Boston events

Above photograph taken at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Here are some recent client comments:

"From the moment I first saw your website and the quality of your pictures, I knew I'm interested in having you photograph our event, and upon meeting you and seeing how friendly, warm and easy going you are, I had no doubt that you were the right choice for us. You captured every moment, emotion, celebration, and decoration of the event; we literally relived the Bat Mitzvah. Your eye for composition added an artistic element that made everything look even more beautiful than it was, at both the Temple rehearsal and the Country Club party. We are beyond thrilled with the results and can't thank you enough." Daphna, Michael, Maya and Gabriel

"Robert these pictures are amazing. You're so talented... I'm so happy you were there to capture all these wonderful moments. Thanks so much!" Kerry and Jeff

"Robert the album arrived and it is so fabulous. Thank you so much for doing such an outstanding job." Jessica

"Hi Robert. We are floored by your work. You did a terrific job!" Bob and Jessica

"Hi Robert. Thanks so much for doing an amazing job at our wedding. Everyone was commenting on how nice and flexible you were. I absolutely love my pictures. You did such an amazing job! I can't thank you enough. I've got so many compliments on them - you should be very proud of yourself as an artist. WOO-HOO!" Kim

"We really appreciated the professional way that you handled the wedding. You always seemed to be in the right place at the right time without anyone noticing, and everyone enjoyed your calm, positive approach." Ray, Father of the bride

Here are some recent professional accolades:

"You really are a great photographer Robert. You should teach college courses in photography." Natalie, photographer

"Every year, brides on the Knot vote for their favorite local wedding professionals, and this year, you were voted Best of Weddings winner! As a winner, you've received the highest kudos... endorsement from real brides. The recognition comes from REAL BOSTON BRIDES who were thrilled with the level of service you brought to their wedding day." Val, The Knot Inc.

I'm really appreciative to those that have allowed me to be a party of their special day and I'm very fortunate in that I love my job. Thank you! Robert Castagna

Salem Wedding

The above pictures were taken this past weekend in Salem Massachusetts. The wedding was at the Peabody Essex Museum, however this little find (and by find I'm alluding to the brick wall and large black door that came to life with the setting sun), was across the street behind the library that belongs to the museum. I scouted the area out before the ceremony and fell in love with the spot. Of course other pictures were taken in other areas, but I love the character, texture and antiquity of the building facade.

Boston photographer

There are plenty of good spots for photographs in Boston. How about the Boston Public Gardens? That's probably the classic spot for pictures after the wedding ceremony. However probably even more iconic are pictures set against the Boston skyline. In a recent wedding I found a perfect Boston destination for pictures. It's behind the Boston Federal Courthouse or otherwise known as the Moakley Courthouse. All of the above pictures were taken there. Although we had access to the courthouse interior (friends of the groom), anyone can go behind the courthouse on either a leisurely stroll or for excellent pictures. It's great for its un-obstructive view of Boston's city skyline.

fun and easy

It's great to hear from the bride and groom with their thoughts about their wedding pictures. Here's a note I just received from a wedding I photographed earlier this year:

"I don't know what to say - the pictures from our wedding are gorgeous! They are perfect - candid shots that really capture the whole day from start to finish. Half of the time I didn't even notice you taking the pictures! You were so fun and easy to work with."

Maria and Justin

bistro wedding

If you ask me there may be a new trend in Boston weddings. Receptions are often had in large party venues and reception halls. Let's face it there is a lot of room there and hotels specialize in this catered affair. However, Boston is known for its restaurants and bistros, some of which have been around for quite some time. They add a hint of flair and local character to your event. The above event was held at Marliave in Boston located on Bosworth Street. This restaurant happened to be a favorite with the bride and groom. Although it was a bit tight in terms of space, the staff pulled it off quite well, converting the dining hall into a dance floor and making room for good fun. When I look back upon it, the ambiance and decor helped set the stage for a unique Boston wedding experience. I'd recommend such a setting for your next wedding or event. To see more pictures from this wedding day go to Boston's new wedding trend!

boston wedding

So much goes on before the ceremony even begins! Jessica is getting ready at the Omni Parker House in downtown Boston and then makes her way to the church on a rainy but fun day. I love shooting candids before the ceremony as the anticipation and excitement is high.

Jessica had the following to say about her wedding pictures:
"These pictures are amazing. You did such a great job with capturing all the groups of people and the special moments in such a unique way. It was a pleasure having you as our photographer. We will definitely recommend you for events in the future."

Boston bride

Boston brides have been good to me. I love them! Here I've included four pictures of Stefanie. They include a range of styles from the funny and contrived (see her being courted by all of her groomsmen) to the candid where a tear can be seen rolling down her cheek! I'm looking forward to the summer wedding season, and beyond! There are still some dates open, so if you are planning a 2010 wedding date, please feel free to contact me for availability. And of course if you are planning a 2011 wedding I'm happy to provide rates, packages and set up a meeting. Aloha!!

boston sunsets

It's true, my Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah season has come to a close and I'm now in the "heat" of wedding season. But fortunately for me I get a 10 day get away starting on Monday as I make a visit to the island of Kauai, a gorgeous nature island of Hawaii. But before I go away I wanted to post a little bit about weddings. Above are three sunset pictures. Taken with my trusty assistant holding a golden hued flash off camera to provide a beautiful glow on the wedding couple and allowing me to freeze the twilight colors against the sky. These photographs were taken outside of Boston in East Bridgewater at a venue called The Villa.

new site

I hope you enjoy these pictures of a Bar Mitzvah with the theme of robots!! No kidding! All the tables had cool robots on them. It seems that Ford is quite a science whiz.

I'm introducing a new website (yet another) that is devoted specifically for Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs. It is www.capturingtheimage.com. I already have another website for mitzvahs which is www.bostonmitzvahphotographer.com but I thought I would try another. One is html and the other is flash. Which do you like best?

50th Anniversary

How about two events in one? Photographing a Bar Mitzvah is quite fun, but celebrating it on the same day as your grandparents' 50th Anniversary is quite another experience all together. A beautiful moment!

Navjote Ceremony

I just photographed another Navjote Ceremony. A fabulous tradition of the Zorastrian religion that has similarities to a Jewish Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah as it is a coming of age in your religion ceremony. The ceremonies themselves are, on the outside, quite different however there are many customs that are similar. There is the recitation of religious text and the training and instruction that lead up to the ceremony. And of course there is a grand celebration and party immediately after. You can view more of my Navjote pictures at Navjote and Mitzvah Galleries.