Diana Lupu Photography

Summer Garden Inspired Wedding Shoot

D.Lu — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:33:34 +0000

I had been scouting blogs for many months and noticed a trend in a concept known as “bridal shoots”. Basically, they are mock weddings in which you can dream up your perfect set-up and take beautiful photographs of details, the couple, and your location. Unfortunately, all the beautiful shoots I kept seeing were across the country, mainly in California. I’ve said this before, but I feel as though South Florida has some secret society of photographers that nobody can be a part of unless maybe you bribe with Godiva chocolates. And since I’d most likely end up eating the chocolates myself, I’d get discouraged one too many times. And frustrated. A combination of hogging the computer and hearing me complain drove Adi insane. Because he can only take so much whining and quite frankly, wanted me to focus on something other than sulking, he told me something that I still apply today… Don’t wait around for somebody. Be that somebody who does something.

And so I did. I have to be honest…I had no clue what I was doing. It was difficult, at times embarrassing, and frustrating. I was promised things by vendors that never came through, I was naive in my requests, and most likely, unreasonable. But I learned. And I kept at it. Through it all, I met some incredibly talented people who were not only willing to help, but excited at the idea. And today, I can call those people my friends. From the incredible dress designer to photographers I met, to my model couple, I was blown away by the generosity and support. Looking back at everything, it was probably the best experience I’ve had since jumping on this crazy journey. I was honored & humbled to work with people that are willing to see this industry grow into something that is more about community than competition. To Ozzy, Julie, Lauren, Jorge, Krystle, Oana, Elizabeth, Linda, Jackie, Aniela, Diana, Alex, my girls that pitched in and helped, and my number one supporter Adi, thank you. Thank you for all you’ve done and all you continue to do. You are all amazing to the tenth power, and I was so lucky to have been able to meet you.

As a child, I’d read the Secret Garden and let my imagination run wild with the beauty Mary discovered. Visually, it was heaven on earth. When I thought about a theme, a summer garden with a touch of vintage seemed like the perfect fit. We scouted places and collected items we thought would flow nicely. Vintage branches, birdcages, ivy, and summer flowers began to come together in ways we never expected and my childhood vision of the Secret Garden came to life. Whenever I see bridal shoots like this, the details are so incredible. And probably unlikely in a real wedding situation, unless of course, the budget allows for it. For this shoot, we wanted things that any bride could put together with any budget. Krystle made this “table number” using vintage fabric and painting a frame from the local craft store. A simple, yet beautiful touch. We could not get a florist to commit to the project, however Flowers by Le Fleur was kind enough to provide us with beautiful flowers that we arranged ourselves. The bouquet turned out beautiful and we were quite impressed with ourselves. Although you really can’t go wrong with peonies, vintage lace, and a brooch…Meet our adorable couple Diana & Alex who were not only beautiful on camera, but sweet as can be off as well. It was such a pleasure working with them and oh-be-still-my-heart, the photos we got!Separately, these two were quite stunning……but together, they were breathtaking. When I first met the great Jorge Manuel, I was a nervous wreck. I thought he’d laugh at me and tell me not to waste his time. But instead, he welcomed us into his studio and his imagination and I held back the tears. No really, I repeatedly told myself not to cry. As soon as he heard the idea behind the photoshoot, he said he had the perfect dress in mind. I never expected it to be this beautiful, this flowy, and this romantic. And I never expected Jorge to be that gracious, kind, and unbelievably generous.
I love natural moments like these… Robbin’s Lodge Park provided so many gorgeous spots for photos, it was unreal. I could stare at these all day:

Diana, you are so gorge, it’s just not right. Alex was not to be outdone and looked pretty studly as well How adorable are these two?!I’ll end with a favorite.

To see more of this summer garden wedding, CLICK HERE for a slideshow!

*And a VERY special thanks goes to everyone that was involved*

Location: Robbin’s Lodge Park
Styling & Concept: Yours truly and Krystle of Love Ever After Events (loveeverafterevents@yahoo.com)
Wedding Dress: The incredibly talented Jorge Manuel
Makeup: Oana (oana@oanagetmadeup.com)
Hair: Elizabeth Villa (Elizabethvilla95@gmail.com)
Accessories: Belles For Her
Florals: Donated by Flowers by Le Fleur
Linens: Linda’s Party Rentals
My incredible models: Diana Vilskaya & Alex Taylor

Oh, the nerve.

D.Lu — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:10:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, Adi sat me down and turned my shoulders to face him. I began to feel my heart race as I was sure he would tell me that he’s lost his job. Or that I would have to do grocery shopping and a load of laundry because really, it’s getting out of hand. Either way, I braced myself for bad…. really bad, news.

Holding my hands, he gently told me what I needed to do. And I? I couldn’t believe the nerve. You see, a little while back, before I began my thesis, I put together a summer garden bridal photo shoot. I worked really hard to get a gorgeous pair, found the perfect location, florals, dress, decor, the whole shebang. After much stress and sleepless nights, the day came for the photoshoot and everything was perfect. After all was said and done, I posted a few sneak peaks on the blog and promised myself I would post the shoot in its entirety immediately. Shortly after, school began, work started to pick up, and life went from semi-busy to full-on crazy. Every now and then, Adi would remind me of the shoot but I would remind him back that my clients came first and so did my school. And I did what I always do, pushed it to the side for when I had more time.

But time never came. And with every passing week, time gets scarcer. And here was Adi, with a lot of nerve, sitting me down to tell me how important it is that I post the shoot. My defense system shifted in high gear and the “buts” started rolling out faster than he could keep up. And for that matter, I know what I need to do and I will get it done when I’m good and ready. Followed by a hmpfh! Smiling slyly, he knew he had me. He knew he said just enough to get me remembering and sure enough, I went back to the images and fell in love. I knew what I needed to do and it took my husband sitting me down and facing a feisty-stubborn-always-busy Diana to get me to do it. So tomorrow, I will be posting the photoshoot in it’s entirety, with many thanks to Adi. Here’s a little sneak peak in the mean time…

Our Weekend: Sleeping in & Heavenly Light.

D.Lu — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:04:53 +0000

This past weekend, we felt a family trip was necessary. To re-charge our batteries. That, and we missed my aunt’s cooking. Georgia was warm, sunny, and welcoming. My family was loud, full of life, and energetic…especially while cooking breakfast. At 8 am. They were all, psshhh, who sleeps in on vacation?

It was just what we needed. After relaxing and doing as little as possible, we’re home and back to our normal routine. Things are going to get extremely busy for us and its moments like the ones we spent in Georgia with our family that reminds me to stop and breathe. And sleep in once in a while.

Oh, and did I mention the amazing weather? Heavenly. We take pictures of each other. I prefer pictures of Adi and this picture proves why….I may be biased but he’s just adorable. Before dinner, we took a walk in Piedemont Park in the city. And the light? I was all take my picture standing right in the middle of it! My cousins & Adi decided all that walking was too much for them. And the one making a funny face? That’s Josh…who apparently is the comedic in the family.

Happy Wednesday!!

Fabulous Friday Find: Rehearsal Dinners

D.Lu — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 22:31:13 +0000

I was going to start this post off pretending that I didn’t realize I was posting a fabulous Friday find on a Saturday. But then I thought, I’d either a). look like a fool for mistaking the first day of a weekend for the last day of a weekday…I mean, who does that? or b). have to explain myself in the comments section because nothing gets by you guys. My readers are just too intelligent for a stunt like that. =) Adi and I, along with my wonderful family, have been enjoying the past few days visiting our Georgia family. We’ve been relishing in the quietness of their peaceful little town with strolls in the park and outdoor barbeque’s. And though I desperately wanted to tear myself away and post this, stern looks from Adi served as reminder to not even think about it. Because to him, anything that requires my attention for more than 10 minutes, is work. And so internet, I was a good wife who listened to my husband. That is, until now. And “now” is happening because the boys went for a swim and left me and the laptop unattended.

With that said, here is my fabulous Friday find that I could not wait to share. It is a rehearsal dinner, which we all know can be quite boring. This got me thinking… why is that? It is, after all, an intimate gathering with those you love most. Those who have supported you and have been there from the beginning. And what better way to celebrate than with a beautiful dinner honoring them and the prelude to the best day ever. So sit back, grab tall glass of lemonade and enjoy the beauty. And as always, happy weekend!

*All images were taken by Millie Holloman Photography and the event was designed by Salt Harbor Designs. See this post in full on Style Me Pretty.*

Fields of Flowers Bridal Shower

D.Lu — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:14:49 +0000

I can’t believe it’s been nearly 2 weeks. After many trips to craft stores and back, pouring over blogs for inspiration, and working within a very tight time-frame, we pulled it off. I had every intention of posting this sooner but somehow, time flew by without so much as a warning. That “time” guy…so inconsiderate. It would be nice if he just warned us that he was deceiving and sneaky and that 10 minutes is never 10 minutes. And if he’d just….oh nevermind…I’ll spare you my ranting.

Where was I? Oh, yes. My sister-in-law’s bridal shower. We planned a simple yet colorful party inspired by fields of flowers. We added hints of daisies and moss wherever we could for a “softer” feel and made pretty much everything except for the table cloths and chairs. Because really, that would require a lot more time…which we all know how I feel about right now. It was a beautiful party and personally, I think this would be lovely as an outdoor wedding as well.

Because I was one of the hostesses, I didn’t shoot much with my camera but I did manage to grab a few. Also, because of the lighting (fluorescents should be illegal and banned for everyone’s sake), I edited the photos differently than I normally do. Here’s what started the whole thing: “field” flowers and bright mason jars: Add a little moss and a few branches and voila!

You can’t have a bridal shower with a “fields of flowers” theme and not have fresh lemonade. With my beautiful sister-in-law

*On a side note, I’ll be in the Atlanta area this weekend visiting family so if anyone is interested in a mini photo shoot, just write me an email and we can discuss further! *

Romance…without red roses.

D.Lu — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:09:21 +0000

I haven’t always been this way. In fact, it used to bother me. Seeing those cheesy red roses in the arms of boyfriends at the local flower shop, or hearing about the candlelight dinners, or worst of all, seeing men fawn over their other halves as if they were incapable of doing anything on their own. It bothered me not because I was some sort of bitter-jolted ex-girlfriend to someone (I wasn’t) but because I just wasn’t into it. It wasn’t my thing. Since meeting my husband and truly understanding the concept of falling in complete-head-over-heels-love, things have slightly changed. While I’m still not a fan of bouquets of red roses, I now find myself loving romance. And I find myself loving the little things much more than grand gestures. A sweet note left on my night table, an unexpected bouquet of peonies or wild flowers (much better than the red roses), a cupcake because I can’t go more than 1 week without having one, opening the door not because I’m incapable but because he insists I feel special and taken care of, or even a text. It’s in these simple things that I find romance beautiful.

And because Adi told me last night that he loves when I post pictures of actual work I’ve done instead of random ones, and because although that wasn’t very romantic of him to say, I still value his input, here’s a photo that I do find incredibly romantic. I refer to this wedding as “the field wedding” because of the beautiful flower field we shot portraits in. Look for the post soon and happy {romantic} Wednesday!

5am buses and adult summers.

D.Lu — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:30:11 +0000

It’s official. Kids are returning back to school and summer is drawing to an end. When I was little, the first day back to school was a dark, dreary day. It was the day I mourned sleeping in till 10am and staying up past midnight, hanging out with friends on weekdays, sun kissed skin and beachy waves, summer crushes, and having tons of time to catch up on all the books from the public library. As college approached, summers were never quite the same, as school was suddenly year round and the luxuries of summer activities were reserved for available weekends. And thus came something called adulthood. As Adi and I were leaving church last night, the kids were dreading what was coming today. They were holding on for dear life as they desperately tried to preserve their last night of freedom in the form of football and ice cream (we have a pretty cool church, what can I say). And I? I smiled at the thought that before these kids even know it, work will fill their summers and cramming for finals in the middle of August will be the norm. Life thinks it’s funny that way. Still, summer will always have that freedom-feel to it and I for one, will miss it. Probably not as much as the kids waking up at 5am to catch the bus, but nevertheless, I’ll miss it. Happy Monday to you and here’s to being an adult and no longer eating in a crowded lunch room.

And here’s to our adult summer…

all images via House Beautiful.

Estee & Emi: Atlanta Wedding

D.Lu — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:46:10 +0000

The room was floating with chatter. In true girl-form, make-up tips were exchange, hair was admired, and Starbucks coffee was brought. The day began with excitement and unfolded much the same way. As Emi waited to see Estee, I could sense a certain eagerness in his eyes, and as she approached him, the excitement grew. With great anticipation and joy, Estee & Emi were married in a beautiful ceremony filled with loving poems, songs, and words of encouragement from those that loved them. At the end of their reception and just before the sun set, we took the new Mr. & Mrs. out for some final photos of their day. As if a dream, Estee beamed with joy as we roamed the grounds and declared “I can’t believe it.” And with that, her new husband slipped his arm around her and hand in hand, led her away as if to say, believe it.

I had the great joy and honor of shooting Estee & Emi’s wedding in Atlanta and have been wanting to post their wedding ever since. So it is with the same great excitement that started their day that I finally give you the adorable and very sweet, Estee & Emi. A huge thank-you to both of you for being so patient and understanding with my school schedule.

Enjoy your photos and don’t forget to click here for your slideshow.

I was in love with Estee’s shoes. And the gorgeous hydrangeas in her backyard. The very talented team of Christine Cocian did the hair for all the ladies. Email her ASAP at ccocian@gmail.com if you have any event at all…she is young, talented, and oh-so fabulous. The flowers were absolutely beautiful and if any of you are in the Atlanta area and in need of a florist, do not hesitate to call Michelle of Creative Home Goods and Services. Her website is currently in the works so until then, email me if you’d like her info.

As I was with the bride, Lauren snapped these of Emi and I must say, he looked quite dapper.
Estee you’re beautiful. Period.
Estee & Emi did a “first look” to allocate enough time for photos. I couldn’t have been happier as I strongly believe this is the best thing to do.

Married! There isn’t any other moment throughout the day that is more exciting then the first moment they walk out as husband and wife. I don’t usually post “guest” photos but this was so much fun, I just had to. Ok, I couldn’t resist. While we were taking bridal portraits, the father of this little girl was searching for her only to find her “cooling off”. I wished I could have taken her home with me. We roamed the grounds of the reception hall and found some hidden heavenly light. The perfect ending.

Prioritizing for the sake of someday turning 95.

D.Lu — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 07:29:40 +0000

I am writing this before I even begin my day, just pining for it to already be over. And in less than 5 months (!!!) I will be most likely repeating myself with a few more exclamation marks. By nature, I’m a people pleaser. This means, I don’t know how to say “no”. As in, that word does not exist in my vocabulary. And as a result, I’ve signed up (once again) for much more than I can handle because I’m afraid of saying that two letter word. Well internet, I’ll have you know, that I have been practicing in front of a less intimidating mirror and am hoping things will turn around. So, even though it kills me to say no when my mom asks me to come over and try her new cheesecake, or when my friends ask me to join them for a movie, or worse than anything, when Adi asks me to go to the gym with him, I will stand my ground and mutter those 2 letters with my head held high. Ok, so maybe the gym thing won’t be that difficult to turn down. But it’s all about prioritizing from this day forward. =)

Here’s a picture of a special birthday we had a few weeks ago at my church for a very special woman who turned 95. That’s right, 95 years old. She is such a blessing to our church and I can’t begin to describe how wonderful she truly is. This whole post has got me thinking that if I ever want to see 95 and still be kicking, I’d better say a lot of “no’s”. Happy Tuesday to you!

Made with love. Loud love.

D.Lu — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:13:23 +0000

Hello all and happy Monday to you! This weekend has flown by and here we are, a new week yet again. I can’t remember the last time I’ve juggled so many things and with midterms approaching faster than a I can blink, I feel there are not enough hours in the day. Which is why I’ve been staying up at odd hours of the night trying to play catch-up. So you can imagine my annoyance with Adi this morning when he decided to bang on every counter top we have and make what seemed like breakfast for our entire street. I eventually but reluctantly got out of bed and began asking him why he couldn’t prepare his breakfast a little more quietly for the sake of his wife’s sanity. But before I could continue he told me that in fact that loud breakfast was made for me and as I walked towards the kitchen, there it was. My loud little breakfast made with love and quite the ruckus, waiting for me to indulge. As far as I’m concerned, he can now wake me up with pots banging anytime.