Babies… So sweet and beautiful whether they are sleeping soundly or if their mouth is all a quiver. Every expression is rooted in their efforts to communicate. For now it’s a language we as parents spend the rest of our lives trying to decipher! All I know is that aside from a nice day at the beach, nothing makes me smile more than seeing little newborn faces and feeling the adoration from a new parent. To check out more images visit Valentines Blog at the Be{loved} site.
So many emotions have already made their way to the surface throughout the morning yet these last few seconds prior to the guests rising from their seats always holds some of the most compounded feelings that I witness on a wedding day. I frequently pop in to see the groom before I choose my spot as I wait for those doors to open. To think, only a few short minutes prior to this we were saying to Candice that we would see her soon but the next time we chat she would officially be a Mrs :)
I read an article recently about smiles and kindness that really made me think about human behavior. I often wonder as I encounter at times rude, angry or miserable people in my travels, when were these people reprogrammed to be this way. How and when did they develop these negative behavioral traits? Do they know how they are coming across to others? Do they know how detrimental their behavior is to not just their mental, emotional and physical well-being?
I haven’t found those answers yet and quite frankly, every time my path crosses someone overtly negative in spirit I feel compelled to find out why. After all, according to the article on smiles and happiness, we are each born into this world already possessing the capacity to feel happiness and to love and to smile. No one had to teach a blind person to smile as they related it to happiness and amazingly enough, a newborn without being educated on the subject of smiles will execute this basic yet powerful act without prompting and in doing so elicit such vast amounts of joy from everyone in their presence.
Babies, born knowing only love, joy, how to smile and the like… It is not until they become older that rudeness, misery, hate and negativity become learned traits. Here is a little sneak of baby V. Cuddled by her momma, feeling loved and showing us that yes, she was born knowing how to smile and her smile makes me smile!
To view more images from this Be{loved} US session come on over to my page =) Click here
I shot this {us} session with Aleah and Steve in Ocean City New Jersey. We also filmed their Be{loved} Us Story that day and you can view their highlight film by visiting my cinema site Be{loved} Cinema.
When I photograph a session I can’t help but become keenly aware of my surroundings in anticipation for or inspired by what is going on in and around me. Sometimes things are so obvious for good and or bad reasons while other times I search for where I want to go and what I want to shoot. It felt like the odds were stacked against us on the day of our shoot. Have you ever had hundreds of gnats flying, landing and biting you? If you have then you know that feeling of tickling that spreads to itching that becomes real plus imagined feelings and sounds permeating your mind. Swat, swat, swat. Buzz, buzz, buzz. They were everywhere. I think I swallowed a dozen of them! These were not the best of conditions to do a shoot. These were however the best two people to have done this shoot with on that day!
I imagine that if Aleah and Steve can stave off thousands of biting gnats and crazy flying birds for several hours so that we could get through filming then they have the type of beautiful attitudes that will in turn take them very far in life and love =) I imagine that there is that kind of fortitude within each and every one of us that when needed to, allows us to push a little harder for the things that are most meaningful to us. Aleah and Steve reminded me of something very important on the day of their shoot. They reminded me to seize the moment, to go with my gut and to always pursue the things that are most important within that moment.
Sadly a few short weeks after this session was filmed much of this location was irreparably damaged due to Hurricane Sandy. Maybe the crazy birds and those pesky gnats knew something that we didn’t. The space where we filmed their interview is completely destroyed, leveled as if it never existed. The Dunes where the sunset and sky time lapses were filmed are no longer there… just a distant memory of a place that once was. Things, places & moments with the people we love can be so fragile in this world we live in and sometimes I feel that mother nature has a way of warning us and of reminding us to cherish and never take for granted what is right in front of our eyes. That day in front of my eyes were two people who have known each other since high school, two people who clearly know how to get through the good and bad that may come their way and most importantly two people who I would gladly spend an afternoon eating gnats!
With the addition of our Cinema line and my Be {Loved} US sessions and stories, we get to hear in detail so many proposal stories. Some go perfectly to plan, while others, well… Let’s just say that even with perfect planning and the best of intentions things can go awry. The key message no matter what is that regardless of the perfection of execution, every moment of your proposal will be memorable. I’ve put together a few do’s and do not’s based on the many, many interviews of our clients. So if you are thinking of proposing or think you may be getting proposed to then read on and share =) If you like, watch the Surprise proposal we filmed below for Frank & Athena.
Discussing the proposal?
Should it be a Surprise?
What about the ring?
Stay in Character! Good Secrets vs. Bad Secrets
What you say IS important!!!
Talk to Parents or Key family members
Should you propose on a major holiday or special date?
Make it Personal
Should you capture the proposal?
A few years ago I flew to Naples Florida to spend a weekend with a couple getting married and celebrating with their family & friends. It was a continuation of a chapter in the lives of Emily and Vic. Click this link to view their original Blog Post http://cindyguessford.com/emily-vic-wedding/ A few months afterwards they had the party of all parties in Baltimore so that they could celebrate in the company of a ton more family and friends and I was a part of documenting that super kick ass time as well =)
Just like our studio has grown to embrace new challenges and mediums of storytelling their family has grown as well, specifically with the birth of Lucas. Take a peek at the highlight film below. For the complete blog post visit www.BelovedCinema.com
To view some images from their We Photo Session check out the post here: Em+Vic+Lucas
Are you or is someone you know of perfect for a {we story}? contact me via my connect tab for more info =)
Frequently when I meet new people & they ask what I do for a living I respond with the answer that I’m a treasure hunter. This either garners me a well deserved raised eyebrow or a “wow, that must be exciting!”. I usually respond with a “yep, it’s true. It is exciting, especially when you luck out and find some good ones. Then comes the, “what kind of treasures do you hunt?” question. That’s when the conversation gets interesting =)
You see, what we do over here is very hard to categorize. If a potential client is looking at studios and comparing the quality of work, pricing, packages and the like then on the outside it appears as if what we do is not that much different than a typical portrait session or Wedding coverage. Yet when they inspect a little closer there is a huge difference & the number one reason that when asked to a potential client, what drew you to the studio, the answer is that the images look REAL. I usually ask what they mean by that and the reply is always the same. The people in the images look like they are experiencing the emotions that are being conveyed in the photo or video. They look authentic, real not forced, comfortable and natural. The number two reason that potential clients give us is that they feel our images are cool. Great!!! We make real cool images and video, that should be our next tag line ;) Seriously though, I’m always excited when my message shines through to the types of people that want Real and Cool. I have split personality when it comes to shooting and I do want to make emotionally authentic work that inspires me, I also want to make beautiful and cool images too. Ying and Yang, all day long!
So yes, initially that is what people see. Then fast forward. You are a client now. You book your sessions and the day arrives for us to hang out. You have no idea what you are in store for. The Journey of your session is not what you thought a portrait session was all about. You have fun, we engage through words, thoughts and actions. Together we experience a trip down memory lane and also make new memories. You leave the session saying that “it was one of the best experiences you have ever had as a couple or a parent or a sibling.” Actual words spoken by those who have had the full experience. You talk about the session to anyone that will listen. They all think you have drank the crazy coolaid until…. They see the images, watch the videos and book their own session.
It’s true. We have an exceptionally high percentage of referrals from existing clients to their families and friends. It is something that I am very proud of and extremely thankful for because what we do, this treasure hunting thing, it’s very personal and not everyone wants to get all up and personal with people they just met but when a family member or true friend tells you – YOU HAVE TO DO THIS!!! Well, it means they think you would be a good candidate and a great fit for our services.
So, treasure hunting, yes. It can be an emotionally and physically exhausting task but in the end I feel rewarded by natural smiles, heartfelt words, love, laughter, tears and sometimes sadness, joy, pride and so many other treasures that we can not live without. It is an important job, a meaningful one and one that I do because it makes me a better person every time I pick up my camera and every time I read a response from another unexpectedly amazed client.
Here is a family portrait from my childhood. I love it because it is my family but you can’t really gauge who we were at that moment in our lives. It’s a static image. Obviously I cherish it because I have so few images of us all together but what I wouldn’t give to go back and take more images & to film video so that I could see and hear and remember. For now I will have to just use my imagination. The cute little boys are thinking, hmmmm our sister is so amazing and smart. The mom & dad are thinking – we have a beautiful family and don’t we look fashionable! The little girl is clearly in the midst of saying something extremely profound… One can always imagine ;)
My dearest Hawaii,
How often can one fall in love in a lifetime? I ask myself this every time I fall. I hope it is limitless, I think to myself. How could one not want to feel repeatedly that exhilarating, liberating, inexplicable sensation experienced when you realize that you are head over heels in freakin love... You can experience this with people, interests and even places. I felt this way when I visited Oahu and Maui this past September. I felt at peace dear Hawaii, driving your windward coast, exploring the North Shore, traversing up your winding summit roads of Mt Haleakala, swimming your beautiful ocean amidst sea turtles and reef lovelies. Dear Hawaii, your breathtaking sunsets, majestic water falls and awe inspiring starry nights, your bountiful rainbows, your mountains that loom higher than the clouds... I found a space that helps me to rejuvenate myself. Dear Hawaii, thank you...
xoxoxo - until we meet again.
I wrote a poem one day while having my morning coffee. Glancing out the window towards the beach. The sun had already started it's ascent upwards towards billowing clouds sailing across deep azure skies. That's when I saw what I thought was the most beautiful and interesting place I had seen a rainbow. Connecting cloud to ocean and just beautiful. It was in fact the Second most amazing appearance of a rainbow. The first is the breathtaking shot above. I shot this while in a helicopter touring the island of Maui & the Big Island. I could see the end of it, landing onto the golden landscape of the valley where light meets shade. Maybe I'm a weirdo or just too much of a romantic or maybe it's too late into the evening and I should know when to censor myself for fear of someone thinking I'm a weirdo. You know what, I'm kinda okay with people thinking I may be a little off kilter. The truth is that I have from the moment of my earliest memories, always have been a little socially awkward. I often tread the lines of being too serious and not serious enough. When one day I decided to chase my dream. I have had so much support on this journey and I have made incredible connections with people that will forever affect the person that I now am.
When I captured this rainbow and saw where it ended I immediately thought of Balance. She ends at the seam of light and dark. The proverbial pot of gold truly does exist. It exists when there is balance in your life. It exists when we see beauty, selflessness, hope & love. We are richer for having been privy to the things, places and people that enrich our lives. I felt rich, balanced and highly affected by mother nature and the serene landscape unfolding before me.
Sorry, sidetracked as per the usual ;-) Here is my attempt at poetry. Keep in mind that I don't have my poetic License(hee, hee - bad joke)
CHASING RAINBOWS
Beautiful, inexplicable in existence
I can not pin point your location-as it changes with mine & the Sun's
Yet you delight me as I chase you
Knowing that at any moment you may scamper away
disappearing as quickly as you have arrived
Rainbow, you are as precocious as a child
you run from me and giggle over your shoulder
I hope to never catch you.
Been doing some reflecting lately. Wondering mostly. Things have been evolving over the years. So have I. So has my work. So have the types of people who are drawn to our work here at the studio. Relationships. It will always come down to who do you want to spend time with and for what purposes. I would like to say that I chose to do this, but it chose me…
Thank you to our many many lovely friends past, present and future.
