Puttin' On the RITZ (in Palm Beach): Amy & Joel's Wedding Extravaganza!

Posted by Liana at 12:38 AM

Okay, I'm a MEGA blog-slacker lately. Blame it on the holidays!!

Back on Point:

I was honored to be asked to photograph the beautiful, gorgeous sister of just-as-gorgeous (wedding photographer) Abby Liga who did some amazing pre-shots of her sister leading up the the wedding. The wonderful Nicole Kent came and photographed it with me - thank you girl!!

It was at (what I believe to be) one of the MOST GORGEOUS RITZ Carlton hotels I've seen yet (and I've seen quite a few). Be-au-ti-ful I tell you!

Thank you Amy and Joel for having us be a part of your amazing day!!

Enjoy!!!





Beautiful Bride Amy



Getting Ready



We had some fun taking pics in the Suite before heading downstairs. They had this SUPER awesome tub that looked like an egg shell split in half. Being the sister of a photographer, it wasn't even a question about going in to get some fun shots. Check the slideshow for even more!





I LOVED the decor in the lobby - it matched their wedding details perfectly too!


We went outside near the ocean for a few pictures while there was still daylight. The breeze was my assistant :)



Joel looking his best before the ceremony


It was pitch-black out for the Ceremony so we tried something I normally never do - using lighting for the ceremony!! Generally, we photograph during daylight or twilight hours where there's still lots of time to just use natural light. I'm really happy with our off-camera flash set-ups though - not a single on-camera flash went off (from my camera at least!) ;)



Love the moody-feeling of this shot of them exchanging the rings



Man & Wife!


We slipped into the restaurant for a few photographs as well. Again, loved the decor!






The whole wedding had a rat-pack, classy, Sinatra-esque feel to it. A few details:


Cocktail hour:


Be sure the check out the sequence in the slideshow of the bouquet toss too - it got stuck in a light fixture the first time around and the response from the girls and the guys that pulled it down was quite classic!


Last, but not least, the first dance:



Congratulations Amy & Joel!!

David & Liz

Posted by Liana at 6:29 PM

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to photography little David and his momma Liz. We had TONS of fun playing in the leaves, checking out David's toy room and hanging out in the park.

Here's a Portrait Album we put together for them:



Enjoy!!

My Boyfriend looks Haut in his Detroit shirt

Posted by Liana at 8:04 PM

He thinks he needs a haircut... I think its haut long. What's yer vote?

Santas House in Boston

Posted by Liana at 7:47 PM

WOW look at these lights!!!!!

For Love or Money? (“Love” part IV of V)

Posted by Liana at 5:35 AM

Love. Money. Our dreams. Client needs. Security. Freedom. Purpose. Budgets. Jobs. Costs. Sacrifice. Questions. Lifestyle. Opposition. Freedom. True Love.


“Often people attempt to live their lives backwards; they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want.” - Margaret Young

Sunday afternoon, on my way home from sunny West Palm, the couple in the seats next to me started asking about Amy & Joel’s wedding pictures and commented “it looks like something from a magazine ... you can tell you really love what you do.” I smiled my thanks to them at that observation and we chatted about life and photography and the difference LOVE had made when this woman had her favorite portrait taken years ago. A few hours later, on my way out the door, I received a heartbreaking call that one of my clients passed away. I spent the rest of the evening at a church holiday event trying to keep my eyes dry in the dark auditorium, failing miserably.

My world has been a bit of a roller-coaster the past few years and the question that has been in the heart of it all is “for love or money?” I spoke on the topic at five major conventions this year... as it relates to photography and doing what we love through our work. I wasn’t prepared for how amazing it was to hear the different reasons some of my peers do what they do. I have my own reasons... some that I shared with them... that I will share with you... soon.

There’s something unbelievably cathartic about finally being hit over the head with the realization of what your purpose is. I don’t think our purpose is ever very far off from doing what we LOVE to do... for all the right reasons. Doing it NOT for money but for the LOVE of it and how it touches the lives of others.

I have a little problem though... here’s where I got the roller coaster ride.... my purpose is not simple. I did not celebrate in the epiphany that I am only to be a full time photographer and to help others experience the beauty that is around them always. God didn’t put a period there -- he put a comma. It’s taken me YEARS of heartache, headache, bad jobs, good jobs, right jobs, wrong jobs.... to finally put in words what I know I’ve been put on this earth to do. I’ll tell it to you now, because I know you’ll start seeing and hearing it everywhere in what I do: “To help others achieve the impossible AND experience the beauty that is about them always.”

To tell you the story of how I came to this conclusion and how I know without a doubt what my purpose it... would take 500+ words. I know this because I typed it up recently. Perhaps a story to share another day ;)

Regardless, it hasn’t been an easy pill to swallow... because doing what I LOVE not only involves the fun, exciting part of my job called photography.... but it deals with money. It deals with sacrifice and facing necessary evils no creative person in their right mind wants to tackle. I’ve been charged with the challenge of helping creative entrepreneurs be better stewards of their money, and being able to actually make a living off of doing something they love. And it’s one difficult industry to do it in. I'm in Boston now with 8 amazing photographers who are making that sacrifice and doing what they need to do to lay the financial foundation for their businesses. I'm so proud of what they're doing, it hurts our brains, but it's so worth it. It will allow us to move forward and focus on doing what we love.

So I guess that is my question for you. Why do you do what you do? Is it for Love or Money?

Made it to Boston B&B for BBC :)

Posted by Liana at 9:02 PM

Love the color of my room! Enna and Matt have been so sweet and
picked me up from the airport after I missed two flights today then
treated me to a homemade dinner - yum! I'm gonna drink my tea now and
rest because we have two long days ahead of us :)

My job stinks!

Posted by Liana at 11:44 AM

I mean.. They make me come to beautiful beaches in December!
LOL ;)