So along with the 6 weddings in one week... I also handed the reigns over for a few wedding s to my new associate Lily Porter!!
I am so excited to be offering this summer associate packages on Mackinac. Lily is going to help me out this summer and help me to offer smaller and more economical wedding options for those couples that are doing smaller weddings on Mackinac who would still like to have my style of photography. Basically Lily (who is AMAZING) will be shooting the wedding but I will still be doing all of the final post production to make sure that it still has a little Andrejka-ness to it. We still have some dates available this year if you or anyone you know is having small weddings on Mackinac this summer!!
So here we are two weddings from Mackinac... the first of the season... and I was the assistant. These were Lily's weddings... I just happened to be on the island and thought I would sit back and play a bit.. Nice job Lily... you rock!!
First we had Christian and Jen ... oh boy .. .what a couple... these two had me at "hello".. well actually they had me with their HYSTERICAL answers to their questionnaire. How could I not make a package work with these two... they said they wanted to make "Mackinac their playground".. well it was definitely unique... after Lily and I shot the wedding and the two of them around a bit they said... go away and come back for the pub crawl.. . "THE WHAT?!?!?!".. yup... they hired us to shoot the pub crawl... Sorry Lily... this second was all mine... how often do I get to follow 20 people around the island.. hitting every bar and dancing... quite a fun experience... Did I mention these two would do anything we told them... jumping off benches riding bikes... I even almost had them jumping in the water... (sooo close) ... These two are the perfect example of super fun love, joy and passion... you two rock... and yes I miss you guys too and am going through withdrawal for sure!!!
Then the very next day.. Lily had another wedding that I again had to go to in order to assist. Shannon and I had been chatting for months and I was so looking forward to meeting her, Jeremi, and the two cutest girls. These 4 brought tears to my eyes like crazy... I don't know what it was ... but during their entire ceremony I was crying like a baby. The whole day was so touching and all about becoming a family. The joy in Jeremi's eyes as Shannon walked down the aisle and the way he couldn't take her eyes off her reminded me what love is all about. I was truly touched by their whole ceremony from the vows to the necklaces they gave the girls... it was amazing! Shannon & Jeremi... thank you so much for letting Lily and I be witness to such love. You two without many words at all exude what "it's" all about!!
Overall it was an amazing week to kick off summer 2010... MAN I love my job!!!
Feeling blessed that I get to do what I love today... (even though today it was sitting in front of my computer for hours... that still aint bad.. it just lets me revisit all these awesome couples again)... geez I sounds cheesy sometimes... but ya know... I warned you I write how I think and how I talk (so I might be a bit cheesy... I'm a wedding photographer.. if I can't be ... who can)!!
May you all discover a little bit of love today!
Love
A
I am so excited to be offering this summer associate packages on Mackinac. Lily is going to help me out this summer and help me to offer smaller and more economical wedding options for those couples that are doing smaller weddings on Mackinac who would still like to have my style of photography. Basically Lily (who is AMAZING) will be shooting the wedding but I will still be doing all of the final post production to make sure that it still has a little Andrejka-ness to it. We still have some dates available this year if you or anyone you know is having small weddings on Mackinac this summer!!
So here we are two weddings from Mackinac... the first of the season... and I was the assistant. These were Lily's weddings... I just happened to be on the island and thought I would sit back and play a bit.. Nice job Lily... you rock!!
First we had Christian and Jen ... oh boy .. .what a couple... these two had me at "hello".. well actually they had me with their HYSTERICAL answers to their questionnaire. How could I not make a package work with these two... they said they wanted to make "Mackinac their playground".. well it was definitely unique... after Lily and I shot the wedding and the two of them around a bit they said... go away and come back for the pub crawl.. . "THE WHAT?!?!?!".. yup... they hired us to shoot the pub crawl... Sorry Lily... this second was all mine... how often do I get to follow 20 people around the island.. hitting every bar and dancing... quite a fun experience... Did I mention these two would do anything we told them... jumping off benches riding bikes... I even almost had them jumping in the water... (sooo close) ... These two are the perfect example of super fun love, joy and passion... you two rock... and yes I miss you guys too and am going through withdrawal for sure!!!
Then the very next day.. Lily had another wedding that I again had to go to in order to assist. Shannon and I had been chatting for months and I was so looking forward to meeting her, Jeremi, and the two cutest girls. These 4 brought tears to my eyes like crazy... I don't know what it was ... but during their entire ceremony I was crying like a baby. The whole day was so touching and all about becoming a family. The joy in Jeremi's eyes as Shannon walked down the aisle and the way he couldn't take her eyes off her reminded me what love is all about. I was truly touched by their whole ceremony from the vows to the necklaces they gave the girls... it was amazing! Shannon & Jeremi... thank you so much for letting Lily and I be witness to such love. You two without many words at all exude what "it's" all about!!
Overall it was an amazing week to kick off summer 2010... MAN I love my job!!!
Feeling blessed that I get to do what I love today... (even though today it was sitting in front of my computer for hours... that still aint bad.. it just lets me revisit all these awesome couples again)... geez I sounds cheesy sometimes... but ya know... I warned you I write how I think and how I talk (so I might be a bit cheesy... I'm a wedding photographer.. if I can't be ... who can)!!
May you all discover a little bit of love today!
Love
A
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Introducing Lily... my new awesome associate!!
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I would have to call the last week in May my "transition week"... from a touching small ceremony in the hills over looking Santa Barbara... to a crazy wedding pub crawl down the streets of Mackinac Island... such is my life.. me ... my camera . .and whatever happens to be taking place around me!!
My last wedding in Santa Barbara.. a day before I headed to the island to begin the summer was the perfect way to kick off the summer. Megan and Jeremiah are an amazing and sweet couple from Minnesota who decided to bring out their closest family and friends out to SB for a California wedding. I loved it... mid-westerners in Cali... my favorite... again... such is my life. And to top it off Megan and her mother are both wedding photographers. I felt incredibly complimented that out of all the amazing SB photogs they wanted me to document the special day. I loved watching Megan and Jeremiah together.. one would look at them and think.. what a sweet nice couple... which they definitely were but behind this sweetness was a bit of mischief ... a little eye rolling here and there, sneaking goofy faces, and some jumping up and down anytime they could ... I felt quite privy to be witness to this.... it helped me really see what makes these two click! Megan and Jeremiah, may your goofiness and laughter intensify with every passing year!!
My last wedding in Santa Barbara.. a day before I headed to the island to begin the summer was the perfect way to kick off the summer. Megan and Jeremiah are an amazing and sweet couple from Minnesota who decided to bring out their closest family and friends out to SB for a California wedding. I loved it... mid-westerners in Cali... my favorite... again... such is my life. And to top it off Megan and her mother are both wedding photographers. I felt incredibly complimented that out of all the amazing SB photogs they wanted me to document the special day. I loved watching Megan and Jeremiah together.. one would look at them and think.. what a sweet nice couple... which they definitely were but behind this sweetness was a bit of mischief ... a little eye rolling here and there, sneaking goofy faces, and some jumping up and down anytime they could ... I felt quite privy to be witness to this.... it helped me really see what makes these two click! Megan and Jeremiah, may your goofiness and laughter intensify with every passing year!!
I did it... day 2... blog 2... and I just might do another one later!!
Love
A
Love
A
Jared:
Andrejka!!! NEAT photos! Can't wait to shoot along side you sometime, hiopefully soon :) Keep it up, and keep in touch.
Jared
Jared:
Andrejka!!! NEAT photos! Can't wait to shoot along side you sometime, hiopefully soon :) Keep it up, and keep in touch.
Jared
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My perfect transition wedding... Megan & Jeremiah!!
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Wow have a I been a blogging slacker...
But for good reason I promise... I've been shooting like a mad woman and beginning my summer of duel citizenship... and it really is like two different countries... Santa Barbara California... and Mackinac Island... this should prove to be interesting.
So since last I wrote... I've moved into my summer place on Mackinac... been here for two weeks... photographed 6 weddings, placed my images in several stores, and of course tried to set up a house... and now on Tuesday I head back to Cali for a few shoots and a dose of home. But... my goal is to blog every day till then to get you all caught up with the photo shoots.
First a couple really cool engagement sessions I had prior to leaving for the island.
I met up with Erika and Brad in a gorgeous Chicago Park, on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. Erika and I had been chatting via email for months and I just knew we would hit it off. We laughed so hard. I felt like Erika Brad and I had been friends for years. They were so much fun... and it was even neater to be able to meet them in their hometown for the shoot. I can't wait for their wedding later this year on the Island... if its anything like the engagement session I'm sure we'll be laughing the whole time!!
Then the second engagement session was with Heather and Evan. This is going to be one of coolest weddings I have this year... I am going to be all over the country photographing these two. I met them last October on Mackinac during the wedding expo... we instantly hit it off. Well ,of course we did, they are getting married in Mackinac but live in Cali... how perfect could it get. So after chatting all weekend in October, we then met up again in December for a bite to eat in San Jose ... which one hour meeting led to two... then just last month we met at this awesome dive restaurant in Pescadero (north of Santa Cruz). We were there to do their enagegement session. So we started to catch up when all of a sudden (an hour later) we realized the time had flown by again and we were about to miss the sunset on the beach.. luckily we were right on time... and it was a beautiful evening. Now to follow will be their wedding on Mackinac... and then their wedding party back in northern California... how fun will this be... by the time they are married I think I might be a part of their adopted family!!
Good luck with all the last minute details you two and as always call me with any questions!! Can't wait to see you back here on the island.
And now... to work on the rest of my blogging images for the next 3 days... 7 weddings... pheww... wish me luck (I figure if I put it up here I HAVE to do it)!
Have a beautiful day and may you all feel at home where ever you are. As my home is constantly changing these days .. I've started to realize that as long as I have the amazing people for whom I care about and care about me nearby ... that's what makes a home.. . it is possible to have more then one home... I've decided it's allowed to not be able to answer the question "where do you live" easily!!
Love
A
But for good reason I promise... I've been shooting like a mad woman and beginning my summer of duel citizenship... and it really is like two different countries... Santa Barbara California... and Mackinac Island... this should prove to be interesting.
So since last I wrote... I've moved into my summer place on Mackinac... been here for two weeks... photographed 6 weddings, placed my images in several stores, and of course tried to set up a house... and now on Tuesday I head back to Cali for a few shoots and a dose of home. But... my goal is to blog every day till then to get you all caught up with the photo shoots.
First a couple really cool engagement sessions I had prior to leaving for the island.
I met up with Erika and Brad in a gorgeous Chicago Park, on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. Erika and I had been chatting via email for months and I just knew we would hit it off. We laughed so hard. I felt like Erika Brad and I had been friends for years. They were so much fun... and it was even neater to be able to meet them in their hometown for the shoot. I can't wait for their wedding later this year on the Island... if its anything like the engagement session I'm sure we'll be laughing the whole time!!
Then the second engagement session was with Heather and Evan. This is going to be one of coolest weddings I have this year... I am going to be all over the country photographing these two. I met them last October on Mackinac during the wedding expo... we instantly hit it off. Well ,of course we did, they are getting married in Mackinac but live in Cali... how perfect could it get. So after chatting all weekend in October, we then met up again in December for a bite to eat in San Jose ... which one hour meeting led to two... then just last month we met at this awesome dive restaurant in Pescadero (north of Santa Cruz). We were there to do their enagegement session. So we started to catch up when all of a sudden (an hour later) we realized the time had flown by again and we were about to miss the sunset on the beach.. luckily we were right on time... and it was a beautiful evening. Now to follow will be their wedding on Mackinac... and then their wedding party back in northern California... how fun will this be... by the time they are married I think I might be a part of their adopted family!!
Good luck with all the last minute details you two and as always call me with any questions!! Can't wait to see you back here on the island.
And now... to work on the rest of my blogging images for the next 3 days... 7 weddings... pheww... wish me luck (I figure if I put it up here I HAVE to do it)!
Have a beautiful day and may you all feel at home where ever you are. As my home is constantly changing these days .. I've started to realize that as long as I have the amazing people for whom I care about and care about me nearby ... that's what makes a home.. . it is possible to have more then one home... I've decided it's allowed to not be able to answer the question "where do you live" easily!!
Love
A
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Engagements around... Erika & Brad, Heather & Evan... yeah!!
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(geez I hope my Italian is right)... "bo?!?"
Okay ... where to begin.. I really can't put into words what a life experience this wedding was. First (before the mushy stuff) the back-story... how the heck did I end up shooting an Italian Wedding in Ibiza Spain...
Well, the bride, Nadia, and I met over 12 years ago while I was studying art in Firenze. We instantly became friends (especially since I loved her nose ring and HAD to have one... so we were forever bonded when at the age of 20 she took me to a 75 yr old pharmacist to have my nose pierced.. she even drew the dot on my nose where the future hole would go)... so... fast forward 10 years... I'm back in Firenze ... and we re-connect over a coffee... then last year when I was back in Italy she tells me... "I'm not engaged.... YET... but when I am ... be ready to be there"... so less then a year later... there I was...
...40 Italians over taking a small Spanish Island.. with an Italian Couple... a Spanish Priest and an American photographer... "madonna". It was AMAZING... the longer I was with my new Italian friends the more I realized how universal weddings are... language really doesn't matter. What is going on between two people who love each other... and their family and friends that are their to celebrate them... is the same... whether its Italian, Spanish, or English. Granted... listening to these wedding speeches in Italian was MUCH MORE entertaining than any other wedding I've ever been too.. and I don't even know what they were saying... all I know is hands were flying... laughter was echoing... and it was like watching a tv show unfold... I was just waiting for the food fight to begin (but the cake was really way to good to be wasted on a fight... so instead "mange mange")
I honestly felt so honored to have been a part of this small intimate weekend. The minute I saw Nadia and how beautiful she was in her dress moments before walking down the aisle...I couldn't help but tear up... it was definitely a weekend of touching moments and TONS of laughter... geez those Italians know how to laugh smile and have fun (no wonder I love them so much)!!
The four very fast days I had in Ibiza will forever stay with me...thinking about how our lives take shape... how friendships can last longer than one would ever think across oceans, language, and cultures ... and how the world really is a small community when we focus on our similarities...
THANK YOU ... Nadia and Filippo for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your amazing weekend. Even from this "American girls" perspective its clear to see the joy between the two of you... how much fun you have together... and the clear love!! To see how all your family and friends are caring, funny, and incredibly loving is a clear sign of the two of you!!! I am so excited to have a new group of "amici de Florentina"... am I making up Italian again? (u get the idea)...
Baci
A
Okay ... where to begin.. I really can't put into words what a life experience this wedding was. First (before the mushy stuff) the back-story... how the heck did I end up shooting an Italian Wedding in Ibiza Spain...
Well, the bride, Nadia, and I met over 12 years ago while I was studying art in Firenze. We instantly became friends (especially since I loved her nose ring and HAD to have one... so we were forever bonded when at the age of 20 she took me to a 75 yr old pharmacist to have my nose pierced.. she even drew the dot on my nose where the future hole would go)... so... fast forward 10 years... I'm back in Firenze ... and we re-connect over a coffee... then last year when I was back in Italy she tells me... "I'm not engaged.... YET... but when I am ... be ready to be there"... so less then a year later... there I was...
...40 Italians over taking a small Spanish Island.. with an Italian Couple... a Spanish Priest and an American photographer... "madonna". It was AMAZING... the longer I was with my new Italian friends the more I realized how universal weddings are... language really doesn't matter. What is going on between two people who love each other... and their family and friends that are their to celebrate them... is the same... whether its Italian, Spanish, or English. Granted... listening to these wedding speeches in Italian was MUCH MORE entertaining than any other wedding I've ever been too.. and I don't even know what they were saying... all I know is hands were flying... laughter was echoing... and it was like watching a tv show unfold... I was just waiting for the food fight to begin (but the cake was really way to good to be wasted on a fight... so instead "mange mange")
I honestly felt so honored to have been a part of this small intimate weekend. The minute I saw Nadia and how beautiful she was in her dress moments before walking down the aisle...I couldn't help but tear up... it was definitely a weekend of touching moments and TONS of laughter... geez those Italians know how to laugh smile and have fun (no wonder I love them so much)!!
The four very fast days I had in Ibiza will forever stay with me...thinking about how our lives take shape... how friendships can last longer than one would ever think across oceans, language, and cultures ... and how the world really is a small community when we focus on our similarities...
THANK YOU ... Nadia and Filippo for giving me the opportunity to be a part of your amazing weekend. Even from this "American girls" perspective its clear to see the joy between the two of you... how much fun you have together... and the clear love!! To see how all your family and friends are caring, funny, and incredibly loving is a clear sign of the two of you!!! I am so excited to have a new group of "amici de Florentina"... am I making up Italian again? (u get the idea)...
Baci
A
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Nadia e Filippo... "Esposa e Esposo"... MARRIED!!!
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Pheww... what another adventure... from 5 days in Chicago (with no internet mind you) to what was supposed to be 4 days in Ibiza Spain... to an unexpected detour through Madrid for two days, two canceled flights, rerouting through Paris and over Greenland (thank you ash cloud) ... but now I sit in New York after playing with my niece and nephew for a few days ... getting ready to fly home tomorrow afternoon.
Where to begin... I'll make this short and sweet... well at least for my standards! Chicago was awesome. I've been wanting to make it to this sweet windy city for years, I have a ton of clients that live in the area old... (Faith & Mark... it was AWESOME to see you two... always makes me laugh and brought back such great memories from your wedding last summer)... and new. I did a super fun engagement shoot with Erika and Brad with a backdrop of the city and the beauty of the Field Museum (pictures to come...). but I wasn't only I there for business ... I also met up with friends I hadn't seen in YEARS... we're talking ten years. man I love how friendships can transcend time. It was so fun to see different parts of the city and to have such gorgeous views from the rooftop bar. I love it when time can pass yet you can still sit and chat with friends as if it were yesterday. Thanks Rachel, Annie, Josh, and John... can't wait to be back in Chicago and have a few more reunions...
Last Thursday... I hopped on a train, plane, and automobile ... heading across the pond once again for the most unique wedding experience to date. Imagine 40 Italians (who don't speak Spanish) invading the Island of Ibiza ... mixed with a Spanish church/priest (who doesn't speak Italian)... and an American photographer... ME... (who doesn't speak either). I had the most amazing 4 days. Words can't express how magical the wedding was.. every single detail from the minute I arrived (but I'll talk more about the wedding later)... for now just some beautiful images from that beautiful place.
I have to just say... one last thought. Traveling so much over the past couple months... making new European friends... dealing with international airports (and the ash cloud) ... all of these things have really made me learn how to slow down, let go, and really appreciate the moments around me. Traveling really does open up one's eyes to how small the world is... how life and the important stuff can be so similar anywhere you go ... how possible it is to bond with people who don't speak your language... and ya know... sitting in a room where you don't understand a thing can be an amazing opportunity to watch, listen, and see the little things that happen... (and make up stories in your head of what's REALLY being said)
May you all discover a way to stop, take a breath, and truly see what is around you and what people are saying with more than just words.
Lots of love
A
Where to begin... I'll make this short and sweet... well at least for my standards! Chicago was awesome. I've been wanting to make it to this sweet windy city for years, I have a ton of clients that live in the area old... (Faith & Mark... it was AWESOME to see you two... always makes me laugh and brought back such great memories from your wedding last summer)... and new. I did a super fun engagement shoot with Erika and Brad with a backdrop of the city and the beauty of the Field Museum (pictures to come...). but I wasn't only I there for business ... I also met up with friends I hadn't seen in YEARS... we're talking ten years. man I love how friendships can transcend time. It was so fun to see different parts of the city and to have such gorgeous views from the rooftop bar. I love it when time can pass yet you can still sit and chat with friends as if it were yesterday. Thanks Rachel, Annie, Josh, and John... can't wait to be back in Chicago and have a few more reunions...
Last Thursday... I hopped on a train, plane, and automobile ... heading across the pond once again for the most unique wedding experience to date. Imagine 40 Italians (who don't speak Spanish) invading the Island of Ibiza ... mixed with a Spanish church/priest (who doesn't speak Italian)... and an American photographer... ME... (who doesn't speak either). I had the most amazing 4 days. Words can't express how magical the wedding was.. every single detail from the minute I arrived (but I'll talk more about the wedding later)... for now just some beautiful images from that beautiful place.
I have to just say... one last thought. Traveling so much over the past couple months... making new European friends... dealing with international airports (and the ash cloud) ... all of these things have really made me learn how to slow down, let go, and really appreciate the moments around me. Traveling really does open up one's eyes to how small the world is... how life and the important stuff can be so similar anywhere you go ... how possible it is to bond with people who don't speak your language... and ya know... sitting in a room where you don't understand a thing can be an amazing opportunity to watch, listen, and see the little things that happen... (and make up stories in your head of what's REALLY being said)
May you all discover a way to stop, take a breath, and truly see what is around you and what people are saying with more than just words.
Lots of love
A
Amana:
I absolutely LOVE your "one last thought" and couldn't agree more! LoVe lOVe all around ~
(05.15.10 @ 02:01 AM)
ahirschegger:
Thanks girlie... and my letting go continued as I missed my flight at JFK ... but what could I do... and it ended up being okay... first class upgrade makes up for everything!!
(05.16.10 @ 10:55 AM)
nadia:
what a romantic girl...more and more european...you are a poet dear! you are able to catch the details and the feeling through your words too...love you dear!
(05.17.10 @ 12:59 PM)
nadia:
what a romantic girl...more and more european...you are a poet dear! you are able to catch the details and the feeling through your words too...love you dear! the american girl ;)! you know what I mean ;)
(05.17.10 @ 01:00 PM)
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Chicago to Ibiza... NY and home
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