So I'm now back in the states.. on a rainy island... slightly missing the Tuscan sun and my 80 degree day in Florence.
On my last day in Italy I wandered the streets of my favorite town... Florence.. I studied there when I was 18... again when I was 20... and I actually photographed my first wedding under my own business years ago. So obviously, I not only have an attraction to the beauty of Firenze but its much deeper then that.
What I did realize this trip is how difficult it can be to capture a city you've visited for many years in a new light. So, all of a sudden I found myself photographing the different things... tourists, graffiti (which I was quite surprised and a little sad to see), and of course food... my favorite thing to do in Florence is to go to Mercato Centrale and make friends with the butchers!! Too bad the customs officers DID NOT appreciate my cinghiale (wild boar that is cured old world style)... but some reason they were ok with my pecorino...
Then it was off to aperitivo with my awesome assistant Lily who is in Florence studying for a few months!! I then ended the evening with my dear dear Florentine friend Nadia (who's wedding I happened to photograph in Ibiza Spain just a few months ago)..
Until we meet again my sweet sweet Firenze!!
Love
A
On my last day in Italy I wandered the streets of my favorite town... Florence.. I studied there when I was 18... again when I was 20... and I actually photographed my first wedding under my own business years ago. So obviously, I not only have an attraction to the beauty of Firenze but its much deeper then that.
What I did realize this trip is how difficult it can be to capture a city you've visited for many years in a new light. So, all of a sudden I found myself photographing the different things... tourists, graffiti (which I was quite surprised and a little sad to see), and of course food... my favorite thing to do in Florence is to go to Mercato Centrale and make friends with the butchers!! Too bad the customs officers DID NOT appreciate my cinghiale (wild boar that is cured old world style)... but some reason they were ok with my pecorino...
Then it was off to aperitivo with my awesome assistant Lily who is in Florence studying for a few months!! I then ended the evening with my dear dear Florentine friend Nadia (who's wedding I happened to photograph in Ibiza Spain just a few months ago)..
Until we meet again my sweet sweet Firenze!!
Love
A
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
My last day in Italy... how I love Firenze
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://andrejkaphotographyblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/142
All I have to say is WOW... again...
Here is just a sneak peak from today's wedding... there will be tons more for me to say later but for now... it's 4 am.. .the celebration is still going on outside my window but I couldn't help but stay up and write something... the "official" evening ended with Marlon a DJ from LA born in Trinidad to take the stage for a final set... one of the last songs was "Everyday People".. this was perfect.. .as I looked around the room and saw how many people, from so many countries.. together on a dance floor.. .being.. just "everyday people"... having fun.. celebrating life and love (we really are all the same, care about the same things, love the same way)
At one point a guest stood up at the wedding and made a toast... what he said really struck home for me.. "Amana.. .Johan... you are truly a New World Couple"... this brought tears to my eyes as I could see how many people had traveled, were living, and were from so many places all over the world. .... 16 countries to be exact (and there were only about 70 people total).
With all the differences between us... its amazing how easy it is to connect and relate and you hardly have to try...
Here are a couple pics.. .so you don't have to just hear me babble this late at night...
May you all experience moments that make you notice how alike all of us in the world really are!
Love
A
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
We are everyday people... a wedding representing the world... Amana & Johan
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://andrejkaphotographyblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/141
I am so thrilled to be sitting in Monte Poni in Chianti (aka... "The Hill") as the tent is being brought in and the ceremony site being decorated ... there is hustle and bustle everywhere. Amana & Johan's wedding is tomorrow!! ... last night was aperetivo (happy hour Italian style) on piazza Santa Croce in Firenze. Tonight... rehearsal dinner in Fiesole (a beautiful little town overlooking Firenze)... tomorrow.. the big day.. then Sunday a poolside brunch in the Tuscan countryside!
Here are just a few photographs from today. First an amazing tradional Italian lunch with fried zucchini flowers, potatoes, steak, fritata, caprese, and salad (yes,,, that was just lunch). Then in order to walk off lunch a hike up to Panzano... to by my favorite salt (yes salt) from the amazing Dario (the butcher... known all throughout Italia). He hand presses his salt with herbs from his garden: lavender, sage, rosemary... you name it!!
Stay tuned... I have a feeling these pics from the wedding are gonna be pretty darn amazing... even the tent is beautiful and it isn't even finished yet.
Well... off to eat (and photograph) a 7 course italian meal... that will have representation by 14 countries... 4 continents... and who knows how many languages... It's gonna be an interesting weekend...
Love
A
Here are just a few photographs from today. First an amazing tradional Italian lunch with fried zucchini flowers, potatoes, steak, fritata, caprese, and salad (yes,,, that was just lunch). Then in order to walk off lunch a hike up to Panzano... to by my favorite salt (yes salt) from the amazing Dario (the butcher... known all throughout Italia). He hand presses his salt with herbs from his garden: lavender, sage, rosemary... you name it!!
Stay tuned... I have a feeling these pics from the wedding are gonna be pretty darn amazing... even the tent is beautiful and it isn't even finished yet.
Well... off to eat (and photograph) a 7 course italian meal... that will have representation by 14 countries... 4 continents... and who knows how many languages... It's gonna be an interesting weekend...
Love
A
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Monte Poni ... Day 1... Italian Wedding adventure
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://andrejkaphotographyblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/140
I just had write this quick little story...
My long lost high school friend sent me an email the other day asking if I would be available for a portrait shoot on the island next week. OF COURSE... so this is what she wrote me next...
"Your photo shoots look so fun! I told the kids that a friend of Mommy's might take pictures of them having fun in MI. My daughter asked, "so we don't just sit still and say "cheese"?"
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!!!
Its exactly true... I don't want to photograph kids sitting still, uncomfortable, bored and unhappy... yet being forced to smile... I want to photograph them jumping around... having fun... acting their age... capturing this exact moment in their life!!
So, yippee... I love that a little girl gets this!!
.. so just to get into the spirit.. here are a few pics of fun kids... I just LOVE these two!!
My long lost high school friend sent me an email the other day asking if I would be available for a portrait shoot on the island next week. OF COURSE... so this is what she wrote me next...
"Your photo shoots look so fun! I told the kids that a friend of Mommy's might take pictures of them having fun in MI. My daughter asked, "so we don't just sit still and say "cheese"?"
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!!!
Its exactly true... I don't want to photograph kids sitting still, uncomfortable, bored and unhappy... yet being forced to smile... I want to photograph them jumping around... having fun... acting their age... capturing this exact moment in their life!!
So, yippee... I love that a little girl gets this!!
.. so just to get into the spirit.. here are a few pics of fun kids... I just LOVE these two!!
And I had to add this pic... its of Lily and I at Angelina & Jerry's wedding last weekend... we were having so much fun!! I think this pic is soooo great... its sooo us!!!
Theme today.. HAVE FUN!!! (and turn the camera on yourself once and a while ;-)
Love
A
Theme today.. HAVE FUN!!! (and turn the camera on yourself once and a while ;-)
Love
A
Angelina Stasulis:
So glad to hear you two were having a great time! So were we :o)
(07.01.10 @ 06:31 PM)
Heather Arthur:
Totally looking forward to it! The kids are too! :)
(07.07.10 @ 04:18 PM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
My Portrait goal...
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://andrejkaphotographyblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/129
I am back in Cali but thinking about the awesome weekend of weddings I had a couple weeks ago. I really feel blessed by the couples I've photographed so far this year and this weekend was unbelievable... its started on Thursday with a vow renewal between Kristin and Joachim, then a surprising turn of events with Jennifer and Matt... and the weekend of weddings ended with me tearing up (no.. straight up crying) over Kristin and Ian's thoughtfulness!!
First up ... Kristin and Joachim... Kristin and I met up in NYC when I was there a little over a month ago and TOTALLY hit is off... we were talking all sorts of girl talk as if we'd been BFF's forever... and then when we met up again on the island a month later for her wedding.. we just continued (Kristin, I still can't believe everything we talked about you.. YOU ROCK). I had such a good time hanging out with Kristin and Joachim. They had a beautiful wedding at Little Stone Church then dinner up at the Woods Restaurant. While there, Joachim (who is Swedish) led the group in a traditional shot of some traditional liquor (which really smelled more like lighter fluid).. Kristen & Joachim, I can't get over how perfectly your timing was and I'm so glad I was able to be a part of it. Thank you!! You two crack me up and I have no doubt that you two will be having fun the rest of your lives together!!!
Then Jennifer and Matt and I had a blast!! I don't always get the chance to hang out with my couples too much prior to the wedding... but this time I did... after photographing them biking around the island the day before the wedding I was surprised they were still talking to me. I had them running, jumping, and RACING around the island... easy for me I was on my 21 speed bike... they, on the other hand were on their single speed cruisers... well... not only did they talk with me the next day... but after their beautiful ceremony at the Mission Point Gazebo they took me on a little adventure to Sinclairs Irish Pub in the middle of their recpetion (leaving everyone behind) to go do Irish Car Bombs (a specialty of the establishment with Mackinac Fudge Stout)... it was something I'd never experienced before... they were my first "runaway couple".... Jennifer & Matt... Thanks for including me on your adventure... it was so much fun and goes down in the record books!!! You two have such a connection that it transcends everything you do... on a bike, at a wedding... and in the bar... it was a blast to be witness to it ALL!!
And then .. .to finish off my crazy weeks of weddings... Kristin and Ian... now this couple and I have been chatting for years.. no joke I met them both at the Mackinac Island Wedding Expo in 2008 if you can believe it.. .I felt honored... Kristin walked in .. saw my logo gift box and started jumping up and down that "she's the one"... (seriously I think she was just excited to see a pretty package ;-) none the less... I was very complimented and we instantly bonded in fact I feel like I became part of the family (and the planning process) for the last two years. It was almost sad when the wedding was over knowing that I no longer had any reason to "bother" her for photo stuff. Kristin and Ian, I feel like I've known you forever, that I wasn't just a photographer, that I was truly a guest at your wedding. Kristin, your genuineness and pure heart is clear to everyone that meets you,,, and your jumping-up-and-down-excitement-dance is contagious. Ian your love for Kristin and pure gentleman nature is something all men should strive for. You two have a balance of tenderness, joy, and fun that is awesome!! And the necklace you two gave me (still right now.. makes me tear up)... it was so incredibly thoughtful... it will from now on be a part of my permanent shooting jewelery...
To all my couples... you all are so amazing in so many ways.. each of you is different and touches my heart in a different way. I feel so lucky to have met you all!!
Love,
A
btw... I'm back in cali.. adjusting to mainland life for a week before the island calls again...
First up ... Kristin and Joachim... Kristin and I met up in NYC when I was there a little over a month ago and TOTALLY hit is off... we were talking all sorts of girl talk as if we'd been BFF's forever... and then when we met up again on the island a month later for her wedding.. we just continued (Kristin, I still can't believe everything we talked about you.. YOU ROCK). I had such a good time hanging out with Kristin and Joachim. They had a beautiful wedding at Little Stone Church then dinner up at the Woods Restaurant. While there, Joachim (who is Swedish) led the group in a traditional shot of some traditional liquor (which really smelled more like lighter fluid).. Kristen & Joachim, I can't get over how perfectly your timing was and I'm so glad I was able to be a part of it. Thank you!! You two crack me up and I have no doubt that you two will be having fun the rest of your lives together!!!
Then Jennifer and Matt and I had a blast!! I don't always get the chance to hang out with my couples too much prior to the wedding... but this time I did... after photographing them biking around the island the day before the wedding I was surprised they were still talking to me. I had them running, jumping, and RACING around the island... easy for me I was on my 21 speed bike... they, on the other hand were on their single speed cruisers... well... not only did they talk with me the next day... but after their beautiful ceremony at the Mission Point Gazebo they took me on a little adventure to Sinclairs Irish Pub in the middle of their recpetion (leaving everyone behind) to go do Irish Car Bombs (a specialty of the establishment with Mackinac Fudge Stout)... it was something I'd never experienced before... they were my first "runaway couple".... Jennifer & Matt... Thanks for including me on your adventure... it was so much fun and goes down in the record books!!! You two have such a connection that it transcends everything you do... on a bike, at a wedding... and in the bar... it was a blast to be witness to it ALL!!
And then .. .to finish off my crazy weeks of weddings... Kristin and Ian... now this couple and I have been chatting for years.. no joke I met them both at the Mackinac Island Wedding Expo in 2008 if you can believe it.. .I felt honored... Kristin walked in .. saw my logo gift box and started jumping up and down that "she's the one"... (seriously I think she was just excited to see a pretty package ;-) none the less... I was very complimented and we instantly bonded in fact I feel like I became part of the family (and the planning process) for the last two years. It was almost sad when the wedding was over knowing that I no longer had any reason to "bother" her for photo stuff. Kristin and Ian, I feel like I've known you forever, that I wasn't just a photographer, that I was truly a guest at your wedding. Kristin, your genuineness and pure heart is clear to everyone that meets you,,, and your jumping-up-and-down-excitement-dance is contagious. Ian your love for Kristin and pure gentleman nature is something all men should strive for. You two have a balance of tenderness, joy, and fun that is awesome!! And the necklace you two gave me (still right now.. makes me tear up)... it was so incredibly thoughtful... it will from now on be a part of my permanent shooting jewelery...
To all my couples... you all are so amazing in so many ways.. each of you is different and touches my heart in a different way. I feel so lucky to have met you all!!
Love,
A
btw... I'm back in cali.. adjusting to mainland life for a week before the island calls again...
Kristin:
Yay! We are on your blog and the preview of pics are so cool!!!
(06.18.10 @ 01:27 PM)
Terry:
Beautiful work! I love them. Thanks!
(06.18.10 @ 03:09 PM)
Cathy:
Fabulous, fabulous pictures, We can't wait to see more, Cathy and Glenn Hollis
(06.21.10 @ 12:51 PM)
Heather & Michael:
Judging by these pictures ... you had a wonderful day
(06.27.10 @ 01:29 PM)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Another weekend of Island weddings...
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://andrejkaphotographyblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/126
LOVE this, A. Thanks for the apertivo and the intro to the great spot and the advice! Such a great time :)
(09.26.10 @ 07:57 AM)