FAMILIES KEEP THEIR COOL IN SPITE OF THE SUMMER HEAT

 

St Simons Island is such a lovely place to visit.  There is so much to do and see, so much history and beach fun for the whole family.  Or just a great place to do nothing at all.  We ate so much fresh shrimp, fruits and veggies from the local farmers market.  And saw plenty of sunrises…..we’re not really morning people, but when it’s 100 degrees outside, you start early or not at all.

The studio is already planning it’s 2013 Summer Fun Sessions. We plan to stay longer to explore more options for great seaside imagery.  Can’t wait!  Mark your calendars and we’ll keep you updated as we lock in our travel plans.  Thank you everyone that joined us this year.  We enjoyed bringing back a little of the ‘happy place’ that is the beach for all of you.

Love in the Dominican Republic

Thinking about a destination wedding or looking for an amazing place to escape the rush of life? We were fortunate enough to travel to Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic this year to photograph a lovely wedding and it is the perfect spot to relax, celebrate and be amazed by the beauty of nature with top-notch service to top it off.

When we met Leah and Axel last year, we were smitten with their laid back attitude and love of all things horse. Both are excellent riders, and large animal vets. We scheduled their engagement session to be with, and around, horses which seemed logical, and immediately put them both at ease.

They talked about their upcoming wedding out of the country, and we were so excited for them. Originally they planned to use a photographer provided by the venue in the Dominican Republic. But when the engagement session photos came back, they made the decision to take us with them on their wedding day adventure, and off we went. Travel to the Dominican Republic is not terribly taxing. You can fly commercially into either Santo Domingo, the main airport, or into smaller venues, like the airport at La Romana, which is where we elected to fly due to the amount of equipment we were carrying. Tiffany at Global Escapes in Athens made all our arrangements and it all went off without a hitch.

The villa we stayed in was so very lovely, with birds and blooms everywhere that were visible through wrap around windows. Our cook, Josie, was precious, and after telling her we wanted to eat ‘local’ she plied us with the most amazing meals every day. The water was clear and cool – a welcome change from the heat of the day. You had your choice of the luxurious pool with swim-up bar service or the cabana’s by the ocean. And the staff was so accommodating. We got quite spoiled! The main mode of transportation in Casa de Campo, which is where the wedding was held, is by golf cart. Suited us just fine (except the day when we went exploring and it decided to rain on us like crazy!). We got to see the world at a cart’s pace which was great because the homes as well as the natural environment were amazing.

It was a very multicultural group, so we listened to conversations all night in French, Spanish, Portuguese and of course English. Delightful! It was a perfect setting for the wedding as the bride’s family is in Miami, while the groom is from Argentina.

The food was spot on, as the chef for the rehearsal dinner dining spot was trained at the renowned Le Cirque restaurant in New York. The wedding stage was built especially for the wedding, and dismantled the very next day. Talented carpenters to be sure.

Leah and Axel made to incorporate local traditions by including local performers, a hand rolled cigar station at the wedding and mojitos made with delicious Dominican rum. Both of which are readily available on the island.

At the eastern point of Case de Campo sits Altos de Chavon, a liberal arts school and village overlooking the Chavon River.

Fashioned after a 16th century European city, its winding steps and cobble stoned footpaths were magical at night under the stars. What a fabulous place to study the arts! We will miss Casa de Campo, hope to go back and highly recommend it to anyone looking to stage the perfect Destination Wedding! And thank you again, Global Escapes for making our trip smooth and safe.

Beach Photo Sessions Are Back!

Every year we try to get away to one of our favorite places in Georgia, St Simons Island, to photograph families, brides and couples in the most relaxed and beautiful surroundings.  We go to the beach early morning or late afternoon, down to the docks, the marsh, local parks or even to your vacation home if you prefer – or a combination of any of the above!

The dates for this year have been set and spots are booking quickly.  Available bookings: July 1st (pm) and July 2nd (am and pm) – in advance of the 4th of July crowds.  Contact the studio directly and join us for some sand, sea and smiling memories!  706.227.3777 or email us at info@zoom-works.com.

SPECIAL GUEST: Weds Dubai Gives Zoomworks the Inside Scoop

We’ve gotten the opportunity to have Weds Dubai, a company that specializes in weddings abroad in Dubai and Italy, become a special guest and write a post for our readers. Dubai is BEAUTIFUL and we hope we get the opportunity to shoot over there. Destinations are always a ton of fun:

Here’s their inside story:

Dubai is a meeting of exoticism and modernity in a luxury environment, all blended with outstanding service wherever you go. The venues are simply romantic, on the white sand of the beach facing the Burj Al Arab (the icon of Dubai), or on the golden dunes of a luxury hotel in the desert. Furthermore the cost of a wedding in Dubai is surprising affordable considering the emirate’s lever of luxury.

Getting married in Dubai is a wonderful and unique experience and you can select the most incredible venues. Have your wedding celebrated in front of the Burj Al Arab, in a luxury desert resort, or even on a cruise boat. The perfect season for a wedding in Dubai goes from end September till begin of June, so the summer here is too hot for a wedding and the couple should plan accordingly during these months.

Many wonder “Why should I hire a Wedding Planner?”. A wedding planner gets special prices from the vendors and secondly the wedding day is stressful enough and even if you have friends or relatives helping you out, there are always last-minute problems that can make the couple’s stress even worse without a professional help. Besides, Dubai is huge, so in terms of the services and the list of vendors, a wedding planner knows which are the best ones.

Moreover having guests coming from abroad requires accommodation and facilities and, of course, a bit of fun, such as a safari in the desert or a swim with the dolphins. Weds Dubai can also take care of the couple’s guests and arrange a real Dubai experience, making the whole event unforgettable for everyone.

For more information, you can go to Weds Dubai’s website, or send them an email to info@wedsdubai.com

Images courtesy of Weds Dubai.

Former ZoomWorks Bride Creates a Buzz in West Coast Music Industry

Stephanie La Fera and her husband, Brad Driver brought us along for their nuptuals on the island of Puerto Rico.  We loved the vibrant colors, gorgeous vistas and laid back attitude of the whole event.  And of course, we had to stay a few extra days to enjoy the beach and the amazing food!  We just learned that Stephanie, owner of Little Empire, an electronic music management company based in New York City, has made a bold move and we wanted to share the good news.

Stephanie La Fera was announced as the new music manager of Atom Empire. It is the new electronic music division of the music management group, Atom Factory. Atom Factory represents DJs and the electronic music genre, even Lady Gaga. Talents signed include Kaskade, Ming, Le Castle Vania, Late Night Alumni, Haley and Digital LAB. Stephanie has a “deep understanding of dance music culture,” so this is a great fit and major promotion in her career. She has her own company, Little Empire Music, managing a wide range of international recording artists, including Kaskade. Before the rise of Little Empire Music, La Fera was an artist manager at MCT Management working with artists such as Moby and Taylor McFerrin.

Beach Sessions are Growing in Popularity

Shannah and I are always up for a beach trip.  Any excuse to get our toes in the sand.  The weather was perfect this time out, with giant popcorn clouds just perfectly positioned for our early morning session.  Little Lillian has been working with us since she was just a tadpole, and her personality is in full bloom.  Cup of girlie girl + pinch of sassy + teaspoon of an uncanny sense of humor = dynamic images every time.   Don’t you just love her cowgirl hat???

TRASH THE DRESS SESSIONS AMAZING OUTDOORS

Girls, this is a great opportunity to be spontaneous……grab that wedding gown you haven’t formally preserved yet, get on Hotwire, and book a room at the beach.  Let us create a look for you with expert hair/makeup and the beach as a backdrop.  It doesn’t get any better than this and we only have one session opening left on Monday, August 15th, in the afternoon, at St. Simons.

Call the studio today to book this last opening and see yourself through the eyes of an artist.  What a great way to officially end your summer….and your wedding story!  Of course, grooms are welcome, tuxedo’s optional……….

Summer Beach Sessions for Family or Individual Portraits is a Winner

As the last bit of summer wanes, we treasure the times we’ve had, strolling along the beach, sleeping in….escaping the every day.  Our last beach sessions for the summer are coming up, August 15-17, and there are only three openings left.  Special summer pricing, stylist on hand to keep you looking fresh. We have amazing canvas stories to turn these images into art that you’ll treasure every time you look at it.  Call us and see how easy it can be to keep those great summer stories alive.  We’d love to see you with your toes in the sand……..

Simple Camera Tips for Shooting Kids Outdoors

Sometimes it’s not possible to have your family photographer on hand for those spontaneous moments –your kids splashing in the sprinkler in the backyard,or your little one fascinated by a ladybug on the windowsill. Moments like these are when mom puts on one of her many hats and turns into a photographer herself.   Here are some simple tips that might help:
If possible, place your children in bright shade.  This helps your camera and the kids.  No squinting and the exposure will be more controllable with nice even light.  If your kids are having the time of their life in the sun, move around them until the sun is at their back, turn on your flash (your camera may feel it’s not necessary, but override it and use it anyway) and snap away.   And don’t forget to change your ISO, the setting that dictates how your camera will react to light.  The brighter the light, the lower the number.  Outside, bright light, 100 ISO is great.  Bright shade or indoors, a setting of 400 is probably more appropriate.  This will ensure that you get the fastest shutter speed possible, a big plus when snapping the  kids!!!!

ZoomWorks is heading to the beach!

ZoomWorks is heading to the beach!   We’ll be in St. Simons July 10-17. Family portraits, engagement sessions, bridal portraits, pet portraits, weddings- get creative! If you can imagine it, we can make it happen! Call us at 706.227.3777 to book your session today!  Space is limited. -ZoomWorks