Readyluck

Marcela and Caleb

Mon, 14 May 2012 09:55:00 -0400

Marcela and Caleb are a fun loving, laid back couple who I had the pleasure of getting to know during their engagement shoot in Brooklyn early last fall. I was beyond psyched to hop on a plane, and travel to St. Lucia to document their intimate celebration with their family. It was my first time to this lush, sensuous island and Jalousie Plantation was a perfect introduction. The location was full of history, nature, and stylish luxury. Marcela was kind enough to lend her story, so I'll let her take it from here. You can see more images in the gallery here.

I asked Marcela how she and Caleb chose St. Lucia, and the Jalousie Plantation.

She said, "I love the mountains but hate the cold weather and I always tell Caleb that I want to move to place that has warm mountains. For our wedding, Caleb found me some warm mountains in St Lucia and and found Jalousie in between the two Pitons. It was the perfect location for our wedding, sun and beach between the most beautiful Piton Mountains!"

"All morning long I had hoped that the rain would stop and that the sun would come out. As I walked down the aisle with my parents towards Caleb the clouds opened up and gave way to the sun and at that moment everything was perfect."

"The most important part of the wedding day was the reception - our families had never really been around each other so we were nervous to see how we all interact together especially since we had such a small wedding. It was amazing how we all came together despite the language and cultural barrier. We could not have asked for a better day. "

Their Vendors:

Photography: Lindsay Hite / Readyluck

Flowers, Planning, and Location: Jalousie Plantation

Invitations, Menus, Place cards: (Caleb, the groom!), www.calebirwinart.com
Shoes: Badgley Mischka Randee
Dress: Watters Mimi

Light!

Thu, 10 May 2012 08:30:00 -0400

Light is an essential component of picture making, which is why photographers are called lightstalkers. We are constantly moved by the golden light in the evening or artificial lighting indoors with a certain poetic feel. The overall success of an image can be totally dependent upon light and the way it helps express a moment or a place in time. We are excited to share these images from varying contexts that will hopefully inspire you to stop and explore the pure play of light.

Leah and Devon in Ireland

Fri, 04 May 2012 15:32:00 -0400

I recently had the good fortune of returning to Ireland to document Leah and Devon's elopement on a foggy strand of the Dingle Peninsula, West Ireland. My first time there was spent working on a farm and wandering the countryside, clearing my head between years of college. Since then, I've married, and in addition to other shared experiences of our past, my wife had also spent time there, near to both where I'd sheared sheep and got stuck in a bog and where Leah and Devon would marry. Suffice to say we were all excited to go to the Green Isle!

Leah explains: "We chose Ireland because of my husband's heritage and connection to the Blasket Islands, which are located off the Dingle peninsula. His grandfather is currently the oldest living Blasket Islander. We were also looking to elope in a foreign land and I had never been to Ireland - I had an image of all-consuming landscapes that would encase our nuptials in saturated color and diffused light - which was exactly the case! "

The day we reserved for the wedding the weather changed from bright, blue skies to blustery Ireland of lore, nonetheless Leah and Devon were resolute. After a pint at one of the coolest pubs I've ever been to (which doubles as a hardware store during the daytime!), we drove through the fog to an isolated stretch of beach. The location contrasted them against rolling sea, while professing commitments and sheparding in a new way of being with one another.

Leah's dress was custom made and designed by two creative and wonderful women - her Mother, and Aimee Bracken of Form Boutique. "I knew I wanted my wedding dress to be unique and anything but white," said Leah. "I also wanted it to really compliment the Irish landscape. So, I decided to meet with Aimee. I really wanted to work with someone local to create the perfect dress. After chatting about the project, she agreed to work as the designer. My Mom took on the role of the seamstress - reliving her days in a small independent dress shop in Austin, TX. The project took a little under a year through the design process, pattern making, fabric shopping and final fittings." On working with her Mom, "We had collaborated on something really beautiful together. That experience alone was important for us to share since Devon and I would be eloping to Ireland on our own."

The next day the skies opened up and we decided to go back out on the peninsula and take a few more photos and do some genuine frolicking...after checking out the post, click here to see the extended gallery. - shane...

Color

Wed, 02 May 2012 09:30:00 -0400

For the next couple weeks, we're exploring the elements of seeing with our Wednesday archive feature. One of the most striking visual elements is color. Here's a collection of images from our journeys in the world where color made us stop and take notice. Active and exploratory seeing is not limited to when we are "hired", but rather is a constant pursuit through our personal visions and our professional work. Hope you enjoy this visual exploration. We're taking you from Cuba to California to Malta and even to our own backyards.

Don't forget to send us suggestions for future themes on facebook!

SB Beauty

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:15:00 -0400

We are honored to work alongside Sharon Becker of SB Beauty, the uber-chic makeup ingenue who created the innovative hair and makeup look for our Bushwick beauties last year. This styled bridal shower shoot was featured by 100 Layer Cake. Sharon created an individualized vision for each girl complimenting perfectly the schoolhouse nerdy chic aesthetic crafted by stylist, Molly Hartman of Glitter and Rye. Sharon explains, "I knew that we had to create a modern vintage look, embracing the bright lip of the past but in the new, vibrant, almost neon colors. Hair had to have shape, but softer and more human. Just like with a wedding party, all of our models sported different looks for the shoot, and I had fun with each one."

Sharon told us about how she began her career and what moves her: "I ran into my career by accident, as often happens in NYC and creative fields. I found that I get paid for my love of product and color, and ability to translate the needs of a creative director or bride into reality. It's not just makeup, though - I create relationships because I'm friendly and fun, and I want everyone I work with to feel comfortable and enjoy the experience. The uninitiated may think that my work pops out of my imagination, and it can, but only after preparation. I discuss a photo shoot storyboard and timeline, examining a photographer or stylists' inspiration, as well as a bride's inspiration - it's always a personal vision. My own inspiration comes from everything around me, like a Raphaelite cheek, cherry blossoms, Mick Jagger's sneer, and especially the people in NYC."

Sharon wanted to give our brides some words of advice, "It's so important to hire a professional makeup artist for your photo shoot or wedding. First, it's a matter of perspective, and almost no one has perspective on how they really look. Cameras shoot very honest portraits, so you want to look rested, fresh, and showcase your best features. For the same reason, you want a professional photographer who understands lighting, and can capture moments that the rest of us don't see. When you hire a professional, you know the job will be done right, and you can relax and enjoy the experience!"

We always enjoy working with this makeup maverick, and are excited for our New York area brides to experience her greatness.