Friends photo shoot? Fun! Ashley wanted her BFFs to enjoy a date that involved playing dress up, colorful arty walls and being silly. It was the perfect girly time.
Archive | Photography
Ava’s 3rd Birthday
I could end my post here, but I also wanted to show the kids partying. 🙂 Ava is the sweetest.
Drea, Alex, Marlowe & Puppy Waylon
These Holidays I couldn’t help to think how thankful I am for my journey in Photography. It has been challenging but so rewarding. After many shoots, I’m finally sure of what makes my heart sing and what I want to pursue and show to the world. I’m really passionate about my fashion photography work and I don’t see myself ever stopping, it’s never boring and always so much fun! But my very first love in photography was capturing candid moments which is completely different from fashion photography. It’s the other part of me, my sensible side (I blame my daughter for it). I find so much joy documenting honest moments and that’s the same reason that I want to keep doing it.
I spent a morning with Drea, Alex, Marlowe and their adorable puppy at the Farmers Market in Coconut Grove. I gotta be honest, even though I’ve shot family portraits before, I wasn’t entirely happy with the results I got from them. This time was different, I let this adorable family be themselves, and even though it was harder to control and I kept thinking “I’m totally sucking at this one!” I got photos that I’m proud of showing. The photos of this shoot were meant to be for another project that I’m working on but instead they reminded me of my first love, and I’m thankful for that! Do you remember what made you fall in love with your career initially? Pls share!
PS: If you still follow blogs you must already know of Drea’s blog but if you don’t have a look. She’s pretty awesome.
Travel: Chicago & Michigan
Jorge and I had a job up north and we took the opportunity to visit some friends and to also explore the city a little bit. This was my first time experiencing a true fall season. I was fascinated by the rich colors of the trees. I also got to see some of leaves falling in what seemed like slow motion and it was kinda magical. All photos are mine, except the one of me; that one is by Jorge. 😉
Travel: Orlando
I’m visiting 3 different cities this month. It’s been a lot of fun but also a little chaotic (hello, dirty laundry). Last weekend, my little family and I took a couple days off to visit Universal Studios in Orlando. Jorge has been trying to convince me to go for the past 2 years. I must admit, I’m not a huge fan. Crazy roller coasters make me sick and waiting in line for 1-hour for a 2-minute ride doesn’t really please me either. But I have to give it to Jorge, it wasn’t terrible, it was actually pretty fun! But what I loved the most about this trip was to see Luna and Jorge bond. Luna loves daddy, it’s the sweetest thing.
Travel: NYC
I just got back from a trip to New York and I feel like a new person. NYC always has that effect on me. I attended a photo workshop hosted by one of my favorite fashion photographers, Lara Jade. As I expected, Lara is not only talented but also knowledgeable. I really appreciated her pleasant demeanor and her willingness to share her skills. Attendees were also lucky to learn from Ashlee Gray, a fantastic photoshop retoucher that shared her tips and tricks with us. I’m eager to apply everything I learned to future shoots, but I have to remind myself that I can’t do it all in one day!
I also wanted to take some time to enjoy the city. I was able to see Cabaret, a broadway show starring Alan Cumming and Michelle Williams. They were both incredible! A must see if you’re in the city. I knew that I also wanted to include some live music into my itinerary and found out that Helado Negro and Sinkane were performing during my stay. Hands down, one of the best shows I’ve ever attended. Sinkane made me feel I was in the 60s listening to a bad-ass soul band. I got goosebumps during their performance and didn’t want it to end. You must check out their tour dates and show them some love if they’re playing in your city; you won’t regret it!
True Colors: Sandy
Sandy started baking sweets in a small closet in her house. Her workspace was small but her dreams were big. Little by little, with a lot of love, discipline, sacrifice and the help of her family she has built her dream job; she now runs a specialty cake boutique in Little Havana called Sugar Fancies where she bakes with her sisters. She’s not only an inspiration to her siblings but she’s also a testament to the rewards gained by following your true calling. I spent a day at her bakery immersed in Sandy’s sweet world.
LC: HOW WOULD YOUR DESCRIBE SUGAR FANCIES?
SF: The formal description would be a specialty Cake Boutique. In random words: yummy, loving, fun, pink, buttery, fancy yet simple.
LC: TELL US HOW YOU STARTED AND ALL THE STEPS IT TOOK YOU TO BE WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW.
SF: Like most of us, I started from home around eight years ago. Although cliché, I did start my love for the kitchen at a young age, however as I grew older I never thought I could turn my pastime into a business. I started from home with a few orders a month, and grew from there. I think what really brought me to view locally was when I attended a Foundation and offered my services as a donation. We had a great turnout: people really loved our product! With no more time to waste, I decided to perfect my craft and I went off to Pastry School. By no means has any of it been easy or a quick turnaround: on the contrary owning a small business is a constant fight towards achieving your dreams, and keeping the passion that fuels it alive.
LC: YOUR SISTERS ARE A BIG HELP, HOW DID THAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP START?
SF: I am extremely lucky to say I have a big and amazingly close family. My sisters were a big part of this Journey, as was my mother, father and husband. They have been the mere life and soul of my business, an incredible support-not only emotionally but also as a workforce. They got Sugar Fancies going. It was the love that only a family shares that drove this beautiful journey. My sisters were exposed at a young age to the art of cake design and pastry; it started as a game that turned them into my indispensable right hands. I am lucky we share the talent and love for this wonderful craft.
LC: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR SISTERS?
SF: Life is made of moments. Never allow anyone or anything to stop you from living in the moment, live your dreams today, don’t be afraid. Take your time and make the best out of your moments, as those become your memories and your memories become your life.
LC: DESCRIBE YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AS A BUSINESS OWNER.
SF: My greatest accomplishment has been to have seen our work recognized by industry professionals, featured in print publications and participating with the Food Network.
LC: WHAT ARE THE NOT-SO-GREAT THINGS ABOUT OWNING A BUSINESS AND HOW YOU OVERCOME THEM?
SF: The numbers! Tax Season is my least favorite part of owning a business. There is no numbers while creating art. However, being prepared and having a positive attitude can help you tackle anything.
LC: LIST 3 THINGS YOU NEED TO GET ON WITH YOUR DAY.
SF: Morning Tea, Soup (no matter the weather) & some type of dessert.
LC: WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?
SF: My family, my business and the love to my craft.
LC: WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST WAY TO MARKET YOUR BUSINESS?
SF: I would say, firstly, word of mouth, and social media.
LC: HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR CLIENTS HAPPY?
SF: I like to get involved at a personal level. I like to meet every single client, when possible, to develop a connection with their visions and expectations. We love to provide an experience.
LC: IF YOU COULD, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOURSELF 10 YEARS AGO?
SF: You are enough.
LC: IF SUGAR FANCIES WAS 3 COLORS, WHAT COLORS WOULD YOU PICK?
SF: Blush pink, gold, nude and some grey. Sorry, I think I mentioned 4.
Thank you Sandy for letting us into your world!
Portraits: Alicia
Alicia is turning 16 soon and has informed her mom that she is cutting her hair very short after her birthday. Her mom couldn’t talk her out of it, but she did manage to convince her to have a photo shoot with her long hair before cutting it. One of the things I love about photography is that when people reach out to you to have their photos taken it’s usually for a reason and I love being a part of that decisive moment. Without further ado, I present Alicia with long hair.
Luna & The Ceiba Tree
There is a magnificent tree with very large tall roots close to our house. The first time I saw it, it gave me chills; I felt it’s energy and I was curious to find out more about it. It turns out that it’s a Ceiba tree and it’s sacred in “Santeria” (afro-cuban religion) because it’s thought to have great spiritual force. It’s no wonder people come and make offerings ranging from dead chickens to even a little plastic cake topper figurine, leaving them at the foot of the tree between it’s snaking roots. Whenever we pass by, Luna loves to climb it, this time I snapped some photos.
True Colors: Julia
My “True Colors” feature column started as a result of my desire to showcase not only the work of inspiring women but also to get to know the person behind the successful business or endeavour. I wanted to get to know each lady and find out what exactly inspires and drives their vision. We often see work that inspires us but we seldom see the construct and the maker behind it. My goal is to inspire other women that are on the fence about following their path because I truly believe that’s the only way to be happy. And isn’t that what life is about? I’m going to feature women like you and me, that not only experience success and joy, but also moments of fear and difficulty which are all part of following the heart and a unique vision.
Today we will get to know Julia Rohde. I met Julia about 2 years ago when she was just starting out. She runs Julia Rohde Designs, a floral and event design company that creates gorgeous and artful bouquets amongst many other things. It has been truly empowering for me to see Julia blossom into her greatest creation yet; her true self. As a result, her work has been featured in endless blogs and publications. I spent an afternoon with Julia and with the help of Hiara, a talented make up artist who did her hair and make up. I snapped some photos of her doing what she does best. Make sure to scroll down to read the interview.
LC: What do you usually tell people when they ask you what you do?
JR: Floral aficionado, all things design enthusiast.
LC: What are your reasons and motivations for what you do?
JR: I really just want to create beauty. I love seeing how many different ways you can make an arrangement with the same flowers and have it still look unique and beautiful. I’m always looking for ways to deliver a unique product to our clients. Over time it’s been really interesting to see how our style has evolved into a garden-inspired, organic sort of design and I’m really happy we have fine-tuned our design aesthetic in a way that stands out.
LC: What does a day-in-the-life of Julia consist of?
JR: Every day is different. Some days I’m conditioning flowers, other days I’m pumping out arrangements all day or meeting with new clients. Although my favorite days are practice days, which I make an effort to do because it’s always good to try new things with arrangements and see the outcome with complete creative freedom.
LC: Describe the most exciting minute of your entrepreneurial journey.
JR: There are so many exciting moments, but I think this must have been the moment we finished delivery and setup of our first full-scale wedding. It was truly a moment I couldn’t have been more proud of because I knew what we had just accomplished and I knew that if we could do one, we could do them all.
LC: It can be a little scary to start something on your own; how did you overcome your fears?
JR: There is no doubt that everyone fears something in their professional career, whether it be a really important interview, presentation, or perhaps a challenging project for a client. I think its really important to remember that we are human, and not perfect, and that people make mistakes. It’s going to happen. But the only way you can prevent any major mistake is by being on top of every little detail, being extremely organized and having tons of checklists. We’ve had our fair share of growing pains, but it has made us better at what we do. As the saying goes, without failure there is no success.
LC: If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out, what would it be?
JR: I think this business has opened my eyes to one thing that has changed my life completely; there is nothing in this world that can’t be done. It doesn’t matter what it is, if you want to start a business, bike across the US, learn a new language, you really can do anything. It just takes focus and hard work. If you can do that, you’ll get to your goals.
LC: What’s the best piece of advice you have ever gotten?
JR: Just do it. No matter what your fears are, you’ll learn along the way and figure it out.
LC: What motivates you?
JR: Receiving positive feedback from our clients motivates me more than anything. It’s an amazing feeling to hear we knocked it out of the park.
LC: How do you define success?
JR: Unrelenting ambition and perseverance leading to one’s personal fulfillment and happiness.
LC: Other than your own, what company or business do you admire the most?
JR: I’ve always admired letterpress companies. I think there’s something so amazing behind the process of using these old Heidelberg printing presses to create beautiful pressed wedding invitations and paper goods.
LC: What makes you happy?
JR: A new idea that I can’t stop thinking about.
LC: If Julia Rohde Designs were 3 colors, what colors would you pick?
JR: Pale peach, sherbert orange and blush pink.