Remember them?? This is Natalie and Zurab whose wedding I shot last October. Nata graduated from Pace University with strait As on May 23d and I was invited to witness this happy event. How cool is that?
To check out the slide show from Natalie and Zurab wedding Click here.
When: May 27, 2007
The ceremony and the reception: The New York Botanical Garden, Staten Island, New York
Janine and Jerry got married. And Agnes and I were the lucky photographers that got to shoot their wedding.
The place: An incredibly beautiful reproduction of a Chinese garden in Staten island: wavy organic architecture filled up with an explosion of flowers and trees around a pond. A little paradise. The couple: Janine is a drop dead gorgeous chinese-american that carried her heavy dress as if she was born to be a princess. Although she is a sportive non-make-up down to earth gal when she is not getting married!! And Jerry is a big blue eyed sweetheart that treated Janine with royal deference. They were surrounded by warm family members and friends and, what can I say, it really felt like love was in the air… everybody was utterly nice and obviously happy to be there.
After the wedding Janine and Jerry had invited all their volley pals for a pic-nick at the little league field right next to the Chinese gardens. They played some ball in their wedding outfits and then changed into more suitable clothes to really join in (this is the first time I shoot a bride getting OUT of her wedding dress!!).
They met in central park playing volley, so what a perfect way of ending their wedding day!!
Thanks Janine and Jerry to trust us with your wedding pictures.
Best wishes,
Maria.
Favorites from Agnes
When: May 27, 2007
Ceremony: St.Vartan Cathedral
Reception: Tavern on the Green
OMG, all I can say Ann Mariam looked like an Armenian Goddess! Dennis is a sharp looking fellow and, what a couple!! Everything was so beautiful and elegant. Ann and Dennis were so gorgeous and so much fun to photograph. I had a blast! At the end of the night they found time to give me a “thank you” card. That was very thoughtful.
“Dear Gulnara,
If a picture is worth a thousand words, I guess we owe you at least a thousand thank yous.
Dennis and I are lucky to find such an amazing and talented photographer to shoot our wedding. I remember looking for photographers through the WPJA and said that she has to be our photographer. I am so happy that you were available and willing to shoot our wedding. You have been an absolute pleasure to work with. I can not thank you enough for your talent!
Much love,
Ann and Dennis.”
Thank you Ann and Dennis for giving me the opportunity to express my creativity! Have fun in Hawaii!
I can’t tell you why but this photo is absolutely my favorite.
Bill Wang was helping me out with the shoot and I really like the photos he took with the fisheye lens. Guess what is on my wish list for the next lens 
A week ago I shot a Dior fashion show assignment for “Fashion Wire Daily”. Charlize Theron was there and I absolutely admire her looks and talent. She is SO gorgeous! I think she liked me too as I felt she was posing just for me. Perhaps because I was the only female shooter or because I was wearing Prada and Essey Miake not the jeans as the rest of the shooters
Here are the shots. The rest of the Dior fashions are here.
Penélope Cruz
It would be a crime not to post some photos of shoes!! I can understand now why the models get paid so much. I can’t imaging walking on one of those Even some of the models couldn’t!
What a gorgeous couple!!! Scott and Asa are going to get married in Sweden ( no date is set yet) and asked me to photograph their pre-wedding party at “The Park” Restaurant in Manhattan. I had few minutes to pull the couple aside and take some photos. Here are my favorites.
I just recieved an email from Cecelia Lyden, an artist from Pennsylvania, who made a painting from my photo of 9/11 survivors. In her own word she finds it still hurts, especially when she was carefully looking at the facial expressions, trying to recreate them.
Here is the original photo I took on 9/11 that won many contests including the First Prize in the World Press Photo in Amsterdam and nomination for the Pulitzer prize.
Last December the photo was made into a sculpture. You can check the story here.
Speaking of the World Trade Center. Last Monday I had an assignment to shoot Dior fashion show for “Fashion Daily News”. I had a small panic attack when I realized it was in the recently build WTC 7 and on 50th floor- I never been there. My knee and hands were shaking and I was worried if I could shoot. Thanks to my doctor, who treaded my post dramatic stress disorder after 9/11. He did a great job- it passed rather quickly.
I even made it to the huge windows and took some shots. I couldn’t stop thinking about the people who I witnessed jumping from the both towers…
Ground Zero
The arrow shows where I was shooting on 9/11 just across from the fallen towers.
You can see more photos and read my story on www.gulnarasamoilova.com
Turn on your speakers and enjoy!!
Slideshow
When: April 29, 2007
Ceremony: my favorite Russian Orthodox church on 97th street and 5th avenue
Reception: Atlantic Grill restaurant on Coney Island
And it was a great wedding!! We went to the Church early, with enough time to check the Central Park for the perfect spot for formals. And we found it, a blooming tree on top of a little hill gave the ideal background to add color to the images. Maria and I noticed Irina’s beautiful but camera-shy smile. We went on great efforts of making our cameras invisible and keeping an eye on those moments where she would be focusing on her man or her guests and she’d let that bright charming smile of hers light up the scene, and our “stolen” images.
The day turned out to be perfect for the camera. The clouds came in and out giving us a sound variety of lighting situations. The church had enough light for us to photograph comfortably without a flash and the restaurant was a small but warm place with a fun colored lighting going on as well. As good russians, the guests really went off their chairs and into the dancing area and gave us a million of fun scenes to photograph. The food was beyond delicious and they were extremely gracious with us: Maria, the videographer Oleg and I ended up sitting at a table with guests and offered all sorts of foods and beverages. We left happy and stuffed!!!
Stay tuned for the slideshow.
I don’t normally post formals on the blog but look at those women eyes and smiles! Love it!
I was fortunate to have my associate Maria shooting with me and here are my favorites from her signature style.
