Ella & Oren’s Wedding at Tyler Hill Camp: Tyler Hill, PA
I’ve shot a lot of weddings over the past 14 years, and I can usually picture the general shape of a day before I arrive. Tyler Hill Camp threw that out the window. I had never photographed a wedding at a summer camp before, and I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. What I found was one of the most relaxed, warm, genuinely fun days I’ve been part of, and it never once felt casual at the expense of being classy. It was both, at the same time, without any tension between the two.
Ella and Oren are the kind of couple where you don’t have to look hard to see it. Throughout the whole day, there were these moments where they’d catch each other’s eye and you could just tell, they’re sure about each other. That kind of ease between two people makes the whole day easier to photograph. I wasn’t chasing connection. It was already there.
Morning at Camp
The morning had a different energy than most wedding days I walk into. People were hanging out, having breakfast, being social. Nobody seemed anxious. It felt more like the first morning of a great weekend with close friends than the hours before a ceremony. These photos from getting ready are a good reflection of that.
The First Look on the Dock
The first look was on a wooden dock by the water. It’s a setting that does a lot of the work on its own, and Ella and Oren didn’t need much help filling it.
The Reception
Jewish weddings are the ones I look forward to most. The traditions give the day a real structure and energy, and the hora is one of those moments where the whole room is present at the same time. This reception had that. The dance floor was packed, arms in the air, guests and groomsmen going all in.
And then, after the first dance, Ella and Oren kicked off a dance mob to “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. The room went with them immediately. That’s the kind of moment you can’t plan for, it either happens or it doesn’t, and when it does, you just make sure you’re ready.
A quick note on the vendor team: everyone brought their best. Hair, makeup, cake, food, all of it was excellent. But I especially want to call out Gavin, the wedding coordinator. His attention to detail made the day run cleanly, and he was genuinely fun to work alongside. A good coordinator changes everything about how a wedding day feels from the inside, and Gavin is one of the best I’ve worked with.
If you’re interested in wedding photography, reach out. We’d love to hear from you.
Our collaborative partners:
- Event Planner: Gavin Esham Events · @gavineshamevents · gavineshamevents.com
- DJ: Joel Shimer Entertainment · @joelonair · joelshimer.com
- Hair & Makeup: MMUAV · @mmuavpro · mmuavpro.com
Location: Tyler Hill Camp, Tyler Hill, PA · gatheroundus.com