2010's LAST Photoshoot!: Chris and Bekah, Maternity Session

Happy New Year Everyone! Here's an image from my photoshoot this morning with Chris and Bekah, who are expecting their little one in February:



May this year bring you peace of mind, good health, and plenty of joy!

Love,

Monica

Happy Holidays!

This year I was blessed with getting sick during the holidays. I am in no way complaining, in fact just the opposite. Work-wise, this was the best scheduled time for me to be sick with only personal parties to attend to. (No one wants a photographer that is missing photos because of sneezing and having to blow their nose every second minute or so.) I did have to back out of a couple personal enagements, but my friends and family were very understanding!

p.s. Thank you, Mom, for telling me I sounded like "Rudolph with that thing on his nose" when I called to wish you and Dad a Merry Christmas.

Reindeer, abstract. A present I wrapped for my Mother-in-Law.

I did have a wedding to attend yesterday, I was able to enjoy being a guest (though a mildly under the weather guest) which is rare for me. It was important to Cat and Barry to include their daughter/step-daughter in the celebration by having her perspective as the official wedding photographer. :) In addition they also had several disposable film cameras on the tables to include the perspectives of the guests. My contribution to Cat and Barry's wedding, aside from my well wishes of course, was their engagement photos (view some photos here) and also their gift to the guests. They'd asked me to put together a design for a musical cd gift. Here are a couple photos:


The process.



So Happy Holidays to everyone out there! I hope to have a photo year in review, up soon :) Stay tuned...

Year End Wedding!: Cat and Barry

The third wedding in three months of another one of my good friends, this time it's Cat and Barry! Before I head off to the wedding at the Weston Hyatt, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite images from their engagement session that I shot last month:




Yes, they're ballroom dancers too :)


Photographed at a beautiful location in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida! Can you believe it's Winter??


CONGRATULATIONS!!

Yogic Inspiration: The Love of Doing Dishes

As a yoga instructor it is my intention to share information that I've learned directly through my own yogic practice. My Guru, Yogi Amrit Desai says, "you teach who you are." So here is a website I stumbled upon which offers a story that I connected with. I've also included the story below:

Finding Enlightenment in the Most Surprising Places
© 2005 Corinne McLaughlin

"One of the most significant dreams I’ve ever had came to me over 30 years ago when I first began my search for enlightenment. I still remember it today and cherish its wisdom-- and I’m still working to embody what I learned, as it is the cornerstone of the spiritual path.

The dream began when I went to hear a lecture by a spiritual teacher, a young white man whom I admired and heard speak many times. There were hundreds of students attending his talk. They all saw him as a great guru and brought him flowers and fruit. He gave a very wonderful and inspiring talk, full of deep spiritual truths.

Then I blinked, and the scene suddenly shifted, and I seemed to travel into the future. I knew somehow that I had advanced spiritually, and was now attending another spiritual lecture. This time it was held in a very unusual futuristic building. But I noticed there were much fewer students in attendance than the previous lecture.

I realized it was because this time the teacher was a black man, and racial prejudice kept people from hearing the same deep spiritual truths from him. I was told that any type of prejudice could prevent someone from hearing the same great truths. Some people couldn’t hear it from a woman, or from someone of a different religion, for example. But I knew I was more advanced now, and I could accept deep spiritual teachings from any authentic teacher, regardless of how he or she appeared.

But then most remarkably, the scene shifted again and knew I had advanced even further on the spiritual path. Now I was in the kitchen of an ordinary house and there were hardly any other students left. I knew I was there for the same deep spiritual teachings, but where was the teacher?

Then the realization suddenly hit me: the teaching at that moment was doing the dirty dishes in the sink with love!

Now I’m one of those people who don’t exactly get super excited about doing the dishes. So this realization made me feel sick to stomach. I had to lie down. I just couldn’t believe it! So this is the really advanced teaching?!!

Yes, I was told inwardly. It’s all about finding the Teacher within you--not outside yourself. You find the face of God that is your own face. The Buddha said, “Look within: thou art the Buddha.” Your true Teacher is your soul, the Divine Presence within you. This is where you’ll find your most reliable source of guidance for your life. When you work with your inner Teacher, you learn to do everything with love, even the most mundane tasks such as the dishes. You learn to be more fully present in each moment, more fully awake and aware.

This dream reminded me of the ancient wisdom, “Before enlightenment, chopping wood, carrying water. After enlightenment, chopping wood, carrying water”—but now you do everything with love."

Here are a few more of my favorite articles from the site, some offering great meditations:
ATTENTION: The Most Precious Resource
How to Keep Spiritually Sane in Challenging Times
The Art of the Observer

Palm Beach County Photographer: Triple Maternity Session, Cont.

As of yesterday, December 12, 2010 all three babies have arrived from the triple maternity session I did a couple months back!



I wish each family congratulations and lots of love. I hope to photograph the "rocker" babies someday but right now it's a blessing just to know that they've arrived. Special thoughts and prayers go out to the Snow family as they've been on a journey of events since their son Harrison was born. I encourage you read the blog about their story, and keep them in your heart while they overcome what has been placed in their path.

As I was speaking with a friend yesterday, I was reminded of a program that offers support in these types of circumstances for residents of Palm Beach County. Thank you to my friend, Tomas Boiton, for the reminder of Healthy Beginnings. Tomas is an advocate for many great programs in this County and the creator of the company "Citizens 4 Improved Transit."

Event Photography: Corporate Holiday Party, West Palm Beach

Hailing form Northern Michigan, it's days like today that I am reminded why it's great to live in South Florida! The weather was gorgeous, especially after this cold snap we've had. I know "cold" to Floridians will never compete with the Lake effect snow and wind chill factors that reach into the negatives as is common "up North," but 37 degrees absolutely felt cold to me in comparison to Florida's humidity and heat. Here are a couple images from a corporate holiday party that took place today at the National Crouquet Center in West Palm Beach.



I didn't even know this place exsisted and am so excited about the discovery! They host events and are very open to having newcomers out on the course. Althought I was enjoying the weather and always love photographing the Kitson and Partners crew, I made sure to grab an events schedule and a menu as I'd really like to get a group of friends together to go play croquet!

Palm Beach County Photographer: November Contest WINNER, Andrea and Marlowe

So I did a Thanksgiving weekend giveaway and the winner won a free one hour photo session from me. The winner was new mom, Andrea with her adorable baby Marlowe. I've been busy editing weddings but took a short break just to quickly organize some from this session. I had to post this. :) More soon!!

P.S. Andrea has an amazing blog that you should read. Lots of cute photos of Marlowe!

Action shot of Marlowe attempting to eat her mother's arm. (She didn't succeed.)

An Exciting Day: John Ralston Album Released

It's been 3 years since the last John Ralston release so today makes for a very exciting day! Both musically, and personally as I was fortunate enough to be the photographer for the album. There's a very limited production of the special 7inch vinyl release so I'd suggest you order yours today! I already ordered both the red and white versions. They're only $5.00! Also, be sure to check out the label's description of the songs HERE.

(If you don't want the album you can get the digital downloads.)

Peace
Love &
Rock n' Roll,

~Monica

Palm Beach County Photographer: October 2010 Wedding: Robert and Stacy

Mr. and Mrs. Howe.

CONGRATULATIONS to another amazing couple that I felt so fortunate to photograph. Robert and Stacy are neighbors and close friends to my husband and I. When they go out of town we get to dog sit for their very cute dog, "Bear."






Their wedding was intimate with around 30 guests and it couldn't have been more lovely. Stacy and Rob did a great job of making sure the details were completed with consciousness. All the way down to the beeswax candles that lit the room with a soft yellow glow, emitting happy ions as we all celebrated. (So the candle-makers say!) Personally, I didn't think we needed any extra reason to be happy on such an already joyful occasion.


Not just another beautiful bride! I'm lucky to have Stacy as a friend. She was one of my bridesmaids just earlier this year. In fact, she helped plan and coordinate my amazing bridal shower that took place in the very room where I created this portrait of her on her wedding day!

Palm Beach County Photographer: McGorry Wedding SNEAK PEEK

***UPDATE*** View the complete McGorry wedding day photos here

Where do I begin with this couple? Two very beautiful friends allowed me to share in their special day. Greg and Justine were married on November 20th, 2010 and I am sharing just the tiniest bit of imagery that resulted from that day of joy....I will be sure to fill in the details as the editing slows down and I find the words to explain how spectacular this wedding was! Count this as the first of many installments ;)


The new "Mrs. Greg McGorry."


Greg and Justine were married at the First Presbyterian Church in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.