Sara Jean and Nick were married at Blue Heron Pines in Egg Harbor City, NJ on a beautiful crisp night in November! It couldn’t have been a nicer fall night! The air was cool, the sunset was gorgeous, and in the evening everyone gathered around a fire on the patio to stay warm. It was the kind of night where hanging out with close friends, dancing the night away and eating yummy cake was the best thing EVER!

If you couldn’t tell from their pictures, Sarah & Nick are Irish! Their wedding colors were ivory and kelly green! They are so many beautiful touches to their wedding that respresent their heritage, like their wedding rings in particular! They’re so beautiful. Nick had her engagement ring custom made in Ireland, as well as the bands! Instead of the typical diamon, they went with an emerald with diamond accents. I love when the ring is custom to what the bride likes, it makes it so much more personal and meaningful! (Good job, Nick!)

Blue Heron Pines is a local venue, 15 minutes from where I live, and where my studio is. I absolutly adore the people that work there, and enjoy photographing gorgeous couples on their property! Their willow tree is to die for, and their golf course goes for miles! I have never had a bad experience there and hope I get to keep going back! Sara & Nick really did pick an amazing place to say their vows and join their familes. This venue will always hold a special place in their hearts as it was the location that they joined as one.

Congratulations Sara Jean & Nick, and thank you for trusting me with your memories and allowing me to share this moment with you both! xoxo

Click here to visit the venue’s website.

I love Fridal Kahlo + The New York Botanical Garden, so playing dress up was a definite!

My daughter keeps me inspired. Not only is she gorgeous, but she loved to plays dress-up. Today we played Frida Dress-up, in honor of my favorite artist, Frida Kahlo! Many of you do not know, that I originally went to school for Studio Art. I studied many amazing artists, but the one that stuck was Frida. Maybe it was the vibrant colors, or the fact that she was a rebel. Maybe it was because she made the most out of what she had, or had a super imaginative mind. Or maybe, looking in the mirror, she felt like I sometimes felt. She was as much as a realist as she was imaginative. Drawing what she saw and elaborating on it. Frida is a true inspiration, and I will forever admire her art.

I attended the Frida Al Fresco nights, and exhibit at The New York Botanical Garden in The Bronx, NY! I was beyond excited to be able to experience life in her world, and get up close and personal with her artwork! I  even dressed up like Frida herself, with one of my best friends from college! So I guess you could say, that playing Frida Dress-up with my daughter, was a test run for the real thing! We had so much fun and my daughter was able to capture the true essence of Frida, I think! Luckily, my parent’s back yard is full of really amazing vines and overgrown bushes! Behold, the amazing images I took of my daughter, myself, my bestie Reine and .. Fridal Kahlo + The New York Botanical Garden!

She enjoyed doing this so much, I think we may do it again very soon with another artist. Now just to figure out who…

Going to Frida al Fresco was an amazing experience. I couldn’t take photos of the actual artwork, because as an artist I understand that devalues the work. There was only a handful of her artwork, because most of it is not permitted to leave Mexico. Her artwork is at El Museo The Museum of Frida Kahlo. I hope to one day be able to go there and see all of her beautiful work, La Casa Azul, and get a feel for what her life was truly like. Until then, I was able to get a glimpse of it, at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, NY! WOW, they did an amazing job, and it was GORGEOUS! Getting up close and personal with some of her artwork, was phenomenal. Take a look at how much fun we had below, and don’t forget to follow me on InstaGram to see the things I posted there:

 

 

I am so excited to announce that the January Boudoir Marathon in Atlantic City is finally here! These have become very well known with BLP and I look forward to planning them every year! Having these twice is a year is really fun because I get to plan a winter and summer one in totally different hotels. Each year we get so many women coming out to get photos taken for their boyfriends, husbands, partners, and even for themselves! In July, I even got them done!!

Last year we booked the a Penthouse Suite at the Chelsea in Atlantic City and the House of Blues Suite in the Showboat Hotel & Casino.

Both locations were high end and pure luxe! They are amazing! This year we looked around and decided to stay in Atlantic City! In January we will be going to the Golden Nugget in a 1 bedroom Suite. This means great things, and I will tell you why. Privacy is HUGE for me, and I want everyone to feel comfortable doing this. This suite has a living room and a private bedroom with sliding doors. So while all of the ladies are getting their hair and makeup done, munching on delicious snacks, and listing to fab music, the shooting area will be private! It’s great because you don’t have to feel pressured to do anything in front of anyone, and you can focus on getting amazing pictures taken!

Here is what the suite looks like! I am so excited and cannot wait to photograph all of you lovely ladies at the Boudoir Marathon in Atlantic City!

**Hotel photos are from the Golden Nugget website.

In addition to this amazing room…

you will also be getting hair and makeup done by one of the top in the wedding industry, Mia Crivaro! I had the pleasure of meeting her at my cousins wedding, she is a total sweetheart! You can check out her work here, she’s FABULOUS! creationsbymia.com

If you aren’t sure if you want to book and need to see a sample, please email me and we can discus everything. For protection and privacy reason, I will not share any photos online that reveal faces, unless the client is totally okay with it. I will however show you my photos! I had a great time, and my hubby loves them! Here are some photos of me and one of my besties! (And she is responsible for our lovely makeup! Her name is the lovely Miss Kiara Upsher)

I am accepting 10 bookings for this Boudoir Marathon. With each booking a Peal Iguana Wallet Folio is included. A folio is a wonderful way to display your photos. Below is an image for you to see exactly what you will get!

January 2015 Boudoir Marathon in Atlantic City Details:

When: January 13, 2015

Where: The Golden Nugget Hotel & Spa, Spa Tower, 1 Bedroom Suite (I will be emailing everyone upon checkin with the room number)

Time: Checkin to the hotel is at 4:00. The first appointment is at 4:30, Everyone is encouraged to come 1 hour before their appointment to ensure that we are running on time!

Hair & Makeup: Your hair and makeup is all done! SO EXCITING! All shoots will be in the private bedroom (with sliding doors), the bathroom (bathtub with bubbles), or in the living room if you don’t mind other ladies laughing, dancing, and singing to music! If you want to do the bathtub with the bubbles, please bring bathing suit bottoms, and a towel! Shooting will last 30 minutes, and as promised you will get 10 digital files. (But for those of you know KNOW ME, you KNOW you will be getting more than that)

Frequently asked questions & other details:

What should I bring?: A robe for getting ready, 2-3 outfits (a black bra and panties is a must) Think FUN, SEXY, and FEEL GOOD! Props definitely! Boyfriends, fiance’s, girlfriends, husbands, etc. What do they like/do? Examples: Football jersey, dirt bike helmet, fire fighter pants, work shirt, tie, police hat/shirt, guitar, etc. If you would like some ideas on what to wear to your session, click here!

Can I bring someone?: Yes! You sure can! I’ve had Mom’s, sisters, BFF’s! We just ask that men and children stay home. This is a ladies only event, and not appropriate for men and children.

What will this cost? What is the Investment?: $375 includes hair, makeup, the suite, digitals, AND a Pearl Iguana Folio with two wallets of your choice. And of course munchies!

Do you sell Albums?: Albums will be on display for purchase. Custom albums are also available. Also everyone will receive a price sheet of available products with order deadlines guaranteed to be delivered by Valentines Day!

Legalities:

Terms & Conditions: The only images that will be shown publicly are images that do not include faces. Images that do show faces need to sign an additional contract stating that you agree to have images publish publicly. $100 non-refundable retainer is due upon booking to reserve your session, and the rest is due 1 week before shoot date (January 6th). All images will be delivered online via a password protected client access website in both color and b&w.

“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy, when skies are gray.
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you, please don’t take… my sunshine away.

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreampt I held you in my arms.
When I awoke dear, I was mistaken, so please don’t take.. my sunshine away.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy, when skies are gray.
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you, please don’t take… my sunshine away.”

This is the MOST requested song I sing to my girls at night before bed. They love it. They love this song SO MUCH, they requested it be played at our wedding in September. Their exact words were, “Mommy, can you and Daddy dance with us to our own special song?” … the words that bled from my heart with total and utter love, “OMG YES, YES WHAT SONG?” So, You are my Sunshine is kind of a thing in our home.

We don’t always have good days, but we don’t always have bad days. As parents, it takes patience, stength, and at times we just need to walk away.

Children don’t always want to smile, they don’t always want their photos taken. As a photographer AND a Mom. This is super hard and has always been challenging. Our children will smile for everyone else but us. It’s just like the old saying, “The Shoemakers children have no shoes”. Yep, this photographer doesn’t have that many photos of us. We don’t always have the time to set up the tripod, the timer, and hope for a good photo. So, we drive around, pull over on the side of the road for potty breaks, we find beautiful fields of flowers. We meet farmers, and we TRY our best.

It’s not always a perfect experience, and sometimes I get upset, because I really, really just want those pretty pictures of my babies. Then I get home. I unload my cards, I preview the photos. I sit here and smile, because even though my babies didn’t cooperate THAT WELL, they’re beautiful because these photos are THEM. 100% THEM. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I look at these pictures and I smile for a few reasons. Want to know why? Well, I’m going to tell you anyway…

1. Toni doesn’t like to wear dresses. Instead, she’s wearing capri’s, a white undershirt tank top, and a tunic.
2. Gianna is wearing the dress we bought her for her preschool graduation. She will be in Kindegarden this year. This makes me so proud, and so sad for her to be growing up… so fast.
3. They both chose which bow color to wear. Their favorite colors are pink and purple. This is their individuality shining through.
4. Toni did not want to smile, all she wanted was ice cream. Her saddness was pure, the kind kids have when their biggest battle is what kind of ice cream they want, and if they will get it.
5. Gianna, lifted her hand up and played with her hair like I told her to. She is always wearing a toe ring on her pointer finger, because I gave it to her to wear to feel pretty. She felt so, so very pretty.
6. And lastly, the sunflowers were $0.50 cents, the owner of this property was selling them at a stand with a metal box for the money. His phone number was listed and said something like, “call us if you have a question, we dont bite!”. I left $5.00 in the box, and grabbed 4. I spoke with him and he said I could visit any time I’d like to take pictures in front of his flowers. He is the sweetest man, ever.
7. The girls were standing in the dirt, because they were terrified of the bee’s. Honestly, they screamed bloody murder. I explained to them they just want the pollen and that they’re trying to make honey. But you know, kids don’t listen very well, and they would NOT go back into the flowers.
8. Pink flip flops, because thats just how they roll in the summer.
9. The blurry yellow and green was Toni’s flowers that she didn’t want to hold. So I held them and made this work beautifully.
10. Last but not least, this is proof that I am able to get beautiful images of my children, even if they aren’t happy about it. It works because they’re beautiful, and nothing can ever change that. Unless of course, I have ice cream with me at the time of the shoot.

Silhouettes are something that I have come to be basically obsessed with. At the end of each sunset session, I try my best to grab a sunset photo for my clients. They are my absolute favorite. There is something about taking that moment to just stand still with the ones you love and take in what is happening. It’s calm, it’s relaxing, and I even show you on the back of my camera what we just did! It’s more than just art, it’s an experience, and it’s a favorite of mine, and everyone who has gotten one done!

I am going to make this my own personal goal, that at the weddings I go to I make sure to get these shots. Every photographer challengages themselve in one way or another, and I love to challenge myself with new and exciting ways to make seriously epic photos! So check these out, and if you’re a current bride of mine, you will definitly be getting these shots!