Ilene Squires Photography

Showing posts with label Mount Gulian Historic Site. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mount Gulian Historic Site. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

The 12 Best Photos of 2012

2012 has been a year of great fortune not just for my business but also for me as a photographer. Having procured clients who are generous in spirit, I successfully booked and shot 125 projects! Yes, I've done the math and that equates to a very limited personal life, but having an interchangeable career and personal life make that distinction arbitrary. I love what I do and find myself documenting all the time, revealing stories anxious to be told. 

When I started my business 3 years ago, I dreamed of a long, successful career as a wedding photographer. Life is funny sometimes and I now receive 75% of my business from lifestyle and portraiture, my true photographic niche. Sometimes life chooses you instead of the other way around, so, if I have learned anything about entrepreneurship, it is that sometimes one must just buckle their seat belt and hold on for the ride. And oh, what a ride it's been!

Please help me celebrate the arrival of 2013 with the 12 Best Photos of 2012.

The first shoot of the year came out with a bang and I was commissioned to shoot the Dennes Family on NYC's first snowy day of 2012 in Central Park. 
In February I shot Al & Kate's Engagement photos in Chelsea and they were later featured in the New York Times Style Section!
Diana & Drey are not just clients, but also very good friends and I was flattered to be asked to shoot their maternity portraits in March. 
Shooting a destination wedding is every photographer's dream and I loved shooting this  Curacao wedding!
As the weather in New York began to break and spring rolled in with the afternoon breeze, my dear friends the Cimmiyotti's, commemorated nearly a decade in NYC and their move to California with a family shoot. This picture of Pablo is a favorite! 
By the time June rolled around I had grown accustomed to a seven day work week. Just when I thought I might lose my mind, I learned my Faces of Harlem Project (!) would be featured in the inaugural Harlem Arts Festival. Here was my promo piece created by the amazing, Yeri Yun Designs
My very best friend from childhood was expecting her second addition and we opted for a beautiful, timeless shoot on the exclusive Pt. Mugu Beach in July. What a busy month but this was my favorite shoot by far!
I spent most of August on a month long journey to Indonesia and Vietnam. Unfortunately (tsk, tsk!) I have not published any of my DSLR photos due to my workload upon return stateside. Here is my favorite Instagram photo from Bali.
Scott and Fio have shot with me twice now, both times to celebrate their anniversary. Their 2nd Anniversary West Village Shoot was as classic as it was romantic. 
The fall months were very, very busy with lots of weddings. First was Robbie & Katie's wedding at Mt. Gulian in Beacon, NY. 
Another favorite fall shoot was Dayna & Ryan's engagement in Harlem. SWOON! Timely as the iconic Lenox Lounge shuts its doors after five long decades. 
2012 ended with a bang and I couldn't feel more blessed to have a thriving, bi-coastal business. With a re branded website on the way (2/1/13, stay tuned!), sold out minisessions in NYC and another show at The Shrine, I'd like to close this post by sharing an image that exudes love and another favorite theme, urban renewal.  

The most refined works I've churned out are usually shot in my favorite neighborhoods and LouAnn & Roland's Fort Greene shoot is no exception. 
May this be a year of great prosperity to all my clients, fans, family and friends! Happy New Year! 

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Mount Gulian Wedding | Robbie & Katie

Robbie and Katie were married earlier this fall at Mount Gulian Historic Site in the beautiful Hudson River town of Beacon, NY. This was the second time I shot at this venue and it just gets more beautiful each time! 

This couple is a beautful medley of love; a little rock 'n' roll mixed with a little Paris avant- garde. Their wedding was DIY friendly with tailored wedding invitations, designed by Katie's brother {and letterpressed!} and DIY flowers made with mostly dry florals and fresh herbs. Katie, a stylist, procured a large assembly of apoethcary jars they used for their sign in and cocktail tables  along with a golden birdcage which sat alongside their sweetheart table to collect gifts. There were other little personalized touches like the "Brody" {their delicious dog!} wine bottles and Fair Trade, locally sourced coffee bag stamped with the couple's seal. A true family affair, Katie and Robbie adorned the barn doors with vintage heirloom photos, equipped with a vintage trunk. Their cake was a gift from Katie's sister-in-law and boasted two fondant childhood pictures of the couple, which were completely edible {The cake is AH - MAZING!}. 

I have a couple favorites from this wedding day. First, Robbie surprised Katie with earrings that matched her wedding ring perfectly, made by their family jeweler as she was getting dressed. Naturally there were tears, tears and more tears as she opened up her surprise. As Robbie put on his finishing touches, his Mother placed his Father's cross, a gift from Robbie's Mother to his Father on their wedding, on his neck. They were both in tears as they took a moment to remember and honor Dad, who had passed away years prior but who's presence was surely felt. And the creme de la creme? Katie and her father opted out of those stiff, traditional father-daughter dances and instead, did the tango. Yes! The Tango and they were AWESOME!

Signing off shortly but not before I write a blip about the significance of 11:11. Katie and Robbie are superstitious and believe that 11:11 symbolizes good luck, so much so that they have reminder alarms set to this time on their phones. Eleven eleven carries so much meaning in their relationship that Robbie proposed to Katie at 11:11PM {at The Plaza Hotel, swoon!} and they have it tatooed, in the same place, on their wrists. It doesn't get much more romantic than that, folks! Katie and Robbie should stand as reminders to all of us that chivalry is not dead and romance is live and well! 

Felicitationes, amis!

Venue | Mount Gulian Historic Site // Dress |The Town Shop // Dress | Allure // Bride's Shoes | Kate Spade // Groom's shoes | A.Testoni // Hair & makeup | Salon Doriano //  Groom's tux | Hugo Boss  // Wedding bands | Tiffany's // Florals | DIY  //  Caterer | Datsawrap // Cake | Sugar & Vice Cakery by Amber Klink-