wedding reception
the bride dances under the arms of her bridesmaidsBrian, rockin’ out to “Don’t Stop Believing…”
the groom sings his heart out to don't stop believing with his cousinsAhhhh, night portraits…my FAVORITE!!  I think these are particularly AWESOME night portraits, but I also think it has a lot to do with this particularly AWESOME couple.  ;)
magical looking portrait of a bride and groom in an alleyway adjacent to the Hotel Utica
off camera lighting portraits of bride and groom against a salmon brick wall
stunning bride and groom portrait using off camera front lighting and colored backlighting
black and white portrait of bride and groom against a textured brick wall
bride and groom portrait taken on the side of the Hotel Utica backlit with yellow light
Kristen and Brian – It goes without saying that we adore you, and that we feel absolutely honored to have been a part of your day. Thank you so much for choosing us to be your wedding photographers!! We wish you all the best! :)

Meghan McCarthy - Great shots Jenn & Ben!! Love the colors in this wedding. A beautiful job!

OHAHA PHOTOGRAPHERS - beautiful!! love that ring shot!

Maggie Collea - After seeing the engagement photos, I could not wait for these. Absolutely gorgeous. You definitely have an eye to capture the best!

Mary - These pictures are incredible. What amazes me the most is the little time it took you to set the pictures up. Your artistic style is unmatched! Im impressed!!!!Cant wait to see he rest of the photos. WOW!!!!!

Sheila Tracy - I got chills looking at these! You guys have an unbelievable talent for capturing the personality of the subjects. Well done!! Truly beautiful pictures.

Lindsey and Joe - Amazing pictures! Looks like you captured another beautiful day. Loved every last one…especially the ones by the brick wall! :)

chris - You can see from your photos that you love your work, and enjoy your clients. I’m so please for you, and for them!

Kristen - WOW! You guys are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G photographers and I love the way you captured every moment and every last detail of our special day! Your artistic vision is not the only reason why Brian and I chose you guys….you are truly great people! Thank you SO much for everything!!!