You've Got Male

If you've called or visited Recherché anytime since December, you'll notice a new presence in the studio...Jason Sinkey, studio manager extraordinaire. I'm delighted to be able to introduce him to all of you! (he's a bit camera shy so this is the best shot we've got so far!)

Like all great things in life, Jason was right in front of me when I needed him the most. I've known for a while that my do-it-all philosophy was not serving my dreams for Recherché or my valued clients. With so much on my plate, it has been difficult to do everything with the beauty, order and excellence each task deserves. That's where Jason comes in!

The youngest brother of my husband's business partner, Jason comes from a strong family-owned business and finance background. Luckily, his business-savvy ways come complete with a passion for beauty and an appreciation for aesthetics...and I've been extremely impressed by his commitment to Recherché and his enthusiasm for my mission.

Jason is used to being a welcoming face -- he loves to entertain at home. Now he's taken on the role of gatekeeper at Recherché, and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. Needless to say, it was a bit nerve-wracking to pass the reins on my business to someone who is not an exact duplicate of myself. But I've realized that Recherché seriously needed someone with a fresh perspective and a different skill set.

With Jason at my side, I can finally focus on what really counts...my photography and my clients. It's the best of both worlds -- business and beauty. Please welcome Jason into the Recherché family!

Dormant

We're home from an amazing journey. Now I finally have a chance to sit down in the cozy studio, enjoy a steaming cup of tea and start to scheme and dream up an incredible 2008 for Recherché.

This month is a period of dormancy for the studio. I'm reflecting on the year that was, organizing and tidying up unfinished projects, and dreaming up new plans like exclusive events and parties à la Recherché, a brand-new line of botanical fine arts prints and products, and new treasures and trinkets for my endeared clients to enjoy. With my busy wedding season far enough away to give me some breathing room, I have the untold luxury of looking out the window and losing myself in dreams and imagination.

I've spent so much time in gardens over the last month that I can't help but see Recherché through new eyes. I feel like the trusty groundskeeper who has planted and pruned and now needs to quietly see the garden through to spring. And what a spring it will be! (Luckily I got all the bulbs in before the frost!)

For now, though, it's a quiet time, and fittingly so. I'm back with a renewed sense of purpose and focus, and I can't wait to see my big plans burst into bloom!

Getting Quiet

Looking back on my whirlwind tour of the lands of Kiwi and Oz, I am realizing how much I've loved (and needed) the quiet time I've had with my husband on this trip.

The other day we skipped stones alongside a river for over an hour and laughed as his bounced almost to the other side and mine just sunk (like a rock). We've wandered through parks, rambled through cemeteries, hiked in awesome and grand landscapes like those of the Tasman Glaciers in the Aoraki Mt. Cook Natural Park. A major highlight of the trip was one of the most awe-inspiring and spectacular things I've ever seen or done...our drive through the Fiordlands and down to Milford Sound in our campervan. My pictures don't even come close to doing it justice; we drove in near silence as we took in the amazing scenery.

I'm hoping my return to Colorado will be as a person who is clear, invigorated and quiet. I feel I have reconnected with the importance of finding some respite from the daily grind. It seems like it's taken a whole long month to rediscover what still and quiet feels like, and I'm hoping to bring some of that feeling home with me as I come home, reconnect with my clients and my beloved studio.

I think the art of getting quiet is something everyone I know could use some practice with! I love knowing that my cozy little studio is an oasis for brides, clients, friends & family who are bogged down in event & life planning and worry...and armed with the reminder of this incredible trip, I plan to make the studio even more luxurious, serene and gorgeous in the coming year. I can't wait!

And, I have to add just a couple more favorite botanical images!! Yummy. You'll see these again when we launch my "Fine Art" line in mid-February along with our NEW website!!

Garden Delights

One of the most amazing things about Australia and New Zealand is the incredible floral bounty. Both places are so full of life...the first thing that struck me on landing in Australia is how noisy it is! Nothing like arid Colorado. The birds and insects make it sound like a full-on rainforest...quite a cacophany!

After the gorgeousness of the rose gardens where Wendy was married, I couldn't wait to see more botanical sights. Sydney's botanical garden beckoned...and it amazed me with masses of HUGE amazing bats! I almost cried with delight when I saw them. Perfect.

The Brisbane Botanical Gardens was next on our garden tour of Australia (by this point punctuated by huge meals, water tours, more huge meals...). Stunning! They do lush properly in this country, if I do say so myself.

Once we hopped the pond to New Zealand, it was off to the world-renowned Botanic Gardens in Christchurch. My idea of heaven! We spent eight hours there over two days and I took pictures until my fingers were practically numb!

I get to see quite a few flowers in my wedding adventures, but the floral bounty in these gardens is truly a sight to be seen. Enjoy my photographic foray into flowers, flowers, and more flowers!

An Australian Affair

As many of you know, my first order of business in Australia was to shoot Wendy and Paul's wedding in Sydney. Though it was entirely too sunny for the photographer's taste, everyone else was delighted that it had finally stopped raining!

Wendy, the bride, is from Miami and tragically lost both of her adoptive parents and her sister in the last several years. While there were no family present at the wedding, several good friends came from the States and her best friend, Balaji, performed the typical "fatherly" duties like walking her down the aisle. The wedding was obviously very emotional (as so many weddings are!) and oh-so beautiful! Wendy has married into a huge, boisterous family who is as crazy about her as her new husband. Paul, the groom, has three sisters who were visibly excited to see their brother finally marrying.

The rehearsal dinner took place on a harbor cruise -- breezy and fun. The next day, I was on hand to photograph the bride preparing for her wedding at the Grace Hotel in the Sydney CBD with two of her closest girlfriends. The ceremony itself took place in the rose garden of St. Ignatius College, a private boys' boarding school where Paul has taught math for many years. It was the first time the college has ever allowed a wedding in the school's gardens! What a treat to shoot!

Wendy was a bit surprised to learn that it is not customary for each guest at an Australian wedding to expect a chair (only 30 chairs for 120 guests)! However, the ceremony went off without a hitch and blended Paul's Catholic and Wendy's Jewish backgrounds nicely. The reception was tons of fun, and the next day featured a bus tour in the gorgeous Blue Mountains. Creamy cockatoos and non-plussed kangaroos...wild and exotic for a Colorado girl!

Here are a few favorite images!