Pat and I had a pre-wedding season getaway early March to of all places…ICELAND! I miss it already. Everything was clean, well organized, homey, yet at the same time it was weird and exotic and wonderful. If you haven’t heard by now, it’s a pretty amazing place…a land of moss covered lava fields, mythical landscapes, fresh air, and the elusive Northern Lights. We don’t have much summer time off, so late winter was a perfect time to visit – less tourists than the summer, yet still not so extreme as deep winter.
Our adventure was just published in the new travel inspiration guide Entouriste from Ami Price, the owner and editor of the lovely wedding and lifestyle blog Elizabeth Anne Designs. Go on over and read more about it. There are more photos!
Here are some portraits of people we met. We were fond of Icelanders…eccentric, hard-working, intelligent and certainly blunt they are (in our experience). Everyone, it seems, is an artist, or possesses a crazy amount of creativity. It’s our kind of place. They are very proud and rooted in their land, and oh yeah, many believe in elves. We heard from a few pub crawlers that they even build roads around what they suspect are elf dwellings. Cool.
Reykjavik is a fun city. The center area is tourist friendly + buzzing, but we also liked exploring the quiet streets and checking out the architecture and cool homes. Design is like second nature to Iceland (and what I imagine it to be like in most Nordic countries). What is that again…”form follows function”? Definitely a feature of the Icelandic design and lifestyle. Everything is so clean and safe, that we couldn’t help but wonder what they must think when they come to the US? I find it disgraceful to see so much litter on the side of the roads here. Even yesterday when walking the dog at the local park, the pond was full of garbage. Infuriating. But back to Iceland. Here is a standard Reykjavik view from the iconic church top.
We were happy to just walk a lot and sip coffee and eat. It’s a cultural haven, and I like to eat fish, so I couldn’t be happier with the food.
Finally out of the city, Pat reaches new heights
And here I am practicing some sort of ballet move I learned in the 3rd grade. Look at that unbelievable landscape!
Some of the beautiful places we visited
And here’s Pat contemplating how to get us unstuck from the snow and then the giant cop/rescue car that came to save us from what I was convinced, probable doom.
Watching the green lights dance for us across a star-filled sky was otherworldy. We had wanted a more perfect foreground for photos, but we had to settle for pulling off to the side of a road outside the city. Trying to find our way to a site we had scoped out earlier, we were arguing and tired and grumpy (maybe having had a little too much “fun” the night before in Reykjavik). We just kept looking up through the windshield and my heroic pilot Pat spotted them, while I was trying desperately to find the right settings on the camera “just in case”. We were two lucky cats to witness such a dazzling display!
The best part of our journey was being out in what felt like the middle of nowhere, and not having anything to do but be together, really talk to each other, and at many times being lost in the quiet…total digital decompression. There certainly is much more to the country we would like to see. We are seriously considering a return trip, but maybe after Argentina, Greece, Morocco, Chile, New Zealand…LOL. And we have to go back because I’ve yet to do my glacial climb, nor see an elf.
Tags: aurora borealis, iceland, icelandic people, march, northern lights, travel get away, travel guide, winter
Our approach to Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah photography is simple. We want you to trust us with this event that is a milestone in your child’s life and that you have all put so much effort behind. We approach bar and bat mitzvahs in the same style as our wedding photography….with images that are at times traditional, at times modern, but are always fresh, fun and technically flawless.
From our thoughtfully captured photographs, our integrity-driven service, our Get-to-Know-You Session + our CrazyShack photobooth, all the way to our custom albums + high-end photo products, we want you to reflect on how truly amazing your event was with images that express everything about the day. Amazing, brilliant and beautiful photos, full of laughter and emotion…really awesome photos.
That’s what we do.
Our Get-to-Know-You Session with your son or daughter is a fun & valuable addition to our “mitzvah” collections. Here Jonah shows us some of the things he loves best, and mainly that’s just being himself (which is quite an awesome self, in case you these photos don’t say it all 
)
Dress up day!
And some adult portraits, because we like documenting your guests!
Fun + Love Shack Photo = CrazyShack!
Tags: Bar Mitzvahs, barmitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, batmitzvahs, party photography, philadelphia, special event photography
Love these moments with our former brides + grooms! Kristina + Noah are an erudite and enlightened couple, and their sense of style strays little from their character. Their home is inviting and warm, and full of the things they love, the art they love, and the children they love. I felt privileged to spend an afternoon with this family. Just as their wedding was, these moments with their new addition were equally beautiful and fun. Kristina and Noah both have a MAD sense of style…I mean, they have the kind of home you want to look around and steal every design element! Kristina has started a blog Sacire /sar-chee-re/ v. latin for “to patch” A Lifestyle and Design Blogging Experiment, which in her own words, is a collection of musings, interests and all things inspiring. Watch her prepare tasty fare & observe her perspective on style + dress.
But beyond the beauty of their environment, there was even more to look at…
Ruthie + Pippi are so photogenic!
We had to get one with the baby and her furry hat!
I have to admit, the baby’s nursery is spectacular! Kristina really does have the best taste on the planet. I think I may have to steal some of her decor ideas! And what girl has not pined (no pun intended) over some Anthroplogie curtains? Well, I know I have!
Pippi just hanging out looking pretty
Tags: baby photography, family portrait session, philadelphia event planners, philadelphia portrait and wedding photography, philadelphia wedding photography
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July 10th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Amazing new site, and amazing blog. Good luck with it.
Did I mention great pictures?
July 10th, 2009 at 11:35 am
One word.Love it!
July 10th, 2009 at 11:36 am
AMAZING!! So you!
July 10th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Great site…fabulous weddings, congrats!
July 10th, 2009 at 11:37 am
I LOVE YOUR NEW SITE!!!
July 10th, 2009 at 11:39 am
love the site, and love your work!!
July 11th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
this site is NO JOKE!! love it! congrats on the launch and i wish you both all the success in the world!
July 25th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
You two are the most talented, gifted, unique photographers nel mundo! Luv the site! I want to model for crazy shack. Miss you both so much, think of you often. Thanks for sharing your work with us. Hey, I would get married again just to have great photos from Loveshack! Now there’s a testimonial.
July 26th, 2009 at 12:27 am
The shack is cool!
July 26th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
That site is mesmerizing. Really well thought our and I love your work of course!
July 26th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
I think your site is awesome!! You guys really got something good here!
July 27th, 2009 at 1:38 am
wicked awesome. love it.
August 9th, 2009 at 10:48 am
I finally checked out your new blog site, Jackie, and love it. I can spend hours looking at your work. It’s so inspiring. I wish you and Pat all the best!
December 16th, 2010 at 8:34 am
“Want to snuggle and get some puppy kisses. If I visit and she goes missing you’ll know where to look. Congrats guys.”
You can out more?