Photographing friends is something I do not normally do. Aside from the friend/employee boundary I do not like to cross, there can be certain sides of your friends you may not want to see. Yes, I am talking from experience. Though, when Andrew and Carlos announced they were going to get married I unequivocally proclaimed, “I’m shooting your wedding guys! You can’t take no for an answer!”

Andrew and I met while singing next to each other with New Jersey Choral Society. I quickly learned he was a film director who had a deep love for all types of cinema. Furthermore, I learned that Andrew was an accomplished pianist and had monthly gigs paying homage to Elton John, hence the blog post title. Seriously though, have you seen one of his shows? Even people that don’t really enjoy Elton John love Andrew as Elton John.

The cynic in me had me thinking that such a talented human must also have some sort of hang up or chip on his shoulder. You know, the megalomaniac with hundreds of personality defects? I was astonished(and relieved) that I couldn’t have been more wrong. Andrew is the definition of who you want in a friend. He is effortlessly humble, kind, and filled with a wonderfully creative sense of humor you just want to be around.

Good people aren’t always easy to find. Andrew is one of them. The two were married at the Oakland Public Library in Oakland, New Jersey. We took portraits in the Great Oak Park a couple miles down the road. This place is special to me as my father and I would go fishing here. Their reception was held at Cucina 347, also in Oakland, New Jersey.