Archive for May, 2008

Photography + Stationery = A Perfect Match

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

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When event planner Kimberlee Bendeck, owner of Boutiquevents, expressed her wish to incorporate an image of her client’s newly-built house for his housewarming party invitations, I knew this project would be a blast.

Kimberlee’s Killer Concept-

To have the invitation express the opening of one’s home to friends by creating a graphic of her client’s house to be used on the envelope liner.

Concept to Page-

Working from a simple color photo provided by the client, I created an image of the house that looked like a drawing. Care was taken to position the image so as much of the house was seen as possible, while keeping the image a bit abstract.

The printing method matched the invites- chocolate brown ink on smooth cream paper.

The Effect-

By opening the envelope, the guest is being invited to the home. Brilliant!

It’s sophisticated and chic, with that wonderful element of the unexpected.

To Get This Look for Your Next Invitation-

Contact us to schedule a consultation. We can help you choose a fab photo you already have, or take one to suit the occasion.

If you need help planning your next special event, contact:

Kimberlee Bendeck of Boutiqevents

www.kimberleebendeck.com

Marinate this Memorial Day

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

There’s nothing like eating that first hot dog of the season post-swim,

on a breezy porch, surrounded by the ones you love.

A perfect day- a grilled lunch by the pool at Carol’s House in East Hampton, Long Island

If you want to to jazz up your ‘cue, try out these 3 marinades from

Lauren Braun Costello of Gotham Caterers:

Teriyaki: Great for all Proteins

1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon ginger (fresh or powdered)
2 teaspoons dry mustard
4 cloves garlic, mashed into paste
2 tablespoons brown sugar

Citrus: Great for Seafood and Chicken

1/2 lime, juiced
1/2 orange, juiced
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Steak: Great for well- you guessed it- Steak!

1/2 cup oyster sauce
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup Worcestershire
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon dry mustard
4 cloves garlic, mashed into paste

Happy Grilling!

The Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

Last night, Lucas (my fiancé) and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary. We had dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants (Jack the Horse Tavern) and then strolled the Brooklyn Heights Promenade- the place where he popped the question!

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The Promenade has one of the best views of Manhattan, and is my favorite place to go for a walk, or just sit back and watch the sunset.

Picnic in the Park

Thursday, May 15th, 2008

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Here’s my nephew Jonathan, in Central Park on Mother’s Day. We had a blast eating a picnic lunch from E.A.T. and hanging out in the sun!

Tips for Taking Great Photos of Your Kids

Friday, May 9th, 2008

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Capture everyday moments like a pro with these simple tips:

-Meet your little subject eye to eye.

See your surroundings from their perspective.

Sometimes this means sitting on your knees, or lying on your belly!

-Capture candid moments.

It’s great to get that shot of your child looking right at the camera and smiling. But, it’s also wonderful to capture the candid moments- laughing, crying, sleeping, playing, etc.

Recommended reading: Camera Ready, How to Shoot Your Kids by legendary Vogue photographer (and my mentor) Arthur Elgort. This book is full of gorgeous photos of Elgort’s three children, and expert advice.