Naples Wedding Photographers http://blog.astridandrene.com Your Life. Your Love. Your Art. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:59:24 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 mike+cara – miromar lakes http://blog.astridandrene.com/2012/01/22/mikecara-miromar-lakes/ http://blog.astridandrene.com/2012/01/22/mikecara-miromar-lakes/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:59:24 +0000 Astrid http://blog.astridandrene.com/?p=2089 Beautiful. Emotional. Real. Raw. I can’t describe this couple any way else. From their vitality for life to the amazing love for each other that permeates the air around them…..it doesn’t get any better than this.

The amazing, simply amazing A+ Team

Karen Lopez; Detailz Events
Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club
Naples Original Video Productions
The Resolvers; Ron Yosef – Reggae Band
Barefoot + Brendon- Cocktail Music
Garden District
Kilwin’s
Sassy Cakes
Atlas Rentals
Niche Event Rentals
Cold Cuts – Ice Sculptures

]]> http://blog.astridandrene.com/2012/01/22/mikecara-miromar-lakes/feed/ 0 Our Favorites of 2011 http://blog.astridandrene.com/2012/01/02/favorites-of-2011/ http://blog.astridandrene.com/2012/01/02/favorites-of-2011/#comments Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:24:40 +0000 Astrid http://blog.astridandrene.com/?p=2004 Before I sat down to write this post yesterday, René and I and the girls went to the pier to get some fresh air and enjoy the first sunset of 2012. Truth be told, I was hoping to find some inspiration for what I would write in this blog post. I’m usually not at a loss for words when it comes time to writing, but for some reason, every time I tried to sit down to write this last post of 2011, I would stare off, distracted and distraught at the lack of words flowing.

It’s not that I didn’t have anything to say. It’s that I couldn’t get it down or pinpoint what I wanted to say. It’s happened so much so that this post is a few days late…..being posted the second day of the new year when I wanted to see it up a few days before the end of the year. But things happen for a reason, right? I needed to find that moment still.

So off to the pier we went. We left what was a very thick and yummy game of Horse Lovers Monopoly spread out on the dinner table, to catch the first sunset of the year. The girls got ready in record time. I changed out of my pajamas (yes, it was 5:00 and I was still in my PJ’s), and actually got lucky and found a parking spot close to the pier. And off we went.

The pier was amazingly packed with people. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it so full of life and activity and energy as I saw it today. And as we walked down the length of the pier, stepping out of the way of people taking pictures, kids chasing each other, fishing poles being cast, people shouting and laughing at each other I really started to feel the power of what a New Year means.

Little moments together. Special looks. Beautiful places. The light when it hits your beloved’s face. A special hug from a friend. That look he gives you. That sweet smelling hair after a bath. A caring arm around your shoulder. That special text that makes you feel remembered and appreciated. The breeze on your face. The work that is so challenging but makes you feel alive. The family that makes your head dizzy but you wouldn’t know where you would be without them.

Life is all around you and those little moments are what makes it all worthwhile. As I look back on 2011 and despite being filled with personal and professional challenges, it was a year that made me realize how happy I am in my skin and in my life and in the moment.

While very imperfect, it’s perfect for me. I’m happy with this mess of a life that I call mine. And I’m happy right now. I love where I live, what I do and the people that surround me. And my New Year’s wish is that everyone can find that perfect mess for themselves, too.

All the best and Happy New Year……Astrid and René

]]> http://blog.astridandrene.com/2012/01/02/favorites-of-2011/feed/ 1 Jo + Kelly’s Wedding Part 3, the Reception http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/12/19/jo-kellys-wedding-part-3-the-reception/ http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/12/19/jo-kellys-wedding-part-3-the-reception/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:39:35 +0000 Astrid http://blog.astridandrene.com/?p=1958 And it’s with great pleasure that we post the last segment of Jo and Kelly’s wedding….as our second-to-the-last blog post of 2011, both Rene and I are quite humbled thinking back on just how lucky we are to be able to share in so many beautiful moments like these.

Photography isn’t just about freezing time. It’s about the people you meet. The experiences you live and the moments that make you who you are. We won’t get all mushy this time around. We’ll save that for our last blog post of the year! :) But we do want to extend a big Thank You to the Raj’s for trusting in our vision and giving us those beautiful experiences!

And a BIG thanks to the 5-star team that we got to work with!

The Strand Country Club, Amanda Fromm
Kakes by Karen
Lyfe of the Party
DJ Pram – Rang Entertainment
Kish Weddings
Sir Daniel and David Frohmberg
Krishna Digital Studio

]]> http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/12/19/jo-kellys-wedding-part-3-the-reception/feed/ 0 Jo + Kelly’s Wedding Part 2, the Ceremony http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/12/13/jo-kellys-wedding-part-2-ceremony/ http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/12/13/jo-kellys-wedding-part-2-ceremony/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:59:00 +0000 Astrid http://blog.astridandrene.com/?p=1864 These are just a few of the images from Jo and Kelly’s wedding ceremony held at The Strand here in Naples. We can’t add much more other than to say it was a real honor to work with both Jo and Kelly and their friends and family. They also assembled a real 5-star team to handle their festivities. From David and Sir Daniel on hair and make up to Aileen and Amanda at the Strand, the day couldn’t have gone smoother. It’s a real treat to get to work with such A+ professionals.

Our final blog post next week: the Raj reception! Make sure to check back…..

]]> http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/12/13/jo-kellys-wedding-part-2-ceremony/feed/ 1 Jo + Kelly’s Wedding Part 1, the Mendhi ceremony http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/12/05/jo-kellys-wedding-henna-ceremony-naples/ http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/12/05/jo-kellys-wedding-henna-ceremony-naples/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:31:00 +0000 Astrid http://blog.astridandrene.com/?p=1822 Wow….where to begin! I was going to try and present Jo and Kelly’s henna ceremony and their traditional Indian ceremony together as one blog post, but it’s not going to happen. With so many wonderful moments of these two very special days, Jo and Kelly’s wedding blog post is going to be split into 3 posts with the first being their henna ceremony.

I’m not going to say much about this part of the blog post other than to say that it was a tremendous honor to be part of Jo and Kelly’s wedding festivities. Not only did we get to photograph some amazing details, but being able to participate in our first Indian wedding was well, nothing short of amazing! From Kelly’s gorgeous traditional Indian gown to the wonderful traditions of their Indian ceremony….the two days we got to spend with Kelly and Jo and their friends and families was unforgetable.

So this post covers the first part of their first day: the traditional henna ceremony. The henna artist was brought in from the East coast and did she do an amazing job! Even the kids received some beautiful henna artwork. And Kelly had her hands and feet bandaged so that the henna wouldn’t smudge for her wedding day…..and the end result was well worth it. Make sure to check back for the second part of this post: Jo and Kelly’s Indian ceremony.

]]> http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/12/05/jo-kellys-wedding-henna-ceremony-naples/feed/ 0 Jaclyn and Karl’s beautiful Breakers wedding featured in the Knot! http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/11/07/jaclyn-and-karls-beautiful-breakers-wedding-featured-in-the-knot/ http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/11/07/jaclyn-and-karls-beautiful-breakers-wedding-featured-in-the-knot/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:22:33 +0000 Astrid http://blog.astridandrene.com/?p=1798 Loving this beautiful wedding each and every time it comes up!

We were contacted by the Knot a few months back when we featured the beautiful Jaclyn and Karl on our blog. The magazine was set to run a special edition Florida insert in the national edition of the Winter issue and wanted to showcase 6 luxury Florida weddings….and of course, when you think of luxury and Florida, the Breakers in Palm Beach is always one of the top picks.

This was our first time working at the Breakers and man. It was everything and more that we had read or heard about this wonderfully historic, stylish and luxurious venue. From the amazing chandeliers, to the fabulous architecture, to the history to the impeccable and true white-glove service…..it’s worth a visit and definitely a stay if you’ve never been!

And if you are thinking about getting married here in Florida, make sure to pick up the national Winter 2011 edition of the Knot. Along with the beautiful Florida weddings showcased, they also include coverage on their picks for the top 10 luxurious places to spend your wedding night in Florida! And along with the Breakers. the Knot also recommends one of our absolute favorite spots, right here in Naples, The Naples Grande Beach Resort.

And of course, here’s the rest of the awesome team that worked with Karl and Jaclyn on their special day:
Wedding Planner – Joni Scalzo – Your Special Day by Joni
Venue – The Breakers Palm Beach
Videography – Javier Medina – My Treasure Films
Cake and Floral Design – The Breakers Palm Beach
Quartet, band, live DJ – Alan Andai – AA Musicians

]]> http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/11/07/jaclyn-and-karls-beautiful-breakers-wedding-featured-in-the-knot/feed/ 0 Nailah & David’s Miami Tower wedding published in Weddings Illustrated! http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/10/10/nailah-davids-miami-tower-wedding-published-in-weddings-illustrated/ http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/10/10/nailah-davids-miami-tower-wedding-published-in-weddings-illustrated/#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:12:08 +0000 Astrid http://blog.astridandrene.com/?p=1787 We are happy to announce that Nailah and David’s wedding, held at the Miami Tower, is published in the Fall/Winter 2011 edition of Weddings Illustrated. It’s always an honor to have a magazine approach you because they love a wedding you’ve shot, but it’s an even greater honor to be featured along side some of what we consider the best talent in the industry.

Gracing the pages in this issue are Jeffrey and Julia Woods (whose featured wedding was shot right here in our home town of Naples!), Carlos Baez and our own Cher Hanna! Having two photographers featured from Southwest Florida’s wedding industry is a testament to just how awesome the pool of talent is here!

If you haven’t taken a look at this issue, don’t wait any longer! The weddings cover a wide range of creativity, locations and details and the newlyweds featured make the images sparkle!

A special thanks to Nailah and David for trusting in our vision for their wedding day!

]]> http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/10/10/nailah-davids-miami-tower-wedding-published-in-weddings-illustrated/feed/ 0 Jessica and Ryan – Bellasera, Naples http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/08/29/jessica-and-ryan-bellasera-naples/ http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/08/29/jessica-and-ryan-bellasera-naples/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:38:17 +0000 Astrid http://blog.astridandrene.com/?p=1742 FUN. FUN. FUN. That’s what Jessica and Ryan and their crew is all about! And even though we got some rain during the ceremony, we were still able to travel via the Naples Trolley to the beach for some amazing Southwest Florida sunset pictures!

Thanks Jessica and Ryan…..it was such a wonderful night for us! :)

Jessica and Ryan’s awesome wedding team included:

Venue: Bellasera Hotel
DJ: Diuvaney Flores Latin & American Productions D.J. Services Inc. (239) 404-0084
Florist: Grace Lakes Florist
Cupcakes: Simply Cupcakes of Naples
Transportation: Naples Trolley
Officiant: Kelly Werder

]]> http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/08/29/jessica-and-ryan-bellasera-naples/feed/ 1 Kristen and John – Mediterra Naples http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/08/08/kristen-and-john-mediterra-naples/ http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/08/08/kristen-and-john-mediterra-naples/#comments Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:56:22 +0000 Astrid http://blog.astridandrene.com/?p=1692 As artists, we are always seeking out ways to keep our creativity fresh, invigorated, excited and motivated.

Rene and I are always looking at art, listening to new music, traveling, reading good magazines and books (yes, the ones made out of paper), studying the web, learning about new cultures and going on new culinary adventures. Creative inspiration is everywhere around us! In the smallest leaf. In the darkest storm cloud. In the beautiful design of a couch or the genius of a symphony.

All we have to do is open our eyes and ears and nose. Nature. Architecture. Music. Design. Art. It’s an abundant source of inspiration for any discipline…..and while we have a wealth of resources to turn to, our best work, for us, comes from the people that we photograph. Our clients often times provide us with the best inspiration and creative mojo!

Kristen, John and their families gave us TONS and TONS of that delicious creative mojo! From the wonderful chemistry between John and Kristen to the wonderful way Kristen’s parents made us feel like we were one of her own kids. Every step of the way we felt like part of their family and not just a hired hand.

Photography is an artform very special for both John and Kristen and their families. They value this artform and understand, that in the end, after the cake is eaten, the flowers die and the gown is put away, what we have left of special moments are our memories and our photographs.

Thank you to John and Kirsten and their parents and friends and families for the wonderful gift of inspiration and creativity they imparted to us. And for reminding us just why we love what we do and why photography is such an important part of all of our lives.

~ Astrid and René ~

The amazing people that helped create this very special day:

Wedding Planner – Mary Hines
Videography – AMC Video
Fabulous entertainment – Robert Williamson Music
SUPER FUN photo booth – Photo Mingle
Venue – Mediterra Naples

And don’t forget to watch some slideshow LOVE! :)

]]> http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/08/08/kristen-and-john-mediterra-naples/feed/ 0 Jaclyn and Karl at the Breakers http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/06/13/jaclyn-and-karl-at-the-breakers/ http://blog.astridandrene.com/2011/06/13/jaclyn-and-karl-at-the-breakers/#comments Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:58:39 +0000 Astrid http://blog.astridandrene.com/?p=1620 Beautiful setting + beautiful couple = a GREAT experience for us as photographers. Of course, it’s always a pleasure for us to get to photograph a wedding…..and that experience of photographing a wedding takes us to beautiful locations and the Breakers has become, without a doubt, our favorite venue thus far!

Aside from impeccable service, the atmosphere was just super! Not stuffy, excellent service and SO SO friendly staff….definitely what a venue’s service should be like.

For Karl and Jaclyn, their wedding day was, to use a cliche, absolutely perfect. The weather was idyllic and love was in the air. There was a wonderful gathering of friends, family, excellent food and service and wonderful music, all set on the stage that is the Breakers!

And for us…….having a bride that looks like Jennifer Aniston and a groom as handsome as Karl well, makes our work a total breeze.

All in all, this was a wonderful day and we really loved the opportunity to get to work with some of the best talent on the East coast. Here’s the awesome team that worked with Karl and Jaclyn on their special day:

Wedding Planner – Joni Scalzo – Your Special Day by Joni
Venue – The Breakers Palm Beach
Videography – Javier Medina – My Treasure Films
Cake and Floral Design – The Breakers Palm Beach
Quartet, band, live DJ – Alan Andai – AA Musicians

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