I actually yelled "woohoo" when I got Dan's email saying he and his fiancée, Evelyn, decided to hire Christa to shoot their wedding. 'Coz they freakin' rock and while I won't be there, I still get to see their wedding photos.
I always tell our clients when I meet with them that we are not fast. We do not have a quick turn around time...what we produce takes time and a great deal of attention. I want them to know this ahead of time so they can avoid biting their nails and checking their in-boxes every day for the "all done!" email. However....I get the feeling it will be Christa & Kate receiving those "are we there yet? are we there yet?" emails all this season...from ME. The girls are photographing for so many fabulous couples and I just know they're going to want to slap me for pestering them to see if they have the images ready for me yet. I'll be dying to see them.
Anyway, Eve had some lovely things to say about us on her blog...thanks for making me blush, Eve. :P
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
new website is live!
Well, one thing that wasn't stalled by the fire: the new website! It's officially up and running. Yeay!
Please take a look; lots of new images and some old gold. Enjoy!
Please take a look; lots of new images and some old gold. Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
robin & dan's wedding
How can I not love a couple who wanted to submit the below photo as their newspaper engagement announcement?
I laughed and laughed and even saved a spot on my office wall, where I intended to frame the clipping. Alas, Dan's hometown newspaper shut down before the announcement could be published...oh, well. On to the wedding day!
When I got to Robin's family's house, I saw her hair and just locked in on it. It was just so beautifully done (thank you, Amanda Braun) and suited her perfectly.
Lora at Elegant Touch put together these superb arrangements.
Here's my favorite portrait of Robin from the day. Isn't she gorgeous?!? Tim of Mukha Spa worked his magic yet again. Robin's makeup was very subtle and just enough to embellish her natural beauty...I love that you can still see all her freckles!
Robin planned a surprise for Dan. While he had his back turned, waiting for Robin to come up for her reveal, his gift was placed behind him: a vintage racing bike. There was a personal letter in the seat pouch.
Then we had plenty of time to stomp the grounds of Darby House.
Totally in love with the light this day.
Kate got this shot as we all headed into the field to do the wedding party portraits.
Dan being totally handsome ~
Here's a sweet moment between Robin and her dad. He beamed the whole way up the aisle.
On to the get-away car!
Favorite shot of the day ~
Jenny Mackey of Seedlings (and fellow Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book VIP) created the invites and seating cards for Robin & Dan.
The next two shots were taken while Dan's brother dished out his toast. :) Pretty funny stuff.
Now this was fun. Dan & Robin's dad going crazy...
...and Robin jumping in on the fun.
Robin's dad was in the photo business for years, so I have to say I'm so flattered to have been chosen to document such an important day for them. And if you'd like to see more, here's their slideshow!
{ venue ~ darby house / dress ~ girls in white dresses / hair ~ amanda braun / makeup ~ tim @ mukha spa / flowers ~ lora @ elegant touch, 614.598.3326 / cake ~ alice's piece of cake / invites & custom printing ~ jenny mackey, seedlings }
I laughed and laughed and even saved a spot on my office wall, where I intended to frame the clipping. Alas, Dan's hometown newspaper shut down before the announcement could be published...oh, well. On to the wedding day!When I got to Robin's family's house, I saw her hair and just locked in on it. It was just so beautifully done (thank you, Amanda Braun) and suited her perfectly.
Lora at Elegant Touch put together these superb arrangements.
Here's my favorite portrait of Robin from the day. Isn't she gorgeous?!? Tim of Mukha Spa worked his magic yet again. Robin's makeup was very subtle and just enough to embellish her natural beauty...I love that you can still see all her freckles!
Robin planned a surprise for Dan. While he had his back turned, waiting for Robin to come up for her reveal, his gift was placed behind him: a vintage racing bike. There was a personal letter in the seat pouch.
Then we had plenty of time to stomp the grounds of Darby House.
Totally in love with the light this day.
Kate got this shot as we all headed into the field to do the wedding party portraits.
Dan being totally handsome ~
Here's a sweet moment between Robin and her dad. He beamed the whole way up the aisle.
On to the get-away car!
Favorite shot of the day ~
Jenny Mackey of Seedlings (and fellow Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book VIP) created the invites and seating cards for Robin & Dan.
The next two shots were taken while Dan's brother dished out his toast. :) Pretty funny stuff.
Now this was fun. Dan & Robin's dad going crazy...
...and Robin jumping in on the fun.
Robin's dad was in the photo business for years, so I have to say I'm so flattered to have been chosen to document such an important day for them. And if you'd like to see more, here's their slideshow!{ venue ~ darby house / dress ~ girls in white dresses / hair ~ amanda braun / makeup ~ tim @ mukha spa / flowers ~ lora @ elegant touch, 614.598.3326 / cake ~ alice's piece of cake / invites & custom printing ~ jenny mackey, seedlings }
Friday, February 27, 2009
handyman standard time + winter dulldrums = pfft.
Dude. I'm taking this weekend off. Seriously. The last month has been endless rushing and panicking trying to get things back in order. The weeks have felt like days. Today I was simply unable to even open the door to the office, look at a paint brush, or clean up a single speck of plaster. I went out for a nice long walk in the cold and listened to my ipod with the volume up loud enough to drown out the internal chatter nagging at me about all the things that have yet to be done to get back to normal and catch up. When I got tired of being damp and chilled, I trudged home, realizing that nothing was going to get done today...my brain was holding up picket signs and refusing to function.
And then I remembered I was supposed to keep everyone updated. But all I have to say is that progress is slow and annoying. Yeay! Isn't that a fun read?!? Uhg. So. From now on, I'm just going to give a one line update on the progress (or lack thereof.) And I'm keeping my blog for what I like: sharing photos and talking about fun wedding stuff. Fires = not fun. Trying to get schedules aligned = not fun.
However...Robin & Dan's and Jill & Wes' weddings? Totally fun. Totally gorgeous. And I have yet to blog about them. Shame on me. It's 10:30pm and like I said, brain = mutiny. So I'll write about the weddings tomorrow...and then I'll take my weekend off. I really really need it.
But I cannot wait to share these two portraits of Jill. She's just too stunning.
And then I remembered I was supposed to keep everyone updated. But all I have to say is that progress is slow and annoying. Yeay! Isn't that a fun read?!? Uhg. So. From now on, I'm just going to give a one line update on the progress (or lack thereof.) And I'm keeping my blog for what I like: sharing photos and talking about fun wedding stuff. Fires = not fun. Trying to get schedules aligned = not fun.
However...Robin & Dan's and Jill & Wes' weddings? Totally fun. Totally gorgeous. And I have yet to blog about them. Shame on me. It's 10:30pm and like I said, brain = mutiny. So I'll write about the weddings tomorrow...and then I'll take my weekend off. I really really need it.
But I cannot wait to share these two portraits of Jill. She's just too stunning.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
"are we there yet?...are we there yet?..."
{ Soon to come ~ Jill & Wes }
Well, things are finally starting to look bright again over here. The new office is nearly complete and in the next few weeks, we can start the process of replacing anything that still smells like burning tires and get the rest moved into storage and into the office. Whew.
I couldn't wait a day longer to continue working on Jill & Wes' wedding, though, so I quickly rigged up one of the computers in our bedroom, sealed myself in, and got to work. In the next few days I'll put up Robin & Dan's gorgeous wedding and then more of Jill & Wes'. I just have to do so in between construction and the accompanying dust storms. I'm just not digging this 18th century powdered wig look...
I have to say...getting back to work has been the best medicine. I was able to work on Jill & Wes' photos for a few uninterrupted hours and it was bliss. Locked away, no speakers even to allow music to intrude on the experience of watching happy moments. Seeing Jill laughing heartily with her adorable sister, the little looks J&W gave each other during the ceremony, the groomsmen hanging like crazy monkeys from the rafters, and it's nearly impossible to find a shot of Wes where he's not wearing a huge smile.
...I cannot wait to get back to work in full force. I need that in my life. :)
Well, things are finally starting to look bright again over here. The new office is nearly complete and in the next few weeks, we can start the process of replacing anything that still smells like burning tires and get the rest moved into storage and into the office. Whew.
I couldn't wait a day longer to continue working on Jill & Wes' wedding, though, so I quickly rigged up one of the computers in our bedroom, sealed myself in, and got to work. In the next few days I'll put up Robin & Dan's gorgeous wedding and then more of Jill & Wes'. I just have to do so in between construction and the accompanying dust storms. I'm just not digging this 18th century powdered wig look...
I have to say...getting back to work has been the best medicine. I was able to work on Jill & Wes' photos for a few uninterrupted hours and it was bliss. Locked away, no speakers even to allow music to intrude on the experience of watching happy moments. Seeing Jill laughing heartily with her adorable sister, the little looks J&W gave each other during the ceremony, the groomsmen hanging like crazy monkeys from the rafters, and it's nearly impossible to find a shot of Wes where he's not wearing a huge smile.
...I cannot wait to get back to work in full force. I need that in my life. :)
Friday, January 23, 2009
in case you've ever wondered, plaster does not taste good.
Well, it's been an interesting week. It feels way longer; there's been so much happening. First I want to thank everyone for your kind words, support, and understanding!
Two days after our building went up in flames, there was a four alarm fire in Grandview that laid waste to a block of businesses. So in the grand scheme of things, I don't really feel I'm entitled to much sympathy. While the rest of my building is in ruins, my little concrete block protected everything inside. We haven't really lost anything; we've just been severely inconvenienced....
So we returned a few days later to survey the fun. It smells. Really bad. Like burned rubber and wet rot. There are angry holes in the walls. The gas company turned off the gas for obvious reasons, the pipes froze and burst, and there's a leak in the gas line. The rest of the building is apparently a candidate for demolition and rebuild. In short...we're not going back. I love wedding season. It makes me giddy and happy and the last thing I want crinkling my brow is dealing with the fiasco that would accompany making the place usable again. Especially since I was going to have to be out in August anyway! (The new owners bought the building so they could have the whole space when my lease expires...) I think the universe has plans for me that don't involve that building.
SO...the plan!
1. move our day-to-day operation home immediately so we can resume our normal workflow
2. monopolize a couple of tables at the local coffee shop to use for meetings (their coffee is better than mine anyway...)
3. look for a new studio...at our leisure so we can find the "right" space and not the "oh, crap, I guess it will have to do" space.
step one: in progress
We are moving. Which requires a bit a construction. We have a three bedroom house which is nearly 100 years old. Since we've had it, we've only had the time to make one of the bedrooms inhabitable. We now have to get to work on the other two so we can have workable offices and storage. So far, we've managed to get the electric work done (this house was stuck in the dark ages...quite literally, with only 25% of the electric working) and as of yesterday, one of the rooms is halfway done. Holes in ceiling, check. Working outlets, check. Still to do: scraping off moldy peeling 70s vinyl wallpaper and fixing the crumbling plaster behind it, resurface and prepare for paint (which we will do later in the year...right now we just need four clean walls and working outlets!) Everything in the house is coated in a fine layer of plaster and saw dust, including me. And while I was denied permission to swing the fire axe (still bitter about that) I was permitted to bust out my own ceiling with a piece of discarded pipe. I did so with utter glee. Anyway, the messy stuff should be done soon and then the computers can come out of their protective plastic cocoons and work can begin again.
Oh, and yesterday was a fine day indeed: our security system was installed. Complete with fire detectors that immediately dispatch the FD. I've never been so pleased to write a check.
Today I woke up a bit panicked and frustrated worried about the move and all the production days lost. But then I realized it's only been a week and we've accomplished quite a bit in the direction of fixing this mess. All we can do is move forward as quickly as possible.
Two days after our building went up in flames, there was a four alarm fire in Grandview that laid waste to a block of businesses. So in the grand scheme of things, I don't really feel I'm entitled to much sympathy. While the rest of my building is in ruins, my little concrete block protected everything inside. We haven't really lost anything; we've just been severely inconvenienced....
So we returned a few days later to survey the fun. It smells. Really bad. Like burned rubber and wet rot. There are angry holes in the walls. The gas company turned off the gas for obvious reasons, the pipes froze and burst, and there's a leak in the gas line. The rest of the building is apparently a candidate for demolition and rebuild. In short...we're not going back. I love wedding season. It makes me giddy and happy and the last thing I want crinkling my brow is dealing with the fiasco that would accompany making the place usable again. Especially since I was going to have to be out in August anyway! (The new owners bought the building so they could have the whole space when my lease expires...) I think the universe has plans for me that don't involve that building.
SO...the plan!
1. move our day-to-day operation home immediately so we can resume our normal workflow
2. monopolize a couple of tables at the local coffee shop to use for meetings (their coffee is better than mine anyway...)
3. look for a new studio...at our leisure so we can find the "right" space and not the "oh, crap, I guess it will have to do" space.
step one: in progress
We are moving. Which requires a bit a construction. We have a three bedroom house which is nearly 100 years old. Since we've had it, we've only had the time to make one of the bedrooms inhabitable. We now have to get to work on the other two so we can have workable offices and storage. So far, we've managed to get the electric work done (this house was stuck in the dark ages...quite literally, with only 25% of the electric working) and as of yesterday, one of the rooms is halfway done. Holes in ceiling, check. Working outlets, check. Still to do: scraping off moldy peeling 70s vinyl wallpaper and fixing the crumbling plaster behind it, resurface and prepare for paint (which we will do later in the year...right now we just need four clean walls and working outlets!) Everything in the house is coated in a fine layer of plaster and saw dust, including me. And while I was denied permission to swing the fire axe (still bitter about that) I was permitted to bust out my own ceiling with a piece of discarded pipe. I did so with utter glee. Anyway, the messy stuff should be done soon and then the computers can come out of their protective plastic cocoons and work can begin again.
Oh, and yesterday was a fine day indeed: our security system was installed. Complete with fire detectors that immediately dispatch the FD. I've never been so pleased to write a check.
Today I woke up a bit panicked and frustrated worried about the move and all the production days lost. But then I realized it's only been a week and we've accomplished quite a bit in the direction of fixing this mess. All we can do is move forward as quickly as possible.
Friday, January 16, 2009
and there I was with no marshmallows....
Last night's fun:
8:24 ~ Why are my lights flickering? Must be the ice on the wires...it is Clintonville after all. Someone sneezes, 600 people are with out power...
8:30 ~ Working at my computer, annoyed at the people behind my house who won't stop yelling at each other. This is a common occurrence.
8:34 ~ Open back door. Those aren't warring neighbors...these are firefighters...yelling at me to get the hell out 'coz the whole building's on fire.
8:36 ~ Fire axe starts hitting my front door. I let them in and tell them the best place to bust through the wall to get to the main building. I stare in envy as they start swinging the axe. (Read my bio on my site...) They yell at me. "GET. OUT!" I say I'm getting my coat & purse...and grab my external back up drive, throw it in my wellie boot. "M'AME, NOW!!!"
8:38 ~ Call Wolfgang at rehearsal. He's on his way, band members in tow.
8:39 - 9:00 ~ Stand outside in sub-zero weather watching the building burn, worry, fret, pray to all that's holy.
9:15 ~ Plead with firefighters to let us in to "get my camera." Bandmates, Wolf, and I all run in and frantically disconnect computers and other drives. Firefighters see we're determined and help us get them out of the building.
9:20 ~ Sigh with relief. Overwhelmed with gratefulness to all involved. Wolf's guitarist sits in my car with me for two hours to keep me company as we watch the firefighters continue to work.
11:20 ~ The fire is out and it's deemed safe for us to re-enter, get whatever else we need, and secure our part of the building. Look around at the mess. Really quite pleased I decided not to mop the floor earlier.
11:40 ~ Get home and thank Wolf's band. We're really quite moved at how they all stepped up to help us.
12:30 ~ Do the only thing left to do: drag ourselves down to the Dube, toss back some Jack Daniels, entertain ourselves with Metalocolypse quotes ("oh nos! Someones lefts da lunchables ins da microvaves agains!") and wonder where William Murderface was when we needed him. (Brownie points to anyone who gets that reference.)
12:30 ~ Do the only thing left to do: drag ourselves down to the Dube, toss back some Jack Daniels, entertain ourselves with Metalocolypse quotes ("oh nos! Someones lefts da lunchables ins da microvaves agains!") and wonder where William Murderface was when we needed him. (Brownie points to anyone who gets that reference.)
So everyone and everything is fine. However, there will be a necessary delay in production as we regroup and move our day to day operation so we can resume working. We do have a gameplan, however, we have quite a bit to move and reorganize, so this may take some time.
So of our clients, I ask for your understanding and patience. I'll be updating the blog throughout the process so you all can check for updates. And of course, please feel welcome to email or call with any questions or concerns you may have.
And for all the misfortunes we've dealt with this winter, I really feel quite lucky. :)
Monday, December 08, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
anjali & nirav's wedding
So this was one of those "counting the days" weddings. Anjali is Tej and Pansy's cousin and I was so happy to receive the call when she was planning her wedding to Nirav. I love their families, and since I've done two other weddings in their newly expanded family, I was so looking forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces and meeting some new ones, too.
The sangeet is always a blast. Here Anjali & Nirav start the festivities by lighting the diya together.
Their aunties and friends performed some fabulously choreographed dances ~
The rest of the night everyone danced. Sticks are clacked together to keep rhythm while the dancers pass each other while going around in a circle.
The next day was the wedding. This next portrait was shot by Christa. We couldn't stop gushing over how beautiful Anjali looked.
Anjali's mom went to India for weeks to find pretty much everything for the wedding. She has impeccable taste!
Nirav sees Anjali for the first time in her lengha.
My favorite ~
Or maybe it's this one ~
Nirav looking dashing ~
Ok, my favorite part of an Indian wedding - the baraat. The groom arrives on a well decorated white horse. His family accompanies him with music, drumming, and dancing. It's totally exhilarating. It makes me feel like I've chugged 3 cans of Red Bull in a row. I wish they started four blocks away. :D
Anjali's family waits for the groom's arrival.
Off the horse, Nirav dances with his family before being joined by Anjali's family.
Anjali's uncles carried her in to the ceremony.
Ghee and rice are offered to God.
Here Nirav is giving Anjali her mangala sutra. (It's the equivalent of a wedding ring.)
Anjali mentioned how bored Christa and I must be as she put on her second outfit. There was no boredom...we were way too busy ooh-ing and ahh-ing, mesmerized by all the sparklies. We asked again, "Really? Your mom picked all this out? By herself?"
Again...gorgeous. Can you believe those eyes?!?
Ok, fine...I have a lot of favorites from this one. The Scottish Rite Cathedral just has so many amazing canvases with which to work. I think they look incredible here.
I'm totally with this little guy...those treats were delicious.
Christa got this shot of the gigantic chandelier in the ballroom.
During some down time, we were able to run around and shoot the architectural details of the cathedral...there was no shortage of material.
There were many heartfelt toasts.
This was unexpected!
Another fabulous Shah wedding! I'm so happy I was able to take part in it and be around such wonderful and welcoming people. Thanks and congratulations, Anjali & Nirav!
{ venue ~ scottish rite cathedral, indianapolis / flowers ~ / cake ~ }
The sangeet is always a blast. Here Anjali & Nirav start the festivities by lighting the diya together.
Their aunties and friends performed some fabulously choreographed dances ~
The rest of the night everyone danced. Sticks are clacked together to keep rhythm while the dancers pass each other while going around in a circle. 
The next day was the wedding. This next portrait was shot by Christa. We couldn't stop gushing over how beautiful Anjali looked.
Anjali's mom went to India for weeks to find pretty much everything for the wedding. She has impeccable taste! 
Nirav sees Anjali for the first time in her lengha.
My favorite ~
Or maybe it's this one ~
Nirav looking dashing ~
Ok, my favorite part of an Indian wedding - the baraat. The groom arrives on a well decorated white horse. His family accompanies him with music, drumming, and dancing. It's totally exhilarating. It makes me feel like I've chugged 3 cans of Red Bull in a row. I wish they started four blocks away. :D
Anjali's family waits for the groom's arrival.
Off the horse, Nirav dances with his family before being joined by Anjali's family.
Anjali's uncles carried her in to the ceremony.
Ghee and rice are offered to God.
Here Nirav is giving Anjali her mangala sutra. (It's the equivalent of a wedding ring.)
Anjali mentioned how bored Christa and I must be as she put on her second outfit. There was no boredom...we were way too busy ooh-ing and ahh-ing, mesmerized by all the sparklies. We asked again, "Really? Your mom picked all this out? By herself?" 
Again...gorgeous. Can you believe those eyes?!?
Ok, fine...I have a lot of favorites from this one. The Scottish Rite Cathedral just has so many amazing canvases with which to work. I think they look incredible here.
I'm totally with this little guy...those treats were delicious.
Christa got this shot of the gigantic chandelier in the ballroom. 
During some down time, we were able to run around and shoot the architectural details of the cathedral...there was no shortage of material.
There were many heartfelt toasts.
This was unexpected!
Another fabulous Shah wedding! I'm so happy I was able to take part in it and be around such wonderful and welcoming people. Thanks and congratulations, Anjali & Nirav!{ venue ~ scottish rite cathedral, indianapolis / flowers ~ / cake ~ }
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