Griffith Park Hike With the Fam!

While there was 20" of snow last weekend in NYC, it was 60' here in Los Angeles. Eat your heart out, east coasters - It pays to be bi coastal! With the sun out we were obligated to bask under the sun at one of mt favorite Los Angeles destinations, Griffith Park. I'm an outdoorsy person but it is a farce that all Californians are. My cousin and husband were ready to kill me since we began our hike descending the mountain and completed the hike with a one mile uphill battle! I on the other hand couldn't have felt more alive under the California sun and the subsequent endorphin rush from the hike. And yes, that's the Pacific Ocean in the very last image - it had just rained and the smog levels were low so visibility was on point!

*** All images shot with a my Canon PowerShoot ***

Ilene Squires Photography Featured in Lookbook.nu

You might remember when I feaured Justin in a sneak peak of my Faces of Harlem project a couple months ago. The project was put on hold once the holidays rolled around and will be up and running again after the first of the year. This time with a new look and it's own separate home! For now, one of  my images from Justin's shoot seems to be making it's way around the web, seen most recently on Lookbook.nu. Enjoy!

My Mother's Hands

When I was 5 years old my family moved to Simi Valley from Los Angeles. That year, my Mother, who has the greenest of thumbs, planted a lime tree and it wasn't until last Christmas that it bore organic limes. I mean who waits two decades for a plant to bear fruit?! You should have seen the delight on her face when she cut the limes open for a little garnish on her famous mango salsa! My mother could bring even the dreariest plants back to life, resuscitating them with love and care. The women makes her own compost for crying out loud! She's a serious and committed gardener! All of my renaissance like habits were inherited from her; she is simply an amazing woman who brings everything around her a new reason to live. Mom's garden speaks for itself as it boasts succulents, orchids, fruits and veggies and several species of flowers. I'm so inspired by how my mother's hands bring life to everything around her and I can only hope to be as influential as her when I become a mother. 

*** All images shot in natural light with my Canon 5D Mark II with an 24 - 105 lens.***

Merry Christmas!

Every winter I make the journey back to Southern California, my old stomping grounds, to galavant under the warm, sunny skies. I'm greeted by Mexicans and Filipinos and the culturally appropriate indulgences they offer. In fact, my Mother had me waiting for an hour in line at Manila Sunset for a party tray of pancit palabok yesterday! Having had a Jewish Father and a Catholic Mother, I was lucky enough to enjoy the best of both worlds; 8 days of Hanukkah and Christmas?! What a dream come true for a kid! Aside from the over eating and drinking which accompanies holiday celebrations, I specifically look forward to connecting with people from lives past: my childhood friends who are now mommies; my drinking buddies from college; the homies I've traveled the globe with; my girlfriends from the early days in New York City and most notably, my family. Near or far, my family holds it down! They are the most festive, generous people I know. Of course I am bias, but I would never trade my family for the world. So wherever you are and whoever you're with, I hope you are taking time to celebrate your family. We often forget how much of an impact they've had on who we've become. I had to post these pictures of my Mother's holiday decor; with a Jewish husband she has always respected his wishes for "no Christmas tree," but boy, she has one of everything else on display. Merry Christmas, readers. May peace be with you. 

The Dirty Thirty!

Growing up I was always a year behind my friends because my mother thought it would be a great idea if I skipped a grade. This ultimately led to being the last one to get a license, the last one to cross the border into Mexico for over 18 clubs (I went to school in San Diego!), and being the last one of my friends to drink, legally that is. Realistically, I don't think I ever minded the extra attention, except for now, as I approach the dirty thirty. There's so much hype about entering this new, mysterious decade and the ridiculous social pressures for women to do crazy things like get married and have kids. Who are we kidding?! New York is a place where women spend much of their twenties building professional clout and enjoying the fruits of their labor domestically and abroad. Especially for New Yorkers, 30 really is the new 20. We're ever more fabulous, much more confident and savvy in the workplace and on the town, and in my opinion, more refined. We no longer spend our weekends opening tabs in random lounges, waking up to strange new faces or leaving jobs prematurely. Instead we opt for classy dinners at the  top 20 restaurants in the City (because we can finally afford them!) where we linger over aged Malbecs and conversations about relationships. Well, I guess some things transcend age groups!  For the last 2 years I have been helping my girlfriends celebrate this rite of passage from their beloved twenties to their thirties, one birthday party and many cocktails at a time. One of my most fabulous New York girlfriends, Jaxira, recently celebrated her 30th birthday at Yerba Buena Perry, formerly Matador Tapas Bar, in the West Village. Isn't she beautiful and radiant? Jaxira's an example of how all women should enter the next decade of adulthood and that is how Biggie would have wanted it: with style and grace! Happy Birthday Jax, I'm right behind you! 

* All pictures taken with my Canon Powershoot. Lookin' good for a point-n-shoot!

(I had to throw the one of me on the Vespa in for good measure. Wishful thinking for the New Year).

Ilene Squires Photography Featured on Tucked LLC

When I shot Justin for my Faces of Harlem project, he mentioned potentially using some of my images on his site TUCKED LLC. Well here are the images from a feature last Friday. Enjoy! 

New Sponsor on RuffledBlog.com!

I recently became a sponsor on RuffledBlog.com which I used a resource in planning my own nuptials. Check out my vendor page HERE and pass it on! Of course, I welcome any feedback and suggestions on the page and you can leave a comment below or email me at ilene {dot} squires {at} gmail {dot} com. 

Faces of Harlem: Renauld | Harlem Portrait Photographer

Renauld is not only friends with Brian, one of my very first faces you can check out HERE, but he also went to school in Tenessee with my husband, Jorge. Naturally, we were destined to work together! If you haven't guessed, Renauld has done some commercial work himself. I mean, how could he not with those dimples and stature?! He only affirms my belief that beautiful people make my job as a photographer infinitely easier and since there were so many shots to choose from, I decided to feature just one. In moving forward with my Faces of Harlem Project I am thinking of creating a separate space for images to live which I will be launching by the end of the year. New Years surprise? Maybe! For now, enjoy what I've offered of Renauld and please email me at ilene {dot} squires {at} gmail {dot} com if you are interested in being featured for this project or know of someone who is. 

Faces of Harlem Sneak Peak: Michelle Patrick | Harlem Portrait Photographer

Michelle Patrick and I had the pleasure of meeting through her goddaughter Alice, who I featured a couple of weeks ago HERE. For years now, I've heard about Michelle and all the lovely eccentricities  about Alice's  own family and her New York experience. (Alice hails from the Westside, as does yours truly). That said, I had no doubt Michelle would be candid and witty just the way Alice is. When I initially reached out to Michelle about coming to her Sugar Hill residence to snap a few portraits for my project, she extended an invitation to come to her birthday party where there would be "... women of all shapes and sizes."  Elated, I of course packed my equipment up for a quick jaunt uptown! A former soap opera writer, Michelle had quite an eclectic group of friends who had many stories about the way  "... the city used to be" to boot. My favorite ditty was the stairwell tour where I learned Michelle's personal history; she had images dating back to the turn of the century and stories to match! Here's a sneak peak and please email me at ilene {dot} squires {at} gmail {dot} com if you are interested in being featured or know of someone who is. 

D'wayne & Jewelle's Engagement Party at Don Coqui - Westchester and New York City Lifestyle Photographer

D'wayne and my husband Jorge, are best buds from their college days at Vanderbilt. Though we always thought of D'wayne as the eternal bachelor, a couple of years ago he finally met his match with his lovely bride to be, Jewelle. As you can see, they are quite a handsome couple and recently celebrated their engagement at Don Coqui, where Jewelle is in her family's restaurant business. Her father is the Jimmy as in Jimmy's Bronx Cafe, Jimmy. Nonetheless, POSH, couldn't better describe their special evening. Jewelle and D'wayne haven't set a date yet but their wedding will be nothing short of spectacular from start to finish. They know we would expect nothing less from such refined people. BTW - isn't Jewelle's dress DIVINE?! !Felicidades on your engagement!

West Village Impromptu Shoot

I've been trying to decide on which new lens I want to add to my work flow after upgrading to the Canon 5D Mark II this summer. I had a couple of gigs over the weekend so I rented the Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* Lens from Adorama Rental Company. If you are a professional or amateur and don't know about ARC, find out about them today! Their prices are cheap and they cater to the photog on the go. Weekend rates, Thursday - Monday, are the best in the City. I was previously in love with the 50mm f/1.4 but the 85mm was nothing short of amazing. The sharpness was purely magazine status and the wide aperture allows to shoot hand held at night (albeit noisy, without flash). Most artists use the 85 for video capture, but since I am still video defunct, I used it for my portraits. Over the weekend, as I was leaving the West Village eatery, Malatesta (bring cash, have the tiramisu and make rezzies by phone), my friends decided on an impropmtu photo shoot in the heart of the West Village - my second favorite NYC neighborhood with Harlem being the pact leader! Stay tuned for features from two new faces in my Faces of Harlem project that I shot yesterday. I am back logged on posts, including extensions from the sneak peaks that I already blogged about over the past couple of months. I'm ready for the Thanksgiving holiday, are you? 

Faces of Harlem: Alice and Justin | Harlem Portrait Photographer

Alice and I met when I took over a maternity leave position at an elite private school in Chelsea a while back. We hit it off immediately with our sarcastic sense of humor and knack for stretching 5 minute stories into hour long narratives. These qualities are ever so useful when working with children! Alice and her beau, an aspiring photographer (and stylist) at Tucked LLC, just relocated to Harlem. Luckily they are my neighbors and we rendevous'd last weekend for some quick portraits for my Harlem project. Here's a sneak peak! Email me at ilene {dot} squires {at} gmail {dot} com if you are interested in being featured for this project or know of someone who is. 

Portrait Session with Amber Hawk Swanson in Prospect Park/ Brooklyn Portrait Photographer

Amber Hawk Swanson and I met through a mutual friend and our portrait session together only proved that New York is still a place of inifinite opprtunity. As I am bobbing and weaving through my personal project(s), specifically, Faces of Harlem, I've been wondering alot about my pitch to galleries and how to use the project as a stepping stone for artist fellowship applications. Enter Amber. Here timing was impeccably perfect. She recently left a nonprofit career with NYFA to grow her own consulting practice for artists. Her goal is to coach artists through MFA, fellowship and proposal processes. Amber is also available for speaking engagements and can be reached HERE. These images will be featured on her new website when it goes live later this year. Have a great week, everyone!

Faces of Harlem: Jonte Edwards | Harlem Portrait Photographer

As many of you read in my FACES OF HARLEM SNEAK PEAK last month, you learned that I'm working on a personal project uncovering the beauty of The New Harlem Renaissance. My day job and marathon training is keeping me quite busy these days so editing has been, well, on hold this past month. Shooting beautiful Harlemites, however, has not! So here's  to another sneak peak of Jonte Edwards, my most recent subject. He's stunning on the inside and out! All of the faces I have shot and will shoot in the coming month will be featured ASAP (think Thanksgiving, break time!). Please email me at ilene {dot} squires {at} gmail {dot} com if you are interested in being featured for this project or know of someone who is. 

48 Hours in Nashville

My husband, Jorge and I spent this past weekend in Nashville, Tennessee celebrating his ten year reunion from Vanderbilt University. We had been to the 'ville once before, three years ago for a wedding, but this trip was significantly more personal. C'mon now, only people who are successful go to reunions, right?! Or at least that's what we told ourselves when spending what we did on the tickets! In any case, reunions are a reason to reflect on where you've been in life and where you're going, plus we are always looking for a good reason to get out of the City. It was an added bonus that Vanderbilt's campus is just stunning especially when decorated with fall foliage. Though we had our dose of J. Crew clad frat boys swinging from the rafters of fraternity row and sorority girls in their quintessential homecoming uniforms (sundresses and cowboy boots), we had a fabulous time. I know, I know, I was one of those sorority girls back in the day and did my cameo in front of the house! We shared a wonderful brunch with old friends at Ellendale's on Saturday and dinner at Logan's Roadhouse (for old times sake), where we took great delight in throwing peanut shells on the floor. If you're ever in Nashville you have to try Monell's for family style brunch with a southern flare. I was disappointed that we didn't make it there on this trip but my pants still fit, and for that I am most grateful!

Faces of Harlem: Sneak Peak!

Yesterday I had the good fortune of shooting a few new faces for my personal project entitled Faces of Harlem. I was elated when three young bachelors were sent my way because I typically get more inquiries from women. They all had fresh, distinct looks which helps diversify the project. Since this is just a "sneak peak," I won't write too much though the icing on the cake was shooting a a third generation Harlemite in her family's Central Harlem Brownstone. Can we say "WHOA?!" That couldn't have been a more perfect fit for this project inspired by Congolese Dandies and the late James van der Zee. Stay tuned for separate features on each of these Faces of Harlem and if you would like to partake in this project or know of someone who would, please email me: ilene {dot} squires {at} gmail {dot} com. 

Faces of Harlem: Lucy | Harlem Portrait Photographer

With the help of my friend Lucy, the Nigerian beauty pictured here, my most recent personal project entitled "Faces of Harlem" was conceived. I am planning to shoot people based in Harlem (that means you too, transplants!) to compile a photo essay about young professionals that will be submitted later next year to The Studio Musuem. Lucy teaches English as a Second Langauge in the Bronx. She has a vibrant personality with deep Nigerian roots, by way of Wisconsin. To see more images from our shoot, CLICK HERE. Of course, if you would like to partake in this project or know of someone who would, please email me: ilene {dot} squires {at} gmail {dot} com.