I took a little trip with one of my very best friends, not even, I like to consider Catie, more like a sister to me. A sister because well lets face it, sisters do not get along 24/7. They argue, poke fun at one another and are not afraid to call each other out. Although, for some reason at the end of the day they are laughing at one another, having the time of their lives and cannot seem to remember why they were mad in the first place. I am pretty sure that is why Catie is my sister, because although at times we can get feisty…we cannot go a day without talking to each other or sending each other something ridiculous/funny just to brighten each other’s day. My love for this girl is unconditional …but I will save the mushy stuff for another time.

A few months before, I introduced Catie to a very special boy that I know from the east coast. I did so because from the past few family vaca’s to Gloucester getting to know, Marco and knowing Catie like a book for half of my life…one day I had an EPHIPHIANY! these two very special to me were both single at the time….how could I NOT introduce two awesome people with such similar personalities to each other?! So I did…. the rest was history!

Soo that is why, Catie and I took a trip to the seaside, to Gloucester, Massachusetts for a long weekend…

Francesca and Fay took us around for a little sight seeing….

Catie & Fay by the infamous Greasy Pole

Our lovely hosts, Sal & Fay…they fed us with italian food & wine…steady

Down the street and Marco’s blueberries

Catie & I

A day at Good Harbor Beach

Hi…thats me

Typical activities…

A visit to Rocky Neck

These two…

Romantical couple on Stage Fort rocks…

A cell phone shot of Catie & I sporting Fay’s shower caps

Marco loves his Mama!

If ever you visit Salem, Mass. do not pass this joint up!

Conversing at the Gulu-Gulu

The Meat & Cheese Collation

My girl, Gracie & I

Fun ride home

Get it, Catie

Among a million other things she did for us this weekend, Fay took us for ice cream

All in all, it was a very enjoyable little getaway, as always. If you are interested in learning more about these awesome people and my past trips to Gloucester check out, Gloucester Trip 2010 and 2011!

I cannot believe how busy I have been since the sun started shining, from photo sessions, to processing so many last minute senior photo orders, to shooting several weddings! These past few weekends have been pure craziness for me and I cannot believe how fast time flies!

This post is on Gina and Greg and their fabulous wedding day!  I have known Gina since we were young ones, because we share some awesome mutual cousins. Gina has always been one of the kindest, sweetest people that I have ever known, so it didn’t surprise me when I ran into her at Coyote Joe’s a couple years ago and she introduced me to her SUPER nice boyfriend, Greg! Soon after that, I caught wind that Greg proposed to Gina in Hawaii and that they were going to tie the knot in 2012! I was honored when they both contacted ME to not only do their engagement photos, but their wedding photos, as well! Through meetings and their amazing, carnival engagement session, I got to know these two people as a couple and I have to got to say, that the love that these two share for each other is something else! I can sincerely say that Gina and Greg are two of the NICEST, KINDEST, most laid back people that I know and every time I see them, they put a smile on my face, because they are just THAT AWESOME, and then I go home telling whoever I see just how NICE they really are! haha..I honestly do!

Hopefully, by looking through some of my favorite images from the day, the photos themselves will be able to tell the story of the day. I will give you a quick overview in my own words anyways! Saturday, May 12th is the day Gina and Greg decided to tie the knot. It was, of course the perfect kind of weather, sun was shining and all that great stuff! I met up with the ladies at Gina and Greg’s newly purchased house and snapped some photos of them getting ready, makeup, hair and of course, MIMOSA’S! I, then made my way to Greg’s father and stepmother’s house for some guy time! This is where I learned the lovely game of POOL PONG! Yes, POOL PONG is a game Greg and his inventive brother’s made up, using both Ping Pong equipment and a Pool table. It was actually a pretty awesome game and I even got to play! After, Greg whooped everyone in pool pong, we decided it was time for him to get ready for his wedding. We also took pictures of him and his family and groomsmen. I then headed back to where Gina was to get pictures of her getting ready and ones with her family and ladies! We then headed to church, where I also met up with my second shooter for the day, the amazingly talented, Jeff Nyguen!  They had a beautiful ceremony, which was followed by formal family pictures at the alter. After that we headed to Blossom Heath in St. Clair Shores for the reception! We took some fun shots of the beautiful couple and bridal party on the reception’s grounds and then headed in to PARTAY!

*Photo of Bride & Father by: Jeff Nguyen

*1st Photo of Champange Spray by: Jeff Nguyen

I cannot express how much fun I had shooting this wedding and how looking back at these pictures and this day puts an instant smile (or giggle) on my face! The couple, bridal party and guests were all SO MUCH FUN! Thank you again, Gina & Greg for choosing me to capture the memories of your wedding day! I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and many children who have the HUGE HEARTS, as you both do!

God Bless!

xoxo ML

xoxo ML

I have a long friend, Bianca, who is a very talented hair stylist at De Jolie Salon and Spa. Bianca came to me with some ideas and inspiration for a shoot so she could showcase her skills with hair! I was all in, of course! I love free range projects, working with other creatives and creating art! We gathered her two lovely sister’s Nadia and Cinzia, along with my best friend, Catie to help us along as our models for the day. I asked my friend Antonia Ventimiglia to provide us with the beautiful make up for the day, as well! What I liked about this shoot was, it was very unplanned and I am very impressed how everything came together so nicely. However, I really didn’t expect nothing less working with this team!

Here are 2 shots of “the girl behind all the hair,” beautiful Bianca!

Hope you enjoyed!

xoxo ML

XOXO

ML

ML

xoxo

xoxo

ML

I have been yearning to shoot like this for some time and in the past it was always difficult for me to break my mold and block off time in my schedule to do so. Making a promise to myself, I started brainstorming. I thought I would approach Janise, from Arena Bridal and Formal, to see if she would like to collaborate with me, by allowing me to use her wedding gowns in my shoot and then allow her to use the photos in the end for advertising or whatever need be. For makeup and hair, I knew exactly who to use, Janise’s daughter, Antonia, who just so happens to be an upcoming hair and makeup artist, and also my little sister’s best friend. Antonia also doubled as a model in our shoot as well, multi talented! I got together some other people to model for me, as well. My friends, Letizia who modeled for me once last year, my friend Kelly and lastly, Jason to pose as a groom for some of the shots. My thing was I wanted a red head, blonde and a brunette girl to model, so they all worked perfect!

With a little help from everyone and especially, Antonia, we styled the shoot ourselves, going for something different and not your average wedding look we decided on a 1920′s or “Water for Elephant’s” look. We used very simple, vintage dresses from Arena. We wanted a bold look for hair and makeup, so we went for deep purples and burgundy. Our original plan was to shoot this outside, since the weather seemed to be pretty nice outside, unfortunately it decided to snow big time that weekend and was FREEZING COLD (Go figure it is Michigan, after all!), I could not let everyone freeze, so we moved our shoot indoors. Lucky for me, I know some of the nicest people ever, Mary and Mike Chirco, who allowed me to shoot in their breathtaking home. I will be forever grateful for them allowing me to do this. THANK YOU AGAIN! There house went along better than I imagined for our shoot.  We started bright and early! I got up at 6:30 am, got some bagels and donuts and of course, COFFEE! And headed over to Antonia’s with Kelly to start hair and makeup. We started shooting around 10:30 a.m. and finished up around 2 pm. Everything went better than I could have imagined. I could not have done it without my wonderful assistant that day either, Thank you Nina Castellana. Nina was amazing and such a huge help, from helping me put the models together,  fixing dresses, helping with poses to using the reflector. I am super proud of everyone who helped, modeled or had any part in making his shoot happen. You guys all rock and you will never know how much I appreciate it!

Hope you enjoyed them! One other thing I would like to add to this post is…Arena has a billboard up on Hall Road and M-53, right infront of the Sunoco Gas Station. They used 2 of my photos from this shoot in their advertisement! I was SUPER excited when I saw a photo I took in a BILLBOARD, I HAD TO GO GET A PICTURE WITH IT! Haha Next time you drive by keep your eyes open! It is a digital one, so it is constantly changing with about 5 other ads!