There is one little fact that will be noticeable in the pictures, Chantalle is a poser, not that there is anything wrong with that. Chantalle loves it, Danny her husband loves it, and me the photographer loved it. Chantalle knows at all times where the camera is, thanks for making my life easy. I love when my bride knows how to work it, and Chantalle definitely can! Her dress, Vera Wang “Rita”, is from my friend Camille Russler of Ever After Miami, and the Christian Louboutin shoes too. Thanks to Ivette Perez of the Epic Hotel for the use of the penthouse to get such fabulous photos. Wedding planner was Jackie Ohh of Jackie Ohh Events.
A lot of you have asked about the images we shot for Camille Russler at Ever After Miami last year, we had posted the video, but not the photographs, as those were being held for the official website launch for the store Ever After Miami. So here are some of our favorite images from the shoot. Hope you like them as much as we do. Also, I included the video from the shoot again, I love how it came out. Thanks to my friend Julien at Merge Studios.
Matt and Brielle are one of the coolest couples you will ever meet, so it didn’t matter that the heat index in Miami on their wedding day was between 110-115 degrees. Yes, it helped that the whole wedding was inside the fabulous W Hotel on South Beach. From beginning to end their wedding ROCKED! Brielle’s dress was from my great friend Camille Russler at Ever After Miami. All decor was from Petal Productions. Thank you to Andi and staff from Anje Soirees keeping the event running smoothly. And as always to all in my team for a wonderful job; Robert, Ryan and David.
Anya and Deepak are both plastic surgeons in Connecticut. Anya told me she fell in love with Deepak while they were both performing surgery because he kept making her laugh; you have to love that one. They both have that classic style, but Anya throws in that NY fashion flair to spice things up. I shot their engagement pictures on and around the Brooklyn Bridge back on November 1st. It was chilly, but I don’t think any of us noticed having so much fun. Their ceremonies (Hindu and Jewish) and reception were held at the Mandarin Oriental in Miami. Let’s just say, it was a little warmer then it was in NY back in November.
I love small weddings on a Thursday. I also love when a couple like Nicole and Chris, who reside in New York, are so in love. They have been together for 11 years, and have a beautiful 5 year old daughter, Charli. It was a small wedding by comparison, 65 guests, at Viscaya Museum and Gardens, but it had enough energy like it was a wedding of several hundred. Chris owns nightclubs in the city, so he had one of his incredible DJ’s, Eli Escobar, rock the night. They couldn’t have asked for a better night under the stars. The event was planned, designed and catered by A Joy Wallace. Cinematography by Guillermo and his team at Free Mind Studios.
Melissa and David are both film makers. So you can imagine, it could have been full hands on, or hands off. Luckily they are the types that trust those around them, and let us do what we do best, shoot. You can tell David is the goofy one, and Melissa alluring. The engagement shoot we shot all available light, mostly at night in downtown Orlando. It’s the first time I had all of their friends come along for the engagement shoot, from bar to bar, it was a blast.
The wedding was part old school Cuban, mixed with progressive art school vibe. Of course there were great Cuban cigars, considering Melissa’s family are the owners of Padron Cigars. The ceremony was held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Miami, the same church Alison and I got married in, and we attend. The reception was held at Viscaya Museum & Gardens. The whole event was planned by Cristina Llorente of Cymbidium Events. Again I was fortunate to work with Julien from Merge Studios who filmed the engagement and wedding. Thanks again to my team Catalina for her great images, and to Caroline for her assistance.
This was a small, intimate wedding of 50 guests, that my partner Catalina photographed at The Setai on South Beach. Vanessa and Andrew reside in New York. Great job Cat!
Claudia is the youngest of 3, so this is the 3rd Rodriguez Family wedding I have had the privilege to photograph in the last 3 years. There was Reggie & Ellie, Liana & Carlos, and now Claudia & Alejandro. The Rodriguez family love to have parties, so when it’s their kids weddings, a party it is. The father, Ray Rodriguez, recently retired as the President & CEO of Univision Communications Inc., the nation’s leading Spanish-language media company. It also helps that Liana de Mena, Claudia’s sister, is an event planner and has her own company, The Agency. So you can imagine, Claudia and Alejandro were in good hands. Claudia wore a stunning dress that was designed by both Mark Ingram and Monique Lhuillier. For their wedding, both ceremony and reception were held at the family home, which made it intimate, even though there were 500 guests. For an outdoor Jewish wedding in Florida, the weather was perfect. The band Kukaramakara kept the party going all night with DJ Rascal, and for Alejandro’s family who flew in from Chile, all night means just that. The production was no small feat either, and that was handled by Pete Diaz Productions. Flowers were by Always Flowers. Linens were by Nuage Designs. Hair by Daisy for OM Beauty. Make up by Lutz. Video by Utopia. I want to thank my great team that night, my friend David Wittig who flew down from Chicago, Robert, Tracy, and my wife Alison.
But most importantly, I want to thank the Rodriguez family for having us photograph all 3 weddings. I am honored and touched that they make us feel like part of the family. I could not be more blessed. Thank you Claudia and Alejandro for letting us be part of your lives too, here’s to you, your siblings, and Don Julio! Congratulations!
Corey and John are a blast to be around. If you know them, their energy is so positive, they can turn anyone’s day around. From our initial meeting, we hit it off like old friends, not skipping a beat. It’s like their love, when it’s right, it’s right. To be part of their day was like being at a big party, from beginning to end. There were formalities of course, but it was a party just like Corey and John wanted, a celebration. Corey’s wedding dresses were both from Camille Russler at Ever After Miami; the first dress was Anna Maier / Ulla Maija Couture, the second dress was Vera Wang. The event was held at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle. Thanks go out to all that collaborated: Planner Weddings by Lori Kelly , Florist Always Flowers, Band Marcia Mitchell Music, Video Utopia Video Productions , and or course my fabulous team of Catalina and her great images, and Caroline and Karen for their great assistance.
I thought I would let our bride Lisel & James have the honors to write in their own words.
Our wedding weekend was much more of a big good-bye party than anything else. And that’s just what we wanted. Neither of us are much good at staying in the same place for very long. Inevitably, we’re off again. This time we’ve applied to the Peace Corps and hope to be stationed in West Africa for 2-plus years. Our ‘honeymoon’ will be traveling for as long and as far as we can before the Peace Corps. We’ll start in Spain with the Camino de Santiago, a centuries-old pilgrimage that takes us walking across Spain, this will be for 5 weeks, and then head over to India, Nepal, Bhutan, Japan and New Zealand. With that said, these past few months were our last stable moments States-side. We have a beautiful array of family and friends all over the world and it was important for us to get everyone together for a formal au revoir. It may be years before we see most of them again.
Photography was key and shooting with Carlos was one of the highlights of the weekend. His creativity and energy brought out the best in the group and we’re looking forward to many moments captured of everyone we love in their element. Catalina also did an amazing job capturing James and the event as well. After the party’s over, all we’ve got are the memories and the photos.
Bon Voyage,
Lisel & James
You might remember Melissa and Cesar from their sexy engagement shoot we did last year. Flash forward to their wedding and not much has changed other then they happened to get married on one of the COLDEST days in Miami ever. There were reports of snow flurries that day, it was crazy! Melissa had a beautiful Monique Lhuillier gown which she got in New York at Kleinfeld’s. Again I was fortunate to work with Julien from Merge Studios who filmed the amazing day, we always do our best work together. The wedding was at St. Patrick’s Church on Miami Beach. To get to the reception, the whole bridal party and I braved the elements, 39 degrees, and rode on a trolley from Miami Beach to the reception at the Alfred I Dupont building in downtown Miami. I love this location. I’m partial to it since I shot the owner of the Dupont’s wedding there, and many other event’s. The flowers were done by EC Floral and the catering by Barton G.
Fradyn and Andres live in Chicago, but all their family lives in Miami, so a Miami wedding it is. Fradyn planned it all herself from Chicago, great job! The wedding was held at the Church of the Little Flower and the reception was at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. When you get two Miami families together, you know you will be moving your feet to a Latin beat. Fradyn was also a bridesmaid in her best friends wedding, Racquelyn and Jeff, back in April.
Laura Pimentel and Aleksandar Kirilov are such a cool couple. Laura is luxury handbag designer, her line is called LaLucca. Aleksandar is an amazing artist in his own right. They both collaborate together in work as well in life. Aleksandar paints some of Laura’s handbags, for a unique one of a kind look. Working with other artists always makes me push to another level, knowing they have a distinct eye. In their words, “This is going to be a non-wedding wedding.” The ceremony was less then 5 minutes, but the party was over the top. They had contortionists, Brazilian dancers, and stilt walkers. I worked with my partner Catalina on this wedding. We also worked with Julien from Merge Studios, and Andi Dyal of Anje Soirees. The flowers and decorations were done by Always Flowers. Their wedding was held at the Gansevoort Hotel on Miami Beach. Don’t forget the slide show at the end of the pictures.
Normally I write something cute about the wedding and the couple, but their story, as written by them, is so much better. The wedding was at the Palm Beach Ritz Carlton and the decor was done by Daniel Events. The wedding was amazing, enjoy their story, the images, and the slideshow.
How We Met: Believe it or not, despite growing up five blocks away from each other, Dan and Kira have college Organic Chemistry to thank for them being together. Thank god that course was nearly impossible because if it were easy, Dan would have never asked Kira to meet him at Starbucks to study. The chemistry existed between the two of them instead of within the textbook. Four hours later, they realized that they had not turned a single page in their notes, rather they spent that time drinking coffee and getting to know each other. They both would have never dreamt that their first “study date” would lead to them falling in love….the rest is history. The First Date/ First Kiss (Feb 14): Dan planned a romantic Valentine’s dessert date at Mildred’s, in Gainesville Florida. Being that it was their first date, Dan did not know Kira that well and ordered four different desserts. Since Kira does not have a sweet tooth, she took the desserts back to her friends at the sorority house. On their way home, it started to rain heavily. Despite the pouring rain, Dan, a gentleman, got out of his car to help Kira with the leftovers. Instead of waiting to kiss her on dry land, he grabbed her and they kissed in the rain. The Proposal-May 30 2008 (our 6 yr anniversary): After a romantic gondola ride down the Las Olas River, Dan took Kira to The Biltmore Hotel for brunch. As they arrived, Kira immediately noticed a huge picture frame on an easel. As Dan pulled the covering off of the frame, Kira was in shock. Dan had a collage made of every memory: movie ticket stubs, airplane tickets, theatre tickets, sporting events, maps of every vacation shared between the two of them, menus of restaurants, and every other keepsake that he had saved over the last six years. As Kira was mesmerized by this beautiful gift, Dan was on one knee. After the big YES, Dan took her to the Venetian Springs, where they shared a relaxing afternoon under the Florida sun. At 9pm that evening, Dan had one more surprise for Kira. He had arranged for both of their extended families to have dinner together at Riley McDermotts. After dinner, all of their friends came to join them for cocktails in celebration of the special day.
Here is a photo shoot we collaborated on with Camille from Ever After Salon in Coconut Grove and Julien Diaz for Merge Studios. I’ve been working with Camille on all her photo shoots for over 7 years now. Major location, major models, and a major team = Major Shoot! Every one ROCKED IT, including Catalina Ayubi who is partner in my studio. Julien is a very talented film maker and he did an amazing job of mixing that cinematic look with documentary film making to capture this amazing shoot. Thanks to everyone that helped out and ENJOY THE VIDEO!!! Leave some love below in the comments.
This past weekend, our boys Carson and Cameron, walked in our friend Robert and Stephanie’s wedding. I was NOT shooting, I was just being a proud dad. We only went to the wedding with our point and shoot, hard to believe. We all had fun and got our dance and drink on, well the adults did.
We have seasons in Florida, wedding season and hurricane season. Many people plan their weddings in Miami in June and it’s always a tough call, because it’s the start of rainy season too. For Lindsay and Ryan, they found out the night before their wedding when it rained 8 inches in less then 2 hours on Miami Beach, boy did it flood. There were many reports of cars just floating down the streets. Luckily for Lindsay and Ryan that most of all the rain was the night before, although they got some on Saturday too. Some guests got wet, but all in all, everything else went off without any problems, and tons of fun were had by all. New Yorkers can handle anything, what’s a little water right? Neither Lindsay nor Ryan were bothered at all about the weather since they were so focused on each other, nothing could be a distraction. The ceremony was at St Patrick’s Church and the reception at the Gansevoort South Hotel both on Miami Beach. The flowers were by Always Flowers. Everything was coordinated perfectly by Andi and Jennifer of Anje Soirees, thanks to all their hard work. Enjoy the slideshow below.
I was happy to lend a hand to my friends Justin and Mary Marantz (you can see their images on their blog) when they had a wedding to shoot here in Miami. The bride Irena is a photo enthusiast as well, so when she asked, I felt obliged to bring the 600mm F4. As you can see, Irena can hold her own, or at least the 13 pound lens. My cameras never looked as good.
I had a blast having no pressure but to sit back and enjoy the scenery and pick the moments that would add to the great coverage that Justin and Mary were shooting. Being a fly on the wall sometimes leads to images that you could not get as the main shooter.
This last image was a “wait for it” moment. With the 600mm you don’t have much choice but to sit back and wait for it since it is so difficult to move quickly. I just knew she would turn.
Arielle and Russell are a fashionable young couple from Manhattan. Russell’s family is of the Kwiat Diamonds, a business with over 100 years of strong family traditions and values. Their ceremony and reception was held at the new Gansevoort South on Miami Beach, thank you to Christian Sarquis of the Gansevoort for his help and beautiful venue. With a bridal party with 17 groomsmen, luckily we had the help of planner Sara Renee of Sara Renee Events to help in keeping those boys inline and the event running smoothly. Also filming the event was Andrew King of King Me Productions. The party was amazing with great decor from Xquisite Events. We had an absolute blast into the late night hours, luckily we had our dancing shoes on for this one. A big thank you as always to my team Catalina, Jason, Caroline and Eudon. Scroll down below the photographs to see the slideshow.
