Top Five Wedding Pick 2012 | A Paper Proposal

In 2012 I shot 6 weddings and at the end of the year, wedding business had slowed with only one booked wedding for 2013. Naturally I was nervous but I accepted this as the next step in procuring funding for Faces of Harlem and working on my thriving, bi- coastal Lifestyle clients. Afterall, if you've seen my children's portraiture, you'd understand why!

Then the New Year came. 

Since January 1, I have booked 3 more weddings and have received at least 10 wedding inquiries from random sources. This excludes all of my pre-existing Lifestyle clients and those to come! Finally my business is at a place where my clients and me fit like hand - in - glove. We have similar aesthetics and shared love for all things timeless, bold and natural. 

I'm thrilled to be received with such a warm welcome from brides around the country and am looking very forward to my long awaited re-brand in just a few weeks! For now, big thanks to a superb referral network over at A Paper Proposal, for featuring me as one of their "Top Five Weddings of 2012."

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! 

EXHIBIT | Faces of Harlem at Shrine World Music

As the year comes to a close, it is with great excitement that Faces of Harlem makes yet another appearance in the community. For those of you who know me, you know I am very much a grassroots type gal, always looking for a way to promote my community and  the beautiful cast of characters who share this little plot of land we call "home." Well, Shrine World Music, literally around the corner from my residence, graciously exhibited my Faces of Harlem series and last night we had a little "sip and see" (© Brian Jones!) to celebrate. I had no idea what to expect but we had a GREAT {good looking!} turnout. Thank you to friends and fans who have made this project thrive. 

As I look towards 2013, I have a firm committment to writing a few grants for funding so my ever growing list of yet-to-be muses will realize. Will you be one of them?! Email to: studio@ilenesquiresphotography.com if so! 

Limited edition hardcover Faces of Harlem hardcover ($40) and soft cover ($20) books for sale. Available for local pick up or free delivery. Of course, it is cheaper to purchase directly from the studio however, for the zealous readers out there, feel free to purchase directly from Blurb: HARDCOVER & SOFTCOVER. 

A few memories from the evening ...

{and it is duly noted that one should never try out new equipment on super important nights! iPhone only photos <<<< insert very sad face here!}

PHOTO OF EXHIBITION

 YOURS TRULY WITH BOOK DISPLAY.

 CHATTING UP PAST AND FUTURE MUSES, INCLUDING THE ILLUSTRIOUS, LATRESSA. 

 HERE SHE IS POSED UP NEXT TO HER PHOTO!

LATRESSA'S ORIGINAL PHOTO.

RENAULD AND BRIAN GETTING READY TO PURCHASE HARDCOVERS FOR THEIR FAMILIES. SUPER GIFTS FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ALIKE!

BRIAN'S OG PHOTO.

RENAULD LOOKING FLY AS EVER!

CHESTER, ONE OF MY OLDEST HARLEM FRIENDS AND MY HUSBAND, JORGE (STILL WAITING ON HIS TURN!).

 OLD COLLEGE BUDDIES, DOING COLLEGE THINGS!

 JONTE AND A FRIEND TAKE A PEAK.

JONTE LOOKING ICE COLD!

 BRIAN, JANICIA AND RENAULD, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS OF FOH.

 CHARLITO OF CHARLITO'S COCINA & MY FAVE TRAVEL BUDDY, JAXIRA.

 SHRINE STAFF SUPPORT FOH!

 CHATTING UP FRIENDS AND FANS

 TIFFANY, ONE OF MY FAVORITE FELLOW HARLEMITES AND LONG TIME FRIEND

FACES OF HARLEM | Published, for sale!

Drum roll please... this weekend marked the debut of the limited edition FACES OF HARLEM book! Hard covers are $40, soft covers are $20 and shipping is free. Of course, it is cheaper to purchase directly from the studio however, for the zealous readers out there, feel free to purchase directly from Blurb: HARDCOVER & SOFTCOVER. 

Signing my first hardcover sale!

If you've been following the studio you may have noticed our booth at the Harlem Arts Festival this weekend. Faces of Harlem, thei images, also made a debut exhibiting  nine 11 x14 fine art prints on linen matte paper, with a white matte border {see images below}. They were simply beautiful and if you're interested in purchasing, please send inquires to studio{at}ilenesquiresphotography{dot}com for price list.

 

Harlem Arts Festival 2012

I've been a little MIA on the blogging circuit as of late, mostly due to a very busy event season but most importantly, due to preparations for the inaugural Harlem Arts Festival. I was thrilled to be invited last month, though the offer left little time to prepare! ACK!


If you're reading, please SAVE - THE - DATE for Saturday June 30, 2012 from 1 - 8pm in Mt. Morris Park. My studio will be represented and featuring my current project, Faces of Harlem, with a pop-up-gallery, pop-up-studio {yes, yes you can get your photo taken here!!!}, and book sale. 


Stay tuned for more information on the festival, but for now, check out my promo postcard... you'll have to come by to scoop one up!


FRONT

 BACK

Faces of Harlem: Shaun & Thysha | Harlem Portrait Photographer

It's true that there is a six degrees of separation rule uptown. Thysha and her partner Shaun, are exactly the people I'm taking about when I write that. We just kept running into each other over the years and I was so excited to finally shoot them in Thysha's brand new Central Harlem home. 

Shaun and Thysha are lucky in love so much so that I felt like I should look away a few times during the shoot! It is so wonderful to shoot more beautiful, regal Harlemites. You can see more, including slide shows at Faces of Harlem's new home, http://ilenesquiresphotography.blogspot.com/p/faces-of-harlem.html. 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. 

And since it's Friday, here's to a little vintage fun!

Faces of Harlem: Charreah | Harlem Portrait Photographer

Charreah was referred by Jonte, who I shot in the Fall and it turned out out that we're neighbors who live a few blocks away from each other on Lenox Ave. I'll save the rest for when I debut Faces of Harlem's new virtual home later this Spring, but enjoy this little sneak peak of Charreah, a fellow entrepreneur who runs Studio Social, a business specializing in communications consulting and relationships workshops. 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: Zakkiyah | Harlem Portrait Photographer

When I was "training" for my wedding last year, Zakkiyah was my personal trainer extraordinaire. She helped me drop two, yes that's right, two sizes in record time. Now, don't get it twisted because there were blood, sweat and tears involved, but Zakkiyah made it all an enjoyable experience. She lives in her family's brownstone on 124th and 5th, the Mount Morris Park Historic District , which I will be forever envious of. It's the most beautiful neighborhood in Harlem, hands down! There is a great story behind her shoot, but I'll save it for when I debut Faces of Harlem's new virtual home later this year. Sista Zock is a true performer and does spoken word around town. I love subjects who need little direction and who are always ready for the camera and Zakkiyah was on the money! 

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!

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!