Posted on November 30, 2010
I used to travel with my pro camera when we went on big trips. This year, however, I treated myself to a point and shoot and things changed–hubby does not complain about me lugging my extra bag and I enjoy the LUXURY of slipping a tiny camera into my purse. But there are still times, however, when I still trust only a great camera and a great lens to capture very special moments in our life.
A few weeks ago Demetrye and I visited his [read: our] family in New Jersey. His father is turning 90 this year and his health is fragile, and his Mom is fighting cancer. So, as you can imagine, every moment he had with them was irreplaceable and important. I had to make sure that no moment was lost but rather captured, so he would have something to remember each visit by. I am a memory keeper in my family, and life is too precious to miss even a moment.
So, I got my way and brought my camera, flash, a great lens and even a tripod with me on the trip. I had only a few minutes to create and capture an unforgettable portrait. Limited by space [I was stuck in a corner so I could get a better angle] and by time [since both parents were not feeling well] I snapped away, praying to have something not good, but GREAT.
Here are two of my favorite images:
[My love with his wonderful sister that did most of the raising, if not all (thank you, Judy!) and his parents]
[I wanted one of just the three of them]
I feel like I accomplished my mission. The warmth of the family and the love they share oozes through, at least for me and my hubby. Yesterday was the first time he got to see these images. He kept staring at them and I could see tears welling up in his eyes. Once again I realized the power of great photography–it’s irreplaceable.
Make sure to capture your special moments and special people, so you would never forget!
Posted on November 29, 2010
What do people do when they are sick and have to stay put? There is reading, TV watching, knitting, sleeping, eating, calling your family, especially your Mom, to complain how poorly you are feeling, and SO much more. I have done a few of these throughout the years, except for sleeping, since my crazy personality wouldn’t let me do that to myself [too much torment to think of the wasted time!].
My hubby got sick twice in a row in the last 3 weeks. It happened because he did not listen to me, of course. 
He worked out and then left the gym, in a cold weather, with no hat or jacket. Both times! Crazy! Yes, he is that and more sometimes, but I love him still. I nursed him back to health both times in record time and dotted on him, took care of him. Unfortunately for me when he gets sick he comes down with the worst dry cough there is that lasts for days. It’s the kind that makes your head hurt so much that you cringe in anticipation of it happening over and over and over. The second time he got sick it was so bad neither one of us got any rest and I finally resorted to medicating him. By then, to my deep detriment, my body was too exhausted and I came down with his bug… I HATE being sick! Being sick is not for people like me.
So, the first day, after teaching a power yoga class, which I LOVE doing, I came home and spent most of the day on a couch, watching TV, but NOT before making lunch and dinner AND cleaning the kitchen. The second day I could take it no more! 2 hours of couch-warming and I was DONE! So, I got up and finished unpacking. Yes! Totally unpacked, except for a few boxes in my office with paperwork. I then proceeded to clean the entire place–top to bottom, every nook and cranny, toothbrush in hand and all; then cooked and still had a little energy and a lot of boredom left in me. So, what a girl to do?! Dress up and put make up on of course! Why?! Well, glad you asked… I needed to be inspired, which meant I had to hold a camera in my hands. But there was NO ONE around that I could photograph… except me, that is! So, I was my willing subject. All dolled up with some serious make up on to cover my rain-deerish red nose that even Rudoph the rain-deer would be jealous of, I used the timer and shot a few frames. Before long I was exhausted and had to quit… but not before catching a few usable images [just imagine focusing on where you would sit without you being there!].
Here is one of my favorites, I am not brave enough to post more . I wish I could have seen the placement of my right hand from behind the camera to correct it, but alas… so this will do.
Today I am almost back to normal. Well enough to head on out to teach a power yoga class in less than two hours. That’s a miracle of great self-care for you [if you are interested to know how I beat cold in less than two days head over here and follow links in the post]. All is well and better in the ELENA LAND! 
[Disclaimer: NO digital make up was applied . Contrast adjustment, noise reduction, and a SLIGHTLY out of focus image (remember I was the subject AND the photographer) did the trick for smoother skin. I did however mess with the background to get rid of a dining room chair and a lamp and toned the whole background with the same color to get rid of an unwanted vignette.]
Posted on November 24, 2010
As I am sitting by my desk, finishing editing a recent wedding, I cannot stop admiring the beauty of this gorgeous couple: Naomi and Courtland. It is not that they are just beautiful, pretty, handsome (which they are), but when together they are simply breathtaking. The chemistry between the two is umistakable and it oozes itself through Naomi’s big brown and Courtland’s blue eyes. So much warmth, so much love, so much PURE joy and love! Ahhhh… love people who are truly in love!
Like I told you, I could stare at this picture indefinitely.
[On editing side I had to very little--in camera shot was nearly flawless, as well as both of the subjects' skin. I ran little noise reduction, contrast adjustment and sharpening. That's it!]
Posted on November 14, 2010
Yesterday I had the honor of meeting another local wedding planner, Jen Wooster-McBride of J. Lauren Events [Columbus OH]. We connected on Twitter [who would have thunk ;) that Twitter could be a gateway to meeting cool people?!], I offered to meet for lunch, and a couple of weeks later I was finally able to put the online persona and the real person together.
When Jen walked into Panera Bread [in Dublin OH], we had looked at each other, not sure if we should shout each other’s names, or if we might scare an innocent stranger… On the second take I went for it: “Are you Jen?” And the rest, as is it said, is history.
We shared wedding stories with a bit of personal flare, of course, business dreams and enjoyed our lunch. This time, unlike my last meeting with another wedding planner, who happened to be at this Panera today as well, I restrained myself from getting anything with caffeine in it, so I was able to concentrate on every word and every sentence and act like a normal human being.
Jen is a total sweetheart and an energy ball–total wedding planner material. She looks like she can get things done in a jiffy.
Meeting women like Jen and Emilie always makes for a great day. We are world changers, you know… one wedding at a time!
