New Jersey wedding photographer Daniel Nydick used his signature voice in full force at this Skylands Manor wedding at Ringwood State Botanical Gardens last July. The MagMod Ambassador understands light and shadow like no one else, and with the wedding of Tasha and Rob, it shows.

For Daniel, who loves “traveling to Europe, raiding the fridge in the middle of the night, and photographing each and every wedding,” work and life are intertwined, infused with dedication, creativity, and a touch of whimsy.

Says Daniel of his approach: “I connect with my couples as a human, not as their vendor. This way, they feel like they have a friend at their sides all day long, not just a stranger with a camera. That's where I operate from—candid storytelling combined with fun, creative, vibrant portraiture.”

And capture all of that he did for Tasha and Rob's Skylands Manor wedding. The bride says she had a vision of a Disney Princess theme, hence the slipper on the staircase portrait shown in our selections below. “We looked at castle venues because I’m a princess at heart, and Rob loves the historical aspect of them,” says Tasha. “When we walked into the Castle at Skylands Manor, we both fell in love. All the different rooms were so fun to explore and get lost in. It really felt like I was stepping into an old storybook,” she describes.

It was a fairytale from start to finish, says the photographer. “Tasha and Rob used jewel tones as their color scheme because they wanted the bridesmaids to have freedom when picking their dresses. For their own attire, they stayed authentic to who they are as a couple. Rob chose green for his accessories, since it was St. Patrick’s Day, and Tasha gravitated towards her princess look which worked perfectly with the backdrops for their Skylands Manor wedding.

Daniel is definitely a storyteller, says Tasha. “He is great at capturing personalities in photos. You can get a sense of who the couple is when looking through his pictures. Getting married at this beautiful venue with many gorgeous photo ops, we wanted someone who could really capture it all and create artwork out of our pictures. When finding Daniel, we felt we were booking more than a photographer; we were also booking an artist.”

One of her favorite moments Daniel captured, she adds, was when she paused with her dad right before walking down the aisle. “Just after entering, I asked if we could stop and scan the room. Looking at everyone’s faces, holding my dad’s arm, and seeing Rob at the end of the aisle…my eyes get wet just thinking about it. It was literally one of the best moments of my life.”

Says Daniel, “I value the human connection first and foremost. Having also photographed Tasha's Mermaid-Disney-Alice in Wonderland themed bachelorette party, I got to know her bridesmaids well before the wedding. This made such a difference when I showed up to bridal prep. I wasn't a stranger, and everyone just let loose. Plus, Tasha's laugh is infectious. Her personality just beams!

Vendor Credits:

Officiant: Tasha’s Uncle Tommy

Gown: Bijou Bridal https://www.bijoubridal.com

Accessories: Pocket squares and ties from Azazie https://www.azazie.com ; The guy’s hats were from Village Hat Shop https://www.villagehatshop.com

Hair: Selina from Amac Hair Artistry https://linktr.ee/amachairartistry

Makeup: Amanda from A Beauty by Amanda https://www.abeautybyamanda-makeup.com

Bridesmaids Dresses: https://www.azazie.com

Groom and Groomsmen Attire:  https://www.thesuitstore.com

Flowers: Roses from Lings Moments (various greenery and accent flowers from other sources) https://www.lingsmoment.com

Cake: Frungillo Catering https://www.frungillo.com

Videographer: John Martin from Martin’s Wedding Videos https://www.martinsvideo.com

Music: Mike Badon DJ Iron Mike from Off The Chart Entertainment https://www.offthechartentertainment.com

Photography Gear:

Canon R6 cameras

EF and RF lenses

Flashpoint strobes and MagMod lighting modifiers