MLKL Photography

digital aficionados | the latest mlkl photo gift set

2012-01-25T12:59:00.000-08:00

I love quality goods. Give me the finest silk and I will bury my fingers in its lustrous goodness until the moon rises high in the sky. Tan me a new satchel and I will scour the globe for the softest of leathers (fortunately, I live in Brooklyn, so I don't have to travel far). It's a great weakness of mine. I'm a sucker for beautiful things.

And so, in the spirit of always striving to improve upon the quality of my brand, I have just introduced a new luxury item I can't wait to get my client's hands on!

For all my "digital album" aficionados, I now offer a charming maple swivel usb with custom engraving nestled in an elegant gift box set. This totally blows my previous digital cds out of the water!

With it's super soft exterior (hmm, what to compare it to. Butter? Yes butter.) I seriously can't stop touching it... which is exactly why this particular set will remain a sample item.

The box, with it's luxe leathery interior, comes complete with fully customizable engraving as well (mlkl photo logo shown here for my sample piece only). And paired with its suede lined sleeve, this gift box set couldn't be lovelier. Unless, of course, it was yours to keep. Luck you - it can be ;)

To learn more about the photo sessions this heart-warming lovely accompanies, drop me a note!

Spring Fever... in January!

2012-01-24T14:55:00.000-08:00

I love Meg Ryan. Who doesn't? And like Meg Ryan, in her classic romcom "You've got mail" I've long yearned to have a favourite flower. You know, the beautiful bud that your handsome counterpart intrinsically knows holds a soft spot in your heart, so every time you get sick he is sure to bring a bushel of them to surprise you with on your bedside table. Meg's (Oh yes, we're on a first name basis) favourite flower, in this particular flick, was a Daisy. Which is perfect for her. Bright, cheery, and simple. And for so long I wanted that to be my favourite flower, but I couldn't fight that feeling deep down inside that it just didn't quite fit right.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have just discovered my new favourite flower: Allow me to introduce you to the Ranunculus.

Apart from it's obviously amazing name, I love it for the myriad of colours it paints mother nature with - most of which lie in those romantic hues that so often dominate my life. It's sometimes drooping stature is so casual and yet so elegant at the same time. And it's petals - so ornate they look like hundreds of layers of rice paper crowding together to cradle a sweet little treasure buried deep inside.

And for all you brides out there - they're worth a second glance when used to garden a wedding banquet table (as pictured here) or nestled sweetly in a bridal bouquet (as pictures here).

This particular ranunculus came from local Brooklyn floral boutique Graceful Gardens. Their's is a fortress of many budding goodies, so if you haven't been you should definitely stop in to say hello! And yes, they most definitely do bridal arrangements - and wonderfully unique ones at that!

This one has been used on my new customized "thank you" notes. The colours just melt... like butter!

And this one (on the left), in all of its painterly glory, went straight off to the printers for a new 20"x30" wall art piece.

And finally, this beauty, taken with the help of my new-old spartaflex medium format camera, will join it's aforementioned sister on my wall as a 18"x24" print set in an antiqued frame.

Well, Hello! | on the other side of the lens

2012-01-20T09:16:00.000-08:00

I squealed with delight when Ben came through the door last night with a package, asking with a boyish grin, "So, who do you know in North Carolina?" It was our photos - they were finally here!

Mid December we arranged a photo date with friend and fellow photog Cali Lowdermilk, just before she left the cement jungle of New York City to return to her native NC. She traversed the icy waters of the East River to document the pair of us in our native Williamsburg, Brooklyn. We had so much fun showing her our favourite local spots (and reasons why this is one of the best places to live on earth): East River State Park, the Domino Sugar Factory, and my bubble tea source (of course!) - Saint Alp's Teahouse.

But most of all, we were just so thrilled to be on the other side of the lens!
Ok, I was thrilled. But Ben was a pretty good sport about it too :)

With her strictly "pretend like I'm not here" photographic approach, she truly caught us in the act of us being us - a treasure we will cherish for many many many years to come.

So a big bear-hug Thank You to Cali, once again, for capturing a day-in-the-life of Melissa and Ben!

my favourite ♥

the ::art:: of giving

2012-01-19T10:22:00.000-08:00

I ♥ love ♥ gift giving.

So much, in fact, that upon receiving a polly pocket for my 5th birthday (much to my delight!) I promptly re-gifted it to a friend when I saw how much she enjoyed playing with it. You know the one. Circa the 1980's it looked a little something like this. To my mother's dismay, I've lost many a precious 'toy' this way.

I'm the sort of lady who would find joy in whisking a friend off to a tropical paradise for her birthday or lavishing a dear gal pal's baby bump with the finest silks money can buy. But alas, I am not a millionaire. Fortunately I have my whole life to work towards that goal. But that doesn't mean I can't have a bit of fun pampering those around me right now...

So, in the spirit of giving, I have designed a new gift certificate for MLKL Photography. Fresh off the press, these cards are divine. Soft hues, boutique lettering, and a buttery satin finish leave these gifts feeling (and looking) oh-so-special. You just want to glide them into the hand of a loved one and say with a smile "Just thinking of you". Or at least I do. I'm convinced they could make a gift giver out of anyone ;)

And here's my *brief* plug: these certificates are good toward a photo session, wedding or print package. With no limit on how much you give, you can show someone exactly how much you care. Or (wink wink) send a not-so-subtle hint to a loved one letting them know how much you'd truly appreciate a little in-front-of-the-camera regale, and have them email me at melissa@mlklphoto.com for more details.

Now, you might ask - What's with the orchid? It's a gift I received for my birthday nearly one year ago, and for the first time in 10 months blossoms are beginning to open... just in time, again, for my birthday! I'm a little obsessed.. and it likely won't be the last time they make an appearance on this blog.

I ♥ Pretty Little Things

2012-01-10T16:22:00.000-08:00

I ♥ pretty little things. Truly I do. So much, in fact, that I purchased a brand new lens that specializes in capturing the beauty of the tiny wonders that surround me. A beautiful Macro. L series glass, of course (for all the photog tech geeks out there). And look at all the delightful delicacies I captured within 5 ft of my desk...

and to see other things I love...

new buds have appeared on my orchid plant... and, seeing as how i thought it was dead, i couldn't be more excited!

aforementioned orchid plant AND... a current project i'm working on: silk knotted necklace with abalone and swarovski crystals.

i was thrilled to find this spartaflex camera buried in the basement of a midwest antique store - and for just $12 it quickly found a home amidst the congregation of cameras adorning my shelf.

this is like a "what is this?" game with a magnified view of an object. so what is this? the ear tip of my new retro bifocals... shot THROUGH the bifocals! (note the slight hint of the frame in the foreground)

a recent gift: the daintiest of dainties, i'm completely smitten with this vintage double strand gold chain bracelet.

an old favourite but a new addition to my collection. the ever fabulous - kaleidoscope.

Do Unto Others | My Beau

2012-01-06T08:06:00.000-08:00

It's said that it is better to give than to receive.
While I might not find this is always the case (I do love a good present!), I found it to be especially true on this occasion. In some of my winter downtime this week, I had the brilliant idea of making my very talented husband a new set of cards to pass out to students, venues, etc.

This idea struck me as 'brilliant' for a few reasons:
1. I love my husband dearly and want to support his passions.
2. I was itching for an excuse for another design project.
3. I was itching for an excuse to procrastinate on some of my pressing (aka boring) work-related tasks.
4. I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a set of 80 free 4x6 cards from my favourite professional printing press. That's right. $120 value - Free! If you want to know where you can get your free set, leave me a message. They offer cards in gloss, recycled, and, my personal favourite, satin finish.

Now back to my beau.

He is an Aussie born, classically trained, guitarist whose musical talents include performing, composing, and teaching musicians of all ages and abilities. And while he boasts (but never brags) a student list including some of New York's finest, it is his gentle spirit and amiable demeanor that make him a great find - and I couldn't be more proud.

You can pay him a visit at www.benlahring.com. And if you're at all interested in a guitar lesson and/or performance, be sure to say hello! I know he'd love to chat.

To see more images from his photo session, click here.

the new improved me

2012-01-03T14:51:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, the coming of the new year often brings with it the coming of many ideas to do and be many more new-and-improved things.

I'm not one to often make such resolutions. Mostly because I can't think of anything worthy of such commitment. Merriam Webster defines resolute as some thing 'marked by firm determination'. Being that I am rarely firm (insert lack-of-exercise joke here) and even less frequently determined, I more often than not simply sing in the new year with whimsy, bright eyes, and just a tinge of woe in my heart at the thought of never writing the previous year's date ever again.

But not this year. Three days in and I've decided to be a bit resolute this year. Beginning with:

1. I resolve to be resolute.
2. I resolve to rise with the sun. I'm 3 and 0 on this one so far, but it doesn't mean I won't keep 'trying'.
3. I resolve to only buy things I really really really love (it's coincidence that I often really really really love many things).
3a. I know I've found something I truly love if:
* I don't buy it and regret it later on, or
* I do buy it (and perhaps even regret it), and wouldn't give it back for anything in the world.

4. I resolve to be exactly as cool as I was when I was 2 years old. No more, no less.
5. And, most importantly of all, I resolve to make and keep friends who are wonderful through and through.

Cheers to high hopes and big dreams for 2012!

me (circa 1980's)

little lady | autumn in new york

2011-12-18T09:12:00.001-08:00

Simply put, I adore this little girl. I have had the incredible joy of photographing her not once, not twice, not even thrice, but four times in her little life. And each time she brings a plethora of ear-to-ear smiles and a multitude of expressions, enthusiastically displaying her charming multi-faceted personality. Her curiosity is inspiring and her joy infectious. Oh, and of course we can't forget their incredibly lovable Bernese mountain dog... who inevitably steals the show for at least a couple frames ;)

May I introduce you to this very lovely little lady.

And to see how she's grown these past couple years, stop by to see images from her previous sessions here and here.

A very Merry Christmas from us to you!

2011-12-18T08:55:00.001-08:00

My Premiere Video Reel

2011-12-15T13:32:00.000-08:00

It has been nearly two and a half weeks since last I've posted a blog.

Shame on me.

Like many of you, I'm busy managing the circus that has become my life this very merry holiday season.

Amidst filling client orders, last minute projects (the delicious details of which I will share soon - I promise!), quarterly taxes, home renovations (whoever said installing new windows in the middle of December was a bad idea?), holiday shopping, holiday parties, holiday card mailings (I got mine out 2 weeks ago already - I'm doing soooo well this year!), and, of course, the holidays, I just haven't had an opportune moment to sit on the couch and ramble on about my thoughts in a forum for all the blogosphere to digest.

But I'm here now.

And what shall I share? Hmm...

Let's see, I have some gorgeous client photos I can't wait to reveal, the story of a life-changing advertising/editorial campaign that consumed my every waking moment for about a week, my debut fashion video project that I just wrapped up last night, and our wonderful holiday greetings to share.

Well, I suppose I'll begin with what's freshest on my mind - the video!
(with all the other wonders to follow in the next few days before I fly out to my holiday destination...)

So here it is kids. My debut solo video project. And please go easy on me - it's my first go at directing, shooting, and editing a reel. In the spirit of transparency, I'll readily admit it was a very steep learning curve. But I've come out the other side all the wiser... and I couldn't be more excited about my new budding skill set. I have much to learn, but with my curious mind and creative spirit I'll be cinematographing (did I just make up a word?) films for Spielberg in no time. I jest.

Model: Ana Vivian
Music: Seven Hours with a Backseat Driver by (the very talented) Gotye

preview | little lady

2011-11-28T08:28:00.000-08:00

This little lady is an absolute doll. Always full of big smiles and high energy - she is no stranger to posing in front of my camera! With this, her fourth session in just 2 years, it's been such a joy to see her grow... but more on that later. For now, I just have to leak a few favourites from her session. With many more soon to follow ♥

To catch a glimpse of her pretty little face in years past, check out images from her previous sessions here and here.

Ode to my Grandmummy

2011-11-17T14:32:00.000-08:00

I love vintage photographs as much as the next person. Maybe even more.

So what better occasion to share a few of my favourites, than today - the day we celebrate the :: DIAMOND :: birthday of a very special woman. My grandmummy.

To my grandmum (and only my grandmum) I am known as Lissie LuLu. And her words of wisdom have guided me through the years...

When I worked on a sewing project and jumped a stitch or accidentally clipped a hole in the fabric, she would quickly clap her hands over my mistake as if to make it disappear and, with a twinkle in her eye, whispered loudly "Only you, God, and the spiders will know."

And whenever I was headed out the door and just snagged my nylons or chipped a nail or, God forbid, couldn't quite get the zipper to zip all the way on my brand new dress, she'd make a quick sound of surprised glee, pop her eyes open wide, and sing "Smile big and walk fast." As if I could charm anyone out of noticing my disaster.

She taught me to laugh. She taught me to play. But most of all, she taught me to never fuss over things that don't quite seem to go my way.

A spirited woman indeed! She melts the heart of everyone she meets, if not with her excitable-quip-of-a-laughter then certainly with her witty charm and better-than-heaven cake (she serves the censored version of this truly tantalizing desert - with a wink of course).

Central Park Family Portrait | MSC auction winner

2011-11-14T14:33:00.001-08:00

Here they are... after fierce bidding and an incredible family session on a warm autumn afternoon in Central Park, I am thrilled to share the final images from my photo session with the MSC auction winner.
These urban sisters were boundless bundles of energy who kept me quick on my toes and laughing the whole session long. And their creativity? Inspiring! They took the reigns more than once when it came to finding locations to shoot and portrait poses for the whole family. We couldn't have had more fun!

So, without further ado...

preview | central park family portrait

2011-11-09T07:50:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful weekend here in New York - which is why I was thrilled to have a family portrait session on the calendar bright and early this past Sunday morning (a 9:30am call time following an 11:30pm finish shooting a wedding the day before - thank goodness for daylight savings!).

The full story and collection of images are soon to come, but I just had to share a couple favourites right away! A-dor-able!

Putting Down the Camera... Well, Almost.

2011-11-07T16:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day to wander the pathways of Manhattan's Central Park. After finishing a morning family portrait session (images soon to come!), my favourite boots carried me from the furthest upper West Side corner down around the north curve of the Jackie O. Reservoir and across to the east side, where I eventually exited the park and waved hello to the Guggenheim and Metropolitan museums... all the while making my way to the Frick Collection to meet up with a friend visiting from out-of-town. A perfect Sunday.

Along the way I was surrounded by rich golden rays glistening off the lake as they reflected trees just peaking in their autumn hues. At the far side of the park I could hear loud cheers and clanging bells encouraging the runners of this year's New York marathon. And how fortunate that I had all of my camera gear already in tow!

But did I take one single photo? Well, yes. In fact, I took three. Of the very pretty tall feather grass hugging the lake's edge. Is that it? Um, yep. And I call myself a photographer!

But you know, one thing I've learned is that sometimes you need to just put down the camera and bask in the joy and serenity of the moment. Especially the very best moments! Because while those are what might make the best photographs, they are also what make the best memories. Which is what I will have to cherish of yesterday's very wonderful wander - along with these three beautiful photographs ;)

illumination post the autumnal equinox

2011-11-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

When temperatures drop and the days get shorter, like many I tend to hibernate. And when I hibernate, I get crafty. And when I get crafty, one of two things can occur - a. I get a little carried away and disaster strikes, or b. Something magical unfolds. Either way, we end up with a home full of odds and ends just waiting to be transformed into something beautiful... someday.

Well someday was yesterday for one particular project. And I am happy to announce I am thrilled with the results! Blending my personal styles of modern and boho chic, I concocted the perfect kitchen hanging light piece (or as I like to call it - our "chandelier"). This particular masterpiece went through about 4 highly intricate models before realizing its final form (an ultra-simple silhouette).

And it wasn't too difficult either. I was able to find everything I needed around our home (which goes to show exactly how many odds and ends I collect): woven basket, light strand, lampshade frame, extension chord, and chain... and Vooua-lah!

Easy Breezy... of course my beau, Ben, had the difficult task of installing hooks in our 11ft ceilings!

And one of my favourite details: the growing vine we've guided over a nearby door frame instantly began wrapping its tendrils around the chain... so come spring, I can only imagine how beautiful the fresh blooms will look weaving their way along our new light!

A New Season

2011-10-27T12:02:00.000-07:00

Polka dots. Cowgirl hats. Super hero capes. Really - What more could a lifestyle photographer like myself ask for? Salt and pepper it with a little grade-A personal style, and you have one of my favourite families. (You may even remember them from a previous feature on this blog - Oh how they've grown!)

More often than not, I get people asking "What should we wear" and "What 'props' should we have on hand?" While I always welcome these questions with open arms (I love giving styling tips), I've never received any such inquiries from this clan. And I never worry. They ooze style. From coordinated neutral tones to complimentary floral prints. From perfectly 'unmatching' matching boots to white-white-white everywhere you look (their home is like one giant light box!).

Plus they're awesome. Plain and simple. With midwest roots (like myself!) they've somehow managed to master the Brooklyn lifestyle swagger - charming, relaxed, and just a little off-beat. They're what photography dreams are made of - throughout the entire session saying things like "Oh, that's so fun" and "Do whatever you want" and then going ahead and creating the most beautiful candid moments without even trying. Capturing a mix of mum's ever growing belly (just 5 1/2 months and already so big!), the ever adorable cuties, and the entire family... there was an altogether organic flow through their entire session.

The moral of this story - I can't WAIT to photograph the arrival of their little newbie in February.

meet the grandpappies

2011-10-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

During my recent visit to Minnesota I had the pleasure of photographing my G-ma and G-pa. The place they hold in my heart, along with the role they have played in my life, can be suitably wrapped up in one word. Grand.

Their encouragement throughout the years has been unparalleled. All throughout my childhood, they never missed a concert or play or art show or math leagues competition (Oh yes, I still had a few left-brain capabilities back in those days). Their pride in my many accomplishments (their words, not mine) made me feel like a star. As if anything was possible. You know - the stuff kid's dreams are made of ;)

And now that I'm older, they are still there every step of the way. It's just a little different now. These days they never miss a blog post or website album revamp or twitter update (ok, that last one is a bit of a stretch). Even while I nest my home across the country, and sometimes even the world, they still know up-to-the-minute details on all my doings.

They are incredibly dear to me - as I know they are to all their grandbabbies. Their love is insurmountable and their enthusiasm breathes life into everything we do.

sneak peak | maternity & family portrait

2011-10-17T14:28:00.000-07:00

I am having such a thrill culling through yesterday's family/maternity portrait session. A beautiful family (in every sense), a beautiful day, and not one, but two beautiful locations. I can't shake the song from my heart nor the twinkle of delight from my eye... I just have to share one of my favourites.

Many more soon to come!

(Update: The full collection is now on the blog. Check out more images from this charming session here)

♥, me - lissa

:: there's no place like home ::

2011-10-14T15:28:00.000-07:00

There's really no place like home. Which is why last week I dusted off my boots and loaded up my duffle bag to visit my darling hometown in Minnesota.

Now, I may be from the midwest, but I'm no child-of-the-corn. I'm a city girl through and through. Thing is though, when you live in Minnesota, you only have to drive 15 minutes out of the city and you're surrounded by corn and wheat fields as far as the eye can see.

So, in pursuit of reliving fond harvest-time memories (and creating new ones), I hopped in the car (mum and family dog in tote) and went for a drive out to farmland USA.

Side note: my trip was prompted by an invite to share in the joy and celebration of a longtime travel buddy's nuptials. The marriage ceremony took place in a beautiful barn in Independence, Minnesota, and can I just say - mix a barn with a graphic designer/photographer's creative eye, and you have one gorgeous wedding. And lucky me, I got to kick back and enjoy the entire evening as a guest (!).

Everything about our expedition was unforgettable, from the dramatic sky with sun streaking through heavy clouds to afternoon rays glowing behind peak-autumn leaves. Even rotten apples couldn't sour our perfect day. And remember those fuzzy little caterpillars? I love those little creatures! Despite the fact that they used to always poop on my finger when I'd pick them up. Well, we found one inching its way along amidst the corn :) What a treat!

And as the the sun tucked below the horizon, the stars decorated the full-moon sky as farmers entered their fields to harvest the final crop of the season.

So the song of the week? After a very astute suggestion from my mum, we landed on Neil Young's "Harvest Moon". Consider listening to it as you browse the photos ;)

My Beloved Minneapolis.

Love my doggie! Look at that face :)

Photo Credit: My Mum. Photo talent just abounds in this family ;)

I love me some fuzzy caterpillars.

One word: Breathtaking.

Even the rotten apples were pretty that day!

meet yelena | creating the light you want

2011-10-12T12:23:00.000-07:00

Meet Yelena Grinberg. A piano virtuoso with a killer education and performance resume. But I don't have to tell you about it... you can see for yourself. Check out her new website (which isn't quite yet up, but will be soon - fingers crossed).

For me, being married to a classical musician has its perks - though its debatable whether waking up at 5am to the sound of him practicing is among them ;) But what is pretty amazing is that I often have the extraordinary honor of sitting around the table munching on burgers and throwing back cider with talent that will undoubtedly become the Beethovens and Mozarts of our generation.

I digress.

Back to Yelena and her session, the object of which was to get some new portraits for her upcoming website debut. And the featured image? None other than the one you see below.

And you'll never guess how we got it...

First, we were granted use of a beautiful space in Manhattan's Steinway Hall. Only problem was - the room we were working in had no (and I mean - no!) natural light. And of course it's nobody's problem but mine. I'm the photographer, so I've got to figure it out (best advice anyone ever gave me).

I immediately turned off ambient light to see what we were working with - which was nothing. We're talking permanently shuttered windows and black walls people! So I did a big no-no in the "photog" world and turned the lights right back on. Then, without any colour filters to try and match the available light, I mounted my camera body with the ever trusty canon speedlite 580ex ii and popped open my collapsible reflector - side note: I just love the whoosh sound it makes when it swings open - it seems so official ;)

Easy right? Well, then of course, the magic that has the potential of happening is contingent upon where you place the reflector and aim the speedlite - all of which I did with seamless ease, of course (insert extremely ironic tone here) . Balancing the reflector on a fold out chair and propping it up with my 50mm lens (scary!!), I was ready to roll!

Notice the gorgeous catch lights in her eyes and I'll bet you can do the math - placing my reflector and the direction of my speedlite around the room. And what's even better? That small section of white wall behind her helped further bounce the light around an otherwise dismal room.

Everything is intentional ;)

Because it has to be! As any photographer knows, you must find the the unique characteristics of any situation and use them to your advantage - natural reflectors and light sources being at the very top of the list. That is, after all, what being a photographer is all about.

HELP! | piecing together a portfolio

2011-09-29T15:21:00.000-07:00

Ok, friends and faithful followers...

So here's the deal-io.

I have a portfolio review coming up in a couple weeks with a major NYC wedding photographer whom I greatly admire/respect/idolize and so on and so forth. And of course I want everything to be fresh. So I've undertaken the impossible task of completely recreating my print portfolio.

But I can't do it myself! (I'm way too attached)

So here's where you come in:

PLEASE HELP! I've uploaded some of my favourites from recent weddings in the facebook album, here. You can "like" or comment on your favourites. But don't go crazy. The more ruthless you are, the better! It would be most helpful if you could limit your selection to your top 5-10 picks!

ALL input would be enormously appreciated. And the top images, based on YOUR choice, will make it into my itsy-bitsy print portfolio of 15-20 images. That's right. We're getting picky!

So go ahead. Mold the image of MLKL Photography. YOU decide which foot is my best to put forward ;)

And next week I'll reveal the final group that will be sent off to the printers.

Now, for the important part: Anyone who gives me feedback on 5-10 images will automatically be entered to win one signed 8x10 print of YOUR CHOICE from my fashion or fashion week portfolio. And, just to be sure I don't miss putting your name in the hat, be sure to leave a little note on my facebook page so I know you've helped out.

And, since I can use all the help I can get, you'll get an additional entry into the contest for each of your friends who vote! Who knows, they might double, triple, or quadruple your chances of winning the print! Just make sure they tell me you sent them ;)

The poll closes tomorrow (Friday) at midnight, so swing on by as soon as you get a chance.

Thanks a million x a million x a million - in advance ;)

my studio | a space that inspires

2011-09-23T07:25:00.000-07:00

I just have to declare it out loud: I'm madly in love with my 'office'!
And the fact that it gravitates to the fire escape on gorgeous days may or may not be a contributing factor :)
Here's a snippet of what inspires me in my immediate surroundings...

The light is amazing pretty much all day long - the most dramatic shadows streaming through one side while a deliciously soft and buttery glow spreads throughout.

There's green - and lots of it! This dear friend has many siblings sprawling throughout our entire space.

Homemade Green Tea Soymilk Lattes - frothed by none other than our very dear Benjamin! He has a killer technique for frothing which he may be persuaded to divulge if you ask very very nicely.

Urban Rustic. What's Brooklyn without Urban Rustic? (Side note, there's an amazing cafe by the same name that lives dangerously close by in the neighborhoood.) You might see tired decay. I see breathtaking colours and texture!

Ben peaking out at me while I work ever-so-hard on, you guessed it, the fire escape!

Moments before sunset. The sky lights up with a sweep of movement... as if every cloud is racing to Manhattan to catch the cosmopolitan evening glow.

White on White (on white on white)...

2011-09-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it is, but lately I'm kind of obsessed with white*.

Maybe it's because it's the colour of marshmallows, and snow bunnies... and really well maintained teeth.

Practically speaking, it's clean, fresh, and has stellar reflective qualities (that's the photographer speaking).

No matter the reason, I can't get enough of it.

So much in fact, that this past weekend I bought two cans of flat white paint and went to town whitewashing half the frames in our home. At first, I was like "Ben, don't be mad. I painted all the frames white, which means we'll have to paint the walls half a shade darker of off-white" That didn't go over well. At all.

But then I started holding the frames up to the wall in an attempt to conceptualize the finished product of my wondrous weekend labour, and realized I didn't have to take down all the shelves and haul out the paint cans to create a big messy project in our bedroom, but could in fact hang white on white. And not only that - I kind of loved it!

To which Ben replied with a playfully sly smile, "Good. Because we weren't going to repaint the walls anyway." (Oh I love his enthusiasm when it comes to my spontaneous projects... especially since I know I can talk him into it eventually anyway!).

So, what do you think? Innovative, passé, or just plain old boring? If I've completely fallen off my rocker - please be ::kind:: and alert me to this humbling fact.

* Even the way its spelled - look at it a second. WHITE. No, really look. White. What a cool word! But my obsession with white doesn't stop there! It's been bleeding onto the pages of this very blog - not to mention my latest website design.

The lovely ladies in the bottom right corner of the left image are courtesy erica shires for erica tanov - two of my favourites in the world of photography and design!

Reflections of the surrounding environment.

Reflections ctd. Didn't realize until later that you can just barely see the silhouette of ben playing his guitar.

Saddle River Wedding | Shannon & Augie

2011-09-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

Meet Shannon and Augie - a dynamic duo united, among many things, over their passion for music.

Which is why it came as no surprise that their wedding day played out as the perfect harmony of elegance and entertainment - cocktails complete with a baby grande piano (visited by none other than the bride herself!), the lustrous reception entrance lined with red rope directing guests to a buffet "Sweet Shop" on wheels, and a desert hour composed of a chocolate fountain, colorful sugar-rimmed wine glasses, and... lighting a meringue ice cream cake on fire?!?!?

You'll have to see it to believe it...

Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012

2011-09-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that time of year again in New York City.

The subways are buzzing with girls unnaturally tall and ethereally wispy. Fashion icons, designers, critics, writers, photographers, buyers, bloggers, celebrities, and just plain old fans can be seen swarming the plaza of the great Lincoln Center (serving it's third season as host to the glorious Mercedes Benz Fashion Week).

And of course tonight, the inaugural evening of this hotly anticipated week, is THE one and only 3rd annual Fashion's Night Out. Celebs & Models can be spotted mingling with us mere mortals all throughout the city, with hubs centering around SoHo and the Upper East Side. It's the one night each year when EVERY girl can feel like an A-lister, dress to the hilt and attract no suspicious glances, and celebrate all things fashion with some of the movers and shakers of the industry.

So hats off to you New York and the fabulous week ahead.

And really, there's no better way to usher in this season's FW, than by taking a little look back at a few of last year's highlights! Am I right?

For many many more pics from last year's FWSS11, check out each show's full collection on my site.

And for details on each of the shows, you can pay a little visit to last year's Fashion Week blog post :)

Left: Christian Siriano backstage before his show. Right: Betsey Johnson sprinkled her girls with rose petals as a pre-show ceremony of good luck.

Got to love all the Betsey Johnson color & pattern goodness.

The stunning finale headdress at Farah Angsana's show. Love it!

Tommy Hilfiger made a cameo at his own Fashion's Night Out show in Herald Square.... just in time for Train to commence their live outdoor concert!

Backstage at Train's live outdoor Fashion's Night Out collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger.

Left: Fashion's Night Out. Right: Delicious LAMB goods still sealed before the show.

Gwen Stephani with Loreal's Head Honcho at the LAMB afterparty.

My favourite shot of the season.

Standing in line backstage to walk the runway for Rosa Cha.

Róisín Murphy ripping up the dance floor in between DJ sets at the W Hotel after party.

i take pictures

2011-09-07T06:45:00.000-07:00

Warning to all you visual people out there: This post has many words and NO pictures (gasp!). Proceed with caution...

Story #1: Last December a friend, upon explaining the inherent evils of his occupation (financial risk management blah blah blah at a major NYC investment bank) and the inherent good of another friend's occupation (health care), he looked at me and said, "And you do nothing." After shooting him a look of offense, he quickly followed up by saying, " I mean, you do neither good nor bad. Your work is neutral and you just make beautiful things for us to enjoy". After licking my wounds for the next 6 months I finally get what he meant - and actually appreciate the value of his unabashed perception of what I do.

Story #2: Last spring I was helping a brilliant creative in the fashion photography world, and being that it was our first time working together he turned around and looked at me (in the 5 minutes we had of downtime riding between locations) and said, "So, you take pictures?" To which I felt the urge to reply, "Well, actually I'm a PHO-TOH-GRAH-PHER" Thank goodness I didn't.

I've always abhorred photographers. You know the kind. The big burly men with the ragged black tee-shirt and 5 day old facial hair sporting a baseball cap with a camera-tech-nerd logo, bracing their arms in such a way that their bodies perpetually model the shape of a lower case "t", ready to elbow-punch anybody who threatens to compromise their "shot". They walk around with a delusion of grandeur, tilting their chin in the air and jumping at any opportunity (solicited or not) to proclaim that they are a 'photographer'.

Story #3: My sister-in-law visited this past weekend, and told me about this fun new burlap sack she just found and has started using in photos of her newest little one. She talked about how she loved the textures and raw feel it gave to the photos (and her unfortunate newborn's backside!). I told her I would LOVE to see them, to which she replied, "Oh, but I'm not a photographer. I just take pictures." To which I replied, "Me too!" A grin flashed across her face as she said, "Well then okay, I'm a photographer!".

There's this mis-guided notion that at some magical time in some magical place someone magically transpires from a mere earthling who "takes pictures" into a full-fledged camera goddess who becomes worthy of wearing the title "photographer". While that may have been the encouraged mode of thinking even 5-10 years ago, times are a changin'. And they're changing fast.

Working with a camera and photographing the world around me is a constant learning process. I use to puff up like a peacock every time someone referred to me as a photographer. It gave me this feeling that I had "arrived". Now, when someone asks what I do, I prefer to tell them that I "take pictures". While the plus side is sounding much less presumptuous (and the downside is the danger of not sounding 'professional' enough), I find it to be a 100% accurate description of what I do.

It's not rocket science. I'm not curing cancer. I'm not driving the stock market and solving (and/or creating) economic crisis. I'm taking pictures! And it's awesome. And I love it. And it's serious business. But really, do I need to take it so seriously?

So my word to the wary: lighten up and shoot!

camera obscura | my killer arsenal

2011-09-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

Just last week, upon pulling out my take-with-me-everywhere-i-go camera, a photography friend of mine declared, "Really? You have a point and shoot?" And the answer is "Yes". "Yes I do!" And this got me thinking about the stellar arsenal of cameras I have lining my closet (Yep! I still tuck each one away after every use). I don't necessarily think about it on a conscious level, but they all serve a different purpose, tell a different story, and suit a particular mood I might find myself in on any given day. And that got me thinking even more... about how wonderful and oh-so faithful they all are!

So here they are - Meet my team :)

name: Canon AE-1
price new: ??? (this thing is older than i am, but nowadays you can find one for around $150)
year i got it: 2004 (though I first started using one in 2002)
mood: inspired
significance: it was my first camera
best for: revisiting my roots and/or documenting the soul of an image as only film can capture.
how i use it: to practice slowing down and being intentional with each shot... you can't machine-gun shoot with a crank-and-advance-with-every-exposure film camera.
why i got it: i needed a film SLR camera for my photography 101 class. it's been creating stunning images from the very first moment i picked it up.

name: Canon Power Shot A620
price new: $240
year i got it: 2006
mood: fun
significance: it was my first digital camera
best for: documenting priceless moments on the fly (*bonus*: the pop-out screen that spins 360° is perfect for self portraits).
how i use it: take it with me everywhere i go... just in case.
why i got it: i needed a digital camera - my friends were sick of me "borrowing" theirs every weekend.

name: Canon EOS 40D
price new: $1300 (Body Only)
year i got it: 2008
mood: semi-pro
significance: it was my first digital SLR camera and foray into the professional world of photography. we've been through SO much together!
best for: quick, no-fuss pro-quality images... and transitioning into the practice of shooting manually.
how i use it: for more than 2 years this was my professional camera. now it's my backup and/or fancy candid camera.
why i got it: i needed an "affordable" digital SLR camera to launch me into the realm of pro photography... just to get my toes wet ;)

name: Holga 120 CFN with Color Flash (as if i'd get it without!)
price new: $47
year i got it: 2009
mood: creative
significance: my first toy camera AND dabble in medium format.
best for: that unpredictable trendy "artsy" look - but not as an iphone action ;)
how i use it: when i want to surrender total control and focus simply on composition, lighting, and the excitement of not knowing what i might get!
why i got it: it was a birthday gift... a way to let my creative juices flow when i was getting a little tunnel-vision about the whole pro photography thing.

name: Android
price new: $165
year i got it: 2010
mood: casual
significance: my first smartphone - the camera capabilities are definitely a plus!
best for: mindless shooting when i don't want to be bogged down by anything else (besides my phone which is always attached to my arm anyway)
how i use it: freeze the world around me as i'm experiencing it in the here-and-now.
why i got it: well i needed a new phone. and i wanted a smartphone. it was the best option with my service provider at the time. now it doesn't even hold a candle to the competition... ahem, iphone 4 (oh technology....)

image courtesy DP Review... since the queen of my fleet can't very well photograph herself!

name: Canon 5D MarkII
price new: $2500 (Body Only)
year i got it: 2010
mood: professional
significance: my first professional grade dSLR and no-turning-back investment into photography
best for: the serious stuff. and i mean SERIOUS! ;)
how i use it: for everything pro-related, from event and fashion (for now) to portrait and weddings - and beyond! it really is best suited for what i currently do - available light on the go. and it's wonderful for my latest venture - HD video.
why i got it: i decided it was time to take the next step (or leap, rather) in my commitment to living out my ambitions of being a professional photographer. plus there's the whole full frame sensor, higher mega pixels, great ISO range, and HD video capabilities - you know.

As for what remains on my wish list: a Mamiya, Leica M9, Hasselblad (both film and digital - not for the faint of heart), a Diana, Pinhole, and, and, and ... all in good time :)

But shhhhh, don't tell my aforementioned team - they might get jealous ;)

Belgium | Brussels, Bruges, and Namur

2011-08-30T06:43:00.000-07:00

While we may never have dreamed of visiting Belgium, the many wonders of this once central European hub never ceased to enthrall us. And our favourite part - the waffles, chocolate, and fries... of course!

Paris, Je T'Aime

2011-08-29T08:02:00.000-07:00

It was my first* time visiting Paris, and I LOVED it. And for as much as I loved it, Ben loved it even more. I had to actually convince him that we are NOT in a position to move there at the moment - and that was tough :)

* Notice I said "first", because it will undoubtedly not be our last.

We had 5 glorious days wandering the streets of this city of light. And what a dream! The architecture of every single building we stumbled upon was awe-inspiringly romantic, the long long days with sun setting well after 10pm were filled with the most stunning shadows and painterly skies, and the food... oh the food! Everything I anticipated, except better! Though I will confess it was a little bit of a challenge for a vegetarian like myself to blend into an extraordinarily carnivorous culture - baguette, cheese, and french onion soup to the rescue!

Our adventures covered the entirety of many of Paris's arrondissement's (on foot of course!) - always looping back for a stroll in the Latin Quarter, Saint Germain, and Montmartre. From sun up to sun down we could be spotted wandering the streets, a baguette under one arm and a basket full of fromage in the other... while managing to balance two cameras in whatever free limbs remained! We made sure to hit all the hot spots, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Moulin Rouge, Sacré-Cœur, the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Rue Cler markets, and even ventured outside the city central to soak in the glory of Versailles (sooooo worth the detour!).

Ahhh, it was simply enchanting... and I can't keep myself from fantasizing about our next visit...

p.s. Be sure to check back for a little motion picture of our visit to Paris... which will hopefully be gracing this blog very soon ;)

Hurricane Irene | The Aftermath

2011-08-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

While the storm may not have been as severe as everyone was expecting (or perhaps it was), it was still wonderful amounts of exciting - both in yesterday's preparations and strolling the streets this morning perusing the wreckage left in Irene's wake.

Courtesy snapshots from my high-tech phone camera ;)

Boarding up the store windows in the anticipated arrival of Irene.

We did lose a tree - not to the uprooting that everyone expected, but from
actually snapping off at the base!

The tree took out a streetlight on its way down.

Mangled streetlight was beheaded from its post.

It managed to take out the fence on its way down as well!

Masking tape adorned many of the windows... but the sandbags were a special treat ;)

The city still sporting a dramatic skyline.

Choppy waters and strong winds still raced along the river into early Sunday Afternoon.

Darwin Australia | Home Away from Home

2011-08-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

Such that it is the land of my companion, I have returned to this far corner of the earth many more times than I would have ever expected. And upon each visit I come to appreciate its unique beauty more and more...

Our most recent visit was just this past July.

Behold the many wonders of Oz...

Berry Springs

Emu

Flight over Kakadu - the National Park and Indigenous Aboriginal Reserve of the Northern Territory.

Arnhem Land

Aboriginal Rock Art

Swimmers Beware!

Mango Trees Abound.

My Favourite - The Celestial Jade Vine

Baby Possum Rescue.

Right: Termite Mounds - awesome and disgusting at the same time.

Left: The handiwork of the Australian Golden Orb Spider dresses bushes and trees in silky webs.

Banana Trees on our Front Lawn!

Namur, Belgium Wedding | Michael & Sophie

2011-08-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

When they asked me more than one year ago if I photographed weddings, I answered with a resounding "Absolutely Not!" Who would have known that just 14 months later I would be traveling across the globe to document their vows of love to one another.

Hopping over the proverbial pond, we eventually landed in the quaint remote city of Namur, Belgium - just an hour's drive outside of Brussels. Its many enchantments include a castle atop the city centre's hill (which happened to be hosting a Medieval festival that same weekend!), winding cobblestone streets, charming locals, and a centrally located river dividing the metropolis in two (much like Paris!).

Their theme of navy, granny-smith-green, and ivory woven through absolutely every detail, this wedding sang the perfect harmony of Clean, Crisp, and Modern. In many ways they stayed true to their roots, with the Groom's locally custom-made "midnight" suit (a gift from his Italian uncle, formerly a tailor at the prestigious "Le Maison Degand" in Belgium, it was complete with stunning accents of silk detailing) and Swarovski Bridal Jewelry originating from nearby Austria.

And of course, I must send a very enthusiastic nod to our gracious hosts aboard the Belrive, exquisite floral arrangements by local boutique Le Temps des Fleurs, and the truly celebratory cake by Traiteur Paulus.

It was without a doubt an international wedding - with guests hailing from Belgium, Spain, Greece and good ol' US of A and speaking more languages than I could keep track of! To all of the lovely people who made Michael & Sophie's day one to remember forever... Merci. Gracias. σας ευχαριστώ. Thank you.

These two have been my biggest fans from the very beginning. While I initially got off to a slow start, I have discovered a LOVE for documenting love. And I owe it all to Michael & Sophie, whose love both began and inspired my venture into wedding photography. I will be eternally grateful!

To learn more about what makes this charming couple tick, click here.

So, I think I've already established the summary of my first EVER time photographing a wedding*... I ♥ love ♥ it. I especially enjoyed the challenge of photographing on completely foreign grounds - everything was new and fresh and just waiting to be discovered by my lens! The moral of my story: this photographer proudly wears a sign around her neck saying "Will shoot for travel"! So all you out-of-towners... don't ever hesitate to ring my inbox ;)

To see more images from Michael and Sophie's special day, visit their online collection.

* The first occasion where I photographed a wedding of my very own (aka: not a second shooter). I know what you're thinking... "Hey! What about that other wedding?" Well, simply put, the blog posts have been uploaded a little out of order ;) It happens to the best of us!

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Here I am, self-admittedly a newbie to this facet of the industry, so I would love to hear your thoughts/questions/comments/critiques. While I have truly appreciated the private messages I have received, please feel free to offer up your thoughts in the comment section so this can be an open forum to share and learn. I always love a good conversation, and if it's about photography... well :) Even better!

The Celestial Jade Vine

2011-08-03T14:32:00.000-07:00

First off, forgive my absence. I am fervently trying to make up for it! (if that's not yet obvious...)

There are so many photos on their way. The past 6 weeks have been a whirlwind of weddings and travel, and I'm just now beginning to sleep my usual solid 8 hours (and at night no less!).

In the meantime, here's the photo of the day (this would imply I will be posting photos "of the day" on a daily basis, but I'm not sure I can commit to that... all in good time!) So, photo of the day. And of course I'm referring to the second of the two! It is the absolutely stunning jade vine (aka: strongylodon macrobotrys). The colour is something straight out of Avatar, with a sort of ethereal glow. Though I stumbled upon this gem while passing a "featured garden" in Darwin, Australia just a couple weeks ago, it originally hails from the tropical forests of the Phillipines.

And I LOVE it. I have vowed to grow a million of these in my own garden someday. The same garden that will rest outside my sewing room window, just beside the paddock where I will keep my Alpacas ;)

Photo Credit: My Benjamin Lahring

Sneak Peak: Michael & Sophie say "I Do"!

2011-08-02T14:29:00.000-07:00

The full details of their day, in both photos and text, soon to follow...

I just couldn't help myself ;)

♥ m

p.s. In the meantime, check out their oober-fun engagement session!

"Down Under" Wedding: Jason + Catherine

2011-08-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

Up at the very top of the very down under lies a modest city named Darwin, nestling between the Indian Ocean and the expanses of the great Australian outback. It is the land of cyclones and crocodiles, aboriginals and goannas, palm trees and billabongs, and, last but not least, my in-laws.

Contrary to all odds, Darwin has become a second home to this midwestern turned big city girl (me!)... but more on that later. The cause for our return this time was the greatly anticipated wedding of my brother-in-law and his beautiful fiance. Traveling the 30+ hour commute, our plane landed just in time to drop us at the commencement of the nuptial festivities: the hens and bucks nights (Australian equivalents of the bachelor and bachelorette parties). Simply put: we were not afforded the luxury of wallowing in our jet lag.

One thing I learned fast:

There is plenty to fill one's day as a wedding photographer, let alone doubling as a guest and family member!

The next day, wedding-eve, every corner of the Lahring house was bustling. With the bride off to do all the pre-wedding things a bride does, the rest of us were left to our own devices... with brothers vacuuming, washing, and waxing the bridal car (aka: "The Merc"), mum and Oma mapping out and preparing the design of the bridal party's bouquets (the participation in which I found impossible to escape), and me transcribing the wedding day timeline as the wonderful pseudo-wedding planner I have become. With everything a whirlwind around us, thank goodness the bride relinquished her ambitions to make her own wedding cake!

And then it was finally here.

With temperatures sitting at an ever-predictable 88 degrees farenheit and the typically golden cast of the tropical sun kissing their shoulders, after nearly fours years of togetherness Jason & Catherine said "I do" amidst family, friends, and swaying palm trees atop a hill in Darwin's botanical gardens.

I danced the fine line of photographer and family member throughout the entire day, taking time to pause between shots so I might also capture the memory of the experience. It was difficult to fight the urge to morph into a paparazzi fiend at every priceless moment, but slowing down and being a bit more selective with my shots proved to be a very valuable experience: not only did I offer my camera a little bit of reprieve, I afforded myself the luxury of participating in the well-rounded richness of this unforgettable day.

To see more images from Jason & Catherine's special day, visit their online collection.

While my brother-in-law initially proposed with a tim-tam (a traditional Aussie chocolate biscuit)... he later followed up with this gorgeous ring just weeks before the ceremony.

Our beloved Oma, hailing from Germany by way of Canada, arranged the beautiful bridal bouquet of native wildflowers... some of which were gathered that very morning from my mother-in-law's garden.

When asked what attracts her to her fiance, she replied with a smile, "Everything".

Portrait of a Lady

2011-06-08T06:48:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago I received an email regarding a portrait session. Keisha had always wanted "professional photos" of herself, but was quick to admit that she neither liked having her photo taken nor, even worse, the thought of people watching her have her photo taken. So where did we decide to have our session? Why, Central Park of course!

I told her not to worry. All she needed to do was show up, and I would make sure she felt comfortable in front of the lens. That is, after all, my job!

Upon meeting her one especially hot Saturday morning at the West 72nd street entrance of the park, with eyes darting quickly around, she timidly reiterated her discomfort with "being on display". So off we went retreating to the nearest refuge, a quiet wooden covering. Within minutes she was smiling, though nervously at first with a look on her face that boldly read "What do I do? Is this right?". That's when I hit the pause button to ask "What kind of photos do you really want?" Without any hesitation she replied, "I really just want photos of myself... images that almost look caught in the moment. Like you're following me around catching me being me."

I now knew we were aiming for loose and casual portraits (which are fortunately my favourite!)... and we had to get there fast! With both the thermometer and hygrometer levels rising quickly, I knew it wouldn't be long before we were both exhausted and glistening (and not in a good way!). We could barrel through the discomfort, but I knew they wouldn't be great photos.

So off we went, venturing further and further into the park. And before long Keisha was busting out her true smile and filling my frame with beautiful bouts of laughter (inspired by nothing other than my spontaneous acts of stupidity). And does she have a gorgeous smile! Once I saw her laugh, I was hooked! And I did everything I could to keep it coming... in my weaker moment I even went so far as to whip out a technique I use when photographing children - that is, until I remembered I was photographing an adult. But hey, it still worked! (I think that one was more of a sympathy laugh*). Before long she seemed completely unaware of the weekend picnickers and tourists bustling around us everywhere we went.

* Side note: I've been known to act pretty ridiculous on shoots, all for the sake of inspiring an authentic moment - and, let's face it, to boost their confidence... because surely, no matter what they do they couldn't possibly look as stupid as me!

But it was all worth it when the very next day I received an email thanking me for making her feel so comfortable during the photo session. In that moment, it didn't even matter if the photos turned out great because I had already accomplished my job. Ok, that's not true - I still wanted great photos ;)

What Truly Matters

2011-06-07T10:25:00.000-07:00

I want to pause for a moment to celebrate the spirit and charm of a particularly special person in my life - my nephew. He is full of fun (a little boy by absolutely every definition of the word) and yet just as quickly reveals a tender heart far beyond his years.

I was reminded last night, once again, of what truly matters in life when I received an especially somber phone call from my sister. After a week of an unusually strong onset of illness and loss of appetite, my 5 year old nephew was hospitalized and, just yesterday, was diagnosed with Leukemia. What's more, this call comes almost one year after receiving the phone call telling of my father's unexpected hospitalization (which would lead to his death 3 short months later). It is also received exactly 2 weeks before my father's funeral.

A time such as this reaffirms why I do what I do. I am ever grateful for the privilege of sharing with and capturing the joy, the relationships, and the essence of the people all around me. Preserving memories and moments in time is absolutely invaluable because they are always fleeting. Minutes turn into days and days turn into years and before we know it everything around us is different from what it once was. Change and the natural progression of life is a beautiful thing, but it is the recollection of what has been and who we were that propels us into the future... and makes us smile along the way.

♥ Engaged ♥

2011-06-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday I had the pleasure of photographing one of my favourite couples. And as if that wasn't awesome enough, what made it even better was that it was in celebration of their engagement!

This incredibly charming European couple is always full of good cheer. He's Spanish. She's Greek. Between the two of them they fluently speak so many languages I've lost count (I think it's at least 5 cumulatively). They met and lived in Belgium before moving to New York City 3 years ago and share a LOVE for all things chocolate (Hey, they lived in Belgium. Need I say more?). A favourite pass time: enjoying long conversations over a sampling of NYC's hottest Sunday brunch spots. Oh, and staying up until 3, 4, or even 5 in the morning laughing with friends is no rare occasion for them.

Their love for one another is adorable. For as long as I've known them, they've never been able to keep their hands off eachother. My favourite part of the session was when they would lean in for a kiss after every time I lowered my lens to change the shot, to which I finally exclaimed "Save those for the camera!" Completely in keeping with his character, Michael replied with a smile "It's not as if we have a limited amount." And then I couldn't get them to stop!

Living in one of the most eclectic buildings south of 14th street (having been created by hotel/restaurant designer Philippe Starck), our photo session carried us through their deliciously designed home while also just as easily slipping us out their revolving doors onto the infamous Wall Street.

After more than 7 years of togetherness, they will be tying the knot this coming July in the beautiful town of Namur! With this NYC couple's nuptials taking place in Belgium and guests traveling from all across Europe and the United States, this will be one of the most international weddings I will have ever attended (and that's including my own - with guests flying in from Australia and Canada for our Midwestern ceremony). And they won't stop there... just one week later they will be renewing their vows (I know! So soon!) in Greece where the bride's family will have the opportunity to partake in the celebration.

And I get to photograph it! I am beyond excited... and for good reason. As you may have gathered, this international couple knows how to have a good time. So their wedding will be nothing short of the party of the year! (No pressure you guys!)

Allow me to introduce the delightful Michael & Sophie...

Be Inspired and Always Laugh!

2011-06-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

An email I received yesterday from a brilliant creative I've been working with these past few months was signed "be inspired and always laugh".

This affected me in 3 ways:

1. I smiled.
2. I was encouraged to be inspired and always laugh!
3. I was reminded to always stay true to myself! For many years I tried formatting emails in the "right way" (I even went so far as to seek a PR Professional for guidance when writing one particularly important email)... but more and more I'm re-learning how great it is to just be me! Not only is it refreshingly honest, it often brings an unexpected candidness to the relationship that enables the other person to lower their defenses, opening the floodgates for beautiful authentic communication.

I LOVE the emails I receive from this particular lady... but that doesn't mean I'm going to start writing my emails like her. I'm going to write my emails like me. And in that, hopefully I will encourage others to smile, be inspired, and stay true to themselves!

Embracing Failure

2011-05-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday was amazing. Plain and simple.

After months of planning and meeting and emailing, I finally had my opportunity to shoot alongside a brilliant wedding videography duo. Ever since we first began communication back in December of 2010 I have grown more and more to admire their cinematic works of art.

I have wanted this SO BAD, I'm basically just waiting for it to all blow up in my face. I've always found the more I want something the more I get in my own way (and sprout 2 left feet!). So, in an effort to fool Karma, I try to play it cool - staying calm and playing it down like it's no big deal and "I don't really want it that bad anyway" even though fireworks go off inside me every time I even so much as receive an email from them.

But Karma figured me out, and decided to bite me in the butt extra hard for my efforts at trickery.

Here are the 7 things that went wrong on my BIG day:

1. Although I am notoriously on time, and even planned to arrive 30 minutes ahead of schedule, the weekend MTA system was reliably unreliable and decided to drop me at my destination 10 minutes LATE! Bad first impression = Fail #1.

2. I had to ask where the video record button was. Just kidding! Thankfully I googled that little bit of info before I arrived :)

3. I asked whether video had auto focus. Oh yes I did! I kind of knew what the answer would be, but I just wanted to look like a fool, so you know... (fyi: It doesn't)

4. I showed up with my oober-weak arms. I've known for quite a while that I should put a little more effort into my workout routine (putting on my sneakers would be step 1), and yet that is the one area of my life where I just cannot self motivate. So this was the day it would haunt me. Upon arrival, they slapped the 70-200/2.8L lens on my camera (weighing 3.28 lbs in and of itself... now add that to my 2 lb camera body) and said "Okay, go shoot and stay steady". Ummmm, even with the image stabilizer switched on my footage still looked like it was shot by a terrified tourist frantically running away from an erupting volcano.

5. I forgot to hit the record button. So when you shoot video with a dSLR camera it captures video in approx 10 minute segments (Who knew?!?!). The best and most reliable footage (quality wise) is within the first 8-9 minutes. Not only did I forget to stop recording at 8 minutes and then re-start the recording (for near-seamless shooting), I forgot to stop the recording all together - letting it run to 10 minutes which means I didn't even noticed when it stopped which, of course, means I never re-started the recording!

6. I forgot to hit the record button again (I know, right?????). Approximately halfway through the ceremony I switched lenses with the lead shooter (Thank the Lord! The 2lb 24-70/2.8L lens felt like a dream after that previous goliath of a lens), and what did I forget to do after switching lenses? Yep. Once again I didn't hit that record button. It took me about 15 minutes to realize my mistake and of course that's when I got the best footage of the day (It's so easy to say that when there's no physical evidence to prove otherwise).

7. Didn't shoot at the right shutter speed. Now, if someone out there knows how shutter speed affects video, please enlighten me. Because intuitively, it just doesn't make sense. Nonetheless, I was meant to be shooting between 40-60 shutter speed (something clearly outlined beforehand), and yet about halfway through the ceremony (just before the lens switch) I realized I was shooting at 80. At that point I didn't know if it would be worse to leave it or suddenly change the shutter speed midway through!

But here's the best part. Every time I asked a stupid question, the reply was "There are no stupid questions" which was promptly followed by an incredibly helpful answer. And when I fessed up to not recording about half of the ceremony, the reply was throw-your-head-back laughter followed by "It happens to all of us. The good thing is, I bet you'll never do that again, will you?".

I feel so blessed to be working and learning in the company of people who are not only incredibly talented but are so extraordinarily gracious as well. I learned a lot about shooting video this past Saturday, but the lesson I took most to heart was what can be discovered through failure.

An Invitation To Hang

2011-05-18T20:02:00.000-07:00

So here's the skinny:
There's this photographer named Chase Jarvis. He's kind of a big deal. He's been a major player in groundbreaking photography phenomenons such as Creative Live and The Best Camera. So when a little birdie told me (tweet tweet) that he was coming to NYC for a one month artist residency at Ace Hotel working on a collaborative photography project called Invitation To Hang, I was pretty keen to see if they needed a hand. (It seemed like a pretty big undertaking). And what do you know - they needed a bit of help! So here I am at the close of day 1, truly honored to be helping the Chase Jarvis team in what is officially titled: The Dasein Project (check out the Manifesto here).

In keeping with the theme of the project, Chase grabbed this polaroid snapshot of him and I "working" in the gallery space. Really it was just to test the camera so we could be sure it hadn't broken after being - err - dropped several times in the space of a couple hours.

Something Blue, Something New

2011-05-17T16:14:00.000-07:00

Here they are - my debut of images from the very first wedding I've ever photographed!

That's right - the very first Wedding EVER!

Sure, prior to this I've had the opportunity to assist at a couple of weddings (one of the most incredible experiences being that I assisted the wonderfully talented Ira Lippke at a Wall Street Cipriani wedding), but I had never had the joy of actually photographing a wedding. So this was a very special day!

I was afforded this opportunity by Lindsay Taryn, a fellow Brooklyn photographer, who so graciously gave me permission to include these images in my portfolio. You can see the full wedding on her blog.

While I am in no way to new to photography, this day was full of firsts: as I already mentioned, it was my first experience shooting a wedding, but it was also my first experience working as a second shooter!

So here is what I learned - fortunately not the hard way - regarding the responsibilities (and challenges) of being a second shooter:

- You always need to know where the main shooter is at all times

- Focus on capturing those shots that will supplement the story of the day and the main photographer's images (not the main iconic wedding images or angles)

- Your main purpose is to support the lead photographer and make HER look good

- Never ever ever ever ever ever try to promote your own photography (aka: no passing out your own business cards or mentioning you also photograph weddings to any potential new clients)

- Be prepared to hand over all un-polished images (gasp!) for the lead photographer to scrutinize and use at will (kind of obvious, but that doesn't make it any less scary!)

- Be willing to do anything, and I mean ANYTHING! Nothing is "below" you. Be ready to haul 50lb bags over puddles and run to hail cabs in torrential rain. Somebody has to do it, so make that "somebody" YOU!

I am forever grateful to have had this first experience with an extraordinarily gracious lead photographer. We were gifted with an unusually relaxed and slow-paced day, so Lindsay was able (and willing) to talk me through much of what she does on the day of a wedding - including everything from uploading & culling images right before the reception to how to use a flash (Oh yes. That's right. Here I am. I own a $500 speedlight and I didn't even know how to use it. Let me tell you, that changed real fast!)

Everything about a second shooter experience is an absolute blessing - because while it's hard (and I mean HARD) work, it's incredibly worth it and will make you a better photographer in the end. Plus assisting other photographer's is not only a right of passage, but an opportunity to learn - not only for yourself - but for how you will go on to teach and shape the future of photography.

Fun Fact: I found out after the wedding that this was the same church where Al Capone was married in December of the year 1918.

Make Your Own Album

2011-05-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, you love photographs and have an acute appreciation for style. So when it comes to finding ways to display those photographs, you won't settle for just any off-the-shelf design disaster. Let's face it, many of the albums out there are downright ugly (who designs those things anyway!?!?)

And if you're a photographer who creates beautiful albums for your clients that cost hundreds of dollars, well you've developed a taste for the finer things in life... but it's just not feasible to fork out top dollar for every one of your own photo books. So here's what I propose: if you can draw a straight line and use double sided tape then, with a little bit of time and a lot of love, you can make your very own memory masterpiece.

What you'll need:

A Plain Paper Notebook

(I prefer Moleskine's 8.5” x 12” Acid Free Art Sketchbook)

A Ruler

An X-acto Knife

A Pencil

Double Sided Tape
Chocolate Chip Cookies - for sustenance :)

and Photographs!!! (of course)

Step 1 - Gather your supplies - many of which you may already have in your home.

Step 2 - Using a ruler, measure and draw a rectangle approximately 1/4 inch smaller than the width x height dimensions of your photograph.

Step 3 - Aligning your ruler with each drawn line, trace the rectangle with your X-acto knife. (Tip: by running the blade along the edge of the ruler, you will keep your cut smooth and straight)

Step 4 - Tape your photo behind the rectangle opening, and then, lining the double sided tape as close to the edge of the page as possible, adhere your photo page to the subsequent page - concealing the back of your photo - just like an album!

That's all there is to it! Four simple steps to get you started creating your very own personalized, yet chic, photo album.

And if you're really bold... Customize as you go! Add some text to accompany your image or create a layout with multiple photographs on one page. Let this only be the launching point for your imagination to run wild!