wedding madness!

This is a picture of what my bathroom used to look like only a few short months ago! Steve, I got you beat! ;)
On other, completely unrelated news:
Just came across a pile of papers that were my most special pile of papers back in the day- my wedding planning papers! I had a binder but it had to get chucked, all warped and crazy- but, I found my song list for my DJ and it is SO embarassing that I felt the need to share it with you all! Actually I take that back, I love my music taste and can burn up a playlist! The only and the most embarassing song on my list was scribbled way down on the bottom....'girl you know it's true' by millie vanilli. 'nuf said.

'yo lil' dawg, daddy's got to bounce'

bounce: bounced; bounc*in' a: to go away from, leave, depart "LET'S BOUNCE-THIS PARTY IS BEAT" b: to start away from one point or place in favor of another "LET'S BOUNCE OUT OF HERE" - syn BAIL, JET, BALL OUT, KICK ROCKS, BUST OUT, ROLL

look into the light, carol ann!!

Or so the creepy midget lady tells poor little Carol Ann in Poltergeist. And so all of the 'rules' in photography tell you NOT to do! "Keep the sun behind you!" "Don't place your subject directly in the middle of the frame!" "NEVER shoot directly into the sun!" Yadda yadda. Well, rules were made to be broken and super-exaggerated in my world, photography-wise, anyway! I was just having an unusually animated conversation with my clients Dawn & Mike on Saturday about light and realized that this is something that I need to share with all of my peeps- an overcast sky on your wedding is like a pretty, ornately wrapped little gift placed right at my feet! Overcast skies create soft, beautiful light that just wraps around your features and makes for the most beautiful, flattering light. Dawn & Mike knew this and we were laughing at how often I must hear 'Oh, I wish we had a bright, sunny day!' But believe me, if I have direct sun you will most likely see my trademark lens flare shots pop up, I love lens flare so much! I mean, if you are going to give me bright, harsh sun, I am going to work it to my advantage. Instead of thinking of how badly I would kill for a cloud, I am going to think outside of the box. I will totally place you dead center in the frame. I will most definetly shoot directly into the sun. And you will be SO PSYCHED I DID!

no, I am NOT shouting!

Just checking out my blog in other browser's because I normally stay within the warm safe confines of Safari on my pretty Mac. I was troubleshooting something so I had to check it through another browser (Internet Explorer) and saw my blog and to my utter HORROR, all of my text was in ALL CAPS! Ug. If you only knew how much I can't stand that! It is not my intent, regardless. Just wanted to apologize to the peeps who think I am shouting all of the time. I am really a gentle, quiet little mouse of a gal. honest.
If you just read my last entry about depino, you saw my horrid link at the very end! That was what I was troubleshooting and apparently have not fixed. My link thing isn't working, otherwise I would be linking all over the place. No, I am sure it is working, I just haven't figured it out and have to call it a day now! Stop hating!

DePino, workin' it

I had the distinct pleasure of shooting Senor stevedepino.com yesterday in his neck of the woods, Guilford CT. What a beautiful town! These are some of my favorites from the shoot. We had so much fun but I was super nervous- after all he is a professional photographer as well...so it has to be weird/interesting? for him, as the subject, to see how another photographer approaches shooting. I am a goof ball in general, so I am sure it was entertaining at the least! I try to maintain a professional facade for as long as I can but inevitably my personality comes out and I am laughing and just being myself! I guess maybe I should change what I deem 'professional?' Maybe I see it as being super-serious and closed off? When I was working as a non-photographer I was a Boss Lady and was taught that your employees and clients aren't really your friends. In other words, you can't really do your job well and care if people like you or not. Weird, right? Exactly why I no longer do that anymore! So when you are my client you become a big part of my life, my friend, my subject, my muse! It's very important for me to connect with who I photograph, this way I feel that I can draw you out in my images and share you with whoever sees them. So with Steve, who does what I do, I was a bit self-conscious but in the end I was such a spaz I couldn't contain my excitement any longer and was just myself. He is just as goofy as I am (sorry to blow your cover, dude!) and we ended up laughing more than anything. I highly recommend doing this for other photographers out there. What a great way to see how someone else works, and to really feel how your clients feel being on the other side of the lens. In a few weeks Steve is going to photograph me- I can't wait to see what he comes up with! Check out Steve's edits here:

same place, different time

I did Newport again this weekend with the lovely and bubbly Lisa and Tom! They love having their pictures taken! Let me repeat that! Yes, a GUY who is not averse to having me take his pictures! Almost unheard of but not impossible. Tom really made me laugh with his quips. Just his tone of voice was enough, he could have been asking me to pass the salt and I would just laugh and laugh. But, shooting in the same place within a few weeks of each other was a challenge, which I felt I was up for! We went to some of the same places but came back with a different feel- challenge met and accomplished I'd say!




One of the highlights was when I shot this image. I was laying on the ground shooting, something I do a lot. We then changed venues and I heard someone behind me say my name. I turn and see David Klaypatch of David Photography Fame from CT! He was just saying he saw some weirdo photographer laying on the street and it had to be Carla Ten Eyck! Then he mentioned how he read my blog and saw my other Newport shoot- which made Lisa say 'You're famous! He read your blog!' Well, if that is all it takes to be famous then I will be signing autographs later today! ;)

Just kidding, the highlight was the $1 gelato and FREE ITALIAN COFFEE at this cute cafe! The peach was too peachy but the chocolate was out of this world!

I did make it back to The Red Parrot again for the same burger but I tried their lobster bisque. It was so creamy and had a wonderful flavor. I know, I know next time I will get the lobster BLT, it had big chunks of lobster in it and looked fabulous! Their sweet potato fries were the best I have ever had!


How cool is this parking meter? But the real question is, how windy must it have been for all of that sand to get all over it?? All in all, I'd do it all again it was so much fun! I am totally looking forward to their wedding and our trip to the Nordic Lodge!

there's more where that came from!!

I know, I know! More comments on Stevedepino.com and his super stunt double David Jay! It's just so WEIRD seeing them near each other, and they are like, NOT the same person! You know? We just love out CT Wedding Photographer!! So CT much!


Disco balls in Vegas? Yeah, that's right. Paul? I was totally thinking of your Docs!

oooooooohh! Pretty super-saturated colors! Neon everywhere! High heels, crazy outfits!



Miss Zoe Bowen being coy! Or just getting tired of all of us taking pics of each other!! One way to get over NOT liking your picture being taken, travel with a PACK of photographers, you learn to get over it pretty quickly! Especially when your friends are professionals, they tend to know what they are doing and you can get some really nice shots of yourself. Not saying I know what I am doing, or knew what I was doing in this particular picture, as it was in the suaree hosted by Pictage at Napoleon's in Paris. Open bar, anyone?

Super shapely stems are attached to Miss Kelley, the delightful gal pal of my buddy Richard/Rich/Rick/RickyBobby Espisito- dang, am I spelling his last name properly? Espisito? Sepesito? AHHHH. Better Google him. ESPOSITO! Good thing I Googled!!

RE & Kelley cozying up with my pal Stevedepino.com in the foreground!
More Vegas pictures! More Vegas stories! More residual Vegas networking!

vegas, BABY!

Wow. So. Us CT PUG folks are having the BEST time in Vegas! I had the honor of being invited to a party hosted by Kevin Kubota, who just happens to be one of the top 10 photographers in the world, is sponsored by Nikon and is one of the most humble and kind men I have ever met, along with his wife Clare and a host of other great people at Roy's. It was so much fun- there were stretch limos involved, a crazy limo driver and a trip to a very cool private club on the roof of the Mandalay Bay! I felt pretty cool, I must say. All an illusion for sure, but I am enjoying myself regardless! My friends from CT are having a great time as well- Matthew J. Wagner crashed Kubota's party and we got a picture with Kevin and Doug Gordon, who recently has his work on the cover of Professional Photographer Magazine and is highly regarded in the industry as well. Doug and Kevin hosted a seminar on the top 50 best business tips- for a PACKED HOUSE! There were so many people they had over 100 people in the hallway that they had to turn away! So, Zoe and Steve and I waltz in, find NO seats and were going to have to sit in the aisle on the floor and not be abel to see anything. Until they made an announcement saying there was no sign language interpreter and does anyone know sign language??? Well, HOO HA for me! I jsut happen to know sign and got to sit ON THE STAGE and interpret for a really nice man from Galludet University in D.C. until the real interpreters got there 1/2 hour later. This was in front of like 600 or so people? I was very nervous but super psyched b/c I got the best seat in the house, and was able to sign again, which I don't do enough. I had randomly met 2 deaf guys the night before outside of the MGM volcano so I was able to get a little practice the night before!

debauchery- party of like, 27?

Two nights ago we had our official big wig PUG (Pictage User's Group) meeting at my studio in Connecticut's capital city! We all had such a great time and took lots of pictures to prove it. One of my personal favorite highlights of the night was Paul's fabulous disco doc marten's! We had discussions on web sites hosted by Steve DePino, and a round table discussion on exceeding expectations- there were so many suggestions and topics for discussion that we could have STILL been talking about it all! Very exciting to have such an open group of people willing to share how they make their businesses successful. We have a lot of cool things planned for the Spring (like shoot outs!) Make sure to check back and see what transpires!

chillin in newport

Had yet ANOTHER fun outing with a couple, Matt & Alescia, this time in fabulous, opulent Newport! I'm getting a little boring in my old age as everything is fantastic and I always have a great time! We enjoyed the Cliff Walk for about 3 hours...! And then poked around Thames Street finding great nooks to duck into and escape the bitter wind. We ended up at The Red Parrot for some delicious creamy clam chowder and juicy burgers. Mine had a fat slice of grilled pineapple on it. Yeah it did. Check it out next time you are in Newport!

jock my croc

Just back from an engagement shoot in Newport and while there Alescia and I checked out the Pink Pineapple, which is a trendy little shop on Thames Street. We checked out their amazing Croc selection to find the new, beautious Prima Croc and Mary Jane Croc! I can't tell you how excited I am as I swear by my Crocs- as ugly as they are, and yes, I do admit that they are, but THEY ARE SO COMFORTABLE! I wear them with pride and fashion be damned! I was actually lamenting the fact that I recently misplaced one of my black crocs, which are my shoe staple and thought maybe I would look for something else. But. After having two kids my feet are wider and shoe shopping has lost its appeal. Sad for me. And yet, here come the Crocs to save me! I had a bear of a time finding the silver ballet shoes in my size but tenacity paid off and I just ordered some. Dorky, yes. Comfortable, fo shizzle. Tho- I would NOT recommend wearing these doing any construction. I had the misfortune of wearing my pink ones while assembling my kitchen cabinets and stepped on the most blunt screw- it went totally through my Croc, and into the ball of my foot! My clients Heather & Steve stopped in right after I did this to drop off their contract and had the pleasure of seeing me pasty white, ready to faint! Professional, party of one! Besides the painful hole in my foot the most annoying part was having a hole in my Croc, so when I walk on anything damp it seeps in. Super annoying. I will post a picture of my rockin Croc when I get to my studio tomorrow, along with pictures from my super fabulous shoot with Matthew & Alescia!

blue skies and bling bling

Saturday it was a scorching 60 degrees here in CT! It now feels below zero.

So I will revisit my shoot from Saturday and remember how warm it was, I was actually HOT. Sweat was involved. I got in my car after and almost choked on the heat. Yeah, really.

But I had the pleasure of working with Becky and Vince, who totally trusted my delusions of grandeur and happily agreed to do what I asked- 'Put our feet in the icy cold water? Sure!' 'Walk barefoot in the cold sand?' ' Go on private property?' WHY NOT?? Well, good for us all because I absolutely love their images!

The best part is they are having a beach theme for their wedding, hence the beach shoot- and they are also getting a customized guest book, which is going to fit nicely into their theme! Another great part about Sunday is that I brought them to the beach where I spend a lot of time, it is where my inlaws live and where my husband and I got married, so I am familiar with it's nooks and crannies. Some of the things I love about engagement shoots is incorporating things I enjoy- reflections, shadows, abstractions- especially that. I love taking a picture of a couple and having another couple look at it and be able to see themselves in my images. It was challenging on Saturday b/c we started close to noon on a sunny beach, which as most photographers know is not the ideal. Not for me, at least, I prefer cloudy days and more atmospheric light. But I was up for the challenge and put on my polarizing filter and tried some new things. It is always a good idea to get out of your comfort zone and see what you can make work. Especially because these things can and will present themselves at weddings where you are much more pressed for time and need to have these things thought out so you don't lose valuable time! And yes, that sparkle is all natural in the bling shot! I almost dropped my camera and was blinded. Luckily I have the reflexes and agility of a cat.