L.A. Not So Confidential

I totally stole this photo from my good friend stevedepino.com, pictured with the halo.We all had so much fun in L.A. and of course we learned a lot but those pictures aren't as fun! My traveling buddies, RE, Mary & Justin and Amy Ross Jacob made the trip so much more fun- especially watching a HILARIOUS show, Flight of the Concord or something to that effect! Thanks to Amy for bringing that! Amanda Harris aka Miss L.L. Bean was representin' New England in full effect with her cute flip flops with the whales on them and her pink polo collar shirt! She left her yellow lab and Volvo in CT, and I am NOT lying! She showed us this hilarious video on YouTube that is like New England preppies rapping about Smirnoff Tea or something, I haven't laughed so hard at an alcohol ad! I have way more pictures, a slide show even, of our trip to Disneyland. Totally work related. Me, RE, .com and Amanda were having a meeting, like, the WHOLE time. At one point we even had to email Jeff of Face First Films Fame a majorly important document to illustrate a meeting point. I will post it in a few, you will see how important it is.

100 posts and still babbling on

Well, I just noticed that I have in fact made a whopping 100 posts on my little old blog here! I totally appreciate everyone reading and commenting- it truly means a lot. One of the things that I wanted to remind everyone about was that my show 'See Real Women: Really See Women' opens in less than a month on Thursday October 4th from 5:30-7:30 at the downtown Hartford Public Library 550 Main Street Hartford CT. I believe the work will be up for at least two months, possibly three, so if you can't make the opening you can always check it out later. I have been so caught up in wedding work that I have not been the best promoter of my own project, which is not cool- I am the worst self promoter! Actually, I would totally appreciate a link on any of your blogs announcing the show- I would really love to have a nice turn out, not only for me but for all of the women that contributed to the success of the show.
Of course I believe in this project so much that I talk about it a lot- and the other night at dinner with Jeff Reilly of Face First Films, was certainly no different. Well, Jeff is a strong Carla Ten Eyck Photography heckler and supporter and has signed on to do a super-short documentary on the project's opening! I am SO excited for a number of reasons: the first being that if it gets more people to know about it, and then ask themselves or the women in their lives how they feel most beautiful, then perfect! Job well done for me. But, then other exciting aspects of it are that I will be working with a mega-talented I don't even know what to call him (that specifically relates to this post, of course- cause I can call him plenty of names) film editor, camera man, funny guy? I don't know what his official titleage is in relation to this- documentarian? (I am confident that he will weigh in and let us all know how to refer to him) I will get to see the behind the scenes of how he interviews and shoots and then to see the final edit is going to be fantastic. Jeff is very introspective and analytical- I can't wait to see his take on things.
Now, I best get some serious editing done and then pack as I am off to LA for PartnerCon for a week with a host of my PUG group to see Mary & Justin's talk, among others- but I am most excited for theirs!!!

heather + stephen wedding at the bond ballroom in hartford

Heather & Stephen have so much fun with the camera, and really know how to work it! They are the kind of clients I rarely have to direct and have the patience and trust I crave! I had such a blast shooting your wedding, and so did Matthew, Jean & Ellen! That's right, there were four of us! Everyone worked really hard and together we really caught the emotion and fun that was their wedding- along with all of their spectacular details...The ceremony was at St. Thomas in West Hartford, a really great church with wonderful light and details- the reception was at the stunning Bond Ballroom right in downtown Hartford and we went to City Hall in Hartford for some fun formals- I was also able to work my favorite gold doors and Alexander Calder's Stegosaurus sculpture, my favorite sculpture of all time and a true symbol of Hartford, for me! Thanks guys for everything, I am so looking forward to working together when you get back!!

face first films

I had the distinct pleasure of having dinner and (mostly) drinks last night with the way too funny for words, Jeff Reilly of Face First Films fame. Many of you see his comments on my blog and are probably wondering who this joker is. Man or woman? Friend or foe? Well, I am here to tell you he is one of the funniest, most endearing guys you will ever meet! I met him for the first time at stevedepino.com's PUG meeting a few months back and we hit it off instantly. He was throwing one liners around like he was at a comedy show, and I was hooked! In addition to being super witty, he is also a mega talented video editor- he did steve's promo video, check it out! He posts the most insightful reviews of movies- he truly loves them and analyzes all aspects of them- it's truly fascinating to read his rants!
Half way through our meeting the lovely Miss Becky, Jeff's lady love, joined us! She is a pepper, I am totally looking forward to getting to know this lady- in fact I left dinner feeling like I had known the both of them for years already! Thanks again for dinner guys, next time I'll make sure to order the lobster! ;)

Gigi's first day of school and summer adventures recap

Well, I didn't get to post this but I totally have to- I had a bride and groom drive 3+ hours to meet with me from New Jersey (hi Tom & Charisse!!) and tell me that they thought that I had real, live monkeys! How cute is that!! So to clear that up I am posting some super cute pictures of my monkeys, the adorable Mister Jackson and super crazy Georgie Girl! They are too much! I just downloaded pictures from my point and shoot and the whole card pretty much sums up my summer, can't believe it's almost over...super sad! Right now Jack is listening to my old disk man with jazz on, and he is humming right along! So cute! When he was just getting into trains (and boy is he into them!) Dave would put on Duke Ellington or McCoy Tyner and just play with Jack in his room- set up blocks, play trains, build tunnels...now Jack totally associates jazz with trains! Today was Georgie's first day of school- pre-pre K- and she was such a big girl, she went right in, gave me a smooch, and ran to play with the mermaid barbies! I can't believe it! There is a picture of Jack's spanking new school shoes; him blueberry picking where he said' take a picture of me like Charlie Bucket (from Willy Wonka) because he had a bucket around his neck! And them just being cute in general!So, enjoy my monkey's, I know I do!!

10,000 and still going strong!

My buds Justin & Mary have hit and passed the 10,000 hits blogging milestone a few days back and I have been meaning to post about it in celebration! Justin and Mary really rock the house in so many ways, I can't even try to sum them or how much they mean to me in one blog post! They are truly two of the most generous, kind, supportive and wonderful people I have ever met let alone been lucky enough to count as some of my dearest friends! They really and truly walk the walk and just reach out to everyone to help, regardless of what they have going on in their lives. And let's face it, we all have things going on which makes it so easy to just retreat and be caught up in how busy we are! I know I am guilty of doing that but have been trying hard to follow their stellar example. In addition to being wonderful people they are such talented photographers, a veritable dream team combining killer photography skills, kick ass branding and super phone skills! :) I joke but man there is nothing worse than someone who doesn't know how to conduct themselves on a phone!
Justin is also an alum of the one and only RIT, as am I, and Mary graduated last year from Yale Law School! I know, right? They are super schooled!
All in all, I am lucky to have them in my life, and can't wait to see them take their careers to the next level when they are featured speakers at Pictage's Partner Conference in Los Angeles in September!! You can be sure I will be sitting front and center with our PUG pals, cheering you both on, and probably crying with pride!!! I love you guys!

liora + michael

To cap off my super duper weekend of shooting I met up with Liora & Michael in their stomping grounds of beautiful Boston. It was threatening to rain the whole time and of course as luck would have it as soon as I parked it down poured like crazy! Me and my precious gear remained dry, thank you very much! So we all chilled out in their apartment for a bit with Michael checking the radar on his computer- the storm passed in about 10 minutes, thankfully, and we were off on our whirlwind shoot! Now, no matter how many times I try to explain to my current and potential clients what my engagement shoots are like, it never seems to sink in until it is your turn! Everyone seems to think that every other client I post about is that much more comfortable in front of the camera, and yes, I have had the pleasure of photographing some of those kinds of very rare people! But all in all I mostly have couples that are a bit uncomfortable being photographed- that is until we work together! :) I try to make my engagement sessions something new and fun and relaxing- where we all end up laughing and having a great time while I really capture your chemistry together. In the end, creating some beautiful images. Well, I can't say how much I LOVE these shots that I am posting from this shoot. I feel like they embody so much of what I am trying to get from my clients- pure emotion, fine art, real moments- bodies of work that I would be proud to hang on my wall. Liora & Michael were so open and real with me- in meeting with me previously I had to be just as open with them- my 2 year old daughter Georgie had to be in our very first meeting before we booked and they were so cool about it! We had the best time going all around Boston, sweating it out, because it was SO muggy and hot! But in the end, so worth it- we capped off the night with an amazing Italian meal in the North End at a great Restaurant called Fiore's. What a night! So here you are, sister, hope you can see how truly beautiful you are and how clearly, deeply and whole heartedly in love you both are with each other! Thanks for sharing yourselves with me!

meghan + bryan wedding at the waterview

Meghan & Bryan went from one shooting extreme to the next with me- when we did their engagement shoot in February it was so bitter cold I thought my fingers were going to snap off! Then come their wedding on the 3rd of August at St. Gabriel's in Milford (not air conditioned!)and I thought I was going to melt- it was so super hot but that didn't seem to matter to anyone- not one person complained and everyone had the best time! Bryan gets to join the ranks of my emotional and sweet grooms (that means you Yves!;) He had a moment of pure, raw emotion while waiting at the aisle for Meghan to appear- he totally set off the entire cadre of bridesmaids and sent them into tears! He was laughing at me, during this moment of such intimate exposure, because there I was with my camera catching him at his most vulnerable. But before I shot, I made eye contact with him, encouraged him- I was a person first, a photographer second. Maybe that makes me not the best photographer? Or maybe that makes me a better one? In any event I had a great time because I had some serious company shooting on this super hot day- my right arm and ace photographer Robin Dini and guest star Richard Esposito were my artillery for the day! We had a blast and all learned some amazing new things from each other. Now, I have three ring shots posted- I couldn't decide which one was my favorite- the one with the picture is Meghan's parents' wedding picture- it was hanging on their wall so I popped the rings on the frame and had fun- sweet, right? I love tying the past with the future visually! Then I had fun hanging Meghan's dress on the clothesline- Thanks for trusting me and not second guessing me- she was like 'Oh the clothesline? Perfect! Need help?' I love when my ideas are supported and trusted, it's an amazing and empowering feeling. So then I had to play with the rings on the clothesline, and love both shots. And then I became obsessed with the flower girl- she was so cute! All in all we had a blast- and had fun watching RE roll in the sand, Carla style!