Last year, I got three phone calls for a May 2nd wedding. What a popular date I thought at first, as I got more details, it turned out, it was the same wedding. When I finally meet Kimberley and Brendan, I felt like I knew the family already, and we were immediately hooked. They had their wedding at the Coral House in Long Island New York. Kimberley and Brendan are such a lovely couple, and their love shinned on every step of the way. Congratulations!

Kimberley is one the sweetest brides I’ve met. She is so kind and beautiful. I’m really thrilled to have been her photographer.

I have no words for this picture. I just love it.

Kimberley and her bridesmaids working it.

I have to thank the groomsman for being so totally awesome and willing to try everything I told them to do.

If a picture says more than a thousand words, these two pictures say, LOVE two thousand times.

Kimberly looks so beautiful and radiant.

Thanks to our second photographer Jarlen who took these two beautiful pictures.

This picture goes to my collection of favorite bouquet toss pictures.

There is something about taking Sweet Sixteen Pictures that I simply love. I ask them about the type of photography they have in mind, their interest, and their likes. Normally, they don’t say much, so I try to put myself in their shoes. I remember when I was fifteen, I didn’t much to say to old people. Yeah, thirty something felt so old when I was a teenager. So my teenage memory tells me: Come on lady do you really expect me to say that I want to look like a model, and that I want my pictures to look like they were taken out from a magazine; not in a million years, especially with mom in the room. But yeah, my teenage memory tells me. They all want to look beautiful, hot, fabulous and like stars. So I secretly try all the above.

Sometimes, the girls laugh when I ask them to give a pose, or attitude; they laugh even harder when I ask them for a sexy face. Their friends laugh even harder in the background, and I feel like I’m putting them on the spot.

I couldn’t have asked more from Camila. She is so pretty and sweet, and she did fabulous. I also have to give up to her friends who were a big help. They made her comfortable and helped me get fabulous poses from Camila.

Camila getting ready for her big day.

Chilling out with her friends before leaving to the Reception Hall.

This is one of my favorite pictures.

Camila looked beautiful and gave me very nice pictures.

Work it out.

With the girls…

And the family

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Ship leaves promptly at 7:15PM

Today is the Open House of my friend’s Paolo beautiful Colonial House in Brookfield Connecticut. I’m sure homebuyers visiting his house today will fall in love with its charms and coziness.

We had a wonderful time with Paolo’s family and Connecticut friends last night. It was sort of a farewell get together. I felt like I was in Europe listening to so many languages. Paolo and his gorgeous wife Alessandra were the perfect hosts. She made the most delicious meat lasagnas I’ve had.

Alessandra and Paolo, I wish much luck with the Open House today, and to those of your looking for a house on that part of town, run to see it; you will not be disappointed.

Here is the complete listing of the House. http://www.forsalebyowner.com/listing/9H92D

The flowers are blossoming and it shows the beauty of the mature landscape.

We had such a nice evening yesterday in this spacious family room. It is a great room for entertainment.

The gourmet kitchen is so pretty and functional.

After giving it much thought, I decided to publish this blog. I hope I don’t offend any of my fellow wedding photographers, or any photographer for that matter. But again, I said, I had given this much thought, and decided to post it with a Free Lightroom Preset.

Recently, our second photographer, Jarlen, and I were having a discussion about retouching and post processing photographs. I believe most wedding and event photographs can benefit greatly if they process their pictures either in Lightroom, Aperture or Photoshop. He is just starting in the photography world and is more of a purist photographer, so he is still not sure he agrees with this whole post processing and retouching business of Lightroom presets and Photoshop actions.

Today is Jarlen’s birthday, and I decided to post this Free Lightroom preset as a birthday gift for him – hint, hint, I hope I finally convince him that is OK to use Lightroom presets.

Happy Birthday Jay and Good Friday to you.

I really like this picture Jarlen took of the bride’s aunt dancing. She was mostly behind cameras, so getting her was really difficult, but important, and there was not much time to change color temperature and other settings.

This is a Free Ligthroom preset for Ligthroom 2. This preset was designed to remove the color red from indoor wedding pictures. It changes the color temperate and gives a cream skin tone and soften features

Free Lightroom preset – Download

I was eighteen years old when I met my dear friend Paolo. I started working for a high profile businessman from my home country. Young and with little experience of Corporate America, I looked up to Paolo and learned so much from him. Not only because he is one of the most intelligent and honest men I have ever known, but also because he was willing to share his knowledge. When people were betting the market was going up, he was ahead of the crowd and was warning it could crash.

Recently, Paolo asked me to take pictures of his beautiful house in Brookfield, Connecticut, which he is putting on the market because he is moving back to New York City. I have to confess that I was a little nervous. Yes, I’m a photographer, but I have never done real estate pictures before, and there are tricks of the trade to real estate photography, or at least I believe so. Besides there was much on the table for me to play with his pictures.

I overcame my nervousness of navigating into a different field of photography because I was really excited to see my friend Paolo and his lovely wife Alessandra after many years, so Danny and I headed out to Brookfield.

As soon as I arrived at their home, I fell in love with their house. It was beautiful, cozy, huge and picture perfect. Everything was so immaculate and in mint condition (as they say in the real estate world), nothing less for a family with the most exquisite taste. Right away, some of my fear went away, and we started taking pictures and spent a wonderful afternoon with them.

Here is the link for the listing with some of the pictures we took.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/21-Long-Meadow-Hill-Rd_Brookfield_CT_06804_1117453322

Danny took this picture of the house. Paolo did an amazing job with the landscaping, and I can’t imagine how beautiful it will look in a couple of weeks once all the flowers have blossomed.

Five years ago, my dear friend Ayaiza took my wedding pictures. Today, I’m honored, nervous and thrilled to return the gesture and being her wedding photographer. I just hope that this is all that you ever wanted, and that through my pictures, I was able to capture the love you feel for each other, and the happiness this day brought you and your families. This is a work of love, and it is my gift to you guys.

I love you mi amiguita.

The spectacular beautiful view from the bridal suite at the Marriott Hotel Biscayne Bay in Downtown Miami.

Ayaiza’s favorite color is red, so we couldn’t expect anything less than red roses. Casa Diri’s did an amazing job with her bouquet and all the flower decor.

Ayaiza’s wedding dress by Mikaela was so beautiful. It fit her like a glove and accentuated her beautiful body.

If there is a person that loves being a bride that is Ayaiza. She enjoyed being a bride so much, that if this picture were video, you will be hearing Oh, my god. Oh, my god I’m getting married.

Does anyone have of a reason to prevent this marriage? No?… I didn’t think so.

I love this picture of Frank.

First dance.

I absolutely LOVE this picture. If there is a picture that shows her character, I think this is it.

Stunning view of night downtown Miami, champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries. In the mood for love?

Who said you couldn’t be glamourous and fun. I love this picture of Ayaiza and Frank entering their room. Totally goofy and nice.

Click here to view Ayaiza and Frank’s Wedding Pictures

Ok, so I have to admit, I was a little nervous about this photo shoot. We arrived at the beautiful Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden in Coral Gables, a little bit before four o’clock. From the moment I saw it, I fell in love with it. The scenery was simple breathtaking. The kind of place I could roam for hours, and not be bore about. I was starting to see the possibilities. Then, reality hit; we were told the garden closed at 4:30PM, so I had a little more then half an hour to shoot day after wedding pictures in a vast Botanical Garden; no pressure right. Truth be told: I panicked, and I tried to conceal it, but I don’t know how successful I was.

We hoped into the cart and started the photo shoot. Luckily, our tour guide was so gracious. He didn’t rush us, and allowed us to stay past five o’clock. Although, I didn’t get his name, I will never forget him because he saved my day by allowing us the time to take some amazing shots of Ayaiza and Frank.

Inside Fairchild Botanical Garden, I felt I was in Paradise. Here, one can easily forgot there was is a world outside. This is one of my favorite pictures. I had this concept in mind for Aya and Frank, and it simply fit the setting.

I love this picture of Ayaiza looking at the camera. She looks so  pretty.

I took the following pictures wide to appreciate the beauty of the scenery.

After a pose, there comes the laugh.

Ayaiza loves Black and White pictures; so this is for her.

If you think that they were having fun. You’re right.

Danny took the following two pictures, and they are so romantic, which is exactly what he likes.

To view a slide-show of Ayaiza and Frank Wedding Pictures at the Fairchild Botanical Gardens, Click Here

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful little princess, named Ayaiza, who loved to show off her castle. She lived in Cuba and dreamed of finding true love and living happily ever after.

Well, as you would have guessed, the little girl was not a “real” princess, but she was named after one, and her made believe castle was a national landmark. But one thing is certain. She has found true love, and I’m sure they will both live happily ever after.

Frank is absolutely right when he describes her qualities. She is joyful, compassionate and never judges. She loves her family, chocolate, taking pictures and her dog Pluto. I’m honored to know this fine woman, and call her my FRIEND.

It is hard to imagine a person with such qualities as to deserve her love. But when I met Frank, I could tell, they both have found a perfect match. She deserves him as much as he deserves her.

We went to Florida specially for their wedding, and we thank them for inviting us and trusting us with documenting their wedding. Here is a peak of some Pre-Wedding pictures I took of this amazing couple.

Ayaiza and Frank’s love nest in beautiful Miami.

I wanted to capture the blue Miami sky that Ayaiza loves so much.

Ayaiza’s friend says she looks like a Real Wife of Miami.

Work it baby.

… and then the laugh.

I love the following two pictures. Aya you look absolutely stunning.

Frank did such an amazing job, and was so gracious.

The sun is starting to set, and it was getting colder by the minute.

I love that after every pose, Danny will make a comment that made them laugh.

The following two pictures are Danny’s favorite. He loves romantic pictures, and he is the one constantly telling couples to kiss, and the grooms really appreciate that.

To view a slideshow of Ayaiza and Frank’s Pre-Wedding Photos, Click here.

It was pouring outside, and I was debating whether or not I should go to the city to a Photographers seminar sponsored by Photoshelter and Adorama. To attend or not to attend, that was the question. Finally, I decided to get out, confront the wind, rain and the cold, and I headed to the city. A bus and a subway ride later, I was home.

The water dripping on the entrance to the subway, the sound of the train making its way downtown, people rushing during peak hours, the taxis, the sirens: this is home. It’s been a good couple of years since I graduated from film school, and I haven’t been back to 23rd street, but walking through these streets, I couldn’t help but be inspired; the Flat Iron building, 5th avenue, the photographs hanging from store windows, its people. I don’t know how best to describe it, but there is something different in this city. I head back home happy about what I’ve learned, but happier to be inspired once more by this beautiful city.

From accross the river, it sits quiet, the vibrant and beautiful New York City.