So…….What did you do this Summer?

My intention for starting the Ivan Apfel Photography Blog was not only to provide a place to showcase current professional work, but also to provide a place where clients and potential clients could get some insight into me as a photographer on a personal level.  So while this post may not have anything to do with my professional work, it does allow you to see who it is you are intending to entrust photograph your special day, your growing family or just your life in general.

One of the reasons why I love being a wedding and portrait photographer is that I am really into family.  Anyone who has met and spoken to me for at least two minutes knows how crazy I am about my wife Ana and son William (aka Will, Bug, Woo).  Our families are very close as well.  Almost weekly dinners  with her family is our tradition on the Ruggiero side.  As for my family, once a year all of the Apfels (all nine of us) pack our bags and go on a week to two week vacation together.  This is actually really great for Will and our nephew Hagen because with my brother and his family being New Yorkers, Will and Hagen don’t get to see each other much during the year and even though there is a two year difference between them, they have always been crazy about each other.

This year’s trip?  The South of France, Provence to be exact.  A friend of my parents owns a country home on top of a mountain in a small village named Roussillon and was generous enough to offer it to them for a month in June and July.  This was my second trip to France and my first to Provence.  This was Ana’s first trip to France and Will’s first trip to Europe.  So needless we were very excited about this trip.  Below are just a fraction of all the pictures I shot while there.

Click on the picture to learn more about the image or location  Don’t forget to check out my favorite B&W images from Paris on our last day in France by clicking here.

Paris, France…..some of my B&W favorites from the Summer of 2010

We spent the last day of our family vacation this summer in Paris.  We spent the whole day exploring which is is about as effective as spending a couple of hours at Disney.  But while we were there I made the most of it taking pictures of some of my favorite places in Districts 4, 5, 6 and 7.  Here are some of my favorite B&W’s from the day.  Paris is so beautiful in B&W, isn’t it?

[...] Click on the picture to learn more about the image or location  Don’t forget to check out my favorite B&W images from Paris on our last day in France by clicking here. [...]

Introducing Brent Baker – Newborn Session

Photographing newborns is something I do very rarely and generally only upon special requests from previous clients, typically past brides.  Just such a case has occurred recently.  In 2007, I worked with Kristen and HB shooting their eSession and wedding.  Kristen and HB are both officers in the US Coast Guard, she stationed in New Orleans and him in flight school in Pensacola.  As with many of my clients, we have kept in touch over the past couple of years.  In July I got the exciting news that they were both back in Miami where he is flying helicopters and she is preparing to attend University of Miami Law School.  Even more exciting was that they were expecting their first child.  And even though they know that I am not normally a maternity and newborn photographer, they didn’t trust anyone else to capture these special moments in their family’s life.

In July we shot their maternity session at the same place where we began three years ago, Bill Baggs Beach Lighthouse where we shot their eSession.  If you have not already seen the maternity session already and would like to, you can click here.

Well, Brent Jr. almost made it to August 18th (which would allow him to share his birthday with such greats as Robert Redford, Dennis Leary, Edward Norton, and yours truly).  On August 10th, little Brent Jr. arrived and joined the great brotherhood of the Leo.

On the 21st, we tried our first newborn session……which did not go so well.  First, as babies tend to do, Brent was have a developing digestive day which lead to sleeplessness and discomfort.  Mix that with a new surrounding and strobes popping off every few seconds made for a very grumpy and uncooperative baby boy.  The final nail in the coffin was that a lightening storm ended up hitting the feeder line knocking out the power to about 2000 of us.  But at least we got a couple of shots in.

So we have decided to try again this weekend and see how it goes.  Maybe little Brent will be a little more comfortable this time.

Even though I had a blast and expect to do so again this weekend, I will tell you one thing, I have developed a huge level of respect for people who photograph newborns as their primary trade.  Such a skill and art form in doing these sessions.

Sleeping Brent Baker.....for the moment at least

rayza - September 2, 2010 - 1:01 pm

I love it!!! <3

Kristen Baker - September 2, 2010 - 12:08 pm

Ivan,

This picture is gorgeous! Thank you so much for your patience with our little guy!

Sincerely,
Kristen and H.B. Baker

Myriam & Ernest – Newport Beach Resort

August 28th, 2010

Wow, what a wild wedding event.  I think we are all still recovering….but in a good way.  This was my first Ugandan Catholic wedding.  And while the Catholic part did not play a huge part of the wedding, the Ugandan wedding traditions did.  Filled with warm, from the heart speeches, some via eMail from Africa, to wonderfully rich traditional dances and even a song from all of the women in the family to the bride while everyone sat on the floor holding hands.  This was such a wonderful, warm and truly unique wedding.  Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Butera.  And thank you for letting me take part in your special day.

There are so many more pictures to come and it has only been a day since the wedding, but I had to put up a couple of my favorites from the day.

Ceremony: Newport Beach Resort, Sunny Isles, Florida
Reception: Newport Beach Resort, Sunny Isles, Florida
Event Planner: Melissa - Events on a Budget
Make Up Artist: Yaneth Gray

BRIDES Wedding Genius for iPhone & iPad

One of the greatest things about mobile technology is being able to have all of your planning and project notes with you on the go.  For me I have found that the best thing for me is Bento which has the standard full Mac program and an excellent iPhone and even better iPad version that syncs with the Mac data.  However, to get it to work with my specific needs I spend a week designing my project template.

click on image to enlarge

But now Bride’s have it made.  A new app for both the iPhone and iPad let’s you take all of your wedding planning with you on the road.  It is from Bride’s Magazine and allows you to browse all of the dresses, flower, jewelry and travel details in their database.  You can add items you like to your personal idea folders. 

Originally this part was free and there was a $3.00 upgrade that allowed you to also track your own even including scheduling, assigning tasks to friends, bridesmaids and family via eMails as well as track ideas you have.  However, I believe they have recently made this upgrade free for a limited time.

To find more information about this app, visit it on iTunes

F a c e b o o k