Nene + Omar | Cabo San Lucas Mexico

"If you love something enough you set it free... if it is meant to be, it will come back to you"

I love Love LOVE Omar and Nene's story!

Here's a quick narration...

Omar was Nene's first kiss when she was 15.
Omar broke up with Nene when he went to college because he wanted to be young... and you know... a college boy ;)
Nene was heartbroken but quite mature. She wrote him a 10 page letter (that Omar kept all these years) and in it mentioned the above quote.
Both lost touch for many years. Omar married and had a beautiful daughter, Nene dated other men and took of the world with her awesomeness.
8 years later a newly single Omar saw Nene's mom's name on a realtor roster (they are both brokers) and decided to send along a little hello.
Nene's mom forgot all about the email until 3 months later.... she passed along the information to her daughter and the two High School sweethearts were reunited.
Only problem was... Omar was still going through his young single stage and wasn't ready to commit even though Nene was head over heels....again ;) A year or two pass in this "friendship only" limbo and it was only when faced with the possibility of losing Nene did Omar wake up and realize what he wanted all along was right in front of him. And oh boy did she make him work his little @$$ off to get her back. Its quite the fabulous story and quite more involved than what I just narrated... but this story has a happy ending. :)

RIght before leaving for Mexico to shoot the wedding I spoke with Nene about how excited I was for her... I told her how awesome it was after all these years that she would be marrying her first kiss. She said loved that he was not only her first but her LAST kiss as well. :) (insert sappy girly 'awww' here)


without further adieu.... may I present the wonderful wedding of Nene + Omar...

Omar sent his best man over with a wedding gift for Nene.

I loved this image. Nene was sobbing after receiving all her gifts.. she kept saying she couldn't understand why she deserved someone so amazing. :)

Recognize the Officiant? That's Jason. I shot Jason and Karla's wedding in Cancun two summers ago... Karla is Omar's sister. :)

Another surprise for Nene.... Omar ordered fireworks!

And the Slideshow.... ***CLICK HERE***

UP & DOWN

DOWN: Hey Folks.... The Blog is DOWN momentarily until we can get the server change figured out! Please sit tight.

UP: BUT the good news is the new website is UP, UP, UP. ShylaPhotography is all grown up now.... taking it back to the basics.... clean simple and a little more mature. [I dont know if SHYLA and MATURE should be used in the same sentence sometimes but hey... ]

hop on ovah and let me know what you think! :)

www.shylaphotography.com





(ps)THANK YOU Andrew Barlow (with Showit) and Evan Worth for all your help... not all heros wear capes ;) xoxo

[EP]

I've always loved extended plays [EPs]... Not enough tracks to musically qualify as a full album but in my opinion I like them even more. More intimate and often more raw... almost like being forced to tell an entire story in 5 pictures (or songs, whatever) or less. My friendship with Erica is a lot like this. no fluff. just raw, simple, awesome....

You can imagine the friendship she offers when you hear she has been in 17 weddings. Not just attended, I mean she was IN 17 weddings...as in she has 17 dresses that I am sure range in style, color, era, and embarrassment. Then there is me who has barely even been a guest at a wedding.
Our friendship is hilarious because, for example, we often plan movie/editing nights regardless of the fact that we never like the same movies.... EVER. For instance we watched The Proposal... she loved it and thought it was the best chick flick she's ever seen... I hated it. Well hate is a strong word. I just didn't appreciate it on the same level she did.
She loves (and love ISN'T a strong enough word here) garlic and sauteed veggies, offering them to me at every meal. I like my veggies raw and prefer to ward bloodsuckers off with fierce stake fighting instead of garlic-y breath.
Then there are the road trips... she is content listening to the radio on 'seek/scan' catching 5 second clips of songs for the entire 2 hours. And then there is me who always has some sort of melodic theme music accompanying my step... with to which I am belting out and doing a silly dance. It seems I ALWAYS have music on.

Overall I like to think the glue that holds us together is our affinity and obsession with Arrested Development. That bond acts like gorilla glue.... the kind that takes your skin off with aggressive adhesion.

She is an EP- short sweet and to the point.... I am an LP-trying to cram everything I can in 14 different tracks and offer nothing short of sensory overload.

I often wish I was more EP-ish :)

So blog-friends.... meet my friend EP [Erica Pelaccia]. She recently left her job to pursue photography full time and I'm loving having her around everyday (we live 1/8 mile apart)! Here are a few tracks from yesterday's shoot for her new upcoming website.

This one is my fav from the day... but looking at all these shots, Im staring to think there was a hot naked guy running off the left side of the frame because she can't stop looking there ;)

Beth | amazon woman

Beth is one of those woman you can easily be jealous of. I'm sure there was a green tint to my skin during our whole shoot.
6ft tall... legs that go to heaven every time... and that hair. OH that hair!
She doesn't need to wear heels and even though she once dated a 5'4'' man, she landed herself a 6'4'' hubby. She is a real live amazon woman.
Oh and it gets better.... she doesnt need to stand on a chair to take pictures. Did I mention she is a photographer? Not a model like you would assume. She actually hired me to take headshots for her new website. The headshots took a turn towards fun when she busted out her wedding dress..... OH yeah.

see.. we started with headshots

Then out came the dress

and BAM... I LOVE this one.

:)

Mexico Sneak Peek

A quick sneak peek from this this weekend's wedding in Mexico. I got home around 3am this morning and I have a few ladies harassing me on Facebook to get some images posted... haha. So my friends, heres a little snack to whet the appetite :)

Lindsay | artist

I flew out to Chicago last week for a few shoots... one with Miss Lindsay Sullivan.
An artist looking to update her website with some shots of her doing her thang.
What was supposed to be an editorial/headshot shoot turned into a bit of a fashion shoot as well. I guess thats what you get when you go in with an open mind.... but if you know me, you know that that turned out to be my favorite part! ;)


Lindsay's high rise downtown Chicago apartment bldg was the setting for our time together... The view was incredible and I loved being surrounded by canvas upon canvas of color! She studied for years in Italy and brought back a bilingual badge of awesomeness as well as an affinity for the bright colors of the Italian countryside.

so, my friends, meet Lindsay....

Kelly + Dave | south casco, maine

Ah, New England weddings.... The beauty of the natural environment lends its majesty as a backdrop to some fabulous weddings. A few weeks back I had the pleasure of being a part of Kelly and Dave's day at Migis Lodge on Sebago Lake.
The day started off really awesome because I got to see the newlyweded photogs Emilie and J for breakfast before driving up to the camp. Em and J not only provided a hearty breakfast to start the day, but also bug spray which ended up being VERY necessary. Thanks you two crazy lovebirds! ;)
Next it was up to the lake where we ended up being super early so I learned to play shuffleboard for the first time. It's quite the workout - let. me. tell. you............. ok, so maybe not really but it IS actually fun. I'm sure I won, btw, and I am officially prepared to retire someday with my training.

fun times.

Anyway, I almost forgot to tell you that Kelly broke her foot a few weeks before the ceremony but that didn't stop her from walking down the aisle and dancing the night away in her plastic boot. Truly a trooper.... truly the most 'roll with the punches bride.... I loved it.

check it out.

[Click here for their fabulous slideshow]

broken foot = flat shoes ;)

Kelly and her attendants rode to the ceremony spot on a boat

the ceremony site from the boat.

And lastly, a great big thanks to :e: for rockstarring this wedding with me...

Matt of the Cusson

Hi hi hi! [just imagine I said that with a really toothy grin, big hug and kiss on the cheek, ok?]
So I am in a ridiculously good mood today and it's really quite awesome, although I cannot tell you why yet because then I'd have to kill you and wouldn't have any blog readers left...not a good idea on my part.
BUT, I do have a lot of blog posts up my sleeve so that's some good news! Let's start with Matt of the Cusson. Otherwise known as THE Matt Cusson (you know, the guy who currently plays keys for Brian McKnight?) ;)
A little while back I joined Eric Laurits and Christina Elfar (stylist to the stars.... well, she will be soon anyway) to go all triple-threat on Mr. Matt for his own upcoming CD.

We shot in the Laurits Cottage up in Maine and magically transformed the garage into a studio of awesomeness. That place was a treasure trove of fun 'vintage-y' props the Laurits fam had collected over 30 years of marriage... SCORE for us! Although there were a few props I suggested using to which Eric replied... "uh, thats only 5 years old".
Oh. oops. [insert halo here]

Anyway... I was really only there to help out and rock the cool sidekick car but I did jump into the driver seat a few times and got some fun images.

Thanks Matt for sharing your talent and bringing a belly full of laughs... even if you DO drink wine out of a straw, I still think you're fantabulous.

OBA...FWA...WTF?!

A short while back I attended the Photoshop Show here in Boston and worked the booth for my dear friend Paul from Lens Pro to Go, during our vendor cocktail hour I had the pleasure of meeting Lew and Bob from Artistic Photo Canvas. We had a great conversation that ended up with me loving not only the boutique owners but also what the company stands for. I believe in singing the praises of vendors who take care of their clients and build their business on integrity versus popularity or cutting corners so I thought I would share :)
Here are a few of the things I learned and why I've chosen to make them a part of the family of products I offer.
1. Most Canvas companies use these crazy things called OBA's and FWA's....
yeah WTF?!
haha... they are whitening agents added to most canvas material making them cheaper to purchase wholesale as well as brighter/whiter whites upon printing. But what is not often told to the consumer, is that the agents (like bleach on clothing) yellow your whites over time. Think of it as using pesticides on your veggies... it makes things cheaper for mass consumption but not the same health or quality as organically grown veggies. I feel this is important to consider when choosing products that are designed to archive memories (or put in your bodies for that matter) ;)
2. The sealant "chemicals" used by APC are non-toxic water based which means their employees do not have to wear masks at risk of breathing toxic fumes. It also means it is better on the environment, folks!
3. They have excellent customer service and are just plain awesome.

And what good is telling you about all this fabulous stuff without showing you a picture?!

I ftp'd the file to them and had my canvas in hand within a week. This sucker is huge too... (4 ft wide) It was the inspiration for the entire room and printed so beautifully.

Thanks Lew, Bob, & APC Crew :)

Chebeague Island | The way life should be

Today is the first day in nearly three weeks where I haven't had guests. First my bro came out... then my parents... then the day my bro left, my BFF and her BF came from Santa Barbara. Its been a whirlwind of playing tour guide to a myriad of west coasters. (all of which I am trying to convince to move out here because it's just... well.... awesome)

Anyway, now onto the funness of the weekend... I trekked on up to Chebeague Island to play with some fabulous friends. There is something truly magical about that island... (something like the LOST plot). 5 miles long and 2 miles wide... all time stops, no one wears seat belts or owns a car newer than 1985, and you wake up to crows cawing or wild turkeys gobbling in your front yard... a 15 minute boat ride from the Maine land yet you feel miles away. The Maine state motto is: " The way life should be". There is so much in that statement that they got right. Life should be slower, savored, and filled with country music (if you've driven through Maine for any length of time you know that there are 5 times as many country stations as anything else).

Between BBQing, polish horseshoes, bonfires, the boys going scalloping and complaining that the water was so cold they lost "inches", checking each other for ticks, acoustic serenades on the porch and late night star gazing on the dock, life was truly perfect. There is something so romantic about nature and savoring creation.

LIfe truly is good.

Now for pictures!

You have to park at a remote lot off the 295 in Maine and shuttle to Cousins Island to catch a ferry to Chebeague Island.

I actually have a wedding here on Chebeague Island next year... I am stoked!

The crew got there before me because I was shooting a wedding on Saturday but the first thing I noticed about the cabin was its collection of beer cozy's. I was highly entertained and I didn't even get them ALL.

B scarfing down the most amazing Macaroni n Cheese I've ever tasted.... don't worry, I got the recipe!

trying to figure out why this shot loads so small... but whatever.. That's Kara :)

There seems to be a recurring "beer theme" in these photos. haha! I guess that's the Maine way of life?

We went down to the docks to jump... but the water was FREEZING so I pulled the "photographer card" and peer pressured the boys to jump in instead. ;) B and Folds

My fav shot of the weekend...

Sunset from the porch. I thought the colors looked better through my sunglasses so I gave the camera a little "rose colored filter"

I only wish I had shots of the amazing star-show to share... I also got to experience a part of the island that had phosphorescence bioluminescence. (Microscopic organisms that emit sparkling luminescence in short flashes when you run your hand through the water) Its like something out of a Harry Potter story or something... waving your wand and sparks of light flash forward. Photographing that proved to be practically impossible...

A HUGE thank you to the Emery Family for allowing a crew of twenty-something y/o crazies to inhabit your place for the weekend!!