There is also no doubt that my family’s roots in the arts rubbed off on me both creatively in my earlier acting career and my present life as a photographer, as well as the ability to have compassion and tolerance to those that are different than me.

My Mom was a dancer.  She graduated from The High School for the Performing Arts in NYC (yes – the “Fame” school) with a major in dance and went from there to perform at the age of 19 in cabaret shows at the El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico in the late 60s.  It was there that she met my Dad, a young guy from St. Louis, MO, who was teaching music in Puerto Rico out of graduate school at Washington University.  My Dad was moonlighting playing his bass trombone at the El San Juan Hotel with the likes of Sammy Davis, Jr., Liza Minelli, Bobby Darin, Tony Bennet, and Jose Feliciano to name a few.

I have to believe the creative bug was in me from conception.  I did commercial and voice over work in NYC as a young kid and teenager, joined the Screen Actors Guild, and went to high school at my Mom’s alma mater majoring in Drama.  I continued my love of acting in college attending Webster University in St. Louis, MO (my Dad’s hometown!) and entered the Regional Theatre program earning my BFA.

It was definitely at my 4 years of college that my acceptance of all people, including gays and lesbians, was cemented.  Many of my good friends in the theatre program at Webster were gay and lesbian.  I grew to love each and every one of my friends for who they were – good and decent and caring people – just like me.  It never had anything to do with who they loved or slept with or wanted to sleep with.  It had everything to do with them being kind people.

I reconnected with some of my college friends at a recent alumni event gathering in NYC.  On more than one occasion the topic of conversation steered to marriage equality being passed in NY.  I shared how I would welcome with huge open arms the opportunity to photograph a same sex marriage.  I figure who better to have sharing and capturing your special day than someone who believes so strongly in marriage equality.  Having a photographer the couple to be is comfortable with makes a huge difference in the photos to be captured.  The joy shines through that much more in the images…

And so I am incredibly pleased to announce that I booked my first same sex marriage last week after meeting the two brides to be at The Black Cow Coffee Co. in Pleasantville, NY.  They found me as they perused gayweddings.com and saw my listing, liked my work, and the fact that they were just a couple towns over in Mt. Kisco, NY seemed like it might be meant to be.  Our meeting went great and the connection was there from start to finish.

One of the main things I expressed to them was that even though I am a strong proponent of LGBT rights and marriage equality, photographing their wedding would really be no different for me than any hetero wedding.  Because there is no difference. When it all comes down to it, a wedding is about two people coming together to share their lives as one.  It is about love, faithfulness, joy, and family.  It is about declaring that love and respect for one another.  It is about building a life together.  It is about vows.

And I’m just there to capture it…

And I owe much of it to the clients who have hired me over those 3 years for their special days and moments.  Whether it has been a wedding or a Bar or Bat Mitzvah or a simple family portrait session, I have been overwhelmed by the show of support and love of both me and my work through the countless referrals I have received.

I honestly feel that the best way to tell me I’ve done a great job, is by sharing my name and business with your family and friends and suggesting they contact me for their photography needs!

I think what spurred me to make this entry about this subject was when a prospective client called me (and ultimately booked me for her son’s Bar Mitzvah next year) and told me she had to reach out after 3 separate friends of hers told her to contact Chad David Kraus Photography.  And the best part?  None of the 3 friends knew one another.  They were all from separate walks of life and all 3 had either used me or had me booked for a future event.  I gotta say that made me feel great!

I already have 7 confirmed bookings for 2013 and several more I expect to book in the next month.  I even have a Bat Mitzvah shoot booked for May, 2014!

Thanks again to all of my past clients, family, and friends for helping to “spread the word”.

-Liz & Chris

Needless to say it was wonderful to read such kind words and to know I’ve made a client so thoroughly happy!!!

If you have a wedding, b’nai mitzvah, or any other special event, please contact me for a price and package quote.

Chad David Kraus Photography – Photojournalistic / Candid / Fun

99% of my gigs during the year are weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and family / baby portraits – which I absolutely love shooting – but it is nice to mix in some sports photography as I’ve always loved playing and photographing sports.  I’ve captured some great shots at Yankees games when I’ve been lucky enough to have great seats on the field level.  I’m looking forward to hopefully getting to the Garden to capture some of the new found excitement and Linsanity!

This shoot is a long day as I’ll be shooting two division games from the 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades.  8 total games – about 12 hours on my feet and running from side to side – definitely a workout!  Can’t wait!!!

This will double the number of Mitzvahs I’ve photographed at Temple Shaaray Tefila in the last 6 months and I have at least a couple of others as prospects in the next year.

As you know if you’ve been following me and my photography on my website or through Facebook with my “Photo of the day”, I love to shoot in candid and photojournalistic style at the events I photograph.  I’ve recently had a couple clients tell me how they feel they always look awful in pictures taken of them.  To which I say to them: if you have a photographer who is simply witnessing your special event – be it a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, wedding, anniversary or birthday party – and capturing the moments as I strive to achieve…  Then you will look great!  You will look natural.  The majority of folks that “don’t look good in pictures” are really talking about when they are aware they are being photographed and “trying” to smile naturally.  I say:  Just have a great time and leave the memories to me…

Bar Mitzvah Photography Westchester County
Bat Mitzvah Photography Westchester County
Bar Mitzvah Photographer
Bat Mitzvah Photographer

The weather for a December day on the water in NYC was amazing.  I think it hit the mid 50s!  I was with the bride to be for over 9 hours – from several hours before the wedding getting photos of getting ready right up to the last guest leaving the party where the dancing rarely stopped!

We had time to get shots with the Brooklyn Bridge as a backdrop, a little homage to Abbey Road as we crossed a city street heading down to the water, and even some great old school NYC gritty shots of the bride in a loading dock area of the South Street Seaport.

The party itself was at Bridgewaters.  What a great space with incredible views of the water!

This was the first time for me shooting a wedding at the South Street Seaport and I gotta say I loved every minute of it.

On top of that I’m excited that I’ve begun booking some great photo shoots for 2012 and even 2013!  I have two weddings I’m extremely excited about photographing in 2012.  One will be at Tappan Hill in Westchester County, NY and the other will be at the NY Botanical Gardens in the Bronx, NY.  I also have a Bat Mitzvah booked for January at Temple Israel and Waykagl Country Club in New Rochelle, NY.

Additionally I just shot a Bat Mitzvah at Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford, NY on the outskirts of Mt. Kisco and then a huge and fabulous party at The Loading Dock in Stamford, CT and the Mom and family were so thrilled with my work that they’ve already asked me to hold the date for their next daughter’s Bat Mitzvah in December 2013!  Definitely makes me feel great to know that everyone I’ve shot an event for has loved my photography, style, reliability, energy, effort and personality!!!

I’m getting excited for a really busy September and beyond for my photography business.  I have 9 B’nai Mitzvah booked between September 4th and December 4th!  It will definitely be a busy 3 months.  By the time I’m through shooting all these Bar & Bat Mitzvahs – I should be very well versed in all the songs of the day!

Every one of them will be in Westchester County.  I’ve got one that will be taking place at the Crabtree Kittle House Restaurant & Inn in Chappaqua, NY.  At least 4 will be in White Plains, NY with two at Prophecy Night Club, one at Metropolis Country Club, and one at CV Rich Mansion.  Another will be at the Holiday Inn in Mount Kisco, NY.  Additionally I have an engagement shoot scheduled for Wampus Brook Park in Armonk, NY in September.  Like I said – busy!  But believe me – busy is good and exciting – especially when I think about the fact that I only started my photography business not even 3 years ago.  The “word of mouth” has grown exponentially just as I had hoped!

Lastly – September will also be exciting for me as I will be having the first exposition of my work on display and for sale.  It will be at The Black Cow Coffee Co. here in my town of Pleasantville, NY.  The Black Cow is a wonderful indie coffeehouse that opened here just about 2 months ago and exhibits local artists work each month.  I have the month of September and will be displaying about two dozen of my works from over the years covering a wide range of subjects.

If you are around on the evening of Friday, September 9th, between 7-9pm – stop on by The Black Cow for an opening reception with food and drink and some nice chit chat!  If you can’t make it that night – please try to stop by any other time in September to check out my work.  It would be appreciated.

Thanks for your support!