Archive for 'Events'
Dazzling, sparkling, and, INSPIRING. That pretty much sums up the ISS experience in Mexico. The luxurious event, held in Cancun, Mexico, was filled to the brim with exquisite details, expert speakers and an electrifying atmosphere. It was absolutely amazing to shoot and participate in such a creative, fun-filled environment. I can’t thank Stacie, founder of Inspire Smart Success, enough for trusting me with such a huge endeavor. Each day was filled with so many unforgettable details and experiences. It’s hard to pick a favorite from the event, but shooting the fire-dancers during the Blanco Party was definitely a thrill! Everyone at the event was warm and welcoming and we built an instant bond. I can’t begin to describe and count the immense talent behind this event. The gorgeous paper products created by Tifany of Gourmet Invitations, the beautiful cinematography of Ryan and Eric of Epic Motion, the unparalleled service by the staff of Now Sapphire resort, just to name a few.
Last summer I had the privilege of attending ISS-Orlando as a guest and it was an incredible experience but it could never have prepared me for what I experienced in ISS-Mexico. I must admit that shooting this event was not an easy task, especially without my amazing second-shooter (aka: my hubby) but I couldn’t have done it without the help of Karl & Nanette of Luminaire Foto. We had a blast together (you’ll see a bit of the fun in their photobooth at the end of this post) and it was a blessing meeting both of them.
Besides making new friends and sharing unbelievable experiences together, here are some mentionable highlights of my time in Mexico:
-Almost (accidentally) throwing Mike Colon off a lifeguard tower, this one to be exact. (Thanks Austin for the snapshot, priceless memory and thank you Ana, our talented model)
-Preston Bailey complimenting our work and autographing his book with, “Mariana & Khaled, you both have an amazing eye.” Yes, right at that moment life couldn’t get much better.
-Rooming with Krystyn of Bridal Beauty Chicago. I had never met her before and instantly felt like she was family.
-Christopher Confero and Clayton Gray. LOVE them both to the moon and back.
-Opening my dinner invitation on Day 2 to find that it was with Sonny Ganguly…you know, the guy that created Sony. (I guess it’s a bit of an inside joke).
-Working closely with Sandie (Stacie’s mom), Rachel, The Jens and the rest of the crew. They did a phenomenal job and it was such a pleasure.
-Getting to know Ceci Johnson. I met Ceci before in Miami last year and I’m thankful I had the opportunity to chat more with her in Mexico. She’s a big inspiration and I absolutely love her work.
-Tajin Seasoning. Lisi Korn, although we didn’t get to hang out as much as I would have loved, a big thank you for introducing me to the delicious seasoning. I finally found it in Tampa and use it on everything!
-It was hilarious and fun to spend time with Dana Larue and her hubby, Hunter. The monkey showing his ‘affection’ to Hunter was probably one of my favorite memories.
-Riding the van from the airport to the resort with Youngsong Martin and getting to know her and her hubby was a great experience.
-Traveling with my airport pals ❤ Petronella, Eddy and Marilyn, Eileen and her hubby, Brad.
-Meeting Kathy Romero. I can’t describe what a wonderful and inspiring woman she truly is. It’s no wonder why her beautiful face is gracing the cover of the first issue of ISS Magazine. I might even have to create a blog post to feature her and how she’s motivated me in many ways. Kathy…We’re.On.Fire.
There are just too many memories to list, but I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work with and share amazing memories with such a wonderful group of top-industry professionals. Wishing 2012 is full of much success and happiness for each of you!
If you haven’t attended yet, I highly recommend you check out and register for one of the upcoming ISS events!
Wanna Lounge
2012 has been full of blessings! Lots of amazing opportunities, changes, and new beginnings happening at Kismis Ink and we can’t wait to share them with all with you!
At the end of January, The Special Event came to Tampa. I had never attended before and had just returned from a conference (ISS Mexico) when I heard of it so I didn’t sign up for any presentations or attend any of the additional events. It was convenient that it was here in my home town, so I got myself over to the event a few times that week. I visited the Exhibit Hall, connected with some really talented wedding pros in our industry and had an opportunity to enjoy the event at a more relaxed and laid back manner. Overall, it was a great experience!
Meet Gigi, made up of an array of colorful flowers from FiftyFlowers.com. She was a celebrity at the Exhibit Hall with the paparazzi swarming around her constantly.
Concept Bait and AFR Event Furnishings did a stellar job with their booth. Loved the Moroccan vibe!
These glittery chocolates by Bedazzle my BonBons were yummylicious! Thanks to Caroline of Caroline & Evan Photography I purchased two boxes of one in every color to take home with me!
It was such a pleasure to meet these three ladies! Saundra Hadley of Planning Forever, Kelly McWilliams of Weddingtidbits, and Kelly Spalding of Perfectly Placed are outrageously fun and left me wishing that we had had more time to hang out.
There are many reasons I love attending conferences. One of the them is the way serendipity has a way of creeping in when you least expect it. That’s the only way I can describe meeting Tara Guérard. She was sitting at her book signing area at a time when I was waiting for WOW Mom session to begin. We greeted each other and a few minutes later we were chatting about Tara’s love of film photography, Elizabeth Messina, our families and how our businesses began. I’m so glad I got to meet her as I have since looked over and fallen in love with her work. Looking forward to opportunities to connect with her again in the future.
I was delighted when Stacie founder of Inspire Smart Success asked me to take a few snapshots of her speaking at the WowMom presentation. The speakers had great insight and a couple of my favorite parts included the slideshow of these talented women’s children describing what they loved about their moms’ businesses and Ruth Moyte‘s top 10 tips for mom survival in the industry!
Love these two ladies! xoxo!
I didn’t bring my camera the next day, but as the saying goes: “The best camera is the one that’s with you.” Here’s a few iPad snapshots (just for Kelly, lol) of the inspiring presentations at the Exhibit Hall:
A huge thanks to Eileen from Diva with a Fork for snapping this pic of me at The Party Goddess booth. Tweeting this pic won me a 3-month membership for the Bullpen Coaching Session with Marley Majcher!
The night before the Exhibit Hall opened at The Special Event, we had an ISS alumni meetup at Miguels (If you’re in Tampa and like Mexican food, you must try this delicious restaurant). It was great catching up with other alumni and meeting some new faces. A huge thanks to Eileen of Diva with a Fork for choosing a great place and Sandie (Stacie’s wonderful mom) for putting this fun meetup together!
(Photo credit: Stacie & Kelly’s phone pics)
Another opportunity to connect with some awesome wedding pros was the TSE Tweetup at Champions Sport Bar (at the Marriott). Thanks to Melissa of Masterpiece Weddings and Lauren of Every Last Detail for setting this up. I was able to meet many new faces and finally meet some long-time twitter friends in-the-flesh, including the lovely Michelle Loretta from Sage Wedding Pros. You can see a few pics of the tweetup here and here.
It was a week of catching up with some industry friends, making new friendships, getting inspired and besides sharing knowledge and experience, sharing some great laughs!
Being a business owner leaves little to no time to escape from the daily tasks, piles of emails, social media, and all the other important parts of running a successful business. As a professional photographer, I have realized that I spend more of my time in the business itself, than behind the camera. At times, I feel my creativity has to be put on hold, so that I can take care of the ‘practical’ side of my business. Well, I also realized I’m not willing to sacrifice my creative nature and appetite to grow as a photographer. I found a solution that works for me. I’m in the process of training myself to “take time away”. Take time to recharge my batteries. Yes, I will fight the feelings of guilt. I will understand that the emails will be there tomorrow and I will continue to set up strategies to maximize my productivity and time when I am “in the office”. But, on my “time off ” I will continue to practice and grow as a photographer. I will document where I go, how I enjoy my time and my experiences.
When Leslie, the inspiring editor of Vertical Magazine announced a Get Vertical Getaway to the Tradewinds resort in Ana Maria Island, I didn’t think twice and jumped at the opportunity. Leslie is awesome to work with and I consider her a dear and trusted friend. I knew whatever she was up to, it was going to be amazing! The getaway was a relaxing, inspiring, and the ultimate pampering experience! I was lucky to be one of the first to register, and receive a brand new Chevy Equinox from GM in the Southeast to drive to Ana Maria Island and back. Their customer service was beyond excellent. They brought the car to my front door, with a gorgeous welcome basket waiting in the vehicle and they picked it up the evening I returned home. If I had not just purchased a new vehicle in the beginning of this year, I would have totally contemplated purchasing from them. They were fantastic!
Sponsored by Working Women of Tampa Bay, the getaway kicked off with a beach chill out event where I met the other fabulous ladies, including my roommate for the weekend. After that, we headed to our beautiful cottages to change and hit the lovely shoppes at Pine Avenue. I bought the cutest little bag at Bella by the Sea, fell in love with everything at Pink & Navy, and had the yummiest cheese, sangria, and olive oil samples I’ve ever tasted at Anna Maria Olive Oil Outpost. Rhonda of Really Relish was a sweetheart and I can’t wait to go back and visit these fine shoppes very soon! We worked up an appetite after all that walking and shopping and had dinner at Gulf Drive Cafe . If you are ever in the area, stop by and try the grilled homemade blue crab cake sandwich, absolutely delish!
We spent the rest of the evening lounging by the pool and chatting about our businesses, goals, experiences, and future. It was such a blessing connecting with these women. I left Ana Maria Island the next day with buckets of inspiration, but not before the most amazing breakfast I’ve ever had! Seriously, the Island Creperie is a MUST if you are in the area. I had the “Big French Breakfast”…WOW.
Thank you Leslie and everyone who made this experience possible. Thank you for the opportunity to get to know more about my community, meet fabulous women, and get recharged and inspired! Much love to all of you. Looking forward to the next getaway in October, and to hear of all the continued success for each of these talented women!
Enjoy a few of the images from my experience!
When I’m looking forward to something, my imagination paints a picture about what it will feel like, taste, smell, play out. Now, mind you, I have a very hyperactive imagination, but the Inspire Smart Success Experience was beyond anything I could have ever imagined! My talented friend, Lauren Harper Grove of Every Last Detail and new friend (thanks to Lauren and ISSE), Caroline Smith of CSE Photography decided to car pool and room together for this event. Let’s just say that it was an unforgettable adventure, right ladies? We stayed at the Waldorf Astoria, where the ISSE event was held. Brides, this gorgeous hotel is a beautiful setting for an elegant and artsy wedding and we had a great experience on our stay. The evening of our arrival was the welcome party and what gal doesn’t like to get dolled up and mingle?! I met some amazing women, had fabulous conversations, and had my first inspire-tini! Delish! I have to thank Staci Francombe (founder of ISSE) for so much, but especially for creating the opportunity to finally meet two of my favorite online peeps, the fabulous wedding planner/coordinator, April Dorsey of The D-Tales and the super-talented photographer, Garrett Frandsen, along with all the other talented individuals at this event! The Get Published and Get on TV ISS panel consisted of Diann Valentine, Tiffany Cook, exectutive producer-Dave Francombe, Leigh Duncan-editor of Orlando Weddings Magazine, Karlena Wallace-editor of Stiletto Woman Media, and Lauren Harper Grove-editor of the online blog, Every Last Detail. The knowledge, advice, and experience that Stacie and the panel provided was beyond overwhelming! To say that I left ISSE inspired is an understatement! I loved how approachable everyone was, how interactive the talks were, and the smooth flow of the day! Add in the mix the vivid and alluring colors, amazing details, yummy delicacies, the best vendors working together and a fun-filled atmosphere-you have one heck of a party!
I seriously wish I could attend every ISS experience! I recommend all entrepreneurs attend and experience this for themselves. Stacie also offers mentoring sessions, so contact her for more information!
A HUGE thank you to everyone involved in this amazing experience and to Stacie, for this wonderful opportunity!
Update: You can watch a recap film created by Key Moments Productions here.
Vendors:
The D-Tales
Diann Valentine
Waldorf Weddings
Every Last Detail
Orlando Wedding
Wrapped Couture
DJ Carl Entertainment
Over the Top Rental Linens
Cupcake Jubilee
Bottle Your Brand
Flourish Floral Productions – Event, Wedding and Floral Design
Sweet Maralyn’s Chocolates
Amy Raith Artistry
The Paper Shop, Inc.
A Chair Affair, Inc.
Our DJ Rocks
Natural Impression Design
Key Moments Productions
Christopher Confero
We are thrilled to be part of NACE, a professional society that provides resources to better serve our clients, networking opportunities to meet with the best wedding professionals in the Tampa Bay area and ways to expand our knowledge. Last week’s event was held at the gorgeous Vinoy Renaissance in St.Pete. It was our second time attending a NACE event and it was great meeting new faces and catching up with some of our favorite wedding pros! The night was filled with delicious food, great conversations, a stunning display from MMD‘s vintage collection (which we will be featuring in a part II of this post tomorrow) and much more. The topic of the evening was the elements of floral design. We learned about scale, the art of floral design, and how an experienced floral designer can help you make your floral dreams a reality. The best part of the night was putting into practice the information that the floral expert shared. Every table was given certain elements to create a client’s dream floral arrangement, while implementing the design principles we just learned. From the images, I’m sure you will see how much fun and what creative pros we have in the bay area! The evening ended with judges choosing the winning table and some fun raffles.
We photographed the event for NACE and here are some of our favorite images from the evening. Enjoy!
Vendor Credits:
Venue: Vinoy Renaissance
Linens: Connie Duglin
Flowers and Speaker – Ian Prosser /Botanica
Lounge vintage pieces: MMD Events
Drapery, lounge areas, chairs: Showorks
