Bye-Bye blog

this is my last entry in this blog… see you in a better place.. MY NEW BLOG!!!

http://www.an-gphotoblog.com check it out!

ciao

Angela

Family in Sheep Meadow, Central Park NY

Hello blog, yes I have neglected you and have not written anything lately, no excuses. I have to push myself more to blog more often. I am not a blogger although I do like sharing things about myself and of course my photos. =)

So last weekend I went with Ty to Central park for a mini session, even though for short photoshoots I usually don’t need an assistant Ty’s company is always perfect and someone to carry my not-too-light-camera bag =). It took us a few minutes to figure out the right meeting spot, but Ty had his iphone to save the day, yey for Iphones =)

I met Shefali and her family at Sheep Meadow in Central Park for some family photos and we had a great time. Her little boy was so cute and hyper, normal for a 2-year-old boy. At the beginning he was very serious and concerned about his stroller, so while we were talking photos, he got up and went to get this stroller himself and pushed it closer to where we were. So then I started talking to him, he was still serious, and would not smile that much. But it took just a few more minutes and next thing you know he was holding my hand and running with me, then Ty was running with him, I may share a photo of that. When it was time for me to go, he didn’t want me to go, he walked close to me, looked up with puppy eyes and said bye. So funny. So cute. As I’m typing I am smiling.

Anyways here are few photos from that day =)

PS: I want to remind that my mini photoshoot promotion is still available and ends on September 30th, 2010. Share it with your friends =)

Julia at Fort Tryon Park {portrait}

Well, I have been so behind my blog updates, I have been busy with design work, but mostly thinking a lot about the things I need to change about my business and my life overall. Everything good, I just got stuck figuring out my next step and I figured out that I can only take one step at a time otherwise I will go crazy and will not accomplish things. So more about that in another post.

I met Julia at Fort Tryon park/The Cloisters last week for a few photos and I have to say that this is one of my favorite places not only to take photos but I find this place totally relaxing, peaceful, open. However, during the photoshoot we were almost attacked by a not-too friendly squirrel, I think we were invading his/her territory =). This is why I need Ty as my assistant, nobody messes with my tall boyfriend =)

I had a great time with my photographer buddy Julia. Thanks you and hope you like your photos as much as I do.

=)

Mini Photoshoot Special!!! =)

Not the typical bride at Forest Park

Hello!

Well, after attending the last bridal photoshoot in NJ, I was able to get a better idea about what is involved when photographing a bride. Even though it wasn’t a real wedding event it is definitely good practice and gives room to try new things and also room for a few errors. Prior to attending this event, I was already planning a couple of bridal photoshoots just because it’s something I’ve never done before and would be fun to try it out. I was lucky enough to have a couple of friends that allowed me to use their wedding dresses and the rest was up to me to get. To find a good location, hair accessories, shoes, make up, hope for good weather but most important, the right model to fit the dress and this one was the hardest part of all. Luckily, I found the right girl to collaborate with me in this photoshoot and we made it happen.

I had so many ideas in mind, but I knew I wanted to try something different, after all, I was doing this to challenge myself a little, find new angles, accommodate myself to the location, light and also have some fun. So I decided to have a dramatic bride with a pensive look. I am aware that brides are usually happy with a huge smile on their faces, but I wanted to have a different approach, and perhaps someone may like the concept. I had a great time, well I wish I had a mosquito repellent that day, but besides that I was very happy with my images. I have to thank Christina K. for letting me use her wedding dress for these photos, thank you! Also a big thank you to Frankie G. for being such a great model and helping out.  My sister Sylvia J. for doing hair and make-up for me, I was very pleased and thanks for sticking around. Last but not least my boyfriend Tyrone, for “patiently” waiting in the car while Frankie was getting ready, for driving us to the location, getting batteries at the last-minute, for carrying my gear around and looking for the good spots without poison ivy around, but mostly for being there for me, like always.

Enjoy the photos.

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Jersey Shore Bridal Photoshoot

So last Thursday I headed to New Jersey along with photography buddy Julia Azcona, which I really have to thanks to make the drive there shorter and enjoyable while we talked about a little bit of everything and of course photography. Years ago, when I started wondering about becoming a photographer it never crossed my mind the type of photographer I wanted to be, but I knew I wanted to capture everything I could and learn. I have to say, that after a few years of doing this, I have photographed so many different things, from still life, children, architecture, real estate, baptisms, weddings, concerts, etc, but photographing people is what I really enjoy doing the most.

When Feuza Reis, fellow photographer from New Jersey posted an event for a Bridal photoshoot, I knew I had to be there. Bridal photography is something that I have been thinking of doing and I have to say that it was a great awesome experience, I not only have wonderful photos to share but I met other great photographers, make up artists and made new connections. Feuza, thank you so much, you did a great job putting this photoshoot together, I hope we get to see each other again in the near future. =)

Enough talking, enjoy the photos.

Venue: Berkley Hotel

Make-up: Yvonne Moss

Hair: Heather Ballasy

Flowers: Divine Decor

Happy Monday! =)

a little story about me….

Ok, I’ve noticed that it is hard for me to blog, and I think I know why. I write the same way as I think, and within the way that I think there are so many AAWW! WHAT!!! ???? pppssss! AGH!!! &^%$#QUE!  etc and I don’t think that is “proper writing” I want to do it the “right way” so I’ve been putting a little shield and keeping all my entries simple and straight to the point, after proof reading it a thousand times. Another reason is that being English my second language, I fear (yes, I have fears) that many spelling and grammar errors could be translated as someone with bad communication skills. As I’m typing now, I know that I will spell check this entry to avoid “mistakes”. That was confession #1 and there are a few more. I don’t share too much, not that I need to have entries about what I eat, where I’ve been and what I will do the next day. But basically, not too many people know Angela, the girl who loves to cook, enjoys music, misses her flamenco classes and that is also a recent college graduate.

So let’s get a little personal now, so you get to know a little bit about me, because honestly I have nothing to hide and have a lot to share. This may be long, so sorry if I bore you with my story, feel free to grab a snack now =). I was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, my grandmother raised me by herself because my mother got married and emigrated to New York City for a better life. Needless to say, my grandmother became my 2-in-1, father and mother, and not having any siblings at the time, I was very spoiled by her, but not in a bad way. I am the person I am today thanks to her. My mother and her husband struggled to have a decent life in New York, both worked hard and long hours at factories and little by little started growing as a family, adding Sylvia and Bennett, my siblings that I love. Unfortunately, my grandmother got sick with rheumatoid arthritis, her health was deteriorating and things were changing. My mother also got sick with cervical cancer, it was found a little too advanced but she started getting treatment and was stable within her condition. On my 15th birthday, my mother went to back to Ecuador after all those years with my siblings and decided to celebrate it with a big party, with live band and all that stuff. That day my grandmother couldn’t be part of the party, she wasn’t feeling well, she was sitting on a chair inside the house, just watching me enjoy my party and happy to see her daughter there too. Two months after that celebration my grandmother passed away. And yes my life was not the same ever since and I still miss her.

Shortly after that I had to move to New York with my mother, her husband and my siblings. I had to start all over again. It was weird, I didn’t want to be here but I knew my mother needed me and besides where was I suppose to go after all. She was on remission for a short time, but cancer came back and this time there was nothing else the doctors could do for her, my mom was sent home to wait. She decided to fly to Ecuador, she didn’t want to die here, she said that it was going to be too expensive. So everyone flew back home to be with her and take care of her.  My mother passed away a few days after arriving to Ecuador. It was painful but I learned a lot. My mother was in pain and even though I didn’t want her to “leave” us, I couldn’t be selfish, I was thankful that her suffering ended and she was finally enjoying an eternal sleep.

Those events are very personal and emotional topics for me but are part of who I am today. I don’t pretend to show myself as a weak person by sharing my story, but a strong one that has grown as a person that enjoys life with the ups and downs, and has learned to appreciate life, and to accept things out of my control. I have learned to smile again. I have learned that it’s never too late to learn something new or in my case, start from scratch in a new city, learn a new language and  go back to school. I know that both my grandmother and mother are happy of what I have accomplished so far. And because an entry is better with a photograph, below is the official confirmation of one of my biggest accomplishments until now, I will have more to share in the future. I apologize for any grammar/spelling mistakes, practice makes perfect, with that said I will blog more and improve my writing. I am happy to say that I am a photographer and a graphic designer, that will continue growing, and capturing moments, learning and smiling because life is worth living it with laughter and dreams.

Happy Friday! =)

Ana + Marcos, Yonkers, NY

I am not the perfect blogger. I try to blog more often but sometimes I just can’t find the right words to say or how to say them. Maybe that’s why I love photography, I try to simplify how I describe things with words and show every emotion I capture with images. Ana and Marcos are a married couple, they got married in Ecuador a little over a year a go and now they live in Yonkers, NY. I remember when I met Ana, she would talk about how she met Marcos, how they fell in love and their love for the Ecuadorian futbol team Emelec. Even though they live in New York now, they still wear their favorite futbol team shirt regardless.

It was a great photo session, I enjoyed each single moment to get to know more about them. Thanks guys! and thanks for showing me a new spot for photos!!! =)

Angela

This one is one of my favorites!!!

The Martial Arts team…

Van Cortlandt park has been part of a few photo sessions with different people and I am happy to say that I really enjoy this place. There is always a new spot, a nice view and interesting new trails. This time I photographed Mr. Sogetzu and his team. It was a different type of photoshoot and it was a challenge to capture what they do best with my camera. I had a great time, it was very entertaining to watch them do their martial arts and capoeira moves. Enjoy the photos guys!

a little bit of Europe-updated

So I graduated from college, and a week after I went on vacation to Hamburg , Germany. Little did I know, that my long time friend Geovanna and her boyfriend Dojan had planned to visit other places in Europe, and we were coming along yey!. I was thrilled and happy. This was my first long trip to Europe with Ty and we were so excited to go to all these fabulous places in such short time. We made every day count, it didn’t matter the rainy and cold weather, it didn’t matter that we were sick, we enjoyed every minute of it and left us wanting more. Thanks Geovanna and Dojan. Danke!

Here are a few photos from Hamburg, Amsterdam and Paris. I will post more as I finish going through over 1000 photos…

** I just added a few more photos from my trip to Europe, like I mentioned before, it was a great experience and would do it again in a heartbeat.

PS: I just updated my 101 in 1001 list, see what I have accomplished and what I will not…