New York New York (Pt. 1 of 4)

I was really excited about this trip. I'm not a big traveler, I'm such a home body. I am, however, married to the traveling man...he loves it. We had a discussion and came up with compromises before we got married. But this trip. This trip, even I was excited to go. One of my friend from college days (go BC) is from New York and proposed to his girlfriend of nine years. He set his wedding date for my birthday!!! At first I thought it was sweet, then I realized he was trying to steal my thunder. Nah, it was wonderful. Work was getting crazy so Scott and I were excited to fly 5,000 miles to the northeast. We spent a few days in New York for the wedding and then spent a few days in Boston.

We stayed a few days at my friend's place in Queens. I'd been to NYC a few times while in college and Scott just went for the first time last year. So there wasn't much I hadn't seen. When asked what I wanted to do, the only thing I said was "I want to find Cake Boss!!!" Cake Boss is a TLC show centered around a real bakery "Carlos' Bakery" and it's owner, Buddy. The bakery is run by an Italian family and the show is hilarious. They thought I was kidding but I insisted on googling the location of the bakery (Hoboken, New Jersey) and directions on how to take the train there.

So, our friends drove us from Queens into Manhattan.

Which meant we had to drive over the 59th street Bridge which instantly caused Scott to break out into a song "Feeling Groovy." Too bad, no one in the car had any clue what he was singing.

They dropped us off near Central Park, which I will have to say was my first time there. It's pretty huge...and I'm a country girl so I loved it. There were saxophone players and ballon animal artists every twenty feet.

The architecture and neighborhoods are so different in the mainland. I loved it. Scott is such a patient and understanding husband...as I made him pose over and over again so I could get my photography kicks out.

We really had no clue where we were walking but we did find ourselves at the Museum of Natural History. Also someplace I've never been. It was pretty cool. I have to admit that I kind of went out of curiousity to see how similar it was to movie "Night in the Museum." I have to say that the answer is "minimal." The exhibit displays are amazing though. Epic.
We took the subway and then changed over to the PATH train which took us to Hoboken, New Jersey. It was a super short walk and we found ourselves at ... CAKE BOSS!!! And Buddy is awesome!!! He stood outside and talked to everyone who came up...he volunteered for pictures. He was in the middle of signing autographs when they were calling him from inside the bakery and made sure to finish up with everyone on the sidewalk. He was amazingly friendly and awesome!!! It's a gunner for the highlight of my trip.



Then we wandered back to the train station and I saw this cool train station waiting room.

Engagement Session of Mia and Roy

Roy and Mia's Engagement Session
Where: Makapuu Beach Park
When: a sunrise on a September morning

I met Mia a few months ago. Mia is an talented young makeup artist and we connected for a bridal shoot. Then I received an email full of exciting news. Her sweetheart, Roy, proposed and the two of them are ready to wed in the summer of 2010. Mia had moved back to Kauai which is where they plan to tie the knot but they wanted to have engagement photos at Makapuu Beach. It's a special place near and dear to their hearts, especially since it's where Roy proposed.

Several things made this session unique, but the time was definitely the kicker. I usually schedule sessions for late afternoons for that lovely "golden hour" of soft light. Add in the fact that I'm not the best morning person. This engagement session, however, started about ten minutes before sunrise. And no one was more surprised than me when I just absolutely loved it. The sunrise was beautiful. The couple was gorgeous. And we were blessed with a few baby clouds that softened the sun once it started to get too bright. Roy and Mia were troopers. You couldn't tell that it was sunrise by looking at them. They looked polished and alert. Me? Hmmm, I relied on caffeine until the adrenaline kicked in. I have so many I consider favorites. There were so many moments when Mia and Roy seemed to forget that there were multiple camera following them and it allowed for the sweetest captures.

And there was quite a crowd of cameras following these two. My second shooter, Joy Pishcura, was nearby scaling the black rocks to get those great shots. And Cody Canada, of Image Creations of Hawaii , was there also providing spectacular videography. Videographers and photographers have to work together since we both are looking for similar perspectives and shots and you don't want to step on each other's toes. This was the best working experience with a videographer and I am now permanently spoiled. Check out their website for your video needs. Completely professional and a breeze to work with.
(Love this one. Warning: I might say this often throughout the post)



(I just love this one. They're in their own world and they look so content, you want to walk over and join them. Good thing we didn't, though.)

















(I danced like a happy fool when I suggested "think you might want to wade a little?" and they went for it. They had a bit of fun splashing each other and I think they forgot we were there)

(I really love the first one. I can't put my finger on it but the landscape is just so beautiful...and of course, the people in it)


I didn't want to create a monstrous post but there were some hilarious photos of them playing in the water that you have to see. To see the rest of the images from this morning playing on the beach, go to http://www.keaosphotography.instaproofs.com/ and click on Roy and Mia's engagement session.